Side wall outer plate anti-denting structure, vehicle body and vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses a side wall outer plate anti-dent structure, a vehicle body and a vehicle, which comprise a side wall outer plate assembly and a tail lamp mounting plate, wherein the side wall outer plate assembly and the tail lamp mounting plate are provided with a side wall outer plate anti-dent support; the side wall outer plate anti-dent support comprises a support body, the two sides of the support body are provided with flanges, the flanges are bent and extended from the two sides of the support body to the side wall outer plate assembly and are welded and fixed with the side wall outer plate assembly; a top plate is arranged on the support body, a plurality of concave rib structures are arranged on the top plate, the concave rib structures are long circular hole type concave rib structures, the long circular hole type concave rib structures are arranged along the length direction of the top plate, and the openings of the concave rib structures are directed to the side wall outer plate assembly; a filling gap is formed between the side wall outer plate anti-dent support and the side wall outer plate assembly, and the filling gap and the concave rib structures are filled with expansion glue. The problem that the gap between the existing anti-dent support and the side wall outer plate assembly cannot meet the design requirements is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive parts technology, specifically relating to a side panel anti-dent structure, body, and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] The statements in this section are merely background information related to the present invention and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] The dent resistance of the side panel assembly directly affects the vehicle's exterior appearance quality. To improve this resistance, existing side panel dent resistance brackets typically employ complex structures such as support legs and reinforcing plates. The support legs provide a rigid connection between the bracket and the inner side panel assembly, and their extension length and cross-sectional dimensions are relatively large. The reinforcing plates enhance the overall rigidity of the bracket, resulting in a relatively thick plate. Together, the support legs and reinforcing plates contribute to the significant sheet metal weight of existing side panel dent resistance brackets, increasing the vehicle's curb weight.

[0004] In addition, because the existing anti-dent support for the outer side panel is rigidly connected to the inner side panel assembly through the support legs, the entire anti-dent structure consists of two systems: the outer side panel assembly and the inner side panel assembly. This results in large tolerance accumulation, causing the gap between the support and the outer side panel assembly to fail to meet the design requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a side panel anti-dent structure, a vehicle body, and a vehicle, which solves the problem that the gap between the existing side panel anti-dent bracket and the side panel assembly cannot meet design requirements.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a side panel anti-dent structure, including a side panel assembly and a taillight mounting plate, wherein the side panel assembly and the taillight mounting plate are provided with side panel anti-dent brackets; The anti-dent support for the side panel includes a support body, with flanges on both sides of the support body. The flanges bend and extend from both sides of the support body toward the side panel assembly and are welded and fixed to the side panel assembly. The support body has a top plate with multiple recessed rib structures. The recessed rib structures are elongated oval hole-type recessed rib structures, which are arranged along the length of the top plate, and the openings of the recessed rib structures point toward the side panel assembly. A filling gap is formed between the anti-dent bracket of the side panel and the side panel assembly, and both the filling gap and the dent rib structure are filled with expanding adhesive.

[0007] As a further implementation, the plurality of concave rib structures are spaced apart along the length direction of the top plate, each of the elongated oval-shaped concave rib structures is arranged along the length direction of the top plate, and the spacing between two adjacent concave rib structures is a set length.

[0008] As a further implementation, the width of the filling gap is 2-4mm, the filling gap provides filling space for the expanding adhesive, and the expanding adhesive provides support for the side panel assembly after curing.

[0009] As a further implementation, the support body of the side panel anti-dent bracket is a flat plate structure.

[0010] As a further implementation, the support body of the side panel anti-dent bracket has an arch-shaped structure, with the middle part of the support body arching towards the side panel assembly to form an arch shape, and the flanges extending from both sides of the body towards the side panel assembly and being fixed to the side panel assembly.

[0011] As a further implementation, the top plate and the side outer panel assembly are parallel and fitted together. The supporting contact area between the top plate and the side outer panel assembly of the side outer panel anti-dent bracket is not less than two-thirds of the overall area of ​​the side outer panel anti-dent bracket. The top plate is provided with a plurality of concave rib structures, which are evenly spaced along the length of the top plate to form an adhesive groove. The adhesive groove is used to accommodate the expanding adhesive and enhance the supporting effect on the side outer panel assembly. The bracket body is provided with a weight reduction hole in the middle.

[0012] As a further implementation, the assembly tolerance between the anti-dent bracket of the side panel and the side panel assembly is ±0.2mm.

[0013] As a further implementation, the anti-dent bracket of the side panel is applied with the expanding adhesive at the dented rib structure and then fixed to the side panel assembly by resistance welding.

