Y-Shaped Bumper Bracket Stiffness in Narrow Engine Rooms

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing bumper cover fixing brackets face challenges in securing stiffness due to increased distance between the upper member and the bumper cover on vehicle bodies with narrow engine rooms, leading to reduced structural integrity and increased costs from separate reinforcement members.

Innovation Solution

A bumper cover fixing bracket design featuring a main supporting member with bent portions to support loads in X, Y, and Z-axis directions, an auxiliary supporting member with oblique welding and connection portions, and a triangle-shaped fastening member, which reduces the gap between the bumper cover and fender panel, eliminating the need for a separate reinforcement member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the distance between the upper member and bumper cover is increased to accommodate narrow engine room design, then the engine room space is reduced, but the stiffness of the fixing bracket decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine room spaceVSAvoidstiffness of fixing bracket

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing bracket is divided into two separate supporting members: a main supporting member attached to the upper member and an auxiliary supporting member attached to the wheel house front member. This segmentation allows each member to independently support loads, maintaining stiffness even when the distance between the upper member and bumper cover is increased due to narrow engine room design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary supporting member is positioned at a different spatial location (attached to the wheel house front member) rather than simply extending the main supporting member. This dimensional change creates an additional support path that compensates for the increased distance and maintains structural stiffness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If a separate reinforcement member is added to secure stiffness, then the stiffness of the fixing bracket is improved, but the cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestiffness of fixing bracketVSAvoidweight of fixing bracket

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary supporting member integrates multiple functions: it provides structural reinforcement, attaches to the wheel house front member for additional support, and connects to the main supporting member to form a composite structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate reinforcement members, reducing both cost and weight while maintaining stiffness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary supporting member serves multiple purposes: it reinforces the fixing bracket structure, provides an additional attachment point to the wheel house front member, and works in conjunction with the main supporting member to distribute loads. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9162640B2Bumper cover fixing bracket of vehicle

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A bumper cover fixing bracket mounted between a fender panel and a bumper cover includes a main supporting member having an upper end attached to an upper member, an auxiliary supporting member having a lower end connected to the main supporting member so as to form a Y-shape and an upper end attached to a wheel house front member, and a fastening member coupled to a lower end of the main supporting member and having one side and the other side mounted on the fender panel and the bumper cover, respectively.