A plastic fender assembly structure
By designing the plastic fender assembly structure and using positioning surfaces and holes to restrict the degrees of freedom of parallel movement and rotation, the problems of precision and difficulty in the assembly process of plastic fenders were solved, achieving lightweight and precise assembly.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ANHUI JIANGHUAI AUTOMOBILE GRP CORP LTD
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing plastic fenders are difficult to assemble to ensure the required clearance and surface difference with surrounding parts, and are also difficult to adjust.
The design of the plastic fender assembly structure includes the fender body and multiple brackets. By setting positioning surfaces and positioning holes to restrict the degrees of freedom of parallel movement and rotation, precise positioning is achieved, and the adjustability of the brackets reduces the assembly difficulty.
While achieving weight reduction, it also improved the fitting precision between the fender and surrounding parts, and reduced the assembly difficulty.
Smart Images
Figure CN117508367B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive technology, and in particular to a plastic fender assembly structure. Background Technology
[0002] It is estimated that a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can save 8% to 10% on fuel, and the low density of plastics clearly offers a significant advantage. Therefore, replacing steel with plastics will inevitably be an important development direction for the automotive industry. The fender is the outer body panel that covers the front wheels, its function being to prevent sand and mud kicked up by the wheels from splashing into the vehicle's interior during driving. Traditional fenders are generally sheet metal stampings, overlapping with the front doors, side A-pillars, hood, headlights, and front bumper, resulting in complex installation and fit relationships. As an exterior covering, the fender's requirements for clearance and surface finish with surrounding components are also very high. From a performance perspective, the fender not only needs sufficient rigidity to prevent component deformation, but also cannot be too stiff to maximize pedestrian safety in the event of a collision. Furthermore, ease of maintenance and economy must be considered. These combined requirements make the fender's structural design complex, the sheet metal manufacturing difficult, and the mold costs substantial.
[0003] With the continuous development of the automotive industry and the application of lightweight technologies, more and more exterior body panels are made of composite materials. In particular, composite materials are more likely to be used in fenders to achieve complex curved surface designs, making them widely favored by OEMs. Compared with metal fenders, plastic fenders can reduce weight by at least 40%. At the same time, the good impact resistance of plastic materials can better absorb energy in the event of a collision, improving pedestrian protection performance.
[0004] Metal fenders need to be painted along with the body-in-white, so they are assembled and adjusted in the welding workshop using the doors as a reference. The headlights and front bumpers assembled later in the final assembly are also assembled and adjusted using the fenders as a reference, making the assembly and adjustment relatively easier. Plastic fenders, due to their material properties, expand when heated and shrink when cooled during production and individual painting, resulting in large fluctuations in dimensional tolerances and making deformation difficult to control. Furthermore, assembling plastic fenders in the final assembly workshop requires simultaneously considering the gaps and surface differences between them and the front doors, hood, headlights, and front bumper, making it difficult to guarantee the required gaps and surface differences, thus increasing the difficulty of assembly and adjustment. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a plastic fender assembly structure that can not only achieve lightweighting, but also improve the fender fitting accuracy, ensure the clearance and surface difference fitting requirements with surrounding parts, and reduce the difficulty of assembly and adjustment.
[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is achieved through the following technical solution:
[0007] A plastic fender assembly structure includes: a fender body, the outer edge of which is respectively provided with a front door flange structure, a front bumper flange structure and an engine hood flange structure; the front end of the inner side of the fender body is provided with a first fender bracket, a second fender bracket and a third fender bracket from top to bottom; the upper end of the first fender bracket is connected to the engine hood flange structure, and the bottom edge is not connected to the second fender bracket; the bottom end of the second fender bracket is connected to the top end of the third fender bracket; and the bottom end of the third fender bracket is connected to the front bumper flange structure.
[0008] Preferably, the front door flange structure includes: three X-axis positioning surfaces and two YZ-axis main positioning holes. The three X-axis positioning surfaces are a first X-axis positioning surface, a second X-axis positioning surface, and a third X-axis positioning surface. The YZ-axis main positioning holes are a first YZ-axis main positioning hole and a second YZ-axis main positioning hole. The first YZ-axis main positioning hole is located between the second X-axis positioning surface and the third X-axis positioning surface, and the second YZ-axis main positioning hole is located between the first X-axis positioning surface and the second X-axis positioning surface. The flange structure restricts six degrees of freedom of parallel movement and rotation to ensure the gap surface difference between the front door arc edge position of the fender and the front door.
