Vehicle Panel L-Shaped Locking Branch Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elementary panel profiles used in vehicle side walls fail to withstand increased load forces, leading to rupture due to flexing of the L-shaped locking branch when subjected to high pressures.
Innovation Solution
The panels are reinforced with additional support structures, including a support part for the L-shaped locking branch, support legs on the inner and outer walls, and a bar parallel to the edge that cooperates with a support heel, to enhance bending resistance and prevent unlocking under excessive loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the L-shaped locking branch is made thinner to reduce material usage, then manufacturing cost decreases, but resistance to bending under load deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional thin-walled profile to a three-dimensional structure by adding longitudinal ribs that extend along the length of the locking branch. This dimensional addition creates a stiffening effect without significantly increasing material consumption, as the ribs utilize the existing profile thickness while adding structural rigidity through their extended geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structural system by combining the thin-walled profile material with the rib reinforcement. The rib structure acts as a structural composite that works together with the base profile material to provide enhanced bending resistance. This allows the system to achieve higher strength-to-weight ratio by optimizing the distribution of material where it is most needed for structural performance.
2Productivity
If the panel height is increased to reduce the number of panels needed, then productivity improves, but the locking mechanism becomes more prone to failure under load
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the locking branch into multiple structural components by adding longitudinal ribs that divide the branch into distinct stiffened sections. This segmentation creates multiple load paths and prevents stress concentration at any single point, thereby enhancing the overall reliability of the locking mechanism while maintaining the ability to use taller panels.
3Weight of moving object
If the profile thickness is reduced to lower weight, then weight of the vehicle decreases, but the panel ruptures under high load forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality enhancement by adding rib reinforcements specifically at critical locations where bending moments are highest, rather than uniformly thickening the entire profile. The longitudinal ribs are strategically positioned to provide localized stiffening at the locking branch and connection points, maintaining thin-walled construction in non-critical areas to minimize weight while maximizing strength where needed.
Data Source
Figure 1A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
The panel has an interior wall (2) and an exterior wall (3) connected by a spacer wall. The interior wall has longitudinal assembling edges for assembling a male hook element and a complementary female hook element. The edges are equipped with reinforcement units for reinforcing a flexural strength of a L-shaped inner locking branch (10), where the reinforcement units comprise a bar (28) parallely extending to a perpendicular end flange (11) and cooperating with a heel rest (30) on a inner surface of the exterior wall of the panel.