Grille Shutter Bracket With Fragile Portion for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grille shutters are vulnerable to damage and potential falling during impacts from the lower direction, such as when driving on bad roads, as the bellows-shaped flexible connecting parts are primarily designed for frontal collisions and may not adequately absorb impact loads from this direction.
Innovation Solution
A grille shutter design featuring brackets with a fragile portion that deforms upon impact, maintaining the joining state to the vehicle body by absorbing the impact load and preventing the grille shutter from falling, while maintaining structural rigidity and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bracket is made entirely of fragile material to absorb impact from lower direction, then impact absorption is improved, but the overall structural rigidity and strength of the bracket is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket exhibits non-uniform thickness distribution with a localized fragile portion having reduced thickness compared to the normal portion. This local quality change enables the bracket to have different mechanical properties in different regions - the fragile portion deforms plastically under lower direction impact while other areas maintain structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is divided into three distinct portions: a joining portion for attaching to the vehicle body, a fragile portion with reduced thickness, and a normal portion. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function - the fragile portion absorbs impact from below through plastic deformation while the joining portion maintains secure attachment to the vehicle body
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 effectively absorbs impact loads from the lower direction, preventing damage to the joining portions and ensuring the grille shutter remains attached to the vehicle body, even under adverse road conditions, with a compact and cost-effective structure.
Implementation Method 1
the fragile portion is plastically deformed (including damaged) when an impact load from a vehicle lower direction is applied to the bracket
Data Source
AI summary
A grille shutter includes a frame, a fin supported by the frame, and brackets that are arranged respectively on opposite sides of the frame in the vehicle right-left direction and used for attaching the frame to a vehicle body. Each of the brackets is partially provided with a fragile portion.