Two-Part Vehicle Window Seal Structure for Water Ingress and Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle windows in two parts face challenges with sealing between the panes, leading to comfort issues and water infiltration, particularly when the mobile part is pivotally mounted along a horizontal axis, and previous solutions either fail to provide a satisfactory seal or accelerate wear on the sealing mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A U-shaped groove is designed with a width greater than the thickness of the movable window part, allowing the edge to emerge and reinsert without maintaining constant stress, and featuring internal and external side walls that facilitate sealing without contact when closed, and a secondary groove for additional sealing and elasticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rubber strip on an angle iron is used to separate the two parts of the window, then the structure is simple and installation is easy, but the seal between the two windows is not satisfactory and does not prevent water infiltration
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into two distinct parts: a first seal portion that seals against the fixed window part, and a second seal portion that seals against the movable window part. This segmentation allows each seal portion to be optimized for its specific sealing function, with the first seal portion preventing water infiltration and the second seal portion maintaining the flush effect, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple structure and effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the seal have different functional properties. The first seal portion is designed with properties optimized for water sealing (preventing infiltration), while the second seal portion is designed to maintain the aesthetic flush effect between window parts. This local differentiation of quality allows the seal to simultaneously achieve both protective and cosmetic functions without requiring a complex overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If the movable part of the window is mounted to pivot along a horizontal axis, then the window can open, but the risk of water infiltration is accentuated
Solution Approach 1:
The first seal portion is pre-positioned to seal against the fixed window part before the movable part is opened. This preliminary sealing action prevents water infiltration from occurring during the window opening operation, allowing the window to pivot horizontally without compromising water protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The first seal portion acts as an intermediary element between the fixed and movable window parts. It mediates the potential water infiltration problem by creating a sealed interface that remains effective even when the movable part pivots, thus enabling window operation while preventing water ingress.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a folding strip is used to connect the two-part window, then the window can fold, but the mechanical tensions imposed on the folding strip when folded accelerate the wear of the strip
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the structural connection function. Instead of using a single folding strip that must simultaneously provide both structural support and sealing (leading to wear), the invention separates these functions: the seal provides sealing without bearing mechanical folding loads, while the window structure handles the folding mechanics. This extraction eliminates the wear problem while maintaining folding capability.
4Reliability
If the seal maintains constant contact with the movable part edge, then sealing is ensured, but the seal is kept under stress which accelerates wear when the window is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The seal contact with the movable part edge is made periodic rather than continuous. The second seal portion contacts the movable part edge only when the window is in the closed position to maintain the flush effect, and disengages when the window opens. This periodic contact maintains sealing reliability when needed while eliminating continuous stress that would accelerate wear during opening operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle comprising at least one opening that can be closed by a two-part window (1, 3) and a seal (5) arranged between the two parts (1, 3) of the window. The seal (5) has a first groove (21) intended to receive an edge of the movable part (3) of the window when the latter is in a closed position, which is dimensioned such that its width as defined by the distance between its side walls (25, 27) is greater than the thickness of the movable part (3) of the window. The invention also relates to the seal for use in such a vehicle.