Vehicle Frame Closed-Section Layout for Rear Suspension Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle frame structures face challenges in supporting the front side of the rear-wheel suspension in vehicles with a high-voltage battery mounted on the lower side, leading to difficulties in compact and robust mounting and reduced rigidity against rear-end collisions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle frame structure featuring an inner and outer panel with strategically placed reinforcement members forming closed sections to securely fix the rear suspension arm, enhancing structural rigidity and preventing protrusion, while allowing for optimal battery mounting and improved collision resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the interval between both side members of the frame is increased to improve the ability to mount the battery, then the battery mounting capability is improved, but it becomes difficult to support the front side of the rear-wheel suspension outside the side members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from supporting the suspension arm outside the side members (external support) to supporting it inside the side members (internal support) by creating an opening in the inner panel. This dimensional change allows the suspension arm to be mounted within the frame structure, resolving the conflict between increased side member spacing for battery mounting and suspension support capability.
2Shape
If the front side of the rear-wheel suspension is fixed to the frame in a compact manner without protruding out from the vehicle, then the vehicle compactness is improved, but the structural complexity increases due to the need for opening and reinforcement members
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is segmented into inner panel, outer panel, and reinforcement members, with the inner panel containing an opening for suspension mounting. This segmentation allows the suspension arm to be fixed compactly inside the side members while distributing the structural complexity across multiple discrete components that can be manufactured and assembled separately.
3Strength
If reinforcement members are provided in the opening to form closed portions, then the rigidity against rear-end collisions is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement members are merged with the inner panel to form integrated closed portions (first and second closed sections) that reinforce the opening area. This merging approach enhances collision resistance by creating rigid closed structures while simplifying manufacturing compared to adding separate, complex reinforcement components.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle frame structure includes: an inner panel connected to a side member and defining the inside of the side member; an outer panel connected to the side member and coupled to the inner panel forming a closed section with the inner panel and defining the outside of the side member; an opening formed in lower sides of the inner panel and outer panel to partially open the closed section such that a front end of a rear suspension arm can be inserted therein; a first reinforcement member provided in the opening forming a first closed portion with the inner panel; and a second reinforcement member provided in the opening forming a second closed portion with the inner panel, the outer panel, and the first reinforcement member and to isolate a space formed by the inner panel and the outer panel from an outer portion.