[0014] Secondly, the present invention provides a vehicle body including the aforementioned side panel anti-dent structure, wherein the side panel anti-dent structure is disposed in the side panel area of ​​the vehicle body, and the side panel anti-dent bracket is fixed to the side panel assembly and is not rigidly connected to the side panel assembly.

[0015] Thirdly, the present invention provides a vehicle including the aforementioned body.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and positive effects of this invention are: This invention fixes the anti-dent bracket for the outer side panel to the outer side panel assembly and the taillight mounting plate, making the anti-dent structure internal to the outer side panel assembly system. It has no rigid connection to the inner side panel assembly, fundamentally eliminating the dimensional chain accumulation problem caused by cross-system assembly in existing technologies, reducing the dimensional chain to a single layer. The anti-dent bracket body has flanges on both sides, which bend and extend from both sides towards the outer side panel assembly and are welded to it. The flange structure is simple. The top plate of the anti-dent bracket has multiple elongated hollow rib structures. These rib structures are arranged along the length of the top plate, with openings pointing towards the outer side panel assembly. The rib structures function as both structural reinforcement ribs and adhesive positioning grooves. The positioning grooves allow the expanding adhesive to cure and form a continuous and uniform support layer, effectively supporting the outer side panel assembly and significantly improving its anti-dent performance. The present invention also provides a filling gap between the anti-dent support of the side panel and the side panel assembly, and fills the filling gap and the concave rib structure with expanding adhesive. The filling gap provides space for the expanding adhesive to fill and expand, and the concave rib structure provides positioning constraint for the expanding adhesive. After the expanding adhesive is cured, it forms a large-area continuous and uniform support for the side panel assembly, effectively preventing the side panel assembly from denting and deforming, and significantly improving the anti-dent performance. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram showing the connection between the anti-dent bracket of the side panel and the taillight mounting plate in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the anti-dent structure of the outer side panel in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the anti-dent support structure of the side outer plate in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of the anti-dent structure AA of the middle side outer panel.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Side panel anti-dent bracket; 2. Side panel assembly; 3. Taillight mounting plate; 4. Bracket body; 5. Flanged edge; 6. Recessed rib structure; 7. Weight reduction hole; 8. Top plate. Detailed Implementation

[0023] It should be noted that the following detailed description is illustrative and intended to provide further explanation of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used in this invention have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0024] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of exemplary embodiments according to the invention. As used herein, unless otherwise expressly indicated by the invention, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0025] In existing technologies, there is a rigid connection between the anti-dent bracket of the outer side panel and the inner side panel assembly. This results in the anti-dent structure spanning both the outer and inner side panel assemblies, leading to a large number of dimensional chain layers and significant tolerance accumulation. Existing technologies require assembling the inner side panel assembly first, then rigidly connecting the anti-dent bracket of the outer side panel to the inner side panel assembly via supporting legs or other connecting structures, and finally assembling the outer side panel assembly and fitting it with the bracket.

[0026] This assembly process results in a dimensional chain of more than three layers between the bracket and the outer side panel assembly. The tolerance of each layer is passed on to the final clearance, causing the tolerance range of the final clearance to reach ±1.0mm or even larger, far exceeding the clearance accuracy requirements for effective support of the expansion adhesive. Furthermore, this assembly requires multiple steps at various workstations, including assembling the inner side panel assembly, connecting the bracket to the inner side panel assembly, and assembling the outer side panel assembly. Each workstation requires independent fixture positioning and welding equipment, making the assembly process complex, the production cycle long, involving numerous manual operations, and making it difficult to guarantee consistent quality.

[0027] Example 1 This embodiment provides a dent-resistant structure for the outer side panel, such as... Figures 1-4 As shown, the system includes a side panel assembly 2, a taillight mounting plate 3, and a side panel anti-dent bracket 1. The side panel anti-dent bracket 1 is mounted on both the side panel assembly 2 and the taillight mounting plate 3. By directly fixing the side panel anti-dent bracket 1 to the side panel assembly 2, this design fundamentally eliminates the dimensional chain accumulation problem caused by the side panel assembly. Specifically, the side panel assembly 2 and the taillight mounting plate 3 are first positioned on a fixture, and then the side panel anti-dent bracket 1 is directly welded and fixed to the side panel assembly 2. The entire anti-dent structure assembly is completed within the side panel assembly system and is independent of the assembly state of the side panel inner panel assembly. The gap between the side panel anti-dent bracket 1 and the side panel assembly 2 is only affected by the positional accuracy of the side panel assembly 2 itself and the welding accuracy of the bracket. Tolerances no longer accumulate, and assembly tolerances can be precisely controlled within ±0.2mm, significantly improving quality consistency and making production and installation convenient, fast, and efficient.

