Multifunctional Door Support with Rigid-Flexible Window Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multifunctional supports for motor vehicle doors face challenges in compensating for tolerances during assembly while maintaining stability, as existing designs either compromise stability with flexibility or struggle with precise alignment due to structural tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional support design featuring a combination of rigid and flexible connections along its elongated subsection, where one terminal zone is substantially rigidly connected to the window guide and the other is elastically or plastically deformable, allowing for tolerance compensation through deformation, with recesses providing decoupling and additional fastening points for stability and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the multifunctional support is designed with flexible connections to compensate tolerances during assembly, then the ease of operation and adaptability improve, but the stability and strength of the support deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The multifunctional support is divided into multiple connection zones along its elongated subsection: a first terminal zone with rigid connection, a second terminal zone with flexible connection, and optionally a middle zone with recesses. This segmentation allows different parts of the same support to have different connection characteristics, enabling tolerance compensation at one end while maintaining stability at the other end.
Solution Approach 2:
Different connection characteristics (rigid vs. flexible) are applied to different locations (terminal zones) of the multifunctional support based on local requirements. The first terminal zone uses rigid connection where stability is prioritized, while the second terminal zone uses flexible connection where tolerance compensation is needed, creating local quality variations throughout the structure.
2Strength
If rigid connections are used throughout the multifunctional support, then the stability and strength improve, but the ability to compensate tolerances during assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into rigid and flexible zones, allowing the majority of the support structure to maintain rigid connections for strength, while specific terminal zones incorporate flexible connections to facilitate easier assembly and tolerance compensation without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible connection characteristics are applied locally at the second terminal zone rather than throughout the entire support, allowing the bulk of the structure to maintain high strength through rigid connections while providing localized ease of operation for assembly at the flexible connection point.
3Device complexity
If the assembly support is directly formed through the door inside panel, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and alignment accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The multifunctional support acts as an intermediary component between the door inside panel and the door components (door lock, window guide). This intermediate element provides a stable mounting platform with integrated fastening points, improving alignment precision while avoiding the need to directly modify the door inside panel, thus balancing device complexity with manufacturing precision.
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 design ensures sufficient stability and flexibility, enabling effective tolerance compensation during assembly, maintaining structural integrity and facilitating precise alignment of door locks and window guides with the vehicle door.
Implementation Method 1
in the other terminal zone in the longitudinal direction of the elongated subsection is connected flexibly to the window guide, i.e. through an elastically or plastically deformable region
Implementation Method 2
in the other terminal zone in the longitudinal direction of the elongated subsection is connected flexibly to the window guide, i.e. through an elastically or plastically deformable region
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunctional support for use in a motor vehicle includes a retaining section for fastening the multifunctional support to an assembly support of a door of the motor vehicle. The multifunctional support further includes a longitudinal window guide linked with the retaining section for guiding a window pane, and fastening locations for fastening a door lock to the multifunctional support. The retaining section is linked with the window guide along a longitudinal subsection of the multifunctional support. The retaining section, in a terminal zone of the longitudinal subsection, is linked with the window guide in a substantially rigid manner and is linked with the window guide in another terminal zone of the longitudinal subsection in a flexible manner.