Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present invention generally relates to the field of a three wheeled vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a cross vehicle beam for the three wheeled vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[002] In many countries, motor vehicles specially a three wheeled motor vehicle is a significant mode of public transportation for transporting people for last mile connectivity. Additionally, the three wheeled vehicle may include a cargo deck/loading deck in the rear portion for carrying and transporting small, medium sized goods and raw materials. Hence, three wheeled vehicles offer easy maneuverability for the narrow road condition, easy availability, and last mile connectivity.
[003] Typically, the three wheeled vehicle includes a tunnel structure or a J structure at the vehicle front dome, usually near a driver seat area. The tunnel structure or the J structure may be made up of a sheet-metal panel. Further, an instrument panel (IP) of the three wheeled vehicle may be placed on the sheet-metal panel. Furthermore, the sheet-metal panel is welded to the steering column and the body in white (BIW). Hence, the sheet-metal used to mount the instrument panel (IP) and serves the purpose of transferring a steering column load to a body in white (BIW). During impact the steering column load may be very critical for overall performance of the three wheeled vehicle. Additionally, the steering column will tend to transmit undesirably high load spikes between a road and a vehicle frame. Further, the load spikes may lead to catastrophic collapse of the steering column.
[004] Additionally, the sheet-metal panel lead to in smaller amount of a reinforcing member for mounting the instrument panel (IP) because the sheet-metal panel is of lesser thickness. Further, the sheet-metal panel results in less stiffness of the three wheeled vehicle body. However, the cost for developing the sheet-metal panel part such as a stamping part is high. Further, this leads to less design flexibility and requires more time. During side impact of the three wheeled vehicle, the sheet-metal panel deforms the instrument panel (IP). Further, the sheet-metal panel does not give adequate strength and provides less torsional stiffness for impact of the three wheeled vehicle body.
[005] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for the three wheeled vehicle which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.
OBJECTS
[006] An object of the present invention is to provide a cross vehicle beam for a three wheeled vehicle. The cross vehicle beam includes a cylindrical body arranged along the vehicle width direction. The cylindrical body includes a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion and a third cylindrical portion. The second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion are disposed laterally on either side of the first cylindrical portion. The second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion include a plurality of curved portions, whereas the first cylindrical portion is a straight portion. A steering column assembly is attached to the first cylindrical portion. A plurality of brackets is disposed laterally on either side of the second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion. The plurality of brackets may be connected to a first pillar and a second pillar of the three wheeled vehicle.
[007] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating at least one embodiment and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[008] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[009] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a three wheeled vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a cross vehicle beam, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the cross vehicle beam, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the cross vehicle beam, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5a illustrates a stiffness and a displacement analysis of a front suspension system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5b illustrates a stiffness and a displacement analysis of the front suspension bearing points, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a displacement plot analysis of a front suspension system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein can be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a cross vehicle beam (2) for a three wheeled vehicle (14). The cross vehicle beam (2) includes a cylindrical body (16) arranged along the vehicle width direction. The cylindrical body (16) includes a first cylindrical portion (6), a second cylindrical portion (4) and a third cylindrical portion (8). The second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8) are disposed laterally on either side of the first cylindrical portion (6). The second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8) include a plurality of curved portions and the first cylindrical portion (6) is a straight portion. A steering column assembly (12) attached to the first cylindrical portion (6). A plurality of brackets (10) disposed laterally on either side of the second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8). The plurality of brackets (10) may be connected to a first pillar (18) and a second pillar (19) of the three wheeled vehicle (14).
[0018] The cross vehicle beam (2) for the three wheeled vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019] Figure 1, shows the perspective view of the three wheeled vehicle (26) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 1, the three wheeled vehicle (14) includes the cross vehicle beam (2). In one embodiment of the present invention, the cross vehicle beam (2) may be arranged along the vehicle width direction to extend from the first pillar (18) to the second pillar (19) of the three wheeled vehicle (14). Generally, the first pillar (18) and the second pillar (19) of the three wheeled vehicle (14) may be the A pillars of the three wheeled vehicle.
