Towbar Crossmember Mounting Arrangement With Self-Aligning Connecting Rods
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for mounting a drawbar on a motor vehicle are not ergonomic or quick, especially in factory assembly settings, requiring external intervention for pre-holding and involving complex fastening processes that increase assembly time.
Innovation Solution
A hitching crossmember arrangement with two connecting rods and integral fixing plates, where each connecting rod has a first and second part forming parallel support planes, allowing the drawbar to be pre-held and fixed without external assistance, using oblong holes and indexing pilots for precise alignment and rapid assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mounting methods with multiple fastening elements are used, then the coupling crossmember can be securely attached to the vehicle body, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening functions into a single integrated connecting rod assembly. The connecting rod incorporates both the mounting bracket and fastening elements as one piece, eliminating the need for separate brackets, spacers, and multiple fasteners. This merging reduces the number of parts while maintaining secure attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting rod serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support element, a mounting bracket, a positioning guide, and a fastening mechanism. The rod's design integrates the bracket functionality directly into the rod structure, allowing it to perform attachment, positioning, and securing operations in a single component.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional mounting methods requiring pre-holding by operators are used, then the coupling crossmember can be properly positioned, but the assembly time increases and ergonomics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting rod is pre-configured with integrated positioning features and guiding elements that automatically align the coupling crossmember during installation. The bracket portion of the rod is designed to guide the crossmember into the correct position before fastening, eliminating the need for operators to manually hold and position the component.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly system is designed to be self-aligning and self-positioning. The connecting rod's integrated structure provides automatic positioning cues and mechanical guidance that enable the coupling crossmember to self-align during installation, removing the need for external intervention to maintain positioning accuracy.
3Reliability
If traditional mounting methods with multiple components are used, then the coupling system can be securely attached, but the number of parts increases assembly complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discrete components (mounting brackets, spacers, fasteners) into a single integrated connecting rod assembly. This reduction in part count directly increases assembly speed by eliminating the need to handle, position, and fasten multiple separate components, while the integrated design maintains secure attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting rod is designed as a modular one-piece component that replaces multiple segmented parts. By segmenting the function rather than the physical structure, the design achieves the benefits of multiple components (positioning, fastening, support) while avoiding the drawbacks of multiple physical parts (assembly complexity, time consumption).
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a mounting arrangement for a towbar crossmember (20) on a motor vehicle body (10), comprising two connecting rods (30) adapted to be fixed between said crossmember and a side member (11), said crossmember comprising at each of its ends a mounting plate (40) having an inner flange (41) integral with said crossmember. Each connecting rod comprises a first connecting portion (31) forming a first support plane parallel to the transverse longitudinal plane XY of the vehicle adapted to be fixed to said side member, and each mounting plate comprises an outer flange (42) extending transversely from said inner flange so as to form a second support plane parallel to the transverse longitudinal plane XY of the vehicle, said second support plane being intended to be brought against said first support plane during the mounting of said crossmember to ensure pre-retaining of said crossmember on said connecting rods.