Vehicle Front-End Module Alignment Fastening System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle assembly methods face challenges in maintaining predetermined alignment between the front-end module and the vehicle frame, particularly during the integration of preassembled components, which can lead to manufacturing inefficiencies and potential misalignment issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of internally-threaded members, connecting members with opposite thread-handedness, and fasteners with friction-enhancing patches to securely clamp the front-end module relative to the vehicle frame, ensuring precise alignment and secure mounting through a method involving the engagement of external and internal threads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If preassembled front-end module is integrated onto vehicle frame, then manufacturing efficiency and throughput are improved, but maintaining predetermined alignment between module and frame becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment features (protrusions and recesses) are pre-formed on the module and frame members before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the module is integrated onto the frame, the predetermined alignment is automatically achieved without requiring complex adjustment procedures during assembly, thus maintaining both high productivity and alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
Connecting members with opposite thread-handedness act as intermediaries between the module and frame. These connecting members, when engaged with fasteners, provide a mechanical linkage that maintains the predetermined alignment relationship while securing the module to the frame, resolving the contradiction between easy assembly and precise alignment
2Manufacturing precision
If connecting members with opposite thread-handedness are used, then predetermined alignment is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting members utilize opposite thread-handedness (one left-handed, one right-handed) to create an asymmetric engagement system. This asymmetry ensures that the connecting members can only be assembled in the correct orientation, automatically maintaining predetermined alignment while the symmetry of the overall four-member configuration keeps the device complexity manageable
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
This solution effectively maintains the predetermined alignment between the front-end module and the vehicle frame, reducing movement and ensuring accurate centering, while allowing for relaxed manufacturing tolerances, thus enhancing assembly efficiency and stability.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second connecting members may each include an outer circumferential surface having external threads and an inner circumferential surface having internal threads. The outer circumferential surface may threadably engage a corresponding one of the first and second internally-threaded members.
Implementation Method 2
The first and second fasteners may be configured to move the first and second connecting members toward the module to clamp the module relative to the first and second members and maintain the predetermined alignment between the module and the first and second members.
Data Source
AI summary
A structure for a vehicle may include first and second spaced-apart members, first and second internally-threaded members, a module, first and second connecting members, and first and second fasteners. The first and second internally-threaded members may be connected to the first and second members, respectively. The module is positioned between the first and second members for a predetermined alignment relative thereto. The first and second connecting members include an outer surface having external threads and an inner surface having internal threads. The outer surface may engage a corresponding one of the internally-threaded members. The external and internal threads have opposite thread-handedness. The first and second fasteners engage the internal threads of the first and second connecting members, respectively. The first and second fasteners may move the first and second connecting members toward the module to clamp the module relative to the first and second members and maintain alignment therebetween.