Vehicle Underbody Cover With Impact-Release Attachment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing underbody covers for vehicles can negatively affect impact performance by interfering with the load transmission between frame rails and crossbeams during collisions, leading to potential damage to vehicle components and occupants.

Innovation Solution

The underbody cover is designed with rigid and movable attachment components that allow it to disengage from the frame during an impact, preventing load transmission to the remainder of the frame, while providing protection to vehicle components during normal use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the underbody cover is rigidly attached to the frame to provide protection, then component protection is improved, but impact performance deteriorates due to load transmission interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidimpact performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The underbody cover is designed with dynamic attachment characteristics, being rigidly attached to the first crossbeam during normal operation for component protection, but movably attached to the second crossbeam that allows disengagement during impact events. This dynamic attachment system enables the cover to transition between providing protection and allowing load transmission based on operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system is segmented into different attachment characteristics at different locations: rigid attachment at the first crossbeam and movable attachment at the second crossbeam. This segmentation allows the underbody cover to have different functional characteristics at different points, simultaneously achieving component protection and impact performance compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the underbody cover is movably attached to allow disengagement during impact, then impact performance is improved, but component protection during normal use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact performanceVSAvoidcomponent protection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system dynamically adapts its characteristics based on operational state. During normal use, the rigid attachment at the first crossbeam provides component protection. During impact, the movable attachment at the second crossbeam enables disengagement to preserve impact performance. The system transitions between these states automatically based on loading conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different attachment qualities are applied at different locations: the first crossbeam has rigid attachment for protection, while the second crossbeam has movable attachment for impact compliance. This local differentiation of attachment properties allows simultaneous satisfaction of both protection and impact performance requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the underbody cover is rigidly attached to prevent movement, then structural stability is improved, but load transmission during impact worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidload transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic movable connection during impact. The movable attachment at the second crossbeam allows the underbody cover to move relative to the frame during impact events, reducing load transmission to the remainder of the frame while maintaining structural stability during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable attachment mechanism acts as an intermediary between the underbody cover and the frame during impact. It allows controlled movement and disengagement that mediates the force transmission, preventing direct load transmission to the remainder of the frame while maintaining connection during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250360965A1Underbody cover for compliance with vehicle impact performance

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 TOYOTA MOTOR ENG & MFG NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

Various embodiments described herein relate to vehicular underbody covers that comply with vehicular impact performance. An underbody cover for a vehicle includes a plate body that attaches to an underbody of a vehicle. The underbody includes a first crossbeam and a second crossbeam spaced from the first crossbeam in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The plate body defines a first end that attaches to the first crossbeam and a second end opposite the first end that attaches to the second crossbeam. The underbody cover also includes a first attachment component that rigidly attaches the first end to the first crossbeam and a second attachment component that movably attaches the second end to the second crossbeam and allows the second end to disengage from the second crossbeam in an impact involving the vehicle, thereby preventing transmission to the vehicle through the underbody cover of a load from the impact.