Motor Vehicle Door Reinforcement Profile for Impact Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing motor vehicle door structures face complexity and increased manufacturing and assembly costs due to the assembly of multiple parts for structural reinforcements, which complicates the controlled deformation during impacts.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle door structure featuring a single headband reinforcement profile that forms two tubular hollow bodies with the structural box, allowing for compressive force absorption during impacts, and a bevelled end to penetrate the front frame element for improved impact behavior, reducing the need for additional retention pins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If multiple parts are assembled to form structural reinforcements in the door, then the impact resistance and controlled deformation capability are improved, but the assembly complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple reinforcement parts (first reinforcement piece and second reinforcement piece) into a single integrated headband reinforcement profile. This profile includes a first portion that forms a first hollow body with the structural box and a second portion that forms a second hollow body with the structural box, eliminating the need for separate assembly operations while maintaining the dual-chamber structural integrity for controlled deformation during impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If multiple parts are assembled to form structural reinforcements in the door, then the impact resistance and controlled deformation capability are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple reinforcement functions into a single headband reinforcement profile that can be manufactured as one piece. This unified structure includes first and second portions that respectively form first and second hollow bodies with the structural box, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly operations, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a single headband reinforcement profile is used to form two hollow bodies, then the assembly process is simplified and cost is reduced, but the complexity of the profile geometry increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly complexityVSAvoidprofile geometry complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The headband reinforcement profile is segmented into distinct functional portions: a first portion that forms the first hollow body with the structural box, a second portion that forms the second hollow body with the structural box, and a connecting portion that links them. This segmentation allows the complex geometry to be systematically organized and manufactured while simplifying the assembly process, as the entire profile acts as a single integrated component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2885143B1Motor vehicle door structure provided with a reinforcement, and associated reinforcement, door provided with the door structure and vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 RENAULT SA
  • EP2885143B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2885143B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2885143B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The motor vehicle door structure (1) comprises a structural housing (3) for a door and a door beam reinforcement section (2) configured so as to at least absorb compression forces along the length (L) thereof in the event of a front or rear impact applied to a vehicle provided with said structure (1). The structural housing (3) and the door beam reinforcement section (2) are configured and assembled to each other so as to define therebetween a first hollow body (4a) and a second hollow body (4b), each having a tubular shape and extending along the length (L) of the reinforcing profile strip (2).