BMW applied for a patent for a new gear shift lever.

As the saying goes: "Lightweight is the best modification! In order to run faster, besides squeezing more horsepower, it is also an important development direction to reduce the weight of the car through the application of lightweight materials. BMW previously released a large number of HP4 made of carbon fiber. In the race, BMW seems to be ready to release HP4? RACE evolved again and introduced a brand-new patent of "carbon fiber integrated rear rocker arm".

At the Milan Auto Show at the end of 20 16, BMW made HP4, carbon fiber frame, carbon fiber rocker arm, carbon fiber wheel frame and carbon fiber subframe. The competition is crazy, and this time BMW seems ready to push the application of carbon fiber frame to a new peak. As can be seen from the patent drawing, BMW combines the carbon fiber frame and the rear rocker arm into one, and creates a lighter and harder integrated frame and rear rocker arm design through seamless connection.

BMW? HP4？ RACE uses a lot of carbon fiber products to reduce the weight of the car.

Different from the traditional design of separating the frame and the rear rocker arm, the rear suspension system is usually used as the connecting mechanism between the frame and the rear rocker arm in the traditional design. However, in BMW's patent drawing of "carbon fiber integrated rear rocker arm", the connection mechanism of rear suspension is not visible. Instead, a suspension design similar to the automobile "leaf spring" is adopted on the rear suspension body.

At present, BMW's "carbon fiber integrated rear rocker arm" seems to have several advantages and several worrying shortcomings; Advantages: This design can indeed provide excellent "lateral rigidity" and "longitudinal flexibility" in theory.

Integrated design, the frame and the rear rocker arm are integrated, and the damping structure design similar to leaf spring can be seen on the rear rocker arm structure.

Disadvantages, first of all, the fatigue durability of carbon fiber is doubtful, and the past "car god" Michael? Schumacher had a serious accident caused by carbon fiber fatigue in F 1, when Schumacher was in Laguna? The front end of Seca almost falls off one by one, which is caused by the fatigue of carbon fiber structure.

Michael. Schumacher had a serious accident because of carbon fiber fatigue.

Secondly, "vehicle counterweight" may also be a problem. In the past, automobile manufacturers have accurately calculated the front and rear weights of vehicles, but whether the integrated carbon fiber design will have a negative impact on the handling of vehicles after weight reduction may remain to be discussed; In addition, the integrated carbon fiber design will greatly increase the difficulty, working hours and cost of maintenance, which may make it more difficult for this brand-new patent to appear in the consumer market.

This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.