Vehicle Dashboard Ventilation Module Assembly With Fewer Parts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dashboard assemblies for vehicles are structurally complex and difficult to assemble, requiring numerous parts and intricate connections.

Innovation Solution

A dashboard assembly design featuring a ventilation module that abuts against body-sided, side cover-sided, and central cover-sided mounting surfaces using connection features aligned in the width direction of the vehicle, allowing for simple assembly and integration with fewer components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional dashboard assemblies are designed with multiple separate components and complex connection structures, then the structural stability and functionality are improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate components (dashboard body, ventilation module, side cover part, central cover part) into an integrated assembly where the ventilation module is directly coupled to the dashboard body through a unified mounting structure. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining structural stability through the integrated design of the mounting surfaces and connection features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dashboard body is designed with universal mounting surfaces and connection features that can accommodate multiple components (ventilation module, side cover part, central cover part) using the same attachment mechanism. This multi-functional design allows a single mounting structure to serve multiple attachment purposes, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional dashboard assemblies use multiple separate components with intricate connections, then the functionality and adaptability are improved, but the ease of manufacture and assembly deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional integrationVSAvoidassembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The dashboard assembly is segmented into modular components (dashboard body, ventilation module, side cover part, central cover part) that can be manufactured separately and then easily assembled together. Each component has standardized mounting surfaces and connection features that simplify the assembly process while maintaining functional versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting surfaces and connection features are pre-designed and pre-positioned on each component during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that during final assembly, the components can be quickly attached without requiring complex alignment or additional fastening operations, thus improving ease of manufacture and assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If ventilation modules are mounted using conventional methods with multiple fasteners and alignment features, then the mechanical connection stability is improved, but the assembly time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical connection stabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential mounting function from complex multi-fastener systems and implements it through a simplified single-piece attachment mechanism. The mounting surface with integrated connection features provides stable mechanical connection without requiring multiple separate fasteners, thus reducing assembly time while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting structure is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing through the geometric design of the connection features. The components automatically align and lock into place during assembly without requiring external alignment tools or multiple fastening operations, reducing assembly time while ensuring stable mechanical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4434780B1Dashboard assembly for a vehicle, ventilation module, dashboard body, side cover part, central cover part, and method for assembling a dashboard assembly for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP4434780B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a dashboard assembly (10) for a vehicle. The dashboard assembly (10) comprises a dashboard body (12) extending at least along a width direction (W), wherein in a state in which the dashboard body (12) is mounted in the vehicle, the width direction (W) extends in parallel to a width direction of the vehicle. Moreover, the dashboard assembly (10) comprises at least one ventilation module (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d), comprising an air duct ending in an air outlet (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) being configured to discharge air into a passenger compartment of the vehicle. At least one body-sided mounting surface with a body-sided connection feature is arranged on the dashboard body (12). The body-sided mounting surface faces into the width direction (W). The at least one ventilation module (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) abuts against the body-sided mounting surface and is connected to the dashboard body (12) using the body-sided connection feature. Moreover, a ventilation module (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d), a dashboard body (12), a side cover part (20a, 20b), and a central cover part (22) are shown. Furthermore, a method for assembling a dashboard assembly (10) is presented.