Motor Vehicle Rear Structure Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear structures of motor vehicles with central train components are prone to rupture under large forces during sudden braking or collisions due to inadequate force distribution, leading to a risk of detachment from the base component.
Innovation Solution
A rear structure design featuring a base component with a tunnel and articulation elements that pivot about a horizontal axis, incorporating front and rear reinforcement elements to distribute and absorb forces, allowing the train component to be mounted directly on the base without a cradle, thereby enhancing stability and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the train component is mounted with central attachment to the base, then the vehicle design becomes more compact, but the articulation element is liable to undergo large forces in the direction of movement leading to rupture risk
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation element is divided into two separate articulation elements that pivot with respect to each other about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of movement. This segmentation distributes the mechanical stresses and forces that would otherwise concentrate on a single element, reducing the risk of rupture while maintaining the compact central attachment design.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a new dimension of articulation by adding a second articulation element that pivots relative to the first, creating a multi-axis rotation system. This dimensional addition allows the structure to accommodate forces from multiple directions, enhancing strength without compromising the compact footprint.
2Weight of moving object
If the train component is mounted directly on the base component without a cradle, then the structure becomes lighter and more direct, but the forces are not adequately distributed leading to detachment risk
Solution Approach 1:
The second articulation element acts as an intermediary component between the first articulation element and the base component. This intermediary distributes the forces transmitted from the train component across multiple attachment points and structural pathways, enhancing reliability while maintaining the direct-mount design that eliminates the need for a separate cradle.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear structure employs composite construction combining the base component, two articulation elements, and reinforcement elements made from different materials optimized for their specific functions. This composite approach achieves both weight reduction and enhanced force distribution capability, resolving the contradiction between lightness and reliability.
3Reliability
If reinforcement elements are added to transmit forces to the tunnel, then the force distribution improves and detachment risk reduces, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement elements are merged with the existing base component and tunnel structure, integrating force transmission functions into the primary structural elements rather than adding completely separate components. This merging approach improves force distribution while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base component and tunnel are designed to serve multiple functions: structural support, force transmission pathways, and mounting surfaces for articulation elements. This multi-functionality allows the structure to handle complex force distributions without requiring proportionally more components, thus improving reliability without excessive complexity increase.
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 design effectively distributes and absorbs forces, reducing the risk of articulation device detachment and improving the reliability and lightness of the motor vehicle's rear structure, while maintaining structural integrity during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a rear structure of a motor vehicle comprising a base component (3) for supporting a motor vehicle floor and in which a tunnel (2) is provided, a train component comprising a central part and, on either side of the central part, two side parts defining with the central part a space (4) to receive a component of the vehicle, for example a propulsion engine, an articulation device comprising a first articulation element and a second articulation element capable of pivoting with respect to one another, the first articulation element being fixed or integrated, directly or indirectly, to the central part of the train component and the second articulation element being fixed or integrated, directly or indirectly, to the underbody component, the rear structure being arranged so that the first and the second articulation elements are capable of pivoting with respect to one another about an axis which is substantially horizontal and substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a rear structure (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising an underbody component (3), an axle component with a central attachment point, articulated on an articulation element attached to the underbody component, and at least one front reinforcing element (51, 52) attached to both the articulation element and the underbody component, the rear structure being arranged such that said at least one front reinforcing element allows the transmission, to the tunnel, of at least some of the forces generated by the axle component in the direction of movement of the motor vehicle.