Vehicle Reinforcement Ribbing for Cable Routing Under Load

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reinforcement parts for vehicle components, such as composite reinforcement parts, face a challenge when routing cabling, as apertures created to accommodate wiring often compromise the structural integrity and load-bearing capability, particularly in critical areas, leading to decreased stiffness and strength.

Innovation Solution

The reinforcement part incorporates a structural wall with apertures only in a secondary side region where the load is smaller, allowing cabling to pass through while maintaining the integrity of the ribbing structure in the primary side region, which bears the largest load, thereby enhancing bending and torsional load behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If apertures are formed in the ribbing structure to route cabling, then cabling can be accommodated, but the load bearing capability and structural rigidity are decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabling routingVSAvoidload bearing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement part is divided into a first side region (without apertures, maintaining structural integrity) and a second side region (with apertures for cabling). This segmentation allows the structure to provide both load-bearing capability and cabling routing functionality in different zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the reinforcement part are designed with different properties: the first side region has intact ribbing structure for maximum strength, while the second side region has apertures for cabling accommodation. This local differentiation optimizes both structural performance and functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If apertures are formed at the top of the ribbing structure, then a continuous recess for cabling is created, but the effectiveness of the composite ribbing is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabling accommodationVSAvoidribbing structure effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement part is divided into a first side region (without apertures, maintaining structural integrity) and a second side region (with apertures for cabling). This segmentation allows the structure to provide both load-bearing capability and cabling routing functionality in different zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the reinforcement part are designed with different properties: the first side region has intact ribbing structure for maximum strength, while the second side region has apertures for cabling accommodation. This local differentiation optimizes both structural performance and functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the largest load bearing areas are cut into for cabling, then cabling routing is enabled, but the load bearing capability is severely decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabling routingVSAvoidload bearing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the reinforcement part are designed with different properties: the first side region has intact ribbing structure for maximum strength, while the second side region has apertures for cabling accommodation. This local differentiation optimizes both structural performance and functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating apertures in the first side region (which would compromise the largest load-bearing area), the invention inverts the approach by placing apertures in the second side region where the load portion is smaller, thereby protecting the critical load-bearing areas while still enabling cabling routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11951916B2Reinforcement part for routing cables, as well as vehicle component comprising such a reinforcement part, and vehicle comprising such a vehicle component

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES BV

AI summary

The invention relates to a reinforcement part (1) for reinforcing a vehicle component, comprising a structural wall (3) enclosing walls of a ribbing structure (5), the reinforcement part having a first side region (6) allowing a first load portion to pass through and a second side region (7) allowing a second load portion to pass through, wherein the first load portion represents the largest load portion, characterized in that at the second side region, the walls of the ribbing structure are provided with cut-outs (8), the structural wall at the second side region being shaped to at least partially cover the contours (9) of the cut-outs, wherein a continuously shaped cut-out (10) is formed in the structural wall for cabling (11), whereas the walls of the ribbing structure at the first side region are free from cut-outs.