Vehicle Sill Reinforcement Bracket for Rotational Force Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle body structures lack sufficient reinforcement within the sill structure to effectively resist rotational forces and enhance structural integrity during impact events.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a first reinforcement bracket within the hollow interior of the sill structure, which is fixedly attached to both the outer and inner sill members, providing additional strength and rigidity by connecting the lower horizontally extending sections of the outer and inner sill members, thereby enhancing the structure's ability to resist rotational forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a reinforcement bracket is added within the hollow interior of the sill structure, then the structural integrity and resistance to rotational forces is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement bracket is nested within the hollow interior of the sill structure, placing one structural element inside another. This allows the reinforcement function to be added without increasing the external dimensions of the sill structure, effectively resolving the contradiction by improving strength while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement bracket utilizes the third dimension (depth) by positioning itself within the hollow interior space of the sill structure. This dimensional approach allows the reinforcement to act against rotational forces from a different spatial perspective, improving structural integrity without adding to the external footprint.
2Force
If the sill structure is designed with a hollow interior to accommodate the reinforcement bracket, then the resistance to rotational forces is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sill structure is segmented into an outer sill member and an inner sill member that are fixedly attached together, creating a hollow interior space. This segmentation allows the reinforcement bracket to be independently manufactured and then installed within the hollow interior, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while improving resistance to rotational forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement bracket is nested within the hollow interior formed by the segmented sill members. This nesting approach allows the reinforcement element to be manufactured separately and then positioned within the existing hollow structure, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while enhancing the structure's ability to resist rotational forces.
3Reliability
If reinforcement brackets are installed within the hollow interior, then the ability to resist rotational forces during impact events is improved, but the ease of assembly and repair decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow interior of the sill structure is designed in advance to accommodate the reinforcement bracket, with predetermined attachment points on the outer and inner sill members. This preliminary design facilitates easier assembly and potential repair, as the reinforcement bracket can be installed or replaced without requiring complex modifications to the sill structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The sill structure is divided into separate outer and inner members with defined attachment points, allowing the reinforcement bracket to be independently installed or removed. This segmentation improves ease of repair compared to a monolithic structure, as the reinforcement bracket can be accessed and serviced without dismantling the entire sill structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body structure includes an inner sill member, an outer sill member and a first reinforcement bracket. The inner sill member has an inner upper flange, a horizontally extending section and an inner lower flange extending downward from the horizontally extending section. The outer sill member has an outer upper flange and an outer lower flange. The inner upper flange and the outer upper flanges are fixedly attached to one another. The inner lower flange and the outer lower flanges are fixedly attached to one another defining a sill structure with hollow interior. The first reinforcement bracket is disposed within the hollow interior and has an outboard portion fixedly attached to the outer sill member and an inboard portion fixedly attached to the horizontally extending section of the inner sill member.