Vehicle Front-Part Structure Cable Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electric vehicles, the high voltage cable is prone to damage during a frontal collision due to being caught between the suspension member and the battery unit, as the suspension member retracts and pushes the cable between them.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle front-part structure incorporates floor-side and member-side extension members that protrude downward and upward respectively, creating a gap between the suspension member and the battery unit, and are inclined to guide the suspension member downward and rearward, preventing cable entrapment. These extensions are strategically positioned on the dash lower panel and floor panel to maintain vehicle chamber space and prevent suspension member entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suspension member is positioned in front of the battery unit to support the front wheels, then the vehicle's suspension function is improved, but the high voltage cable may be caught between the suspension member and battery unit during frontal collision causing cable damage
Solution Approach 1:
A cable protection member is introduced as an intermediary component between the suspension member and battery unit. This protection member includes a cable receiving portion that guides the high voltage cable, preventing it from being caught during suspension member retraction in frontal collisions, thus eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining suspension functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The cable protection member is segmented into distinct functional portions: a cable receiving portion for guiding the high voltage cable, and extension portions that interact with the suspension member. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function independently, effectively protecting the cable while maintaining overall system performance
2Reliability
If the cable protection member includes extension portions extending in the vehicle width direction, then cable protection effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable protection member is merged with the suspension member structure, where the extension portions are integrated into the suspension member's design. This merging approach provides effective cable protection while avoiding the need for completely separate protection components, thus reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension member is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides suspension support for the front wheels and simultaneously incorporates cable protection functionality through its extension portions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated cable protection structures, reducing device complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A pair of floor-side extensions are provided in the vehicle width direction on the lower surface of at least one of a dash lower panel and a floor panel constituting the floor of a vehicle chamber so as to protrude downward in front of the battery unit front surface with a high voltage cable interposed between the pair of floor-side extension members. A pair of member-side extensions are provided so as to protrude upward at positions facing the pair of floor-side extensions in the vehicle front-and-rear direction on the rear end edge of a suspension member.