Vertical Door Mounting Unit with Gooseneck Hinge for Vehicle Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door technologies for purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) are inadequate for convenient entry and exit, causing spatial restrictions due to inferior design, which affects the utilization of interior space and safety.
Innovation Solution
A door mounting unit with a body hinge shaft disposed along the vehicle's front and rear pillars, incorporating gooseneck hinges and a drive motor, which enhances rigidity and safety by allowing the door to open and close while preventing head contact during entry and exit, thus improving convenience and marketability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional door technology is used in PBV, then the design is simple, but the entry and exit convenience is poor and spatial restrictions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional horizontal door opening to vertical door opening by positioning the hinge shaft along the pillar in the height direction. This dimensional change allows the door to open upward along the pillar, dramatically improving entry and exit convenience while utilizing the vertical space of the vehicle body effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a gooseneck hinge mechanism that enables dynamic movement of the door during opening and closing. The gooseneck hinge allows the door to follow a curved trajectory, transitioning from a closed position to an open position while maintaining contact with the guide structure, providing both stability and ease of operation
2Strength
If a body hinge shaft is disposed along the pillar in the height direction, then rigidity and framework strength are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the hinge shaft mounting structure with the vehicle's existing pillar and roof rail structures. The upper end of the hinge shaft is mounted on the roof rail or pillar, while the lower end is mounted on the side inner panel or pillar inner joint, merging the door mounting function with the structural support elements already present in the vehicle body
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge shaft and its mounting brackets serve multiple functions: they provide the rotational axis for door opening, maintain the structural rigidity of the pillar, and integrate with the roof rail and side panel structures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while achieving strength improvements
3Adaptability or versatility
If the door opening structure is modified to improve entry/exit convenience, then spatial utilization is improved, but the risk of head contact and safety issues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide structure (gooseneck hinge and associated guide members) that acts as an intermediary between the door and the vehicle body. This guide structure controls the door's movement path, ensuring it opens vertically along the pillar without protruding into the interior space where passengers might make contact, thus preventing head contact while maintaining spatial efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment door mounting unit for a vehicle includes a body hinge shaft and first mounting portions disposed at both ends of the body hinge shaft, wherein the body hinge shaft is configured to be elongated in a door opening of a vehicle body along a pillar in a height direction of the vehicle body and is configured to be mounted on the vehicle body by the first mounting portions.