Vehicle Door Roller Unit Switching Between Sliding and Swing Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door systems either face difficulties in providing quick ingress and egress due to limited space when swing doors are used in narrow spaces or require more force and time when sliding doors are used, failing to accommodate different user needs and situations effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus that allows doors to operate in either a swing mode or a sliding mode, utilizing a roller unit with a hold lock to switch between these modes, enabling the door to slide along a rail or swing around a pivot axis, thus accommodating various operational requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a swing door is used, then quick ingress and egress is enabled, but the space for ingress and egress is relatively small and the door cannot be opened in narrow spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The door system dynamically switches between swing mode and sliding mode based on operational needs. The roller unit can be positioned at different locations along the rail, allowing the door to transition from a fixed swing configuration to a configurable sliding configuration, thereby adapting to different space constraints and user requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a traditional swing door for quick access when space permits, or as a sliding door when narrow spaces are involved. The rail and roller unit configuration enables the same door structure to serve both purposes, eliminating the need for separate door designs for different scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding door is used, then the door can be opened in narrow spaces and provides large ingress and egress space, but more force and time is required to open and close the door
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic selection between swing and sliding modes. When narrow spaces are encountered, the door can be configured in sliding mode with the roller unit positioned appropriately on the rail. When space is not constrained, the door can switch to swing mode which requires less force, thereby adapting the force requirement to the actual operational context.
3Device complexity
If a single opening and closing method is used, then the door structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different user needs or situations
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly incorporates a universal design that integrates both swing and sliding capabilities into a single structure. The rail mounted on the vehicle body and the roller unit mounted on the door work together to enable both operating modes without requiring separate door assemblies, thus achieving versatility while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
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
This solution provides a versatile door system that can adapt to different user preferences and environments, offering improved convenience and space management by allowing seamless transitions between sliding and swing modes, enhancing both ease of use and accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door, and configured to move along the rail
Implementation Method 2
the roller unit may be releasably held in the predetermined position of the rail by the hold lock
Implementation Method 3
the first end portion of the body may be pivotally connected to the roller bracket through a pivot pin, and the rotation axis may be defined by the pivot pin
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus includes: a vehicle door; a rail mounted on a vehicle body; and a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door, and configured to move along the rail, where the roller unit allows the vehicle door to open and close in either a sliding mode, in which the vehicle door slides along the rail, or a swing mode, in which the vehicle door swings in a predetermined position of the rail.