Vehicle Door Handle with Shearable Pivot Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle opening handles are prone to breaking and becoming unusable when subjected to the deformation caused by explosions from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which blocks the operation of vehicle doors both inside and outside.
Innovation Solution
A handle design featuring a gripping member integral with a drive means that includes a sleeve fixed on the control shaft and an articulated sleeve with a shearable connecting mechanism, allowing the gripping member to pivot around a perpendicular axis when a calibrated force is applied, preventing breakage and maintaining maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the gripping member is made integral with a rigid drive means, then the structural strength is improved, but the handle becomes prone to breaking under explosion deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The drive means is divided into two separate sleeves: a first sleeve fixed to the control shaft and a second sleeve attached to the gripping member. These sleeves can pivot relative to each other through a joint, allowing the gripping member to move independently from the control shaft during explosion deformation while maintaining normal operation during regular use.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint between the two sleeves transforms the rigid integral connection into a dynamic articulated connection. This allows the drive means to adapt its configuration based on external forces - remaining rigid during normal operation for strength, and becoming flexible during explosion deformation to prevent breaking.
2Device complexity
If the gripping member is positioned close to the wall for compactness, then the device complexity is reduced, but the handle gets blocked by deformed sheet metal during explosion
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated joint enables the gripping member to pivot away from deformed sheet metal when explosion forces push the sheet metal inward. This dynamic movement capability allows the handle to maintain operability even when positioned close to the wall, as the gripping member can automatically adjust its position to avoid blocking.
3Ease of operation
If a narrowed zone is introduced to allow easy removal of the handle, then the ease of operation is improved, but the handle becomes prone to breaking under impact
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a weakened narrowed zone in a single-piece handle, the invention segments the handle into multiple strong components (gripping member and two sleeves) connected by a joint. This allows the handle to be easily disassembled for removal without compromising the structural integrity of each component, eliminating the need for weak narrowed zones.
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 handle remains operational even after deformation, allowing continued actuation of the control shaft without blocking, ensuring the door can still be opened despite impacts from external forces.
Implementation Method 1
The shearable connecting means may consist of a screw or a cylindrical pin parallel to the pivot axis. According to variants, the shearable connection means may consist of at least one point of welding or at least one point of glue.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
The handle (1) has a gripping unit (3) i.e. metallic tube, integrated to a sleeve (4b) and a bush (4a) of a drive unit (4), where the sleeve and the bush are engaged on a control shaft (2) of a lock of an opening frame. A pivoting unit (14) authorizes pivoting of a part of the gripping unit with respect to a pivoting axis (8) that is perpendicular to the control shaft based on calibrated effort exerted on the gripping unit with a component parallel to the control shaft.