Sliding Instrument Panel Side Walls for Gap-Free Vehicle Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle designs often result in unsightly gaps between the side walls and the dashboard due to mismatched fixing references, which detract from the vehicle's aesthetic appeal and give the impression of poor finishing.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle features two closing side walls, each composed of a fixed first segment and a slidably mounted second segment, allowing for adjustable positioning to absorb assembly dispersions and prevent gaps, with a pin/oblong hole system for limited sliding movement to ensure proper wedging against bay posts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If side walls are fixed rigidly to the dashboard, then assembly is simple and manufacturing precision is maintained, but gaps appear between side walls and dashboard due to assembly dispersions
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is divided into two separate segments: a first segment fixed to the dashboard and a second segment attached to the body side. This segmentation allows each segment to be positioned independently, accommodating assembly dispersions and preventing gaps between components while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the second segment is made movable on the first segment, then alignment with window uprights is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The second segment is made movable relative to the first segment through a sliding mechanism guided by oblong holes and pins. This dynamic capability allows the second segment to be adjusted manually to achieve precise alignment with window uprights, improving appearance without requiring complex automated adjustment systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual readjustment is allowed for the second segment, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding mechanism provides a limited range of adjustment (a few centimeters maximum) which is sufficient to compensate for assembly dispersions and achieve proper alignment. This partial action approach allows manual readjustment without requiring excessive time, as the adjustment range is constrained to only what is necessary for aesthetic purposes.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle (1) comprising two body sides (3), a dashboard (2) extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, and two side panels (4) positioned at the two ends of said dashboard (2) considered along a longitudinal axis thereof. According to the invention, each of the two side panels (4) comprises a first segment (5) fixed to the dashboard (2) and a second segment (6) movably fixed to a body side (3), the second segment (6) being slidably mounted on the first segment (5) so as to adjust the alignment of said second segment (6) with a window frame on the body side (3).