Vehicle Body Front Structure Bracket Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle body front structure design faces challenges in accurately positioning fender brackets on wheelhouse upper members, leading to variability in bracket placement, increased number of parts and manufacturing steps, and higher costs due to the need for additional extension members and complex assembly processes.

Innovation Solution

The vehicle body front structure is redesigned with left and right upper members dividing into upper front and rear side members, where the lower members extend downward from the upper front side members, allowing for earlier attachment during assembly and eliminating the need for an extension member, with fender brackets mounted on the front outer wall sections for improved accuracy and reduced part count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the fender bracket is mounted on the wheelhouse upper member in the final assembly step, then the design flexibility is reduced and position accuracy varies widely, but mounting it earlier would allow better position control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition accuracy of fender bracketVSAvoidassembly process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wheelhouse upper member is divided into front and rear sections, with the fender bracket mounted on the front section. This segmentation allows the front section with the bracket to be positioned and fixed earlier in the assembly process, improving position accuracy while reducing assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fender bracket is preliminarily mounted on the front section of the wheelhouse upper member before the final assembly step. This preliminary action ensures accurate positioning of the bracket relative to the front fender, avoiding position variations that would occur if mounted later.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If additional extension members are added to ensure structural strength, then the structural rigidity is improved, but the number of parts and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The lower member is integrated directly with the front section of the wheelhouse upper member, eliminating the need for separate extension members. This merging maintains structural rigidity by creating a continuous load path while reducing the total number of parts and simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The front section of the wheelhouse upper member serves multiple functions: it provides the mounting base for the fender bracket, connects to the side beam member for structural strength, and integrates with the lower member for additional support. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate extension members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9248865B2Vehicle body front structure

Publication Date: 2016.02.02 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle body front structure (15) includes a side beam member (38) extending toward the rear of the vehicle body from a bulkhead (24). One end (41) of an upper member (28) is connected to the side beam member (38). The other end (46) of the upper member (28) is connected to a front pillar (45). The upper member (28) is divided into an upper front-side member (47) that includes the one end (41) and an upper rear-side member (48) that includes the other end (46). A lower member (32) extends downward from the upper front-side member (47). The upper member (28) is divided at a position near a housing front wall (57) of a damper housing (26).