Bi-fold Bus Door Seal Overlap Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bus door systems experience water infiltration through gaps between the forward and rearward door seals, leading to water pooling on the interior floor or step, as the seals do not effectively overlap when the doors are closed.
Innovation Solution
The bus door system incorporates a forward and rearward door seal arrangement where the seals extend along the entire height of the doors, with a T-shaped channel and mounting portion configuration, and a bulb seal portion with multiple bulbs, along with a flap that covers the gap between the seals when closed, preventing water intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional door seals are used with partial overlap, then the device complexity is reduced, but water infiltration occurs through gaps between seals
Solution Approach 1:
The door sealing system is divided into multiple independent seal portions: a forward door seal attached to the forward door, and a rearward door seal attached to the rearward door. Each seal is segmented into multiple bulbs (typically three bulbs per seal) that can independently contact and seal against the opposing door, creating a modular sealing system that prevents water infiltration while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The seal bulbs are arranged in a nested configuration where multiple bulbs are positioned along the seal strip in sequence. The bulbs nest within the gap between the forward and rearward doors, with each bulb capable of contacting the opposing door surface. This nested arrangement allows the seals to effectively overlap and cover the gap between them when doors are closed, preventing water and road spray from entering the vehicle interior
2Reliability
If seals extend along entire door height, then water infiltration is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal bulbs are positioned at specific intervals along the seal strip rather than continuously, with typical spacing of about 6 to 12 inches between adjacent bulbs. This local quality approach provides effective waterproofing at critical points along the door height while reducing material usage and manufacturing complexity compared to a continuous seal. The T-shaped channel and mounting portion configuration also simplifies installation while maintaining sealing effectiveness
3Ease of operation
If T-shaped channel and mounting portion configuration is used, then seal installation is simplified, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portion is integrated directly into the seal strip structure, forming a unified T-shaped component that combines both the sealing function and the mounting function. The T-shaped channel in the door and the T-shaped mounting portion on the seal work together as a combined assembly, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets or additional fastening hardware. This merging of functions simplifies the overall installation process while the standardized T-shaped geometry keeps the device complexity manageable
Data Source
AI summary
A seal system for a bi-fold door having a first panel and second panel includes a first seal attachable to the first panel and a second seal attachable to the second panel. Each seal includes a mounting portion, a bulb portion, and a flap portion. When the bi-fold door is closed, the flap portion of the first seal overlies the second seal, and the flap portion of the second seal overlies the first seal.