[0028] The anti-dent bracket 1 for the side panel includes a bracket body 4. Flanges 5 are provided on both sides of the bracket body 4. The flanges 5 bend and extend from both sides of the bracket body 4 towards the side panel assembly 2 and are welded to the side panel assembly 2. The flanges 5 provide a welding overlap surface for welding, ensuring welding strength. The bending angle of the flanges 5 is determined according to the shape of the side panel assembly 2, so that the flanges 5 can form good surface contact with the corresponding welding position of the side panel assembly 2. The width design of the flanges 5 needs to balance welding strength and lightweight requirements; if the width is too small, the overlap area will be insufficient, reducing welding strength; if the width is too large, it will increase material weight, which is not conducive to lightweighting.

[0029] By welding the flange 5 to the side panel assembly 2, the bracket is securely constrained within the side panel assembly system. Combined with the single-dimensional chain design, the assembly tolerance is controlled within ±0.2mm, ensuring that the filling gap between the bracket and the side panel assembly 2 always meets the design requirements.

[0030] The bending extension direction of the flange 5 is adapted to the outer surface direction of the side panel assembly 2, so that the flange 5 can fit tightly against the side panel assembly 2. After welding, a stable positional relationship is formed between the bracket body 4 and the side panel assembly 2. The bracket body 4 will not shift due to external force, thus ensuring the stability of the filling gap.

[0031] The flanges 5 are distributed along both sides of the bracket body 4, and the welding points are evenly arranged along the flanges 5, so that the constraint force on the bracket body 4 is evenly distributed, avoiding stress concentration problems caused by excessive or insufficient local constraint. When the side panel assembly 2 is subjected to external force, the bracket body 4 transmits the support force evenly to the side panel assembly 2 through the flanges 5, avoiding damage to the appearance of the side panel assembly 2 caused by local stress concentration.

[0032] The support body 4 is equipped with a top plate 8, on which multiple elongated oval-shaped concave rib structures 6 are provided. These concave rib structures 6 are arranged along the length of the top plate 8, with their openings pointing towards the side outer panel assembly 2. The multiple concave rib structures 6 are spaced apart along the length of the top plate 8, with each elongated oval-shaped concave rib structure 6 extending along the length of the top plate 8, and the distance between two adjacent concave rib structures 6 is a predetermined length. The elongated oval-shaped concave rib structure 6 functions as both a structural reinforcing rib and a glue-receiving groove. The concave rib structure 6 transforms the cross-sectional shape of the top plate 8 from a flat plate to an irregularly shaped cross-section with grooves, significantly improving the bending stiffness of the top plate 8 in the direction perpendicular to the outer surface.

[0033] The elongated concave rib structure 6 extends along the length of the top plate 8, ensuring a continuous distribution of reinforcing ribs along its length. This enhances the bending stiffness of the top plate 8 throughout its length, preventing localized bending deformation due to insufficient stiffness. When the support is subjected to an external force perpendicular to the side panel assembly 2, the top plate 8, reinforced by the concave rib structure 6, is less prone to bending deformation, effectively transferring the supporting force and ensuring adequate support for the side panel assembly 2.

[0034] Furthermore, the channels formed inside the concave ribs provide space for the expanding adhesive. The operator applies the expanding adhesive along the contour of the concave ribs; the shape of the channels constrains the adhesive, ensuring precise positioning within the ribs and preventing displacement. This avoids unstable support after curing due to misalignment or uneven application. After curing inside the concave ribs, the expanding adhesive forms a tight bond with the channels, which further constrain it, preventing overflow due to expansion during curing and ensuring complete filling of the concave ribs.

[0035] The recessed ribs 6 are arranged at a predetermined length to ensure even distribution on the top plate 8. If the spacing between the ribs is too large, the number of ribs will be insufficient, resulting in sparse distribution of the expanding adhesive, fewer support points, and limited support effect. Conversely, if the spacing is too small, the number of ribs will be excessive, leading to excessive rigidity of the top plate 8. This may cause stress concentration in the contact area with the side panel assembly 2, damaging the appearance of the side panel assembly 2. The predetermined spacing design ensures a moderate number of ribs and a reasonable distribution density of the expanding adhesive. Combined with the arrangement of the adhesive application grooves, the expanding adhesive can be evenly distributed along the length of the top plate 8, forming continuous support points and preventing insufficient local support that could weaken the local anti-dent performance of the side panel assembly 2.

