Vehicle Flange Joining Structure for Thin-Sheet Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thinner steel sheets used in vehicle bodies compromise anti-noise and anti-vibration performance, as vibrations lead to increased noise in the vehicle cabin, and existing technologies do not effectively address these issues.

Innovation Solution

A joining structure featuring flanges with a joint portion and a contact portion, where the flanges are collapsed to form a gap and slidably contact at a position separated from the joint, enhancing anti-noise and anti-vibration performance by converting vibration energy into thermal energy through friction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the thickness of steel sheets is reduced to decrease vehicle body weight, then weight reduction is achieved, but anti-noise and anti-vibration performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle body weightVSAvoidnoise and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flange structure incorporates dynamic elements including a curved portion that enables relative movement between flanges, and a contact portion that allows controlled sliding contact. This dynamic design enables thin-flange structures to dissipate vibration energy through friction at the contact portion, improving anti-noise and anti-vibration performance without requiring increased sheet thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flange is divided into distinct functional segments: a joint portion for structural connection, a curved portion for enabling relative movement, and a contact portion for vibration damping through sliding contact. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally, with the contact portion specifically addressing vibration control in thin-flange configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the thickness of steel sheets is increased to improve anti-noise and anti-vibration performance, then vibration resistance is improved, but vehicle body weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise and vibrationVSAvoidvehicle body weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the traditional mechanical approach of using thick, rigid flanges for vibration resistance with a friction-based vibration damping mechanism. The contact portion creates controlled sliding contact between flanges, converting vibration energy into thermal energy through friction, thereby achieving vibration control without increasing material thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If flanges are joined by spot-welding with adhesive to achieve firm connection, then joining strength is improved, but anti-noise and anti-vibration performance is not sufficiently enhanced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoining strengthVSAvoidnoise and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges two joining mechanisms: a joint portion for structural connection (providing joining strength) and a contact portion for vibration damping (providing anti-noise and anti-vibration performance). This combined approach allows the structure to simultaneously achieve firm connection and effective vibration control, addressing both requirements that were previously conflicting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution secures sufficient anti-noise and anti-vibration performance even with thin steel sheets, reducing vehicle body vibrations and noise without compromising rigidity, thereby improving the driving experience.

Implementation Method 1

a contact portion where the first flange and the second flange slidably contact each other at a position that is separated from the joint portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12065195B2Joining structure, method for producing joining structure, and vehicle body

Publication Date: 2024.08.20 NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION

AI summary

This invention provides a joining structure including a structure joining two flanges together, with which adequate anti-noise performance and anti-vibration performance can be secured even when the sheet thickness is thin. A joining structure includes a first flange, a second flange, a joint portion formed by joining the first flange and the second flange in a state in which at least one of the flanges is collapsed to the side of the other of the flanges, and a contact portion where the first flange and second flange slidably contact at a position separated from the joint portion. A gap is formed between the first flange and the second flange by the first flange, the second flange being separated a position between the joint portion and the contact portion. Energy of vibrations and noise is attenuated by the sliding of a first contact portion and a second contact portion.