Overmolded Fixation Clip With Movable Sealing Disk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixation clips for metal-sheet holes in the motor vehicle industry face issues such as mechanical friction leading to corrosion and lack of sealing, along with complex and time-consuming manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
The proposed fixation clips feature a movable sealing disk or a bendable sealing part that engage with the metal-sheet hole, reducing assembly forces and providing a sealing function, and are manufactured using existing technologies like plastic injection and overmoulding, eliminating the need for piece assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fixation clips are used to secure panels to metal sheets, then fixation function is achieved, but mechanical friction causes corrosion and no sealing function is provided
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing disk made of elastomeric material is introduced as an intermediary element between the fixation clip and the metal sheet. This sealing disk engages with the metal sheet through a fastening opening and provides both sealing and corrosion protection while reducing direct mechanical friction between the clip and metal sheet
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation system combines different materials: a rigid plug element for structural support and fixation, and a flexible elastomeric sealing disk for sealing and friction reduction. This composite approach allows the sealing disk to deform and adapt to the metal sheet while protecting against corrosion
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional fixation clips are manufactured by assembling separated pieces, then functionality is achieved, but manufacturing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing disk is integrated directly into the plug element through overmoulding, creating a single-piece component. This eliminates the need for separate assembly steps, reduces manufacturing complexity, and decreases production time while maintaining the sealing and fixation functions
3Ease of operation
If a movable sealing disk is added to the fixation clip, then sealing function and reduced assembly forces are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing disk is overmoulded directly onto the shaft of the plug element, integrating the sealing function into the existing structure. This reduces device complexity compared to separate assembly while maintaining the benefit of reduced assembly forces through the movable sealing disk
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
These clips achieve improved fixing and sealing while simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing assembly forces, and preventing corrosion, thus offering a cost-effective solution for applications like motor vehicle wheel arches.
Implementation Method 1
a force applied on the holding head causes the top of the plug element to flatten the bendable sealing part against the support metal element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A fixation clip (10) adapted to be fixed to a support metal element (100) having a fastening opening (110), the fixation clip (10) comprising a plug element (11) comprising a holding head (12), a top (13) and a plug-in tip (14) which can be inserted into the fastening opening (110) of the support metal element (100), wherein the plug-in tip (14) and the top (13) are fixedly connected to each other by a shaft (15), the fixation chip (10) characterized by further comprising a movable sealing disk (16) having a central hole and being overmolded around the shaft (15) of the fixation clip (10), the movable disk (16) having a slip (17) surrounding a lower part of the shaft (15) adjacent to the plug-in tip (14).