Fiber Composite Hollow Profile with Partial Bulkhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing structural components for motor vehicles made from fiber-reinforced plastics face challenges with mechanical stability, high installation space requirements, and significant waste production during production, particularly in shell construction methods.

Innovation Solution

A closed hollow profile made of fiber composite material with a reinforcing bulkhead that is partially integrated into the profile volume, where the bulkhead's height is less than the passage height at specific points, allowing for reduced weight and space usage, and produced using a braiding process with an inflatable core that can be easily removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a reinforcing bulkhead is integrated into the hollow profile to improve mechanical stability, then strength and rigidity are enhanced, but the installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing bulkhead is designed with varying height along its length, with the height being less than the passage height only at specific points rather than uniformly. This local variation provides mechanical reinforcement exactly where needed while preserving passage clearance in other areas, thus resolving the contradiction between strength enhancement and space conservation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing full-height reinforcement along the entire bulkhead, the invention applies reinforcement partially - the bulkhead height is less than passage height at specific points but may equal or exceed it at other points. This partial action achieves the necessary mechanical stability while avoiding excessive space consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Strength

If a full-height reinforcing bulkhead is used to maximize strength, then mechanical rigidity is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical rigidityVSAvoidcomponent weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bulkhead height varies locally along its length, being less than passage height at specific points. This creates non-uniform reinforcement that provides maximum rigidity where structurally necessary while reducing material usage and weight in less critical areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The height parameter of the reinforcing bulkhead is changed along its length rather than maintaining a constant full-height design. By varying this geometric parameter, the structure achieves optimal rigidity-to-weight ratio by concentrating material where it provides the most structural benefit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If downstream process steps like milling, drilling, or gluing are added to achieve optimal mechanical stability, then strength is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing bulkhead is integrated into the hollow profile during the initial braiding process rather than being added through subsequent milling, drilling, or gluing operations. This preliminary action of incorporating reinforcement into the base structure eliminates the need for complex downstream manufacturing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcing bulkhead and hollow profile are merged into a single integrated component produced by the braiding process. This combining of reinforcement and structure into one manufacturing step simplifies the overall production process and eliminates multiple separate operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Weight of moving object

If shell construction methods are used to produce fiber-reinforced plastic components, then weight is reduced, but waste production increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent weightVSAvoidwaste production
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The braiding process inherently produces minimal waste through its continuous fiber reinforcement method, eliminating the need for extensive trimming and material removal that characterizes shell construction. The process serves itself by naturally achieving the desired component shape and reinforcement without generating significant waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manufacturing method transitions from shell construction with high material removal to braiding with continuous fiber placement. This parameter change in the manufacturing process fundamentally alters the waste profile while maintaining the weight benefits of fiber-reinforced plastics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design enhances mechanical strength and rigidity while minimizing waste and installation space, achieving a lightweight structural component with improved force transmission and reduced production costs.

Implementation Method 1

produced using a braiding process with an inflatable core that can be easily removed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInflation:

Data Source

PatentEP3374249B1Structural component for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP3374249B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3374249B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3374249B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a structural component (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d; 10e) for a motor vehicle, comprising a closed hollow profile (20) consisting of fibre composite material, with a profile outer casing (21) surrounding a profile volume (23), and at least one reinforcing bulkhead (30a; 30b; 30c; 30d; 30e) which is arranged in the profile volume (23) on at least one section of an inner casing surface (22) of the profile outer casing (21), the height (H1) of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead (30a; 30b; 30c; 30d; 30e), perpendicularly from the inner casing surface (22), in at least one position in which the at least one reinforcing bulkhead (30a; 30b; 30c; 30d; 30e) is arranged on the inner casing surface (22), being lower than a passage height (H2) of the profile volume (23) in this position.