Sliding Door Stopper Pin Dynamics for Fuel Lid Safety

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door systems in vehicles with sliding doors often result in damage when the fuel lid is open during fueling, as they either prevent the sliding door from opening or closing, and existing solutions do not adequately address the issue of allowing the sliding door to close without harm when the fuel lid is opened.

Innovation Solution

A sliding door stopper mechanism that includes a stopper pin activated by the fuel lid opening, connected via a push-pull cable or sensor system, which prevents the sliding door from opening and allows it to close by using a rotating pin and spring mechanism to adjust its position, ensuring the sliding door can be closed without obstruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an obstacle mechanism is used to prevent the sliding door from opening when the fuel lid is open, then the fuel lid breaking and door damage is prevented, but the sliding door cannot be closed when the fuel lid is open and the obstacle mechanism may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of fuel lid breaking and door damageVSAvoidability to close sliding door when fuel lid is open
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper pin is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change position between blocking the door opening and allowing the door to close. The pin can be pushed into the blocking position by spring force when the fuel lid is open, and can be pushed back by the sliding door when closing is needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper mechanism operates in periodic cycles: when the fuel lid opens, the spring pushes the stopper pin into the blocking position; when the fuel lid closes or door needs to close, the stopper pin returns to standby position. This periodic activation and deactivation resolves the contradiction between preventing opening and allowing closing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If the stopper pin is fixed in the blocking position to prevent door opening, then door and fuel lid damage is prevented, but the stopper pin itself may be damaged by door impact and the door cannot close

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of door and fuel lid damageVSAvoiddurability of stopper pin against door impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper pin is designed as a dynamic component that can move between blocking and standby positions. It is not fixed but rather spring-loaded to engage only when needed. This dynamic design prevents the pin from being subjected to continuous impact forces, as it can retreat to standby position when the door needs to close

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by allowing the stopper pin to yield to door closing forces. When the door attempts to close, the spring can compress and the pin can move back, cushioning the impact rather than creating a rigid collision that would damage the pin

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 effectively prevents the sliding door from opening when the fuel lid is open and allows it to close safely, avoiding damage to the door and the stopper mechanism, thus ensuring safe and reliable fueling operations.

Implementation Method 1

a spring mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring mechanism: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3218218B1A sliding door stopper
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 TOFAS TURK OTOMOBIL FABASI ANONIM SIRKETI
  • EP3218218B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3218218B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3218218B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a sliding door stopper (1) which allows the sliding door to be closed by being activated upon the fuel lid is opened after the sliding door is opened during fuel filling of the vehicles, and essentially comprises at least one stopper mechanism (2) which is activated upon the fuel lid is opened, and which is provided between the sliding door (K) and the fuel lid on the vehicle body (G), and at least one stopper pin (3) which is opened upon the stopper mechanism (2) is activated, and thus prevents the sliding door (K) from opening and also does not prevent the open sliding door from closing.