CN100528668C

CN100528668C - An insert for improving the rigidity of a vehicle body panel

Info

Publication number: CN100528668C
Application number: CNB2007101020375A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 蒂姆·帕金森
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-05-05
Filing date: 2007-04-30
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-30
Also published as: GB0622416D0; GB2437719A; DE602007008166D1; CN101066683A; GB0608863D0; GB2437719B

Abstract

The invention discloses an insert for reducing deflection of a vehicle fender or wing panel including an attachment member for attachment to a lamp cluster or lamp housing of a vehicle and a head for lying between the panel and the cluster or housing.

Description

The body outer skin that rigidity improves

Technical field

The present invention relates to the body outer skin that rigidity improves, be specifically related to mudwing or fender guard in car or other vehicle fronts or back and lamp group adjacency.

Background technology

Perceived quality is the importance of customer satisfaction.In auto-industry, the principal element of perceived quality is the rigidity of body outer skin.Customer's dissatisfied (for example when carwash) under pressure is the body outer skin of deflection too easily.

Though can or use the higher material manufacture body outer skin of rigidity to solve problem by the thickening body outer skin, this settling mode have unnecessarily increased cost and weight, thereby unrealistic.Especially for the cover panel that does not have bearing function, perhaps the part of deflection especially easily of cover panel is all the more so.Usually do not select by making cover panel form the optional mode that certain shape obtains rigidity, because this can reduce the design-calculated degree of freedom.

Mudwing or fender guard and lamp group adjoiner in vehicle front or back, the problem especially severe of cover panel excessive deflection.Here, the contrast of the lamp group of the flexible and rigidity of cover panel and rigidity installation is very obvious.In fact, when the screen resilience that overcomes the cover panel edge inwardly pushed away the cover panel edge, the lamp group edge of adjacency became reference plane, can judge the degree of flexibility of cover panel with respect to this reference plane.

Usually, mudwing or fender guard define joining edge, and the shape of this joining edge is made and closely cooperated with lamp group adjacent part and do not have extra slit.More particularly, the leading edge of front fender apron or wing and headlight group adjacency, the trailing edge of rear mudguard or boot-mounted wing and tail-light group adjacency.Though joining edge seldom is straight or vertical, generally be upright.

The central area of joining edge does not have support usually, and its rigidity less than may be supported, by near the rigidity the joining edge top and bottom of making, having firmer shape than thick material.Therefore, the central area of joining edge is easy to generate excessive cover panel deflection especially.

Along with popularizing gradually of tall and big automobiles such as cross-country car, the lamp group has trended towards becoming higher.Therefore, the joining edge of adjacent mudwing or fender guard becomes longer, and this has increased the problem in the central area of joining edge cover panel excessive deflection.

Under the situation that does not hinder manufacturing or maintenance vehicle, especially do not hinder about install, assembling, dismounting and change under the situation of operation of lamp group or cover panel, it is difficult increasing the problem that mudwing or fender guard rigidity alleviate the cover panel excessive deflection by the part.Need a kind of low cost, the simple way of dealing with problems, and terms of settlement can not have a negative impact to the manufacturing or the maintenance of vehicle.

Summary of the invention

Different with background technology, in one aspect, the invention reside in a kind of insert that vehicle mudwing or fender guard deflection are used that reduces, this insert comprises the head that is positioned between mudwing or fender guard and car light group (for example, headlight, rear combination lamp and fog lamp) or the car light shell.

Preferably, insert of the present invention also comprises this insert is connected attaching parts on described lamp group or the shell.Described attaching parts correspondingly comprises the structure that the complementary structure with described lamp group or shell is bonded with each other.The complementary structure of described lamp group or shell can be positioned at be connected with this lamp group or shell or integrally formed carriage on.

Insert of the present invention correspondingly is fit to realize connecting by being inserted into vehicle mudwing or fender guard back.For example, described head can be wedge shape, and can be tapered along direction of insertion.

