Reinforced Plastic Structural Component for Motor Vehicle Closing Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the manufacturing of motor vehicle structural components, particularly closing parts like tailgates, the use of metal reinforcements is costly and heavy, necessitating a solution to reduce weight and cost while maintaining mechanical strength.
Innovation Solution
A structural component for motor vehicle closing parts made of a main body and a strengthening portion, both partially made of reinforced plastics with higher mechanical strength, integrally molded together to eliminate the need for metal reinforcements, using sequential injection molding to form a single, robust component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal reinforcements are used to strengthen areas under higher stress, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to reinforced plastic, achieving comparable mechanical strength while significantly reducing weight. The reinforced plastic material maintains the necessary strength properties for stress-bearing areas without the weight penalty of metal reinforcements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials (reinforced plastic) that combine the benefits of plastic (low weight) with enhanced mechanical strength through reinforcement, replacing metal reinforcements entirely while meeting strength requirements for stress-bearing areas.
2Strength
If metal reinforcements are used to strengthen areas under higher stress, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to complicated processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the strengthening function directly into the plastic component design by integrating reinforced plastic material into the areas requiring strength enhancement. This eliminates the need for separate metal reinforcement parts and their associated assembly processes (punching, overmolding), significantly simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to reinforced plastic, which can be directly molded into the required shapes and integrated into the component during the molding process itself, eliminating complex post-processing operations required for metal reinforcements.
3Weight of moving object
If reinforced plastic is used instead of metal reinforcements, then the weight is reduced, but the mechanical strength may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses reinforced plastic composite materials that provide mechanical strength comparable to metal while maintaining the weight advantage. The reinforcement within the plastic matrix enables the material to meet strength requirements without sacrificing the weight benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies reinforced plastic material specifically in the areas requiring higher strength (columns, hinge mounting areas, lock mounting areas) while using standard plastic in other areas, optimizing the strength-to-weight ratio locally where needed most.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a structural component for motor vehicle closing part and a motor vehicle closing part including the component. The structural component includes a main body at least partially made of a first plastic and a strengthening portion with mechanical strength higher than that of the main body, characterized in that the strengthening portion is at least partially made of a second reinforced plastic and is integrally molded with the main body, and the mechanical strength of the second reinforced plastic is higher than that of the first plastic. With this structural component, the use of metal reinforcements can be reduced or even completely omitted, thereby achieving the purpose of reducing the weight of the closing part and hence saving cost.