[0020] Figure 2 depicts, the perspective view of the cross vehicle beam (28) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 2, the cross vehicle beam (2) includes the cylindrical body (16). In one embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical body (16) is arranged along the vehicle width direction. Further, the cylindrical body (16) includes the first cylindrical portion (6), the second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8). In another embodiment of the present invention, the second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8) are disposed laterally on either side of the first cylindrical portion (6). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8) include the plurality of curved portions. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first cylindrical portion (6) may be a straight portion.
[0021] Further, Figure 2 depicts the perspective view of the cross vehicle beam (28) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 2, the steering column assembly (12) is attached to the first cylindrical portion (6). In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of brackets (10) disposed laterally on either side of the second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8). In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of brackets (10) may be connected to the first pillar (18) and the second pillar (19) of the three wheeled vehicle (14).
[0022] Figure 3 depicts, the front view of the cross vehicle beam (30) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in embodiment of Figure 3, the steering column assembly (12) comprises the first bracket (20), the second bracket (21) and the steering column (13). In one embodiment of the present invention, the first bracket (20) is attached to the bottom middle portion (22) of the steering column (13) and the second bracket (21) is attached to a top lateral portion (24) of the steering column (13).
[0023] Figure 4 depicts, the side view of the cross vehicle beam (32) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments disclosed herein, the diameter of the cylindrical body (16) may be smaller from the diameter of the steering column (13). In one embodiment of the present invention, diameter of the cylindrical body (16) may be 38 mm and thickness of the cylindrical body (16) may be 1.4 mm. In another embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the steering column (13) may be 55 mm and thickness of the steering column (13) may be 4 mm.
[0024] According to embodiments disclosed herein, the cross vehicle beam (2) may be configured to mount an instrument panel (IP) along the width direction of the three wheeled vehicle (14) to extend from the first pillar (18) to the second pillar (19) of the three wheeled vehicle (14). In one embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical body (16) and the steering column (13) may be made of materials selected from a group consisting of a high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA), ultra-high strength steels (UHSS), dual-phase (DP) steels. In another embodiment of the present invention, the brackets (10) material includes a mild steel. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first bracket (20) and the second bracket (21) are made of materials including mild steel.
[0025] Figure 5a depicts, a stiffness and a displacement analysis of a front suspension system (34) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 5a, the front suspension system (34) includes the cross vehicle beam (2) and the steering column assembly (12). The stiffness and the displacement analysis of the front suspension system (34) may be based on load and boundary conditions. In one embodiment of the present invention, Table 1 shows the different loads and the boundary conditions.

Loads and Boundary conditions
3G load in Z Direction
2G load in X Direction
1G load in Y Direction
Front axil weight (FAW), 311 Kg (for passenger utility-cargo)

Table 1
[0026] Figure 5b depicts, a stiffness and a displacement analysis of the front suspension bearing points (36) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 5b, the front suspension bearing points (36) includes a front suspension upper bearing point (40) and a front suspension lower bearing point (42). In one embodiment of the present invention, the stiffness and the displacement analysis may be based on the loads and the boundary conditions (shown in Table 1) of the front suspension upper bearing point (40) and the front suspension lower bearing point (42) as shown in Figure 5b. In another embodiment of the present invention, Table 2 shows the displacement and the stiffness values of the front suspension upper bearing point (40) and the front suspension lower bearing point (42) in X, Y and Z directions. Generally, the stiffness is a measurement of how much a material or structure resists deformation once a load is applied. Additionally, the maximum displacement may be a measure of how much the material or structure can deform before reaching its failure point. Further, the relationship between the stiffness and the maximum displacement may be inversely proportional. Hence, as stiffness increases, maximum displacement decreases, and as stiffness decreases, maximum displacement increases.

