Front Header Partition for Vehicle Roof Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle-body structures fail to adequately suppress vertical vibrations of the front header caused by windshield vibrations, which negatively impact ride comfortability.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a partition member inside the front header that does not overlap with longitudinal roof reinforcements, along with inclined or parallel extensions of these reinforcements, to enhance vibration damping performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional roof reinforcements are added to suppress vibrations, then vibration damping performance is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration damping performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The front header is segmented by introducing a partition member that divides its internal space. This segmentation creates multiple stiffness centers within the header, effectively suppressing vibrations without requiring additional roof reinforcements. The partition member breaks the monolithic structure into functional segments that work together to dampen vibrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition member is nested inside the front header, utilizing the existing header structure to provide vibration damping functionality. This nested configuration allows the vibration suppression feature to be integrated within the existing component rather than adding external additions, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If longitudinal roof reinforcements are positioned to maximize vibration suppression, then vibration damping performance is improved, but they may interfere with other vehicle components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration damping performanceVSAvoidcomponent compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning longitudinal reinforcements in configurations that might interfere with other components, the invention transitions to a different dimensional approach by adding a partition member in the vertical dimension inside the front header. This dimensional shift allows vibration suppression without compromising adaptability to other vehicle components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the front header structure is reinforced to reduce vertical vibrations, then ride comfortability is improved, but weight of the vehicle body increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveride comfortabilityVSAvoidvehicle body weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The partition member functions as a thin internal structure that significantly enhances the stiffness and vibration damping characteristics of the front header. This thin-film approach provides effective vibration suppression without the substantial weight increase that would result from traditional thick reinforcement methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS9616936B2Upper vehicle-body structure of vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.04.11 MAZDA MOTOR CORP

AI summary

There are provided a pair of roof rails, a roof panel, a front header, a pair of front pillars, a windshield provided between the front header and the front pillars, a front inclination roof reinforcement extending rearward, a front portion of which is joined to the front header, and partition members provided inside the front header at respective positions which do not overlap with, in a vehicle width direction, the front inclination roof reinforcement. Thereby, vertical vibrations of the front header caused by vertical vibrations of the windshield can be suppressed with a light structure, so that the comfortability of the ride (the vibration damping performance) can be improved.