The present invention includes the vehicle that insert of the present invention is installed.Preferably, described insert is between the cover part of lamp group and mudwing or fender guard, and for example the head of described insert is between the cover part of the recessed edge of car light eyeglass part and mudwing or fender guard.The attaching parts of described insert can be connected on the car light shell, makes this head cross over the marginal portion of lamp group or eyeglass.

The present invention includes the method for making vehicle, this method comprises: described insert is arranged between the cover part of car light group or car light shell and mudwing or fender guard.Preferably, after being assembled to car light group or car light shell and mudwing or fender guard on the vehicle, described insert is set.

When after assembling lamp group or car light shell and mudwing or fender guard described insert being set, the exact location of estimating this insert is quite difficult, because mudwing or fender guard and car light group or car light shell have blocked head and/or attaching parts.Therefore, advantageously, described insert is equipped with the device that definite this insert has correctly been gone into the position.A snap-engagement structure of sending click when going into can provide expression correctly to go into the audible signal of position.

The present invention also comprises and being fit to and insert bonded assembly lamp group of the present invention or shell, and is fit to and insert bonded assembly attaching parts of the present invention.

Description of drawings

In order more easily to understand the present invention, pass through case description the present invention now with reference to accompanying drawing, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the lateral plan according to the insert of the embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is the back view of Fig. 1 insert;

Fig. 3 is that the axle that waits of Fig. 1 insert is surveyed front elevation;

Fig. 4 is that the axle that waits of Fig. 1 insert is surveyed back view;

Fig. 5 is the lateral plan of the modification of Fig. 1 insert;

Fig. 6 surveys front elevation with the corresponding axle that waits of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is the back view of headlamp enclosure, and wherein this headlamp enclosure has the carriage that engages usefulness with the insert of the embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 surveys a back view with the corresponding axle that waits of taking from the inboard of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is that the axle that waits corresponding with Fig. 8 but outside taking from is surveyed a back view, and this figure also shows and headlamp enclosure bonded assembly headlight eyeglass;

Figure 10 surveys back view with the axle that waits of Fig. 7 headlamp enclosure bonded assembly insert of the present invention;

Figure 11 is and the corresponding back view of Figure 10;

Figure 12 surveys back view with the corresponding axle that waits of Fig. 9, but the figure illustrates the insert of the present invention that is connected and covers the headlight lens edge with headlamp enclosure;

Figure 13 is the lateral plan of second kind of modification of Fig. 1 insert;

Figure 14 is the back view of Figure 13 insert;

Figure 15 is that the axle that waits of Figure 13 insert is surveyed front elevation;

Figure 16 is that the axle that waits of Figure 13 insert is surveyed back view;

Figure 17 surveys back view with the axle that waits of headlamp enclosure bonded assembly Figure 13 insert, and wherein this headlamp enclosure has the carriage that engages usefulness with this insert; And

Figure 18 surveys lateral plan with the corresponding axle that waits of Figure 17.

The specific embodiment

Below, embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to drawings.

At first arrive Fig. 4 referring to Fig. 1, insert 20 according to the present invention is to use the plastic material injection mo(u)lding.Insert 20 has the shank 26 of the head 22 of the increasing that is positioned at far-end 49a, the attaching parts 24 that is positioned at near-end 49b and connection head 22 and attaching parts 24.

Described shank 26 integral body are flat, have be parallel to each other and with use in the

parallel side

28 and 30 of direction of insertion.Head 22 and attaching parts 24 are in or are basically parallel to the plane of shank 26, but tilt with respect to

side

28 and 30, make insert 20 be oblique T shape.