Si.No Front suspension bearing points Directions Displacement (mm) Stiffness N/mm Stiffness Kg/mm
1 Front suspension lower bearing point. X 0.00819 12210.0 1244.6
Y 0.00923 10834.2 1104.4
Z 0.01285 7782.1 793.3
2 Front suspension upper bearing point. X 0.03594 2782.4 283.6
Y 0.06339 1577.5 160.8
Z 0.01294 7728.0 787.8

Table 2
[0027] Figure 6 depicts, a displacement plot analysis of a front suspension system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 6, the displacement plot analysis of the front suspension system (38) includes the cross vehicle beam (2) and the steering column assembly (12). Further, the displacement plot analysis of the front suspension system (38) may be based on the loads and boundary conditions (shown in Table 1). In one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 shows maximum displacement at a position (44) of the maximum load. In another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 shows maximum displacement valve 1mm at the position (44) intended for the maximum load 3G bump. Table 3 shows the load and the displacement value of Z direction.
Si.No Load Direction Displacement
1 3G Z 1 mm
Table 3
[0028] Advantages: The technical advantages brought in by the present invention are as follows:
• The cross vehicle beam has multiple functionalities for the instrument panel (IP) packaging, improves torsional stiffness, reduces cost and weight.
• Cost-effective way of producing the three wheeled electric vehicles with the body in weight (BIW) and the cross vehicle beam to avoid the high tooling investment for developing tools like stamping parts etc. and provides high design flexibility.
• Enhancing the vehicle stiffness by the cross vehicle beam used for mounting instrument panel (IP) and the steering column attachment.
• The cross vehicle beam design and the steering column attachment manage the energy impact in terms of both energy absorption and energy dissipation.
• Meeting the columnar strength, energy absorption and distribution of stress during the longitudinal load impact and meeting higher strength-to-weight ratio by using the high strength materials including HSLA, UHSS, DP steels.
• Increasing the packaging freedom leading to lower production cost due to the cylindrical body curved portions of the cross vehicle beam.
• The cross vehicle beam structure reduces the weight of the reinforcing structural members without reducing the strength and improves the space utilization rate.
• Design of the cross vehicle beam and the steering column may be such a way that during the road loading conditions the energy absorption and dissipation are well within the stipulated limits.
• Eliminate need of the tunnel structure or the J structure for the three wheeled vehicle.
[0029] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We claim;
1. A cross vehicle beam (2) for a three wheeled vehicle (14), the cross vehicle beam (2) comprising:
a cylindrical body (16) arranged along the vehicle width direction, the cylindrical body (16) including a first cylindrical portion (6), a second cylindrical portion (4) and a third cylindrical portion (8),
the second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8) are disposed laterally on either side of the first cylindrical portion (6),
the second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8) include a plurality of curved portions, and the first cylindrical portion (6) is a straight portion;
a steering column assembly (12) attached to the first cylindrical portion (6); and
a plurality of brackets (10) disposed laterally on either side of the second cylindrical portion (4) and the third cylindrical portion (8), wherein the plurality of brackets (10) is connected to a first pillar (18) and a second pillar (19) of the three wheeled vehicle (14).
2. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross vehicle beam (2) is arranged along the vehicle width direction to extend from the first pillar (18) to the second pillar (19) of the three wheeled vehicle (14).
3. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross vehicle beam (2) is configured to mount an instrument panel (IP) along the vehicle width direction to extend from the first pillar (18) to the second pillar (19) of the three wheeled vehicle (14).
4. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering column assembly (12) comprises a first bracket (20), a second bracket (21) and a steering column (13).
5. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the cylindrical body (16) and the steering column (13) is made of materials selected from a group consisting of a high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA), ultra-high strength steels (UHSS), dual-phase (DP) steels.
6. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first bracket (20) attached to a bottom middle portion (22) of the steering column (13) and the second bracket (21) attached to a top lateral portion (24) of the steering column (13).
7. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 1, the diameter of the cylindrical body (16) is smaller from the diameter of the steering column (13).
8. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 1, the thickness of the cylindrical body (16) is smaller from the thickness of the steering column (13).
9. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brackets (10) material includes mild steel.
10. The cross vehicle beam (2) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first bracket (20) and a second bracket (21) material includes mild steel.