Vehicle Door Handle Casting with Inverted Filling Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle handles face issues with gas inclusions during the casting compound filling process, leading to corrosion and stability problems for electronic components and the handle itself.

Innovation Solution

A handle design featuring a filling element that introduces the casting compound from below, preventing gas inclusions by ensuring a gas-free and homogeneous filling process, along with functional parts that provide a secure and moisture-tight closure of the cavity, and optional heating elements for optimal flow properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cavity is filled with casting compound from above using conventional methods, then the filling process is simple, but gas inclusions form causing corrosion and stability problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability and longevity of handleVSAvoidcomplexity of filling process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filling element is introduced from below instead of from above, inverting the conventional filling approach. This allows the casting compound to rise upward through the cavity, preventing gas inclusions from forming and ensuring reliable protection of electronic components without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

A filling element acts as an intermediary device to introduce the casting compound into the cavity from below. This intermediary structure enables the inverted filling process, ensuring gas-free filling while maintaining a manageable manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If gas inclusions are present during casting compound filling, then the filling process is faster, but corrosion and stability problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling speedVSAvoidgas inclusions causing corrosion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the filling direction and introducing the casting compound from below, the process maintains efficient filling speed while naturally preventing gas inclusions from forming, as gases rise away from the filling zone rather than being trapped

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 the stability and longevity of the handle by preventing gas inclusions, ensuring reliable protection of electronic components and maintaining the handle's structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

the casting compound can be introduced into the cavity from below and slowly rise upwards there

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

A heating element, in particular in the form of an electrical resistance wire, can be provided in order to enable optimal flow properties of the casting compound within the filling element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2350411B1Door handle with cast electronic component, and corresponding manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2014.04.09 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2350411B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2350411B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2350411B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5c

AI summary

The invention relates to a handle (10), in particular for a vehicle, comprising a grip part (11) grasped by a user, wherein the grip part (11) comprises a cavity (11.3) in which at least one electronic component (12) can be disposed, and at least one first function part (13) seals off an opening (11.1, 11.2) of the cavity (11.3), and a casting compound (19) is poured into the cavity (11.3). According to the invention, a filling element (15) is provided by which the casting compound (19) can be introduced into the cavity (11.3) from the outside, wherein the filling element (15) ends in the bottom area (11.6) of the cavity (11.3) when the grip part (11) is aligned vertically. The invention further relates to a manufacturing method according to independent claim 12 for a handle (10) of this class.