Vehicle Door Actuator Fixing Means Vibration Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing actuation devices for vehicle doors, such as trunks, face inefficiencies due to vibrations causing the nut to unscrew, leading to play and unpleasant noise, and require complex disassembly for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The actuation device features a reversible and reusable system with securing projections and protuberances that provide frictional forces to secure the arm to the driving means, preventing self-opening and allowing easy disassembly for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nut is used to fix the arm to the driving means, then the arm can be connected to the driving means, but the vibrations cause the nut to unscrew leading to play and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a securing projection that protrudes from the nut and engages with a corresponding securing recess in the driving means before vibrations can cause the nut to unscrew. This preventive measure counteracts the harmful effect of vibrations by establishing a mechanical interlock that blocks the unscrewing motion, thereby preventing play and noise generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional threaded connection to a two-dimensional solution by adding a securing projection that extends radially outward from the nut and engages with a securing recess in the driving means. This dimensional addition creates a secondary constraint that prevents rotational movement in the unscrewing direction, effectively eliminating play and noise caused by vibrations.
2Reliability
If the nut is tightly fixed to prevent self-opening, then fixation reliability improves, but disassembly for maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the securing projection resilient, allowing it to deform elastically during assembly and disassembly operations. During normal operation, the projection maintains a secure engagement with the driving means. During disassembly, when force is applied to the nut, the resilient projection can deform to disengage from the securing recess, enabling easy removal without damaging components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the securing projection from rigid to resilient, allowing it to exhibit elastic deformation. This parameter change enables the projection to maintain secure engagement during normal operation while allowing controlled disengagement during maintenance, thus resolving the contradiction between fixation reliability and ease of repair.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple threaded connection is used, then ease of manufacture improves, but the connection is not secure against vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the nut into functional segments: the threaded portion for basic connection and the securing projection for vibration resistance. This segmentation allows the nut to maintain the simplicity of a threaded connection while adding a separate feature (the projection) that provides vibration resistance, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and vibration resistance.
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 solution effectively secures the crank fixation against self-opening, reduces noise, and simplifies maintenance by enabling easy disassembly and reassembly, enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the actuation device.
Implementation Method 1
comprise at least one protuberance intended to be pressed against a connecting wall of the driving means, giving frictional forces for an effective retaining of the fixing means on the driving means
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an actuation device for opening and/or closing a vehicle door, the device comprising: - driving means (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (25) and comprising a first driving portion (41) and a connecting external threaded portion (2), - an arm (5) projecting from the driving axis (25), the arm (5) comprising a driven portion (51) configured to cooperate with the driving portion (41) so as to connect the arm (5) to the driving means (4) in order for the arm (5) to be rotated by the driving means according to the longitudinal axis (25), - fixing means (1) comprising an internal threaded portion (13) intended for cooperating with the connecting external threaded portion (2) of the driving means (4), the said fixing means (1) being configured to fix the arm (5) to the driving means (4), wherein the fixing means (1) comprise at least one securing projection (12) intended to cooperate with a securing recess (22) of the driving means (4) to prevent the rotation of the fixing in an unscrewing direction.