Vehicle Rear Structure With Bending Reinforcement for Spare Tire Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle rear structures struggle to effectively control the movement of spare tires during rear-end collisions, leading to potential safety hazards as they separate from the rear floor pan, compromising the safety of the vehicle and its occupants.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle rear structure design featuring a spare tire bracket with a longer rear section and an inclined reinforcement member with easy bending sections, allowing the spare tire to be flipped upward without separating from the rear floor pan, using first and second easy bending sections to absorb impact loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the reinforcement member is bent by impact load to absorb energy, then the impact load is absorbed, but the loaded object (spare tire) is separated from the loaded object accommodating section (rear floor pan)
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a first reinforcement section connected to the rear floor pan, a second reinforcement section connected to the spare tire bracket, and a fragile section between them. This segmentation allows the fragile section to bend and absorb impact energy while the first and second reinforcement sections maintain the structural connection, preventing separation of the spare tire from the rear floor pan.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the reinforcement member have different structural qualities: the fragile section has reduced thickness or increased flexibility to enable bending, while the first and second reinforcement sections have sufficient strength to maintain attachment. This local differentiation of properties allows energy absorption without compromising the overall attachment stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the spare tire is tilted forward to control movement, then contact with rear seat is prevented, but the spare tire separates from the rear floor pan
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member is segmented into a first reinforcement section connected to the rear floor pan, a second reinforcement section connected to the spare tire bracket, and a fragile section between them. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain attachment while enabling controlled movement through bending at the fragile section.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement member transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic structure that can bend at the fragile section during impact. This dynamic behavior allows the spare tire to pivot forward to avoid contact with the rear seat while remaining attached to the rear floor pan through the flexible connection provided by the bending reinforcement member.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the reinforcement member is made rigid to maintain attachment, then the spare tire remains attached to the rear floor pan, but impact load cannot be effectively absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member is divided into rigid sections for maintaining attachment and a fragile section for energy absorption. The first reinforcement section connects to the rear floor pan, the second reinforcement section connects to the spare tire bracket, and the fragile section between them bends to absorb impact energy, allowing both attachment stability and energy absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the reinforcement member have different mechanical properties: the first and second reinforcement sections have high strength and rigidity to maintain attachment, while the fragile section has reduced thickness or increased flexibility to enable bending and energy absorption during impact.
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 design ensures the spare tire remains attached to the rear floor pan during collisions, controlling its movement to prevent contact with the rear seat and enhancing vehicle safety by maintaining the tire's position within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
the first easy bending section and the second easy bending section can be bent upward by the upward load input to the inclined portion. Accordingly, the load input to the inclined portion of the reinforcement member can be absorbed by the reinforcement member
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle rear structure includes a spare tire bracket which has a longer rear section than a front section thereof in the vehicle with respect to a spare tire fixing portion, a spare tire fixed to the spare tire fixing portion, and reinforcement member having a second inclination reinforcing portion extending upward from a rear section of a rear floor pan towards the front of the vehicle. The spare tire bracket has a first easy bending section provided behind the spare tire fixing portion in the vehicle. The reinforcement member has a second easy bending section provided behind the spare tire fixing portion in the vehicle.