WO2007004810A1

WO2007004810A1 - The weather strip for automobile

Info

Publication number: WO2007004810A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Il Do Chang
Original assignee: Il Do Chang
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2007-01-11
Also published as: KR100746046B1; KR20070003506A

Abstract

A weather strip for vehicles is disclosed. The weather strip (100) of the present invention is brought into close contact with a body panel (10) of the vehicle or with a weather strip of the body panel (10) to have a sealing effect. The weather strip (100) includes a close contact member (200), which is provided in a hollow space (110) of the weather strip or on the inner or outer surface of a strip body (130) defining the hollow space (110) therein. The close contact member is brought into close contact with or is removed from the body panel or the weather strip of the body panel through the supply or interruption of power depending on conditions. Furthermore, the close contact member may adjust the degree of contact force thereof in response to the speed at which the vehicle travels, or in response to the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle.

Description

Description THE WEATHER STRIP FOR AUTOMOBILE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to weather strips for vehicles and, more particularly, to a weather strip for vehicles which includes a close contact member and/ or a traction member having contact force and/or traction force and thus preventing a gap from occurring in an area such as a door, an engine compartment, a trunk, an inspection cover or a sunroof, at which sealing is required, due to the difference in pressure between the interior and exterior of the vehicle when it travels at high speed, thus preventing noise from occurring due to air passing through the gap, blocking various outside sounds, preventing foreign substances, such as dust or rainwater, from entering the vehicle, and enhancing heating and cooling abilities of the vehicle through increased sealing ability. Background Art

[2] Generally, weather strips for vehicles are used on portions of the vehicles on which sealing is required, for example, on doors, an engine compartment, a trunk, an inspection cover, a sunroof, sliding windows of an RV or a bus, or typical windows.

[3] In detail, a weather strip absorbs impact occurring when a desired part is opened or closed. Furthermore, the weather strip prevents air from undesirably entering or exiting the opening on which sealing is required, and fills a gap between a body panel and a door of the vehicle, thus preventing noise from being generated by the flow of air and interrupting various outside sounds transmitted through the air. In addition, the weather strip serves to prevent foreign substances, such as dust or rainwater, from entering the vehicle and increases the heating and cooling ability of the vehicle.

[4] Typically, such weather strips for vehicles are made of rubber, but the structures of the weather strips may be different from each other depending on the area for which sealing is required. Hereinafter, a weather strip for vehicle doors will be explained in detail as a representative example.

[5] As shown in FIG. 2, the weather strip has a hollow space 110' therein and includes a strip body 130' defining the hollow space 110' therein, a lip part 150', which is provided around the hollow space 110' and contacts the body panel 10', and a support part 170', which is coupled to an inside panel 50' of the door. A vent hole (not shown) for contraction and compression of the hollow space 110' is formed at a predetermined position in the weather strip. Such weather strip serves to block noise and foreign substances, as described above.

[6] However, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, the conventional weather strip 100' for the door 30'of the vehicle has a structure such that, when the door 30' is closed, it is merely pressed by the body panel 10' (of course, in the case in which a separate weather strip (not shown) is provided on the body panel 10', it is constructed such that the weather strip 100' of the door 30' comes into contact with the weather strip (not shown) of the body panel). Therefore, there is a problem in that the space defined between the door 30' and the body panel 10' may not be reliably sealed.

[7] Furthermore, although the space between them is sufficiently ensured while the vehicle is stopped, when the vehicle travels at a high speed, such that the force applied to the weather strip 100' is greater than the force required to hold the weather strip 100' due to the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle, a gap occurs between the weather strip 100' and the body panel 10' (or the weather strip 100' and the weather strip (not shown) of the body panel). Thus, air enters or exits the vehicle through the gap, thereby air suction noise occurs and various outside sounds are transmitted through the gap.

[8] To solve the above problems, a side weather strip for vehicle doors (Korean Utility

Model Registration No. 20-0144401), a sectional structure of a side weather strip for vehicle doors (Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0189470), a weather strip for vehicle doors (Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0157284), an air tube type door weather strip for vehicles (Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0148103), a weather strip for vehicle doors (Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0369017) and an expansion and contraction device for a weather strip for vehicles (Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0448145) have been proposed.

