Deformable Abutment Spacer for Vehicle Bodywork Shock Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temporary spacer devices for motor vehicle bodywork components, such as doors and tailgates, are prone to damage due to poor resistance against the forces and stresses exerted during installation and transport, leading to shocks and potential deformation or rupture.

Innovation Solution

A temporary spacer device with a deformable abutment capable of elastic deformation along a longitudinal axis, featuring a rounded head and throttle zone for improved force distribution, and an elastic retaining lug for secure locking, fabricated from thermoplastic material to withstand high temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid abutment is used in the temporary spacer device, then the mechanical solidity and structural strength are improved, but the device becomes vulnerable to damage from shocks and forces during installation and transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical solidityVSAvoidresistance to shocks
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The abutment's rigidity parameter is changed by introducing an elastic deformable part that can dynamically adjust its stiffness. This part is designed to deform elastically under shock loads while maintaining structural integrity, transforming the abutment from a purely rigid structure to one with controlled flexibility that absorbs impact energy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The abutment is constructed as a composite structure combining a rigid base for structural support with an elastic deformable part for shock absorption. This composite design integrates materials with different mechanical properties to simultaneously achieve both strength and impact resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the abutment is designed to be highly resistant to forces, then the protection against deformation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to forcesVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The abutment is segmented into distinct functional zones: a rigid base portion for structural support and anchoring, and an elastic deformable part for shock absorption. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall design compared to a uniformly complex structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the abutment are assigned different mechanical properties locally - the base is made rigid for strength, while the deformable part is made elastic for shock absorption. This local differentiation of material properties achieves force resistance without requiring the entire structure to be complex

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device effectively absorbs shocks and prevents deformation or rupture of the spacer and the opening element, ensuring secure temporary positioning during assembly and coating processes while maintaining mechanical solidity.

Implementation Method 1

at least one part of the abutment being able to deform elastically under the action of stresses exerted by the opening element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP1896677B1Temporary device for spacing an opening element with respect to a fixed element
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 EXSTO THERMOPLASTICS
  • EP1896677B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1896677B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1896677B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a temporary device (1, 20) for spacing an opening element (6) with respect to a fixed element (3) of the vehicle body comprising a fixing plate for anchoring the device on the fixed element and a body which is connected to the fixing plate and forms an abutment (4) for supporting the opening element, wherein at least one part of the abutment is elastically deformable by forces produced by the opening element in the longitudinal direction thereof.