Front Wing Buffer with Segmented Lugs for Positioning and Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for fixing a front fender to a vehicle's body wall do not provide precise positioning and fail to prevent the fender from moving backward during a frontal impact, leading to potential deformation and damage to adjacent components.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a fixing base with a first retaining lug for precise positioning and a second reinforcing lug that blocks the fender's motion, both made from a single piece and extending transversely from the fender's edge, with the second lug designed to absorb impact by bending and provide greater rigidity than the first lug.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single fixing device is used to attach the front fender to the body wall, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning precision and impact protection are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device is segmented into two distinct lugs: a first retaining lug for positioning the wing and a second reinforcing lug for limiting backward movement during impact. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one function, achieving both positioning precision and impact protection without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fixing device have different properties: the first retaining lug has a longer length to provide positioning accuracy, while the second reinforcing lug has a shorter length to provide rigidity and impact resistance. This local differentiation optimizes each component's performance for its specific function.
2Device complexity
If the second reinforcing lug has the same length as the first retaining lug, then the structure is simplified, but the rigidity and impact resistance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The second reinforcing lug is designed with a shorter length than the first retaining lug. This local differentiation in dimensions provides the second lug with greater rigidity and resistance to bending during impact, while the first lug maintains its longer length for positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The two lugs are intentionally made asymmetric in length to fulfill different functional requirements. The asymmetry ensures that the second reinforcing lug has a shorter lever arm, providing greater rigidity and impact resistance compared to the first retaining lug.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the second reinforcing lug is made longer to increase clearance, then the positioning freedom is improved, but the rigidity and impact protection are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The second reinforcing lug is designed with a shorter length specifically to maintain rigidity and provide adequate clearance for the first retaining lug's positioning operation, without sacrificing the structural strength needed for impact protection.
4Strength
If the first retaining lug is made shorter to increase rigidity, then the impact resistance is improved, but the positioning precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device is divided into two specialized components: the first retaining lug with longer length for positioning precision, and the second reinforcing lug with shorter length for rigidity and impact resistance. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different length characteristics to different functional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The first retaining lug is designed with a longer length specifically to provide adequate clearance and positioning freedom during assembly, while the second reinforcing lug has a shorter length to provide the rigidity needed for impact protection.
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
Enables precise positioning of the fender and effectively prevents it from colliding with the front door during impacts, reducing damage and maintaining aesthetic alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a first retaining lug which is fixed to the first retaining portion of the bumper and which is designed to be deformed to allow positioning of the wing
Implementation Method 2
the second lug provides greater rigidity than the first lug. This characteristic allows the second reinforcement leg to have a lower lever arm than the lever arm of the first leg, whereby the second leg exerts a restoring torque on the wing greater than the first retaining leg
Implementation Method 3
the second reinforcing tab and the associated second reinforcement portion delimit a clearance between them, before being fixed. This feature aims to prevent the second leg from coming into contact with the associated second portion of the stopper, so as not to interfere with the positioning and fixing of the first leg. In addition, this clearance is a clearance which is capable of being absorbed by bending the second reinforcing tab.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (28) for attaching a front wing (12) to a wall (30) of a bodyshell of a vehicle (10) using a buffer (32), the front wing (12) and the bodyshell wall (30) between them delimiting a transverse space, characterized in that the buffer (32) has a securing base (34) which is fixed to the bodyshell wall (30), a retaining first portion (36) and a reinforcing second portion (38), and in that the wing (12) comprises a retaining first lug (24) which is fixed to the retaining first portion (36) of the buffer (32) and designed to be deformed to allow the wing (12) to be positioned, and a reinforcing second lug (26) which is fixed to the reinforcing second portion (38) of the buffer (32) and which is designed to prevent the wing (12) from moving in the event of an impact.