Carbon Fiber Engine Support with Metal Intermediate Layer

Solution Overview

Problem

Snowmobiles face challenges in achieving a balance between weight reduction and structural strength and rigidity, particularly in the engine support portion, when transitioning from metal to carbon fiber-reinforced plastic materials for the vehicle body frame, as existing reinforcing structures are not adaptable across different material types.

Innovation Solution

A snowmobile design featuring an engine support portion primarily made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material, with a layered structure including a first layer, a second layer, and an intermediate layer, where the intermediate layer can be metal, providing increased strength and rigidity while maintaining lightweight properties, and utilizing through-holes for securing members to ensure firm engine and frame attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the vehicle body frame is made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material to reduce weight, then the weight of the snowmobile is reduced, but the strength and rigidity of the engine support portion may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of snowmobileVSAvoidstrength of engine support portion

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The engine support portion uses a composite structure combining carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material with metal reinforcing structures. The carbon fiber layers provide lightweight properties while the metal intermediate layer and reinforcing ribs provide the necessary strength and rigidity to support the engine weight, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle body frame uses different material compositions in different regions. The engine support portion specifically incorporates metal intermediate layers and reinforcing ribs where strength is needed, while other portions of the frame can use lighter carbon fiber construction, allowing localized optimization of strength-to-weight ratio.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Weight of moving object

If the vehicle body frame is made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material to reduce weight, then the weight of the snowmobile is reduced, but the rigidity of the engine support portion may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of snowmobileVSAvoidrigidity of engine support portion

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The engine support portion uses a composite structure combining carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material with metal reinforcing structures. The carbon fiber layers provide lightweight properties while the metal intermediate layer and reinforcing ribs provide the necessary strength and rigidity to support the engine weight, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle body frame uses different material compositions in different regions. The engine support portion specifically incorporates metal intermediate layers and reinforcing ribs where strength is needed, while other portions of the frame can use lighter carbon fiber construction, allowing localized optimization of strength-to-weight ratio.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a reinforcing structure is designed for metal material vehicle body frame, then the engine support strength is sufficient, but the structure cannot be directly adopted for carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine support strengthVSAvoidadaptability of reinforcing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The engine support portion design integrates multiple functions within a single molded structure. The carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material serves both as the primary structural component and as part of the reinforcing system, while the metal intermediate layer provides both structural support and a bonding interface, creating a universal solution that maintains strength across different material types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The engine support portion uses a composite structure combining carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material with metal reinforcing structures. The carbon fiber layers provide lightweight properties while the metal intermediate layer and reinforcing ribs provide the necessary strength and rigidity to support the engine weight, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS9682746B2Snowmobile

Publication Date: 2017.06.20 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A snowmobile includes a vehicle body frame including a left engine support portion that supports an engine. The left engine support portion includes a first layer made of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material, a second layer made of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material, and an intermediate layer located between the first layer and the second layer. The first layer, the intermediate layer and the second layer are provided with a through-hole into which a securing member that secures the engine and the vehicle body frame to each other is inserted.