Vehicle Door Sealing Structure for Pillarless Noise and Moisture Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles without a center pillar face challenges in sealing the rear end of the front door with the front end of the rear door, leading to moisture and noise intrusion into the passenger compartment, particularly in electric vehicles where road noise is a significant issue.
Innovation Solution
A sealing structure comprising a door outer parting seal, door side weather strip, and door inner parting seal, sequentially positioned to seal the gap between the front and rear doors, with convex formations and flexible materials to ensure multiple points of contact and deformation for effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a center pillar is applied to seal the gap between front and rear doors, then sealing performance is improved, but the sense of openness and accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into three separate sealing components (door outer parting seal, door side weather strip, door inner parting seal) positioned at different locations between the front and rear doors. This segmentation allows effective sealing without requiring a center pillar, maintaining the open coach door configuration while achieving reliable sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The door outer parting seal, door side weather strip, and door inner parting seal act as intermediary elements that mediate the sealing function between the front and rear doors. These intermediary sealing components eliminate the need for a structural center pillar, preserving the sense of openness while providing effective sealing.
2Ease of operation
If the rear end of the front door and front end of the rear door are not sealed, then ease of operation is improved, but noise and moisture intrusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into three separate sealing components positioned at different locations between the doors. This segmentation allows the doors to operate independently while providing multiple sealing points that effectively block noise and moisture intrusion, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and protection from harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sealing components are applied at different locations (outer parting seal, side weather strip, inner parting seal) to address specific sealing needs at each position. This local quality approach ensures comprehensive sealing against noise and moisture while maintaining independent door operation capability.
3Reliability
If multiple sealing components are applied between front and rear doors, then sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into three distinct components positioned at different locations, which actually simplifies the overall design compared to a complex single sealing system or center pillar structure. Each component has a specific function and location, making the system manageable and effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The three sealing components work together to provide multiple functions: sealing against moisture, sealing against noise, and maintaining the coach door configuration. This multi-functionality achieves comprehensive sealing performance without requiring a center pillar, balancing reliability improvement with acceptable device complexity.
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 sealing structure effectively blocks external noise and moisture at three points, enhancing vehicle quietness and comfort by preventing noise and moisture intrusion, even in the absence of a center pillar.
Implementation Method 1
The door inner parting seal and the door side weather strip may be formed convexly toward each other. When both the first door and the second door are closed, the door outer parting seal, the door side weather strip, and the door inner parting seal may be deformed to seal a gap between the first door and the second door.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door with a sealing structure includes: a first door having one end hinge-connected to a vehicle; a second door having one end in contact with the other end of the first door and the other end hinge-connected to the vehicle; a door outer parting seal adjacent to and in contact with an outer surface of the first door; a door side weather strip installed on the first door and in contact with a front end of the second door, wherein the door side weather strip is positioned more inside the vehicle than the door outer parting seal; and a door inner parting seal installed on the second door and in contact with the first door, wherein the door inner parting seal is positioned more inside the vehicle than the door side weather strip.