Vehicle Door Outer Handle Compact Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing door outer handle structure for vehicles has low space efficiency in the vehicle width direction due to the requirement of additional space for the projection and rotation of the lever member, which restricts the compact configuration of the door handle.
Innovation Solution
The proposed door outer handle structure incorporates a bell crank with a spring bias and a connection lever mechanism, where a lever member is positioned to restrict the movement of the connection lever in the door opening direction during collisions, and an extended portion of the connection shaft contacts the lever member to prevent unlatching, allowing for a more compact design by utilizing the existing vehicle-width-direction space effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lever member is configured to rotate from the set rotational position to the retracted rotational position to restrict movement of the projection in the door opening direction, then the door opening prevention function is achieved, but the space efficiency in the vehicle width direction is reduced due to the required vehicle-width-direction spaces for the projection and lever member rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the door opening prevention function with the existing link mechanism components. The lever member is integrated into the base member structure, and the projection is formed on the connection lever that is already part of the link mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for separate space allocations for the projection and lever member rotation, achieving space efficiency while maintaining the door opening prevention function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement by allowing the lever member to rotate in the vehicle width direction rather than requiring a projection that extends in the door opening direction. This dimensional change in the rotation path enables more efficient use of the vehicle width direction space while achieving the same door opening prevention effect.
2Reliability
If the projection is made to extend sufficiently in the vehicle inside direction from the end surface of the connection lever, then the lever member can effectively restrict movement in the door opening direction, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the projection function with the connection lever itself, making the projection an integral part of the existing link mechanism rather than a separate component. This reduces device complexity while maintaining the reliability of movement restriction in the door opening direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection lever is given multiple functions: it transmits the door opening operation from the outer handle to the door latch mechanism, and simultaneously provides the projection that restricts movement in the door opening direction during collisions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall structure.
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
This configuration ensures reliable prevention of the unlatching operation during vehicle collisions while maintaining high space efficiency inside the vehicle, allowing for a compact and reliable door outer handle structure.
Implementation Method 1
a spring interposed between the bell crank and the base member, which is configured to bias/urge the bell crank toward the door closing position
Implementation Method 2
an urging member configured to bias/urge the lever member toward a set position
Implementation Method 3
a bell crank including an input arm portion and an output arm portion each being rotatably assembled to the base member so as to be swingable, the bell crank being engaged with a swinging portion of the outer handle at the input arm portion
Implementation Method 4
a connection lever rotatably assembled to the output arm portion through intermediation of a connection shaft extending in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle so as to be swingable under a state in which the door is closed, the connection lever being configured to enable an unlatching operation of the door latch mechanism through movement in the door opening direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A door opening prevention mechanism (40) includes a lever member (41) rotatable with respect to a base member (10) and swingable in a vehicle inside-and-outside direction, and an urging member (42) configured to bias the lever member (41) toward a set position. The door opening prevention mechanism (40) can be arranged in accordance with a vehicle-width-direction space of a region in which a connection shaft (34) moves. The lever member (41) is held in the set position when an outer handle is located in a door closing position under a state in which a given inertial force does not act in a vehicle outside direction for a door in the event of collision of a vehicle, and swings in the vehicle outside direction from the set position to be moved to a locked position against an urging force of the urging member (42) when the inertial force acts. When the lever member (41) is located in the set position, movement of a connection lever (33) in a door opening direction is allowed. When the lever member (41) is located in the locked position, the movement of the connection lever (33) in the door opening direction is restricted. As a result, the door opening prevention mechanism configured to prevent an unlatching operation of a door latch mechanism in the event of collision of the vehicle can be configured compactly in the vehicle width direction.