[9] However, the side weather strip for vehicle doors (Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0144401), the sectional structure of a side weather strip for vehicle doors (Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0189470) and the weather strip for vehicle doors (Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0157284) are characterized in that a secondary air pocket is formed in the weather strip, a lip or step is further provided, or the weather strip is made of two kinds of material, that is, hard material and soft material. Therefore, there are problems in that the sealing ability of the weather strip may be insufficient, the durability of the weather strip is reduced upon repeated use, and the weather strip may be damaged by even a relatively small impact. In addition, the conventional techniques still have a problem related to a gap existing due to the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle when it travels.

[10] Meanwhile, the air tube type door weather strip for vehicles (Korean Utility Model

Registration No. 20-0148103), the weather strip for vehicle doors (Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0369017) and the expansion and contraction device for a weather strip for vehicles (Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0448145) have structures such that air is forcibly and removably supplied into a hollow space defined in the weather strip body, so that, when the door is opened and closed, the weather strip can expand and contract. However, in this case, because a vent hole is formed in the weather strip and a relatively large impact is applied to the weather strip when the door is opened and closed, the durability of the weather strip is decreased, thereby reducing the lifetime of the weather strip.

[11] Furthermore, because these weather strips are complex structures and require a relatively large number of additional elements, it is difficult to apply them to existing vehicles, and maintenance and repair work is difficult. In addition, there is a problem in that, because these weather strips cannot replace existing weather strips, the structure of the existing vehicle must be modified to accommodate them.

[12] As well, in the above-mentioned techniques, air must be supplied in steps to the hollow space of the weather strip to expand the weather strip and be removed in steps therefrom. Accordingly, it is very difficult to evenly apply the weather strip to the body panel or remove it therefrom, so that the door may not be completely sealed.

[13] Meanwhile, to increase the opening and closing ability of the door, the stiffness of the weather strip is preferably reduced. However, in this case, there is a likelihood of a reduced sealing effect due to the difference in pressure when the vehicle travels at a high speed. If the stiffness of the weather strip is increased to prevent the sealing effect from being reduced by the difference in pressure when the vehicle travels at high speed, the opening and closing ability of the door is markedly reduced.

[14] Therefore, to solve the above problem, a weather strip having variable properties is required. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[15] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a weather strip for vehicles which prevents a gap from occurring in an area such as a door, an engine compartment, a trunk, an inspection cover or a sunroof, at which sealing is required, due to the difference in pressure between the interior and exterior of the vehicle when it travels at a high speed, thus preventing noise from being generated by air passing through the gap, interrupting various outside sounds, preventing foreign substances, such as dust or rainwater, from entering the vehicle, and increasing the heating and cooling abilities of the vehicle.

[16] Another object of the present invention is to provide a weather strip for vehicles which can appropriately control contact force and traction force in steps depending on the traveling conditions of the vehicle, that is, in response to changes in the speed at which the vehicle travels and changes in the pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the vehicle, thus increasing the ease with which parts of the vehicle are opened and closed, and maximizing the sealing ability of a part for which sealing is required.

[17] A further object of the present invention is to provide a weather strip, critical elements of which may be mounted to a weather strip of an existing vehicle without changing the structure of the vehicle, or which can replace the existing weather strip. Technical Solution

[18] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a weather strip provided on a portion of a vehicle, such as a vehicle door, an engine compartment, a trunk, an inspection cover or a sunroof, on which sealing is required. The weather strip is in close contact with a body panel of the portion of the vehicle or with a weather strip of the body panel to have a sealing effect, and includes: a close contact member provided in a hollow space of the weather strip or on an inner or outer surface of a strip body defining the hollow space therein, the close contact member being brought into close contact with or being removed from the body panel or the weather strip of the body panel by supply or interruption of power depending on given conditions, or adjusting a degree of contact force thereof depending on a traveling speed of the vehicle or a difference in pressure between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle.

[19] The close contact member may be made of one selected from a magnet, an electromagnet, a mixture of a magnet and an electromagnet, or a mixed extrudate made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber.

[20] Alternatively, the close contact member may comprise a magnet-containing tube containing a predetermined amount of fine magnetic particles mixed with fluid therein.

[21] As a further alternative, the close contact member may comprise an electro- rheological fluid tube containing MR fluid or ER fluid therein.

[22] The weather strip may further include a settlement prevention means provided inside and outside the magnet-containing tube or the electro-rheological fluid tube to prevent solid particles from settling in the magnet-containing tube or the electro- rheological fluid tube.

