Air Guide Nozzle Lip Assembly with Fracture Notch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assemblies of thin elongated lips in narrow slots, such as those used in air guide nozzles, suffer from inadequate shock absorption during impacts, leading to lip blocking and reduced absorption capabilities, which can be penalizing in vehicle impact classifications.

Innovation Solution

The assembly features an elongated thin lip with a free edge having initiating fracture notches and a rib arranged to contact the notch during assembly, causing the lip to tear upon impact, thereby preventing blocking and enhancing shock absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the lip is tightly received in the slot to ensure stable assembly, then the assembly stability is improved, but the shock absorption capability deteriorates during impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly stabilityVSAvoidshock absorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring fracture notches in the lip and positioning ribs in the slot before impact occurs. These features are designed in advance to initiate controlled tearing when the lip advances beyond the predetermined assembly position during impact, enabling the shock absorption mechanism to activate automatically when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters of the lip, specifically creating notches that reduce local thickness to 50-80% of the original lip thickness in certain zones. This parameter change creates predetermined weak points that facilitate controlled tearing during impact while maintaining adequate strength during normal assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the lip is made thinner to reduce material usage, then the manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the shock absorption capability deteriorates due to increased blocking risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidshock absorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lip into zones of different thickness - the main body maintains sufficient thickness for strength, while specific zones containing notches have reduced thickness (50-80% of original). This segmentation allows the lip to be thin enough for efficient manufacturing yet resilient enough to tear controllably during impact rather than block

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the slot is made narrower to secure the lip firmly, then the assembly stability is improved, but the lip blocking during impact worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly stabilityVSAvoidlip blocking during impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning ribs within the narrow slot at specific locations that correspond to the notches in the lip. These ribs are placed in advance to ensure that when the lip advances beyond the predetermined assembly position during impact, the ribs will contact the notches and initiate controlled tearing, preventing blocking in the narrow slot

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This design allows for controlled tearing of the lip during impact, improving shock absorption and facilitating assembly, while also stiffening the slot and promoting lip breakage for enhanced performance.

Implementation Method 1

a rib arranged so as to come into contact with the bottom of said notch during an advance of the thin elongated lip towards said first element beyond a predetermined assembly position in order to cause tearing of said elongated thin lip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStress concentration: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP3201027B1Breakable assembly of an elongate thin lip in a relatively narrow elongate slit and application of same to the assembly of an air guide on a nozzle
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 RENAULT SA
  • EP3201027B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3201027B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention concerns an assembly of a first element (2) with a second element (1), carried out by assembling an elongate thin lip (13) belonging to the second element (1) in a narrow elongate slit formed by the three sides of an elongate planar plate attached parallel to a planar wall (4) of the first element (2), characterised in that the elongate thin lip (13) has, towards the first element (2), a free edge (14) having at least one weakening notch (15) and in that the elongate slit comprises, facing said at least one notch (15), a rib (16) arranged in such a way as to come into contact with the bottom of said notch (15) when the elongate thin lip (13) moves further than a predetermined assembly position towards said first element (1).