Split Tailgate Hinge Layout for Wider Rear Cargo Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tailgates, particularly in pickup trucks and SUVs, have limited opening widths and require sequential operation of doors, leading to reduced space utilization, potential damage, and difficulty in opening and closing.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle tailgate apparatus with a main frame that pivots on horizontal axes, featuring side hinges with dual vertical axes for independent door operation, and a door check mechanism to maximize opening width and facilitate intuitive operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the tailgate opens in a drop-down manner with both side portions within sidewalls, then the tailgate structure is compact, but the opening width of the luggage compartment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tailgate is divided into a main frame and two independently operable doors. Each door can be opened or closed separately, allowing the left door to be opened while the right door remains closed, thereby maximizing the opening width without requiring the entire tailgate structure to be complex
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge axes are oriented horizontally rather than vertically, allowing the doors to swing outward in a different dimensional plane. This enables the doors to clear the sidewalls during opening while maintaining a compact closed position within the sidewall boundaries
2Ease of operation
If the two doors open and close sequentially, then the risk of damage is reduced, but the operation becomes less flexible and more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The tailgate is segmented into two independently controllable doors with separate actuators or manual operation points. This allows the user to open only one door at a time or both simultaneously, providing operational flexibility while the sequential opening/closing capability maintains damage prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The door system transitions from a static sequential operation requirement to a dynamic system where doors can be operated independently based on real-time needs. The doors can open in any sequence or simultaneously, adapting to different loading scenarios while maintaining safety through controlled movement
3Area of stationary object
If the doors are located at the rear of the vehicle in an open state, then the door structure is simple, but the space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism uses horizontal axes positioned at the rear corners of the luggage compartment, allowing doors to swing outward and upward in a combined motion. This enables the doors to clear the rear vertical plane when open, keeping them compact while maximizing space utilization behind the vehicle
4Length of moving object
If the swing path of each door is large, then the door can open fully, but the opening becomes difficult in narrow spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The door movement transitions from a simple arc swing to a compound motion along horizontal and vertical axes. This allows the doors to achieve full opening width while clearing obstacles in the lateral direction, enabling operation in narrower spaces by utilizing the vertical dimension for clearance
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
Enhances the opening width of the luggage compartment, allows independent door operation, reduces the risk of damage, and improves space utilization and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a main frame configured to move between an open position and a closed position through a pair of bottom hinges at a rear end of a luggage compartment
Implementation Method 2
side hinges with dual vertical axes for independent door operation
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle tailgate apparatus can include a tailgate having a main frame configured to move between an open position and a closed position through a pair of bottom hinges at a rear end of a luggage compartment of a vehicle body, and the main frame can include a bottom portion, a first side portion extending from a first end of the bottom portion, and a second side portion extending from a second end of the bottom portion, and the luggage compartment can include a pair of sidewalls and a bed, where each side portion can be aligned with a corresponding sidewall, and where the bottom portion can be aligned with the bed.