Vehicle Front Structure for Uniform Reaction Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle front structures fail to effectively apply reaction forces to collision objects during frontal collisions, particularly in offset and small-overlap collisions, leading to potential damage to the opposing vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front structure comprising side frames, a bumper beam, a lower beam, coupling members, and gussets, where the bumper beam and lower beam extend in the vehicle width direction, and gussets are positioned to support these components from behind, ensuring uniform application of reaction forces during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the bumper beam and lower beam are supported by side frames and subframes respectively, then the structure provides basic collision resistance, but the reaction forces are not uniformly distributed and may concentrate on the collision object
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments: side frames, subframes, coupling members, and gussets. This segmentation allows the collision forces to be distributed across multiple contact points and structural elements, preventing concentration of reaction forces on the collision object while maintaining overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces gussets that extend obliquely in both plan view and side view, adding a diagonal dimension to the support structure. This three-dimensional configuration creates multiple force transmission paths, enabling more uniform distribution of reaction forces during offset and small-overlap frontal collisions
2Stability of the object's composition
If coupling members are positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, then the bumper beam and lower beam are connected, but the structure may allow the bumper beam to protrude over the collision object during offset collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The gussets are pre-positioned to extend from the coupling members toward the side frames in an oblique direction. This preliminary configuration ensures that during offset collisions, the gussets are already in place to prevent the bumper beam from protruding over the collision object, maintaining proper structural alignment under load
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure combines multiple structural elements (side frames, subframes, coupling members, and gussets) into a composite system. This composite structure provides both the necessary connection between beams and the geometric configuration to prevent bumper beam protrusion during collisions
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle front structure includes side frames in pairs, a bumper beam, a lower beam, coupling members in pairs, and gussets. The bumper beam and the lower beam extend in the vehicle width direction. Each coupling member extends in a vehicle upward-downward direction on an outer side of a corresponding one of the side frames in the vehicle width direction. The coupling members couple the bumper beam and the lower beam. A vehicle-front-side end part of each gusset is coupled to a middle part of a corresponding one of the coupling members in the vehicle upward-downward direction. A vehicle-rear-side end part of each gusset is coupled to the corresponding one of the side frames.