Ultrasonic Sensor Housing with Pivotable Retaining Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic sensor devices for motor vehicles face challenges in easy and precise mounting, often requiring complex assembly processes and risking misalignment or damage during installation.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic sensor device features a hollow-cylindrical housing with pivotable or foldable retaining elements that connect to the vehicle's paneling, allowing for simple and precise positioning, with a flange-like base for external fixation and tapered elements for smooth insertion and secure holding, enabling easy assembly from the outside without internal intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fastening methods with clips or metal fasteners are used, then the sensor device can be securely fixed to the trim part, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires intervention from both inside and outside the trim part
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a sensor receiving portion and a fastening portion, with the fastening portion containing multiple retaining elements that can be independently pivoted. This segmentation allows the mounting operation to be simplified to a single insertion motion from the outside, while the internal retaining elements automatically engage with the trim part.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining elements are designed to be pivotable about the longitudinal axis, transitioning from a retracted position during insertion to an extended engagement position during fastening. This dynamic mechanism enables automatic engagement without requiring manual manipulation from inside the trim part, resolving the contradiction between secure fixation and assembly simplicity.
2Strength
If the retaining elements are made rigid for strong connection, then the mechanical strength increases, but the risk of damage during insertion and inability to accommodate thickness variations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining elements are designed with pivotability about the longitudinal axis, allowing them to flex during the insertion process and then lock into place once engaged. This dynamic characteristic enables the connection to be both strong when engaged and tolerant of insertion variations, resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining elements can change their engagement parameter (pivot angle) to accommodate variations in trim part thickness. This allows the same fastening mechanism to reliably connect to trim parts of different thicknesses without increasing damage risk, while maintaining strong mechanical connection when properly engaged.
3Ease of manufacture
If the housing is designed as a single integrated piece, then manufacturing is simplified, but the ability to accommodate thickness variations and ensure precise positioning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
While the housing itself is manufactured as a single piece, the fastening function is segmented into multiple independent retaining elements. This allows the housing to be simply manufactured while the retaining elements provide the necessary positioning precision and adaptability through their pivotable engagement with the trim part.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable retaining elements provide dynamic adjustment capability within the integrated housing structure. This allows the housing to maintain manufacturing simplicity while the movable retaining elements ensure precise positioning and accommodation of thickness variations, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and positioning precision.
4Strength
If forceful insertion is used to ensure secure mounting, then the connection strength increases, but the force required increases and the risk of damage or jamming increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable retaining elements enable a two-stage insertion process: initial insertion with minimal force when elements are retracted, followed by automatic engagement that secures the connection. This dynamic mechanism reduces the force required during insertion while ensuring strong connection when engaged, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and insertion force.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining elements are preliminarily positioned in a retracted state that facilitates easy insertion, and then automatically transition to the engaged state during the insertion process. This preliminary positioning reduces insertion force requirements while ensuring secure mounting is achieved automatically, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and insertion force.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor device (2) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising an ultrasonic sensor unit (4) for transmitting and/or receiving ultrasound waves, which has a sensor housing (4a), and comprising a housing (5), wherein the housing (5) has a hollow cylindrical housing part (6), on which at least one retaining element (7a) is arranged, which protrudes from an outer face of the housing part (6) and is designed to mechanically connect to a trim part (3) of the motor vehicle (1), and the retaining element (7a to 7d) can be pivoted in a peripheral direction about a longitudinal axis (9) of the housing part (6).