Vehicle Door Frame Beltline Reinforcement Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle door frames face challenges in securing accurate mounting of beltline reinforcements due to their tendency to shift in the lengthwise direction, requiring time and effort to achieve precise positioning.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle door frame structure with a first fixed portion for lengthwise-direction positioning and a second fixed portion for thickness-direction positioning, utilizing welding to secure the beltline reinforcement, where the lengthwise-direction position limit portion is part of the door sash and the thickness-direction position limit portion is part of the bracket, ensuring precise alignment and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the beltline reinforcement is welded along an edge of the overlapped portion with the bracket in the door thickness direction, then the position of the beltline reinforcement can be easily defined in the door thickness direction, but the position of the beltline reinforcement easily changes in the lengthwise direction and it takes time and effort to secure mounting accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting accuracy of the beltline reinforcementVSAvoidtime and effort to secure mounting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fixed portion is divided into two distinct segments: a lengthwise-direction position limit portion that defines the position in the lengthwise direction, and a thickness-direction position limit portion that defines the position in the door thickness direction. This segmentation allows each portion to independently control positioning in its respective direction, eliminating the need for time-consuming adjustments and achieving accurate mounting efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door sash acts as an intermediary component between the beltline reinforcement and the bracket. The lengthwise-direction position limit portion is formed from the door sash, which provides a stable reference structure for positioning the beltline reinforcement in the lengthwise direction, thereby preventing position changes and reducing mounting time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the beltline reinforcement is positioned by overlapping the bracket in the door thickness direction, then the position can be defined in the thickness direction, but the positioning in the lengthwise direction becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracy in thickness directionVSAvoidposition stability in lengthwise direction

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function is segmented into two independent limit portions: the thickness-direction position limit portion (formed from the bracket) ensures accurate positioning in the door thickness direction, while the lengthwise-direction position limit portion (formed from the door sash) ensures stable positioning in the lengthwise direction. This segmentation resolves the instability issue by providing dedicated structural support for each directional positioning requirement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a single overlapping structure to a two-dimensional positioning system with separate limit portions for different directions. The lengthwise-direction position limit portion extends in the lengthwise direction and faces the beltline reinforcement, while the thickness-direction position limit portion is adjacent to the beltline reinforcement in the door thickness direction, creating orthogonal positioning constraints that enhance stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This approach allows for easy and precise positioning of the beltline reinforcement in both the lengthwise and thickness directions, enhancing productivity by simplifying the mounting process and improving accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

the lengthwise-direction position limit portion and the one end of the beltline reinforcement being fixed together by welding

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

the thickness directional position limit portion and the other end of the beltline reinforcement being fixed together by welding

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentUS9266411B2Vehicle door frame structure

Publication Date: 2016.02.23 AISIN CORP

AI summary

A door frame is provided with a first fixed portion and a second fixed portion to which one end and the other end of a beltline reinforcement, with respect to the lengthwise direction thereof, are fixed, respectively; the first fixed portion is provided with a lengthwise-direction position limit portion which is positioned on an extension of the beltline reinforcement in the lengthwise direction thereof and faces against the one end of the beltline reinforcement, the second fixed portion is provided with a thickness directional position limit portion which overlaps the other end of the beltline reinforcement in the door thickness direction, and the lengthwise-direction position limit portion and the thickness directional position limit portion are fixed to the corresponding ends of the beltline reinforcement by welding.