Vehicle Front Assembly Elastic Support for Optical Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing front unit assemblies for motor vehicles, which include optical unit support beams to absorb relative adjustment movements, increase assembly complexity and manufacturing costs while compromising aesthetic quality due to surface discontinuities.
Innovation Solution
A front unit assembly with a fixing device comprising connecting elements that integrate with flexible zones between support parts, allowing for relative adjustments without manual intervention, and a crosspiece connecting the supports to simplify manufacturing and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If separate support beams are used to absorb relative adjustment movements, then aesthetic quality is improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support beam structure with the front face by integrating the beams into the front face in a one-piece construction. This eliminates the need for separate support beams while maintaining the aesthetic quality and surface continuity, thereby reducing assembly complexity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The front face is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides the visible aesthetic surface and simultaneously integrates the support beam functionality within its structure. This multi-functionality allows the front face to absorb relative adjustment movements while maintaining a clean, simple appearance without requiring additional components.
2Shape
If separate support beams are used to absorb relative adjustment movements, then aesthetic quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support beam functionality is merged into the front face structure, creating a one-piece component that reduces the number of parts to be manufactured, stored, and assembled. This integration significantly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the aesthetic quality and surface continuity required for visual appeal.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment is required for optical units, then positioning precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated front face with built-in support beams provides self-adjusting functionality that automatically absorbs relative adjustment movements between the optical units and the vehicle body. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual adjustment operations, maintaining positioning precision while significantly improving assembly speed and productivity.
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 enhances manufacturing simplicity and reduces costs while maintaining aesthetic quality by allowing for automatic adjustment of optical units, ensuring surface continuity between the optical units and vehicle wings through the elasticity of the support materials.
Implementation Method 1
the elasticity of each support being substantially greater than that of the front face to absorb relative adjustment movements of the corresponding wing, of the front face and/or of the corresponding optical unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The inventive assembly comprises a front face (4) fixable to the front structure (3) of a motor vehicle and a device (6) for fixing optical units (5) and comprising two supports (30) which are remote from each other, each of which is used for carrying the optical unit (5) and is fixable to the front face by one side thereof and to a mud guard (8) of the vehicle body by the other side thereof, wherein the elasticity of each support (30) is substantially greater than the elasticity of the front face (4), thereby making it possible to absorb relative adjustment movements of the corresponding mud guard (8), front face (4) and/or of the optical unit (5). In another variant, the fixing device (6) comprises at least one connection element (52) which is used for connecting the supports (30) to each other and is embodied in one piece therewith.