[0036] The top plate 8 is parallel and fitted to the side outer plate assembly 2. The supporting contact area between the top plate 8 and the side outer plate assembly 2 of the side outer plate anti-dent bracket 1 is not less than two-thirds of the total area of ​​the side outer plate anti-dent bracket 1.

[0037] This embodiment significantly increases the distribution density of the expanding adhesive by increasing the support contact area to at least two-thirds. A support contact area of ​​at least two-thirds means that at least two-thirds of the area on the top plate 8 forms effective support contact with the side panel assembly 2, and the support formed after the expanding adhesive cures can cover most of the area of ​​the side panel assembly 2. The uniform arrangement of the adhesive application grooves, combined with the design of a support contact area of ​​at least two-thirds, ensures a high and uniform distribution density of the expanding adhesive on the top plate 8. When the side panel assembly 2 is subjected to external force, the support force can be evenly distributed throughout the entire support area through the large-area support, avoiding the localized stress concentration problem caused by the small number and sparse distribution of support points in the prior art.

[0038] A weight-reduction hole 7 is provided in the middle of the support body 4. The weight-reduction hole 7 effectively reduces the weight of the side outer plate anti-dent support 1 without significantly reducing the overall stiffness of the support body 4. The flange 5 areas on both sides of the support body 4 and the concave rib area of ​​the top plate 8 are the main stress-bearing areas. These areas bear large bending moments and shear forces when the support is subjected to external forces; while the middle part of the support body 4 is a relatively less stressed area in the overall support structure. The weight-reduction hole 7 in the middle of the support body 4 retains the main stress-bearing structure of the flange 5 on both sides of the support body 4 and the concave rib of the top plate 8, and also achieves weight reduction through material removal.

[0039] If the overall rigidity of the bracket body 4 is too high, stress concentration may occur in the contact area with the side panel assembly 2, resulting in excessive local stress on the surface of the side panel assembly 2, causing indentations or damage. The weight-reducing holes 7 ensure that the overall rigidity of the bracket body 4 is moderate, avoiding stress concentration in the contact area due to excessive overall rigidity, and helping to protect the surface of the side panel assembly 2 from damage. Compared with the complex structures such as support legs and reinforcing plates in the prior art, the side panel anti-dent bracket 1 of this embodiment eliminates the support legs and reinforcing plates, making the bracket body 4 simpler and significantly reducing the sheet metal weight.

[0040] A filling gap, 2-4mm wide, is formed between the anti-dent support 1 of the side outer panel and the side outer panel assembly 2. This gap provides space for the expanding adhesive, which, after curing, supports the side outer panel assembly 2. The filling gap needs to be large enough to accommodate the expanding adhesive and provide space for its expansion, but it cannot be too large to avoid occupying too much space and causing voids due to shrinkage after curing. After the expanding adhesive is applied to the recessed rib structure 6, it needs to spread through the filling gap to the entire gap area between the support top plate 8 and the side outer panel assembly 2. If the gap is too small, the expanding adhesive will not spread sufficiently and may accumulate near the recessed rib while being missing in areas away from it, resulting in uneven support after curing. The expanding adhesive will shrink to a certain extent after curing, typically between 5% and 10%. If the gap is too large, the shrinkage of the cured expanding adhesive will also increase accordingly, potentially creating voids or cracks within the support layer and reducing its support effect.

[0041] The filling gap and the concave rib structure 6 together constitute the containment system for the expanding adhesive: the concave rib structure 6 provides positioning channels, and the filling gap provides expansion space. Together, they work to form a continuous and uniform support layer between the bracket top plate 8 and the side outer panel assembly 2 after the expanding adhesive cures. The expanding adhesive fills the filling gap and the concave rib structure 6, and after curing, it forms a tight bond with the bracket top plate 8 and the side outer panel assembly 2. The continuity and uniformity of the support layer ensure the effective transmission of support force. When the side outer panel assembly 2 is subjected to an external force perpendicular to its outer surface, the force first acts on the outer surface of the side outer panel assembly 2, then is transmitted through the side outer panel assembly 2 sheet to the expanding adhesive support layer. The expanding adhesive support layer disperses the external force throughout the support area, and then transmits it through the bracket top plate 8 and the flange 5 to the welding fixing point of the side outer panel assembly 2, and finally to the vehicle body structure. The continuous and uniform support layer enables the side panel assembly 2 to receive sufficient and uniform support when subjected to external forces, effectively preventing the side panel assembly 2 from denting and significantly improving its anti-dent performance.

