Luminous Grille Housing Layout for Front-Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing luminous grilles in vehicles face challenges during front impacts in cluttered environments, as their significant depth can lead to abrupt recoil and increased risk of breakage or damage to adjacent equipment, resulting in higher repair costs.
Innovation Solution
The luminous grille features a housing with two lateral parts and a central part of reduced depth, allowing for central depression without contact with elements behind it during impacts, thus defining an empty recess to absorb impact energy without risking crushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing has a significant depth to absorb impact energy, then the shock absorption capability is improved, but the ease of installation deteriorates due to limited space behind the grille
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into two distinct parts: a first part with significant depth for shock absorption and a second part with reduced depth for installation feasibility. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between shock absorption capability and ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different depth characteristics are applied to different parts of the housing: the first part has significant depth locally positioned to absorb impact energy, while the second part has reduced depth locally positioned to fit constrained spaces. This local differentiation enables both shock absorption and easy installation simultaneously.
2Reliability
If the housing has a significant depth, then the energy absorption during impact is improved, but the risk of breakage and damage to adjacent equipment increases due to abrupt recoil interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first part with significant depth for energy absorption and a second part with reduced depth positioned away from adjacent equipment. This segmentation ensures that the recoil movement occurs within the first part without interrupting against equipment in the second part, thus reducing breakage risk while maintaining energy absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second part of the housing acts as an intermediary space or buffer zone between the impact absorption mechanism (first part) and adjacent equipment. This intermediary structure allows the first part to deform and absorb energy without directly transmitting the full recoil force to nearby components, thereby reducing harmful effects.
3Ease of manufacture
If the housing depth is reduced to facilitate installation, then the ease of installation is improved, but the shock absorption capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a first part with significant depth dedicated to shock absorption and a second part with reduced depth for installation feasibility. This segmentation ensures that the overall housing can be installed in constrained spaces while the first part maintains sufficient depth for effective energy absorption during impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
Significant depth is locally maintained in the first part of the housing where it is most needed for shock absorption, while the second part has reduced depth locally adapted to installation constraints. This local quality differentiation allows the housing to satisfy both installation requirements and shock absorption performance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A luminous grille (CL) equips a vehicle and comprises a housing (BC) delimiting a cavity (CB) housing a central part (PCL), comprising a logo, and a lighting device generating a light illuminating the central part (PCL), and a protective glass (GP) secured to the housing (BC) by closing the cavity (CB) in front of the central part (PCL). The housing (BC) comprises two lateral parts (PLB2), right and left, having a first average depth, and a central part (PCB) interposed between these lateral parts (PLB2), housing the central part (PCL) and having a second average depth strictly less than the first average depth in order to allow a central depression of the luminous grille (CL) without contact with an element of the vehicle placed behind it in the event of a front impact.