Motor Vehicle Seal With Grooved Profile For Compression Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle seals lack variability in compression resistance, leading to uneven distribution of sealing force along the vehicle opening edge, affecting both aesthetic appearance and sealing effectiveness, particularly at corner portions.
Innovation Solution
A seal with a tubular sealing profile made of cellular elastomer, coextruded with a U-shaped fixing profile and metal reinforcement, featuring strategically placed outer grooves that reduce wall thickness to create compressive yielding areas, enhancing flexibility and sealing performance while maintaining rigidity at corner portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wall thickness of the sealing profile is increased to improve sealing effectiveness, then the compression resistance becomes too high in certain areas, but this causes uneven distribution of sealing force and affects aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing profile implements different wall thicknesses in different sections: thicker walls in corner portions for enhanced sealing and rigidity, and thinner walls in intermediate portions for aesthetic appearance and flexibility. This local differentiation allows each section to have optimized properties for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing profile is divided into distinct sections (corner portions and intermediate portions) with different structural characteristics. The corner portions have increased wall thickness while intermediate portions have reduced wall thickness, creating segmented zones with specialized functions for sealing, aesthetics, and flexibility.
2Force
If the wall thickness is uniformly increased along the entire seal to improve sealing force distribution, then the seal becomes too rigid in intermediate portions, but this reduces flexibility and compressive yielding action where needed
Solution Approach 1:
The seal structure implements local quality by providing different wall thicknesses in different sections. Corner portions have thicker walls to maintain rigidity and provide sealing force, while intermediate portions have thinner walls to allow compressive yielding and flexibility during door closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall thickness parameter is varied along the length of the sealing profile. By changing this geometric parameter from section to section, the seal achieves optimal balance between rigidity for sealing force generation and flexibility for compressive yielding action.
3Ease of operation
If the wall thickness is reduced to improve flexibility and compressive yielding, then the sealing effectiveness decreases, but this creates insufficient sealing force at critical areas
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing profile applies local quality by concentrating thicker wall sections at corner portions where sealing effectiveness is critical, while using thinner wall sections in intermediate portions where flexibility and compressive yielding are prioritized. This ensures each location has the appropriate structural properties.
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
The seal achieves improved distribution of compression resistance and sealing efficiency along the vehicle opening edge, ensuring better water tightness and aesthetic appeal by varying the compressive yielding action based on the seal's application sections.
Implementation Method 1
the tubular sealing profile (6) which is made of cellular elastomer material and which, in the portion of the seal (4) intended to be applied to said side sections (3c, 3d), has an outer groove (12)
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle seal which includes a fixing profile (5) to which a tubular sealing profile (6) is connected. At least one predetermined portion of the wall of the sealing profile has at least one outer groove (12, 14) defining an integral film hinge (13, 15) which reduces the resistance of the sealing profile (6) to compression in the direction of engagement (F) between the opening (2) and the door (D).