Rotary Unit with Hooks for Lower Door Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current structures for assisting the opening and closing of lower vehicle doors require high actuating force and do not adequately prevent deformation during side collisions or intrusion in vehicles without B-pillars.
Innovation Solution
A rotary unit with hook connections and a torsion spring system is integrated into the vehicle body to assist in opening and closing the lower door, providing a driving force and preventing deformation by inserting into the door's surface during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spindle drive pushes the lower end of the ramp system close to the hinge axis to open the lower door, then the opening function is achieved, but high actuating force is required
Solution Approach 1:
A rotary unit with hooks is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the spindle drive and the lower door. The rotary unit converts the linear motion of the spindle into rotational motion, providing mechanical advantage and reducing the actuating force required to open the lower door while maintaining the opening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary unit introduces a rotational dimension to the opening mechanism. Instead of directly pushing the lower door in a linear direction close to the hinge axis, the system uses rotational motion of the rotary unit to assist in opening the door, thereby reducing the required actuating force.
2Ease of operation
If the lower door is designed without a B-pillar to provide side access, then passenger accessibility is improved, but the vehicle becomes vulnerable to side collisions and door intrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary unit with hooks is positioned to preemptively counteract side collision forces. When a collision occurs, the hooks engage with the vehicle body structure, creating a preliminary anti-action that prevents door intrusion and protects against collision damage while maintaining the side access configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary unit acts as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs and distributes collision forces. The hooks and rotational mechanism provide a buffer that reduces the impact of side collisions on the lower door and vehicle structure, thereby improving collision resistance without compromising side access.
3Force
If the rotary unit is integrated into the vehicle body to assist door opening, then actuating force is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it assists in opening the lower door by reducing actuating force, provides collision protection through hook engagement, and maintains side access capability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary unit combines several functions into a single integrated mechanism. It merges the door opening assistance function with the collision protection function, eliminating the need for separate systems and thereby reducing the overall complexity that would result from adding independent mechanisms for each function.
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 system reduces the required actuating force for opening the lower door and minimizes deformation and intrusion during side collisions by using a rotary unit with hooks and springs to manage the door's movement and absorb impact.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary unit with hook connections and a torsion spring system is integrated into the vehicle body to assist in opening and closing the lower door
Implementation Method 2
minimizes deformation and intrusion during side collisions by using a rotary unit with hooks and springs to manage the door's movement and absorb impact
Data Source
AI summary
A structure for assisting with opening and closing of a lower door includes a lower door having an upper end configured to be rotated open with respect to a bottom surface of a vehicle body, and a rotary unit configured to be fixed to the bottom surface of the vehicle body and configured to rotate in opposite directions to assist with opening and closing of the lower door.