Auto-locking Lateral Impact Retention for Sliding Door Window Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Larger sliding vehicle doors often lack the structural stiffness and integrity to prevent an impactor from moving beyond a specified distance during ejection mitigation tests, necessitating supplemental safety measures.
Innovation Solution
An auto-locking lateral impact retention system is introduced, comprising a vehicle body-mounted retainer and a sliding door-mounted pivoting catch that automatically engages and disengages with the retainer during normal door operation, providing additional structural support by locking the door in place upon impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laminated glass and door structure are used for fixed windows and smaller doors, then ejection mitigation requirements are satisfied, but the solution is insufficient for larger sliding doors due to lack of structural stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The door retention system is divided into multiple attachment points: original door-to-body attachments and additional window frame-to-body attachments. The lateral impact retention system adds a second retention path through the pivoting catch and retainer, distributing the impact load across multiple points rather than relying on the door structure alone
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the door structure with laminated glass and supplements it with a separate retention mechanism (pivoting catch and retainer). This creates a composite retention system where the weak door structure is compensated by the added mechanical retention components mounted to the vehicle body
2Reliability
If an auto-locking lateral impact retention system is added to provide supplemental ejection mitigation, then ejection mitigation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting catch is designed to automatically engage with the retainer through its own pivoting motion when lateral impact occurs. The system is self-actuating - the impact force itself causes the catch to pivot and lock into the retainer, eliminating the need for external actuators, sensors, or control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting catch acts as an intermediary component that translates lateral impact force into a locking action. Rather than directly connecting the door to the body, the catch mediates between the window frame and the retainer, providing a simple mechanical interface that adds retention capability without complex mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If a pivoting catch system is used for automatic engagement and disengagement, then ease of operation is improved, but the mechanism requires additional components increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting catch transitions between two dynamic states: retracted (disengaged) during normal operation and extended (engaged) during impact. The cam surface creates a dynamic engagement mechanism where the catch naturally pivots into the locked position under impact load and can be easily reset, providing automatic operation with minimal components
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 system effectively prevents the sliding door window frame from displacing beyond a specified distance upon impact, enhancing ejection mitigation safety without requiring modifications to existing door-operating mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member urging the pivoting catch outwardly from the recess
Data Source
AI summary
A lateral impact retention system for a vehicle door includes a door window frame retainer configured for mounting to the vehicle body and a pivoting catch configured for mounting to a window frame of the door. The pivoting catch engages the retainer when the door is subjected to a door-displacing lateral impact, but is not connected to any door-operating mechanism of the door. During normal operation of the door between the fully closed and open configurations, the pivoting catch automatically inserts into and displaces from the retainer.