Automotive Door Mounting Pressure Distribution

Wind, noise, and water leaks in a new vehicle can be a significant source of customer dissatisfaction, create a perception of poor quality, and cause warranty expenses. Proper adjustment of hinges and door latches while the car is in the factory and the doors are being mounted can eliminate these problems. In the past, vehicle assembly technicians guessed about where to position the hinges and latches and then slid a piece of paper between the body and weather strip to feel the amount of pull in different locations.

With the I-Scan® system, assembly technicians now have an electronic “feeler” gauge that measures contact pressure while also acting as a direct feedback mechanism. Technicians can use the gauge to help them optimize seal pressure and deflection around the door frame.

The I-Scan system is an intuitive, visual feedback tool that easily measures and displays door seal pressures on a PDA or PC screen. The system enables the assembly technician to immediately see how the door seal force changes as he makes adjustments to the door latches and hinges as they mount the door. Having a tight door seal reduces air leaks and wind noise in the passenger compartment and helps eliminate water leaks. This system can also be used to characterize and benchmark seal pressures and designs.