Fixing Clip Load Sharing for Curtain Airbag Endurability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixing clips for curtain airbags are prone to failure under excessive drawing-out loads due to the lack of load-sharing capability of the lock pin, leading to leg breakage and disconnection from the body panel, with limited options to increase leg cross-sectional area without compromising installation and removal.
Innovation Solution
A fixing clip design featuring a bushing with paired engagement hooks and a lock pin that includes a load-receiving portion to share the reaction force of the drawing-out load, reducing the load on the leg and incorporating a side hook and pressure receiving surface to distribute the load effectively, enhancing the clip's endurability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the cross-sectional area of the leg is increased to prevent breakage, then the strength and endurability of the fixing clip is improved, but it becomes difficult to pass the leg through the clip fixing aperture, compromising installation and removal ease
Solution Approach 1:
The lock pin serves as an intermediary load-bearing component that shares the drawing-out load with the bushing. By introducing this intermediate element, the leg does not need to bear the entire load alone, allowing it to maintain a smaller cross-sectional area that can pass through the clip fixing aperture while still achieving sufficient endurability through the combined load-sharing mechanism of the lock pin and bushing.
2Device complexity
If the lock pin is designed only to prevent engagement hook deformation, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the endurability against drawing-out load is insufficient due to inability to share the load
Solution Approach 1:
The lock pin is designed with multi-functionality: it not only prevents the engagement hooks from deforming toward the center axis line (original function) but also receives and shares the drawing-out load through its load receiving portion (new function). This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions, maintaining structural simplicity while significantly improving endurability against drawing-out loads.
3Device complexity
If the engagement hooks bear the entire drawing-out load, then the load transmission path is simple, but the leg will break at the connecting portion to the head when the load exceeds endurability
Solution Approach 1:
The load transmission path is segmented into multiple load-bearing components: the lock pin receives a portion of the drawing-out load through its load receiving portion, and the bushing receives the remaining load through its pressure receiving surface. This segmentation distributes the load across multiple components rather than concentrating it entirely on the leg, preventing breakage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fixing clip (10) is used for fixing a member (94) to be installed to a body panel (90) and includes a bushing (20) and a lock pin (50). The bushing (20) includes a head (22) and a leg (30). The lock pin (50) includes a load receiving portion (52) including a load receiving surface (52B, 52C) which receives a part (Fa) of a reaction force (Fr) of a drawing-out load (F) loaded on the fixing clip (10) from the body panel (90), when the drawing-out load (F) acts on the fixing clip (10) from the member (94) to be installed. The bushing (20) includes a pressure receiving surface (26) for receiving the part (Fa) of the reaction force (Fr) of the drawing-out load (F) which the lock pin (50) has received. According to this lock pin (50), the drawing-out load (F) can be received by both of the bushing (20) and the lock pin (50). As a result, an endurability of the fixing clip (10) against the drawing-out load (F) can be improved by an amount of the load (Fa) which the lock pin (50) shares, so that the drawing-out load (F) which the fixing clip (10) receives can be increased.