Integrated Sound Insulation Member for Vehicle Door Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing sound insulation systems for vehicle doors require a large number of components, leading to increased assembling time and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A sound insulation member with a fitting portion, sealing portion, and covering portion is designed to be attached to the inner weather strip of a vehicle door, reducing assembly time by fitting directly into the weather strip and filling gaps between the weather strip and the door panel, while ensuring sound insulation through elastic deformation and damping properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large number of sound insulation members are provided on the door glass, then sound insulation performance is improved, but assembling man-hour increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulation performanceVSAvoidassembling man-hour
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple sound insulation members into a single integrated sound insulation member that includes a sealing portion, damping portion, and covering portion. This consolidation allows the member to be attached to the inner weather strip in one piece rather than installing multiple separate members on the door glass, thereby improving sound insulation performance while reducing assembling time and labor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated sound insulation member performs multiple functions simultaneously: the sealing portion fills gaps between the inner weather strip and door inner panel, the damping portion absorbs sound waves, and the covering portion covers the lower side of the inner weather strip. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple separate sound insulation members, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining comprehensive sound insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the sealing portion is made rigid to ensure gap filling, then sealing performance is improved, but adaptability to different vehicle models decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidadaptability to different vehicle models
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing lip of the sealing portion is designed with elastic properties, allowing it to deform dynamically to fit different gap geometries between the inner weather strip and door inner panel. This elasticity enables the same sealing portion to adapt to various vehicle models with different door panel shapes and gap dimensions, maintaining effective sealing performance across different applications without requiring rigid, model-specific designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing portion utilizes material parameter changes through elastic deformation of the sealing lip to accommodate variations in gap size and shape. By selecting elastomeric materials with appropriate durometer ratings, the sealing portion can adjust its physical parameters (flexibility, compression resistance) to maintain optimal sealing contact across different vehicle models while preserving reliable gap filling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This configuration significantly reduces assembly time and ensures effective sound insulation by covering gaps and damping noise, applicable to various vehicle door configurations.

Implementation Method 1

The sealing portion fills a gap between the inner weather strip and the door inner panel... the road noise and wind noise in the door inner panel can be insulated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound insulation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the sound insulation member is provided with a damping portion that extends from the sealing portion toward the inner weather strip... in the case where noise enters from the gap between the inner weather strip and the door inner panel, the noise can be damped

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound damping: Damping

Implementation Method 3

the sound insulation member is provided with a covering portion that covers a door lower side of the inner weather strip... sound insulating properties can be ensured

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound insulation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 4

the sealing portion is equipped with a sealing lip that is elastically pressed into contact with an opening edge portion of the door inner panel... the difference in shape of the opening edge portion of the door inner panel can be permitted through elastic deformation of the sealing lip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3090892B1Sound insulation member, and vehicular door structure
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 NIFCO INC
  • EP3090892B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3090892B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3090892B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sound insulation member (16) has a fitting portion (24) and a sealing portion (26). The fitting portion (24) is attached to at least one of a door front-side end portion and a door rear-side end portion of an inner weather strip that is disposed at an upper portion of a door inner panel, and is fitted into the inner weather strip. The sealing portion (26) fills a gap between the inner weather strip and the door inner panel.