Asymmetric Powered Latch Assembly for Compact Tailgate Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power tailgate systems face challenges in minimizing the space occupied by latch assemblies, which hinders compact vehicle design and integration of other components, and lack effective overload detection to prevent damage during tailgate opening.
Innovation Solution
A powered latch assembly with a rotatable latch that minimizes space by positioning the striker's centroid within a slot's plane, and incorporates an overload check mechanism to prevent tailgate opening when excessive load is detected, ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the latch assembly uses a conventional striker positioning, then the latch assembly occupies more space, but this provides sufficient latching capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the striker's centroid offset from the vertical plane extending through the rotational axis, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric positioning reduces the space occupied by the latch assembly while maintaining sufficient latching capability through optimized geometric relationships between the latch body, striker, and mounting structures.
2Volume of moving object
If the latch assembly is made more compact, then space is reduced, but overload detection capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly integrates multiple functions into a compact structure: the striker serves both as the latching engagement element and as the overload detection element. The mounting structures perform both structural support and sensing functions by detecting positional changes of the striker. This multi-functionality enables overload detection capability within a reduced spatial footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the striker's position relative to the mounting structures as an intermediary indicator of overload conditions. Rather than requiring separate sensors, the mounting structures detect overload indirectly through positional changes of the striker, enabling compact overload detection without additional components.
3Volume of moving object
If the striker centroid is positioned along the vertical plane, then the latching is symmetric and stable, but the space occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately positions the striker's centroid offset from the vertical plane extending through the rotational axis, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric positioning reduces the space occupied by the latch assembly while maintaining sufficient latching stability through optimized geometric relationships between the latch body, striker, and mounting structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A powered latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a latch having a slot structured to receive a striker therein during closing of a tailgate. The latch is structured to be rotatable about a rotational axis into a latched position of the latch when the striker is received in the slot so as to maintain the tailgate in at least one closed position of the tailgate associated with the latched position. The latch is also structured so that, with respect to a vertical plane extending through the rotational axis, a centroid of a cross-section of the striker taken through a portion of the striker residing inside the slot resides along a first side of the plane when the latch is in a fully-latched position.