Hydraulic Door Holder for Continuous Vehicle Door Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle door positioning systems typically offer limited positioning options, leading to difficulties in opening car doors wide enough without hitting adjacent vehicles or walls, and often rely on friction, which has a short lifespan and fails to maintain the intended position effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door positioning system utilizing a hydraulic cylinder and brake loop, where a ball element within a hydraulic brake system adjusts flow resistance to allow continuous door movement and stable intermediate positioning, using resilient elements and flow-regulating components to manage hydraulic fluid flow and exert varying brake forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a non-continuous positioning solution is used, then the door can be held in specific positions, but the door cannot be opened as far as possible without hitting adjacent vehicles or walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic system with fluid-filled chambers to provide continuous door positioning. The hydraulic fluid transmits force smoothly through the chambers, enabling the door to be held at any intermediate position rather than discrete positions, thereby increasing the door opening range without requiring complex mechanical linkages or multiple actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes variable flow resistance within the hydraulic chambers to control door position. By changing the flow resistance parameters of the hydraulic fluid through the chambers, the system can maintain the door at any desired position continuously, rather than being limited to fixed positions, thus improving ease of operation.
2Reliability
If friction-based positioning is used, then the door can be held in position, but the solution has a relatively short lifetime before it does not hold the position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces friction-based mechanical positioning with a hydraulic system. The hydraulic fluid provides smooth, continuous force transmission without the sliding contact and wear inherent in friction-based systems. This eliminates the wear mechanism that limits the lifetime of friction-based positioning systems while maintaining reliable position holding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes a mechanical friction-based positioning system with a hydraulic system. This replacement eliminates the direct mechanical contact and friction that cause wear and failure in traditional systems, thereby extending the system lifetime while maintaining the ability to hold the door in position reliably.
3Ease of operation
If the door is not restricted from movement, then the door can move freely, but it will move too much and can hit things in its way or a user
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic chambers provide continuous feedback resistance to door movement. As the door moves, the hydraulic fluid must flow through the chambers, creating a resistance that is automatically adjusted by the flow resistance characteristics. This provides smooth, progressive control that prevents sudden or excessive movement while maintaining ease of operation, eliminating the need for abrupt mechanical stops or restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses variable flow resistance in the hydraulic chambers to dynamically control door movement. The flow resistance parameter changes with the door position and velocity, providing appropriate resistance to prevent excessive movement and collisions while allowing smooth, controlled operation throughout the door's range of motion.
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
Enables the door to be opened continuously and held in any intermediate position with reduced friction reliance, improving user convenience and longevity by managing flow resistance and brake forces effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the hydraulic cylinder is configured to be connected to the vehicle door and to a chassis of the vehicle and to push a hydraulic fluid in the loop when the vehicle door is moved between the open and closed position
Implementation Method 2
a flow resistance of the flow of the hydraulic fluid in the loop is larger when the ball element is positioned in the third chamber than when the ball element is moved towards the first or the second chamber
Implementation Method 3
the brake comprises a first resilient element configured exert a counteracting force on the ball element when it is moved towards the first chamber and a second resilient element configured to exert a counteracting force on the ball element when it is moved towards the second chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door positioning holder includes a hydraulic cylinder connected to the door and a vehicle chassis, and a brake hydraulically connected in a loop. The cylinder pushes hydraulic fluid in the loop when the door is moved. The brake includes first and second chambers hydraulically connected to the loop and a third chamber connected in the loop at respective ends to the first and second chambers. The brake has a ball element in the third chamber when the hydraulic fluid is still, moved towards the first chamber as the hydraulic fluid flows in a first direction, and moved towards the second chamber as the hydraulic fluid flows in a second direction. A flow resistance of the hydraulic fluid is larger when the ball is positioned in the third chamber than when the ball is moved towards the first or the second chambers.