Vehicle Roof Guide Rail Plastic Flange Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide rails for open roof vehicle constructions face limitations in minimizing the narrow entrance opening size due to the need for stability, which restricts the size of the guide channel and affects the pull-out force of sunscreen guide strips.
Innovation Solution
A guide rail design where the bottom flange is formed from a plastic member, allowing for customizable size and shape of the narrow entrance opening, which can be attached to an aluminum profile using methods like tongue-and-groove joints, heat stakes, or screws, providing stability and optimal sliding properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the narrow entrance opening is made as small as possible to prevent guide strips from being pulled out, then the pull-out resistance is improved, but the manufacturing stability of the extrusion die deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is divided into two separate components: an aluminum profile providing structural support and a plastic member forming the bottom flange with the narrow entrance opening. This segmentation allows the plastic member to be optimized for creating the small opening without compromising the overall structural stability, as the aluminum profile maintains the rigid framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail combines aluminum and plastic materials, each contributing their advantageous properties. The aluminum profile provides structural stability and support, while the plastic member enables the creation of the narrow entrance opening with optimal pull-out resistance. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by allowing each material to fulfill its specialized function.
2Ease of operation
If the complete guide channel is formed by a plastic member, then the sliding properties are improved, but the structural support and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the guide rail have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The bottom flange is made of plastic to provide excellent sliding properties where the sunscreen contacts the guide channel, while the aluminum profile provides structural strength and support. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between sliding ease and structural strength.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A guide rail (6, 7) for use in an open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening (1) in its fixed roof (2) comprises two opposite parallel flanges (16, 17) defining a guide channel (11) having an elongated narrow entrance opening (19) extending along the length of the guide channel and intended to guide and hold a holding member (14) of a sunscreen (4). One (16) of the flanges (16, 17) is part of an extruded aluminium profile and the other flange (17) is formed at least partly by a plastic member (20) provided on the extruded aluminium profile.