Vehicular Door Handle Lock Pin Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicular door handle devices generate hammering sounds due to the sensitivity of the lock pin causing minute reciprocating motions when the door is closed strongly, leading to collisions with the cover body.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular door handle device with a lock pin guided by a pin-guide groove and supported by a soft body, which seals the through hole and prevents vibration when the lock pin moves, reducing the likelihood of hammering sounds by absorbing the impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lock pin sensitivity is increased to improve response to impact loads, then the door protection function is improved, but the lock pin generates minute reciprocating motions and hammering sounds when the door is closed strongly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor protection functionVSAvoidhammering sound
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A soft body is introduced as an intermediary element between the lock pin and the cover body. This soft body absorbs the impact energy when the lock pin moves during door closing, preventing direct contact and hammering sounds while maintaining the lock pin's sensitivity to impact loads for door protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The soft body is pre-installed between the lock pin and cover body to provide cushioning before any harmful contact occurs. This beforehand cushioning prevents the lock pin from directly striking the cover body during normal door closing operations, eliminating hammering sounds while preserving the lock pin's protective function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 soft body effectively prevents hammering sounds by supporting the lock pin and absorbing vibrations, ensuring the door can be closed without generating chattering noises.

Implementation Method 1

the soft body stops vibration of the lock pin and hammering sound generated by the vibration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the soft body having a size capable of closing the through hole of the bottom is interposed between the bottom and the through hole or the base end

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Viscoelasticity

Implementation Method 3

a spring member biased to a position where the lock pin is disengaged from the lock pin hole is disposed between the pin-guide groove and the base end

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

when an impact load exceeding a biasing force of the spring member is generated with respect to the door, the pin portion is relatively fitted into the lock pin hole by inertia of the lock pin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP2708691B1Vehicular door handle device
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 SAKAE RIKEN KOGYO CO LTD
  • EP2708691B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2708691B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2708691B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lock pin 24 which can be fitted toward a pin-fitting hole 19 (lock pin hole) formed in a shaft 14 (restriction member) of a bell crank 4 is disposed in the turn-motion guide 6 (operation guide) of a base member 120. The base member 120 is provided with a case body 23 (cover body) which covers the base end 27 of the lock pin 24 from outside and which slidably supports the base end 27. A soft body 31 (cushion material) is interposed between the base end 27 of the lock pin 24 and a bottom 23b of the case body 23 opposed to the base end 27 in a state where the soft body 31 is fixed to the base end 27 of the lock pin 24. When the lock pin 24 is disposed at a normal position, the base end 27 of the lock pin 24 is supported by the bottom 23b of the case body 23 through the soft body 31. The invention provides a vehicular door handle device capable of preventing hammering sound from being generated by collision between a lock pin and a cover body.