Angled Spring Bolt Fastening for Vehicle Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening apparatuses for vehicle parts, such as rear lights, fail to maintain precise gap tolerances and increase frictional forces, leading to potential damage and reliability issues due to larger gap tolerances and increased frictional forces when dealing with lights of small height but great depth.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle design utilizing a spring bolt with a rotational axis angled between 10° to 40° relative to the XY-plane, allowing the vehicle part to be secured with a single screw connection, distributing prestressing force upward and ensuring precise alignment against the receptacle's bottom and top, with additional Z- and X-rests for enhanced bearing and reduced tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional screw connections are used for fastening vehicle parts with small height but great depth, then the fastening structure becomes simpler, but gap tolerances increase considerably and frictional forces increase undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spring bolt instead of a conventional rigid screw connection. The spring element provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the fastening system to compensate for tolerance variations in the receptacle and vehicle part mounting surfaces. This dynamic mechanism maintains precise gap targets while keeping the fastening structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the fastening system by introducing an oblique screw connection with a specific angle relative to the receptacle axis. This angular parameter change creates a mechanical advantage that reduces gap tolerances and optimizes the distribution of prestressing forces, thereby improving manufacturing precision without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional screw connections are used for fastening vehicle parts, then installation is simpler, but frictional forces between the seal and bearing points increase undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the angular parameter of the screw connection to be oblique rather than perpendicular, the patent optimizes the force distribution. This parameter change redirects part of the prestressing force upward in the Z-direction, reducing the frictional forces between the seal and bearing points while maintaining installation simplicity through the self-aligning nature of the spring bolt.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful frictional forces into beneficial upward prestressing forces through the oblique angle configuration. The friction that would otherwise damage the seal and bearing points is transformed into a useful force component that helps pull the vehicle part against the receptacle bottom, improving both sealing and structural integrity.
3Device complexity
If conventional screw connections are used, then the fastening process is simpler, but gap targets cannot be achieved and process reliability is threatened
Solution Approach 1:
The spring bolt provides dynamic adjustment capability that allows the fastening system to compensate for tolerance variations and achieve precise gap targets. This dynamic mechanism ensures reliable process outcomes while keeping the apparatus relatively simple, as the spring element automatically adjusts to the actual mounting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The oblique angle parameter of the screw connection is specifically designed to optimize force distribution and achieve gap targets. This parameter change, combined with the spring mechanism, creates a robust fastening system that reliably achieves predefined gap targets regardless of variations in manufacturing tolerances of the receptacle or vehicle part.
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 solution achieves precise and reliable fastening by minimizing gap tolerances and maintaining consistent spring force, independent of friction coefficients, and counteracts inertia when the tailgate is shut, ensuring reliable and precise vehicle part attachment.
Implementation Method 1
the spring force of the spring bolt acts permanently, independently of coefficients of friction and setting behavior
Implementation Method 2
a part of the prestressing force acts upward in the Z-direction during and after the screwing operation
Implementation Method 3
a part of the prestressing force acts upward in the Z-direction during and after the screwing operation
Implementation Method 4
If, in particular, the vehicle body comprises tailgates which can be slammed shut, the force of the spring acts counter to the inertia of the vehicle part when they are slammed shut
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle has a body, a vehicle part, and a spring bolt for fastening the vehicle part in a receptacle of the body. The rotational axis of the spring bolt is arranged in such a way that it has exactly one point of intersection with an XY plane of the motor vehicle.