Vehicle Splash Guard Flexing Mechanism for Crack Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle splash guards tend to crack and separate when they flex due to stress concentration at the point where the guard portion meets the mounting and mating portions, leading to breakage upon contact with obstacles like curbs or rocks.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle splash guard design featuring a base portion, guard portion, mounting portion, mating portion, and flexible portion, where the guard portion moves about the flexible portion defined by the mounting and mating free edges, allowing it to flex without cracking by redistributing stress through a gap that enlarges when the guard is in a flexed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the guard portion is made rigid to prevent breakage, then strength is improved, but the splash guard cannot flex and will crack when contacting obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The splash guard is divided into distinct functional portions: a rigid mounting portion for attachment, a rigid guard portion for protection, and a flexible portion connecting them. This segmentation allows different parts to have different mechanical properties, enabling the guard to be both strong and flexible without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the splash guard have different local mechanical properties. The mounting portion and guard portion are rigid for strength, while the flexible portion has increased flexibility to accommodate movement. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying rigidity where needed and flexibility where required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the guard portion is designed to flex to avoid breakage, then adaptability is improved, but stress concentration causes cracking at the connection points
Solution Approach 1:
The stress concentration problem is resolved by extracting the flexible portion as a separate element between the rigid mounting and guard portions. This flexible portion acts as a stress-relief zone that accommodates movement without transferring concentrated stresses to the connection points, thereby preventing cracking while maintaining flexing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible portion serves as an intermediary element between the rigid mounting portion and guard portion. It mediates the stress and movement between these two rigid components, allowing the system to flex adaptively while the flexible portion absorbs the mechanical stress that would otherwise cause cracking at the connections.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mounting portion is rigidly attached to prevent movement, then stability is improved, but the splash guard cannot flex and will crack upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into a rigid mounting portion for stable attachment to the vehicle and a flexible portion that connects to the guard. This segmentation allows the mounting to remain stable while the flexible portion provides the necessary adaptability for flexing during impact events.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting portion maintains rigid local properties for stable attachment, while the connected flexible portion has different local properties that enable movement. This local quality differentiation allows the mounting to be stable while the overall assembly remains adaptable to impact forces.
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
The design enables the splash guard to flex and return to its original shape without cracking, enhancing durability and preventing breakage by relieving stress through a defined gap that increases in size during flexion, thus maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the guard portion is configured to move about the flexible portion between a normal position and a flexed position... relieving stress through a defined gap that increases in size during flexion
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle splash guard comprises a base portion, a guard portion, a mounting portion, a mating portion and a flexible portion. The guard portion extends from the base portion. The mounting portion extends from the base portion and is configured to mount to a vehicle body structure. The mounting portion includes a mounting portion free edge. The mating portion is configured to abut the vehicle body structure. The mating portion includes a first mating portion free edge and a second mating portion free edge. The first mating portion free edge extends from the base portion to the mounting portion. The flexible portion is defined by the mounting portion free edge and the second mating portion free edge, such that the guard portion is configured to move about the flexible portion between a normal position in which the second mating portion free edge is positioned at a first position proximate to the mounting portion free edge and a flexed position in which the second mating portion free edge is spaced at a second position further apart from the mounting portion free edge than the first position.