[0042] The assembly tolerance between the anti-dent bracket 1 and the side panel assembly 2 is ±0.2mm. This ±0.2mm assembly tolerance, combined with the 2-4mm filling gap width, ensures that the actual gap between the bracket and the side panel assembly 2 is always within the design range. The gap between the anti-dent bracket 1 and the side panel assembly 2 is only affected by the positional accuracy of the side panel assembly 2 itself and the welding accuracy of the bracket. The positioning accuracy of the side panel assembly 2 on the fixture can be controlled within ±0.1mm through precision fixture design, and the welding accuracy of the bracket can be controlled within ±0.1mm through precise welding fixtures and welding parameters. The total tolerance after combining these two factors is ±0.2mm, which meets the assembly tolerance requirements. In this embodiment, by precisely controlling the assembly tolerance to ±0.2mm, the actual gap is always within the range of 2.8mm-3.2mm. Within this range, the expanding adhesive can fully fill, expand, and form effective support, improving product quality and reliability.

[0043] After applying expansion adhesive to the concave rib structure 6, the anti-dent bracket 1 of the side panel is fixed to the side panel assembly 2 by resistance welding.

[0044] Specifically, the side panel assembly 2 and the taillight mounting plate 3 are placed on corresponding welding fixtures. The fixtures use positioning pins and clamping devices to precisely position and clamp the side panel assembly 2 and the taillight mounting plate 3, ensuring the positional accuracy of the side panel assembly 2. Then, the side panel anti-dent bracket 1 is placed on another tooling fixture. An operator or automatic glue application device applies expanding adhesive to the recessed rib structure 6 of the bracket. When the expanding adhesive fills the recessed rib groove and the amount of adhesive applied meets the design requirements, the side panel anti-dent bracket 1 is removed from the tooling fixture by a robotic arm or manually and precisely placed in the corresponding position on the side panel assembly 2. The placement of the bracket is guided by the positioning device on the welding fixture. The positioning device, by cooperating with the positioning holes or positioning surfaces on the bracket, ensures the accuracy of the bracket's placement. After the bracket is in place, the clamping device on the welding fixture clamps the bracket onto the side panel assembly 2, ensuring that the gap between the bracket and the side panel assembly 2 meets the design requirements. Finally, the anti-dent bracket 1 of the side panel outer plate is welded and fixed to the side panel outer plate assembly 2 by resistance welding.

[0045] The support body 4 of the side panel anti-dent support 1 is a flat plate structure. The top plate 8 is parallel and attached to the side panel assembly 2. The flange 5 bends and extends from both sides of the support body 4 toward the side panel assembly 2 and is welded and fixed to the side panel assembly 2. The flat plate structure allows the top plate 8 to be parallel and attached to the side panel assembly 2 over a large area. Since the top plate 8 is parallel to the side panel assembly 2 as a whole, the distance from each point on the top plate 8 to the side panel assembly 2 is completely consistent, which makes the distance from each concave rib structure 6 to the side panel assembly 2 completely consistent as well. During the adhesive application process, the filling depth and application amount of the expanding adhesive in each concave rib are consistent, ensuring the uniform distribution of the expanding adhesive in each adhesive application groove. During the curing process, because the distance from each concave rib to the side panel assembly 2 is consistent, the expansion space and degree of expansion of the expanding adhesive in each adhesive application groove are consistent, resulting in a completely consistent thickness of the support layer after curing. The uniformity of the support layer thickness ensures the uniformity of the support force distribution: when the side panel assembly 2 is subjected to external force, the support force at each support point is consistent, avoiding the problem of excessively strong or weak local support caused by inconsistent support layer thickness, thus maintaining the dent resistance performance of the side panel assembly 2 consistently throughout the support area. After the expanding adhesive is applied to the recessed rib structure 6, it diffuses outwards through the gaps. Due to the uniform gaps, the diffusion resistance of the expanding adhesive is consistent in all directions, resulting in a consistent diffusion speed and uniform filling throughout the gap area. During the curing process, due to the uniform gaps, the expanding adhesive has consistent expansion space and degree of expansion at various locations, forming a support layer of uniform thickness after curing. The uniform gaps and the uniform expanding adhesive support layer work together to ensure that the side panel assembly 2 receives uniform support force, preventing local accumulation or loss of expanding adhesive due to uneven gaps, further improving the stability of the dent resistance performance.

[0046] The flange 5 extends from both sides of the flat support body 4 towards the side outer panel assembly 2, providing a welding lap surface for welding. Since the support body 4 is flat, the bending angle of the flange 5 is fixed, typically 90 degrees, and the bending lines are distributed in a straight line along both sides of the support body 4, simplifying the flange 5 forming process. The lap surface between the flange 5 and the side outer panel assembly 2 is planar, resulting in a large contact area and high welding strength. Combined with a single-dimensional chain design, the assembly tolerance of the flat structure can be stably controlled within ±0.2mm, ensuring that the gap between the flat top plate 8 and the side outer panel assembly 2 precisely meets design requirements.

