Vehicle Sill Structure Relocating Roller Guide Recess to Dry Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sill structure for sliding doors in motor vehicles requires a long roller guide arm, leading to increased forces and material costs due to its exposure to adverse environmental influences in the 'wet space', necessitating a solution to reduce weight and cost while maintaining optimal roller guidance.
Innovation Solution
The recess with a guide rail for the roller guide is relocated to a 'dry space' above the indentation, secured detachably to the sill structure, forming a shorter roller guide arm and allowing for easier replacement and adjustment, with a U-profile design supported by a flange and retaining brackets, and optionally forming a rigid step with integrated lighting and sensor storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the recess with guide rail is disposed in the wet space below the lower door seal, then the sill structure can be simplified, but the roller guide arm becomes excessively long causing increased forces and material costs
Solution Approach 1:
The recess with guide rail is relocated from the wet space (below lower door seal) to the dry space (above lower door seal), changing the vertical dimension of placement. This dimensional change shortens the roller guide arm length, reducing the lever arm effect and consequently decreasing the forces acting on the roller guide system while maintaining structural functionality
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the recess with guide rail is relocated to dry space above the indentation, then exposure to environmental influences is reduced, but the sill structure requires more complex configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The sill structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the hollow profile forms the basic structural element, the indentation provides a mounting zone for the lower door seal, and the recess with guide rail creates a separate functional module. This segmentation allows the guide rail system to be positioned in the dry space above the indentation, protecting it from environmental influences while maintaining a clear, organized structural configuration
3Ease of operation
If a long roller guide arm is used to bridge the welding groove, then the sliding door can be connected to the body, but the resulting lever arm increases forces and material requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the recess with guide rail vertically to the dry space above the indentation, the connection point for the roller guide arm is moved closer to the sliding door. This vertical repositioning shortens the roller guide arm length, reducing the lever arm effect and consequently decreasing the forces and material requirements while maintaining the sliding door's connection functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle having at least one side door opening formed in the body of the same and having a sliding door closing the same, wherein the side door opening has a sill structure for supporting and movably guiding the sliding door, wherein the sill structure has a hollow profile oriented in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x-direction) and formed as a welded part, and wherein the hollow profile on the vehicle exterior has a welding flange, extending along the sill structure and oriented in the vehicle vertical direction (z-direction), as a mounting flange for a door seal, which delimits an indentation formed in an upper section of the outer contour of the hollow profile. It is provided advantageously that a recess having at least one guide rail for a roller guide of the sliding door is disposed above the indentation, which recess is detachably secured to the sill structure.