[23] The weather strip may further include a traction member provided on the body panel or the weather strip of the body panel at a position corresponding to the close contact member and made of one selected from among a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, a mixture of an electromagnet and a magnet, or a coil which is able to apply traction force to the close contact member using a magnetic field or an electric field.

[24] The traction force of the traction member may be supplied or interrupted depending on given conditions or is adjusted depending on a traveling speed of the vehicle or a difference in pressure between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle.

[25] The close contact member or the traction member may comprise a plurality of close contact members or a plurality of traction members provided parallel to each other such that the contact force or the traction force is adjusted in steps.

Advantageous Effects

[26] The weather strip for vehicles according to the present invention, which includes a close contact member provided in a hollow space of the weather strip or on the inner or outer surface of a weather strip body defining the hollow space therein, the close contact member being in close contact with or being removed from a body panel or a weather strip of the body panel by the supply or interruption of power depending on given conditions, or the degree of contact force thereof being adjusted depending on the traveling speed of the vehicle or the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle, has the following advantages.

[27] First, the weather strip of the present invention has the close contact member and/or the traction member, which provide contact force and/or traction force corresponding to traveling conditions of the vehicle. Therefore, the weather strip can prevent a gap from occurring at a portion, such as a door, an engine compartment, a trunk, an inspection cover or a sunroof, at which sealing is required, due to the difference in pressure between the interior and exterior of the vehicle when it travels at a high speed, thus preventing noise from occurring due to air passing through the gap, interrupting various outside sounds, and preventing foreign substances, such as dust or rainwater, from entering the vehicle.

[28] Second, in the case in which the body panel is made of steel, no traction member need be provided, and the close contact member can be made of an electromagnet or a mixture of an electromagnet and a magnet. Therefore, the structure of the weather strip is simplified, and manufacturing, repair, maintenance and installation costs thereof are markedly reduced.

[29] Third, the close contact member, which is made of magnet or a mixed extrudate made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber, is provided inside or outside the weather strip by through mounting, application or integral extrusion. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the weather strip is simplified, and the time required for manufacturing the weather strip is also reduced. Furthermore, an existing manufacturing line using the extruding process can be used for manufacturing the weather strip of the present invention, without requiring a separate additional process. Thus, there are advantages in that the cost of manufacturing the weather strip is reduced, productivity is increased, and mass production is possible. [30] Fourth, the close contact member comprises a magnet-containing tube containing a predetermined amount of fine magnetic particles mixed with fluid therein, or an electro-rheological fluid tube containing MR fluid or ER fluid, thus increasing the opening and closing ability of the desired sealing portion, preventing the weather strip from being deformed when the vehicle travels at a high speed, and maximizing the sealing effect of the sealing portion.

[31] Fifth, power or drive force is supplied to or removed from the close contact member and/or the traction member depending on given conditions, or power or drive force supplied to the close contact member and/or the traction member is adjusted depending on the traveling speed of the vehicle or the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle, or several close contact members and/or several traction members are provided. Thus, the contact force and/or the traction force can be consecutively adjusted in steps depending on the traveling conditions of the vehicle.

[32] Sixth, the close contact member or the close contact member and the traction member can be added to the existing weather strip of the vehicle without requiring a change in structure, or the weather strip can replace the existing weather strip. Therefore, manufacturing and installation costs, in addition to repair and maintenance costs, are markedly reduced.

[33] Seventh, the contact force of the sealed portions of the vehicle is maximized, so that the interior of the vehicle is prevented from communicating with the exterior of the vehicle through the sealed portions, thus enhancing the heating and cooling ability of the vehicle. Brief Description of the Drawings

[34] FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a typical vehicle;

[35] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional weather strip for vehicles taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

[36] FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of weather strips for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which close contact members comprise electromagnets;

[37] FIGS. 5 through 7 are sectional views of weather strips for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which close contact members comprise magnets;

[38] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a weather strip for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which a close contact member comprises a mixed extrudate made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber;

[39] FIGS. 9 through 11 are sectional views of weather strips for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which close contact members comprise a magnet-containing tube or an electro-rheological fluid tube; [40] FIGS. 12 through 14 are views showing a small fan or partition walls provided in the magnet-containing tube or the electro-rheological fluid tube as examples of a settlement prevention means of the weather strip for vehicles according to the present invention; and

[41] FIGS. 15 through 17 are sectional views of weather strips for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which several close contact members or traction members are provided so as to be parallel to each other. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[42] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Of course, the bounds of the present invention are not limited to the following embodiment, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the technical spirit of the invention. These modifications, additions and substitutions must be regarded as falling within the bounds of the present invention.

