Vehicle Door Seal Venting System Resolving Airlock Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The trapping of air between tandem environmental seals in a vehicle door closure creates a pressurized airlock, increasing the force required to close the door as the seals compress, compromising the seal integrity if vented improperly.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door seal venting system with a vent passage that communicates with the airlock, allowing trapped air to be vented into the vehicle's interior while maintaining seal integrity, using a trim panel with a seal lip and spacer ribs to maintain the vent passage open and direct airflow without compromising the seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tandem environmental seals are used to closeout the seal gap, then environmental sealing and noise attenuation are improved, but door closure force increases due to trapped pressurized air
Solution Approach 1:
The seal system is segmented into two separate environmental seals (first and second seals) positioned at different locations in the seal gap. This segmentation allows each seal to function independently while collectively providing enhanced environmental protection and noise attenuation, resolving the contradiction by distributing the sealing function across multiple components rather than relying on a single seal that would create excessive pressure differential
Solution Approach 2:
A vent passage is introduced as an intermediary element between the interior cavity and the exterior environment. This vent passage allows trapped air to escape during door closure, preventing excessive pressure buildup that would increase closure force, while the seals themselves maintain their integrity for environmental protection. The vent passage mediates between the need for sealing and the need for easy door operation
2Ease of operation
If the airlock is vented to reduce closure force, then door operation becomes easier, but seal integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The venting function is segmented from the sealing function by providing a separate vent passage that is distinct from the seal paths. This allows air to be vented through the vent passage while the seals remain intact and continue to provide environmental protection, resolving the contradiction by separating the air release function from the sealing function into different structural pathways
Solution Approach 2:
The vent passage acts as an intermediary channel that provides a controlled path for air escape without compromising the seal integrity. The passage is designed to allow air flow while maintaining the sealing barrier, mediating between the need for easy door operation and the need for reliable environmental protection
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
Reduces the force needed to close the vehicle door by depressurizing the airlock, maintaining the environmental seal's integrity and preventing noise, dust, and water ingress.
Implementation Method 1
As the vehicle door transitions further toward the closed position, the seal gap is dimensionally compressed causing pressurization of air trapped in the airlock region. The vent passage is configured to permit air to be vented from the airlock into the vehicle interior, reducing the force required to close the vehicle door
Implementation Method 2
The resiliency of the seal member enables the seal member to maintain environmental closure of the seal gap by dynamically adjusting for dimensional changes in the seal gap as the vehicle body and door flex and move during normal vehicle operation
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door seal venting system is provided for venting air trapped in the seal gap between two or more spaced environmental seals. As the vehicle door transitions to a closed position, the seals engage between the vehicle door and vehicle body door opening, acting to closeout the seal gap. The compression of the seal gap as the door further closes results in pressurization of the trapped air, which then acts to resist closure of the vehicle door, therefore requiring that additional closure force be applied to fully close the door. The vehicle door seal venting system relieves the pressurized air from between the seals without compromising the integrity of the seals or overall noise and sealing performance of the door system.