Hollow Hinge Support Structure for Tailgate Torsion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The weight of a large tailgate in a hatchback vehicle generates significant stress on the pivoting mechanisms, leading to torsion between the rear center gutter and quarter panel liners, which weakens the rear trunk ring and affects closing precision and perceived quality.
Innovation Solution
A hinge support with a hollow shape is attached to the junction between the side gutter and quarter panel lining, reinforced by mechanical linking elements to other body components, allowing passage for welding and conduits, and fixed with clevises to retain the pivot axis, enhancing rigidity and preventing torsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the tailgate pivoting mechanism is positioned close to the adjacent quarter panel liner, then the closing precision is improved, but torsional stress between the rear center gutter and quarter panel liner increases
Solution Approach 1:
A hinge support structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the tailgate pivoting mechanism and the quarter panel liner. This mediator distributes the torsional stress across multiple attachment points (rear center gutter, rear roof crossmember, and quarter panel liner) rather than concentrating it at a single location, thereby maintaining closing precision while reducing harmful stress concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge support extends the pivoting mechanism into a three-dimensional configuration with multiple attachment points distributed across different spatial locations. By transitioning from a single-point attachment to a multi-point distributed attachment system, the stress is dispersed across multiple dimensions, reducing the torsional load on any single structural component.
2Ease of manufacture
If the side gutters extend horizontally at the junction with quarter panel lining, then the assembly is simplified, but break points are created that weaken the rear trunk ring
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge support provides localized reinforcement at the critical junction between side gutters and quarter panel lining. By concentrating structural enhancement at this specific location rather than throughout the entire structure, the design maintains assembly simplicity while locally addressing the strength deficiency caused by horizontal gutter extensions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tailgate is made large to include rear window, then the utility is improved, but the weight generates significant stress on pivoting mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge support system divides the load-bearing function into multiple separate attachment points and structural components (rear center gutter attachment, rear roof crossmember attachment, and quarter panel liner attachment). This segmentation allows the large tailgate weight to be distributed across multiple pivot points, reducing the stress on any single pivoting mechanism while maintaining the utility of the large rear window configuration.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a hinge support (10) for a vehicle door, in particular a trunk lid, comprising a hollow shape having a bottom (13) extending or substantially extending on two substantially perpendicular planes (P1, P2).