Vehicle Floor Panel Bracket Mounting Electric Heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle body structures fail to effectively control the behavior of electric apparatuses, such as electric heaters, during lateral collisions, leading to potential interference with battery packs and damage.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure with a floor panel having a three-step structure and inclined mounting of electric heaters using brackets to position the electric heater's bottom end closer to the battery pack side, preventing interference by guiding the heater over the battery pack during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the electric heater is mounted laterally to the battery pack on the floor panel, then the space utilization is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential interference during lateral collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by mounting the electric heater at an inclination angle rather than parallel to the floor panel. This angular arrangement creates vertical separation between the heater and battery pack, transforming a two-dimensional lateral arrangement into a three-dimensional configuration that prevents contact during collision while maintaining lateral space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a support member as an intermediary component between the electric heater and the floor panel. This support member provides the inclined mounting structure that positions the heater away from the battery pack, acting as a mediator that enables both space utilization and collision protection without requiring direct modification of either the heater or battery pack.
2Reliability
If the floor panel is prepared with upper and lower parts to guide the electric heater, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the collision guidance function from the floor panel structure itself and transfers it to a separate support member. This separation allows the floor panel to remain simple while the support member provides the inclined surface that guides the heater's movement during collision, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is designed to passively guide the electric heater during collision through its inclined geometry, without requiring active control systems or complex mechanisms. The structure itself provides the guidance function through its physical configuration, enabling self-service collision protection.
3Reliability
If the seat cross member is prepared with holes to enable easy bending, then the reliability is improved, but the strength of the cross member deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the collision management function from the seat cross member and transfers it to the support member. This extraction allows the cross member to maintain its full strength without requiring weak portions, while the support member provides the necessary guidance function for collision protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member acts as an intermediary that absorbs and manages collision forces, preventing the need to compromise the structural integrity of the seat cross member. This intermediary component protects both the cross member's strength and the battery pack's safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
A body structure (1) of a vehicle includes a floor panel (2), a battery pack (3), an electric water heater (electric apparatus) (4), and a bracket (5) which mounts the electric water heater (4) to the floor panel (2). The electric water heater (4) is mounted to the floor panel (2) so as to set a battery pack (3) side of the electric apparatus (2) higher.