Flexible Plastic Snap Socket for Vehicle Trim Thermal Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation structure of vehicle outer panels experiences poor matching due to material inconsistencies between plastic trim panels and metallic doors, leading to stress and potential breakage at low temperatures and surface irregularities at high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A flexible plastic snap-receiving socket with a U-shaped weakening structure, connected via support legs, allowing for deformation to accommodate temperature changes and maintain snap-fit engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid plastic snap-receiving socket is used to ensure structural strength, then the connection strength is improved, but the socket becomes prone to breakage at low temperatures due to material contraction stress
Solution Approach 1:
The snap-receiving socket is divided into multiple functional zones: a rigid mounting panel for structural support, flexible support legs for stress absorption, and a U-shaped weakening structure for controlled deformation. This segmentation allows different parts to serve different functions - the rigid panel maintains connection strength while the flexible legs and weakening structure prevent breakage during thermal contraction
Solution Approach 2:
The wall thickness parameter is varied across different regions of the socket. The mounting panel has greater thickness for strength, while the support legs and U-shaped weakening structure have reduced thickness to enable flexibility and controlled deformation. This parameter change allows the socket to maintain structural integrity while accommodating thermal stress
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid plastic snap-receiving socket is used to maintain shape stability, then the structural stability is improved, but the socket causes surface irregularities and poor appearance matching at high temperatures due to expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The socket structure is segmented into a rigid mounting panel that maintains overall shape stability and flexible support legs with U-shaped weakening structures that allow controlled deformation. This segmentation enables the socket to maintain its fundamental shape while accommodating thermal expansion through localized deformation in the flexible regions
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs and U-shaped weakening structures are designed to dynamically adapt to temperature changes. At high temperatures, these flexible regions can deform to accommodate expansion, preventing surface irregularities. At low temperatures, they can flex to absorb contraction stress, maintaining appearance matching across temperature variations
3Stability of the object's composition
If the support legs are made rigid to ensure stable connection, then the connection stability is improved, but the internal stress during thermal contraction causes the socket to break at the root
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the socket have different mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions. The mounting panel has high rigidity for stable connection, while the support legs and U-shaped weakening structures have reduced rigidity and increased flexibility. This local quality differentiation allows the connection to remain stable while the flexible regions absorb thermal stress, preventing breakage
Solution Approach 2:
The U-shaped weakening structure and flexible support legs act as pre-designed stress-absorbing elements that cushion the impact of thermal contraction before it can reach the root of the socket. This beforehand cushioning prevents stress concentration at critical points, eliminating the risk of stress-induced breakage
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
Ensures effective connection and appearance matching between vehicle outer panels and structural parts across varying temperatures, reducing stress and preventing damage.
Implementation Method 1
the vehicle back door trim panel 1, in the installed state as shown in Fig. 1, will expand or contract in a high-temperature or low-temperature ambient environment
Implementation Method 2
the weakening structure is flexible compared to the other portions of the snap-receiving socket... the weakening structure has a lower resistance to deformation
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A flexible plastic snap-receiving socket (110) comprises a mounting panel (112), two support legs (111) arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and a weakening structure (113). Two opposite ends of the mounting panel are respectively connected to a top end of the support legs via the weakening structure. The weakening structure is U-shaped, and comprises a bottom wall (113a) and a side wall (113b, 113c). The snap-receiving socket can match with the existing plastic snap (120), and realize an effective connection between a vehicle back door trim panel (1) and a vehicle back door (2). Moreover, in a high-temperature or low-temperature ambient environment, the snap-receiving socket can ensure a good appearance matching between the vehicle back door trim panel and the vehicle back door in an installed state.