Rear Door Hinge Structure That Preserves C-Pillar Opening Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of opposing hinged doors in vehicles, particularly those mounted on the C-pillar, results in a large C-pillar size, reduced rear door opening, increased costs due to divided side walls, and complexity in door operation, affecting passenger access and vehicle design efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A rear structure for the vehicle body incorporating a hinge mechanism with a hinge seat coupled to a wheel cover inner reinforcing plate, a rotating arm, and a rotating shaft, allowing the rear door to open without increasing the C-pillar size, using a single hinge for stability and simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rear door hinge is installed on the C-pillar through at least two hinges, then the door opening function is achieved, but the C-pillar design size increases and the rear door opening size is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the hinge mechanism from the vertical C-pillar to the horizontal rear floor structure, changing the spatial dimension of hinge installation. This allows the door to open outward without requiring vertical space on the C-pillar, thereby maintaining the rear door opening size while achieving the door opening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the hinge mechanism into separate components: a hinge seat fixed to the rear floor, a rotating arm connected to both the hinge seat and the rear door, and a rotating shaft enabling rotation. This segmentation allows the door to pivot outward from the floor level, avoiding interference with the C-pillar and preserving the rear door opening dimensions.
2Ease of operation
If the rear door hinge is installed on the C-pillar through at least two hinges, then the door opening function is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and additional structural modifications are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hinge mechanism from the C-pillar structure and relocates it to the rear floor. This separation eliminates the need for structural modifications to the C-pillar while maintaining the door opening function, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear floor structure, originally serving as a structural base, is given an additional function by integrating the hinge mechanism. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for separate hinge mounting structures on the C-pillar, simplifying the overall vehicle structure.
3Ease of operation
If the rear door hinge is installed on the C-pillar through at least two hinges, then the door opening function is achieved, but mold investment increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the hinge mechanism from the C-pillar and relocating it to the rear floor, the patent eliminates the need for additional C-pillar molds and associated tooling, thereby reducing mold investment while maintaining door opening functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A rear structure for a vehicle body includes a hinge mechanism, a rear door and a wheel cover inner reinforcing plate at a rear floor. The hinge mechanism includes a hinge seat and a rotating arm. The hinge seat is coupled to the wheel cover inner reinforcing plate, the rotating arm is rotatably coupled to the hinge seat, and the rotating arm is coupled to the rear door. An opposing hinged door vehicle is also provided.