Composite Textile Structure for Vehicle Trim Fragment Protection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing textile structures for motor vehicle compartments do not effectively mitigate the spread of fragments under impact loads and require separate components for sound insulation and fragment protection, which are inefficient in terms of space, material, and assembly.

Innovation Solution

A composite textile structure integrating a sound-insulating layer and a fragment protection layer, connected via an adhesive or thermoplastic bonding, allowing for dual functionality and reduced component size, adaptable to various contours, and simplified assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate sound-insulating layer and fragment protection layer are used, then sound insulation and fragment protection functions are achieved, but device complexity and assembly steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulation and fragment protectionVSAvoidnumber of separate components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sound-insulating layer and fragment protection layer into a single integrated textile structure. The textile structure includes both functional layers working together to provide sound insulation and fragment protection simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The textile structure is designed to perform multiple functions: sound insulation, fragment protection, and adaptability to different contours. By integrating these functions into a single structure, the patent achieves multi-functionality without requiring separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate sound-insulating layer and fragment protection layer are assembled separately, then each layer can be optimized independently, but assembly time and production efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelayer optimizationVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sound-insulating layer and fragment protection layer are merged into a single textile structure that can be manufactured as one integrated component. This allows both layers to be optimized together during manufacturing while enabling single-step assembly, thereby improving production efficiency without sacrificing functional optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple separate layers are used behind cladding element, then comprehensive protection is achieved, but available space is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidspace behind cladding element
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple protective layers into a single integrated textile structure that provides both sound insulation and fragment protection. This consolidation maintains comprehensive protection effectiveness while significantly reducing the total volume required behind the cladding element compared to using separate layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 composite structure effectively absorbs sound waves and reduces fragment dispersion, optimizing space and material usage while simplifying assembly, enhancing both sound insulation and fragment protection without increasing component size or complexity.

Implementation Method 1

The textile structure (12) can be attached to the cladding element (10) by means of an adhesive layer (34, 46, 58, 600)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

The connecting layer (33, 44, 64) can be made of material that melts when heat is applied for the connecting layer, such as a hot-melt adhesive or a thermoplastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermoplastic bonding: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3638545B1Textile structure for a trim element of a motor vehicle and method for production thereof
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3638545B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3638545B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3638545B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a textile structure (12) for mounting on a rear side (11) of a trim element (10) facing away from the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, wherein the textile structure has at least one acoustic damping layer (13) and at least one fragment protection layer (14) which reduces the spread of fragments in the passenger compartment in the event that the trim element (10) is exposed to an impact-type load, and wherein the at least one acoustic damping layer (13) and the at least one fragment protection layer (14) form a composite.