Motor Vehicle Sliding-Opening Rail Assembly With Pin Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle assembly processes require additional steps to adjust the position of rails after assembly, increasing operator workload and assembly time, due to manufacturing and assembly clearances that shift the rail's position from the desired theoretical position, affecting the sealing function of sliding openings.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of pins and a positioning plate to secure the rail to the vehicle frame, ensuring precise positioning during assembly without the need for post-assembly adjustments, utilizing complementary dimensions and a reference point for accurate alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the rail is mounted on the associated body structure element using classic assembly processes, then the rail can be installed in the vehicle structure, but the position of the rail shifts from the desired theoretical position due to manufacturing and assembly clearances, requiring additional retouching operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverail position precisionVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning plate is designed with predetermined positioning openings that align with reference pins on the body structure element before the rail is installed. This preliminary positioning arrangement ensures that when the rail is mounted through the positioning plate, its position is automatically corrected to match the desired theoretical position, eliminating the need for post-assembly retouching operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning plate serves as an intermediary component between the body structure element and the rail. It features positioning openings that receive reference pins from the body structure and guide the fixing means of the rail, thereby mediating the position transfer while compensating for manufacturing and assembly clearances to achieve precise rail positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If retouching operations are performed at the end of the assembly line to guarantee correct rail position, then the sealing function can be optimized, but operator workload and assembly time significantly increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning plate is pre-configured with positioning openings that correspond to the desired theoretical position of the rail. By establishing this positioning mechanism before the rail is installed, the correct position is guaranteed during the assembly process itself, eliminating the need for time-consuming retouching operations at the end of the assembly line while maintaining optimal sealing function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If retouching operations are performed to guarantee correct rail position, then the sealing function can be optimized, but operator workload significantly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidoperator workload
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning plate is designed with positioning openings that align with reference pins on the body structure element before the rail is installed. This preliminary positioning arrangement ensures that when the rail is mounted through the positioning plate, its position is automatically corrected to match the desired theoretical position, eliminating the need for post-assembly retouching operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning plate automatically performs the positioning function through its pre-configured positioning openings that guide the fixing means of the rail. The system is self-sufficient in achieving correct rail positioning without requiring additional manual retouching operations by operators, thereby reducing workload while maintaining sealing reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4628391A1Method for assembling a motor vehicle body
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 RENAULT SA
  • EP4628391A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4628391A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4628391A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for assembling a structure of a motor vehicle comprising at least one frame (6) configured to delimit a recess of a sliding opening of the motor vehicle and at least one rail (12) secured to the frame (6) and configured to ensure at least the guidance of the sliding opening, a positioning plate (26), comprising a positioning opening is positioned against the first face (28) of the frame (6), the rail (12), comprising a fixing means (24), is positioned against a second face (30) of the frame (6), opposite the first face (28), so that the fixing means (24) extends through a passage orifice (22) formed in the frame (6) and the positioning opening.