Counter Gate Door Contact Management for Pillarless Vehicle Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicles without a middle pillar face damage from friction between opposing doors when opening, as passengers must push one door to open the other, leading to contact and potential damage to the sheet metal and seals.
Innovation Solution
A contact management device with an elastically deformable portion is integrated into the vehicle, which moves the doors apart by deforming when pressure is applied, reducing friction and preventing damage during the transition from a closed to an open position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle is designed without a middle pillar to allow wide access to the passenger compartment, then passenger access is improved, but friction and potential damage between opposing doors increases
Solution Approach 1:
A counter gate is introduced as an intermediary element between the front and rear opposing doors. The counter gate receives the pushing force from the rear door and transfers it to the door frame, preventing direct contact and friction between the front and rear doors. This mediator structure allows wide passenger access while eliminating the harmful friction effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening mechanism is segmented into three separate movable elements: the front door, the counter gate, and the rear door. Instead of having the front and rear doors interact directly, the counter gate is inserted as a separate segment that handles the interaction, thereby protecting the main door structures from damage.
2Ease of operation
If the rear opening pushes the front opening to allow passenger exit, then ease of exit is improved, but contact and friction between openings causes damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The counter gate serves as a mediator that receives the pushing force from the rear door during passenger exit and redirects this force to the door frame. This prevents direct contact between the front and rear doors, maintaining structural integrity while preserving ease of exit.
Solution Approach 2:
The counter gate is positioned in advance between the front and rear doors to cushion and absorb the pushing force before it can reach the front door. This pre-positioned protective element prevents damage by intercepting the force transmission path.
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 device effectively manages friction between the doors, minimizing the risk of damage and facilitating smooth opening by maintaining distance between the doors in their open position, enhancing passenger access and vehicle durability.
Implementation Method 1
a contact management device (18) having an elastically deformable portion (20), which by deforming is configured to move the openings (8, 10) away from each other
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) comprising a body (6) and at least two opposing side openings (8, 10) mounted on the body (6), including a front opening (8) and a rear opening (10), these openings (8, 10) being configured to take a first position in which they are closed and a second position in which they are open, the motor vehicle (1) comprising a contact management device (18) between the openings (8, 10) comprising at least one elastically deformable portion (20) integral with one of the openings (8, 10), the elastically deformable portion (20) being configured to move the openings (8, 10) away from each other.