Vehicle Cross-member Tactile Guide Corridor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door longitudinal crosspieces make it difficult for factory workers to quickly and accurately attach equipment due to limited accessibility and visibility of fixing zones, especially when access openings are small and offset from the crosspiece.

Innovation Solution

A longitudinal door crosspiece with elongated reliefs forming a guide corridor, allowing operators to feel and guide equipment to the receiving hole without needing to see it, and a receiving hole with varying widths to facilitate easy insertion and secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the access opening in the interior panel is small and offset with respect to the crosspiece, then the structural integrity and design flexibility of the door are improved, but the accessibility and visibility for attaching equipment to the crosspiece deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidaccessibility for attaching equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide corridor acts as an intermediary element between the access opening and the receiving hole. It provides tactile guidance through the relief features, allowing operators to locate and access the receiving hole without direct visibility, thus mediating between the constrained access opening and the equipment attachment requirement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the access opening is offset with respect to the crosspiece, then the design flexibility of the door is improved, but the visibility of the fixing zone deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidvisibility of fixing zone

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces visual detection (optical system) with tactile detection (mechanical system). The guide corridor with relief features provides tactile cues that allow operators to locate the receiving hole through touch alone, substituting the need for visual visibility with a mechanical sensing approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If the receiving hole is positioned away from the access opening, then the structural design of the crosspiece is improved, but the time required to attach equipment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural designVSAvoidtime to attach equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide corridor is prepared in advance on the crosspiece, creating a pre-established tactile pathway that directs operators to the receiving hole. This preliminary arrangement of guide features reduces the time needed to locate and attach equipment, as the pathfinding action is already structured into the component design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3625071B1Cross-member with integrated fixing guide

Publication Date: 2021.06.02 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

Cross-member (5) comprising a receiving hole (51) for fixing an item of equipment, notable in that said cross-member (5) comprises two longitudinal reliefs (52) forming a guide corridor (54) between them, at least part of the receiving hole (51) being in alignment with said guide corridor (54).