Modular individually operable vehicle door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12331565-B2
Application number	US-202118265082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2021
Priority date	Dec 9, 2020
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A vehicle door system includes doors with a door module attached to a hinge module, which is attached to the vehicle body. The door module includes a latch mechanism configured to engage a striker pin of the vehicle body, with a pawl that pivots to accommodate a misalignment with the striker pin during a door closing operation, with the latch mechanism shifting following engagement with the striker pin. A door check mechanism includes a permanent magnet and a steel plate. Activation of the permanent magnet shifts the steel plate from a closed position to an open position permitting the hinge module to move from a locked position. An interface between doors includes a primary and secondary seal each having a constant cross section, with filler pieces disposed between the door and the secondary seal along a portion of the interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for opening and closing a door relative to a vehicle body, the system comprising:
first and second vehicle doors, each of the first and second vehicle doors including:
a hinge module configured for being mounted to the vehicle body;
a door module configured for being mounted to the hinge module and further configured for closing a door opening defined by the vehicle body, wherein the door module includes an embedded pillar structure disposed at a front or rear edge thereof;
a latch mechanism disposed on the door module and configured to engage a striker pin projecting from the vehicle body, the latch mechanism comprising:
a mounting plate configured for attachment to the pillar structure;
a pawl pivotally attached to the mounting plate and pivotable about a pivot axis;
compression springs attached to opposite sides of the pawl biasing the pawl to a nominal closed position;
wherein misaligned entry of the striker pin pivots the pawl about the pivot axis from a nominal position to a shifted position and, following insertion of the striker pin, the pawl returns to the nominal position and the mounting plate shifts relative to the pillar structure.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pawl includes a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions pivotable outward about the pivot axis in response to insertion of the striker pin.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the compression springs are attached to each of the first and second portions of the pawl and bias the first and second portions into a closed position.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism is releasable via a power actuator and a cam that opens the pawl.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the latch mechanism is releasable via a mechanical backup lever that moves the cam that opens the pawl.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate or pillar structure includes oversize mounting holes permitting shifting of the mounting plate relative to the pillar structure.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a door presenter mechanism disposed between the vehicle body and the vehicle door.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle door mates with the second vehicle door and defines an interface therebetween, wherein the embedded pillars of the first and second doors are disposed adjacent each other at the interface, wherein the interface includes a sealing arrangement including a primary seal disposed an inner side of the interface and secondary seal disposed at an outer side of the interface, wherein the primary and second seals have a constant cross-section extending substantially fully along the interface.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge module includes a first hinge bar and a second hinge bar pivotable relative to each during a door opening operation;
a hinge pin extending between the first hinge bar and the second hinge bar, the hinge pin fixed to the first hinge bar;
a permanent magnet fixed to the lower hinge bar;
a ring bracket fixed to the permanent magnet;
a steel plate biased toward the permanent magnet, wherein the steel plate locks with the ring bracket when the steel plate is in a closed position adjacent the permanent magnet, and wherein the steel plate is rotatable relative to the ring bracket when the steel plate is in an open position away from the permanent magnet;
wherein energizing the permanent magnet shifts the steel plate from the closed position to the open position allowing relative movement between the first hinge bar and the second hinge bar.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second vehicle doors include a further latch mechanism, wherein the further latch is disposed on an opposite edge the vehicle door relative to the latch mechanism.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the further latch is disposed on a lower edge of each of the first and second vehicle doors, and the latch mechanism is disposed on an upper edge of each of the first and second vehicle doors adjacent an interface between the first and second vehicle doors.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism of the first vehicle door is a first latch mechanism and the first vehicle door include a second latch mechanism having a common design relative to the first latch mechanism, wherein the first latch mechanism is disposed adjacent an interface between the first and second vehicle doors, and the second latch mechanism is disposed at a hinge area of the first vehicle door.

13. A system for opening and closing a door relative to a vehicle body, the system comprising:
first and second vehicle doors, each of the first and second vehicle doors including:
a hinge module configured for being mounted to the vehicle body;
a door module configured for being mounted to the hinge module and further configured for closing a door opening defined by the vehicle body, wherein the door module includes an embedded pillar structure disposed at a front or rear edge thereof;

wherein the door module includes a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism configured for latching with the vehicle body;
wherein the first vehicle door mates with the second vehicle door and defines an interface therebetween, wherein the embedded pillars of the first and second doors are disposed adjacent each other at the interface;
wherein the embedded pillar structure defines a closed loop adjacent the interface, wherein the closed loop is disposed at both a lower portion and an upper portion of the door module, wherein the upper portion extends to an uppermost edge of the door module and the lower portion extends to a lowermost edge of the door module;
wherein the interface includes a gap defined between the front edge and the rear edge and a sealing arrangement including a primary seal disposed of an inner side of the interface and a secondary seal disposed at an outer side of the interface, wherein the primary and second seals have a constant cross-section extending substantially fully along the interface.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein, at the location of the secondary seal, the lower portion of the gap at the interface is wider than the gap at the upper portion, and wherein filler pieces are disposed in the gap between the secondary seal and the front or rear edge of the door modules in the lower portion, such that the secondary seal members and the filler members combine to fill the gap in the lower portion.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the primary and secondary seals are attached to a single door.

16. A system for opening and closing a door relative to a vehicle body, the system comprising:
first and second vehicle doors, each of the first and second vehicle doors including:
a hinge module configured for being mounted to the vehicle body;
a door module configured for being mounted to the hinge module and further configured for closing a door opening defined by the vehicle body, wherein the door module includes an embedded pillar structure disposed at a front or rear edge thereof;
wherein the door module includes a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism configured for latching with the vehicle body;
wherein the hinge module includes a first hinge bar and a second hinge bar pivotable relative to each other during a door opening operation;
a hinge pin extending between the first hinge bar and the second hinge bar, the hinge pin fixed to the first hinge bar;
a permanent magnet is fixed to the lower hinge bar;
a ring bracket is fixed to the permanent magnet;
a steel plate is biased toward the permanent magnet, wherein th

Assignees

• Magna Int Inc
• Gabbianelli Gianfranco
• Subramanian Azhagu
• Srinivas Sathvik
• Young Warren
• Stiverson Joel

Inventors

• Gabbianelli Gianfranco
• Subramanian Azhagu
• Srinivas Sathvik
• Young Warren
• Stiverson Joel

Classifications

• E05D15/34

  with wings opening parallel to themselves · CPC title

• E05D11/1007

  with positive locking · CPC title

• E05B81/34

  of geared transmissions · CPC title

• E05B81/30

  Rotary elements · CPC title

• E05B81/14

  operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt · CPC title