[0047] The support body 4 of the side panel anti-dent support 1 can also be an arch-shaped structure. The middle of the support body 4 arches towards the side panel assembly 2 to form an arch shape. The flanges 5 bend and extend from both sides of the support body 4 towards the side panel assembly 2 and are fixed to the side panel assembly 2. The cross-section of the support body 4 along its length is arch-shaped, with the middle protruding towards the side panel assembly 2, and both ends fixed to the side panel assembly 2 through the flanges 5, forming a prestressed arch structure as a whole. The arch-shaped structure has significantly higher structural stiffness compared to the flat plate structure.

[0048] In this embodiment, the bow-shaped bracket body 4, when subjected to an external force perpendicular to the outer surface of the side panel assembly 2, transmits the force to the bracket top plate 8 through the expanding adhesive support layer. Since the bracket top plate 8 is bow-shaped, the bending moment generated at the top of the bow is transformed into pressure along the bow direction through the geometry of the bow structure. This pressure is transmitted along the bow curve to both ends and finally to the side panel assembly 2 through the flange 5. Under the same material thickness and weight conditions, the bow-shaped structure has a significantly higher load-bearing capacity than the flat plate structure, providing stronger anti-dent support for the side panel assembly 2, making it particularly suitable for vehicle side panel areas with higher anti-dent performance requirements. The middle of the bow-shaped bracket body 4 arches towards the side panel assembly 2, causing the filling gap between the middle of the bracket and the side panel assembly 2 to change compared to the flat plate structure.

[0049] The gap between the top of the arch and the outer side panel assembly 2 is the smallest, close to the lower limit of the gap width of 2mm. Along the arch curve towards both ends, the gap gradually increases, reaching the upper limit of the gap width of 4mm near the flange 5. This gradually increasing gap distribution creates unique conditions for the filling and curing of the expanding adhesive. After being applied to the concave rib structure 6, the expanding adhesive diffuses outwards through the gaps. Due to the gradually increasing gap distribution, the diffusion resistance of the expanding adhesive is greater in the area of ​​the top of the arch and less in the area near the flange 5. The expanding adhesive preferentially diffuses towards the area with less diffusion resistance, ultimately forming a distribution that conforms to the shape of the gap throughout the entire gap area.

[0050] After the expanding adhesive cures, it forms a wedge-shaped support that conforms to the arc-shaped surface. The support layer at the top of the arc is thinner but denser, while the support layer near the flange 5 is thicker but less dense. When the side panel assembly 2 is subjected to a small external force, the thin, high-density support at the top of the arc first contacts the side panel assembly 2 and transmits the supporting force. Due to the small contact area, the contact stress is relatively large, but because the support layer has a high density, it can withstand the large contact stress without damage, effectively preventing the initial deformation of the side panel assembly 2. As the external force increases, the side panel assembly 2 undergoes slight deformation, and the contact area with the wedge-shaped support gradually increases, expanding along the arc curve to both ends. The thicker, low-density support near the flange 5 gradually participates in the support, and the supporting force gradually increases. This characteristic of the contact area increasing with the increase of the external force creates a progressive support effect in the arc-shaped structure, effectively preventing sudden and large-scale depressions in the side panel assembly 2.

[0051] The design of the flange 5 in the bow-shaped structure is more complex than that of the flat structure. Since the support body 4 is bow-shaped, the bending starting point of the flange 5 is located at both ends of the bow curve. The bending direction needs to be coordinated with the bow-shaped structure to ensure that the flange 5 can fit well with the corresponding welding position of the side outer panel assembly 2. The bending angle and extension length of the flange 5 need to be adapted to the side outer panel assembly 2, so that the flange 5 can provide a reliable welding overlap surface and coordinate with the side outer panel assembly 2. The anti-dent bracket 1 of the side outer panel is welded and fixed to the side outer panel assembly 2 through the flange 5, with an assembly tolerance of ±0.2mm, ensuring that the gap between the bow-shaped top of the bow-shaped structure and the side outer panel assembly 2 precisely meets the design requirements, guaranteeing effective filling and support of the expansion adhesive. A weight-reducing hole 7 is provided in the middle of the bow-shaped support body 4, reducing weight while ensuring the overall rigidity of the bow-shaped structure, achieving a lightweight design. Due to its high rigidity, the bow-shaped structure can use a thinner plate thickness under the same load-bearing capacity requirements. With the addition of the weight-reducing holes 7, the weight of the bow-shaped structure is comparable to that of the flat plate structure, but its dent resistance is significantly better than that of the flat plate structure.

