Magnetic Window Guide for Flush Sealing and Low-Friction Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle windows with retractable panes face issues of air resistance and wind noise due to protruding window frames and significant friction when the panes are moved, especially in convertible and coupe vehicles where they are pressed against the vehicle body.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating magnetically active elements on the window pane and counter-elements on the window frame or vehicle body, allowing for adjustable and low-friction positioning and fixation of the window pane using magnetic forces, which can be enhanced or reduced as needed, and integrated into the window seal for a flush fit and reduced visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the window frame protrudes to the side of the window pane to provide guidance and sealing, then the window pane can be securely positioned and sealed, but air resistance and wind noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical guidance system (protruding window frame with physical contact) with a magnetic field-based guidance system. Magnetically active elements are embedded in the window pane and interact with magnetically active counter-elements in the window seal, creating attractive or repulsive forces that guide and position the window pane without requiring physical protrusions or mechanical contact.
2Reliability
If the window pane is pressed against the window seal in convertible and coupe vehicles, then sealing is improved, but friction increases significantly when moving the window pane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressing and friction-based sealing with a magnetic field-based sealing system. The magnetically active elements in the window pane interact with counter-elements in the seal to create magnetic attraction forces that hold the window pane sealed against the seal, eliminating the need for high mechanical pressing forces and reducing friction during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field system allows dynamic adjustment of the holding force. The magnetic attraction can be modulated to provide sufficient sealing force when the window is closed while allowing easier movement during operation, adapting the sealing force to the operational state of the window.
3Ease of operation
If additional drive mechanisms are added to reduce friction and enable smooth window pane movement, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field system provides self-service functionality where the magnetically active elements and counter-elements automatically generate the necessary forces for positioning, guiding, and sealing the window pane without requiring external drive mechanisms. The system uses the interaction between magnetic elements to self-regulate the window pane movement and positioning.
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 solution enables reliable, flush guidance and sealing of the window pane, reducing air resistance, wind noise, and friction, while allowing for easy adjustment and reduced costs by eliminating the need for additional drive mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetically active element and the magnetically active counter-element can be designed to generate a mutually attractive and/or repulsive force in order to hold the window pane in a specific position relative to the window frame or to move the window pane into a specific position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a window guide (2a) for guiding a retractable window pane (3a) of a motor vehicle. In order to reliably enable flush guidance and sealing of the retractable window pane (3a) against a window frame or a side wall of a vehicle body, the window guide (2a) comprises at least one magnetically effective element (6) attachable to the window pane (3a) and at least one magnetically effective counter element (7) attachable to a window frame (4), the side wall of the vehicle body or a window seal (9).