Removable Vehicle Front Extension for Engine Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

The compactness of modern engine compartments in motor vehicles makes it difficult to access and maintain certain motor components, requiring the dismantling of multiple parts, which increases maintenance time and risks quality issues during reassembly.

Innovation Solution

A front part of a motor vehicle design featuring a transverse member, cradle, and extension that allows for the extraction of the extension without removing the transverse member, utilizing reception boxes with guides and screws for secure locking and easy removal in a transverse direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the engine compartment is made compact to accommodate new body designs, then the vehicle structure becomes more space-efficient, but accessibility to motor components deteriorates requiring dismantling of multiple parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine compartment volumeVSAvoidaccessibility to motor components
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The front part of the vehicle is segmented into modular components: a transverse member, a cradle, and removable extensions. The extension can be independently removed from the cradle without dismantling the transverse member or other connected components, providing easy access to motor components while maintaining a compact overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If multiple parts are dismantled to access motor components, then access to defective parts is enabled, but maintenance time increases and quality problems during reassembly occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to defective partsVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The extension is designed as a removable component that can be extracted from the cradle through a simple extraction movement along guided paths. This allows direct access to motor components located between the extension and the engine without needing to dismantle the transverse member, shock absorbers, or radiator, significantly reducing maintenance time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the extension is securely locked to the transverse member and cradle, then structural stability is improved, but the complexity of the locking mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism combines multiple functions into the extension component itself: the extension has ends with internal threading that directly engage with threaded holes in both the cradle and transverse member. This integrated design provides secure structural connection while avoiding complex separate locking mechanisms, as the extension structurally integrates the locking function through its threaded ends that engage with reception boxes in the cradle and transverse member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3156309B1Front portion of a motor vehicle with removable extension
Publication Date: 2019.01.23 RENAULT SA
  • EP3156309B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The front section (1) of the motor vehicle comprises a transverse member (2), a subframe (3), and an extension (4) connecting the subframe (3) to a longitudinal end of the transverse member (2). The front section has a first configuration in which the extension (4) is fixed to the subframe (3) and the transverse member (2). The front section has a second configuration allowing the extension (4) to be removed without first removing the transverse member (2).