Vehicle Sub-frame Attachment Sockets with Angled Weakened Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sub-frame arrangements for vehicles are weakened during normal driving conditions due to mechanical solutions designed for front collisions, which reduce the vehicle's ability to absorb forces during small offset and moderate overlap collisions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sub-frame arrangement with attachment sockets featuring weakened portions angled perpendicular to the vehicle's travel direction, allowing controlled release of the sub-frame during collisions without compromising structural integrity during normal driving, using elongated slits or partial material reductions to distribute forces and maintain engagement with the vehicle body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical solutions are used to release the sub-frame during front collisions, then the sub-frame can be released to prolong deformation distance, but the sub-frame arrangement becomes weakened in the direction subjected to forces during normal driving conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment sockets are designed with localized weakened portions (notches or grooves) at specific angles relative to the vehicle travel direction. These localized weak points are positioned to fail preferentially during collision deformation, allowing the sub-frame to release while maintaining overall structural integrity during normal driving conditions. The weakened portions are strategically placed to engage only under collision loads, not under normal driving forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The weakened portions in the attachment sockets are arranged at asymmetric angles relative to the vehicle travel direction, specifically oriented to be effective during collision deformation directions. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the weakened portions remain strong in directions subjected to forces during normal driving while being designed to fail in the specific deformation direction encountered during collisions, thereby resolving the contradiction between collision release function and normal driving strength.
2Length of moving object
If the sub-frame arrangement is designed to release the sub-frame during front collisions, then deformation distance is prolonged, but the vehicle structure absorbs less force during small offset and moderate overlap collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment sockets incorporate dynamic failure characteristics through the weakened portions, which are designed to remain intact during normal driving and small offset collisions, allowing the vehicle structure to absorb force effectively. During moderate and large overlap collisions, the weakened portions fail in a controlled manner to prolong deformation distance. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt its response based on collision severity, maintaining force absorption capacity while enabling deformation distance extension when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A sub-frame and method in a sub-frame arrangement in a vehicle wherein said sub-frame arrangement comprises a sub-frame, a body member, and a first and second attachment socket. Each attachment socket is adapted to host a fastening means arranged in a through going apertures of each attachment socket and adapted to fasten said sub-frame to the body member. The fastening means are adapted to fasten a front section of said sub-frame, first and second attachment sockets each comprises a weakened portion arranged at an angle separated from the vehicle deformation direction during a front collision, and the weakened portions are adapted to give way releasing the sub-frame in the event of deformation of the vehicle.