The diapire 32 and shank 26 coplanes of head 22.Extend round three limits of the head 22 of the far-end 49a that comprises head 22 from diapire 32 upright peripheral walls 34.This peripheral wall 34 supports the planar top 36 that separates with diapire 32, makes head 22 hollows and open wide towards the near-end 49b direction of insert 20.Roof 36 tilts with respect to diapire 32, and the plane of the plane of this roof 36 and diapire 32 is assembled towards the far-end 49a direction of insert 20.As described below, in use, cone shape can make insert 20 play the effect of wedge.

Attaching parts 24 comprises the flat tablet thing 38 that forms insert 20 near-end 49b.The plane at tablet thing 38 places is with the plane parallel of shank 26 but do not overlap, the connecting portion that angled step portion 40 limits between shanks 26 and the tablet thing 38.With respect to the plane of shank 26, the plane of tablet thing 38 is positioned at a side opposite with the peripheral wall 34 of head 22 and roof 36.

In its peripheral wall 34 and roof 36 opposite sides with head 22, attaching parts 24 also comprises from the pair of pin 42 of tablet thing 38 upper process.As mentioned below, pin 42 has the enlarged ends 44 that in use fixedly secures on car light shell carriage.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 have shown modification of the present invention, and wherein the head 22 of insert 20 has elastic layer 46.Elastic layer 46 is applied in far-end 49a peripheral wall 34 outsides and roof 36 tops of head 22.For example, elastic layer 46 can be made by the thick foamed rubber of 3mm, but this not necessarily.

With reference to figure 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, these accompanying drawings have shown the headlamp enclosure 48 that is fit to insert 20 uses of the present invention, and wherein Fig. 9 has also shown the headlight eyeglass 50 that is installed on the shell 48.Should be noted that shell 48 has peripheral shoulder 52, towards after carriage 54 be connected on this shoulder or integrally formed with this shoulder.The shape of carriage 54 is made with insert attaching parts 24 and is engaged.

Carriage 54 has the basic inclined wall 56 of parallelogram that is.Inclined wall 56 is disconnected by two grooves 58, and wherein the interval between the pin 42 of the interval of two grooves and insert 20 is corresponding.When shell 48 is installed and used, groove 58 openings towards the rear and basic horizontal extend.

Fig. 9 has shown how eyeglass 50 has shoulder 52 front sides that are positioned at shell 48 and in abutting connection with the recessed edge part 60 of this shoulder 52.Recessed edge part 60 ends at end difference 62 forward, and this end difference leads to the visible exterior 64 of eyeglass 50.Although do not show in the accompanying drawing that the joining edge of vehicle mudwing or fender guard will cover the recessed edge part 60 of eyeglass 50 simultaneously in abutting connection with end difference 62.This provides concordant basically outward appearance between the visible exterior 64 of mudwing or fender guard and eyeglass 50.Here, the influence of cover panel excessive deflection is the most obvious, thereby damages perceived quality most.

Forward Figure 10, Figure 11 and Figure 12 at last to, these accompanying drawings have shown how Fig. 1 is connected and mutual action to the headlamp enclosure 48 of Fig. 9 with Fig. 7 to the insert of Fig. 6.

Make inclined wall 56 open circuited two grooves 58 of carriage 54 hold the pin 42 of insert 20, therefore forward and basic horizontal move insert 20, till pin 42 is flexibly joined in the enlarged ends 66 of groove 58.Fig. 8 shows the enlarged ends 66 of groove 58 best.The inclined wall 56 of carriage 54 is bonded on below the enlarged ends 44 of pin 42.

When insert 20 is connected on the carriage 54 like this, the head 22 of insert 20 stretches out forward from the shoulder 52 of headlamp enclosure 48, as shown in figure 12, on shoulder place head is positioned at the recessed edge part 60 of eyeglass 50, angled head does not just arrive and is basically parallel to the corresponding angled step portion 62 that limits this recessed edge part 60.Here, head 22 ideals of insert 20 are positioned at below the leading edge of mudwing or fender guard, thereby prevent cover panel excessive deflection when the pressurized of this position.Contacting between Fig. 5 and optional elastic layer shown in Figure 6 46 buffering mudwinges or fender guard and the insert 20.

