Conductive Bearing Point for Tailgate Bracket Painting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bearing points for tailgates or front lid brackets require complex and costly methods to ensure current flow for electrophoretic painting, such as using magnetic tapes, which involves drilling holes and is inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A bearing point design featuring a conductive metal tailgate or front lid bar with a contact disk between the body and tailgate connections, a bolt with an axle and collar for pivotable mounting, and an insulator to maintain conductivity without interfering with rotation, allowing for efficient current flow during painting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If magnetic strips are used to ensure current flow for electrophoretic painting, then conductivity is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to drilling holes and assembling magnetic strips

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent flowVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the conductivity function and structural support function into a single integrated bearing point component made of conductive metal material. The bearing point directly provides the necessary current flow path without requiring separate magnetic strips, thereby eliminating the need for additional drilling and assembly operations while maintaining reliable electrical conductivity for electrophoretic painting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing point is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for the tailgate or front lid, enables pivoting movement, and ensures electrical conductivity for the electrophoretic painting process. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components like magnetic strips, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining all necessary functions.

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

2Reliability

If magnetic strips are used to ensure current flow, then conductivity is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent flowVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the conductivity function and structural support function into a single integrated bearing point component made of conductive metal material. The bearing point directly provides the necessary current flow path without requiring separate magnetic strips, thereby eliminating the need for additional drilling and assembly operations while maintaining reliable electrical conductivity for electrophoretic painting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a conductive metal bearing point is used, then current flow is ensured and manufacturing is simplified, but friction during pivoting may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent flowVSAvoidfriction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a bearing element (such as a bearing bush or roller bearing) as an intermediary component between the bearing point and the tailgate or front lid. This bearing element mediates the contact during pivoting movement, reducing friction and wear while allowing the conductive bearing point to maintain its electrical conductivity function. The bearing element acts as a mediator that separates the conductivity function from the friction-prone mechanical contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This design ensures reliable conductivity for painting while minimizing friction and maintaining functionality, reducing costs and complexity compared to prior methods.

Implementation Method 1

The contact disc (7), the tailgate or front flap bracket (3), the body connection (1) and the tailgate connection (2) are made of a conductive metallic material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

cathodic dip coating (e-coating) or anodic dip coating (e-coating) is used. Cathodic dip coating, also called 'cataphoresis,' is an electrochemical process in which the workpiece is coated in an immersion bath

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrophoretic deposition: Electrophoretic Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP3891323B1Bearing point for a tailgate bracket or a front flap bracket
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 PRINZ KINEMATICS GMBH
  • EP3891323B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3891323B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a bearing point for a tailgate bracket or a front flap bracket (3), wherein the tailgate bracket or front flap bracket (3) has at the one end a body connection (1) and at the other end a tailgate connection (2), wherein a contact plate (7) is arranged between the body connection (1) and the tailgate bracket or front flap bracket (3).