Vehicle Sliding Door Arm Layout With Slip-Ring Power Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door devices for vehicles require an excessively large space for the door arm to penetrate into the side sill, necessitating a higher vehicle floor and complicating the power cable configuration, which increases costs and layout difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A slip-ring-type door power connection structure is implemented along the movement trajectory of the door arm, eliminating the need for a power cable and allowing the door arm to move without penetrating into the vehicle body, thus reducing the vehicle height and simplifying the layout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed sliding door arm structure is used, then the door can be opened and closed, but the space required for the door arm to penetrate into the side sill becomes excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
The door arm structure is changed from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic telescopic structure that can extend and retract. During door opening/closing operations, the door arm extends to provide sufficient penetration space for operation. When the door is stationary, the door arm retracts to minimize the penetration space, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational ease and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic door arm employs a nested structure where one door arm segment is inserted inside another, similar to nested dolls. This allows the door arm to compactly store within a smaller volume when not in use, while still achieving the required extended length during door operation, thus reducing the penetration space while maintaining operational functionality.
2Extent of automation
If a power cable is used to transmit power and signals, then the powered sliding door can operate, but costs increase and layout configuration becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical power cable transmission system is replaced with a wireless power transmission system using electromagnetic fields. Power and signals are transmitted through the air gap between the door arm and vehicle body using electromagnetic coupling, eliminating the need for physical cable routing and connection, thereby reducing device complexity and layout difficulties while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
An electromagnetic field is introduced as an intermediary medium to transmit power and signals between the door arm and the vehicle body. This intermediary allows energy and information transfer without direct physical contact, replacing the power cable and simplifying the overall system configuration while preserving the powered sliding door functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the door arm penetrates into the side sill, then the door can be operated, but the vehicle floor height must be increased to ensure the space
Solution Approach 1:
The door arm is designed with telescopic capability that allows it to extend dynamically during door operation and retract when stationary. This dynamic extension reduces the need for constant large penetration space, enabling the door arm to operate effectively with minimal clearance, thereby allowing the vehicle floor height to be reduced while maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The door arm movement is transitioned from a purely vertical penetration approach to a multi-dimensional motion path that includes horizontal and angular components. By utilizing additional spatial dimensions for door arm movement, the required vertical penetration depth is reduced, allowing for a lower vehicle floor height while preserving door operation functionality.
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 reduces the vehicle height by eliminating the need for the door arm to penetrate into the side sill, lowers costs by eliminating the power cable, and enhances layout flexibility by simplifying the power connection system.
Implementation Method 1
a lower roller electrode extending in a direction intersecting the movement direction of the lower arm plate, the lower roller electrode being in contact with the lower arm plate and the door power connection portion
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding door device includes a door arm including one end portion rotatably connected to one end portion of a door, and the other end portion movable along a side sill of the vehicle body, a lower slider coupled to the second end portion of the door arm and configured to be rectilinearly movable along the side sill of the vehicle body, a lower arm plate connecting the second end portion of the door arm and the lower slider and configured to perform a rotation and a rectilinear movement when the lower slider moves along the side sill, a door power connection portion provided between the lower slider and one end portion of the door arm, and a vehicle power connection portion provided at a position on the vehicle body corresponding to the door power connection portion and electrically connected to the door power connection portion by a rotation of the door arm.