Force Distribution Member for Vehicle Slide Rail Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sliding doors in larger vehicles experience force-related wear and fatigue due to the stress on slide rails when opened or closed, leading to potential deformation and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A force distribution member is integrated between the inner and outer body panels of the vehicle, featuring a support surface and distribution legs that transfer forces from the outer panel to the inner panel, reducing stress on the slide rail and distributing loads more evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the slide rail supports the weight of the door and allows opening and closing motion, then the door can be operated conveniently, but the slide rail and vehicle body experience forces and stresses leading to wear and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
A force distribution member is introduced as an intermediary component between the outer body panel and inner body panel. This member includes a support surface that contacts the slide rail and distribution legs that extend to the inner body panel, thereby mediating the force transfer and distributing loads away from the slide rail to reduce wear and fatigue on the sliding door mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The force distribution member extends in the dimension between the outer and inner body panels, creating a new structural pathway for force distribution. By utilizing the space between panels and extending distribution legs toward the inner body panel, the solution distributes forces in a dimensional direction that was not previously utilized, reducing concentrated stress on the slide rail
2Ease of operation
If the door strikes a hard stop when fully opened, then the door can be fully opened for access, but the slide rail and adjacent vehicle body parts experience forces
Solution Approach 1:
The force distribution member acts as an intermediary structure that intercepts and redistributes the impact forces generated when the door strikes the hard stop. The support surface and distribution legs provide an additional load path that diverts forces away from the slide rail, reducing the magnitude of forces experienced by the sliding door mechanism during full opening operations
3Speed
If a sliding door is slammed open, then the door can be opened quickly, but the vehicle body experiences stresses in the area of the slide rail risking increased wear and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The force distribution member is pre-installed between the body panels to provide structural reinforcement before slamming forces occur. The distribution legs extending to the inner body panel create a pre-positioned load distribution pathway that activates during slamming events, cushioning the impact stresses and preventing excessive wear and fatigue on the vehicle body structure
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of vehicles and vehicle body assemblies incorporating slide rail reinforcements. One embodiment of a vehicle body assembly comprises an inner body panel and an outer body panel spaced a distance from the inner body panel in an outboard direction of a vehicle. The outer body panel has an outer surface and an opposing inner surface. An elongated slide track is mounted on the outer surface of the outer body panel. A force distribution member has a support surface fixed to the inner surface of the outer body panel directly opposite a portion of the elongated slide track and first and second distribution legs extending from the support surface and fixed to the inner body panel.