Vehicle Fender Reinforcing Member with Spring Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fender structures for vehicles face challenges in maintaining the position of block members due to deformation from vibrations, leading to difficulties in reinforcing target portions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A fender structure incorporating a reinforcing member with engagement portions and a spring portion that biases these portions to maintain positioning, enhancing rigidity and stability by supporting the fender panel from the inside and improving airflow to enhance cooling capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a block member is used to reinforce the fender panel, then the rigidity of the fender panel is improved, but the block member cannot maintain its position due to deformation from vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member incorporates a spring portion that can elastically deform in the vehicle height direction, allowing the member to dynamically adapt to vibrations while maintaining engagement with the fender panel. This dynamic capability enables the reinforcing member to absorb vibrational energy and maintain stable positioning despite the flexible nature of the fender panel
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing member is divided into distinct functional segments: engagement portions for securing to the fender panel, a spring portion for absorbing vibrations, and a reinforcing portion for providing structural support. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while working together as an integrated system
2Stability of the object's composition
If the fender panel is made more rigid to maintain positioning, then positioning stability is improved, but the shock absorbability of the fender panel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring portion provides dynamic shock absorption through elastic deformation in the vehicle height direction, allowing the fender panel to maintain both rigidity for positioning stability and flexibility for shock absorbability. The spring acts as a buffer that absorbs impact energy while the engagement portions maintain secure positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing member provides localized rigidity at the engagement portions where positioning is critical, while the spring portion maintains flexibility for shock absorption. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows the system to achieve both positioning stability and shock absorbability in different regions
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 solution effectively maintains the positioning of the reinforcing member relative to the fender panel, enhances the rigidity and stability of the fender panel, and improves the cooling capability of the power unit chamber by directing airflow.
Implementation Method 1
a spring portion that is disposed in an intermediate portion in the vehicle height direction of the reinforcing member and biases the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion with an elastic restoring force in the vehicle height direction
Data Source
AI summary
A fender structure for a vehicle includes: a fender panel that is disposed on a lateral surface of a vehicle-body front portion; a reinforcing member that supports the fender panel from the inner side in the vehicle width direction; a first engagement portion that is able to engage with a top end portion of the fender panel; a second engagement portion that is able to engage with a bottom end portion of the fender panel; and a spring portion that biases the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion with an elastic restoring force in the vehicle height direction in which the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are separated from each other in a state in which the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage with the top end portion and the bottom end portion of the fender panel.