Convertible Top Lid Fixing System Transverse Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing systems for convertible top compartment lids in passenger cars struggle to align the lid transversely to the vehicle's longitudinal direction effectively, particularly in compensating for manufacturing tolerances while maintaining ease of implementation and low noise operation.
Innovation Solution
The proposed fixing system utilizes a sliding element and insertion support, with adjustable features such as slotted openings for screws and an eccentric disk, allowing for transverse adjustment to compensate for tolerances, and incorporates a noise-insulating covering cap to ensure low-noise interaction between the sliding element and insertion support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixing system with sliding element and insertion support is used to align the convertible top compartment cover, then the alignment function is achieved, but manufacturing tolerances cause misalignment issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an adjustable fixing system where the sliding element can be positioned at different locations along the insertion support. This adjustability allows the system to compensate for manufacturing tolerances by changing the effective parameters of the fixing mechanism, ensuring proper alignment despite variations in manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one by allowing the sliding element to move along the insertion support. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to tolerance variations and achieve optimal alignment, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and tolerance compensation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustment mechanisms like slotted openings and eccentric disks are added to compensate for tolerances, then tolerance compensation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system is divided into modular components: the sliding element, the insertion support with slotted openings, and the eccentric disk. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The slotted openings provide adjustment capability without requiring complex mechanisms, and the eccentric disk offers easy-to-implement tolerance compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding element acts as an intermediary between the convertible top compartment cover and the insertion support. It translates the adjustment capabilities provided by the slotted openings and eccentric disk into precise positioning, enabling tolerance compensation while keeping the overall system relatively simple through this mediating component.
3Reliability
If the sliding element interacts directly with the insertion support, then the fixing function is achieved, but noise is generated during operation
Solution Approach 1:
A lining cap is introduced as an intermediary element between the sliding element and the insertion support. This lining cap serves as a mediator that maintains the fixing function while reducing direct metal-to-metal contact, thereby minimizing noise generation during operation without compromising the reliability of the fixing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The lining cap is a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily replaced if worn. It provides noise reduction functionality through its material properties (likely rubber or plastic) without requiring complex engineering, embodying the principle of using simple, replaceable components to address harmful effects like noise.
Data Source
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AI summary
This fixing system (26) is designed for a convertible top compartment lid (19) of a passenger car equipped with a folding convertible top. The fixing system acts between the convertible top compartment lid and a fixed structural element (23, 24) of the body. To optimize the fixing system, it aligns the convertible top compartment lid (19) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the fixing system has at least one upright sliding element (29, 31) on the convertible top compartment lid, which is operatively connected to a corresponding insertion support (30, 32) of the structural element.