Dual-Guide-Rail Sliding Side Door for Full Opening Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sliding door mechanisms in automotive vehicles face space constraints and obstruction issues due to limited rear panel length, restricting the door's travel distance and obstructing ingress and egress.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual-guide-rail sliding door system with a front rail and a rear rail connected to the vehicle body, along with a door rail and arm assemblies, allows the sliding door to travel further laterally and extend beyond the rear end of the vehicle, enabling full exposure of the door opening without obstructing it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a conventional sliding door mechanism is used, then the door can be installed in vehicles with limited rear panel length, but the door travel distance is restricted and the door obstructs the door opening when open
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is segmented into two independent guide rails: a front rail and a rear rail. The front rail handles the initial portion of door travel while the rear rail accommodates the remaining travel distance. This segmentation allows the door to traverse the full length of the vehicle body without requiring the entire mechanism to be contained within the limited rear panel space, thereby enabling complete door opening without obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single linear guide rail to a dual-guide-rail configuration that utilizes both longitudinal and lateral dimensions. The front rail is positioned forward and the rear rail is positioned rearward, creating a distributed guide system that extends the effective door travel distance beyond what a single rear-mounted rail could provide, allowing the door to fully clear the door opening.
2Ease of operation
If the rear panel length is increased to accommodate longer door travel, then the door can open fully without obstruction, but the vehicle body length must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the guide rail system into front and rear components distributed along the vehicle body, the invention utilizes existing body length rather than requiring additional length. The front rail is mounted on the forward portion of the vehicle body while the rear rail is mounted on the rearward portion, allowing the door to travel the full vehicle length without increasing the overall vehicle body length.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual guide rail system serves multiple functions: the front rail provides initial guidance and support during door opening, while the rear rail provides continued guidance and support for the remainder of the travel. This multi-functional arrangement maximizes the utilization of available vehicle body length without requiring extensions.
3Device complexity
If a conventional single guide rail sliding door is used, then the mechanism fits within limited space, but the door cannot travel the full extent of its length
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail function is segmented into two separate rails positioned at different locations along the vehicle body. The front rail accommodates the forward portion of door travel while the rear rail accommodates the rearward portion. This segmentation allows the mechanism to achieve longer door travel distance without concentrating all mechanism components in a single location, thereby fitting within the available distributed space along the vehicle body.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the vehicle body more effectively by distributing guide rails at both front and rear positions rather than concentrating them at the rear. This dimensional distribution enables the door to travel the full extent of its length by leveraging the entire vehicle body length as the guide path.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual-guide-rail sliding door system for an automotive vehicle includes a sliding door movably connected to a body of the vehicle; a front rail connected to the body of the vehicle; a rear rail connected to the body of the vehicle rearward of the front rail; a door rail connected to the sliding door; a front arm assembly connected to the sliding door and movably connected to the front rail; and a rear arm assembly movably connected to the rear rail and movably connected to the door rail. A lateral distance travelled by the sliding door along the body of the vehicle from an open position to a closed position is greater than a length of the rear rail.