Vehicle Door Coupling Shaft for Fast Airtight Panel Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle door coupling process is inconvenient and time-consuming due to the need for separate support pins and bolts, and the narrow workspace makes it difficult to correctly insert these components, leading to increased work time and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle door coupling device featuring a shaft with a stopper, crossbar, and position maintaining structure that allows temporary coupling and vertical movement, preventing rotation and loosening, and includes a sealing material for airtightness, eliminating the need for additional fastening means and minimizing workspace obstacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If support pins and bolts are used separately for temporary fixation and fastening, then the coupling can be achieved, but the device complexity and work time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling stabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the support pin and bolt into a single integrated coupling device. The device includes a shaft that serves as both the support element and the fastening element, eliminating the need for separate components. The shaft can be temporarily inserted to provide support and then permanently fixed to achieve fastening, thus merging two functions into one component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling device is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides temporary support during assembly, enables precise positioning, and achieves permanent fastening. The shaft can be temporarily inserted for alignment and support, then permanently fixed to secure the modular panel to the door inner panel, making a single component universal for multiple assembly stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If support pins and bolts are directly inserted into holes at assembly site, then the coupling can be achieved, but the work time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling stabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device allows preliminary temporary insertion of the shaft into the holes before final positioning. The shaft can be temporarily fixed to provide support and alignment, then later permanently fixed after the modular panel is properly positioned. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated insertion and adjustment, reducing overall assembly time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If narrow workspace is used for bolt fastening, then the assembly can be completed, but the insertion accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly completionVSAvoidinsertion accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft serves as an intermediary element that facilitates the coupling process in narrow spaces. It can be temporarily inserted to provide support and alignment, making the subsequent permanent fixation easier and more accurate. The shaft acts as a mediator that simplifies the insertion process and improves precision in constrained workspaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3950393B1Vehicle door coupling device
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 KWANGJIN
  • EP3950393B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3950393B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3950393B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle door coupling device, and more specifically, to a vehicle door coupling device for mechanically coupling together a first member having a first hole and a second member having a second hole at a position corresponding to the first hole. The vehicle door coupling device includes: a stopper configured to support the first member; and a shaft including a crossbar configured to support the second member and couple the second member to the first member when the shaft is rotated to a final coupling position, and a hook portion configured to cause the shaft to be caught on the first member in a temporary coupling position, the shaft being connected to support the stopper and the crossbar, wherein the shaft is shaped such that the shaft is inserted into the first hole of the first member and the second hole of the second member and rotatably passes therethrough, and an material for airtight is provided on the shaft to maintain airtightness between the shaft and the first hole of the first member in the final coupling position.