Vehicle Sunroof Holding Portion Collision Impact Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sunroof apparatuses are susceptible to deformation and detachment of fasteners during vehicle collisions, leading to unintended closure of the movable panel.
Innovation Solution
A sunroof apparatus with a holding portion protruding from the slide member that abuts against the cable to prevent relative movement between the cable and slide member, utilizing a metal holding plate to buffer impact forces and maintain the panel's open state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fastener and recess structure is used to connect the cable and slide member, then the movable panel can open and close smoothly, but the fastener or recess may be plastically deformed and detached during vehicle collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a holding portion that protrudes from the slide member and contacts the cable beforehand to prevent relative movement during collisions. This proactive measure buffers the impact force before it can reach the fastener and recess connection, preventing plastic deformation and detachment while maintaining smooth operation during normal use.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cable and slide member are allowed to move relative to each other to close the panel during collision, then the panel can be protected, but the unintended closure occurs which may cause safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is designed to contact the cable and prevent relative movement before collision forces can cause unintended panel closure. By restraining the cable-slide member relative movement in advance, the system maintains the panel in its intended open state during collisions, preventing harmful unintended closure while still allowing controlled closing through the normal fastener mechanism.
3Reliability
If additional components are added to prevent relative movement, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is integrated as part of the slide member structure rather than being a separate component. This merging approach prevents relative movement between the cable and slide member during collisions, improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity. The holding portion utilizes the existing slide member material and manufacturing process.
4Strength
If the holding portion is made of metal to buffer impact forces, then the strength improves, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is designed with localized metal reinforcement only at the specific area where impact force buffering is needed, rather than making the entire slide member metal. This local quality approach provides the necessary strength for impact resistance while minimizing the overall weight increase of the moving components.
Data Source
AI summary
A sunroof apparatus includes: a movable panel adapted to open and close an opening in a roof of a vehicle; a guide rail provided at each of both-side edge portions of the opening; a cable which has a driving-side engagement portion and is driven to move in a forward and backward direction of the vehicle; a slide member having a driven-side engagement portion engaging with the driving-side engagement portion, linked to each of both-side edge portions, and provided to be movable in the forward and backward direction, along the guide rail, so that movement of the slide member causes the movable panel to open and close; and a holding portion protruding from the slide member in the width direction of the vehicle and positioned backward of the cable to abut against or close to the cable.