Nested Stiffening Profile for Vehicle Carrier Rigidity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carrier arrangements for vehicles, particularly those with load-carrying capabilities, face challenges in withstanding high torsional loads and protecting sensitive components like batteries or tanks due to the deformation of support profiles under heavy loads, especially in accident scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a stiffening profile that is either encased within or accommodated within the support profile, providing a captive and non-displaceable connection to enhance the structural rigidity and load-bearing capacity, specifically designed to withstand torsional forces and protect critical vehicle components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a support profile is used in the carrier arrangement, then the basic load-bearing function is provided, but the profile deforms under high loads and torsional forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidstructural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffening profile is inserted into the support profile, creating a nested structure where the inner stiffening profile reinforces the outer support profile. This nested configuration provides additional structural rigidity while maintaining the original load-bearing function, preventing deformation under high loads and torsional forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier arrangement uses a composite structure combining the support profile and stiffening profile as separate but integrated components. This composite approach allows each profile to contribute its specific structural properties, creating a unified assembly with enhanced strength and rigidity that exceeds the capabilities of either profile alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the support profile is reinforced to withstand high loads, then the load-bearing capacity increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffening profile is inserted into the support profile, creating a nested structure where the inner stiffening profile reinforces the outer support profile. This nested configuration provides additional structural rigidity while maintaining the original load-bearing function, preventing deformation under high loads and torsional forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier arrangement uses a composite structure combining the support profile and stiffening profile as separate but integrated components. This composite approach allows each profile to contribute its specific structural properties, creating a unified assembly with enhanced strength and rigidity that exceeds the capabilities of either profile alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3758960B1Carrier arrangement of a load carrier or a coupling device
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 WESTFALIA AUTOMOTIVE
  • EP3758960B1 patent drawingFigure 1~51
  • EP3758960B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3758960B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a carrier arrangement (10) for a rear end (91) of a vehicle (90), wherein the carrier arrangement forms a component of a load carrier (300) which can be detachably fastened to the vehicle (90) and projects in particular in front of the rear end (91) of the vehicle (90) during use or forms a component of a coupling device that is arranged or can be fastened to a rear end (91) of a body (92) of the vehicle (90), wherein, in the case of the load carrier (300), the carrier arrangement (10) is provided for applying a load and comprises, in the case of the coupling device, a holder (14) for a trailer coupling (15) for attaching a trailer (100) to the vehicle (90) or for a load carrier coupling part for detachably coupling a load carrier to the vehicle (90). According to the invention, the carrier arrangement (10) has at least one support profile (40) which has a support profile circumferential wall (44) with support profile circumferential wall sections (45-48) which are arranged at an angle to each other and/or extend in a curved manner about the longitudinal axis (43) of the support profile (40) and delimit an interior space (50) of the support profile (40) with respect to the longitudinal axis (43) on the circumference. According to the invention, the support profile (40) is stiffened at least along a part of its longitudinal axis (43) in a reinforcement section (51) by means of a reinforcement profile (60) which comprises reinforcement profile wall sections, which are arranged at an angle to each other and/or extend in a curved manner about a reinforcement profile longitudinal axis of the reinforcement profile (60), and is supported on the support profile circumferential wall of the support profile (40) in order to reinforce the support profile (40), wherein the at least one reinforcement profile (60) engages into the interior space (50) of the support profile (40) or the support profile (40) engages into a reinforcement profile interior space of the reinforcement profile (60) which is delimited by the reinforcement profile wall sections in a circumferential angle range of more than 180° extending about the longitudinal axis (43) of the support profile (40).