Pivoting Inner Pads for Vehicle NVH Pad Assembly
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing NVH pads for vehicle structural members have a complex assembly process with numerous components, leading to reduced bonding reliability and inadequate filling of the inner space between panels and structural members, and the adhesive properties of foam pads can vary with temperature, affecting assembly accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle NVH pad design featuring an outer pad, a support pad connected to the outer pad, and one or more inner pads pivotally connected to the support pad through flexible hinge connections, allowing the inner pads to symmetrically pivot and fill the inner space of a hollow structural member, with foam material sandwiched between flexible materials for enhanced NVH performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple foam pads are separately bonded to panel and structural member, then NVH coverage is improved, but assembly complexity increases and bonding reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple foam pads (first foam pad bonded to panel, second foam pad bonded to structural member, and plate pad on outer surface) into a single integrated NVH pad assembly. This integration maintains comprehensive NVH coverage while simplifying the assembly process by reducing the number of separate bonding operations and components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple foam pads are separately bonded, then NVH coverage is improved, but bonding reliability deteriorates due to excessive assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple foam pads into a single assembly unit that can be installed as one component. This merging approach maintains comprehensive NVH coverage while improving bonding reliability by reducing the number of separate bonding operations and minimizing cumulative assembly errors.
3Ease of manufacture
If foam pads are visually bonded to panel and structural member, then assembly is simplified, but inner space filling becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the NVH pad assembly so that the plate pad is nested on the outer surface of the structural member, while the first and second foam pads are positioned within the inner space between the panel and structural member. This nested configuration ensures adequate filling of the inner space while maintaining assembly simplicity.
4Ease of manufacture
If deadening pad with adhesive property is used, then bonding is facilitated, but bonding reliability varies with temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent acknowledges that the adhesive properties of the deadening pad vary with temperature but maintains bonding reliability through proper material selection and bonding process control. The adhesive formulation is designed to provide consistent bonding performance across the expected temperature range of vehicle operation.
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 design simplifies the assembly process, improves assembly accuracy, and enhances NVH performance by reducing the number of components and stabilizing the foam quality, ensuring effective noise, vibration, and harshness mitigation.
Implementation Method 1
The hinge connection may be formed of a flexible material having elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle NVH pad includes an outer pad, a support pad connected to the outer pad, and one or more inner pads pivotally connected to opposite sides of the support pad. The one or more inner pads may include a first inner pad pivotally connected to one side of the support pad through a first hinge connection and a second inner pad pivotally connected to an opposite side of the support pad through a second hinge connection.