Convertible Hard-Top Trunk Lid Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current convertible cars with retractable hard-tops and front engines face challenges with high trunk loading thresholds and small trunk lid openings, leading to poor trunk usability, increased weight, manufacturing costs, and potential reliability issues due to complex connection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A convertible car design featuring a retractable hard-top with a mobile separation element within the trunk, a U-shaped support body for the upper covering, and an actuating device that moves the trunk lid between closed and semi-open positions, simplifying the kinematics and reducing the load threshold while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the loading threshold of the trunk is lowered to increase the size of the opening for accessing the trunk, then the trunk accessibility is improved, but the connection mechanisms become more complex, increasing weight, manufacturing costs, and potential reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The trunk lid is divided into two separate parts: a upper covering that is hinged to the frame and a lower trunk lid that is hinged to the upper covering. This segmentation allows the upper covering to be moved independently to a semi-open position, creating a larger opening for accessing the trunk without requiring complex connection mechanisms between the trunk lid and the frame. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling improved accessibility while maintaining simple hinge connections.
2Volume of moving object
If the trunk lid is reduced in size to accommodate the retractable hard-top in the trunk, then the retractable hard-top storage is improved, but the trunk opening for accessing the trunk becomes very small, reducing trunk usability
Solution Approach 1:
The trunk lid system is made dynamic by introducing a movable upper covering that can be positioned in different states: fully closed, semi-open, and fully open. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements - when the retractable hard-top needs to be stored, the upper covering provides structural support, and when trunk access is needed, the upper covering can be moved to the semi-open position to create a larger opening. This resolves the contradiction by making the trunk lid size effectively variable rather than fixed.
3Ease of operation
If complex connection mechanisms are used to lower the trunk loading threshold and increase the opening size, then the trunk accessibility is improved, but the weight and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trunk lid is segmented into an upper covering and a lower trunk lid, each with simple hinge connections to different parts of the structure. The upper covering is hinged to the frame while the lower trunk lid is hinged to the upper covering. This segmentation allows the use of simple, lightweight hinge mechanisms rather than complex connection mechanisms, thereby improving trunk accessibility while minimizing the increase in weight and manufacturing costs.
4Area of stationary object
If complex connection mechanisms are used to lower the trunk loading threshold, then the trunk opening size is increased, but the reliability over time decreases due to greater setting complication
Solution Approach 1:
The trunk lid is divided into an upper covering and a lower trunk lid, each connected by simple hinge mechanisms. The upper covering is hinged to the frame and can be moved independently to a semi-open position, creating a larger opening area for trunk access. The segmentation allows the use of simple, reliable hinge connections rather than complex mechanisms, thereby increasing the trunk opening area while maintaining high reliability over time through reduced mechanical complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A convertible car (1) with a front engine having: a passenger compartment (2); a retractable hard-top (8); a trunk (5), which contains the retractable hard-top (8) when the retractable hard-top (8) is arranged in an open position; an upper covering (12), which is arranged over the trunk (5) and is mobile between a closed position and an open position; a trunk lid (6), which is supported by the upper covering (12) and is mobile relative to the upper covering (12); a first actuating device (19), suited to move the upper covering (12) between the closed position and the open position; a second actuating device (24), suited to move the trunk lid (6) relative to the upper covering (12) between a completely closed position, in which the trunk lid (6) completely closes the access to the trunk (5), and a semi-open position, in which the trunk lid (6) is arranged in an intermediate position between the completely closed position and a completely open position.