Vehicle Door Release Cable Pulling Geometry for Compact Latch Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door lock release mechanisms face challenges in ensuring sufficient cable pulling amount without increasing the size of the cable pulling member or decreasing the ease of handle operation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door design featuring a handle arm and cable pulling member with a contact surface that increases in distance from the rotary shaft as it turns, allowing the release cable to be pulled effectively without enlarging the cable pulling member or complicating handle operation, and optionally forming the contact surface into a curved or elliptical shape to prevent cable bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the size of the cable pulling member is increased to ensure sufficient pulling amount of the release cable, then the pulling amount of the release cable is increased, but the cable pulling member is likely to come into contact with other members (typically door glass) in the door due to vibration during vehicle travel
Solution Approach 1:
The cable pulling member is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the thickness varies along its longitudinal direction. Specifically, the thickness is greater at the proximal end (near the rotary shaft) and smaller at the distal end (farther from the rotary shaft). This local variation in geometry allows the member to provide sufficient pulling moment while maintaining a compact overall size that prevents contact with door glass during vibration.
2Length of moving object
If the operation amount of the handle is increased to ensure the pulling amount of the release cable, then the pulling amount of the release cable is increased, but ease of operation of the handle for the user decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable pulling member utilizes parameter changes in its geometric configuration, specifically varying the thickness along its length to optimize the moment arm distribution. This allows the system to achieve the required cable pulling distance with a moderate handle operation angle, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring sufficient latch release capability.
3Reliability
If the cable pulling member is made compact to avoid contact with door glass, then contact with door glass is prevented, but the pulling amount of the release cable may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cable pulling member employs non-uniform thickness distribution, with greater thickness at the proximal end providing a longer effective moment arm for cable pulling, while the thinner distal end reduces the overall envelope to prevent contact with door glass. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between compactness and pulling effectiveness.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To ensure a pulling amount of a release cable while suppressing an increase in size of a cable pulling member and a decrease in ease of operation of a handle in a vehicle door. [Means for Solution] A vehicle door 10 includes: a handle 20 that is gripped by a user; a handle arm 30 that is turned about a hinge pin 31 with an operation of the handle; a crank plate 60 that is turned about a hinge pin with turning of the handle arm, thus pulling a release cable 70; and a latch device 80 that releases a lock of the door when the release cable is pulled, wherein the crank plate pulls the release cable by causing a contact surface 67, which comes into contact with the release cable, to move with turning of the crank plate, and the contact surface is formed such that a distance from the rotary shaft (hinge pin) to the contact surface increases as the contact surface goes in a direction opposite to a turning direction in opening the door.