Vehicle Door Handle Safety Device Inertial Blocking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door safety devices face challenges in synchronizing the blocking and activation elements to ensure early interlocking and limit the opening stroke during collisions, which can lead to inefficient door closure in safety-critical situations.

Innovation Solution

A safety device for vehicle doors featuring a blocking element with a receiving part having two secant plane surfaces and a blocking part that interacts with these surfaces to achieve early interlocking and limit the opening stroke, utilizing an inertial mass and a retaining lug to maintain the blocking position, with the activation element and blocking element axes oriented perpendicularly to enhance synchronization and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the blocking element and activation element are designed with simple geometry and mass distribution, then the device complexity is reduced, but the synchronization between blocking and activation elements deteriorates, leading to delayed blocking during collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidsynchronization reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely adjusting the mass distribution, moment of inertia, and geometric dimensions of the blocking element and activation element. The blocking element is designed with specific mass concentration and dimensional parameters to ensure it rotates and engages the activation element at the exact moment of collision, achieving reliable synchronization without increasing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking element is pre-positioned and pre-configured in its initial state before collision occurs. The geometric parameters and mass distribution are predetermined during design so that when collision happens, the blocking element automatically rotates to the correct position and engages the activation element without requiring real-time control or adjustment, ensuring timely blocking action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the blocking element is designed to engage the activation element early in the collision process, then the synchronization is improved, but the device complexity increases due to finer tuning requirements of shape, mass and cinematic parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblocking effectivenessVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing specific geometric parameters (radii, angles, wall thicknesses) and mass distribution parameters of the blocking and activation elements. These parameter adjustments enable early engagement while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, balancing blocking effectiveness with design complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking element is segmented into distinct functional portions with different mass concentrations and geometric characteristics. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each portion's parameters to achieve early and effective blocking without requiring complex integration or adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the activation element is allowed to rotate freely from initial to final position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety deteriorates during collision as the opening stroke cannot be limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor operation easeVSAvoiddoor opening during collision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking element is pre-configured to provide counter-action against the activation element's rotation during collision. The geometric parameters of the blocking element create a mechanical constraint that opposes and limits the activation element's movement, preventing excessive opening stroke while allowing normal operation under non-collision conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static blocking configuration to a dynamic one during collision. The blocking element rotates and engages with the activation element based on the dynamic forces generated during collision, automatically limiting the opening stroke only when necessary while maintaining full operational freedom during normal use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 ensures early and effective interlocking of the activation element with the blocking part, limiting the opening stroke and maintaining the blocking position under inertial forces, thereby enhancing vehicle door safety during collisions.

Implementation Method 1

the blocking element comprises an inertial mass and a blocking part, wherein the blocking part is configured to intercept an oblique stop of the activation element during a collision

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertial forces: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP3121354B1Safety device for a vehicle door handle
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 U SHIN ITALIA SPA
  • EP3121354B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3121354B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3121354B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6B

AI summary

The invention relates to a safety device for a vehicle door handle, the device comprising: - an activation element (2) configured to activate a latch wherein a collision on the safety may cause the activation element (2) to activate the latch - a blocking element (3) configured, as a result of the collision, to rotate around a blocking axis (30), from a disengaged position to a blocking position in which the blocking element (3) is intended to block the activation element (2) at a blocked position wherein the activation element (2) comprises a receiving part (4), and the blocking element (3) comprises a blocking part (32) engaging the receiving part (4) in the blocking position wherein during the collision, the blocking part (32) cooperates successively with a first interception wall (42), a second interception wall (41) and a blocking wall (40) of the receiving part. The invention further relates to the corresponding handle.