Motor Vehicle Door Handle Decoupled Mass Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle door handle arrangements require a large installation space depth due to permanently connected mass balancing elements, which contradicts modern design requirements for a compact design while maintaining safety during vehicle accidents.

Innovation Solution

A handle arrangement with a decoupled mass balancing element that is only moved when the door handle is operated beyond its extended position, reducing installation space depth by temporarily decoupling it from the movement lever and coupling it with the movement lever only when the door handle is extended, utilizing a release control disk and extension cam contour for efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mass balancing element is permanently connected to the movement lever, then safety during vehicle accidents is improved, but the installation space depth increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety during vehicle accidentsVSAvoidinstallation space depth
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The mass balancing element is designed to be dynamically coupled to the movement lever only during specific phases of door handle operation (extension and emergency opening), rather than being permanently connected. This dynamic coupling allows the system to maintain safety functionality while reducing installation space depth, as the mass balancing element is only engaged when needed for crash protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The operation of the door handle is segmented into different phases (retraction, extension, emergency opening), and the mass balancing element is selectively engaged only during the extension and emergency opening phases. This segmentation allows the system to achieve safety during accidents without requiring continuous engagement, thereby reducing the required installation space depth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the mass balancing element is permanently moved with the movement lever, then safety functionality is maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety functionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mass balancing element transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic conditional connection with the movement lever. It is coupled during extension and emergency opening phases but decoupled during retraction and normal operation, reducing unnecessary movement and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining safety functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of permanently engaging the mass balancing element for all phases of operation, the system applies partial action by engaging it only during the specific phases (extension and emergency opening) where safety functionality is required. This reduces the complexity of continuous engagement mechanisms while maintaining adequate safety protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4372192A1Handle assembly of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4372192A1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP4372192A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8
  • EP4372192A1 patent drawingFigure 9~12

AI summary

The invention relates to a handle arrangement (3) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising a support element (6), a drive element (9), a drive lever (10), a locking lever (11), a door handle (4) which is designed to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position, a movement lever (12), and a mass balancing element (14) designed to counteract an acceleration force acting on the door handle (4) in the event of a crash, wherein the mass balancing element (14) is designed to be decoupled from the movement lever (12) when the door handle (4) moves from the retracted position in the direction of the opening direction (7), and is designed to be coupled to the movement lever (12) when the door handle (4) reaches the extended position and moves beyond the extended position, and is designed to be moved along with the movement lever (12).