Vehicle Front Stiffener Vertical Pin Coupling Impact Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle front structures fail to effectively absorb and distribute the impact of a collision with a pedestrian, often resulting in injury to the pedestrian's legs and damage to the front bumper beam due to the horizontal coupling of fixing pins, which does not allow for sufficient impact absorption and distribution.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front structure featuring a stiffener coupled with a front bumper beam via vertical pins that pass through the stiffener, utilizing reinforced fiber materials and a hollow pipe shape to absorb and distribute impact energy, with the stiffener designed to fracture upon collision to protect pedestrians and passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If horizontal fixing pins are used to couple the stiffener to the front bumper beam, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the impact energy cannot be sufficiently absorbed and distributed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the fixing pins from horizontal to vertical, passing them through the thickness of the stiffener plate. This dimensional change allows the pins to effectively transfer impact forces from the horizontal collision direction into the vertical thickness direction of the stiffener, enabling better energy absorption and distribution throughout the structure.
2Strength
If the stiffener is made with reinforced fiber material in hollow pipe shape, then the strength is improved and weight is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs reinforced fiber materials (such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or aramid fiber) to construct the stiffener, creating a composite material structure that delivers superior strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the stiffener to effectively absorb impact energy while minimizing vehicle weight, thereby improving both safety and fuel efficiency despite increased manufacturing complexity.
3Loss of energy
If vertical pins are used to pass through the stiffener, then the impact energy absorption is maximized, but the risk of pin damage to pedestrian legs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the vertical pins, including their diameter, length, and distribution pattern across the stiffener. By optimizing these parameters, the pins can effectively transfer impact forces into the stiffener structure for energy absorption while maintaining dimensions and spacing that minimize the risk of direct contact with or damage to pedestrian legs during collision.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle front structure is provided. The vehicle front structure includes a front bumper beam having a plurality of brackets that extend in the downward direction of a vehicle and coupling components that protrude forward from ends of the respective brackets. A stiffener is horizontally disposed on the coupling components and vertical pins vertically pass through the stiffener from the coupling components.