Integrated Sliding Door Rail Structure for Rigid Vehicle Bodies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle body structures with sliding doors require numerous components and struggle to ensure sufficient rigidity due to the need for a door rail and a door arm movement route, complicating assembly and increasing costs.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body structure with an integrated rail member that includes a door rail, pillars, and body cross members, forming closed cross-sections to enhance rigidity and reduce components, using a single component made of lightweight materials like aluminum alloy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a door rail and multiple separate components are used to mount the sliding door, then the sliding door can be properly mounted and guided, but the number of components increases and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly processVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the door rail, pillar coupling portions, and cross member coupling portions into a single integrated rail member. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled, directly addressing the technical contradiction by simplifying the assembly process while maintaining the functional requirements for mounting and guiding the sliding door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If a door rail is provided with sufficient rigidity to ensure movement route, then the sliding door can move smoothly, but the number of components and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity of door railVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated rail member combines multiple structural elements that would traditionally be separate components into one unified structure. This merger maintains the necessary rigidity for smooth sliding door movement while eliminating the need for multiple separate parts, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The rail member is constructed using aluminum alloy, a lightweight composite material that provides high strength-to-weight ratio. This material choice enables the single integrated structure to achieve sufficient rigidity without requiring additional reinforcing components, thereby maintaining strength while reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple components are used to mount the door rail, then the sliding door can be properly installed, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly processVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By consolidating the door rail, pillar couplings, and cross member couplings into a single integrated rail member, the patent reduces the total quantity of components from multiple separate parts to one unified component. This directly addresses the contradiction by reducing component quantity while maintaining proper installation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250214652A1Vehicle body structure with a sliding door

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle body structure includes a rail member integrated with a door rail, a plurality of pillars coupled to an upper side of the rail member, and a plurality of body cross members connected to a lateral side of the rail member.