Guide Rail Profile Stiffeners for Sunroof Rigidity and Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide rail profiles for sunroof systems in motor vehicles lack sufficient transverse rigidity and stability, leading to suboptimal guidance and running properties for movable roof parts, and can result in moisture and corrosion issues due to water residue in traditional bead designs.
Innovation Solution
The guide rail profile incorporates integrally formed stiffeners, including embossments and bulges, which enhance transverse rigidity and stability, and features a water channel section design that prevents water residue, using a light metal alloy extruded profile or stamped/bent metal construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional bead designs are used to reinforce the fastening section, then structural strength is improved, but water residue accumulates in the bead indentations leading to moisture and corrosion problems
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using traditional inward-indenting beads that create water-trapping cavities, the patent inverts the design by using outward-protruding stiffeners that slope downward. This inversion eliminates water residue accumulation while maintaining structural reinforcement, directly resolving the contradiction between strength improvement and moisture prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffeners are designed with varying cross-sectional curvatures along their length, with greater material thickness in edge regions (larger curvature) and thinner material in transition regions (smaller curvature). This local variation in geometry optimizes both structural strength at critical locations and water drainage characteristics along the profile.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the guide rail profile uses sufficient material thickness for rigidity, then transverse rigidity is improved, but the profile complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the dimensional aspect of outward-protruding stiffeners with specific geometric profiles to the otherwise simple channel structure. This dimensional enhancement provides transverse rigidity without requiring increased material thickness throughout, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving the desired rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffeners utilize varying cross-sectional curvatures and strategic material distribution (thicker at edges, thinner at transitions) to optimize rigidity. This parameter optimization achieves maximum transverse stiffness with minimal material, simplifying both the profile design and manufacturing process.
3Ease of operation
If integrally formed stiffeners are added to enhance rigidity, then guidance and running properties are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffeners are integrally formed with the guide rail profile as a single piece, merging the reinforcement function into the base structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate manufacturing steps or assembly operations, improving guidance properties without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
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 enhanced rigidity and stability improve the guidance and running properties of the sunroof system, prevent moisture issues, and ensure a stronger connection between the sunroof system and the vehicle roof, suitable for various vehicles including passenger cars, caravans, and railroad cars.
Implementation Method 1
The embossing represents a cold forming of the guide rail profile.
Data Source
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AI summary
1. A sunroof system (1) of a motor vehicle and a guide rail profile (4) therefor. 2.1 Such a sunroof system (1) with a guide rail profile (4) comprising a mounting section (B) with several mounting bosses (5) for connecting the guide rail profile (4) to a vehicle-mounted roof area (D) and a water channel section (W) running parallel to the mounting section (B) in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail profile (4), to which a guide section (F) for guiding a control kinematic for a movable roof section (2) is connected, wherein the mounting section (B) is provided with integrally formed stiffeners (8, 9, 10, 11), is known. 2.2 According to the invention, the stiffeners (8, 9, 10) are formed on the mounting bosses (5) and extend continuously in the transverse direction of the guide rail profile (4) into the water channel section (W). 2.3 Use in passenger cars.