Modular Sliding Door Drive Cable Guide Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door drives for motor vehicles face challenges in providing sufficient force transmission while ensuring easy installation, particularly in large doors where the deflection device must be widely spaced, complicating the routing between the vehicle's outer and inner panels.

Innovation Solution

A modular sliding door drive system featuring an electric drive unit, a drive cable, and a cable guide firmly accommodated in the vehicle body, with a modular cable deflection assembly that allows separate installation and adaptation to different door sizes, using a planetary gear for efficient force transmission and a sealing mechanism to secure the drive cable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the deflection device is widely spaced from the drive unit to accommodate large door sizes, then the sliding door can be operated, but the routing between the vehicle outer and inner panel becomes complicated and installation effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different door sizesVSAvoidrouting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable guide is divided into multiple segments or sections, allowing it to be routed through the vehicle body panels in a modular fashion. This segmentation enables the cable to be guided from the drive unit to the deflection device without creating a single complex routing path, as each segment can be independently installed and adjusted to fit different door configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Force

If the drive cable is firmly connected to the body to enable force transmission, then the sliding door can be moved, but the installation and adaptation to different door sizes becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce transmissionVSAvoidadaptability to different door sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cable guide system incorporates adjustable and movable components that allow the routing path and connection points to be dynamically adapted to different door sizes and configurations. This dynamic design enables the same cable guide system to maintain firm force transmission while being adaptable to various door dimensions by adjusting the position and orientation of the cable guide segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The modular design ensures reliable force transmission and easy assembly, allowing for adaptable installation across various door sizes and configurations, enhancing the structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the sliding door drive system.

Implementation Method 1

The drive unit (2) has a planetary gear (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlanetary gear mechanism: Epicyclic Gearing

Implementation Method 2

a cable drum (4), by means of which the drive cable (10) can be wound up and a force can be exerted on the sliding door in both directions of movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCable drum winding mechanism: Differential Windlass

Implementation Method 3

the drive cable is deflected by approximately 90° and changes from its course in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle to one in the transverse direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCable deflection: Pulley

Data Source

PatentEP3347556B1Sliding door drive of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 KIEKERT AG
  • EP3347556B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3347556B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3347556B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive of a sliding door of a motor vehicle comprising an electric drive unit (2), a drive cable (10) and a guide (3) for the drive cable (10). Said drive unit (2), the drive cable (10) and the guide (3) are fixed in the vehicle body (K) and the sliding door can be moved by means of the drive cable (10) with respect to the vehicle body. At least one sub-assembly (33) of the guide (3) of the drive cable (10) is modular and the drive cable (10) can be deflected by the modular sub-assembly (33).