Vehicle Component Stop Cover for Corrosion Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle components face issues with corrosion protection interruption at bus stops due to exposed surfaces after positioning elements are removed, leading to potential corrosion and complex sealing or re-treatment processes.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle component design featuring a stop cover that is integrated into the structural part and encapsulated within the casing, providing continuous corrosion protection and sealing, with the stop cover acting as a separate component that remains attached via form, material, or force fit, and potentially made of the same corrosion-resistant material as the casing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If positioning elements are used to hold the structural part in the injection mold, then the structural part can be positioned and held during overmoulding, but the stops of the structural part are exposed after the positioning elements are removed, causing interruption in corrosion protection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcorrosion protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A stop cover is introduced as an intermediary component between the positioning element and the structural part. The stop cover remains attached to the structural part after positioning element removal, sealing the previously exposed stop area and maintaining corrosion protection continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The stop cover is designed as a separate, independent component that can be prefabricated and then attached to the structural part. This segmentation allows the stop cover to be produced separately and integrated into the final assembly, ensuring complete coverage of the stop area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the structural part is completely encased by the cover, then corrosion protection is continuous, but the positioning elements cannot access the stops for proper positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidpositioning process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The stop cover is attached to the structural part before the overmoulding process. This preliminary action ensures that the stop area is already sealed and protected before the cover material is injected, allowing the positioning elements to access the stops without compromising future corrosion protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If subsequent sealing or pre-treatment is applied to the exposed stops, then corrosion protection can be restored, but the process becomes complicated and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stop cover is attached to the structural part before the overmoulding process. This preliminary action ensures that the stop area is already sealed and protected before the cover material is injected, allowing the positioning elements to access the stops without compromising future corrosion protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stop cover integration merges the positioning function and corrosion protection function into a single unified solution. The stop cover serves both as a positioning aid during manufacturing and as a permanent seal against corrosion, eliminating the need for separate sealing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 prevents corrosion and ensures continuous protection by encapsulating the bus stop area, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs associated with subsequent treatments.

Implementation Method 1

the stop cover is firmly connected to the casing and/or to the structural part due to the encapsulation and/or encapsulation. The bus stop cover is preferably held on the structural part and/or the cover by means of a form fit, material fit and/or force fit.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForm fit:

Implementation Method 2

the stop cover is firmly connected to the casing and/or to the structural part due to the encapsulation and/or encapsulation. The bus stop cover is preferably held on the structural part and/or the cover by means of a form fit, material fit and/or force fit.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce fit:

Implementation Method 3

the structural part is overmoulded and/or cast with a suitable material to form the casing. The bus stop cover makes contact with the structural part and is partially encapsulated and/or encapsulated by the material of the casing.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEncapsulation:

Data Source

PatentEP3867036B1Vehicle component for a motor vehicle and method for producing a vehicle component of this kind
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP3867036B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3867036B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3867036B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle component (1, 17, 31, 37, 46, 55, 62) for a motor vehicle, having a structural part (7, 16, 30) and having a casing (2, 18, 32, 38, 56, 57, 79), wherein the structural part (7, 16, 30) is at least partially or fully coated with or overmoulded with a material to form the casing (2, 18, 32, 38, 56, 57, 79). To avoid an interruption of the casing (2, 18, 32, 38, 56, 57, 79) and/or an interruption of a corrosion protection remaining in the region of the holding point (8), the vehicle component (1, 17, 31, 37, 46, 55, 62) is characterized in that a holding point cover (12, 15, 29, 36, 45, 54, 61) is arranged at a holding point (8) for holding the structural part (7, 16, 30) in an injection mould and/or mould.