Vehicle Bodywork Sealing Shutter with Integrated Foam Groove
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sealing openings in vehicle bodywork elements are time-consuming, costly, and lack verification of proper treatment before bonding, leading to defects and increased production costs, especially when producing small series of parts with precise dimensions and shapes.
Innovation Solution
A shutter device comprising a foam panel made of polymer with specific density, thickness, and Young's modulus, equipped with fixing means that extend over the entire circumference and sealing means, facilitating easy installation, disassembly, and reuse, while ensuring effective sealing and vibration damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a panel is used to cover the opening with bonding treatment, then sealing between wet and dry zones is achieved, but the treatment process is long and tedious, increasing production time and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from a separate panel bonding process and integrates it into the shutter element itself. The shutter element is designed with a groove that directly engages with the bodywork edge, eliminating the need for separate sealing panels and bonding treatments, thus reducing production time while maintaining sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the shutter function and sealing function into a single integrated shutter element. The groove formed in the shutter element combines both the closing function and the sealing function, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and reducing the number of assembly steps
2Manufacturing precision
If injection molding is used to produce a plastic part with a groove for sealing, then sealing precision is improved, but significant investment in production tools and molds is required, increasing costs for small series production
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the manufacturing approach from high-precision injection molding to a more flexible process. The groove is formed by mechanical means (milling or routing) on a pre-formed shutter element, allowing for easier adaptation and lower tooling costs while maintaining sufficient sealing precision through proper groove geometry and material selection
3Reliability
If a specific edge is created around the opening periphery to ensure sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but the manufacture of the bodywork element requires good repeatability and special care, increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a specific edge on the bodywork element to mate with a groove in the shutter, the invention inverts the approach: the groove is formed in the shutter element to receive and engage with the standard bodywork edge. This reduces the complexity requirements for bodywork manufacturing while maintaining sealing reliability through the groove's geometry and the shutter element's material properties
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 provides a quick, cost-effective, and reliable sealing method that ensures proper sealing between wet and dry zones, reduces damage during disassembly, and enhances sound insulation and durability, making it suitable for various vehicle types.
Implementation Method 1
The shutter element is constituted by a panel which is made of foam of at least one polymer... ensuring appropriate sealing, on the other hand to guarantee the maintenance in position of the shutter device... and, on the other hand, also to ensure vibration damping
Implementation Method 2
The shutter element is constituted by a panel which is made of foam of at least one polymer... making it possible to facilitate the installation of this shutter device... as well as the removal of this shutter device... and, on the other hand, also to ensure vibration damping making it possible to remedy the noise
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a closure device (1) for a through opening (O) of a bodywork element (E) of a vehicle, this device (1) comprises a closure element (2) as well as at least one fastening means (4), which is configured to fix the closure device (1) on an edge (B) of the through opening (O), which comprises an edge (5) of this closure device (1), and which extends from the closure element (2) and around the periphery of this closure element (2).