Windshield Cowl Clip Elastic Deformation Error Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connection structures between laminated glass windshields and cowl louvers face issues due to shape and dimension errors, leading to unreliable engagement between the clip and cowl louver, as the clip's deformation is insufficient to absorb significant dimensional or positional errors.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure featuring a metal clip with multiple bent portions and protrusions that allow for elastic deformation, enabling effective engagement with the cowl louver's protrusions to absorb errors in shape and dimension, ensuring reliable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a solid resin molded clip with constant volume is used to connect the windshield and cowl louver, then the clip has high resistance to compression, but the clip cannot absorb large errors in dimension or assembly position, resulting in unreliable engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is changed from a solid resin molded product with constant volume to a metal plate structure with variable cross-sectional area. The plate portion has a width that varies along its length, creating regions of different rigidity. This allows the clip to maintain high compression resistance in rigid regions while providing flexibility in regions with smaller cross-sectional area to absorb dimensional and positional errors during engagement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the clip is made elastically deformable to absorb errors, then the clip can accommodate dimensional variations, but the clip lacks sufficient compression resistance when errors are large
Solution Approach 1:
The metal plate clip is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional area, creating different local properties along its length. Regions with larger width provide high compression resistance, while regions with smaller width provide flexibility for error absorption. This local variation in quality allows the single clip structure to simultaneously satisfy both requirements of strength and adaptability.
3Reliability
If multiple sets of engaged portions and engageable portions are used to ensure reliable connection, then the connection can accommodate errors, but the complexity of the connection structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal plate clip is segmented into multiple plate portions with different functions: a first plate portion for maintaining compression resistance, and a second plate portion with variable width for absorbing dimensional errors. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated connection structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structure incorporates dynamic elements through the variable width plate portion that can elastically deform to accommodate dimensional and positional errors. This dynamic capability allows the structure to adapt to manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations without requiring multiple separate engagement points, thereby maintaining reliability while controlling complexity.
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 described connection structure effectively absorbs errors in shape and dimension, ensuring a reliable and stable connection between the windshield and cowl louver by utilizing the clip's elastic deformation and protrusions, allowing for precise engagement.
Implementation Method 1
the clip is a metal plate including... a first bent portion connecting between the first plate portion and the second plate portion, a second bent portion connecting between the second plate portion and the third plate portion... the second bent portion and the first protrusion portion are at least partly brought into contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A windshield and a cowl louver are reliably connected together by effectively absorbing an error in shape or dimension of each of laminated glass, a clip and the cowl louver.A cowl louver includes a body portion, a first protrusion portion, an engageable portion, and a second protrusion portion. A clip in a plate shape includes a first plate portion, a second plate portion, a first bent portion, a third bent portion, a second bent portion and an engaged portion such that the second bent portion and the first protrusion portion are at least partly brought into contact with each other, and the engaged portion and the second protrusion portion are at least partly brought into contact with each other.