Vehicle Step Assembly With Collision Protection and Simplified Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle step devices face issues with protection of internal components during side collisions and require complex attachment processes to the vehicle body.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle step device design featuring a base, arm, and protection member that restricts movement towards the vehicle's width-direction inner side during collisions, and a simplified attachment mechanism using a base with a contact portion and shaft support to reduce the number of attachment steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional vehicle step device is used without a protection member, then the structure is simpler, but internal components are vulnerable to damage during side collisions
Solution Approach 1:
A protection member is introduced as an intermediary component between the vehicle step device and internal components. This protection member includes a protection plate and support members, acting as a barrier that prevents direct contact between the step device and internal components during side collisions, thereby protecting vulnerable parts without fundamentally changing the step device structure
2Reliability
If a complex attachment process is used to attach the vehicle step device to the vehicle body, then attachment reliability is improved, but the number of process steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure merges multiple functions into integrated components. The base includes a contact portion that directly contacts the vehicle body and a shaft support portion that supports the shaft member, combining attachment and support functions into a single integrated structure. This reduces the number of separate attachment steps while maintaining reliable connection
3Adaptability or versatility
If the contact portion is located away from the shaft support portion, then attachment flexibility is improved, but the attachment process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into distinct functional portions: a contact portion for contacting the vehicle body and a shaft support portion for supporting the shaft member. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a simple overall structure, providing attachment flexibility without increasing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle step device includes: a base attached to a vehicle body; an arm attached to the base; a step assembled with the arm; and a protection member that is arranged on a width-direction inner side of a position of the step in a retracted state and is provided in such a way as to face at least a part of the base, the arm, and the step.