Vehicle Front Body Frame Ring-Shaped Mounting Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mounting structure of a vehicle's front body frame around the engine compartment lacks sufficient rigidity and stability, leading to decreased performance under external forces and varying road conditions.
Innovation Solution
A mounting structure that includes side members, a dash panel, a tire apron, a shock absorber cover, and a cowl panel, with additional support members, cowl members, side frames, and a cross member forming a ring shape to securely connect these components via welding, and a ring-shaped protrusion and insert hole for enhanced assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a simple mounting structure without additional support members is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the rigidity and stability of the body shell and chassis decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is divided into multiple independent components: support members connecting side members to dash panel, cowl members supporting cowl panel, side frames along extension lines, and a cross member connecting lower parts. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively achieving the required rigidity and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a ring-shaped configuration formed by cowl member, support members, side frames, and cross member. This closed-loop ring structure adds dimensional stability by creating a rigid spatial framework that resists deformation from multiple directions, transforming the structural arrangement from linear to three-dimensional.
2Reliability
If components are not firmly combined with each other, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the stability for adjusting the vehicle with regard to external forces decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are pre-configured with lower parts equipped to be fixed on side members and upper parts equipped to be fixed on dash panel. The ring-shaped protrusion is pre-formed at the center part of the shock absorber cover, and insert holes are pre-formed at both edges of the cowl panel. These preliminary preparations facilitate easier assembly while ensuring firm combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring-shaped protrusion and insert hole configuration acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cowl panel and shock absorber cover. This intermediary structure provides a precise mating interface that ensures firm combination while simplifying the assembly process through alignment and insertion.
3Strength
If additional support members and ring-shaped structure are added, then the torsion dynamic stiffness is improved, but the weight of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into thin-walled ring-shaped components (cowl member, support members, side frames, cross member) that provide high torsional stiffness relative to their weight. The segmentation allows for optimized material distribution that maximizes stiffness-to-weight ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure employs composite construction combining multiple materials with different properties: the ring-shaped components provide structural rigidity, while the welding joints provide strong connections. This composite approach optimizes the overall strength-to-weight ratio of the assembly.
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 configuration enhances the rigidity and stability of the vehicle's body shell and chassis around the engine compartment, improving torsion dynamic stiffness and shock absorption while preventing external noise induction.
Implementation Method 1
both edges of the cowl panel are connected to an upper side of the pair of support members by welding
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting structure of a front body frame in a vehicle may include: a pair of support members whose lower part is equipped to be fixed on both side members and whose upper part is equipped to be fixed on the dash panel; a cowl member whose each of two edges are connected to an upper side of the pair of support members by welding, the cowl member arranged to support a lower side of the cowl panel; a pair of side frames arranged at the lower side of the side members along an extension line where the lower part of the support members is extended; and a cross member arranged so that each of the lower parts of the side frames are mutually connected, wherein each of the cowl member, the support members, the side frames and the cross member are connected to be a ring shape.