Vehicle Component Support Device with Breakaway Fasteners and Deflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the event of a frontal collision, stiff components in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle often stack on top of each other, creating a large incompressible volume that limits energy absorption and poses a risk to occupants, as existing solutions like the JP2006088871 system are either impractical due to space constraints or expensive.
Innovation Solution
A support device featuring a plate with securing means that break during impact, attached to a structural element via rivets designed to yield at a predetermined force threshold, and a deflector forming an inclined ramp to prevent component stacking, allowing the plate and supported component to slide and be ejected, thus avoiding incompressible volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If stiff components are rigidly fixed in the engine compartment, then structural stability is improved, but energy absorption capacity deteriorates and occupant safety worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening means are designed to transition from a rigid state during normal operation to a breakable state during collision, allowing the system to adapt its mechanical properties based on impact conditions. The plate and fastening means form a dynamic structure that maintains stability during service but allows controlled failure during impact to enable energy absorption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If components are rigidly fixed to prevent movement, then positional stability is improved, but component stacking and incompressible volume formation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening means provide rigid fixation during normal operation to maintain positional stability, but are designed to break during collision to allow the plate and component to move along a controlled trajectory defined by the deflector, preventing stacking with other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector acts as an intermediary element between the plate and other engine compartment components. It provides a controlled path for the plate during collision, redirecting it away from the passenger compartment and preventing harmful stacking with other components.
3Loss of energy
If a powertrain fixing system with pivot axis is implemented, then energy absorption is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system is segmented into distinct functional elements: a plate for mounting the component, simple fastening means for attachment to the chassis, and a deflector for trajectory control. This segmentation avoids the need for complex pivot-axis mechanisms while achieving similar energy absorption through controlled breakage and redirection.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening means are designed as sacrificial elements that break during collision to enable energy absorption. Rather than using expensive, complex mechanisms that must survive impact, the invention uses simple, inexpensive fastening elements intended for single-use in collision scenarios.
4Loss of energy
If fastening means are designed to break during impact, then energy absorption is improved, but structural reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening means exhibit dynamic reliability characteristics: they maintain high strength and reliability during normal operation to ensure secure mounting, but are designed with controlled weakness that activates only during high-impact collision events, enabling energy absorption when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening means are designed with specific material and geometric parameters that allow them to withstand normal operational loads while breaking under collision forces. The break force is carefully calibrated to exceed normal vibration and road shock forces but be exceeded by impact forces, creating a threshold-based reliability response.
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 solution effectively prevents component stacking in the engine compartment during collisions, enhancing energy absorption and occupant safety by allowing the support device to detach and redirect the component, thereby reducing deformation of the passenger compartment.
Implementation Method 1
said fastening means are provided to break when the support device undergoes a force greater than a predetermined threshold; said fastening means comprise at least one rivet
Implementation Method 2
a deflector which forms an inclined ramp upwards, one end portion of which extends level with the plate and one opposite end of which is inclined with respect to the plate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device (100) for supporting a motor vehicle component, comprising: - a plate (110) that is equipped with means (120) for securing a protective casing of said component, and attachment means (130) for attaching to a structural element of the chassis (300) of the motor vehicle, said attachment means being designed to break in the event of a collision involving the motor vehicle, and - a deflector (150) that forms a ramp tilted upwards, one end (171) of which extends at the height of the plate and an opposing end (172) of which is tilted relative to the plate. This device helps protect the occupant in case of a frontal impact collision by preventing rigid members from stacking up in a critical manner in the engine compartment.