Vehicle Sunroof Guide Rail Miniaturization via Overlapping Engagement Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sunroof apparatuses face challenges in minimizing the size of the guide rail in the vehicle width direction and height direction due to the positioning of the driving shoe and rear-side guide member, leading to increased dimensions and interference.
Innovation Solution
The sunroof apparatus features a driving shoe with first and second engagement concave portions that overlap with guide-side engagement concave portions in the width direction, allowing for shared space and independent formation of these components to reduce the dimensions required, preventing interference and minimizing the overall size in both directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the driving shoe and rear-side guide member are disposed at different positions in the width direction, then the guide rail size in the width direction increases, but the components can be positioned without interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by overlapping the driving shoe and rear-side guide member in the width direction while separating them in the vehicle height direction. This creates a three-dimensional spatial arrangement where the engagement concave portions are positioned at different heights, allowing both components to share the same width position without interference and thereby minimizing the guide rail width while maintaining operational independence.
2Area of stationary object
If the driving shoe and rear-side guide member are overlapped in the width direction, then the guide rail size in the width direction is minimized, but the vehicle height direction size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the spatial occupation of the driving shoe and rear-side guide member by positioning their engagement concave portions to overlap in the width direction. This consolidation allows both components to share the same lateral space, minimizing the guide rail width requirement while the height direction separation maintains functional independence without requiring excessive vertical space.
3Area of stationary object
If the engagement concave portions are formed independently, then the dimensions required for each component are reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the engagement features by forming the first driving shoe-side engagement concave portion and second driving shoe-side engagement concave portion as separate, independent features on the driving shoe. This segmentation allows each concave portion to be optimized for its specific function and sized appropriately, reducing the overall dimensions required while the modular nature simplifies manufacturing and assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A sunroof apparatus includes: a movable panel adjusted to open and close an opening formed on a roof of a vehicle; a guide rail extending on the roof in the vehicle front-rear direction; a driving shoe driven to move along the guide rail; a support bracket including a first engagement protrusion and a second engagement protrusion and supporting the movable panel; a rear-side guide member on which a guide-side engagement concave portion is formed and which is provided on the guide rail; and a rear-side link from which a link-side engagement protrusion which engages with the guide-side engagement concave portion to lift up and lower the rear portion of the support bracket protrudes in the vehicle width direction.