Vehicle Spoiler Clip Mounting With Elastic Tolerance Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for mounting spoilers on vehicles are time-consuming, costly, and prone to imprecise positioning, leading to high reworking costs and potential defects due to tolerances in component shapes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle spoiler mounting system that uses clip elements on the vehicle's outer-skin component to engage with corresponding mating clip elements on the spoiler, along with an elastically compressible intermediate element that compensates for tolerances and ensures a uniform joint pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If double-sided adhesive tape is used to fasten the spoiler, then the mounting operation is straightforward, but the positioning is imprecise and reworking costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate element as a mediator between the spoiler and the adhesive tape. This intermediate element includes a positioning protrusion that engages with a corresponding recess in the adhesive tape, providing precise positioning while maintaining the ease of adhesive mounting. The intermediate element acts as a bridge that combines the advantages of both mechanical positioning and adhesive fastening.
2Manufacturing precision
If a latching mechanism is used to fasten the spoiler, then positioning precision is improved, but the mounting operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fastening function into two independent parts: the intermediate element with the positioning protrusion provides precise positioning, while the adhesive tape provides simple fastening. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without the complexity of a full latching mechanism. The intermediate element can be easily attached to the spoiler, and the adhesive tape is simply applied to the vehicle surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate element serves as an intermediary that provides mechanical positioning without requiring a complex latching mechanism. The positioning protrusion on the intermediate element engages with a recess in the adhesive tape, creating a simple but effective positioning system that avoids the complexity of traditional latching mechanisms while maintaining positioning precision.
3Reliability
If latching elements are used to fasten the spoiler in a prestressed state, then the fastening is secure, but tolerances in component shapes cause defective fixing or excessive prestressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of prestressing from a fixed mechanical constraint to a controlled elastic deformation. The intermediate element is made of elastomeric material that can be elastically deformed during mounting to accommodate tolerance variations in component shapes. This allows the positioning protrusion to engage with the adhesive tape recess while the elastomeric material absorbs dimensional variations, preventing both defective fixing and excessive prestressing.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate element is made of elastomeric material, which is a flexible material that can deform elastically to accommodate tolerance variations. This flexibility allows the intermediate element to adapt to slight dimensional variations in the spoiler and vehicle surface, ensuring reliable fastening without excessive prestressing or defective fixing.
4Shape
If the spoiler is mounted directly on the vehicle surface, then the joint pattern is visible, but tolerances are obvious to the customer
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive tape acts as an intermediary element between the spoiler and the vehicle surface that conceals the joint pattern. The adhesive tape has a width that covers the gap between the spoiler and the vehicle, making tolerance variations invisible to the customer. This intermediary layer maintains the uniform appearance of the joint while accommodating dimensional tolerances.
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 solution simplifies the mounting process, ensures precise and uniform positioning of the spoiler, reduces reworking costs, and improves the visual appearance by concealing variations in the gap between the spoiler and the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
an intermediate element (28), which is elastically compressed in the z direction between the spoiler (20) and outer-skin component (10)
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle has a spoiler fastened to an outer skin component of the vehicle. For this purpose, clip elements are provided on the outer skin component and are in engagement with corresponding mating clip elements of the spoiler. The clip elements have an end stop in a z-direction, which is oriented transversely to the surface of the outer skin component. Between the spoiler and the outer skin component there is an intermediate element, which is elastically compressed in the z-direction and presses the spoiler against the end stop. A method is provided for mounting the spoiler on the vehicle.