Extended Range Sliding Door Hinge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Newer vehicle body and sliding door designs pose challenges in modifying sliding doors to open wide enough for wheelchair accessibility, as existing systems struggle to extend the range of motion effectively without modifying the center door track.
Innovation Solution
The extended range sliding door hinge system, comprising a track bracket assembly and an intermediate bracket, allows the sliding door to be moved between standard and extended positions by pivoting or sliding the intermediate bracket, enabling a wider opening without extending the center door track, using guide wheels or rollers for engagement with the vehicle's door tracks and a biasing member to maintain the retracted position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the sliding door is modified to open wider for wheelchair accessibility, then the opening width is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional hinge mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is divided into two separate brackets: a track bracket assembly that interfaces with the vehicle door track, and an intermediate bracket that connects to the sliding door. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function while collectively achieving the extended opening range without requiring complex modifications to the entire hinge system.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate bracket serves as a mediator between the track bracket assembly and the sliding door. It enables the door to achieve extended opening positions by providing an additional connection point that allows the door to pivot beyond the standard range while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an extended range sliding door hinge is installed, then wheelchair accessibility is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to custom hinge requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the hinge into separate track bracket and intermediate bracket components, each part can be manufactured independently using standard fabrication processes. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing compared to creating a single complex extended-range hinge, while still achieving the required wheelchair accessibility.
3Length of moving object
If the intermediate bracket is made movable between retracted and extended positions, then the opening range is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate bracket is designed to be movable relative to the track bracket assembly, transitioning between retracted and extended positions. This dynamic configuration allows the door opening range to be extended when needed while maintaining a compact profile during normal operation, achieving extended range without permanently increasing the overall mechanism size or complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An extended range sliding door hinge may include a track bracket assembly and an intermediate bracket. The track bracket assembly is sized to be operatively received by a vehicle door track assembly. A first end of the intermediate bracket is movably mounted to the track bracket assembly so that the intermediate bracket may be moved with respect to the track bracket assembly between a retracted position and an extended position. A second end of the intermediate bracket is sized to operatively engage a vehicle sliding door. The extended range sliding door hinge allows the vehicle sliding door to be moved between a standard position when the intermediate bracket is in the retracted position and an extended position when the intermediate bracket is in the extended position.