Vehicle Boot Intermediate Floor Locking for Spare Wheel Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle trunk designs fail to securely retain a spare wheel during a head-on collision, risking ejection and potential harm to vehicle occupants.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle trunk with an intermediate floor that can be locked in a closed position by an electrical control system, featuring retractable locking lugs to secure the spare wheel in its housing, preventing ejection during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic screw fastening system is used to secure the spare wheel, then the installation is simple and quick, but the pull-out strength is low and the screw breaks during head-on collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite fastening system combining a metal screw with a plastic nut. The metal screw provides the necessary tensile strength and pull-out resistance to withstand collision forces, while the plastic nut maintains ease of installation and allows for quick release mechanisms. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between installation simplicity and collision strength by distributing functional requirements across different material properties.
2Strength
If a metal interface with crimped nut or welded interface is used, then the fastening strength is improved, but the nut is torn off or spot welds are peeled off during head-on collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a dynamic locking mechanism with retractable locking lugs that actively engage with the spare wheel housing during normal operation but can disengage or deform in a controlled manner during collision. This dynamic design allows the system to maintain high fastening strength under normal conditions while providing a failure mode that prevents complete fastening system detachment during head-on collision, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.
3Reliability
If the intermediate floor locking device is controlled by a mobile digital terminal, then access to the spare wheel is secured, but the user operation becomes relatively restrictive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple control methods for the intermediate floor locking device, combining mobile digital terminal control with alternative activation methods such as physical switches or key-based systems. This multi-functional control architecture maintains the security benefits of electronic control while providing fallback options that improve ease of operation, allowing users to access the spare wheel through different interfaces depending on their needs and circumstances.
4Reliability
If the locking device is activated to lock the intermediate floor in closed position, then the spare wheel is secured during collision, but the access to the spare wheel requires additional unlocking steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a system where the intermediate floor locking device is pre-configured to automatically unlock when the trunk lid is opened. This preliminary action ensures that during normal access scenarios, the locking mechanism does not create unnecessary delays, while still maintaining locked status during vehicle operation to secure the spare wheel. The system anticipates the user's need for access and prepares the locking mechanism accordingly, resolving the contradiction between safety containment and access speed.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a trunk (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising:—a lid, movable between an open position and a closed position by means of an electrical control means,—a body structure, comprising a housing (11) adapted to receive a spare wheel (13),—an intermediate floor (15), movable between an open position and a closed position,—a device (25) for locking said intermediate floor, movable by an actuating means between a locking position and an unlocking position allowing said intermediate floor to switch to said open position. According to the invention, said actuating means is controlled by said electrical control means of said trunk, so that when a control signal to open said lid is sent, the locking device switches from said unlocking position to said locking position. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a trunk.