[0052] Example 2 This embodiment provides a vehicle body; a side panel anti-dent structure is provided in the side panel area of ​​the vehicle body, and the side panel anti-dent bracket 1 is fixed to the side panel assembly 2 and is not rigidly connected to the side panel assembly. The side panel area of ​​the vehicle body is easily subjected to external forces during vehicle use, and has high requirements for anti-dent performance. External forces include: impacts when the door is opened and closed, collisions with pedestrians or objects, water pressure impacts during car washing, etc. Although these external forces are not large in a single instance, frequent action will cause cumulative deformation of the side panel assembly 2, eventually forming obvious dents and affecting the appearance quality of the vehicle body.

[0053] In this embodiment, the anti-dent structure of the outer side panel forms a single system with the anti-dent bracket 1 and the outer side panel assembly 2, making the outer side panel assembly system completely independent during assembly and unaffected by the assembly state of the inner side panel assembly, thus fundamentally eliminating the influence of cross-system assembly errors on the anti-dent gap.

[0054] During the vehicle body manufacturing process, the outer side panel assembly and the inner side panel assembly are usually manufactured on different production lines, and there are certain errors in the manufacturing and assembly precision of both. In the prior art, because the anti-dent bracket of the outer side panel is rigidly connected to the inner side panel assembly, the assembly error of the inner side panel assembly will be directly transmitted to the bracket, thus affecting the gap between the bracket and the outer side panel assembly, making it difficult to guarantee the gap precision.

[0055] This embodiment eliminates the rigid connection between the outer side panel anti-dent bracket 1 and the inner side panel assembly, cutting off the error transmission path. Assembly errors in the inner side panel assembly no longer affect the gap between the bracket and the outer side panel assembly 2. The gap accuracy depends solely on the manufacturing and assembly accuracy of the outer side panel assembly system itself, making it easy to control. The anti-dent structure of the outer side panel, previously composed of two systems, is now implemented within the outer side panel assembly system, reducing the dimensional chain to one layer and lowering the assembly tolerance to ±0.2mm. Assembly can be completed in just two steps at a single workstation, making production and installation convenient, fast, and efficient.

[0056] In existing technologies, the assembly of the anti-dent structure of the outer side panel needs to be carried out after the assembly of the inner side panel assembly is completed. This requires multiple stations and processes, resulting in a complex assembly process, long production cycle, high requirements for production line flexibility, and high manufacturing costs. In this embodiment, the assembly of the anti-dent structure of the outer side panel is completed entirely within the outer side panel assembly system. It can be completed directly in the manufacturing process of the outer side panel assembly without waiting for the inner side panel assembly. This simplifies the assembly process, shortens the production cycle, reduces the requirements for production line flexibility, and lowers manufacturing costs.

[0057] The dent resistance of the aforementioned side panel outer body structure is primarily due to: a design where the support contact area is at least two-thirds of the total area, ensuring sufficient support for the side panel assembly 2 throughout the entire support region. When subjected to external forces, these forces are evenly distributed across the large support area, preventing localized stress concentration and effectively preventing dent deformation. The continuous and uniform support layer formed after the expansion adhesive cures ensures effective transmission of support force. When the side panel assembly 2 is subjected to external forces, the support layer responds quickly, distributing the force throughout the entire support area, resulting in stable and reliable support. Precise control of assembly tolerances (±0.2mm) ensures that the gap between the bracket and the side panel assembly 2 always meets design requirements, maintaining stable support performance without fluctuations due to gap deviations. These factors combined significantly enhance the dent resistance of the side panel assembly 2. During vehicle use, the side panel assembly 2 is less prone to dent deformation, maintaining good appearance quality, resulting in a high-quality vehicle body and a long service life.

[0058] In this embodiment, the side panel anti-dent bracket 1, through structural optimization and the setting of weight reduction holes 7, reduces the sheet metal weight while ensuring anti-dent performance, achieving a weight reduction of more than 50% compared to existing brackets. Multiple side panel anti-dent brackets are typically found on the vehicle body, significantly contributing to vehicle lightweighting.

