Rear Hatchback Structural Liner Groove for Access Hatch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle hatchbacks face increased manufacturing costs and complexity due to multiple assembly steps and the difficulty in accessing technical components for replacement, which also adds weight and energy consumption to the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A structural liner with a groove on one face, acting as a zone of mechanical weakness, allows for the precise cutting out of a section to access and replace technical elements without disassembling the hatchback, guided by the groove to avoid damage and maintain aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If technical elements are fastened on the outer face of the structural liner facing the visible skin, then access to technical elements becomes impossible once the tailgate is assembled, but this integration improves manufacturing efficiency and reduces parts quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The structural liner is segmented by introducing a groove that divides it into two parts: a fixed portion and a removable hatch portion. This segmentation allows the hatch to be accessed and removed independently while the rest of the structural liner remains integrated with the skin, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing efficiency and repair accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts a specific portion of the structural liner (the hatch area) by creating a groove that allows it to be removed separately. This extracted portion can be accessed and replaced independently, providing repair access without requiring disassembly of the entire tailgate or separation of the structural liner from the skin.
2Ease of operation
If multiple distinct parts (trim, structural liner, outer skin) are used in the hatchback, then assembly complexity and manufacturing cost increase, but this separation allows for easier component replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the trim function and structural liner function into a single integrated structural liner component. The groove created in the structural liner provides the trim-like aesthetic finish while maintaining structural integrity, eliminating the need for separate trim parts and reducing assembly complexity while preserving ease of component access.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural liner is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support, creates the aesthetic finish previously provided by separate trim, and incorporates the hatch access mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of distinct parts needed while maintaining all necessary functions including ease of component replacement.
3Loss of information
If the groove forms a visible feature on the outer face of the structural liner, then aesthetic appearance is compromised, but this visibility would indicate the access hatch location
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is positioned and designed with specific local characteristics: it is located on the inner face or in a non-visible area of the structural liner, and its dimensions are controlled to be imperceptible from the outside. This local quality approach maintains aesthetic appearance while still providing the necessary function of guiding the cut and indicating the hatch location for repair purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
Structural liner (20) of a motor vehicle hatchback (10) having an outer face (22) oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and an inner face (24) oriented towards the inside of the vehicle when the hatchback (10)) is assembled on the latter, and at least one groove (23) borne by one of the two faces (22, 24), the groove (23) forming a zone of mechanical weakness able to facilitate the execution of an opening (28) within the structural liner (20).