Opposed Sliding Door Planetary Gear Reducer Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door systems for vehicles, particularly in vans and electric vehicles, face challenges due to the need for large rail spaces and complex structures, which hinder easy installation and increase costs, especially when trying to accommodate curved lower rails and multiple links.

Innovation Solution

An opposed type sliding door device utilizing a planetary gear reducer with a straight lower rail and a bent swing bracket, allowing the door to slide smoothly and efficiently, while simplifying the structure and enhancing collision performance by mounting the center rail on the door rather than the vehicle body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a curved lower rail and multiple link structures are used to enable door sliding, then the door can open and close smoothly, but the rail occupies excessively large space inside the vehicle body and the structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor sliding smoothnessVSAvoidinternal vehicle space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by mounting the center rail on the door itself rather than on the vehicle body. This reversal allows the door to slide along a straight lower rail mounted on the vehicle body, eliminating the need for curved rails and multiple links, thereby securing internal vehicle space while maintaining smooth door operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the center rail from the vehicle body and relocates it to the door, removing the complex curved lower rail structure from the vehicle interior. This extraction simplifies the overall structure and frees up internal space while preserving the door sliding function through the straight rail mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If a curved lower rail and multiple link structures are used to enable door sliding, then the door can open and close smoothly, but the structure becomes complicated and product cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor sliding smoothnessVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the mounting position of the center rail to the door itself, the patent eliminates the need for complex curved rails and multiple link structures, achieving smooth door operation with a simplified straight rail mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the center rail function directly into the door assembly, combining the door structure with the rail mounting function. This integration eliminates separate complex link structures and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining operational smoothness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a curved lower rail is used, then the door can slide forward and backward, but it hinders easy installation in vehicles with limited space such as electric vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor sliding functionVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the door device adaptable to vehicles with limited space by inverting the rail mounting approach - the center rail is mounted on the door rather than the vehicle body, and a straight lower rail is used instead of curved rails, enabling easy installation in electric vehicles and other space-constrained applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 secures internal vehicle space, reduces product complexity and manufacturing costs, and enhances collision performance by using a straight lower rail and planetary gear reducer, enabling smooth operation and easy installation even in vehicles with limited space, such as electric vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a planetary gear reducer coupled to an upper portion of the pinion gear to reduce a rotational amount of the pinion gear

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlanetary gear mechanism: Epicyclic Gearing

Implementation Method 2

a pinion gear which engages in a rack gear mounted on a lower portion of the lower rail

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRack and pinion mechanism: Rack and Pinion

Data Source

PatentUS10914108B2Opposed type sliding door device of vehicle using planetary gear reducer

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An opposed type sliding door device includes a center rail mounted on a center of a door in a longitudinal direction of the door. A center roller is mounted on a vehicle body and a lower rail is mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body. A lower roller is mounted on the door and moves along the lower rail to pivot the door toward the outside of the vehicle. The lower roller includes a pinion gear which engages in a rack gear mounted on a lower portion of the lower rail, a planetary gear reducer coupled to an upper portion of the pinion gear, a swing bracket moving the door toward the outside with rotation of the pinion gear, and a mounting bracket having one end coupled to the door and another end coupled to the swing bracket.