Acute-Angle Locking Profile for Vehicle Water Tank Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing profile elements for connecting vehicle windows to water tanks require high assembly forces, risk detachment due to mechanical or thermal loads, and can cause annoying noises as soft-elastic support elements lose elasticity over time, complicating maintenance and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A profile element with a locking element arranged at an acute angle to the joining direction, forming a barb that easily engages the water tank rib during assembly but requires significant force to disengage, ensuring secure fixation and reducing assembly forces, and featuring a combination of soft and hard materials for enhanced stability and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional profile elements are used to connect the water tank to the vehicle window, then the water tank is securely fixed, but high assembly forces are required that risk detaching the profile body from the vehicle window
Solution Approach 1:
The profile body is divided into a hard support area for bonding to the vehicle window and a soft locking area for engaging the water tank rib. This segmentation allows the hard area to resist detachment while the soft area reduces assembly forces through elastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element's material properties are changed to be soft and elastic, allowing it to deform during assembly and release during removal. This parameter change enables low assembly forces while maintaining secure fixation through the barb mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If soft-elastic support elements are used to support the profile element relative to the body, then assembly is facilitated, but annoying noises occur as the elements lose elasticity over time
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful soft-elastic support elements are completely removed from the design. Instead, a hard support area provides structural support while a soft locking element only engages the water tank rib, eliminating the source of annoying noises while maintaining assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft locking element is designed as a consumable component that performs its function during assembly and then maintains a stable mechanical lock, replacing the need for long-lasting elastic support elements that generate noise when degrading.
3Strength
If high assembly forces are applied to secure the water tank, then the water tank is firmly fixed, but the connection between the profile element and vehicle window is stressed and may detach
Solution Approach 1:
The profile body is segmented into distinct functional areas: a hard support area that bonds to the vehicle window and resists detachment, and a soft locking area that engages the water tank rib with minimal force through elastic deformation and barb mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft locking element acts as an intermediary between the water tank rib and the profile body, absorbing assembly forces through elastic deformation and transferring only minimal stresses to the bond connection while maintaining firm water tank fixation.
4Ease of manufacture
If the profile element is designed without support relative to the body, then manufacturing and assembly costs are reduced, but the profile may detach from the vehicle window during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The profile body is segmented into a hard support area that provides minimal structural support for bonding stability and a soft locking area that performs the primary fixation function, eliminating the need for complex support structures while maintaining attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The material hardness parameter is varied within the profile body, creating a hard support area for stable bonding and a soft locking area for easy engagement, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable attachment during assembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The profile element allows for quick and easy assembly of the water tank with reduced assembly forces, ensuring secure fixation against mechanical and thermal stresses, eliminating noise issues, and allowing for easy removal without damaging the profile element.
Implementation Method 1
at least one locking element (70) for the rib (51) is designed in such a way that it facilitates insertion of the rib (51) into the locking recess (60) in a first direction (R1), but makes it difficult to pull the rib (51) out of the locking recess (60) in an opposite direction (R2)
Implementation Method 2
The profile element has a first section (20) which can be fixed to the vehicle window (40) and a second section (30) which has or forms a locking recess (60)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a profile element (10) for connecting a vehicle pane (40) to a water tank (50), having a first segment (20) that can be fixed to the vehicle pane, and a second segment (30) forming a latching recess (60) for removably attaching the water tank (50). The water tank (50) comprises a rib (51) that can be fixed by adhesive or form fit in the latching recess (60), and at least one sealing element (90) forming a substantially smooth and flush transition between the vehicle pane (40) and the water tank (50) in the installed position of the water tank (50). In order to ensure simple and fast assembly of the water tank, without loading the connection between the profile element and the vehicle pane, at least one latching element (70) designed such that it is easier to insert the rib (51) of the water tank (50) into the latching recess (60) in a first direction (R1), while it is more difficult to remove the rib (51) from the latching recess (60) in the opposite direction (R2).