Temporary Side Door Hinge Stop for Non-Contact Body Folding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for folding vehicle doors during manufacturing, such as those using false hinges, often result in contact between the door and the vehicle body, leading to potential defects, especially during the painting phase, and require additional manipulations that increase costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a stop mechanism, such as a boss between the hinges, and an elastic locking element, like an elastic pawl, ensures the door remains parallel and separated from the body, eliminating contact and simplifying the folding process without additional components or operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If false hinges are used to fold the door on the body, then the door can be moved for treatment access, but the door may contact the body causing defects during painting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor folding capabilityVSAvoidbody contact defects
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A wedge-shaped means is introduced as an intermediary element between the door and the body. This wedge is received by a recess in the false hinge and projects toward the rear of the body, physically preventing the door from contacting the body during the folded position while allowing the door to be properly articulated for treatment access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the door is opened longitudinally away from the side leg to avoid contact, then body contact is prevented, but additional manipulations increase cost and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebody contact preventionVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wedge-shaped means is integrated into the false hinge structure itself, allowing the system to automatically maintain the door in the correct position without requiring external manipulation. The wedge and recess form a self-contained mechanism that passively prevents body contact while the door folds, eliminating the need for additional operational steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If complex articulated structures with connecting rods are used, then door folding is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor folding mechanismVSAvoidhinge structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary complex articulated structure with connecting rods from the false hinge. Instead, it uses a simplified design where a wedge-shaped means received by a recess in the false hinge performs the essential function of preventing body contact, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution prevents body damage by maintaining the door in a parallel, non-contact position during processing, reducing operational complexity and costs, and simplifying robotic installation by eliminating the need for separate handling steps.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic locking element, like an elastic pawl, ensures the door remains parallel and separated from the body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3636473B1Body of a motor vehicle temporarily provided with a side door
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 COUTIER IND
  • EP3636473B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle body (1) temporarily equipped around an axis (X) with a normally sliding side door (2), by means of a device which includes at least one temporary hinge (3,4) for articulating the door on the body, comprising a first hinge 3 having a first articulation element and a fixing plate spaced away from this first element and a second hinge 4 having a second articulation element capable of covering or being covered by the first and a fixing plate spaced away from this means, characterized in that each part has corresponding means (5) such that when the hinge is in its folded state, these means are against each other and limit the relative rotation of the two parts in the continuation of the folding of the door (2).