Self-Draining Keyed Cylinder Slope for Water Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyed cylinders for vehicle doors often suffer from water and debris accumulation, which can compromise their functionality and security, especially when exposed to environmental conditions such as rain or car washes.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a self-draining mechanism within the keyed cylinder, featuring a drain channel that slopes parallel to the cylinder's longitudinal axis, directing foreign materials like water and debris away from the internal locking mechanism through a key aperture, ensuring the keyed cylinder remains operational and secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the keyed cylinder is positioned horizontally or upward, then it is easier to manufacture and install, but water and debris accumulate inside compromising functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The keyed cylinder is inverted from the conventional horizontal or upward position to a downward-sloping position. The longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder is oriented at an angle between 5 degrees and 15 degrees downward from horizontal, causing water and debris to drain outward rather than accumulate inside, thereby maintaining functionality while simplifying the design.
2Reliability
If the keyed cylinder slopes downward, then water and debris are drained away, but the cylinder receptacle and mounting structure become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drain channel is integrated directly into the keyed cylinder body rather than being a separate component. The keyed cylinder includes a built-in drain channel that receives water and debris through the key aperture and directs it outward along the downward slope, eliminating the need for separate drainage components and simplifying the overall structure.
3Reliability
If water and debris enter the internal locking mechanism, then locking functionality is compromised, but adding protective measures increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex protective covers or seals to prevent water and debris entry, the keyed cylinder is inverted to a downward-sloping position that actively drains water and debris away from the internal locking mechanism through the key aperture, providing protection through gravity-driven drainage rather than physical barriers.
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 configuration effectively prevents water and debris from entering the internal locking mechanism, maintaining the keyed cylinder's functionality and security by utilizing gravity to funnel foreign materials out of the system, thus ensuring reliable operation even in adverse conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the keyed cylinder slopes downward toward an outward surface of the trim member... the drain channel is positioned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door includes an outer panel and an inner frame defining a cavity, wherein a portion of the outer panel defines a generally downward outer surface. A trim member is attached to the outer surface, wherein the trim member and the outer surface define a cylinder receptacle in communication with the cavity. A keyed cylinder is disposed within the cylinder receptacle, wherein a longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder is substantially normal to the outer surface, and the keyed cylinder slopes downward toward an outward surface of the trim member. The vehicle door also includes an internal locking mechanism and a key aperture of the keyed cylinder, wherein the internal locking mechanism includes a drain channel that slopes toward the key aperture and the cylinder receptacle, and wherein the drain channel is positioned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder.