Vehicle Front Side Shock Absorption Bracket Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle body front part structures fail to effectively absorb collision loads during offset collisions, leading to increased loads being inputted to the vehicle body.

Innovation Solution

A shock absorption bracket is designed to project from the front end of a front side member, with its front surface connected to the front end surface and an inclined surface extending obliquely outward in the vehicle width direction, providing enhanced collision load absorption and distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If an extended portion is formed by extending the bumper reinforcement to outside in vehicle width direction, then the collision load absorption capability is improved, but the collision load to be inputted to the vehicle body increases due to failure to absorb the load with the extended portion alone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision load absorption capabilityVSAvoidcollision load inputted to vehicle body
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The bumper reinforcement is divided into a main body portion and a separate extended portion that can be elastically deformed. This segmentation allows the extended portion to independently absorb collision loads through elastic deformation, preventing excessive loads from being transmitted to the vehicle body while maintaining overall structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extended portion is designed to elastically deform under collision loads, transitioning from a static rigid structure to a dynamic energy-absorbing element. This dynamic response allows the extended portion to absorb collision energy through controlled deformation, reducing the load transmitted to the vehicle body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If the shock absorption bracket is made to project from the front end portion of the front side member, then the collision load distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision load distributionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shock absorption bracket is integrated with the front side member through integral formation, merging two functional elements into a unified structure. This integration improves collision load distribution by creating a continuous load path while avoiding the complexity of separate components and their associated fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shock absorption bracket serves multiple functions: it projects outward to increase the moment arm for load distribution, provides a connection surface for the bumper reinforcement, and integrates with the front side member structure. This multi-functionality achieves improved load distribution without adding unnecessary structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 integrated shock absorption bracket effectively reduces the collision load inputted to the vehicle body by distributing it inwardly and rearwardly, preventing detachment and efficiently transmitting the load to the front side member, thereby minimizing impact on the vehicle.

Implementation Method 1

an inclined surface which is bent from an outer end in a vehicle width direction of the front surface and is obliquely extended toward the rear of the vehicle as extended toward the outside in the vehicle width direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInclined plane: Inclined Plane

Data Source

PatentEP3009307B1Vehicle body front part structure
Publication Date: 2017.05.24 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3009307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3009307B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3009307B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A vehicle body front part structure includes: a front side member (11) located at a vehicle body front part (1) and extended in a vehicle front-rear direction; and a shock absorption bracket (19) projecting from an outer side surface (11a) in a vehicle width direction at a front end portion of the front side member (11) toward outside in the vehicle width direction. The shock absorption bracket (19) includes a front surface (47) connected to a front end surface (25) of the front side member (11), and an inclined surface (49) which is obliquely extended toward the rear of the vehicle in a plan view. The front surface (47) and the inclined surface (49) are integrally formed.