Figure 13-Figure 16 has shown second kind of modification of the present invention of insert 21 forms.In the description to insert 21, identical part uses identical Reference numeral below.As mentioned before, insert 21 has the shank 26 of the enlarged head 22 that is positioned at far-end 49a, the attaching parts 24 that is positioned at near-end 49b and connection head 22 and attaching parts 24.This head 22 has peripheral wall 34 and the roof 36 that is similar to first kind of modification.

Attaching parts 24 comprises the flat tablet thing 38 that limits insert 21 near-end 49b.The plane at tablet thing 38 places is with the plane parallel of shank 26 but do not overlap, and end difference 41 limits connecting portion between shanks 26 and the tablet thing 38.Attaching parts 24 also comprises a pair of V-arrangement projection 43, and described projection is outstanding from tablet thing 38 on tablet thing 38 and peripheral wall 34 head 22 and roof 36 opposite sides.As mentioned below, projection 43 has the flat end 45 of increasing, and in use flat end 45 is used for fixing on the carriage that is connected the car light shell.The outer surface of projection 43 is assembled at headward 22 far-end.

As mentioned before, described shank 26 is flat substantially, have be parallel to each other and with use in the

parallel side

28 and 30 of direction of insertion.The side towards the roof 36 of head 22 at shank 26 has a series of totally 4 the upright ribs 47 that are parallel to

side

28 and 30, and these ribs are arranged in pairs towards the

side

28 and 30 directions of shank 26.The length direction of described rib 47 from tablet thing 38 near-ends along shank 26 extends to head 22 always.In hollow head 22 inside, rib extends to the lower surface of the roof 36 on opposite from the Surface Vertical towards roof 36 of diapire 32, thereby has reinforced this roof 36.Rib 47 diminishes gradually towards proximal edge 49 directions of tablet thing 38.In order to increase rigidity, in described embodiment, the part across tablet thing 38 of every rib 47 is thicker slightly than the part across shank 26 of respective rib.

For the roof 36 of further support with diapire 32 isolated heads 22, in head inside, pair of inner wall 57 extends to the surface of the roof 36 on opposite from the Surface Vertical towards roof 36 of diapire 32.Inwall 57 is roughly parallel to rib 47.

Insert 21 also comprises a pair of blade 51a and 51b, wherein this blade from the head the near-end of 22 diapire 32 stretch out, parallel and spaced apart with these sides at the side 28 of shank 26 with 30 outsides.As mentioned below, each blade all has trapezoidal convex 53 with roof 36 facing surfaces among blade 51a and the 51b, convex 53 be used for carriage 54 on individual features thing snap-engagement.The plane of blade 51a and 51b is roughly parallel to the plane of shank 26, and is partial to roof 36 directions of insert 21 slightly, make convex 53 the plane roughly with the planes overlapping of shank 26.

Diapire 32 outside faces relative with roof 36 are provided with roughly and are in collinear inclined-plane 55 with lower blade 51b.This inclined-plane 55 far-end of 22 from the head raises to the near-end of head 22.As mentioned below, in use, inclined-plane 55 helps the marginal portion 60 of the diapire 32 of head 22 with eyeglass 50 separated.

In addition, the head 22 of insert 21 has the elastic layer 46 that foam rubber material is made.Elastic layer 46 is applied in the outside of the far-end peripheral wall 34 of head 22, and roof 36 and above the diapire 32.The waveform shape (for example, sinusoidal waveform) with a series of crests 61 and trough 63 is made or is cut at the edge 59 of elastic layer 46.The waveform profile at edge 59 has two purposes.The first, when the slight curving far-end peripheral wall 34a that is applied in head 22 when elastic layer 46 went up, the wave profile helped avoid in elastic layer 46 and forms fold.The second, reduce the contact surface area between elastic layer 46 and lamp group/car light shell or the mudwing/fender guard, thereby reduced the water that enters between lamp group or car light shell and mudwing or the fender guard by reducing capillarity.Advantageously, in an illustrated embodiment, the trough 63 in blade 51a and the elastic layer 46 is in same being connected point-blank (as shown by arrow A) on the diapire 32.

