Vehicle Side Panel Structure with Integrated High-Strength Inner Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicular side panel structures require reinforcing members for door openings, leading to increased weight and the need for seam sealing, which complicates manufacturing and affects appearance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular side panel structure featuring a high-strength steel inner frame and a low-strength steel or resin outer frame, eliminating seams and reinforcing members, with the inner frame forming a closed cross-section around the door opening for enhanced rigidity and collision performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the side outer panel is divided into upper frame portion, lower frame portion, and center pillar outer made of different materials, then optimal material selection is achieved for each component, but seams are generated at joining parts requiring sealer application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the upper frame portion, lower frame portion, and center pillar outer into a single integrated side outer panel made entirely of high strength steel sheet. This eliminates the seams between components that would require sealer application, directly resolving the technical contradiction by combining previously separate elements into one unified structure.
2Shape
If the roof rail outer is formed of standard steel sheet for easy press-molding, then sharp form and reduced gaps are achieved, but reinforcing members must be added increasing weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the roof rail outer from standard steel sheet to high strength steel sheet. This parameter change allows the material to maintain sharp forms through press-molding while inherently providing the necessary strength without requiring additional reinforcing members, thus reducing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes high strength steel sheet as a composite material solution that combines the formability of standard steel with enhanced mechanical properties. This single material achieves both the sharp aesthetic form and the structural strength requirements, eliminating the need for separate reinforcing elements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for the side outer panel, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the number of parts and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (upper frame portion, lower frame portion, center pillar outer) into a single integrated side outer panel. This merging reduces the quantity of parts from three or more components to one unified structure, simplifying assembly while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through the inherent adaptability of high strength steel sheet forming processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A side panel structure (20), including a side outer panel (21) provided on the vehicle exterior side, and a side inner panel (22) provided on the vehicle interior (12) side. The side outer panel (21) and the side inner panel (22) form, as a closed cross-section structure, a peripheral edge section forming door openings (35, 36). The side outer panel (21) comprises an inner frame (26) formed from a high-strength steel sheet having a high tensile strength, and an outer frame (27) provided to the outer periphery section (26a) of the inner frame (26). The outer frame (27) is formed from a low-strength steel sheet having a low tensile strength.