Vehicle Door Seal Wedge Profile for Wind Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing solutions for vehicle doors with lifting locks in commercial vehicles are inadequate in reducing wind noise at high speeds, particularly at the interface between the door and the door portal.

Innovation Solution

A sealing device with a partially solid sealing section on the door or door portal, featuring a shape that complements the opposing surface, creating a form-fit seal that minimizes air ingress and noise, including wedge-shaped designs and varying thickness for enhanced engagement, and integrated sealing lips and channels for improved sealing and pressure wave signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional elastic sealing elements are used in the gap between door and portal, then basic sealing function is provided, but wind noise reduction is insufficient at high speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind noiseVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the sealing section by providing a varying thickness in the longitudinal direction, creating a wedge-shaped profile that improves aerodynamic sealing performance and reduces wind noise at high speeds while maintaining effective sealing contact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the elastic sealing element with a rigid or semi-rigid sealing section having a specific varying thickness profile, creating a composite sealing structure that integrates both flexible sealing contact and aerodynamic shape for superior noise reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the sealing section has a varying thickness in the longitudinal direction, then form-fit sealing and wind noise reduction are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair ingressVSAvoidsealing section fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The varying thickness parameter is implemented as a systematic wedge-shaped profile rather than an irregular contour, which simplifies manufacturing while achieving the desired form-fit sealing and aerodynamic performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If additional sealing components are added to improve sealing, then sealing performance increases, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidsealing device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sealing function with the existing door or portal structure by integrating the sealing section directly into one of these components, eliminating the need for separate additional sealing devices and simplifying the overall 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 effectively reduces wind noise and enhances the sealing performance, suitable for various door types, including retrofitting, while simplifying assembly and eliminating the need for additional hose connections.

Implementation Method 1

The elastic sealing element is compressed when the vehicle door is closed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2366575B1Seal device for a vehicle door, in particular of commercial vehicles
Publication Date: 2016.10.26 GUMMI WELZ GMBH & CO KG GUMMI KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK SCHAUMSTOFFE
  • EP2366575B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2366575B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2366575B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The sealing device comprises a door portal, which is formed opposite to the front side of the door. The front side of the door or the door portal is provided with a mold piece or sealing portion (20) in the area of the lower door front side, whose outer contour or thickness varies in the longitudinal direction of the front side of the door. A mold closure is provided, which is formed between the sealing portion fixed at the door front side and the door portal during the door closing position.