Vehicle Frame Cable Engine Intrusion Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
During a rigid pole frontal impact of a vehicle, the engine may be forced towards the passenger cabin due to the impact on the bumper beam, posing a risk of direct contact and intrusion, which existing technologies fail to adequately prevent.
Innovation Solution
A cable is strategically positioned between the engine and the bulkhead, connected to the frame rails and under tension, which distributes the force from the engine and opposes its movement towards the passenger cabin, thereby reducing the likelihood of intrusion during a frontal impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bumper beam is impacted during a rigid pole frontal crash test, then the bumper beam moves towards the rear of the vehicle, but the engine is forced towards the passenger cabin creating a safety hazard
Solution Approach 1:
A cable is introduced as an intermediary element between the engine and the frame rails. The cable connects to the engine and extends through the frame rails to the rear of the vehicle, acting as a mediator that redirects forces during impact to prevent the engine from intruding into the passenger cabin while allowing the bumper beam to move rearward as designed
2Reliability
If the cable is positioned between the engine and bulkhead and connected to frame rails, then the engine movement towards passenger cabin is opposed, but the cable must maintain tension under impact conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is pre-installed and pre-tensioned between the engine and the frame rails before impact occurs. This preliminary positioning and tensioning ensures that when impact forces are applied, the cable is already in place and under sufficient tension to immediately oppose engine movement towards the passenger cabin without delay or failure
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
The cable effectively directs the force away from the passenger cabin, reducing the risk of engine intrusion and enhancing safety by maintaining tension and distributing forces across the frame rails during a rigid pole frontal crash test.
Implementation Method 1
A cable is elongated along the cross-vehicle axis and is disposed between the engine and the bulkhead. The cable is connected to each frame rail between the engine and bulkhead.
Implementation Method 2
The cable is designed to oppose movement of the engine towards the bulkhead during a vehicle frontal impact
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a frame including two frame rails spaced from each other along a cross-vehicle axis and a bulkhead extending from one frame rail to the other frame rail. The frame rails are elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. An engine is disposed between the frame rails and is spaced from the bulkhead along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. A cable is elongated along the cross-vehicle axis and is disposed between the engine and the bulkhead. The cable is connected to each frame rail between the engine and bulkhead.