Retractable Running Board Linkage Seal for Environmental Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with high ground clearance, such as SUVs and 4WD vehicles, present difficulties for users to enter and exit due to elevated floors, and existing retractable running board assemblies face challenges in durability and longevity due to environmental exposure.
Innovation Solution
A retractable running board assembly featuring a linkage with a rotatable pin and bushing arrangement, sealed within a recess, and an O-ring seal, which protects the bushing from dirt and salt, and includes a motor-driven mechanism to adjust the running board between retracted and deployed positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the running board is made retractable to assist user entry and exit, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to environmental exposure of moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
A seal (O-ring or唇形密封件) is installed around the pin within the recess to create a flexible sealing barrier. This seal prevents dirt, salt, and other environmental contaminants from penetrating into the recess and contacting the bushing, thereby protecting the linkage components while allowing the running board to remain retractable and operational.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal acts as a sacrificial protective element that can be easily replaced if worn. By using a relatively simple and inexpensive seal component, the design protects the more critical and expensive bushing and linkage components from environmental damage, extending overall system reliability while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If the bushing is exposed to the environment for rotational movement, then ease of operation is maintained, but durability deteriorates due to dirt and salt exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The seal serves as an intermediary barrier between the bushing and the external environment. It allows the pin to rotate freely within the recess while blocking harmful environmental factors (dirt, salt, moisture) from reaching the bushing, thus maintaining operational smoothness while extending component life.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal creates a protective barrier that isolates the bushing from environmental contaminants while permitting the necessary rotational motion of the pin. This flexible sealing approach maintains the functional movement required for operation while protecting the bushing from degradation.
3Reliability
If a seal is added to protect the bushing, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal provides effective environmental protection through a simple, thin-walled component that integrates into the existing recess structure. This approach achieves reliable contamination prevention without adding complex mechanical systems, maintaining structural simplicity while improving durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and replaced. By using this straightforward sealing element rather than a complex protective mechanism, the design improves reliability while minimizing increases in device complexity and cost.
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 solution enhances the durability and longevity of the retractable running board assembly by protecting the bushing from environmental exposure and provides a convenient entry and exit solution for users by adjusting the running board position, while maintaining ease of assembly and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a seal is provided in the recess between the bushing and an opening of the recess
Implementation Method 2
a hinge provided by a pin rotatable relative to a bushing
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable running board assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a running board and a linkage connected to the running board. The linkage includes a hinge provided by a pin rotatable relative to a bushing, which is provided in a recess in the linkage. Further, a seal is provided in the recess between the bushing and an opening of the recess.