[0009] Preferably, the front bumper flange structure includes: three Y-axis positioning surfaces, one XZ-axis main positioning hole, and one Z-axis positioning hole. The three Y-axis positioning surfaces are a first Y-axis positioning surface, a second Y-axis positioning surface, and a third Y-axis positioning surface. The XZ-axis main positioning hole is disposed on the second Y-axis positioning surface, and the Z-axis positioning hole is disposed on the third Y-axis positioning surface. The flange structure restricts parallel movement and rotation in six degrees of freedom to ensure the clearance surface difference between the arc edge position of the fender front bumper and the front bumper.
[0010] Preferably, the engine hatch flange structure includes: three Z-axis positioning surfaces, one XY-axis main positioning hole, and one Y-axis positioning hole. The three Z-axis positioning surfaces are a first Z-axis positioning surface, a second Z-axis positioning surface, and a third Z-axis positioning surface. The XY-axis main positioning hole is disposed on the third Z-axis positioning surface, and the Y-axis positioning hole is disposed on the first Z-axis positioning surface. The flange structure restricts parallel movement and rotation in six degrees of freedom to ensure the gap surface difference between the arc edge of the fender engine hatch and the engine hatch cover.
[0011] Preferably, the first fender bracket is provided with three first bracket Z-axis positioning surfaces, first bracket XY-axis main positioning holes and first bracket Y-axis positioning holes. The first bracket XY-axis main positioning holes correspond to the XY-axis main positioning holes. The first fender bracket restricts parallel movement and rotation in 6 degrees of freedom to ensure the positional accuracy of the XY-axis main positioning holes.
[0012] Preferably, the first fender bracket further includes three mounting holes, namely a first mounting hole, a second mounting hole, and a third mounting hole, all of which are large holes.
[0013] Preferably, the third fender bracket is provided with three third bracket Y-axis positioning surfaces, a third bracket XZ-axis main positioning hole, and a third bracket Y-axis positioning hole. The third bracket XZ-axis main positioning hole and the third bracket Y-axis positioning hole correspond to the XZ-axis main positioning hole and the Z-axis positioning hole, respectively. The third fender bracket restricts parallel movement and rotation in six degrees of freedom to ensure the positional accuracy of the XZ-axis main positioning hole and the Z-axis positioning hole.
[0014] Preferably, the second fender bracket is provided with a first mounting through hole and a second mounting through hole, both of which are large holes and connected to the body-in-white, so that the second fender bracket is adjustable in the XZ direction; the first mounting point and the second mounting point on the third fender bracket that are connected to the second fender bracket are also large holes, so that the third fender bracket is adjustable in the XY direction.
[0015] Preferably, the fender body, the first fender bracket, the second fender bracket, and the third fender bracket are made of plastic.
[0016] The above-described technical solution of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0017] 1. The weight of the fenders has been reduced, resulting in a lighter vehicle body, which helps to reduce the overall fuel and electricity consumption of the vehicle;
[0018] 2. Improve the fit accuracy between the fender and surrounding components;
[0019] 3. Reduce the difficulty of front-end assembly and adjustment, including the fenders. Attached Figure Description
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0021] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the plastic fender assembly of this application.
[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the positioning of the fender body and the front door.
[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the positioning of the fender body and the front bumper.
[0024] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram showing the positioning of the fender body and the engine hood.
[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning of the first fender bracket.
[0026] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the positioning of the second fender bracket and the third fender bracket assembly. Detailed Implementation
[0027] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention.
[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, a plastic fender assembly structure includes: a fender body 1, whose outer edges are respectively provided with a front door flange structure, a front bumper flange structure, and an engine hood flange structure; the front end of the inner side of the fender body 1 is provided with a first fender bracket 2, a second fender bracket 3, and a third fender bracket 4 from top to bottom; the upper end of the first fender bracket 2 is connected to the engine hood flange structure, and its bottom edge is not connected to the second fender bracket 3; the bottom end of the second fender bracket 3 is connected to the top end of the third fender bracket 4; and the bottom end of the third fender bracket 4 is connected to the front bumper flange structure. In this application, for ease of assembly and adjustment, the fender mounting holes are all designed as large through holes and cannot be used as positioning holes. The details are as follows:
[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the front door flange structure includes three X-axis positioning surfaces and two YZ-axis main positioning holes. The three X-axis positioning surfaces are the first X-axis positioning surface 22, the second X-axis positioning surface 23, and the third X-axis positioning surface 24. The YZ-axis main positioning holes are the first YZ-axis main positioning hole 25 and the second YZ-axis main positioning hole 26. The first YZ-axis main positioning hole 25 is located between the second X-axis positioning surface 23 and the third X-axis positioning surface 24, and the second YZ-axis main positioning hole 26 is located between the first X-axis positioning surface 22 and the second X-axis positioning surface 23. The flange structure restricts six degrees of freedom of parallel movement and rotation to ensure the gap surface difference between the position of the front door arc edge 21 of the fender and the front door.
