Vehicle Sliding Door Recess for Wheel Clearance and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sliding door systems for vehicles face issues such as restricted door opening movement due to wheel envelope clearance, increased step-over height, risk of mechanism deformation, and primary seal breakage, leading to leakage and NVH problems.
Innovation Solution
A door system with a recess in the trim panel to accommodate the wheel envelope, allowing the door to slide closer to the vehicle body without contacting the wheel, and a hinge unit that eliminates the need for a mechanism in the sill area, ensuring a continuous primary seal and reduced step-over height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a sliding door mechanism is used to reduce opening space, then the space needed for door opening is reduced, but the door opening movement is restricted by wheel envelope clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The door system transitions from a conventional single-plane sliding movement to a two-dimensional movement path. The door structure first slides horizontally along the vehicle body and then pivots on hinges to reach the final open position. This dimensional change allows the door to clear the wheel envelope while maintaining a compact closed position, resolving the contradiction between reduced opening space and sufficient door movement.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanism is placed in the sill area to enable sliding movement, then sliding door functionality is achieved, but the step-over height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door mechanism is extracted from the sill area and relocated to the upper door structure. The hinge unit is positioned in the upper portion of the door, allowing the lower sill area to remain clear and at its original height. This extraction eliminates the conflict between the sill-based mechanism and passenger entry/exit height, maintaining ease of operation while reducing step-over height.
3Area of stationary object
If a sliding door mechanism is used, then door opening space is reduced, but the primary seal between door and body is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The door system employs a dynamic sealing approach where the seal maintains continuous contact with the vehicle body throughout the two-stage movement. During the horizontal sliding phase, the seal compresses against the body opening, and during the hinge pivot phase, the seal flexes to maintain contact. This dynamic sealing preserves primary seal integrity while enabling compact door opening space.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the door is designed to clear the wheel envelope, then the door can open in any situation, but the interior door trim must be clear of the wheel which limits design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The two-dimensional door movement path creates sufficient clearance between the door trim and wheel envelope during opening. The horizontal slide followed by hinge pivot generates a trajectory that naturally clears the wheel area, eliminating the need for complex trim cutouts or openings. This allows the interior door trim to maintain a simple, continuous design while still achieving universal door opening capability.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
A door system for a vehicle comprising a vehicle body structure (3) with a door opening (O) and a door structure (2). It comprises a displacement mechanism (13) to displace the door structure (2) between an open and closed position. The door structure (2) covers in the closed position at least a portion of the opening, and is in the open position arranged at a distance from the closed position in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body structure (3). The door structure comprises a recess (7) to receive a section of a wheel envelope of a wheel (W) of the vehicle when in the open position. The recess (7) is in the open position allowing a door part of the door structure (2) covering the wheel (W) to be arranged in close vicinity to the vehicle body structure in a lateral direction of the vehicle body structure (3) and preventing the wheel from contacting the door structure.