Crossbeam Towing Lug Receiver With Self-Locking Side Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crash management systems for motor vehicles require the receiving element for a towing lug to be fully disposed within the cross section of the crossbeam, limiting flexibility and ease of attachment, particularly outside of crash boxes.
Innovation Solution
The receiving element is positioned on the crossbeam such that at least part of it is outside the cross section, using specially shaped receiving openings and a correspondingly shaped extruded aluminum or aluminum alloy element, ensuring a self-locking and cost-effective attachment method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the receiving element is fully disposed within the cross section of the crossbeam, then the attachment structure is compact and clean, but the flexibility and ease of attachment are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving element extends beyond the crossbeam cross-section in the transverse direction, utilizing spatial dimensionality to achieve both flexibility and structural integrity. This allows the receiving element to be accessible from the side while maintaining secure attachment through the crossbeam.
2Ease of operation
If the receiving element is positioned outside the cross section of the crossbeam, then flexibility and accessibility are improved, but the risk of the element dropping out or rotating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving element features an asymmetric cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the receiving opening in the crossbeam. This asymmetric geometry provides a self-locking effect that prevents rotation and dropping out while allowing easy insertion from the accessible side.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving element is designed to be self-retaining through its geometric shape, eliminating the need for additional locking mechanisms. The element automatically prevents itself from rotating or falling out due to the shape-complementary fit with the receiving opening.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional circular receiving openings are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the receiving element cannot be securely positioned or prevented from rotating
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving opening and receiving element use asymmetric cross-sectional shapes instead of circular forms. This asymmetry enables positive positioning and prevents rotation while remaining compatible with extrusion manufacturing processes for both the crossbeam and receiving element.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a crash management system (100) for a motor vehicle, the crash management system (100) comprising: a crossbeam (10) having a front wall (16), a rear wall (18) and at least two transverse walls (19, 20) connecting the front wall (16) to the rear wall (18) and forming a closed cross section of the crossbeam (10); crash boxes (12) disposed at a distance from each other and connected to the crossbeam (10) and configured to connect the crossbeam (10) to a vehicle structure; and a receiving element (25) for attaching a towing lug, the receiving element (25) being connected to the crossbeam (10) laterally next to one crash box (12), the crossbeam (10) having respective receiving openings (47, 48) in the area of its front wall (16) and its rear wall (18), each receiving opening (47, 48) being adapted to the cross section of the receiving element (25).