Steering Gear Box Support Unit for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle front structures face challenges in reducing vehicle weight and effectively absorbing impact loads, as the steering gear box, when acting as a cross member, restricts the movement of the power plant, limiting its ability to move rearward and absorb impact.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front structure design where the steering gear box is supported on a sub-frame and positioned ahead of the power plant, with a support unit that can break under impact, allowing the gear box to drop below the power plant and sub-frame, thus transmitting the impact load efficiently to the power plant, enabling it to move rearward and absorb the impact effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the steering gear box is used as a cross member to reduce vehicle weight, then the vehicle weight is reduced, but the power plant movement is restricted and impact load absorption is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The support unit is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to break under impact loads. The support unit includes a support rod with a predetermined breaking position that has reduced cross-sectional area, enabling it to fracture when subjected to impact forces exceeding a threshold, thus allowing the power plant to move rearward and absorb impact energy while maintaining normal operational support
2Reliability
If the steering gear box is positioned behind the power plant, then impact load absorption is improved, but the vehicle front structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support unit serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the steering gear box during normal operation, transmits impact loads to the power plant when broken, and guides the rearward movement of the power plant during collision. This multi-functional design achieves improved impact absorption without increasing overall structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle front structure includes left and right side frames and a sub-frame disposed below the left and right side frames. The sub-frame includes a cross member, which connects rear end portions of left and right side members, and a support unit, which supports a steering gear box at front end portions of the left and right side members. The steering gear box is supported by the support unit so as to be located in a vehicle-front-side region of the power plant. The support unit is capable of being broken by an impact load so that the steering gear box is dropped when the impact load is applied.