Removable Bumper Receiver for Cost-Effective Towing Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle bumper assemblies often include permanently fixed receiver nuts, which are unnecessary for vehicles not requiring them, leading to increased costs and labor, as these nuts are mandated by law in some regions but not universally required.
Innovation Solution
A removably coupled bumper assembly design featuring a receiver with a receiver opening that can be exposed from the bumper beam, allowing for optional inclusion of towing hook members, with anti-rotation features to secure the receiver in place without welding, enabling selective manufacturing based on vehicle requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a receiver nut is permanently fixed to the bumper beam, then the vehicle can be towed or tied-down during shipping, but unnecessary parts and labor costs increase for vehicles that do not require this feature
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver nut is segmented from the bumper beam as a separate, removable component rather than being permanently integrated. This allows the receiver nut to be installed only on vehicles that require towing capability, eliminating unnecessary parts and labor costs for vehicles that do not need this feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver nut transitions from a static, permanent fixture to a dynamic, removable component. It can be installed when towing capability is needed and removed when not needed, allowing the bumper assembly to adapt to different vehicle requirements and reduce manufacturing costs.
2Reliability
If a receiver nut is permanently fixed to the bumper beam, then the towing fixture is secure, but labor and time are wasted installing unnecessary components on all vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the receiver nut as a separate component, the assembly process can be selectively applied only to vehicles requiring towing capability, eliminating wasted assembly time on vehicles that do not need this feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver nut is pre-configured as a standalone component ready for installation, allowing it to be added only when needed during final assembly rather than being permanently attached to all bumper beams from the start.
3Reliability
If a receiver nut is permanently fixed to the bumper beam, then the towing hook is securely attached, but the bumper assembly cannot be modified based on vehicle requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver nut is segmented as a separate, removable component that can be selectively installed on different vehicle types, providing manufacturing flexibility to adapt the bumper assembly to specific vehicle requirements while maintaining secure attachment when installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver nut provides a dynamic configuration option, allowing the bumper assembly to be adapted based on vehicle requirements. It can be installed on vehicles needing towing capability and omitted from vehicles that do not require this feature.
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 allows for cost savings by only including the receiver nuts when necessary, while ensuring robustness and ease of installation and removal, reducing unnecessary parts and labor costs in vehicle manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
the first end includes an external threading, and wherein the removable member is a threaded nut that threadably couples to the external threading
Implementation Method 2
the receiver includes an anti-rotation feature that limits rotation of the receiver relative to the bumper beam about an axis of the receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A bumper assembly for a vehicle to which a towing hook member can be removably coupled includes a bumper beam having a cavity defined at least partially by a first wall and a second wall. The first and second walls are separated at a distance. Also, the bumper assembly includes a receiver having a receiver opening operable to removably couple to and removably receive the towing hook member. The receiver opening is exposed from the bumper beam, and the receiver also has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is removably coupled to the first wall of the bumper beam, and the second portion is removably coupled to the second wall of the bumper beam.