Vehicle Sliding Door Parallelogram Linkage Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door devices for passenger vehicles require a central guide rail that detracts from the vehicle's appearance, increases costs, and is prone to mechanical complications and failures due to exposed cables and complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door device that eliminates the need for a central guide rail by using a compact drive system with two telescopic rails, where the door moves transversely and longitudinally, with all moving components attached to a carrier that displaces as a unit, allowing for easy electrification and reduced fault sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central guide rail is used to guide the door, then the door can be reliably guided along the side wall, but the vehicle appearance is deteriorated and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the central guide rail from the vehicle exterior by integrating the guiding function into the door assembly itself through the parallelogram linkage mechanism. The guide rails are now attached to the door rather than being separate external components, eliminating the visual deterioration while maintaining guidance reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the door structure with the guiding mechanism by attaching guide rails directly to the door assembly. The parallelogram linkage integrates multiple functions (guidance, movement, and structural support) into a single unified system, eliminating the need for separate external guide rails.
2Reliability
If a central guide rail is used for door operation, then door guidance is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase due to exposed materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the central guide rail from the vehicle structure and relocates the guiding function to the door assembly itself. This eliminates the need for expensive, weather-exposed external rails while reducing manufacturing costs through the use of standard parallelogram linkage components.
3Ease of operation
If cable pulls are used to connect the drive motor to the moving door, then the door can be moved, but the system becomes prone to failures and mechanical complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cable-pull mechanical transmission system with a direct-drive mechanism using a parallelogram linkage. The drive motor is directly connected to the door assembly through the parallelogram mechanism, eliminating cables and their associated failure points while improving reliability.
4Ease of operation
If a door lift extension device with steering lever and multiple moving parts is used, then the door can be opened, but the device becomes complicated and maintenance-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the door movement into two independent linear translations using the parallelogram linkage, replacing the complex multi-part extension device. The parallelogram mechanism naturally provides the required motion path without needing additional steering levers or brackets.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallelogram linkage serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the door movement, provides structural support, enables both transverse and longitudinal translation, and maintains parallel alignment. This single mechanism replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate components.
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 solution simplifies the vehicle design, reduces costs, enhances reliability by eliminating exposed cables, and facilitates easier electrification, while providing a smooth and efficient door operation with increased travel path without complex moving parts.
Implementation Method 1
a first runner (30) which is attached to the carrier (20) so that it can be displaced along the longitudinal axis of the carrier (20). This movement of the first runner (30) serves to shift a second runner (31) relative to the carrier (20) along the longitudinal axis of the carrier (20) via a gear (25).
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a sliding door device for laterally opening a door of a passenger vehicle, at least comprising a door (10) and a drive device (40, 40') for moving the door (10) transversely to and along the longitudinal axis of the passenger vehicle. The sliding door device is designed such that the door (10) is flush with the lateral wall of the passenger vehicle in the closed state, whereas the door (10) lies outside against the lateral wall of the passenger vehicle in the open state. The drive device (40, 40') is arranged below or above the door opening of the passenger vehicle and comprises a support (20) to which a first rotor (30) is attached in a movable manner along the longitudinal axis of the support (20). By means of a transmission unit, a second rotor (31) can be moved relative to the support (20) along the longitudinal axis of the support (20) by the movement of the first rotor (30), said door (10) being attached to the second rotor (31), and the support (20) is mounted in a movable manner relative to the passenger vehicle transversely to the longitudinal axis of the passenger vehicle. The first rotor (30) is connected to a driving element (26) which is guided within a first guide track (51) that is located on the passenger vehicle in a fixed manner, and a second guide track (61) is located on the vehicle on the door opening side opposite the drive device (40, 40'), a guide element (12) which is connected to the door (10) being guided in said second guide track.