Welding Pipe Nut Fastener for Vehicle Sub-Frame Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle body fastener structures, particularly those using spot-welding nuts, suffer from reduced fastening rigidity due to thermal deformation and varying impressed portion heights, leading to decreased steering stability, riding comfort, and responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body fastener structure that employs a welding pipe nut with a coupling flange coupled to the vehicle body frame by spot welding, a boss protruding from the flange, and a seat surface for the attachment portion of the sub-frame, which is fastened using a bolt threaded into the female thread of the pipe nut.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a spot-welding nut is used and the attachment portion is fastened to the impressed portion, then the fastening process is simple, but the fastening rigidity is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fastening system into two distinct components: the welding pipe nut (which provides the threaded fastening function) and the coupling flange (which provides the welding attachment function). This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function optimally, with the coupling flange distributing welding stresses and the pipe nut providing reliable threaded fastening, thereby maintaining high fastening rigidity while keeping the manufacturing process simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling flange acts as an intermediary component between the vehicle body frame and the welding pipe nut. It is welded to the vehicle body frame and provides a stable mounting surface, while the welding pipe nut is then attached to the coupling flange. This intermediary structure eliminates the direct contact between the attachment portion and the variable impressed portions, ensuring consistent fastening rigidity.
2Ease of operation
If the attachment portion is fastened to the impressed portion, then the fastening operation is straightforward, but steering stability and responsiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling flange serves as a stable intermediary platform that is welded to the vehicle body frame. This flange provides a consistent, non-variable mounting surface that eliminates the problems associated with varying impressed portion heights. The attachment portion is then fastened to this stable flange rather than directly to the frame, ensuring consistent steering stability and responsiveness while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Productivity
If spot welding is used to attach the nut to the vehicle body frame, then welding productivity is high, but thermal deformation creates variable impressed portion heights
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the welding operation from the fastening operation by introducing the coupling flange as a distinct component. The coupling flange is welded to the vehicle body frame using high-productivity spot welding, accepting the thermal deformation and variable impressed portion heights. The welding pipe nut is then attached to this flange, isolating the fastening precision from the welding variability. This segmentation maintains high welding productivity while ensuring consistent fastening quality.
4Ease of manufacture
If the attachment portion floats with respect to the joint surface, then fastening to the impressed portion is simple, but stress concentration occurs in the pry direction
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling flange acts as a rigid intermediary platform that is securely welded to the vehicle body frame. This flange provides a stable, non-floating base that distributes pry direction stresses across its entire structure rather than concentrating them at a single fastening point. The attachment portion is fastened to this stable flange, eliminating the floating condition and associated stress concentration while maintaining fastening simplicity.
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 configuration maintains high fastening rigidity between the vehicle body frame and the sub-frame, ensures stability of welding quality, and enhances productivity by eliminating the need for additional masking processes during arc welding.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling flange is coupled to the outer surface of the vehicle body frame by spot welding
Implementation Method 2
a pipe inserted through the vehicle body frame from an outside and having a female thread
Implementation Method 3
The bolt fastens the attachment portion of the sub-frame to the welding pipe nut, the bolt threaded into the female thread
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body fastener structure includes: a vehicle body frame on a vehicle body; a sub-frame including an attachment portion attached to the vehicle body frame; a welding pipe nut coupled to the vehicle body frame; and a bolt fastening the attachment portion to the welding pipe nut. The welding pipe nut includes a pipe inserted through the vehicle body frame and having a female thread, and a coupling flange provided at a base of the pipe and coupled to the vehicle body frame. The attachment portion is fastened to the welding pipe nut with the bolt threaded into the female thread, the coupling flange is coupled to the vehicle body frame. A boss protrudes from a surface of the coupling flange. A seat surface is provided on an end surface of the boss. The attachment portion abuts against the seat surface and is fastened with the bolt.