Vehicle Side Reinforcement Closed Structure for Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle body side reinforcement assemblies fail to effectively transfer collision loads to the floor support during side collisions, leading to degraded safety performance and increased costs due to the need for additional materials like injected plastic.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body side reinforcement assembly is designed with a first side reinforcement panel, an inner center pillar, and a second side reinforcement panel forming a closed structure that includes a reinforcement plate and bulkhead, allowing load transfer to the floor support through spot welding, and optionally using cost-effective shock-absorbing materials like foam pads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional L-shaped side reinforcement structure is used, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but collision load cannot be transferred to the floor support resulting in degraded safety performance
Solution Approach 1:
The side reinforcement structure is divided into multiple components: first side reinforcement panel, second side reinforcement panel, inner center pillar, reinforcement plate, and bulkhead. These segmented parts work together to form a closed structure that enables load transfer to the floor support, resolving the contradiction between structural complexity and collision performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple reinforcement elements (first side reinforcement panel, second side reinforcement panel, inner center pillar, reinforcement plate, and bulkhead) into an integrated closed structure. This merging of components creates a unified load-bearing system that effectively transfers collision loads to the floor support, improving safety performance.
2Reliability
If the side reinforcement assembly is configured without space for welding gun insertion, then manufacturing is simplified, but welding cannot be performed in the horizontal load direction resulting in degraded safety performance
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement plate extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (front to rear), creating a new dimensional approach for load transfer. This longitudinal orientation allows welding to be performed from accessible directions while maintaining load transfer capability in the horizontal collision direction, resolving the contradiction between safety performance and welding accessibility.
3Reliability
If additional materials like injected plastic are used to reinforce the vehicle side, then collision performance is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters by forming a closed structure with specific geometric configurations of panels and pillars. This structural parameter change enables load transfer to the floor support without requiring additional expensive materials like injected plastic, resolving the contradiction between collision performance and manufacturing cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances collision performance by transferring loads from the vehicle side to the floor support, improving safety and reducing production costs by utilizing low-cost materials and manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
transferring a load to a floor support when a side collision occurs
Implementation Method 2
The reinforcement plate may be coupled to the inner center pillar by a conventional, inexpensive methods such as spot welding
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body side reinforcement assembly includes a first side reinforcement panel; an inner center pillar coupled to the first side reinforcement panel and to a floor support forming a lower portion of a vehicle body; and a second side reinforcement panel coupled to the first side reinforcement panel, the inner center pillar, and the floor support to form a closed structure at a lower portion of the side of the vehicle. This structure improves vehicle body performance during a side collision by transferring the collision load to the floor support, resulting in improved safety performance. In addition, the assembly minimizes the number of necessary parts and allows for low-cost assembly methods, such as spot welding, thereby reducing production costs and increasing marketability.