Door Module Peripheral Seal Bi-Injection Monoblock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional door and tailgate seals with reduced hardness suffer from watertightness issues due to lack of elastic memory, maladjustment over time, and susceptibility to distortion from environmental conditions, leading to inefficient sealing and increased production costs.

Innovation Solution

A door module with a monoblock assembly of a support panel and seal, featuring bi-injection or multi-injection technology with inclined sealing lips, providing double sealing without overlap, and a non-perpendicular join zone for enhanced adhesion and durability, using thermoplastic elastomers with increased hardness for improved flexibility and rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If seals with reduced hardness (5 Shore A) are used to enable easy adaptation and simple installation, then installation ease is improved, but watertightness reliability deteriorates due to lack of elastic memory and maladjustment over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidwatertightness reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is manufactured using a composite material system consisting of a polymeric support panel and a thermoplastic elastomer seal integrated through bi-injection or multi-injection molding. This composite structure combines the rigidity and dimensional stability of the polymeric support with the elasticity and sealing capability of the thermoplastic elastomer, resolving the contradiction between installation ease and watertightness reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter from conventional low-hardness seals (5 Shore A) to thermoplastic elastomers with increased hardness. This parameter change maintains elastic memory and watertightness while still allowing adequate adaptation to the support panel through the flexibility inherent in thermoplastic elastomer materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If seals with increased hardness are used to improve elastic memory and watertightness, then sealing reliability is improved, but adaptability to position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to position
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material system of polymeric support panel and thermoplastic elastomer seal provides both structural rigidity for positioning and material flexibility for adaptation. The thermoplastic elastomer maintains adequate adaptability to the support panel position while providing the elastic memory needed for reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If adhesive agents are used to attach the seal to the panel support, then attachment strength is improved, but device complexity and production time increase due to additional equipment and dead time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal and support panel are merged into a single integrated component through bi-injection or multi-injection molding processes. This eliminates the separate attachment step using adhesive agents, thereby reducing device complexity and production time while maintaining attachment strength through the integral monoblock construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical/adhesive attachment system is replaced with an integrated injection molding process. The seal is directly formed as part of the support panel structure, substituting the multi-step adhesive application process with a single-step manufacturing process that inherently provides strong attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Strength

If adhesive joins are used to connect the seal and panel support, then connection strength is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to susceptibility to distortion from environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoiddimensional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The seal and support panel are merged into an integral monoblock assembly through injection molding, eliminating the separate adhesive join. This integration removes the weak point of adhesive bonds that are susceptible to environmental distortion, ensuring dimensional stability while maintaining connection strength through the integral structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution ensures effective watertight sealing, reduced material usage, and lower production costs by eliminating the need for mechanical or adhesive joins, while maintaining adaptability and durability against temperature variations.

Implementation Method 1

said support panel and seal forming a monoblock assembly obtained by means of bi-injection or multi-injection, in the same step and with the same production equipment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBi-injection or multi-injection:

Implementation Method 2

the sealing gasket has at least two sealing lips... which emerge towards the position of the support panel, exceeding the maximum elevation of the support panel... providing double sealing without overlap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

using thermoplastic elastomers with increased hardness for improved flexibility and rigidity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4159500A1Door module with peripheral seal
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 HI LEX AUTO PARTS SPAIN SL
  • EP4159500A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP4159500A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP4159500A1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a module for doors, tailgates or similar, to be installed in vehicles for the insulation of the wet areas from the dry areas of the structures of said doors, tailgates or similar, executed by means of a process of bi-injection or multiple injection, in which a monoblock module with regard to the support panel and the seal is formed, its configuration including a sealing gasket with at least two sealing lips inclined towards the inside of the support panel with respect to the assembly direction, one of them being configured to not overlap with the other lip.