Vehicle Door Handle Linkage for Ice-Breaking Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle handles become frozen to the outer surface in cold weather, preventing normal deployment from a retracted position.
Innovation Solution
A handle device with a first and second pushing member system that rotates the handle through an intermediate position to break ice, allowing deployment with reduced force and efficient force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle is deployed from a retracted position in cold weather, then the handle can be used to unlock and open the door, but the handle becomes frozen to the outer surface and cannot be deployed
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is activated before the handle deployment attempt to pre-heat the handle surface and prevent ice formation. This preliminary thermal action ensures the handle remains unfrozen and operable in cold weather conditions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Reliability
If a heating element is added to prevent handle freezing, then handle operation reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated into the existing handle assembly, merging the thermal protection function with the structural components. This combination approach adds heating capability while minimizing overall device complexity by utilizing shared space and coordinated control systems.
3Reliability
If the handle is kept in a retracted position to avoid ice formation, then the handle surface remains free of ice, but the handle cannot be operated to open the door
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the handle surface before deployment is attempted, preventing ice formation in advance. This allows the handle to be deployed and operated normally without being constrained in the retracted position, thus maintaining both reliability and ease of operation.
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
Facilitates ice breaking and deployment with minimal power consumption, ensuring handle operation even in freezing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element integrated into the handle assembly is activated to heat the handle surface
Implementation Method 2
melt any ice formed on the handle surface
Data Source
AI summary
A handle device that includes a handle base, a handle, and first and second pushing members. The handle has a main body and an operating member that extends from it. The handle is attached to the base so it can rotate around an axis, allowing it to move between a retracted position, a deployed position, and an intermediate position. The first pushing member can move toward and away from the handle body in a first direction. The second pushing member moves forward and backward in a second direction using a driving device and has front and rear actuating portions. The front portion is farther from the axis than the rear portion. When the second pushing member moves forward, the front portion pushes the first pushing member, which rotates the handle from the retracted position to the intermediate position. Then, the rear portion engages with the handle's operating member to rotate the handle from the intermediate position to the deployed position.