Widening Vehicle Door Opening with Reinforced Pillar Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crossover and sport-utility vehicles have conventional door openings that are too narrow to accommodate wheelchair ramps or lifts, limiting their ability to transport wheelchair-bound passengers safely and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A method to modify the door opening width by cutting and reassembling the B and C pillars, using templates to define cut lines, removing portions of the pillars, and coupling reinforcement plates and caps to increase the opening width, while maintaining structural integrity and safety standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the door opening width is increased to accommodate wheelchair ramps or lifts, then the accessibility for wheelchair-bound passengers is improved, but the structural integrity and crashworthiness of the vehicle may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The B-pillar is divided into multiple segments: the original B-pillar portion, a B-pillar cover assembly that wraps around it, and a B-pillar reinforcement member positioned at the rear. This segmentation allows the door opening to be widened by removing portions of the B-pillar while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed reinforcement system comprising the cover assembly and reinforcement member working together
Solution Approach 2:
The B-pillar cover assembly is constructed as a composite structure combining multiple materials and components: a first portion and second portion that wrap around the B-pillar, a reinforcement member made of structurally sound material positioned at the rear, and fastening elements. This composite construction provides both the necessary structural strength and the flexibility to accommodate the widened door opening configuration
2Length of moving object
If portions of the B-pillar and C-pillar are removed to widen the door opening, then the door opening width is increased, but the structural support and safety of the vehicle may be weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The B-pillar cover assembly is designed and positioned in advance to wrap around the B-pillar and provide structural support before the actual widening modification is completed. The reinforcement member is pre-positioned at the rear of the B-pillar to provide immediate structural support once portions of the pillar are removed, preventing structural weakness during and after the modification process
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire B-pillar and C-pillar structure, the reinforcement is strategically applied only where needed: the B-pillar cover assembly wraps around specific portions of the B-pillar, and the reinforcement member is positioned specifically at the rear of the B-pillar where structural support is most critical after widening. This localized reinforcement maintains structural integrity while minimizing added complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of increasing a door opening width of a crossover vehicle to accommodate a wheelchair ramp or lift assembly. The method includes positioning a template on a B pillar and a template on a C pillar and marking cut lines on the pillars. The method includes cutting along the cut lines with a cutting tool to remove portions of the B pillar and the C pillar. A B pillar cover assembly is assembled and a reinforcement plate is coupled to a remaining portion of the C pillar. An adhesive is applied to the B pillar cover assembly and to a C pillar cap. A modified B pillar is produced by coupling the B pillar cover assembly to a remaining portion of the B pillar, and a modified C pillar is produced by coupling the C pillar cap to the reinforcement plate and the remaining portion of the C pillar.