Control Cable Coupling With Radial Stop to Prevent Flange Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical control devices for automotive vehicle door latches experience friction and wear issues due to axial movements of the control cable causing contact with the lever flanges.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical control device featuring a coupling element with a radial protrusion that limits axial movements, maintaining a clearance between the control cable and the lever flanges, thereby preventing contact and reducing friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control cable is allowed to move axially during actuation, then the coupling element can pivot freely on the lever flanges, but the cable comes into contact with the flanges causing friction and wear
Solution Approach 1:
A radial protrusion is introduced as an intermediary element between the control cable and the lever flanges. This protrusion limits the axial movement of the coupling element, thereby preventing direct contact between the cable and flanges while still allowing the coupling element to pivot freely. The protrusion acts as a mediator that maintains the necessary clearance to eliminate friction and wear.
2Reliability
If the axial movement of the coupling element is restricted, then contact between the cable and flanges is prevented, but the pivoting freedom of the coupling element may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The radial protrusion is positioned at a specific location on the coupling element, angularly offset from the cable coupling end. This localized feature restricts axial movement only where necessary to prevent cable-flange contact, while leaving the pivoting motion around the pivot axis completely free. The local quality of the protrusion's positioning ensures that pivoting freedom is maintained while reliability is improved.
3Reliability
If the radial protrusion is positioned close to the cable coupling end, then axial movement limitation is effective, but the wear-sensitive zone of the coupling element is exposed to potential contact
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element features an asymmetric design where the radial protrusion is angularly offset from the cable coupling end with respect to the pivot axis. This asymmetric positioning creates a spatial separation between the protrusion (which limits axial movement) and the cable coupling end (which is sensitive to wear). The asymmetry ensures that the wear-sensitive zone is protected from contact while the protrusion effectively limits axial movement.
Data Source
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AI summary
The mechanical control device comprises a control cable (18) coupled to a lever (22), and a coupling element (24) secured to one end of the cable (18), this coupling element (24) comprising two pivoting ends movably mounted respectively on two flanges (F1, F2) of the lever (22) about a pivoting axis (X). The cable coupling end (18A) is interposed axially between the two pivoting ends of the coupling element (24). The coupling element (24) comprises a radial protrusion (26) for limiting axial movements of the coupling element (24) between the flanges (F1, F2). The radial protrusion (26) extends between the flanges (F1, F2) and has an axial dimension greater than the diameter (D) of the cable (18) so as to maintain, during axial movements of the coupling element (24) between the flanges (F1, F2), a clearance between the cable (18) and each of the lever flanges (F1, F2).