[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, the front bumper flange structure includes: three Y-axis positioning surfaces, one XZ-axis main positioning hole 35, and one Z-axis positioning hole 36. The three Y-axis positioning surfaces are the first Y-axis positioning surface 32, the second Y-axis positioning surface 33, and the third Y-axis positioning surface 34. The XZ-axis main positioning hole 35 is located on the second Y-axis positioning surface 33, and the Z-axis positioning hole 36 is located on the third Y-axis positioning surface 34. The flange structure restricts six degrees of freedom of parallel movement and rotation, ensuring the clearance surface difference between the position of the front bumper arc edge 31 and the front bumper.
[0031] like Figure 4 As shown, the engine hatch flange structure includes: three Z-axis positioning surfaces, one XY-axis main positioning hole 45, and one Y-axis positioning hole 46. The three Z-axis positioning surfaces are the first Z-axis positioning surface 42, the second Z-axis positioning surface 43, and the third Z-axis positioning surface 44. The XY-axis main positioning hole 45 is located on the third Z-axis positioning surface 44, and the Y-axis positioning hole 46 is located on the first Z-axis positioning surface 42. The flange structure restricts six degrees of freedom of parallel movement and rotation, ensuring the gap surface difference between the position of the arc edge 41 of the fender engine hatch and the engine hatch cover.
[0032] like Figure 5 As shown, the XY-direction main positioning hole 45 is far from the body-in-white, so a first fender bracket 2 is added as a connecting part. The first fender bracket 2 has three Z-direction positioning surfaces: the first bracket XY-direction main positioning hole 55 and the first bracket Y-direction positioning hole 54. The three Z-direction positioning surfaces are the first Z-direction positioning surface 51, the second Z-direction positioning surface 52, and the third Z-direction positioning surface 53. The first bracket XY-direction main positioning hole 55 corresponds to the XY-direction main positioning hole 45. The first fender bracket 2 restricts six degrees of freedom of parallel movement and rotation to ensure the positional accuracy of the XY-direction main positioning hole 45. The first fender bracket 2 also includes three mounting through holes: the first mounting through hole 56, the second mounting through hole 57, and the third mounting through hole 58. All mounting through holes are large holes. In other words, to avoid the problem of hole obstruction caused by insufficient body-in-white precision and to reduce the difficulty of assembly and adjustment, the mounting through holes 56, 57, and 58 of the first fender bracket 2 are designed as large holes.
[0033] like Figure 6As shown, the third fender bracket 4 is provided with three third bracket Y-direction positioning surfaces, a third bracket XZ-direction main positioning hole 64, and a third bracket Y-direction positioning hole 65. The three third bracket Y-direction positioning surfaces are the first Y-direction positioning surface 61, the second Y-direction positioning surface 62, and the third Y-direction positioning surface 63 of the third bracket. The third bracket XZ-direction main positioning hole 64 and the third bracket Y-direction positioning hole 65 correspond to the XZ-direction main positioning hole 35 and the Z-direction positioning hole 36, respectively. The third fender bracket 4 restricts parallel movement and rotation in 6 degrees of freedom to ensure the positional accuracy of the XZ-direction main positioning hole 35 and the Z-direction positioning hole 36. The second fender bracket 3 is provided with a first mounting through hole 66 and a second mounting through hole 67, both of which are large holes and connect to the body-in-white, allowing the second fender bracket 3 to be adjustable in the XZ direction. The third fender bracket 4 also has a first mounting point 68 and a second mounting point 69 that connect to the second fender bracket 3, both of which are large holes, allowing the third fender bracket 4 to be adjustable in the XY direction. Therefore, the fender brackets are adjustable in the XYZ directions, which avoids the problem of hole obstruction caused by insufficient body-in-white precision and reduces the difficulty of installation and adjustment.
[0034] The first fender bracket 2, the second fender bracket 3, and the third fender bracket 4 are assembled in front of the fenders. During assembly, the positioning references for the first bracket's Y-axis positioning hole 54, the first bracket's XY-axis main positioning hole 55, the third bracket's Y-axis positioning hole 65, and the third bracket's XZ-axis main positioning hole 64 are all the front door hinge mounting holes. During fender body assembly, the positioning references for the first YZ-axis main positioning hole 25 and the second YZ-axis main positioning hole 26 are also the front door hinge mounting holes. The front door hinge mounting holes serve as the positioning references for the entire front fascia assembly.
[0035] The advantages of this application are:
[0036] 1. The fender body and bracket adopt the positioning benchmark of the entire front face assembly;
[0037] 2. The positioning references for the fender, front door, engine hood, and front bumper are perfect, and all 6 degrees of freedom are fully restricted;
[0038] 3. Design a fender bracket to connect the fender and the body-in-white, and relax the restrictions on the bracket installation accuracy to make it adjustable in multiple directions, so as to reduce the difficulty of installation and adjustment.
