Vehicle Armrest Hinge Pin Reset Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door assemblies with collapsible armrests cannot be reset after impact, necessitating replacement, which is costly and inefficient, and often result in false-positive actuations due to sensor sensitivity and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with a pin that moves between locked and released positions, allowing the armrest to be reset by compressing a biasing member, eliminating the need for sensors and enabling reuse after impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a moveable armrest is used to maintain interior cabin space during impact, then the armrest can yield or deform to preserve cabin space, but the door panel and armrest cannot be reset after deformation, requiring complete replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly incorporates a pin that can dynamically transition between a locked position (maintaining armrest rigidity) and a released position (allowing armrest collapse). This dynamic mechanism enables the armrest to be reset after impact by moving the pin between positions, eliminating the need for complete replacement while maintaining cabin space during actual impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the structural parameter of the armrest from rigid to collapsed by moving the pin between locked and released positions. A biasing member facilitates this parameter change by providing the force needed to transition the pin, enabling reset capability after impact while maintaining the ability to preserve cabin space when needed.
2Reliability
If sensors are used to detect impact for armrest actuation, then the armrest can respond to impact, but false-positive actuations occur due to sensor sensitivity and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the sensor system from the impact detection mechanism. Instead of using sensors to detect impact, the system uses a mechanical pin-and-hinge assembly that responds to impact forces directly through physical deformation and biasing member activation, thereby removing the source of false-positive actuations and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly and biasing member system is self-actuating through impact forces. The impact directly causes the pin to move between locked and released positions through the mechanical interaction of the hinge assembly, eliminating the need for external sensors or control systems and reducing complexity while maintaining reliable impact response.
3Strength
If the pin is locked in the extended position, then the armrest is locked in place and provides structural support, but the armrest cannot collapse toward the door panel to maintain cabin space
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly enables dynamic transition of the pin between locked and released positions. When locked, the armrest provides structural support; when released, it collapses to maintain cabin space. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its structural properties based on impact conditions, resolving the contradiction between strength and cabin space maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member is pre-loaded in the hinge assembly to facilitate rapid transition of the pin from locked to released position upon impact. This preliminary preparation ensures that the armrest can quickly collapse to maintain cabin space when impact occurs, while maintaining structural support during normal operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the armrest and hinge assembly to be reset and reused, reducing replacement costs and minimizing false actuations, while maintaining interior cabin space during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
Movement of the pin toward the released position compresses the biasing member. Compressing the biasing member opposes pin movement toward the released position, pushing the pin from the released position toward the locked position.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes an armrest and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly supports the armrest and is rotatable between extended and collapsed positions. The hinge assembly includes a pin configured to move between locked and released positions. When the pin is in the locked position, the hinge assembly is locked in the extended position. When the pin is in the released position, the pin is configured to permit rotation of the hinge assembly toward the collapsed position.