Vehicle Door Hinge Support Elastic Deformation Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing hinge support for vehicle doors experiences difficulties in assembly due to elastic deformation of the hinge counter-holder during screw tightening, leading to potential misalignment and time-consuming repositioning, making the process cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The hinge counter-holder is limited to small adjustment movements by wall areas or stops on the stiffening part, with an access opening that can be manually or mechanically enlarged for easy insertion, allowing for immediate screw alignment and secure fastening, enabling quick and reliable assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hinge counter-holder is held loosely in the receiving space to allow adjustment movements, then the hinge counter-holder can be positioned during assembly, but it may end up in an unfavorable tilted position requiring time-consuming repositioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of positioning hinge counter-holderVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge counter-holder is pre-positioned in the receiving space during assembly before final tightening of the threaded screw. The design allows the hinge counter-holder to be inserted and preliminarily positioned, where it can perform only small adjustment movements limited by wall areas and stops, ensuring it settles in the correct position without requiring subsequent repositioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the hinge counter-holder is tightly fixed during assembly to prevent movement, then alignment is maintained, but the hinge counter-holder cannot be easily inserted into the receiving space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidease of assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving space is designed with elastically deformable wall areas that transition from a deformable state during insertion to a rigid state during operation. During assembly, the elastically deformable wall areas allow the hinge counter-holder to be inserted with movement freedom. After insertion, these same wall areas provide rigid constraints that maintain precise alignment when the threaded screw is tightened.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the receiving space walls changes during the assembly process. The wall areas are designed to be elastically deformable under insertion forces, allowing the hinge counter-holder to be positioned. Once positioned, the elastic deformation recovers or is constrained, transforming the wall areas into rigid boundaries that maintain alignment precision during final fastening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the hinge counter-holder is allowed to perform large adjustment movements, then it can reach the correct position, but it may require time-consuming repositioning if it ends up in an unfavorable position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment rangeVSAvoidrepositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge counter-holder is pre-positioned within constrained movement boundaries during assembly. The wall areas and stops are designed to guide the hinge counter-holder into the correct position during insertion, performing the alignment action preliminarily before final fastening, thereby eliminating the need for subsequent repositioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Strength

If the access opening is kept small for structural integrity, then the stiffening part maintains strength, but the hinge counter-holder cannot be easily inserted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidease of insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The access opening is formed by elastically deformable wall areas that temporarily yield during insertion to accommodate the hinge counter-holder, then recover to maintain structural integrity. The wall areas are designed with elastic properties that allow controlled deformation during assembly operations while preserving the overall structural strength of the stiffening part during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution facilitates a straightforward and cost-effective assembly process by ensuring the hinge counter-holder is always in a correct position for screw insertion, allowing for easy installation and secure attachment to the stiffening part, enhancing the assembly efficiency and reducing manual effort.

Implementation Method 1

an at least partially elastically deformable wall area (16) of the stiffening part (9) is manually or mechanically deformed to enlarge the access opening (12)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2354398B1Hinge support for a vehicle door
Publication Date: 2016.09.21 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP2354398B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2354398B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2354398B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The hinge support has a thread screw (7) and a wall area (14,15,16,17) or an inset (18), where the adjustable movement of the thread screw and the wall area or the inset is limited at stiffening part (9). A retaining area (11) is provided with an access opening (12), by which a hinge brace (10) is inserted and removed in or from the retaining area if the wall area of the stiffening part is elastically deformed manually or machinery.