Supply Rail Fastening Assembly for Secure Body Panel Joining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening arrangements for supply rails on motor vehicle bodies lack secure and efficient methods to connect and fix the supply rail to the vehicle body, leading to potential slippage, soiling, and damage.

Innovation Solution

A fastening arrangement that uses a holding element to secure the supply rail to a first body component, with a cover element providing circumferential protection and a secure connection via screws or spherical fastening elements, ensuring rapid and secure attachment of the supply rail and body components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a holding element is used to fasten the supply rail to the first body component, then the supply rail can be rapidly fixed, but the connection may not be secure enough to prevent slippage and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening speedVSAvoidconnection security

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holding element combines two functions into one component: it simultaneously fastens the supply rail to the first body component and connects the first body component to the second body component. This merging of functions achieves rapid assembly while maintaining secure connections through the integrated design of the holding element that engages with both components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The holding element serves multiple purposes: it acts as a fastener for the supply rail, a connector between body components, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality allows a single component to achieve both rapid installation and reliable, secure fastening without requiring multiple separate fastening elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If the supply rail is exposed without a cover element, then the structure is simpler, but the supply rail is vulnerable to soiling and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidsoiling and damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A cover element is introduced that circumferentially surrounds the supply rail, protecting it from soiling and damage. The cover element acts as a protective shell that encloses the supply rail while allowing the overall structure to remain relatively simple through the use of a single continuous protective component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the cover element and first body component completely surround the supply rail, then the supply rail is protected and prevented from slippage, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply rail securityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protective structure is divided into separate functional elements: the cover element that surrounds the supply rail and the first body component that provides additional support. These segmented components can be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled together to achieve complete surrounding and protection of the supply rail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12103475B2Fastening arrangement and method for producing a fastening arrangement

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

A fastening arrangement of a supply rail in a connection region in which two bodywork components are connected to one another is provided, in which arrangement the supply rail rests on a first bodywork component and is held on the first bodywork component via a holding element. By way of the holding element, the first bodywork component is held on the second bodywork component.