Vehicle Trim Shoulder for Fluid-Tight Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal trim parts for vehicles face challenges in achieving a fluid-tight connection between components due to surface irregularities and warpage stresses, leading to potential leaks during the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a base part with a through-opening surrounded by a continuous circumferential shoulder that projects from the surface, which supports the attachment part and allows for plastic deformation under pressure, ensuring a secure and fluid-tight seal. This shoulder can be formed integrally with the base part or as a separate element, using materials with better sealing properties to compensate for irregularities and warpage stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a through-opening is formed in the base part for receiving an installation means, then the attachment part can be clamped to the base part, but surface irregularities and warpage stresses cause non-fluid-tight connections and potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
A shoulder is provided at the through-opening that projects from the surface of the base part. This shoulder acts as a compensating element that can deform plastically under compression to accommodate surface irregularities and warpage stresses, ensuring fluid-tight sealing before final assembly is completed
Solution Approach 2:
The shoulder is designed with material properties and geometric parameters that allow plastic deformation under compressive stress. When the attachment part is clamped to the base part, the shoulder deforms to change its shape and compensate for manufacturing tolerances and warpage, maintaining fluid-tight connection
2Stability of the object's composition
If warpage stresses cause the attachment part to lift up from the base part, then connection stability is compromised, but adding a shoulder increases structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulder is integrated into the base part as a unified structure, combining the functions of the base part and the sealing/compensating element into a single component. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining connection stability through the shoulder's plastic deformation capability
3Ease of manufacture
If the shoulder is formed in one piece with the base part, then manufacturing steps are reduced, but material selection for optimal sealing properties is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The base part and shoulder are formed as separate components that can be joined together. This allows the shoulder to be made from materials with superior sealing properties and plastic deformation characteristics, while the base part can be made from materials optimized for structural requirements, combining the benefits of both material selections
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 effectively compensates for surface irregularities and warpage stresses, ensuring a reliable fluid-tight connection between the base part and the attachment part, reducing the risk of leaks and allowing for easier recycling of components.
Implementation Method 1
The shoulder which is provided at the through-opening and projects from the surface of the side of the base part which is provided for installing the attachment part has the advantages that non-uniformities in the surface of the base part and defects in the installation of the attachment part on the base part can be compensated by the shoulder
Data Source
AI summary
Intermediate product combinations for internal trim parts of a vehicle are provided herein. In one example, an intermediate product combination comprises a base part having an installation point in which a through-opening is formed for receiving an installation means with which an attachment part can be clamped to the base part on a surface of the base part (30). The edge region of the through-opening in the base part is provided with a shoulder, which surrounds the through-opening and projects from the surface on which the base part can be installed at the edge region of the through-opening, so that the attachment part can be supported by the shoulder when the attachment part is installed on the base part.