Vehicle Door Emergency Actuator Locking With Shell-Open Sensing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency actuating devices for vehicle doors face reliability issues due to continuous power consumption and wear from frequent mechanical locking and unlocking, especially when transitioning between parking and travel modes, and are costly for large-scale production.

Innovation Solution

An emergency actuating device with an electromagnetically driven locking mechanism and an opening sensor, which locks the actuation element when vehicle speed exceeds a threshold, preventing manual operation and reducing power consumption by using a coil for locking and a holding current for stability, along with an optical and audible warning system to alert the driver of tampering attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mechanical locking mechanism is continuously powered to prevent accidental door opening during travel, then safety is improved, but power consumption increases and wear occurs from repeated locking/unlocking operations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electromagnetic actuator operates periodically rather than continuously - it locks the actuation element when the vehicle transitions to travel mode and unlocks it when transitioning to parking mode. This periodic operation significantly reduces power consumption compared to continuous powering while maintaining safety during travel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces a traditionally continuously-powered mechanical locking system with an electromechanical system that uses an electromagnetic actuator. This substitution allows for more efficient control - the actuator only consumes power during locking and unlocking transitions, not continuously, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a mechanical locking mechanism is continuously powered to prevent accidental door opening during travel, then safety is improved, but wear and stress on the actuator increases from repeated locking/unlocking operations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidactuator lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The electromagnetic actuator operates periodically rather than continuously - it locks the actuation element when the vehicle transitions to travel mode and unlocks it when transitioning to parking mode. This periodic operation significantly reduces power consumption compared to continuous powering while maintaining safety during travel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If a complex locking mechanism is implemented to ensure reliable door locking during travel, then safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor locking reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electromagnetic actuator serves multiple functions: it locks the actuation element during travel, unlocks it during parking, and can be integrated with existing vehicle control systems. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated locking mechanisms, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable door locking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces a traditionally continuously-powered mechanical locking system with an electromechanical system that uses an electromagnetic actuator. This substitution allows for more efficient control - the actuator only consumes power during locking and unlocking transitions, not continuously, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enhances reliability by preventing accidental door opening during travel, reduces wear and power consumption, and allows for cost-effective mass production while ensuring safety through efficient locking and warning mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

The device 11 is further provided with an electromagnetically driven locking mechanism 29 adapted to lock the actuation element 15 in its rest configuration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentUS11885167B2Emergency actuating device

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 BONETTO CLAUDIA

AI summary

Emergency actuating device, especially for vehicle doors, is provided. The device includes: a support base; a manual actuation element adapted to assume rest and actuation configurations; an electromagnetically driven locking mechanism adapted to lock the actuation element in its rest configuration; a protective shell adapted to assume a closed configuration in which the shell isolates the actuation element from the outer environment when the actuation element is in its rest configuration, and makes it impossible to reach the actuation element with a hand, and an open configuration, in which the actuation element can be reached with a hand to be brought from the rest configuration to the actuation configuration and vice versa; and an opening sensor adapted to generate an electric signal indicative of the open configuration of the protective shell, the signal being processable by an electronic control unit for controlling locking and/or unlocking of the locking mechanism.