Vehicle Lower Structure With Curved Support for Collision Load Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lower structures face challenges in preventing deformation of the frame member when obstacles collide, which can lead to damage of onboard members like fuel tanks.
Innovation Solution
A lower vehicle structure design featuring a protection member positioned outwardly and below the frame member, supported by a support member with a bottom wall and vertical wall portions, including a curve and extension portion, to absorb collision loads and prevent direct impact on the frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protection member is directly fixed to the lower face of the frame member, then the protection member can properly prevent contact of the fuel tank with obstacles, but the frame member may be deformed easily when receiving collision load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate support member (bracket) between the protection member and the frame member. This intermediary component absorbs and distributes collision loads, preventing direct transmission to the frame member while maintaining the protective function. The support member acts as a buffer that reduces the impact force on the frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments: the protection member, the support member (bracket), and the frame member. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the protection member prevents obstacle contact, the support member absorbs collision loads, and the frame member provides structural support without direct exposure to impact forces.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support member has increased rigidity to stabilize the protection member, then the protection member can be stably supported, but the support member itself may deform under collision load
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a thicker first portion and a thinner second portion. This local quality variation allows the thicker section to provide stability and support for the protection member, while the thinner section can flex to absorb collision loads without causing overall deformation of the support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member's geometric parameters are optimized with varying thickness along its length. This parameter change creates a gradient structure where rigidity is higher at the support critical section and lower at the impact absorption section, allowing simultaneous achievement of stability and deformation resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
A protection member arranged below a frame member so as to face an onboard member from an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, thereof and a support member fixed to a lower face of the frame member so as to support the protection member are provided. The support member comprises a bottom wall portion including a facing portion which faces an upper end portion of the protection member in a vertical direction and extending along a lower face of the frame member and a vertical wall portion having a base end thereof which corresponds to an inward edge of the bottom wall portion and extending downward. The vertical wall portion is provided with a curve portion protruding inward and an extension portion extending toward a tip side from the curve portion and positioned on the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the curve portion.