[43] FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of weather strips for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which close contact members comprise electromagnets. FIGS. 5 through 7 are sectional views of weather strips for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which close contact members comprise magnets. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a weather strip for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which a close contact member comprises a mixed extrudate made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber. FIGS. 9 through 11 are sectional views of weather strips for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which close contact members comprise a magnet- containing tube or an electro-rheological fluid tube. FIGS. 12 through 14 are views showing a small fan or partition walls provided in the magnet-containing tube or the electro-rheological fluid tube as examples of a settlement prevention means of the weather strip for vehicles according to the present invention. FIGS. 15 through 17 are sectional views of weather strips for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which several close contact members or traction members are provided so as to be parallel to each other. For the sake of clear comprehension, only the sealing portion between the weather strip 100, which is provided on the door (30) of the vehicle, and a body panel 10 of the vehicle is shown in the drawings, and a conducting wire is omitted.

[44] The weather strip 100 of the present invention includes the close contact member

200, which is provided in a hollow space 110 of the weather strip 100 or on the inner or outer surface of a strip body 130 in which the hollow space 110 is defined. The close contact member 200 is brought into contact with or is spaced apart from the body panel 10 or a weather strip (not shown) provided on the body panel 10 by the supply or interruption of power depending on given conditions. Furthermore, the contact force of the close contact member 200 is adjusted depending on the speed at which the vehicle travels, or by the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle.

[45] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the close contact member 200 may comprise an electromagnet 201. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the dotted lines show the shapes of the close contact members 200 when the door of the vehicle is in an open state, and the solid lines show the shapes of the close contact members when the door of the vehicle is in a closed state.

[46] In detail, as shown in FIG. 3, in the case in which the body panel 10 is made of steel

11, it is preferable that the close contact member 200 comprise the electromagnet 201 or a mixture 305, which is made by mixing an electromagnet 201 and a magnet 203 but is not shown in the drawing.

[47] When a predetermined electric current is applied to the close contact member 200, which is made of the electromagnet 201 or the mixture 305 of the electromagnet 201 and the magnet 203 and is provided on the inner surface of the hollow space 110, the close contact member 200 is instantaneously brought into close contact with the body panel 10 in proportion to the intensity of the current.

[48] As a result, the weather strip 100 also contacts the body panel 10 along with the close contact member 200, thus conducting the sealing function.

[49] Here, although the close contact member 200 is made of the electromagnet 201 or the mixture 305 of the electromagnet 201 and the magnet 203, if the body panel 10, which contacts the weather strip 100, is made of an aluminum alloy 13 rather than steel 11 (or in the case in which the separate weather strip (not shown) is provided on the body panel such that the weather strip 100 contacts the weather strip of the body panel), when electricity is applied to the close contact member 200, the close contact member 200 may not be reliably brought into close contact with the body panel 10 (or the weather strip (not shown) provided on the body panel). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, in the case in which the body panel 10 is made of an aluminum alloy 13, a separate traction member 300 is preferably provided.

[50] In this case, it is preferable that the traction member 300 be disposed at a position corresponding to the close contact member 200, that is, at a position directly opposite the close contact member 200.

[51] In detail, the traction member 300 is provided on the inner or outer surface of the body panel 10 (or the weather strip (not shown) of the body panel) such that the traction member 300 corresponds to the close contact member 200. Preferably, the traction member 300 is made of one selected from among a permanent magnet 307, an electromagnet 301, a mixture 305 of an electromagnet 301 and a magnet 203, or a coil 303.

[52] Here, among the materials for the traction member 300, in the case where the electromagnet 301, the mixture 305 of the electromagnet 301 and the magnet 203, or the coil 303 is used, the generation/removal of traction force and the intensity of the traction force can be adjusted by supplying or interrupting power and by changing the intensity of power. In the case of the permanent magnet 307, because of the characteristic by which a magnetic field is stably generated and maintained, the permanent magnet 307 can generate traction force without using separate electricity supplied from the outside.

[53] Preferably, in the case in which the traction member 300 is made of the permanent magnet 307, the traction member 300 is constructed such that it can be moved by outside force using a link (not shown) or the like in the body panel 10 or in the weather strip (not shown) of the body panel, so that traction force can be generated and removed.

