Sunroof Window Plate Sealing for Variable Roof Opening Shapes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sunroof designs face challenges in adapting to shape changes of the vehicle roof opening, requiring corresponding changes in the window plate and sliding rails, which complicates design and manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A sunroof device with a roof frame, window plate assembly, and link assemblies, where the window plate assembly has a waterproof strip and channel troughs, allowing the glass plate and frame body to be easily modified while maintaining compatibility with sliding rails, enabling flexible adaptation to changing opening shapes without altering the sliding rail design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rubber strip is disposed on a protrusion structure of the sliding rails for sealing, then the sealing function is achieved, but when the shape design of the opening changes, the shapes of both the window plate and the sliding rails must be changed correspondingly, making the design change difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sealing system into independent components: the window plate assembly with its own waterproof strip and the sliding rails as separate elements. The waterproof strip is attached to the window plate assembly rather than being integrated into the sliding rails, allowing the window plate assembly to be customized for different opening shapes while keeping the sliding rails standardized.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproof strip acts as an intermediary element between the window plate assembly and the opening. It provides the sealing function while allowing the window plate assembly to be decoupled from the sliding rail design constraints, enabling flexible adaptation to different opening shapes without modifying the sliding rails.
2Ease of manufacture
If the rubber strip is integrated with the sliding rails for sealing, then the sealing structure is simplified, but changing the opening shape requires changing the sliding rail shape, complicating manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing function from the sliding rail structure by attaching the waterproof strip to the window plate assembly. This allows the sliding rails to remain as standardized components while the window plate assembly can be manufactured in different shapes to match various opening designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching the sealing strip to the sliding rails as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the approach by attaching the waterproof strip to the window plate assembly. This reversal allows the window plate assembly to carry the sealing function and adapt to different opening shapes while the sliding rails remain unchanged.
Data Source
AI summary
A sunroof device which includes a roof, a roof frame, a window plate assembly, and a pair of link assemblies. The roof is disposed with an opening. The roof frame is attached to the roof corresponding to the opening and includes a pair of sliding rails separately arranged corresponding to two sides of the opening. An outline of the roof frame is non-matched with an outline of the opening. The window plate assembly is connected on the pair of sliding rails. An outline of the window plate assembly is matched with the outline of the opening. A periphery of the window plate assembly is disposed with a waterproof strip abutting against an inner edge of the opening. Each link assembly is disposed on corresponding one of the sliding rails and is connected to the window plate assembly.