Sliding Door Cable-Guide Pivot Arm With Integrated Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pivoting and cable-guide arrangements for motor vehicle sliding doors are complex to manufacture, assemble, and lack reliable sealing, particularly when the distance between the vehicle body and sliding door changes during opening and closing, risking damage to cables and increased moisture ingress.
Innovation Solution
A two-part pivoting arm with a sealing ring overmoulded on the second shaft portion, a cable support sleeve, and a compact base plate design with integrated seals, ensuring reliable sealing and easy assembly by allowing snap-fit cable insertion, while accommodating tolerance compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional pivoting arm design is used, then the cable-guide arrangement can function, but the construction is complex and assembly is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting arm is divided into two separate parts: a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. These parts can be manufactured independently and then assembled together, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes while reducing overall construction complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring is integrated directly into the second shaft portion through overmoulding, combining the sealing function with the structural component. This eliminates the need for separate sealing elements and reduces assembly steps
2Reliability
If a traditional pivoting arm design is used, then the arrangement can operate, but reliable sealing is lacking and moisture ingress occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing ring made of elastomeric material is used to create a flexible seal around the rotating shaft portions. This flexible sealing element effectively prevents moisture ingress and improves sealing reliability while accommodating minor dimensional variations
Solution Approach 2:
The second shaft portion is created as a composite structure by overmoulding elastomeric material onto a rigid core. This composite construction integrates the sealing function directly into the structural component, ensuring reliable sealing while maintaining mechanical strength
3Ease of manufacture
If the pivoting arm is designed as one piece, then assembly might be simpler, but cable installation becomes difficult and moisture can penetrate
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting arm is segmented into two parts that can be assembled around the cable harness. This segmentation allows the cable to be installed first, then the shaft portions are assembled around it, making cable installation easy while maintaining sealing integrity through the integrated sealing ring
Data Source
AI summary
Cable-guide arrangement for a motor vehicle sliding door and pivoting arrangement comprising a pivoting arm adapted to receive cables and a support member adapted to be arranged on a vehicle body. The support member comprises a base plate with a first and a second receiving portion, the pivoting arm rotatably mounted to the support member. A cap is connected to the base plate and defines with the base plate a protective chamber, in which the cables can extend. The pivoting arm is a two-part piece having a first casing and a second casing with a sealing ring.