[0039] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make various different choices and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A plastic fender assembly structure, characterized in that, include: The fender body (1) has a front door flap structure, a front bumper flap structure and an engine hood flap structure respectively provided on its outer edge. The front end of the inner side of the fender body (1) is provided with a first fender bracket (2), a second fender bracket (3) and a third fender bracket (4) from top to bottom. The upper end of the first fender bracket (2) is connected to the engine hood flap structure, and the bottom edge is not connected to the second fender bracket (3). The bottom end of the second fender bracket (3) is connected to the top end of the third fender bracket (4), and the bottom end of the third fender bracket (4) is connected to the front bumper flap structure. The second fender bracket (3) is provided with a first mounting through hole (66) and a second mounting through hole (67), both of which are large holes and connected to the body-in-white, so that the second fender bracket (3) is adjustable in the XZ direction; the first mounting point (68) and the second mounting point (69) on the third fender bracket (4) that are connected to the second fender bracket (3) are also large holes, so that the third fender bracket (4) is adjustable in the XY direction.
2. The plastic fender assembly structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front door flange structure includes three X-direction positioning surfaces and two YZ-direction main positioning holes. The three X-direction positioning surfaces are the first X-direction positioning surface (22), the second X-direction positioning surface (23), and the third X-direction positioning surface (24). The YZ-direction main positioning holes are the first YZ-direction main positioning hole (25) and the second YZ-direction main positioning hole (26). The first YZ-direction main positioning hole (25) is located between the second X-direction positioning surface (23) and the third X-direction positioning surface (24). The second YZ-direction main positioning hole (26) is located between the first X-direction positioning surface (22) and the second X-direction positioning surface (23). The flange structure restricts parallel movement and rotation in six degrees of freedom to ensure the gap surface difference between the position of the front door arc edge (21) of the fender and the front door.
3. The plastic fender assembly structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front bumper flange structure includes: three Y-direction positioning surfaces, one XZ-direction main positioning hole (35) and one Z-direction positioning hole (36). The three Y-direction positioning surfaces are the first Y-direction positioning surface (32), the second Y-direction positioning surface (33) and the third Y-direction positioning surface (34). The XZ-direction main positioning hole (35) is located on the second Y-direction positioning surface (33), and the Z-direction positioning hole (36) is located on the third Y-direction positioning surface (34). The flange structure restricts parallel movement and rotation in 6 degrees of freedom to ensure the gap surface difference between the position of the front bumper arc edge (31) and the front bumper.
4. The plastic fender assembly structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The engine hatch flap structure includes: three Z-axis positioning surfaces, one XY-axis main positioning hole (45) and one Y-axis positioning hole (46). The three Z-axis positioning surfaces are the first Z-axis positioning surface (42), the second Z-axis positioning surface (43) and the third Z-axis positioning surface (44). The XY-axis main positioning hole (45) is located on the third Z-axis positioning surface (44), and the Y-axis positioning hole (46) is located on the first Z-axis positioning surface (42). The flap structure restricts parallel movement and rotation in six degrees of freedom to ensure the gap surface difference between the position of the arc edge (41) of the fender engine hatch and the engine hatch.
5. The plastic fender assembly structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first fender bracket (2) is provided with three first bracket Z-direction positioning surfaces, first bracket XY-direction main positioning holes (55) and first bracket Y-direction positioning holes (54). The first bracket XY-direction main positioning holes (55) correspond to the XY-direction main positioning holes (45). The first fender bracket (2) restricts parallel movement and rotation in 6 degrees of freedom to ensure the positional accuracy of the XY-direction main positioning holes (45).
6. The plastic fender assembly structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first fender bracket (2) also includes three mounting holes, namely the first mounting hole (56), the second mounting hole (57), and the third mounting hole (58), all of which are large holes.
7. The plastic fender assembly structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The third fender bracket (4) is provided with three third bracket Y-direction positioning surfaces, third bracket XZ-direction main positioning holes (64) and third bracket Y-direction positioning holes (65). The third bracket XZ-direction main positioning holes (64) and the third bracket Y-direction positioning holes (65) correspond to the XZ-direction main positioning holes (35) and the Z-direction positioning holes (36) respectively. The third fender bracket (4) restricts parallel movement and rotation in 6 degrees of freedom to ensure the positional accuracy of the XZ-direction main positioning holes (35) and the Z-direction positioning holes (36).
8. The plastic fender assembly structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fender body (1), the first fender bracket (2), the second fender bracket (3) and the third fender bracket (4) are made of plastic.