Wedge-Shaped Centre Track for Sliding Door Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door mounting systems in vehicles often result in interference between the interior trim and the rear wheel opening moulding, particularly for larger wheel sizes, due to insufficient spacing.

Innovation Solution

A centre track with a wedge-shaped support part is introduced, featuring zones with varying thicknesses and angles, allowing the sliding door to move outward and increasing the spacing between the door and the rear wheel opening moulding, thus preventing interference. The centre track has three zones, with two zones having shapes complementary to the support part, ensuring a firm and aesthetic assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a conventional centre track mounting system is used, then the sliding door can be mounted and guided, but the spacing between the interior trim and the rear wheel opening moulding is insufficient, causing interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespacing between interior trim and rear wheel opening mouldingVSAvoidinterference between interior trim and rear wheel opening moulding

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A wedge-shaped support part is introduced as an intermediary component between the centre track and the vehicle body. This support part has a first zone with constant thickness and a second zone with monotonically decreasing thickness, creating gradual spacing increase that prevents interference between the interior trim and rear wheel opening moulding while maintaining proper door guidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The centre track is designed with three zones and two bends that change the spatial arrangement of the door mounting. The first bend creates an angle of 160° to 178° and the second bend creates an angle of 182° to 200°, effectively moving the door path into a different spatial dimension that increases clearance from the rear wheel opening moulding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Force

If the centre track is bent at specific angles with a wedge-shaped support part, then the spacing between the sliding door and the rear wheel opening moulding is increased, but the complexity of the mounting system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespacing between sliding door and rear wheel opening mouldingVSAvoidcentre track structure with zones and bends

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centre track is segmented into three distinct zones with specific functions: a first zone for initial door guidance, a second zone with the wedge-shaped support part for spacing adjustment, and a third zone for final door positioning. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3199734B1Centre track design for a sliding door

Publication Date: 2018.10.10 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a centre track (1) and a centre track support part (2) for guiding a sliding door (14) such that it does not interfere with an outer surface of a vehicle. The centre track support part (2) has a wedge shape. The centre track (1) comprises three straight zones (z1, z2, z3) separated by two bends (12, 13).