Sliding Door Wiring Protection via Segmented Guide Rails

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power supply apparatuses for sliding doors suffer from poor appearance and safety issues due to exposed wiring, which can be damaged or cause accidents, and require significant time and labor for installation, with stress applied to the wiring as it moves within exterior tubes.

Innovation Solution

A power supply apparatus where the wiring is routed to run inside a guide rail system with bracket fixing members, using flat cables and exterior tubes designed to bend and move with the sliding door, preventing exposure and damage, and incorporating support structures like running tubes and hooks to secure the wiring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wiring body is arranged to run from the vehicle body side to the sliding door side using conventional exterior tubes, then power supply is achieved, but the wiring body becomes exposed and visible from passengers and randomly moves during opening and closing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring body protectionVSAvoidexposure to damage and safety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The exterior tube is divided into multiple sections: a fixed section in the vehicle body, a movable section on the bracket, and a connection section. This segmentation allows the wiring body to be protected while accommodating the movement of the sliding door, preventing exposure and random movement during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wiring body is nested within the exterior tube, which itself is nested within the guide rail receiving portion. This multi-layer nesting structure provides comprehensive protection for the wiring body, preventing exposure to passengers and protection against damage during sliding door operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If the wiring body is received in one exterior tube from vehicle body to sliding door, then installation is simplified, but considerable stress is applied on the wiring body as it moves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidwiring body stress resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The exterior tube is segmented into fixed and movable sections, allowing the wiring body to move smoothly within the guide rail receiving portion without experiencing excessive stress. The segmentation point acts as a stress relief zone during sliding door operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rail receiving portion acts as an intermediary structure between the fixed exterior tube and the moving bracket. It provides a guided path for the wiring body, distributing stress evenly and preventing concentrated loading on the wiring during movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the wiring body is exposed when sliding door is fully open, then access is easier, but there is a risk to tread on it and cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidtreading damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wiring body remains nested within the exterior tube even when the sliding door is fully open. The exterior tube extends into the guide rail receiving portion, ensuring the wiring body is never exposed to the passenger area, eliminating the risk of treading damage while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If conventional cable guides are used, then wiring body movement is controlled, but the cable guide itself can be tread on and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring body position controlVSAvoidcable guide damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The exterior tube containing the wiring body is nested within the guide rail receiving portion. This nested arrangement protects both the wiring body and the guide structure from external damage, eliminating the risk of treading damage to the cable guide while maintaining position control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8508068B2Power supply apparatus for sliding door

Publication Date: 2013.08.13 FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD

AI summary

The power supply apparatus for sliding door 100 includes the vehicle body side fixing member 110 provided in the guide rail receiving portion 143, the bracket side fixing member 120 provided in the bracket 151, the wiring body 130 for supplying power from the vehicle body 140 side to the sliding door 150 side and the running member for bracket 160 for running and holding the wiring body 130 on the back surface of the bracket 151. The wiring body 130 is held with the vehicle body side fixing member 110 and the bracket side fixing member 120, and is arranged to run on the back surface of the bracket 151 with the running member for bracket 160.