Bowden Cable Mass Lock for Crash-Safe Door Handles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle door handle mechanisms fail to reliably prevent unintentional unlocking during crashes, as they are prone to opening due to inertia-induced forces that can break the latch.
Innovation Solution
A mass lock is integrated directly onto the Bowden cable within the Bowden cable connection on the door handle's bearing frame, which secures the cable and prevents unlocking by engaging only under dynamic mass forces, ensuring the door remains locked during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mass lock acts indirectly on the Bowden cable via other components, then the mechanism can be constructed with separate parts, but the reliability of preventing unintentional unlocking during crashes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mass lock is integrated directly into the Bowden cable connection housing, forming a unified structure where the mass lock, Bowden cable, and housing work together as a single system. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting components and direct connections, thereby improving crash safety while avoiding increased complexity.
2Reliability
If the mass lock is arranged away from the Bowden cable, then the components can be independently positioned, but the effectiveness of securing the cable during impacts is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The Bowden cable is routed through the mass lock assembly in such a way that the cable passes through or alongside the mass lock components. This nested arrangement ensures that the mass lock directly secures the cable at the point of connection, maximizing securing effectiveness while minimizing the actuation path length.
3Device complexity
If existing door handle mechanisms are used without integrated mass lock, then the construction is simpler, but the door is prone to unintentional opening during crashes due to inertia-induced forces
Solution Approach 1:
The mass lock utilizes the inertia-induced forces during crashes as the very mechanism for activation. When sudden acceleration or impact occurs, the inertial force causes the mass lock to shift position and engage the locking mechanism, converting the harmful inertial forces into a beneficial safety function that prevents door opening during collisions.
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
This design enhances crash safety by directly securing the Bowden cable with a mass lock, preventing the door from unlocking during crashes and allowing intentional opening once forces are withdrawn.
Implementation Method 1
a mass lock being articulated on the Bowden cable and, in a locked position, preventing the deflection bracket from pivoting into an unlocked position of the door
Implementation Method 2
a spring element which can be tensioned when the mass lock is in the blocking position and can act on the mass lock when the acting forces have been withdrawn so as to move the mass lock back from the blocking position into the initial position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a door handle (10) of a motor vehicle, comprising a bearing frame (16) (bearing clamp) which can be fastened to the door metal sheet and to which a pull handle (60) is hingedly connected, and a deflection lever (18) that is hingedly connected within the bearing frame (16) and can be actuated by means of the pull handle (60). At least one transmitting part (24, 26, 28, 30) that allows a door to be unlocked is coupled to the deflection lever (18). A mass locking mechanism (32) is pivotally mounted counter to a spring pressure. Said mass locking mechanism (32) can be moved into a locked position as a result of the inertia thereof during a lateral impact, the mass locking mechanism (32) preventing the door from being unlocked in the locked position. The mass locking mechanism (32) grips the transmitting part (24, 26, 28, 30) while the transmitting part (24, 26, 28, 30) and the mass locking mechanism (32) are jointly disposed in a Bowden cable connection in an integrated manner. Furthermore, in the locked position, the transmitting part (24, 26, 28, 30) can be prevented from being actuated and thus the deflection lever (18) can be prevented from being swiveled into the unlocked position of the door.