Vehicle Armrest Locking Mechanism Using Inertial Pivot Bolt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle equipment devices, such as armrests, lack effective locking mechanisms to prevent movement during vehicle deceleration, which can lead to injury from rapid movement.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a pivotable latch and bolt system, where the bolt is loaded by a spring into a release position, and moves to a locked position upon vehicle deceleration, utilizing a bearing axis that shifts from a loose fit to a press fit within an elongated hole, preventing reverse movement and ensuring the equipment remains locked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking device is added to prevent equipment movement during deceleration, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device uses dynamic elements including a spring-loaded bolt that automatically actuates during deceleration events. The bolt transitions between locked and unlocked positions based on inertial forces, providing automatic safety engagement without complex control systems. The bearing axis with elongated hole allows the bolt to pivot dynamically in response to acceleration changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is divided into distinct functional components: a bolt for blocking movement, a spring for providing restoring force, a bearing axis with elongated hole for pivoting motion, and a stop for limiting travel. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the bolt is spring-loaded into release position, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring loading mechanism allows the bolt to be easily positioned in the release position during normal operation. The spring force parameter can be adjusted to ensure reliable locking during deceleration while maintaining ease of operation. The elongated hole geometry and its interaction with the bearing axis provide tolerance compensation, reducing the impact of manufacturing variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element pre-loads the bolt into the release position, cushioning against sudden movements and ensuring the bolt is ready to engage the locked position when needed. This pre-positioning mechanism simplifies operation while the spring design can accommodate reasonable manufacturing tolerances through its elastic properties.
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
The locking device securely locks the equipment in place during vehicle deceleration, preventing movement and potential injury to occupants, with adjustable spring loading to set the deceleration limit, ensuring safe and stable operation.
Implementation Method 1
The bolt is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis by means of a pivot joint such that, in the event of vehicle deceleration, it pivots from a release position into a first locking position
Implementation Method 2
the bearing spindle can move relative to the slot from the first locking position, in which the bearing spindle is arranged in a first region of the slot, to a second locking position, in which the bearing spindle is arranged in a second region of the slot. When the bearing spindle is arranged in the second region of the slot, the bolt cannot move back into the release position
Implementation Method 3
in the event of vehicle deceleration, it pivots from a release position into a first locking position
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
Equipment device (10) of a vehicle with an equipment part (12) movable between a first position and a second position, which is mounted on a vehicle-fixed base part (11) so as to be movable translationally and/or rotationally, with a locking device (19a, 19b) with a bolt (14) which is mounted by means of a pivot joint (G) pivotably about a bearing axis (15) such that in the event of vehicle acceleration it pivots from a release position to a first locking position.The special feature is that the pivot joint (G) is formed by a bearing axis (15) mounted in an elongated hole (26) so that the bearing axis (15) can be moved from the first locking position, in which the bearing axis (15) is arranged in a first area (27) of the elongated hole (26), to a second locking position, in which the bearing axis (15) is arranged in a second area (28) of the elongated hole (26), in order to prevent a return movement to the release position relative to the elongated hole (26).