[54] Meanwhile, it is preferable that a control unit (not shown), which senses the speed of the vehicle or the pressures inside and outside of the vehicle and controls contact force and/or traction force of the close contact member 200 and/or the traction member 300 depending on the sensed speed and pressures, be provided in the vehicle.

[55] Of course, the control unit (not shown) serves to automatically supply/interrupt power to/from the close contact member 200 and/or the traction member 300 in response to the conditions, through comparison with initially set values.

[56] Here, as sensing means for sensing the speed at which the vehicle travels and the pressures inside and outside the vehicle, individual detecting sensors may be used. However, in the case of detection of the speed of the vehicle, this can be easily realized using an existing speedometer provided in a dashboard or ECU (electronic control unit) terminal. Furthermore, the control unit (not shown) and the sensing means (not shown) can be applied to the following embodiments in the same manner as those of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[57] Meanwhile, FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views of the weather strip 100 for vehicles to show the case in which the close contact member 200 is made of a magnet 203 or a mixed extrudate 211 made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber, rather than an electromagnet 201. In this case, a traction member 300, which is made of a permanent magnet 307 or an electromagnet 301, a mixture 305 of an electromagnet 301 and a magnet 203, or a coil 303, must be indispensably provided.

[58] As described above with reference to FIGS. 3 through 8, the close contact member

200, which is made of one selected from the permanent magnet 307, the electromagnet

201, a mixture 305 of an electromagnet 201 and a magnet 203, or a mixed extrudate 211 made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber, can be selectively provided in the hollow space 110 or the inner or outer surface of the strip body 130 defining the hollow space 110 therein.

[59] Here, there are several methods of providing the close contact member 200 at a predetermined position in the weather strip 100 of the present invention. First, the electromagnet 201, the mixture 305 of the electromagnet 201 and the magnet 203 or the magnet 203 is adhered to the desired portion using an adhering means, such as adhesive tape or an adhesive agent.

[60] As another method, the magnet 203 is finely powdered, mixed with adhesive resin and, thereafter, is applied to the desired portion of the inner or outer surface of the weather strip 100, that is, to the portion on which sealing is required. Preferably, thermosetting adhesive resin having superior heat resistance is used as the above- mentioned adhesive resin.

[61] Particularly, as shown in FIG. 8, in the case in which the close contact member 200 is made of a mixed extrudate 211 made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber, during a process of extruding the weather strip 100, the close contact member 200 made of a mixed extrudate 211 made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber may be attached to the weather strip 100 so that the close contact member 200 is integrally extruded with the weather strip 100. Furthermore, pure rubber may be applied to the surface of the mixed extrudate 211 of magnetic powder and rubber through an extrusion-coating method, thus forming a double layered structure.

[62] In the methods of providing the close contact member, the method using the application process makes work convenient and reduces working time compared to the method using the adhering means, thus increasing the efficiency with which the weather strip 100 is produced.

[63] In the case of the method using the extruding process, because the weather strip 100 can be manufactured merely by adding a step of attaching the mixed extrudate 211 of magnetic powder and rubber to the existing weather strip producing line, mass production is possible. Furthermore, unlike the method using the application process and the method using the adhering means, the method using the extruding process does not require a separate additional process, thus reducing the cost of manufacturing the weather strip, and increasing productivity.

[64] Here, in the case in which the weather strip is manufactured by the method using the installation process and the method using the extruding process, the close contact member 200 must have fastening force sufficient to prevent it from being removed from the weather strip 100 or from being damaged by contact force and/or traction force depending on the traveling conditions of the vehicle.

[65] Furthermore, the close contact member 200 and/or the traction member 300 may be provided along the entire length of the hollow space 110 or, alternatively, may be partially provided only around desired portions at which noise or the penetration of foreign substances is expected. Preferably, the close contact member 200, which is made of an electromagnet 201 or a magnet 203, has a band shape which can be easily curved. In addition, the magnet 203 may comprise a steel band, a wire, a wire net, etc.

[66] FIGS. 9 through 11 are sectional views of weather strips 100 for vehicles according to the present invention to show the case in which close contact members 200 comprise a magnet-containing tube 205 containing magnets 203 therein. In detail, FIG. 9 shows the case in which the close contact member 200 comprises the magnet-containing tube 205, containing fluid mixed with an appropriate amount of fine magnetic particles 203, and a traction member 300 comprises an electromagnet 301. FIG. 10 shows the case in which the close contact member 200 comprises an electro-rheological fluid tube 207 containing MR fluid 209 and a traction member 300 comprises a mixture 305 of an electromagnet 301 and a magnet 203. FIG. 11 shows the case in which the close contact member 200 comprises an electro-rheological fluid tube 207 containing MR fluid 211 and a traction member 300 comprises a coil 303.

