Articulating Roller Bracket for Extended Sliding Door Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
The size of the door opening in vehicles with sliding doors is limited by the length of the track assemblies, and the presence of rear taillight assemblies further restricts space, making it difficult to achieve a large door opening while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
An articulating arm is used to extend the travel of the sliding door beyond the end of the roller track by pivoting when the roller bracket reaches its maximum open position, allowing additional opening movement without increasing the track length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the track length is increased to allow greater door travel, then the door opening size is improved, but the track visibility and aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating arm transforms the rigid linear motion of the roller bracket into a dynamic compound motion. As the roller bracket reaches the end of the track, the articulating arm pivots to continue moving the door rearward, converting a static track-length limitation into a dynamic extension mechanism that adds travel distance without extending the visible track.
2Length of moving object
If the track length is increased to allow greater door opening, then the door opening size is improved, but the space constraints and styling problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating arm introduces a rotational degree of freedom perpendicular to the linear track motion. This dimensional change allows the door to travel beyond the linear track endpoint through pivoting action, effectively adding travel distance in a different motion dimension without requiring additional linear track space.
3Length of moving object
If the roller bracket is positioned at the remote end of the track, then the door opening is maximized, but the articulating arm must pivot to achieve additional travel
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating arm is designed to pivot automatically as the roller bracket reaches the end of the track. The mechanism self-activates through the natural motion sequence, requiring no additional actuators or complex control systems. The door's opening force itself drives the articulating arm's pivoting action, making the system self-serving and operationally simple.
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 solution provides a larger door opening while minimizing the visibility and space constraints associated with long roller tracks, enhancing ease of ingress and egress and load passage.
Implementation Method 1
an articulating arm is used to join the roller bracket to the door. By pivoting the articulating arm when the roller bracket is at its most open position, additional opening movement of the sliding door is obtained.
Implementation Method 2
An over-center spring mechanism can be included for controlling and maintaining the positioning of the roller bracket relative to the sliding door throughout the full travel of the roller bracket.
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding door for a vehicle has a door bracket. A track is mounted along the vehicle and extends to a remote end. A roller bracket is movable between a first position proximate the opening and a second position at the end of the track. The roller bracket includes an articulating arm retained by the roller bracket by a first pivot and pivotally retained at a second end by the door bracket. The articulating arm has a first orientation for rotationally positioning the sliding door toward the closed position and a second orientation for rotationally positioning the sliding door into the open position. Movement of the roller bearing into the second position results in the articulating arm moving from the first to the second orientation. An over-center spring mechanism may maintain the positioning of the roller bracket relative to the sliding door throughout the travel of the bracket.