Hot Formed Part With Integrated Tab For Connection Piece
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Solution Overview
Problem
The automobile industry faces inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for separate cold formed parts with tabs to temporarily fix connection pieces on high-strength steel hot formed parts during vehicle body manufacturing, which complicates the process and incurs additional expenses.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a tongue-like tab directly into the hot formed part, allowing it to hold connection pieces captive without requiring separate cold formed parts, thus eliminating the need for additional components and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tabs are provided on a separate cold formed part to temporarily fix connection pieces on hot formed parts, then the connection pieces can be held captive during handling, but the manufacturing process becomes more complicated and costs increase due to additional parts and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tab function into the hot formed part itself by providing a tongue-like configuration that projects into an opening. This integration eliminates the need for separate cold formed parts with tabs, reducing the number of components and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the temporary fixation function during handling and assembly
2Reliability
If tabs are provided on a separate cold formed part to temporarily fix connection pieces, then connection pieces can be held captive, but parts and tool costs as well as manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tab function is merged into the hot formed part through the tongue-like configuration, eliminating the need for separate cold formed parts. This reduction in component count directly lowers parts costs, tooling expenses, and manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to temporarily hold connection pieces during the manufacturing process
3Strength
If high-strength steel hot formed parts are used, then material strength is high, but tabs are difficult to bend requiring separate cold formed parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing the tongue-like tab as an integrated feature of the hot formed part with specific geometric characteristics. The tab is designed with appropriate dimensions and shape to enable bending and deformation at the specific location where it is needed, while the rest of the hot formed part maintains its high-strength properties. This localized design allows the tab to be bent for securing connection pieces without requiring separate cold formed parts
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 reduces manufacturing and tool costs by eliminating the need for separate cold formed parts, ensuring secure temporary fixation of connection pieces during handling and assembly, while allowing for easy arrangement and potential bending of the tab for secure attachment.
Implementation Method 1
hot forming a blank of high-strength steel into a shape of a hot formed part with an opening and with at least one tab in the form of a tongue projecting into the opening
Implementation Method 2
hot formed part of high-strength steel
Data Source
AI summary
A hot formed part of high-strength steel includes a body having an opening and formed in one piece with at least one tab in the form of a tongue projecting into the opening for holding a connection piece captive on the body. The tab thus is formed in one piece with the hot formed part and is produced jointly with the openings during manufacture of the hot formed part in the hot forming process.