Figure 17 and Figure 18 have shown how Figure 13 is connected on the headlamp enclosure 48 to the insert 21 of Figure 16.

As mentioned before, carriage 54 backward is connected on the peripheral shoulder 52 of shell 48 (perhaps integrally formed with it).This modification of carriage 54 utilizes framework 69 to be connected on the peripheral shoulder 52 of shell, and wherein said framework has towards outer sidewall 67.The inclined wall 56 to proximal extension of carriage 54 is provided with two to the tapered groove 58 of far-end, and the interval of groove and side walls converge shape and projection 43 corresponding with the interval of the V-arrangement projection 43 of insert 21 is complementary.

The sidewall 67 of framework 69 is provided with two wedges 65, and described wedge is outwards outstanding and it is corresponding with the interval of the blade 51a of insert 21 and 51b at interval from shell 48.Wedge 65 has the inclination proximal face of partial distal lip of ending at 71.Shown in the modification, carriage 54 has web 73, this web 73 extends to increase rigidity between the inclined wall 56 of proximal extension and framework 69 carriage 54.

For insert 21 is connected on the carriage 54 and thereby be connected on the headlamp enclosure 48, V-arrangement projection 43 is alignd with groove 58, moves insert 21 to far-end and basic horizontal then, till V-arrangement projection 43 is tightly wedged in the groove 58.

Along with insert 21 slides on the carriage 54, the head 22 of insert 21 at first slips over the sidewall 67 of carriage 54, passes through the shoulder 52 of headlamp enclosure 48 then.Equally, its corresponding convex 53 of blade 51a and 51b slips over from the outstanding wedge 65 of sidewall 67.When convex 53 be elevated to wedge 65 the inclination proximal face above the time, blade 51a and 51b can elastic bending so that deflection.

Design insert 21 and carriage 54 together, make when V-arrangement projection 43 and groove 58 full engagements, the partial distal lip 71 of crossing wedge 65 to lagging dege of convex 53.At this moment, blade 51a and 51b elasticity are stretched, and convex 53 buckles into against the position of antelabium 71.

Convex 53 on blade 51a and the 51b is used for an insert 21 near the snap-engagement of the antelabium 71 of wedge 65 and is locked on the tram.The click that produces both can be assembled the workman and hear that also can be assembled the workman felt, thereby determined that insert 21 correctly is installed on the carriage 54.

When inserting, the outside face of the recessed edge part 60 of eyeglass 50 is crossed on the inclined-plane 55 on the diapire 32 of insert 21 heads 22.In case insert 21 is gone into the position, this inclined-plane 55 can provide less contact surface area between insert 21 and eyeglass 50.This reduced install insert 21 and vehicle use in the possibility of anti-resitant coatings of the damage and wear eyeglass 50 that produced of insert 21 and eyeglass 50 frictions.Elastic layer 46 also helps to achieve this end.

In the vehicle fitting process, headlamp enclosure 48 can or more commonly be installed on the vehicle before connecting adjacent foil daughter board or mudwing after this.Insert 20 can be in any stage of fitting process, even after headlamp enclosure 48 and fender guard or mudwing are gone into the position, is connected on the carriage 54 of headlamp enclosure 48.Realize carriage 54 engage necessary simply, essentially horizontally mobile insert 20 makes and installs directly simple and clearly that for example, the wheel arch handle that the workman passes vehicle reaches fender guard or installation just can be finished in the mudwing back.When inserting by this way, the wedge shape head 22 of insert 20 makes this insert be positioned in the recessed edge part 60 and top mudwing or the space between the fender guard of eyeglass 50 easily.

