Vehicle Crossmember Docking End Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soundproofing solutions for motor vehicle cabins, such as soundproofing crossbars, are costly and challenging to assemble efficiently on production lines, requiring improved positioning and fixing methods to facilitate operator work.

Innovation Solution

A cross member with distinct docking ends featuring first, second, and third bearing surfaces at different levels, along with a projecting element for longitudinal positioning, facilitates assembly by providing a specific interface that matches the vehicle's shape, allowing precise indexing and welding for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If soundproofing crossbars are welded to vehicle parts with multiple bearing surfaces, then assembly precision and positioning accuracy are improved, but assembly complexity and operator difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The crossbar is provided with bearing surfaces and positioning elements (protrusions/recesses) during manufacturing, so that positioning features are prepared in advance. This allows the assembly operation to simply align and weld without complex positioning procedures during assembly, resolving the contradiction between positioning accuracy and assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The crossbar's own structure (bearing surfaces, protrusions, recesses) performs the positioning function automatically during assembly. The positioning elements engage with corresponding features on the vehicle part, creating self-aligning and self-positioning behavior that improves precision without requiring complex external positioning devices or procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If soundproofing crossbars require precise positioning features, then assembly accuracy is improved, but assembly time and production efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly accuracyVSAvoidassembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Positioning features (bearing surfaces, protrusions, recesses) are manufactured into the crossbar during production, before assembly. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming positioning adjustments during assembly, maintaining high accuracy while improving production efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Complex mechanical positioning procedures are replaced by simple geometric engagement of pre-formed positioning elements. The protrusion-recess interface and bearing surfaces automatically establish correct positioning through their geometry alone, eliminating time-consuming alignment operations and improving assembly speed without sacrificing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3209538B1Crossmember intended for contributing to the soundproofing of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 RENAULT SA
  • EP3209538B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3209538B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3209538B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a crossmember (2), configured such as to contribute to the soundproofing of a motor vehicle, wherein said crossmember includes at least one docking end (5) intended for assembling said crossmember (2) with a corresponding portion (1) of the motor vehicle. The docking end (5) includes first, second and third separate bearing surfaces (6, 7, 8) intended for engaging with said corresponding portion (1) of the motor vehicle, said second bearing surface (7) being arranged between the first and third bearing surfaces (6, 8) at a different level from said first and third bearing surfaces (6, 8).