Convertible Top Seal Carrier Extensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing top designs for convertibles face structural complexity and high costs due to challenging sealing between the top cloth and side windows, particularly at the region where roof sections abut, complicating the connection of top linkage and requiring additional structural difficulties for seal separation.
Innovation Solution
The top design features extensions on the lateral border regions of roof sections that serve as seal carriers, offsetting the separating plane of seals relative to the roof sections, allowing the seals to be placed in front of or behind the roof sections' separating plane, thus avoiding the structurally complicated region and acting as a tensioning element to cover the top and shape the roof contour.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing sections are placed at the abutment region of roof sections, then sealing between top and side windows is achieved, but structural complexity increases due to connection of top linkage and seal separation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the roof section abutment region and transferred to separate extension elements. These extensions carry the sealing sections away from the complex linkage region, allowing sealing to occur at a simplified location while maintaining sealing effectiveness between the top and side windows.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is segmented by separating the sealing sections from the roof section abutment region. Extensions are introduced as separate elements that carry the sealing sections, dividing the sealing function from the structural linkage function and reducing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If extensions serve as both seal carriers and tensioning elements, then device complexity is reduced and space-saving storage is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extensions combine seal carrier and tensioning element functions into a single component. While this multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity, it does increase manufacturing complexity as the extension must be designed and produced to fulfill multiple functional requirements simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A top for a convertible, which has a rear window frame with a rear window and, in the closed state, at least one roof section situated in front of the rear window frame in the direction of travel. When there are two roof sections which are adjacent to each other when the top is closed, a respective extension, which is extended to the rear or front, is formed on the lateral border regions of one of the roof sections. The extension being configured as a seal carrier.