In concept of the present invention, can carry out multiple variation.For example, although head preferably hollow to reduce material cost, it also can be solid.In addition, insert can be made by die cast metal or other modes.

Although the attaching parts of exemplary embodiment has used the structure that is bonded with each other, attaching parts also can use other interconnection techniques, such as mechanical fixed part or adhesives.

Therefore, when determining scope of the present invention, should be with reference to appended claims rather than specific embodiment mentioned above.About the foregoing description, carriage 54 is equivalent to complementary structure with framework 69, convex 53 and wedge 65 are equivalent to first and second parts of snap-engagement structure, inwall 57 is equivalent to reinforced wall, elastic layer 46 is equivalent to elastic outer layer, inclined-plane 55 is equivalent to the outshot on the head outside face, and rib 47 is equivalent to strengthening rib.

At this full content of incorporating UK Patent Application No.0608863.7 that submitted on May 5th, 2006 and the UK Patent Application No.0622416.6 that submitted to November 10 in 2006 into as a reference.

Claims

1. one kind reduces the insert that vehicle mudwing or fender guard deflection are used, and this insert comprises:

Head between mudwing or fender guard and car light group; And

This insert is connected attaching parts on the described car light group, and described head and described attaching parts lay respectively at the two ends of described insert.

2. insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attaching parts comprise the structure that the complementary structure with described car light group is bonded with each other.

3. insert as claimed in claim 2, the complementary structure of wherein said car light group be positioned at be connected with this car light group or integrally formed carriage on.

4. insert as claimed in claim 2, wherein said attaching parts comprises at least one snap-engagement structure, first parts of wherein said snap-engagement structure are arranged on the described insert, and second parts of described snap-engagement structure are arranged on the described complementary structure.

5. insert as claimed in claim 4, first parts of wherein said snap-engagement structure comprise convex, and second parts of described snap-engagement structure comprise complementary wedge, and wherein, in use, described convex can be bonded with each other with described wedge.

6. insert as claimed in claim 4, first parts of wherein said snap-engagement structure be formed at least one from described head on the spring leaf of proximal extension.

7. insert as claimed in claim 1 is realized when it is adapted at being inserted into vehicle mudwing or fender guard back connecting.

8. insert as claimed in claim 5, wherein said head is wedge shape, and is tapered along direction of insertion.

9. insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head is a hollow.

10. insert as claimed in claim 9, wherein said head inside is provided with a reinforced wall at least.

11. insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head has elastic outer layer.

12. insert as claimed in claim 11, at least a portion at the edge of wherein said elastic outer layer has sine wave shape.

13. insert as claimed in claim 1, the outside face of wherein said head has outshot, and in use, this outshot reduces the contact surface area between head and the car light group.

14. insert as claimed in claim 13, wherein said outshot is the inclined-plane.

15. insert as claimed in claim 1 also comprises at least one from the outstanding strengthening rib of described insert Surface Vertical.

16. a vehicle, it is equipped with the described insert of claim 1.

17. vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein said insert is between the cover part of car light group and mudwing or fender guard.

18. vehicle as claimed in claim 17, the head of wherein said insert is between the cover part of the recessed edge of car light eyeglass part and mudwing or fender guard.

19. vehicle as claimed in claim 17, the attaching parts of wherein said insert is connected on the car light group, and described head is crossed over the marginal portion of car light group.

20. a method of making vehicle comprises:

Preparation reduces the insert that vehicle mudwing or fender guard deflection are used, this insert comprises the head between mudwing or fender guard and car light group and this insert is connected attaching parts on the described car light group that described head and described attaching parts lay respectively at the two ends of described insert; And

The head of described insert is arranged between the cover part of car light group and vehicle mudwing or fender guard.

21. method as claimed in claim 20, be included in be assembled to described car light group and mudwing or fender guard on the vehicle after, described insert is set.