Vehicle Bumper Breathing Structure for Thermal Deformation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle exterior trim pieces, such as bumpers, undergo significant deformation due to temperature variations, leading to surface alignment issues and potential safety risks as they expand and contract, with existing solutions failing to effectively control these deformations within reasonable tolerance ranges.
Innovation Solution
A breathing structure comprising a bracket with snaps and stoppers, and a flange with snap slots and contraction parts, engages in a snap fit to absorb and control thermal expansion and contraction deformations, ensuring surface alignment differences between vehicle body parts remain within acceptable limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the front vehicle bumper is fixed in the grille area and fender area, then the bumper has stable positioning, but the bumper cannot release dimensional variation and suffers large deformation in the headlight area
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is divided into multiple functional elements: bracket, flange, snap, snap slot, stopper, and contraction part. Each element performs a specific function in managing thermal deformation, allowing the bumper to maintain stability in fixed areas while accommodating dimensional variation in the headlight area through controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structure allows for parameter changes in the headlight area by enabling controlled movement through snap-fit and contraction mechanisms. The snap and snap slot provide controlled displacement, while the stopper and contraction part allow for dimensional adjustment, permitting the bumper to expand and contract with temperature changes without compromising overall stability.
2Shape
If the bumper is allowed to move freely in the headlight area, then dimensional variation can be released, but surface alignment difference exceeds reasonable tolerance range
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket and flange assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed bumper sections and the headlight area. This intermediary structure controls the movement through snap-fit connections and contraction parts, mediating between the need for dimensional variation release and the requirement for surface alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional rigid mechanical connection is replaced with a compliant mechanism featuring snap-fit connections and contraction parts. This substitution allows the system to transition from rigid fixed positioning to controlled compliant movement, enabling dimensional variation while maintaining surface alignment through elastic deformation and controlled displacement.
3Strength
If rigid connection is used between bumper parts, then structural strength is maintained, but thermal expansion and contraction cause deformation and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic compliant mechanism. The snap, snap slot, stopper, and contraction part create a dynamic system that can adapt to thermal expansion and contraction, maintaining structural integrity while preventing deformation through controlled movement and energy absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The contraction part and stopper provide beforehand cushioning by creating a contraction groove that absorbs thermal stress before it can cause damage. This pre-configured compliant element cushions the impact of thermal expansion and contraction, protecting the rigid bumper structure from deformation and potential failure.
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 breathing structure effectively manages temperature-induced deformations, maintaining surface alignment within tolerance ranges, preventing damage and ensuring aesthetic and safety standards are met.
Implementation Method 1
the front vehicle bumper 2' expands and contracts as ambient temperature changes
Implementation Method 2
the snapping surface of the snap can abut against the snapping surface of the snap slot when the second part suffers a deformation, so as to absorb and control the deformation of the second part
Implementation Method 3
the front vehicle bumper 2' expands and contracts as ambient temperature changes
Implementation Method 4
the contraction part can abut against the stopper when the second part suffers a deformation, so as to absorb and control the deformation of the second part
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
Disclosed is a breathing structure of a vehicle for absorbing and controlling the deformation of the vehicle bumper caused by temperature variations, which comprises: a bracket (5) provided with at least one snap (51) and/or at least one stopper (52), and a flange (6) provided with at least one snap slot (61) and/or at least one contraction part (62). The bracket (5) and the flange (6) are also configured to be engaged each other, wherein the snap (51) and the snap slot (61) are configured to be engaged with each other, and once engaged a clearance (d) is set between a snapping surface (E) of the snap (51) and a snapping surface (F) of the snap slot (61)； and wherein the stopper (52) and the contraction part (62) are configured to be engaged with each other, and once engaged a clearance is set between the stopper (52) and the contraction part (62). In addition, a corresponding bumper assembly is also provided. The structure can ensure that the surface alignment difference between the bumper (2) and the vehicle body parts, for example a headlight, which can be controlled within a reasonable tolerance range, so as to guarantee aesthetic appearance of vehicle.