Vehicle Door Hinge Trajectory for Auto-Closing and Open Hold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle door assemblies face challenges in operability, particularly in closing the door with minimal force near the fully-closed position and maintaining the door in a fully-open state, especially when wind is present during loading or unloading.
Innovation Solution
The door assembly features a hinge configuration that curves the door's center of gravity trajectory upward in the up-down direction, with the highest point positioned between the trajectory ends, allowing for automatic closure near the fully-closed position and easy opening without manual force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional hinge with straight trajectory is used, then the door structure is simple, but the door requires significant force to close near the fully-closed position and cannot maintain the fully-open state against wind
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is designed with a curved trajectory mechanism that causes the door's center of gravity to follow an arc-shaped path during opening and closing. This curvature creates gravitational assistance: as the door approaches the fully-closed position, the rising center of gravity generates automatic closing force, eliminating the need for manual pushing and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge trajectory parameters are specifically optimized so that the center of gravity reaches its highest point at a predetermined position during the opening sequence. This parameter adjustment creates a balance point that allows the door to maintain the fully-open state against external forces like wind, while also providing automatic closing assistance near the closed position.
2Reliability
If a conventional hinge with straight trajectory is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the door cannot maintain the fully-open state when wind blows during loading or unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The curved hinge trajectory creates a stable equilibrium position at the fully-open state. When the door reaches this position, the center of gravity is at its highest point, creating a balance that resists external disturbances like wind. This gravitational balance allows the door to maintain the fully-open state during loading or unloading operations without requiring additional locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge design effectively uses the door's own weight as a counterweight mechanism. By positioning the center of gravity to rise during opening and reach its peak at the fully-open position, the gravitational force creates a restoring moment that counteracts external forces like wind, thereby maintaining door position stability without additional counterweight components.
3Ease of operation
If the center of gravity trajectory is curved upward with highest point between ends, then automatic closure and position maintenance are achieved, but the hinge design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The curved hinge trajectory enables the door system to serve itself by utilizing the door's own weight and the gravitational force generated during movement. The rising center of gravity automatically generates closing force near the fully-closed position, and the peak position creates automatic stabilization at the fully-open state, eliminating the need for external actuators, motors, or complex control systems.
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
This configuration enables the door to remain closed with reduced force and stay open automatically, enhancing operability and facilitating luggage handling by minimizing the need for manual force to maintain the door's position.
Implementation Method 1
the trajectory of the center of gravity of the door when the door turns from the fully-closed position to the fully-open position is curved upwardly in a vehicle up-down direction and the highest point of the trajectory is positioned between both ends of the trajectory
Data Source
AI summary
A door assembly includes a door that turns between a fully-closed position and a fully-open position to open or close a door opening, and hinges that support a front edge portion of the door and are provided such that the trajectory of the center of gravity of the door when the door turns from the fully-closed position to the fully-open position is curved upwardly in an up-down direction and the highest point of the trajectory is positioned between both ends of the trajectory.