Vehicle Tailgate Rain Gutter Extraction for Loading Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicles with tailgates or trunk lids lack efficient mechanisms for assisted opening and closing, which can be cumbersome and do not effectively maximize loading width due to design constraints.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle design featuring laterally spaced side profiles with cavities housing devices, such as pneumatic springs or electric motors, that raise and lower the tailgate or trunk lid, allowing for increased loading width by eliminating or reducing the rain gutter width and providing sealing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rain gutter is provided on the body components of the tailgate opening, then sealing and water drainage are improved, but the loading width of the tailgate opening is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the rain gutter function from the body components by providing it on the tailgate itself. The rain gutter is integrated into the tailgate structure, allowing water drainage and sealing functions to be maintained while eliminating the need for protruding gutters on the body that would reduce loading width.
Solution Approach 2:
The rain gutter is repositioned from the body components to the tailgate structure, changing its spatial location from a fixed body element to a movable tailgate element. This dimensional repositioning allows the gutter to be present only when the tailgate is closed, maximizing loading width when the tailgate is open.
2Strength
If the tailgate or trunk lid is heavy, then structural strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a gas pressure spring as a pneumatic device to provide lifting force for the tailgate. The gas pressure spring is mounted on the tailgate and works in conjunction with the rain gutter structure to automatically lift and hold the tailgate in the open position, reducing the manual effort required to operate a heavy tailgate.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas pressure spring system provides self-service by automatically lifting the tailgate when opened and holding it in the open position without requiring continuous manual support. The system uses the stored elastic energy in the spring to counterbalance the weight of the tailgate, making operation easier while maintaining structural strength.
3Length of moving object
If the loading width is increased by eliminating or reducing rain gutters, then cargo capacity is improved, but sealing effectiveness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into multiple components: a first sealing profile on the body component and a second sealing profile on the tailgate. This segmentation allows each sealing profile to be optimized for its specific location and function, ensuring effective sealing even when the rain gutter is minimized or eliminated to maximize loading width.
Solution Approach 2:
The rain gutter function is relocated from the body components to the tailgate structure, changing the spatial arrangement of sealing elements. This repositioning allows the sealing profiles to be arranged in a way that maintains sealing effectiveness while maximizing the loading width of the tailgate opening when closed.
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
The solution enables easier operation of the tailgate or trunk lid while increasing the loading width and height by utilizing spring force or energy sources for efficient opening and closing, enhancing usability and cargo capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the device for raising and/or lowering the tailgate or trunk lid is a component that can release a stored spring force
Implementation Method 2
the device is advantageously a pneumatic spring, in particular a gas pressure spring, which, in addition to providing a spring force, also causes damping
Data Source
AI summary
According to EP 1 011 995 B1, a liftgate of a motor vehicle for which a respective gas spring is arranged in each lateral bar in order to lift a rear window is already known. The aim of the invention is to create a motor vehicle that has a liftgate or a trunk lid, wherein the opening and/or the closing of the liftgate or the trunk lid is supported or effected by the actuation force of a device. Said aim is achieved in that the lateral profiled elements (11, 12) each have a cavity (40), that a respective device (22; 23, 24, 25) for lifting and/or lowering the liftgate (4) or the trunk lid (4) is arranged in each cavity (40), and that each device (22; 23, 24, 25) is articulated between the roof section (6) of the body (2) and the liftgate or the trunk lid (4).