Sliding Door Hinge-Track Layout to Preserve Vehicle Cabin Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sliding door mechanisms in vehicles often require support arms that intrude into the vehicle cabin, reducing interior space due to the need for tracks and arms to support the door's weight, which limits cabin space and flexibility with varying roof heights.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door system with a longitudinal track fixed to the vehicle door and a hinged bracket mounted to the vehicle body, allowing the door to pivot and translate laterally and longitudinally, reducing the need for intrusive support arms and enabling a common door size across different roof heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If support arms are sized and arranged to sufficiently support the weight of the door, then the door can be supported during and after travel, but the support arms must be disposed within the vehicle body when the door is closed, resulting in reduced interior cabin space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional arrangement by mounting the track to the door instead of the vehicle body, and the bracket to the vehicle body instead of the door. This inversion allows the support structure to be positioned outside the cabin space while maintaining door support capability, as the bracket is disposed between the outer surface of the vehicle body and the inner surface of the door when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the lateral dimension by employing a hinged bracket that can laterally expand and compress. When the door opens, the bracket laterally expands to accommodate the door's movement path, and when closed, it laterally compresses to minimize intrusion into the cabin. This dimensional change allows the support structure to adapt its size based on operational requirements.
2Ease of operation
If tracks are mounted to the vehicle body and support arms are disposed within the vehicle body, then the door path can be controlled, but a cavity must be formed between the vehicle body structure and the interior cabin, reducing interior cabin space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the mounting arrangement: the track is mounted to the door (moving with it) while the bracket is mounted to the vehicle body (remaining stationary). This inversion eliminates the need for body-mounted tracks that extend into the cabin, as the door-mounted track moves with the door and interfaces with the bracket only during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the track from the vehicle body structure and relocates it to the door. This extraction removes the need for cavity formation in the vehicle body, as the track no longer needs to be mounted to the body and guide the door from a fixed position. The door-mounted track provides the necessary guidance while occupying space outside the cabin.
3Strength
If support arms are disposed within the vehicle body when the door is closed, then the door can be supported, but the vehicle body must include a cavity formed between the vehicle body structure and the interior cabin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts which component is mounted to which structure: the bracket (support element) is mounted to the vehicle body, while the track (guide element) is mounted to the door. This inversion allows the support function to be provided by the body-mounted bracket without requiring body-mounted tracks or cavities, simplifying the vehicle body structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged bracket acts as an intermediary between the vehicle body and the door-mounted track. It provides the necessary support and guidance interface without requiring either the body or the door to have complex mounted structures. The bracket's ability to laterally expand and compress allows it to mediate the interaction between the stationary body and the moving door.
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 design minimizes intrusion into the vehicle cabin, allows for a common door size across multiple roof heights, and maintains a large spread between interface points, enhancing interior space utilization and flexibility in design.
Implementation Method 1
a hinged bracket fixed to the vehicle body adjacent the opening of the vehicle body and interfacing with the longitudinal track. The hinged bracket is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the door is in the closed position, the hinged bracket is in the first position and is laterally compressed and when the door is open, the hinged bracket is in the second position and is laterally expanded
Implementation Method 2
the hinged bracket includes a pivot arm portion pivotably connected to the fixed flange portion. When the door moves from the closed position to the open position, the pivot arm portion pivots outward relative to the flange portion
Implementation Method 3
the longitudinal track translates longitudinally relative to the door carrier bracket. When the door moves from the closed position to the open position, the longitudinal track translates longitudinally relative to the door carrier bracket
Data Source
AI summary
A system for opening and closing a sliding vehicle door includes a vehicle door that engages with the body in the closed position. A longitudinal track is fixedly mounted to an interior of the vehicle door. A hinged bracket is fixedly mounted to the vehicle body adjacent an opening defined by the vehicle body. The hinged bracket has a laterally compressed shape when the door is closed, and expands laterally outward when the door is opened. The door and the track fixed thereto slide longitudinally along the opened hinged bracket when the door is opened. The interface between the hinged bracket and the track remains at the same generally location relative to the vehicle body, and shifts relative to the vehicle door when the door is opened.