[0059] Example 3 This embodiment provides a vehicle including the aforementioned body structure, whose side panel anti-dent structure has excellent anti-dent performance, resulting in good body appearance quality, high reliability, and long service life. The long-term maintenance of the body appearance quality allows the vehicle to maintain a good appearance even after many years of use, resulting in high resale value and enhancing the vehicle's overall value. The reduction in body weight helps improve fuel economy or driving range and reduces operating costs. For gasoline vehicles, a 10% reduction in body weight can reduce fuel consumption by 6%-8%; for electric vehicles, a 10% reduction in body weight can increase driving range by 5%-7%. While the side panel anti-dent structure 1 in this embodiment reduces weight by more than 50%, its contribution to the total body weight is limited. However, combined with other lightweighting measures, it can achieve a significant reduction in total body weight, a significant improvement in fuel economy or driving range, and a significant reduction in operating costs.

[0060] The independent assembly of the side panel assembly system optimizes the overall vehicle manufacturing process in several ways: First, the simplified assembly process makes the production line layout more compact, reduces the floor space, and lowers factory investment. Second, the reduction in assembly stations lowers equipment investment and maintenance costs. Finally, the shortened assembly cycle time increases production line capacity, output per unit time, and production efficiency. These factors work together to significantly reduce overall vehicle manufacturing costs and significantly enhance product competitiveness. The assembly process in the side panel area is greatly simplified, assembly precision is significantly improved, and the overall quality of the vehicle body is more stable and reliable. The improved assembly precision is reflected not only in the anti-dent structure of the side panel itself but also in the overall assembly precision of the side panel area. Because the assembly of the anti-dent structure of the side panel is completed entirely within the side panel assembly system, the assembly of the side panel assembly is no longer affected by the assembly status of the inner side panel assembly. The assembly precision of the side panel assembly is easier to control, the overall assembly precision of the side panel area is improved, and the overall quality of the vehicle body is more stable and reliable.

[0061] While the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications or variations that can be made by those skilled in the art without creative effort based on the technical solutions of the present invention are still within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A side panel anti-dent structure, characterized in that, The assembly includes a side panel assembly and a taillight mounting plate, wherein the side panel assembly and the taillight mounting plate are fitted with side panel anti-dent brackets; The anti-dent support for the side panel includes a support body, with flanges on both sides of the support body. The flanges bend and extend from both sides of the support body toward the side panel assembly and are welded and fixed to the side panel assembly. The support body has a top plate with multiple recessed rib structures. The recessed rib structures are elongated oval hole-type recessed rib structures, which are arranged along the length of the top plate, and the openings of the recessed rib structures point toward the side panel assembly. A filling gap is formed between the anti-dent bracket of the side panel and the side panel assembly, and both the filling gap and the dent rib structure are filled with expanding adhesive.

2. The anti-dent structure of the side outer panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of concave rib structures are spaced apart along the length of the top plate, and each of the oblong hole-shaped concave rib structures is arranged along the length of the top plate, with the spacing between two adjacent concave rib structures being a predetermined length.

3. The anti-dent structure of the side outer panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the filling gap is 2-4mm. The filling gap provides space for the expanding adhesive. After the expanding adhesive is cured, it provides support for the side panel assembly.

4. The anti-dent structure of the side panel outer plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support body of the side panel anti-dent bracket is a flat plate structure.

5. The anti-dent structure of the side panel outer plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support body of the anti-dent bracket of the side panel is an arch-shaped structure. The middle part of the support body arches towards the side panel assembly to form an arch shape. The flanges bend and extend from both sides of the body towards the side panel assembly and are fixed to the side panel assembly.

6. The anti-dent structure of the side panel outer plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top plate and the side outer panel assembly are parallel and fitted together. The supporting contact area between the top plate and the side outer panel assembly of the anti-dent bracket of the side outer panel is not less than two-thirds of the overall area of ​​the anti-dent bracket of the side outer panel. The top plate is provided with a plurality of concave rib structures, which are evenly spaced along the length of the top plate to form an adhesive groove. The adhesive groove is used to accommodate the expanding adhesive and enhance the supporting effect on the side outer panel assembly. The bracket body is provided with a weight reduction hole in the middle.

7. The anti-dent structure of the side panel outer plate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The assembly tolerance between the anti-dent bracket of the side panel and the side panel assembly is ±0.2mm.

8. The anti-dent structure of the side outer panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the expansion adhesive is applied to the concave rib structure, the anti-dent bracket of the side panel is fixed to the side panel assembly by resistance welding.

9. A vehicle body, characterized in that, The invention includes a side panel anti-dent structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the side panel anti-dent structure is disposed in the side panel area of ​​the vehicle body, and the side panel anti-dent bracket is fixed to the side panel assembly and is not rigidly connected to the side panel assembly.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the vehicle body as described in claim 9.

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