[67] Here, the magnet-containing tube 205 or the electro-rheological fluid tube 207 is provided in the hollow space 110 of the weather strip 100 or on the inner or outer surface of the strip body 130 defining the hollow space 110 therein, as described above.

[68] In detail, MR fluid 209 of FIG. 10 or ER fluid 211 of FIG. 11, constituting the electro-rheological fluid tube 207, which forms the close contact member 200, has a peculiar character in that the phase thereof is changed from liquid to almost solid by a magnetic field or an electric field and, when the magnetic field or electric field is removed therefrom, it is returned to the initial liquid phase. As shown in FIG. 10, in the case in which the close contact member 200 comprises the electro-rheological fluid tube 207, which is made of MR fluid 209, the traction member 200 is preferably made of the electromagnet 301 or the mixture 305 of an electromagnet 301 and a magnet 203, thus forming a magnetic field.

[69] As shown in FIG. 11, in the case in which the close contact member 200 comprises the electro-rheological fluid tube 207 which is made of ER fluid 211, the traction member 200 is preferably made of the coil 303, thus forming a magnetic field.

[70] The reason why the close contact member 200 is made of the electro-rheological fluid tube 207 is that, in the case of the MR fluid 209, it is directly attached to the close contact member 200, and, in the case of the ER fluid 211, the viscosity thereof is changed and thus it becomes hard, so that the contact force of the close contact member 200 is further increased.

[71] Meanwhile, in the magnet-containing tube 205, containing magnets 203, or the electro-rheological fluid tube 207, containing MR fluid 209 or ER fluid 211, solid particles, such as iron powder, silica, polyurethane or cellulose, may undesirably settle.

[72] If such a settling phenomenon occurs, the contact force and the uniformity thereof are reduced. Therefore, the above-mentioned sealing ability is reduced. To prevent this, a settlement prevention means is preferably required. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, at least one small fan 213 or a plurality of partition walls 215 is used as the settlement prevention means in the magnet-containing tube 205 or the electro- rheological fluid tube 207.

[73] Here, as shown in FIG. 12, the fan 213 is provided in the magnet-containing tube

205 or the electro-rheological fluid tube 207 and generates a predetermined circulation force, thus preventing solid particles from settling.

[74] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, the partition walls 215 may be integrally extruded at regular intervals in the magnet-containing tube 205 or the electro- rheological fluid tube 207 to prevent solid particles from settling. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14, they may be manufactured through a separate process and may be inserted into the magnet-containing tube 205 or the electro-rheological fluid tube 207.

[75] Of course, the settlement prevention means is not limited to the fan 213 or to the partition walls 215. For example, the settlement prevention means may be realized by a method such that solid particles circulate using circulation force generated from an outside pump.

[76] Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 15 through 17, it is preferable that several close contact members 200 or several traction members 300 be provided parallel to each other such that contact force or traction force can be adjusted in steps.

[77] In other words, in the case in which the several close contact members 200 or the several traction members 300 are provided parallel to each other, for example, if power is consecutively supplied thereto, contact force or traction force can be increased in steps. In this case, if the intensity of supply power is adjusted, the contact force or traction force can be more precisely adjusted in smaller steps. Therefore, the sealing ability can be maximized.

[78] The operation of the weather strip 100 for vehicles according to the present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be described in detail herein below.

[79] When the conditions of the vehicle reach the initial given values after the vehicle has been started, the control unit (not shown) supplies power to the close contact member 200 and/or the traction member 300, or applies drive force thereto, to generate contact force and/or traction force, thus preventing a gap from being created at the doors 30, an engine compartment, an inspection cover or a sunroof, that is, at a portion at which sealing is required, thereby preventing noise from occurring, and preventing the entrance of foreign substances.

[80] However, if the vehicle enters a high speed state, the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle is increased, so that a gap may occur in the sealing portion or the weather strip 100 may be deformed, thereby noise may occur or the weather strip 100 may be damaged.

