Vehicle Door Handle Inertial System with Adjustable Preloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door handle inertial systems face challenges in uniformity and scalability, leading to increased production costs and logistical complexity due to the need for multiple models tailored to different vehicle door handle configurations and weights, and they often fail to reliably return to a non-blocking position after a crash, potentially allowing unsolicited door opening during vibrations or secondary impacts.
Innovation Solution
An inertial system for vehicle door handles featuring an inertial mass that transitions from a rest to a blocking position under inertia, with elastic means and a preloading mechanism allowing for adjustable tensile stress states, enabling adaptation to various door handle configurations, and incorporating a rotational damper for controlled return to the rest position, ensuring reliable door locking during crashes and easy evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If temporary blocking devices are used to allow door opening after crash stabilization, then ease of evacuation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to vibrations and inertia oscillations freeing the blocking means
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between blocking and non-blocking states based on crash conditions. The inertial mass moves to engage blocking means during crash, then returns to release them after stabilization, creating a dynamic response that adapts to the vehicle's motion state rather than being statically locked or unlocked
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of the blocking means from engaged to disengaged based on inertial forces during crash. The inertial mass position serves as a parameter that indicates crash severity, triggering the transition between locked and unlocked states
2Reliability
If permanent blocking devices are used to maintain door closed during crash, then reliability of door locking is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as latches remain blocked even when safe to open
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the motion state of the inertial mass as a dynamic indicator of crash conditions. During crash, the inertial mass engages blocking means for reliable locking, but after the vehicle stabilizes, the inertial mass returns to its original position, automatically releasing the blocking means to allow evacuation
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple models of inertial systems are developed for different door handle configurations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial system is designed as a universal component that can be adapted to different door handle configurations through adjustable elements. The system maintains the same core structure and blocking mechanism across applications, reducing the need for multiple specialized models while maintaining adaptability to various vehicle types
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 system effectively adapts to different door handle configurations, ensuring reliable door locking during crashes while allowing easy evacuation by controlling the return to the rest position, reducing production costs and logistical complexity through a single model that can be tuned for various vehicle types.
Implementation Method 1
an inertial mass, driven by inertia from a rest position in which the opening of the door is authorized, to a blocking position in which the opening of the door is blocked
Implementation Method 2
elastic means, being in a minimal tensile stress state when the inertial mass is in rest position, and configured to apply a force or torque on the inertial mass to bring said inertial mass from the blocking position back in rest position
Data Source
AI summary
An inertial system for a vehicle door handle of a door includes an inertial mass driven by inertia from a rest position in which opening of the door is permitted to a blocking position in which opening of the door is not permitted, a blocking means that prevents opening of the door when the inertial mass is in the blocking position. The inertial system also includes an elastic means being in a minimal tensile stress state when the inertial mass is in rest position and applies a force on the inertial mass to bring the inertial mass from the blocking position to the rest position and a preloading mechanism that cooperates with the elastic means and includes at least two preloading states for enabling the elastic means to have different minimal tensile stress states.