Motorcycle Trim Cladding Self-Alignment Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current motorcycle and scooter constructions with welded steel or aluminum frames face issues due to large tolerances, leading to uneven paneling, difficult assembly, and a poor quality impression, especially at component transitions and joints, where slotted holes compromise surface pressure and require large joints.
Innovation Solution
A cladding system with alignment means, such as retaining clips and alignment pins, allows cladding parts to self-align independently before being fastened to the supporting structure, minimizing gaps and joints, and using a main fastening mechanism like a screw socket to secure the unit without influencing alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If slotted holes are used to compensate for tolerances, then assembly is easier, but surface pressure under the screw head deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fastening function into two separate functions: alignment (performed by alignment pins before fastening) and attachment (performed by main fastening means). This segmentation allows the attachment points to be precisely positioned without needing tolerance compensation features like slotted holes, thereby maintaining high surface pressure while enabling easy assembly through the preliminary alignment step.
2Ease of operation
If large joints are provided to compensate for tolerances, then assembly is easier, but quality impression deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary alignment using alignment pins that engage with alignment means on adjacent cladding parts before the main fastening operation. This preliminary action ensures precise positioning and small joint dimensions, eliminating the need for large tolerance compensation joints while maintaining assembly ease through the guided alignment process.
3Device complexity
If alignment is coupled with attachment to supporting structure, then assembly is simpler, but gap dimensions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the assembly process into two independent stages: first, alignment of cladding parts with each other using alignment pins and alignment means; second, attachment of the aligned cladding unit to the supporting structure using main fastening means. This decoupling ensures that alignment precision is not compromised by supporting structure tolerances, achieving small gap dimensions while keeping the overall process manageable.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a trim of a motorcycle or motor scooter, formed of a plurality of trim parts (2, 3, 4), which each have orienting means, by means of which the trim parts can be oriented in a predetermined position in relation to each other, the trim parts forming a trim unit while fastened to each other at least by means of the orienting means, wherein a main fastening means (6) is provided on at least one of the trim parts, which main fastening means is designed to fasten the trim unit as a whole, having trim parts already oriented in relation to each other, to a support structure (5) of the motorcycle or motor scooter.