Hollow Parting Seal with Sponge and Solid Walls
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing structures for parting portions between vehicle doors and body panels are inadequate when the distance between the doors and body panels is long, leading to water leakage during high-pressure washing, as they either require longer seal lips that interfere with door operation or hollow seal parts that bend and allow water to enter.
Innovation Solution
A parting seal with a hollow seal part comprising a first sponge material wall and a second solid material wall, where the first wall is curved and the second wall is linear, both integrated with an immovable assembly part on the rear door, preventing elastic contact with the body panel and redirecting high-pressure water perpendicular to the body panel, thus preventing water entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal lip is made longer and larger to make elastic contact with the center pillar, then water leakage is prevented, but door operation is interfered with and noise is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The seal part is divided into two distinct walls: a first hollow wall made of sponge material and a second hollow wall made of solid material. This segmentation allows each wall to perform its specific function - the sponge wall provides sealing while the solid wall maintains structural stability without requiring excessive length
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials are used for different parts of the seal structure. The first hollow wall uses sponge material for flexibility and sealing contact, while the second hollow wall uses solid material for rigidity and water redirection. This local differentiation optimizes performance without increasing overall size
2Reliability
If the seal lip is made longer and larger to make elastic contact with the center pillar, then water leakage is prevented, but noise from air is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented structure with two different walls allows the seal to close the parting portion effectively without requiring excessive length, thereby reducing air turbulence and noise generation while maintaining water leakage prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters and structural configuration of the seal part, using hollow walls with different material properties to achieve effective sealing at a compact size, reducing the harmful effects of air noise
3Ease of operation
If hollow seal parts are used to close the parting portion, then door operation is maintained, but water leakage occurs when the seal parts bend
Solution Approach 1:
The second hollow wall is made of solid material providing rigidity for water redirection, while the first hollow wall uses sponge material for sealing. This local material differentiation ensures the seal maintains its shape and functionality without bending excessively, preventing water leakage while preserving door operation
Solution Approach 2:
The seal part combines sponge material and solid material in a composite hollow wall structure, achieving both flexibility for door operation and rigidity for water leakage prevention
4Stability of the object's composition
If cores are added to weather strips to prevent shifting, then sealing stability is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the structural parameters of the assembly part, making it immovable and integrated with the hollow seal part. This provides sealing stability without requiring additional cores, thereby avoiding the weight and cost penalties associated with core addition
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 solution effectively prevents water leakage by redirecting high-pressure water away from the inner cabin, maintaining door operation integrity and reducing noise, while eliminating the need for cores that increase weight and cost.
Implementation Method 1
the first hollow wall made of sponge material is widely bent toward the second hollow wall and the assembly part
Data Source
AI summary
A parting seal includes: an assembly part; and a seal part. The assembly part is assembled on a rear door. The seal part is integrally molded with the assembly part and closes a parting portion between a front door and the rear door. The seal part is hollow and includes: a first hollow wall which faces the parting portion; and a second hollow wall which faces a body panel. A lip is formed on a position on which the first hollow wall and the second hollow wall come into contact with each other on a side of the front door. The lip protrudes toward an outer-cabin side. The first hollow wall and the lip are made of sponge material, the second hollow wall and the assembly part are made of solid material. The assembly part is free of a core, and is immovably assembled on the rear door.