Vehicle Window Seal With Segmented Weather Strip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seal structures for vehicles face challenges in maintaining a good sealing property due to complex corner shapes and precise installation requirements, leading to potential deterioration in sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
A seal structure featuring a weather strip member with a primary seal lip, secondary seal lip, and hollow seal part, where the primary and secondary seal lips are independently or separably formed to adapt to the shape of the body aperture, and the hollow seal part is designed to increase deformation and provide a wider sealing margin, all integrated with a retainer member of 'U' shape for improved contact with the glass panel member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cross-sectional shape of the weather strip member is gradually changed to correspond to the curved corner part, then the sealing adaptability to the body aperture shape is improved, but a joint line is formed at the section where the cross-sectional shape changes drastically, deteriorating the sealing property
Solution Approach 1:
The weather strip member is divided into multiple independent sections along its longitudinal direction, with each section having a uniform cross-sectional shape optimized for specific body aperture regions. This segmentation prevents joint lines from forming in critical sealing areas while maintaining adaptability to curved corner parts through strategic placement of sections with different cross-sectional profiles.
2Reliability
If the depth dimension of the weather strip member near the pillar part is arranged relatively larger, then the sealing property near the pillar part is improved, but it becomes difficult to integrally mold the primary seal lip, secondary seal lip and hollow seal part, and requires precise installation
Solution Approach 1:
The weather strip member is segmented into multiple independent rubber sections along its longitudinal direction. Each section can be molded separately with uniform depth dimensions suitable for integral molding, eliminating the need for complex multi-cavity molds. The segmented design allows each section to be manufactured independently and then assembled, significantly improving ease of manufacture while maintaining effective sealing properties.
3Reliability
If the depth dimension of the weather strip member near the pillar part is arranged relatively larger, then the sealing property near the pillar part is improved, but precise installation is required, which may deteriorate the sealing property after installation
Solution Approach 1:
The weather strip member is divided into multiple sections that can be installed separately along the body aperture. This segmentation allows each section to be positioned and adjusted independently, reducing the cumulative error that would occur in a single continuous piece. The modular installation approach makes it easier to achieve proper alignment and seating, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable sealing properties.
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 configuration enhances watertight sealing, noise insulation, and prevents water intrusion by allowing independent contact points and deformation, maintaining effective sealing regardless of installation position and construction variations.
Implementation Method 1
the hollow seal part is designed to increase deformation and provide a wider sealing margin
Implementation Method 2
The primary seal lip makes a contact with an outer side surface of a periphery edge of the glass panel member
Implementation Method 3
the secondary seal lip makes a contact with an inner side surface of the periphery edge of the glass panel member
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a seal structure for vehicle that includes a weather strip member 8 installed to a retainer member 9 provided to a circumference edge of a body aperture 7 and having a substantially “U” shape in section. The weather strip member 8 includes a primary seal lip 10 installed to an outer-cabin side surface part 9a of the retainer member 9 and makes a contact with an outer-cabin side surface 6b of a glass panel member 6, and a secondary seal lip 11 installed to an inner-cabin side surface part 9b and makes a contact with an inner-cabin side surface 6c of the glass panel member 6. The weather strip member 8 further includes a hollow seal part 12 installed near a bottom surface part 9c of the retainer member 9 and makes an elastic contact with an periphery end 6a of the glass panel member 6.