Door Sill Cavity and Protrusion Interlock for Impact Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive closure structures, such as doors, hoods, and trunk lids, are at risk of being pushed into the passenger compartment during impacts, compromising occupant safety due to inadequate securing mechanisms, which fail to effectively distribute and absorb impact forces.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an elongate cavity in the vehicle sill and a corresponding elongate protrusion on the door or closure panels, which interlock during impacts to prevent upward movement and rotation, utilizing integral or separately formed components to enhance impact performance and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional latches and hinge mechanisms are used to secure closures, then the closure structures can be held in place during normal operation, but they fail to effectively distribute and absorb impact forces during collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The closure structure is divided into multiple components: a closure panel, an inner panel with an elongate protrusion, and a sill with an elongate cavity. This segmentation allows the impact force to be distributed across multiple elements rather than concentrated at a single latch or hinge point, thereby improving strength during impact while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate protrusion from the inner panel nests into the elongate cavity of the sill during impact. This nested configuration allows the inner panel to be received within the sill structure, creating an interlocking mechanism that effectively absorbs and distributes impact forces without requiring complex additional securing devices.
2Reliability
If additional interlocking pins are added to connect door structure to body during side impacts, then occupant safety is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate protrusion and elongate cavity are integrated into the existing door sill and inner panel structures rather than being separate add-on components. The protrusion is formed as part of the inner panel, and the cavity is formed as part of the sill, merging the impact protection function into the existing structural elements. This improves reliability for occupant safety while avoiding the need for separate interlocking pins or complex additional mechanisms.
3Strength
If closures are secured with multiple latches and hinges, then the closures remain stable during normal use, but they can still be pushed into the passenger compartment during high-impact collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The protection mechanism extends in the longitudinal dimension of the vehicle rather than relying solely on lateral latches and hinges. The elongate protrusion extends along the inner panel and engages with the elongate cavity in the sill, creating a lengthwise interlocking barrier that prevents the closure from being pushed into the passenger compartment during high-impact collisions, while maintaining simple operation during normal use.
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
This configuration effectively prevents the closure structures from being pushed into the passenger compartment by distributing impact forces and providing frictional resistance, thereby enhancing occupant safety during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
providing frictional resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle with improved body—closure impact performance may include a frame having an outer side and an inner side, the frame comprising a door opening, a door sill secured to the frame and extending along an edge of the door opening, the door sill extruded to comprise an elongate cavity; and a door secured to the frame and comprising an elongate protrusion, the door movable between an open position and a closed position, where the elongate cavity is positioned to receive the elongate protrusion when the door is in the closed position.