Mirror Triangle Seal Stabilization Device for Frameless Doors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Frameless vehicle doors, particularly in convertibles, experience leakage issues due to the seal of the mirror triangle being pulled off from the mirror foot tip when the door is opened, primarily due to capillary forces, leading to instability and failure to spring back into place.
Innovation Solution
A stabilization device with a fastening element and contact element is integrated into the mirror triangle cover, ensuring the seal remains fixed by absorbing inward forces, using a latching projection or undercut portion for a robust connection, and optionally being adhesively bonded for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal is allowed to overlap the external mirror with sufficient length for proper sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the seal becomes more prone to lifting off and turning over when the door is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization device acts as an intermediary element between the seal and the mirror triangle cover. It includes a contact element that engages with the inner side of the seal tip and a fastening element that secures the contact element to the cover, thereby mediating the forces acting on the seal during door operation
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilization device is pre-installed on the mirror triangle cover before the seal is attached. The contact element is positioned in advance to engage with the seal tip, creating a preliminary structural arrangement that prevents seal lifting off before the door is even opened
2Stability of the object's composition
If the seal overlap length is reduced to prevent lifting off, then seal position stability is improved, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization device segments the sealing system into distinct functional components: the seal itself, the contact element that stabilizes the seal tip, and the fastening element that secures the contact element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as a unified system
3Device complexity
If conventional sealing methods are used without additional stabilization, then device complexity is minimized, but reliability of preventing seal lifting off deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element and fastening element are combined into a single integrated stabilization device that can be attached to the mirror triangle cover as one unit. This merging reduces the number of separate components compared to alternative solutions while maintaining the dual functions of contact and fastening
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 stabilization device effectively prevents the seal from lifting off during door opening, maintaining a secure and stable connection, even under capillary forces, thereby ensuring leakproof integrity and easy production with cost-effective assembly.
Implementation Method 1
an inwardly acting force which is exerted on the tip of the seal, in particular in the form of a capillary force, by an inwardly pretensioned window of the vehicle door
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilization device stabilizes the region at the tip of a mirror triangle seal which is secured to a cover of the mirror triangle of a frameless vehicle door of a motor vehicle in the vehicle transverse direction. The stabilization device includes a fastening element for securing to the cover of the mirror triangle and a contact element for contacting the inner face of the tip of the seal. The contact element can be arranged and fixed so as to protrude upwards in the vehicle vertical direction such that the seal remains fixed to the cover when the vehicle door is opened despite a force acting inwards, which force is exerted onto the tip of the seal by a vehicle door window pane which is pretensioned inwards.