Inflatable Polymer Seal for Vehicle Door Gap Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Public passenger transport vehicle doors with traditional brushes fail to effectively prevent air and rain ingress in adverse weather conditions, leading to inefficient climate control and increased fuel consumption, while also posing a risk of foot entrapment during door operation.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door equipped with an inflatable sealing coil made from deformable polymer, positioned underneath the door leaf, which inflates to seal the gap between the door and the floor when closed and deflates to avoid friction during opening, using a common pneumatic system to maintain pressure below 2 bar to prevent foot trapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brushes are positioned on the lower edge of the door leaf, then the seal tightness is improved, but air and rain can still enter in adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pneumatic inflatable element positioned at the lower edge of the door leaf. When inflated, this element creates a flexible seal that effectively blocks air and rain ingress. The pneumatic system allows the seal to adapt to different conditions while maintaining reliability, solving the problem of insufficient protection in adverse weather.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable sealing element can dynamically change its state between deflated and inflated configurations. When the door is open, the element remains deflated to avoid friction. When the door closes, it inflates to create the seal. This dynamic behavior optimizes both sealing performance and operational smoothness.
2Force
If brushes are used to seal the gap, then friction with the floor is reduced, but passenger feet can be trapped during door movement
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable element dynamically transitions between deflated and inflated states. During door opening, it remains deflated and retracted, eliminating friction with the floor and preventing foot entrapment. Upon door closure, it inflates to provide sealing. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between friction reduction and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic inflatable element acts as an intermediary between the door leaf and the floor. Instead of direct contact between the rigid door and the floor (which causes friction and entrapment risk), the inflatable element mediates this interaction, providing a compliant interface that reduces friction and eliminates safety hazards.
3Reliability
If the door leaf touches the floor to seal the gap, then sealing is achieved, but friction increases during door operation
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable sealing element dynamically adjusts its presence in the gap between the door and floor. During door operation, it remains deflated and retracted, allowing smooth movement with minimal friction. When sealing is required, it inflates to fill the gap. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and friction reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The volume and pressure parameters of the inflatable element are changed to control its sealing function. When deflated (low volume), it avoids contact with the floor to minimize friction. When inflated (high volume), it fills the gap to provide effective sealing. This parameter change strategy resolves the contradiction between sealing and friction.
4Reliability
If high inflation pressure is used in the sealing coil, then sealing performance is improved, but foot entrapment risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflation pressure of the sealing element is dynamically controlled based on operational state. During door operation, pressure is maintained low to prevent foot entrapment. Upon door closure, pressure increases to provide effective sealing. This dynamic pressure control resolves the contradiction between sealing performance and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflation pressure follows a periodic pattern: low pressure during door opening/closing operations, then high pressure when the door is closed and sealing is required. This periodic variation in pressure ensures both safety during movement and effective sealing when stationary, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
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 ensures improved climate control and reduced fuel consumption by maintaining a high degree of sealing without obstructing door movement, while ensuring passenger safety by avoiding foot entrapment and being cost-effective and integrated with existing pneumatic systems.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing means comprise a body which can be inflated by a pneumatic system. In an inflated configuration, the body occupies the entire gap between the lower edge of the leaf and the floor
Implementation Method 2
the coil is made from a deformable material, preferably polymer. In a deflated configuration, the coil occupies a space so as not to touch the floor of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A door (1) for a vehicle for the public transport of passengers comprising at least one leaf (2) and selective sealing means placed near to at least one of the edges of said leaf (2) and arranged to seal the interior space of the vehicle with respect to the exterior when the door (1) is closed and so as not to obstruct the movement of the leaf (2) during the opening of the door (1).