Plastic Vehicle Carrier with Metal Insert for Crash Force Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle carriers made of plastic lack sufficient rigidity to meet requirements for driving dynamics and crash behavior, posing a risk of uncontrollable breaking during accidents or crashes.
Innovation Solution
A carrier with a plastic basic structure and integrated metal insert elements in the edge areas for force absorption and stabilization, ensuring predetermined deformation and expansion in crash scenarios, thereby enhancing crash behavior and preventing uncontrolled breaking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a carrier is made entirely of plastic to achieve weight savings, then weight is reduced, but rigidity and crash behavior become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by integrating metal insert elements into a plastic base structure. The base structure is made of plastic for weight savings, while metal insert elements are embedded in edge areas to provide the necessary strength and crash behavior. This composite approach allows the carrier to achieve both weight reduction and sufficient mechanical properties.
2Strength
If metal components are added to improve crash behavior, then strength is increased, but weight savings are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing metal insert elements only in specific edge areas of the base structure where strength is most needed for crash behavior, rather than making the entire carrier from metal. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary strength while minimizing the weight penalty associated with metal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter locally by using different materials (plastic vs. metal) in different regions of the carrier. The base structure uses plastic with appropriate material properties for weight savings, while metal insert elements are used in edge areas with specific geometric parameters to provide reinforcement where needed.
3Weight of moving object
If the base structure is made of plastic for weight savings, then weight is reduced, but reliability in crash scenarios deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials combining plastic and metal to resolve the reliability issue. The plastic base structure provides weight savings while the integrated metal insert elements ensure reliable crash behavior. The combination of materials with different properties achieves both weight reduction and crash scenario reliability.
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
The carrier achieves improved crash behavior and weight savings by using metal insert elements to absorb forces and maintain structural integrity during crashes, while maintaining sufficient rigidity and preventing uncontrolled detachment of attached vehicle devices.
Implementation Method 1
The insert element is designed in particular for deforming and/or stretching in a crash scenario. The forces occurring in the crash scenario can be at least partially absorbed by means of the insert element.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a support (1) for positioning a vehicle device on a motor vehicle, comprising a base structure (2) which is made from plastic, and at least one connection point (8, 9) for placing the vehicle device onto the support (1). In order to provide a weight-saving support (1) which also has an adequate crash behaviour, the support is characterised in that a metal insert element (27, 28, 37, 38) for receiving forces in a crash scenario is accommodated in an edge region (3, 4) of the base structure (2).