Vehicle Body Form-Fitting Means for Small Overlap Collision Load Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle body designs inadequately absorb collision energy during front-end collisions with small lateral overlap, leading to increased deformation of the passenger cell and risk of injury to occupants, as the longitudinal members fail to support load effectively in such scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle body incorporates form-fitting means that selectively introduce the load path into the longitudinal member during collisions with a small overlap, utilizing a wedge-shaped component and bolt-shaped connection partners to form a connection through deformation, such as buckling of the crossmember or longitudinal member, thereby reducing passenger cell deformation and enhancing occupant protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the longitudinal member is expanded laterally and connected to the front crossmember to improve load absorption, then load absorption capability is improved, but the deformation capability of the body in full surface area collisions is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the crossmember and longitudinal member transitions from a fixed state to a deformed state during collision. The crossmember is designed to buckle and form a form-fitting connection with the longitudinal member, dynamically adapting the structural configuration based on collision conditions to optimize load absorption while preserving deformation capability for other scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The form-fitting connection mechanism is applied locally at specific positions where the crossmember interacts with the longitudinal member, rather than uniformly across the entire structure. This localized application allows the connection to engage selectively during small overlap collisions without affecting the overall deformation behavior of the vehicle body in full surface area collisions
2Strength
If means are provided to selectively introduce load path into the longitudinal member during small overlap collisions, then load absorption is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crossmember automatically performs the function of forming a form-fitting connection with the longitudinal member through its own deformation during collision. The structure self-activates the load path introduction mechanism without requiring external control systems, sensors, or additional actuating components, thereby improving load absorption while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances load absorption during small overlap collisions without compromising energy absorption in full overlap scenarios, reducing passenger cell deformation and improving occupant safety by selectively engaging the form-fitting connection only during small overlap collisions.
Implementation Method 1
the formation of the form-fitting connection is brought about by a deformation, in particular by the buckling of the crossmember in the region next to the longitudinal member and/or by deformation of the at least one longitudinal member
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body may include a crossmember and a longitudinal member. The vehicle body helps ensure improved load absorption in collision events with small overlap between the crossmember and another vehicle or object. The deformation capabilities of the vehicle body in collision events involving a full surface area of the crossmember are not substantially impaired. Form-fitting members that comprise connection partners may be provided for the longitudinal member, wherein the form-fitting members ensure that a load path of collision energy is introduced into the longitudinal member selectively in the event of a collision with small overlap. A form-fitting member may form a form-fitting connection in a direction of the longitudinal member in the event of a collision.