Fender Support with Side Tab for Precise Wing Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for mounting a fender to a motor vehicle body wall result in deformation of the support during assembly, leading to precision issues and potential leaks due to screwing forces, necessitating improved positioning and reduced deformation while ensuring the support's stiffness and allowing for easy replacement.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a side tab and plate configuration, including a lower leg and lateral leg, secured by electric welding, which provides additional attachment points and flexibility to minimize deformation and ensure precise positioning, featuring stamped reinforcements for increased rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the wing is screwed onto the support, then the wing is securely fixed to the body wall, but the support deforms leading to positioning imprecision and potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The support is divided into multiple functional parts: a plate for body wall attachment, a lower leg for wing attachment, and a lateral leg providing additional support. This segmentation allows each part to bear specific loads and reduces deformation of the critical positioning areas during screwing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Stamped reinforcements are added at specific critical locations (junction between plate and lower leg, and junction between lateral leg and lower leg) to locally increase stiffness where screwing forces are applied, while maintaining overall support flexibility for positioning adjustment.
2Manufacturing precision
If the support is made stiffer to reduce deformation, then positioning precision improves, but the support becomes more difficult to assemble and adjust
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the support into plate, lateral leg, and lower leg components that can be separately manufactured and then assembled via welding, the design achieves local stiffness through reinforcements while maintaining overall ease of assembly and adjustment during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The support design allows for dynamic adjustment during assembly through the flexible connection between components, enabling positioning adjustments before final welding, while the stamped reinforcements provide the necessary stiffness once assembled.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional attachment points are added to the support, then deformation is reduced and positioning precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support is segmented into three main parts (plate, lateral leg, lower leg) connected by welds, creating additional attachment points that reduce deformation. This segmentation achieves the precision goal while keeping the structure relatively simple and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral leg serves multiple functions: it provides an additional attachment point to the body wall, acts as a stiffening element, and contributes to the overall structural integrity. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting complexity increase.
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 configuration minimizes deformations, enhances positioning precision, and reduces the risk of leaks by providing excellent rigidity during assembly, ensuring a secure and precise attachment of the fender to the body wall.
Implementation Method 1
the support is fixed to the body wall by electric welding at the level of the plate and the side bracket
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (6) for attaching a fender (5) to a body wall (2) of a motor vehicle (1). The device (6) comprises a support (7) for attaching the fender (5) to the body wall (2), said support being provided with: a plate (8) for attaching the support (7) to a main face (3) of the wall (2), and a lower tab (10) which extends at a right angle to the plate (8) from a lower edge (11) of same so as to secure the fender (5) to the support (7). The support (7) includes a lateral tab (18) which protrudes relative to the plate (8) from a lateral edge (19) of same on the opposite side to the lower tab (10), for the additional attachment of the support (7) to a flange (4) of the body wall (2), substantially perpendicular to the main face (3).