Arcuate Vehicle Frame Structure to Prevent Wrinkles in Seat Back Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-strength steel sheets used in vehicle frame components form wrinkles when curved in an arcuate shape, which can interfere with other components and reduce the strength of the frame, making it challenging to create a wide knee space for third-row seat occupants while avoiding wrinkles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle frame component design featuring side wall portions and a connecting portion with a curved and bowed arcuate shape, where the connecting-side protruding portion protrudes into the space between the side wall portions, receiving support from side wall-side protruding portions to prevent wrinkle formation, and the boundary portions are bent to form a U-shape for integration and reduced manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a high-tensile steel sheet is subjected to a drawing process to be bowed in an arcuate shape, then it is possible to arrange the lower back portion of the second-row seat forward and increase the knee space for third-row occupants, but wrinkles are formed in the steel sheet which may interfere with other components or decrease the strength of the vehicle frame component
Solution Approach 1:
A curved guide member is introduced to preliminarily guide and support the steel sheet during the drawing process. The guide member has a curved surface that matches the desired arcuate shape, providing continuous support to prevent wrinkles from forming during the forming operation. This preliminary guidance action ensures the steel sheet is bowed into the correct shape without surface defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved guide member acts as an intermediary element between the drawing tools and the high-tensile steel sheet. It mediates the forming process by providing a smooth curved surface that the steel sheet contacts during deformation, distributing the forming forces evenly and preventing localized stress concentrations that would cause wrinkles.
2Volume of moving object
If the back frame is curved rearward in an arcuate shape through drawing process, then the lower back portion can be arranged forward to increase knee space, but the forming process becomes complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide member is prepared in advance and positioned in the drawing press before the steel sheet is introduced. This preliminary setup allows the standard drawing press to be used without modification, simplifying the manufacturing process while still achieving the complex arcuate shape through the guide member's predetermined curved surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved guide member is designed to work with standard, existing drawing press equipment. By using a simple curved component rather than modifying the press itself, the solution leverages existing manufacturing capabilities, reducing the need for specialized or complex forming equipment.
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 design allows for a wide knee space in third-row seats without forming wrinkles in high-tensile steel sheets, maintaining strength and reducing manufacturing costs by minimizing components and simplifying the forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a steel sheet is deformed into a curved shape of the back frame by drawing the steel sheet such that the steel sheet is bowed in an arcuate shape through the drawing process in press working
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle frame component has two side wall portions arranged to face each other and a connecting portion that connects edges of the two side wall portions, and that forms a framework of a vehicle component. A connecting-side protruding portion that protrudes into a space between the two side wall portions while extending along a direction in which the connecting portion extends is formed in at least part of the connecting portion, and at least part of the connecting portion is formed in a shape in which the connecting portion is curved in an arcuate shape and leaned in a direction opposite to a direction in which the connecting-side protruding portion protrudes.