[81] As such, when the speed of the vehicle increases above or decreases below a predetermined speed, the control unit (not shown) controls the close contact member 200 and/or the traction member 300 in steps using signals transmitted from the sensing means (not shown), which senses the speed at which the vehicle travels or the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle.

[82] Here, the contact force and/or the traction force can be controlled in steps by the method of adjusting the intensity of power supplied to the close contact member 200 and/or the traction member 300 or by the method in which the several close contact members 200 or the several traction members 300 are provided parallel to each other and power is consecutively supplied thereto while the intensity thereof is adjusted, or drive force is consecutively supplied thereto.

[83] As such, the intensity of contact force and/or traction force is controlled in steps, so that, when the vehicle travels, particularly, when the vehicle travels at a high speed, sealing ability is reliably ensured.

[84] Conversely, when the speed of the vehicle is reduced so that the difference in pressure between the interior and the exterior of the vehicle is reduced, the control unit (not shown) reduces the contact force of the close contact member 200 and/or the traction force of the traction member 300 in steps using signals of the sensing means (not shown).

[85] Furthermore, while the vehicle is stopped, to increase the ease of opening and closing sealed parts of the vehicle, power or drive force, which has been supplied to the close contact member 200 and/or the traction member 300, is interrupted, thus removing contact force and/or traction force.

[86] Here, the control method of removing or reducing the contact force and/or traction force in steps can also be conducted in a manner reverse to that of the method of applying or increasing it. Industrial Applicability

[87] As described above, the present invention provides a weather strip for vehicles which prevents a gap from being created in a part, such as a door, an engine compartment, a trunk, an inspection cover or a sunroof, at which sealing is required, due to the difference in pressure between the interior and exterior of the vehicle when it travels at a high speed, thus preventing noise from being generated by air passing through the gap, interrupting various outside sounds, preventing foreign substances, such as dust or rainwater, from entering the vehicle, and increasing the heating and cooling ability of the vehicle. [88] Furthermore, depending on the traveling conditions of the vehicle, that is, depending on changes in the speed at which the vehicle travels and changes in the difference in pressure between the interior and exterior of the vehicle, contact force and traction force are appropriately controlled in steps, thus increasing the ease of opening and closing parts of the vehicle, and maximizing the sealing ability of a portion at which sealing is required. As well, critical elements of the weather strip of the present invention may be mounted to a weather strip of an existing vehicle without changing the structure of the vehicle. Furthermore, the weather strip of the present invention may replace the existing weather strip. As such, the weather strip of the present invention has superior intercompatibility.

Claims

[1] A weather strip provided on a portion of a vehicle, such as a vehicle door, an engine compartment, a trunk, an inspection cover or a sunroof, on which sealing is required, the weather strip being in close contact with a body panel of the portion of the vehicle or with a weather strip of the body panel to have a sealing effect, and comprising: a close contact member provided in a hollow space of the weather strip or on an inner or outer surface of a strip body defining the hollow space therein, the close contact member being brought into close contact with or being removed from the body panel or the weather strip of the body panel by supply or interruption of power depending on given conditions, or adjusting a degree of contact force thereof depending on a traveling speed of the vehicle or a difference in pressure between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle.

[2] The weather strip for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the close contact member is made of one selected from a magnet, an electromagnet, a mixture of a magnet and an electromagnet, or a mixed extrudate made of a combination of magnetic powder and rubber.

[3] The weather strip for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the close contact member comprises a magnet-containing tube containing a predetermined amount of fine magnetic particles mixed with fluid therein.

[4] The weather strip for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the close contact member comprises an electro-rheological fluid tube containing MR fluid or ER fluid therein.

[5] The weather strip for the vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising: settlement prevention means provided inside and outside the magnet-containing tube or the electro-rheological fluid tube to prevent solid particles from settling in the magnet-containing tube or the electro-rheological fluid tube.

[6] The weather strip for the vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a traction member provided on the body panel or the weather strip of the body panel at a position corresponding to the close contact member and made of one selected from among a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, a mixture of an electromagnet and a magnet, or a coil which is able to apply traction force to the close contact member using a magnetic field or an electric field.

[7] The weather strip for the vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the traction force of the traction member is supplied or interrupted depending on given conditions or is adjusted depending on a traveling speed of the vehicle or a difference in pressure between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle. [8] The weather strip for the vehicle according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the close contact member or the traction member comprises a plurality of close contact members or a plurality of traction members provided parallel to each other such that the contact force or the traction force is adjusted in steps.