Sliding Door Drive Folding Mechanism for Compact Vehicle Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door devices for vehicles require complex installation processes due to limited space and alignment challenges, particularly when integrating electric sliding door drives with guide rails, which complicates the assembly and increases the need for extensive screwing and electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door device with a guide rail and electric sliding door drive that can be pre-assembled and folded to minimize installation space, utilizing a C-profile design with a Bowden cable and motor assembly that compensates for folding movements, allowing for a space-saving and simplified mounting process by pivoting the drive into a final assembly position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the sliding door drive is pre-assembled on the rail, then the installation complexity is reduced, but the installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding door drive is designed to be movable relative to the rail, allowing it to be positioned in different locations along the rail. This dynamic positioning capability enables the drive to be pre-assembled on the rail in a controlled environment and then installed in the vehicle by moving it to the final position, reducing installation complexity while managing space requirements through flexible positioning.
2Area of stationary object
If the sliding door drive is folded into a compact position, then the installation space is reduced, but the alignment precision during assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism utilizes curved or rotational motion paths to transition the sliding door drive between extended and compact positions. This curved motion facilitates smoother alignment during folding compared to linear movements, helping to maintain alignment precision while achieving compact installation space.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sliding door drive is passed through a passage opening in a first position, then the mounting process is simplified, but the final assembly space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The installation process is divided into distinct phases: passing the drive through the passage opening in a first (extended) position for simplified mounting, and then folding it into a second (compact) position to reduce final assembly space. This segmentation of the installation process into manageable steps simplifies the mounting operation while the subsequent folding action addresses the space requirement.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the Bowden cable is rigidly connected to the motor assembly, then the structural stability is improved, but the folding capability is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The Bowden cable is implemented as a flexible cable rather than a rigid connection, allowing it to accommodate the folding motion of the motor assembly while maintaining structural integrity. The flexible nature of the Bowden cable enables the system to achieve both structural stability during operation and folding capability for compact installation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sliding door device comprising: - at least one guide rail (1) and - a sliding door drive (2) coupled or connectable to the guide rail (1), wherein the sliding door drive (2) can be passed through a through-opening (13) of a vehicle component in a first position (P1), in particular a pre-assembly position, and can be moved into a second position (P2), in particular a final assembly position, in particular by folding or rotating it. The invention further relates to a method for mounting a sliding door device on a vehicle.