Vehicle Door Latch Blocking Plate Impact Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door latch assemblies in vehicles fail to maintain integrity and prevent unintended unlatching during impacts, such as collisions or collisions with stationary objects, which can compromise occupant safety.
Innovation Solution
The door latch assembly incorporates a blocking plate made of ductile metal with an L-shaped configuration, featuring an extension member that deforms to block the pawl and claw mechanisms during impacts, preventing the latch from releasing and ensuring the door remains closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional door latch assembly is used, then the door can be operated normally during regular use, but the latch assembly fails to maintain integrity and prevent unintended unlatching during impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking plate is pre-positioned in a retracted state during normal operation, allowing the door latch to function conventionally. Upon impact detection, the blocking plate automatically moves to a blocking position to prevent unlatching, thus preparing the protective action in advance without interfering with normal door operation
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking plate acts as an intermediary element between the impact force and the latch mechanism. It absorbs and redirects the impact forces that would otherwise cause the latch to fail, thereby protecting the primary latch components while maintaining overall system simplicity
2Reliability
If the blocking plate is designed to deform during impact, then it can effectively block the pawl and claw mechanisms, but this requires the material to have specific ductile properties
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking plate is designed with specific geometric parameters (thickness, width, L-shape configuration) that, combined with ductile metal material properties, enable controlled deformation during impact. The parameters are optimized to ensure the plate deforms in a manner that effectively blocks the latch mechanisms while absorbing impact energy
3Reliability
If the blocking plate extends to block the pawl and claw, then unintended unlatching is prevented during impact, but the blocking plate may interfere with normal latch operation if not properly positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking plate is designed to be dynamically positioned - remaining in a retracted, non-interfering position during normal door operation and automatically transitioning to a blocking position during impact events. This dynamic behavior ensures both normal ease of operation and reliability during adverse events
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 effectively enhances the impact performance of the door latch assembly by preventing unintended unlatching during adverse events, thereby improving vehicle integrity and occupant safety by maintaining the door in a closed position during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a blocking plate (50) made of ductile metal with an L-shaped configuration, featuring an extension member that deforms to block the pawl and claw mechanisms during impacts
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door latch assembly for maintaining the vehicle door in a closed position including during an angled impact to the door latch of the vehicle. The latch assembly includes a catch, a pawl, and an actuator coupled to a door latch base. The catch is movable to and from a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of a striker coupled to the vehicle to maintain the door closed. The catch is also movable to and from an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the striker to allow the door to open. The pawl is configured to maintain the catch in the closed position until the door handle is actuated. The latch assembly includes a blocking plate including an extension member which is deformable during an impact to align with one of or both a pawl lifter and the pawl member to prevent their rotation and thereby maintain the latch assembly and the vehicle door in a latched position during such an impact.