Vehicle Skid Panel Offset Contours for Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional skid panels lack rigidity and strength due to their flat design, making them ineffective in protecting the engine compartment from airborne debris and providing structural support.
Innovation Solution
A skid panel with various surface contours and shapes, including offset areas and embossed alpha-numeric patterns, which enhance rigidity and strength by providing additional structural support and resistance to bending while maintaining an attractive appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a flat panel design is used for the skid panel, then the manufacturing process is simple and cost-effective, but the rigidity and strength against bending are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by forming the panel with multiple offset areas (first offset areas extending downward, second offset areas extending upward) instead of a flat surface. These curved and contoured regions create structural rigidity and resistance to bending while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through stamping or forming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat panel to a three-dimensional contoured structure by adding vertical offsets in multiple directions. The first offset areas extend downward and the second offset areas extend upward, creating a multi-level surface that provides structural reinforcement without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
2Reliability
If a flat panel design is used for the skid panel, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the protective effectiveness against airborne debris is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured design with upward and downward offset areas creates a structurally stronger panel that provides more effective protection against airborne debris impact. The curved surfaces distribute impact forces more effectively across the panel structure, enhancing protective reliability while remaining manufacturable through standard forming processes.
3Strength
If the panel is made with surface contours and offset areas, then the rigidity and strength are enhanced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is segmented into distinct functional zones: a substantially flat central area for simplicity, first offset areas extending downward for structural reinforcement, and second offset areas extending upward for additional rigidity. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently while maintaining overall manufacturability through a single forming operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the panel are given different geometric qualities tailored to their specific functions. The flat area provides a simple mounting surface, while the offset areas provide localized structural reinforcement where needed. This local differentiation of geometry optimizes structural integrity without requiring complex manufacturing throughout the entire panel.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle skid panel having a main body configured for installation to a forward area of an underside of a vehicle. The main body has a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface includes a flat area, a plurality of first offset areas and a plurality of second offset areas. The plurality of first offset areas are offset from the flat area such that the plurality of first offset areas have respective surfaces that are vertically lower than the flat area and the plurality of second offset areas are vertically higher than the flat area.