Vehicle Door Hinge Assembly for Extended Wheelchair Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mass-produced passenger vehicles do not adequately accommodate physically limited passengers, requiring aftermarket modifications like adding ramps and widening doors, which are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A modified hinge assembly for vehicle doors that allows for increased opening size by incorporating a transport assembly and a coupling mechanism, enabling the door to move beyond conventional limits, facilitated by a trigger mechanism that releases the hinge from the track.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a conventional hinge assembly is used, then the door structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the door opening size is insufficient for physically limited passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into multiple functional components: a fixed bracket attached to the door, a movable bracket that travels along the door track, and a transport assembly with coupling members. This segmentation allows the door to achieve extended travel distance while keeping each individual component relatively simple and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly transitions from a static, fixed-position hinge to a dynamic system where the movable bracket travels along the door track. The coupling members enable the hinge assembly to adapt its configuration during door operation, allowing the door to open beyond the conventional range while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the door opening is enlarged to accommodate wheelchairs, then accessibility is improved, but the door track length and vehicle modification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply extending the door track in a straight line, the hinge assembly utilizes a combination of lateral movement along the track and rotational movement of the movable bracket. This multi-dimensional motion allows the door to achieve a larger effective opening without requiring a proportionally longer door track.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable bracket and transport assembly are designed to nest within the door structure when not in use, and deploy during door operation. This nesting approach allows the extended door opening functionality to be integrated into the existing door assembly without requiring excessive additional space or track length.
3Length of moving object
If a transport assembly with coupling member and trigger mechanism is added, then the door can move beyond conventional range, but the hinge assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is designed to be automatically actuated by the door's own movement along the track. As the door reaches a predetermined position, the trigger is automatically engaged or disengaged, causing the movable bracket to release or lock into position. This self-actuating mechanism eliminates the need for external actuators, motors, or complex control systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If extensive vehicle modifications are made to accommodate physically limited passengers, then accessibility is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is designed as a universal solution that can be adapted to various door types and vehicle configurations. The modular design with standardized mounting brackets and adjustable components allows the same basic mechanism to provide enhanced accessibility across different vehicle models, reducing the need for extensive custom modifications and lowering manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a chassis, a door track, a door operatively connected to the door track and adapted to move between a closed position and an open position, and a hinge assembly coupled to the door. The hinge assembly is movably coupled to the door track and includes a first bracket coupled to the door, a second bracket coupled to the first bracket, and a transport assembly coupled to the second bracket and adapted to move along the door track as the door moves between the open and closed positions. The transport assembly includes a coupling member for releasably coupling the second bracket to the transport assembly. Upon movement of the second bracket from the first position to the second position, the door moves to an extended open position with respect to the door track.