Wheel Deflector Bracket Redirects Forces Away From Door Hinge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle designs are vulnerable to external force events, where wheel forces can directly impact door hinges, potentially causing damage during such events.

Innovation Solution

A wheel deflector bracket is designed to be attached to the vehicle body structure between the wheel and door hinge, deflecting forces away from the hinge, using a configuration that matches the wheel's surface and includes attachment methods like welding or bolting to ensure effective force redirection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If no wheel deflector bracket is installed, then the vehicle structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the door hinge is vulnerable to damage from wheel forces during external force events

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor hinge protectionVSAvoidvehicle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel deflector bracket serves as an intermediary component positioned between the wheel and door hinge. It intercepts and redirects wheel forces away from the vulnerable door hinge area, protecting the hinge while maintaining overall structural simplicity through this dedicated protective element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle body structure is segmented by adding a separate wheel deflector bracket component. This segmentation allows the protective function to be isolated in a specific component rather than requiring a complete redesign of the entire vehicle structure, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a wheel deflector bracket is added to protect the door hinge, then the door hinge is protected from wheel forces, but the vehicle structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel force impact on door hingeVSAvoidvehicle body structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful wheel force impact is extracted from the door hinge by introducing a separate wheel deflector bracket. This extracted protective function is implemented as a distinct component that can be independently designed, manufactured, and installed, thereby protecting the door hinge while keeping the overall vehicle structure manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the bracket extends far outboard of the body structure, then it more effectively deflects wheel forces away from the door hinge, but it increases the risk of damage from road debris and may interfere with wheel rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce deflection effectivenessVSAvoidroad debris impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel deflector bracket is designed with local quality optimization, extending outboard only to the specific degree necessary to effectively intercept and deflect wheel forces away from the door hinge. This targeted extension provides sufficient protection while minimizing exposure to road debris and potential interference with wheel rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9517741B2Wheel deflector bracket and method

Publication Date: 2016.12.13 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A vehicle wheel deflector bracket and method is provided. The bracket is attachable to a vehicle having a wheel, a door, and a body structure supporting a door hinge. The bracket is configured to deflect a force from the wheel to the body structure and away from the door hinge when the bracket is attached to the body structure.