Automotive Flange Clamping Ribs for Screw Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automotive components with through holes and screws face challenges in alignment and secure fastening during assembly, particularly due to manufacturing tolerances and the risk of screw tilting, which complicates quick and cost-effective installation.
Innovation Solution
The automotive component features clamping ribs distributed in the circumferential direction, with lengths optimized to be greater than the distance between thread peaks but not more than five times this distance, ensuring axial alignment and secure holding of the screw within a through hole, while the flange is manufactured by overmolding a metal sleeve with plastic material to form the ribs and accommodate screw pressure, simplifying production and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If clamping ribs are made longer to prevent screw tilting, then alignment precision is improved, but the ability to compensate for manufacturing tolerances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the clamping rib length to a specific parameter range (greater than distance between thread peaks but not more than five times this distance). This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal length that provides sufficient alignment precision while maintaining enough flexibility for tolerance compensation.
2Productivity
If the screw is pre-mounted and frictionally held by clamping ribs, then installation speed is improved, but the risk of screw tilting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The screw is pre-mounted and frictionally held by the clamping ribs before final tightening, which enables quick installation. The clamping ribs are designed with optimized length to prevent tilting during this preliminary mounting phase, thus resolving the contradiction between installation speed and alignment precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If the flange is made from plastic material for cost reduction, then manufacturing cost is improved, but resistance to screw pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is manufactured from plastic material, which provides cost-effective production. The plastic material is designed to accommodate screw pressure during mounting, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and strength by selecting appropriate plastic properties and design features.
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 solution facilitates quick and cost-effective installation of automotive components by ensuring axial alignment and secure fastening, while minimizing the risk of screw tilting and damage to the flange, allowing for precise alignment to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
the screw may be inserted by the vendor into the through hole and frictionally held there by clamping ribs
Implementation Method 2
the flange is manufactured by overmolding a sleeve, preferably a metal sleeve, with plastic material
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive component is described, comprising a flange, which has a through hole, and a screw, which is inserted in the through hole. According to this disclosure, at least three clamping ribs are provided, extending in an axial direction, in the through hole.