Spherical Component Connection for Vehicle Panel Pre-Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing component connection methods in vehicle body production are inefficient for easy pre-assembly of sheets and body panels, often requiring complex clamping and holding technologies.
Innovation Solution
A component connection system utilizing a male fixing element with a spherical or spherical-shaped design that fits into a female fixing element, allowing for easy plugging together and providing a releasable clamp due to the oversize design in transverse directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex clamping and holding technology is used to position body parts, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate male and female fixing elements that can be independently positioned and then connected. The male fixing element with spherical shape is attached to one component, while the corresponding female element is attached to another component, allowing independent positioning before final connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The male and female fixing elements act as intermediary components that facilitate connection between body parts. These standardized fixing elements simplify the positioning process by providing a universal interface that eliminates the need for complex custom clamping and holding devices for each connection.
2Ease of operation
If standardized fixing elements are used for pre-assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but connection strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The male and female fixing elements are pre-attached to the body parts during manufacturing, enabling simple plug-and-play pre-assembly operations. This preliminary attachment allows components to be easily connected and disconnected during assembly and maintenance while maintaining sufficient connection strength through the optimized spherical interface design.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing elements are designed with optimized parameters including the spherical shape with specific diameter ratios, material selection, and geometric dimensions that balance ease of operation with connection strength. The spherical male element fits into the corresponding female element with controlled clearance to facilitate easy insertion while maintaining adequate holding force.
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
Enables simple and efficient pre-assembly of vehicle components by minimizing misalignment risks and allowing for stress-free joining through a floating arrangement, which can be further secured with welding.
Implementation Method 1
the male fixing element has an oversize relative to the female fixing element. The oversize can be present, in particular, in a direction transverse to the insertion direction. Due to the oversize, the two vehicle components are releasably clamped together at the fixing elements when plugged together.
Data Source
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Figure 7
AI summary
The invention relates to a component connection, comprising a first vehicle component (1), which has a male fastening element (2a, 2b) that projects from the first vehicle component and that partially or completely has the shape of a sphere or completely or partially has a sphere-like shape, and a second vehicle component (3), which has a female fastening element (4a, 4b) that is intended to receive the male fastening element, wherein the male fastening element is inserted into the female fastening element in an insertion direction. The male fastening element has an excessive dimension relative to the female fastening element substantially perpendicularly to the insertion direction so that the two vehicle components are detachably clamped together at the fastening elements.