Vehicle Door Linkage With Intermediate Pivot for Tight Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hinged and sliding door systems require significant space for opening and closing, and sliding doors often have restricted movement and increased step-over height, while movable arm systems face issues with efficient opening and closing, especially when connected to other doors.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door system using a first and second arm connected to the door structure via pivot points, allowing independent opening and closing with a pivoting arrangement that includes a spring-loaded intermediate pivot point for efficient geometry and compact displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional hinged door systems are used, then the construction is simple, but a relatively large space outside the vehicle is required when the door is fully opened
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is segmented into multiple components: door structure, first arm, second arm, track system, and sill mechanism. This segmentation allows the door to move through a complex trajectory that reduces the external space required compared to traditional hinged doors, while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design
2Area of stationary object
If sliding door structures are used, then smaller space is needed for opening and closing, but the mechanism increases the height of the sill and restricts the sliding movement
Solution Approach 1:
The door system employs dynamic movement characteristics, transitioning from pure sliding to a combination of sliding and pivoting motions. The track system allows the door to slide horizontally while the sill mechanism enables controlled pivoting, creating a dynamic opening path that maintains compact space requirements while improving movement freedom
3Adaptability or versatility
If door structures connected with movable arms are used, then independent opening and closing is enabled, but efficient opening and closing is compromised especially when doors are arranged in direct connection
Solution Approach 1:
The track system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the movable arms and the door structure. It mediates the motion transmission, allowing the first and second arms to operate independently while coordinating their movements through the track guidance, thereby maintaining both independence and efficiency in door operation
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
Enables efficient opening and closing of vehicle doors with minimal space requirements, allowing independent operation of multiple doors without interference, and reduces the need for traditional latches.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate pivot point is spring-loaded
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door system has a door structure movable relative to a vehicle body between closed and open positions. The door structure is connected to the vehicle body via first and second arms arranged at a lower end of the door structure. The first arm includes a first inner end pivotably connected to the vehicle body and a first outer end pivotably connected to the door structure. The second arm includes a second inner end pivotably connected to the vehicle body and a second outer end pivotably connected to the door structure. The first arm has an inner arm section and an outer arm section pivotably connected to each other via an intermediate pivot point. The inner arm section and the outer arm section are pivotably displaceable relative to each other via the intermediate pivot point upon displacement of the door structure between the closed and open positions.