Automotive Door Seal Assembly With Clips and Adhesive Junctions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing annular seals for motor vehicle doors face challenges with bulky structures due to the need for sufficient space for fixing clips, and adhesive-based solutions are delicate and prone to errors, affecting both aesthetics and sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An annular seal design featuring two portions with heat-welded junctions, self-adhesive strips for the second portion, and fixing clips for the first portion, allowing for easy assembly and reduced bulk, with a method that includes steps for precise positioning and pressure application to ensure effective bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixing clips are used to secure the seal, then the seal is firmly fixed to the door or door frame, but the structure becomes bulky and reduces the window surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into a first portion with fixing clips and a second portion with adhesive means, allowing different fixation methods to be used in different areas. This segmentation enables the seal to be securely fixed where clips are needed while using adhesive in areas where clips would reduce window surface area
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the seal have different fixation characteristics - the first portion uses mechanical fixing clips for reliable attachment, while the second portion uses adhesive means for clean attachment without requiring bulky structures. This local differentiation optimizes both fixation reliability and window surface area
2Area of stationary object
If adhesive means are used to fix the seal, then the structure can be less bulky, but the handling is delicate and prone to errors during mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into portions with different fixation methods, with the second portion using adhesive means for clean attachment and the first portion using fixing clips for precise mechanical positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive means is prepared in advance on the second portion of the seal, allowing for pre-positioning and alignment before final attachment. The protective strip is also prepared in advance to prevent premature contact and maintain adhesive effectiveness
3Manufacturing precision
If automated robots are used for seal positioning, then good positioning precision is achieved, but the implementation becomes complex and requires more space in the assembly workshop
Solution Approach 1:
The seal design incorporates self-aligning features through the combination of fixing clips and adhesive means, allowing the seal to be easily positioned and fixed without requiring complex automated positioning systems. The mounting aid tool with guide elements provides simple mechanical guidance that can be easily implemented in the assembly process
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 provides a robust, aesthetically pleasing, and effectively sealed door system without the bulk of traditional solutions, allowing for thinner window frames and improved visibility, while minimizing the risk of adhesive errors and seal breakage during assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a second portion (4b) comprises at least one adhesive means (10), the adhesive means extends over the entire length of the second portion (4b) in the form of two uniform self-adhesive strips (11a, 11b) parallel to each other
Implementation Method 2
The junction may be a heat-sealed junction, in particular both junctions may be heat-sealed junctions
Implementation Method 3
the seal comprises a hole intended to create a vacuum in the volume contained between the two self-adhesive strips
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
Seal for a motor vehicle comprising an adhesive means and at least one attachment clip. An annular seal (4) intended to be attached to a door (2) of a motor vehicle (1) or to a door-frame of a motor vehicle (1), characterised in that it comprises a junction (5) and two attachment clips (7a, 7b) on either side of the junction (5), in particular in that it comprises two junctions (5, 6) and two attachment clips (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) on either side of the two junctions (5, 6).