Vehicle Door Sealing Strip with Deformable Lips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door sealing systems fail to provide effective tolerance compensation for varying door gap dimensions and kinematics, leading to inconsistent sealing performance across different closing and opening mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device featuring a rubber-elastic profile strip with centrally arranged projections and a counter strip having elastically deformable lips that change positions under pressure, ensuring consistent engagement and sealing regardless of door kinematics, with the lips returning to their original position for easy door operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rigid sealing lips are used, then the structure is simple, but the sealing performance is inconsistent across different door gap dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device employs lips that can dynamically change their position and deformation state based on the door gap dimension. The lips transition between a first position (protruding from the end face) and a second position (deformed against the projection), allowing the sealing mechanism to adapt to varying gap sizes while maintaining consistent sealing performance across different door configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and position parameters of the sealing lips through elastic deformation. By allowing the lips to deform elastically from their initial protruding position to a compressed position against the projection, the system adjusts the sealing contact pressure and position to compensate for tolerance variations in door gap dimensions
2Adaptability or versatility
If elastic deformation is used for tolerance compensation, then sealing adaptability improves, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device utilizes flexible lips made of elastomeric material that can elastically deform to accommodate varying door gap dimensions. These flexible lips protrude from the end face and can be compressed against the projection on the counter profile, providing tolerance compensation through their inherent elasticity without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic lips perform self-adjustment through their inherent elastic properties. When the door is closed and the projection contacts the lips, they automatically deform to the appropriate degree based on the gap dimension, providing automatic tolerance compensation without external control or complex actuation mechanisms
3Reliability
If multiple sealing lips are added for better sealing, then sealing performance improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing end face is segmented into multiple functional elements: outer lips, inner lips, and intermediate elastic lips, each with specific sealing functions. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized for its particular role while working together to provide comprehensive sealing across the door gap
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 reliable tolerance compensation and consistent sealing performance across different vehicle door types and kinematics, ensuring tightness and stability while allowing for precise adjustment to accommodate varying gap dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
at least two elastically and/or resiliently deformable spaced lips which, in a first position, protrude from the profile end face and are in a state of elastic tension. The elastically and/or resiliently deformable lips can be brought from the first position by means of deformation in the direction of the front side into a second position, in which they are under prestress, by pressure being applied from the side and/or from the front side through the projection of one profile strip
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has an elastomeric profile strip (10) and a profile counter strip (50) arranged at a front end of a counter-element i.e. vehicle door. The profile strip comprises a cavity (16) to receive a projection (56) of the counter strip. The profile strip comprises resiliently deformable lips (36, 38) that are brought from a position by deformation toward the front end to another position in which lips are under tension and in engagement with the projection. The lips return in the former position by elastic restoring forces when the lips are released from engagement with the projection.