Tilted Radiator Support Structure for Frontal Impact Load Escape
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mounting a radiator in a tilted manner can lead to damage during frontal collisions due to the lower end protruding forward, potentially causing contact with the colliding object.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front structure design that includes support and fixing portions to disengage the radiator from its mounting during a collision, utilizing a fragile portion and elastic mounts to absorb impact loads, reducing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the radiator is mounted in a tilted manner with the lower end protruding forward, then wind can hit the entire radiator surface, but the radiator may contact and damage during frontal collision impact absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator support structure is divided into multiple independent support portions distributed at different positions (front, intermediate, rear) and heights. Each support portion can independently break or deform during collision, allowing the radiator to be segmented and disengage progressively rather than as a single rigid unit, thus protecting the radiator while maintaining the tilted mounting configuration for wind cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Fragile portions are deliberately designed into the support structure at predetermined locations where stress concentrates during collision. These fragile portions act as pre-planned weak points that break first during impact, absorbing collision energy and preventing the force from reaching the radiator. This beforehand cushioning mechanism protects the radiator from damage while allowing the tilted mounting to maintain cooling efficiency
2Stability of the object's composition
If the radiator is fixed rigidly to the vehicle body, then the radiator maintains stable positioning, but the radiator cannot escape impact loads during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator support structure transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic progressive failure system. During normal operation, multiple support portions maintain the radiator in a stable tilted position. During collision, the support portions dynamically respond by breaking in sequence (front support first, then intermediate, then rear), allowing the radiator to move and disengage progressively, thus escaping impact loads while maintaining positioning stability during normal use
Solution Approach 2:
The fragile portions and support portions act as intermediary elements between the radiator and the vehicle body structure. These intermediaries are designed to fail in controlled ways during collision, absorbing and redirecting impact forces away from the radiator. The intermediaries provide both stable support during normal operation and protective failure modes during collision, resolving the contradiction between stability and impact resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle front structure includes a heat exchanger, a front side member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on both right and left sides in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle front portion, a support portion provided in an intermediate portion in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pair of right and left front side members in the power unit compartment of the vehicle front portion and supporting an intermediate portion in the vehicle up-down direction of the heat exchanger and provided with a fragile portion at a portion on the vehicle rear side, and a fixing portion for fixing the portion on the vehicle front side in the heat exchanger to the vehicle body.