Vehicle Frame Joint With Expansion Collar for Rigid Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frame joints require high working accuracy and increase costs due to the need for precise fitting of multiple projection and recess portions, which is challenging for applications requiring lower accuracy and higher rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A frame joint design featuring an inner peripheral wall with radial abutment surfaces, tapered surfaces, and a movable expansion collar that abuts on the inner peripheral wall, allowing for simplified assembly and improved rigidity without increasing the number of fasteners, and incorporating split bodies connected by an elastic body or resilient sections for enhanced fitting quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple projection and recess portions are arranged in a trapezoidal shape and fastened by multiple bolts, then the fitting surface area is large and high working accuracy can be achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portion is divided into an insertion portion with an inner peripheral wall having multiple radially crossing wall surfaces and a projected portion with tapered surfaces. This segmentation allows each part to have a simplified geometry while achieving accurate alignment through the tapered surfaces guiding the insertion into the recessed portion.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple projection and recess portions as in conventional designs, this invention uses a single connection portion where the insertion portion is inserted into a single recessed portion. The alignment is achieved through tapered surfaces on the projected portion that guide the insertion, inverting the conventional approach of using multiple fitting elements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple projection and recess portions are arranged and fastened by multiple bolts, then the fitting stability is improved, but the number of fasteners increases and assembly workability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wall surfaces (first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces) that would traditionally require separate fasteners are merged into a single recessed portion structure. The insertion portion with these multiple surfaces is fastened by a single fastener, combining multiple stabilizing functions into one unified structure that improves assembly workability while maintaining fitting stability.
3Strength
If the inner peripheral wall has wall surfaces crossing in the radial direction, then the bending stiffness is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The geometry of the connection portion is changed by introducing tapered surfaces on the projected portion that correspond to the radially crossing wall surfaces. This parameter change in the shape allows the multiple wall surfaces to be manufactured with standard precision while the tapered surfaces guide the alignment, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining high bending stiffness.
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 design enhances the rigidity and bending stiffness of the joint while reducing the need for high precision and the number of fasteners, improving assembly workability and fitting quality by allowing surface-contact alignment and even stress distribution.
Implementation Method 1
an expansion collar (100, 200, 300, 500) movable in a radial direction so as to abut on the inner peripheral wall (85)
Implementation Method 2
tapered surfaces (95a) arranged in the other connection portion (90, 690, 790) and facing the inner peripheral wall (85)
Data Source
AI summary
A frame joint connecting connection portions to each other, the connection portions being arranged in frame members of a vehicle, includes an inner peripheral wall including abutment surfaces, the abutment surfaces being arranged in the one connection portion and crossing with each other in the radial direction, tapered surfaces being arranged in the other connection portion and facing the inner peripheral wall, an expansion collar movable in the radial direction so as to abut on the inner peripheral wall, and a fastener keeping fitting of the expansion collar in a state where the expansion collar abuts on the inner peripheral wall.