Vehicle Upper Door Latch Reinforcing Flange Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional upper door latch devices in vehicles are prone to deformation and breakage during collisions due to relative displacement between the vehicle body and door, leading to malfunction and increased cost from thickness enhancements or welding of reinforcing plates.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle upper door latch device with a reinforcing flange extending downward from the striker entering groove, bent at a right angle, integrated with the base member to enhance bending rigidity without increasing thickness or using reinforcing plates, and formed from high tensile steel for lightweight strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the base members is increased to prevent deformation and breakage during collisions, then the strength and bending rigidity are improved, but the device becomes larger and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding a reinforcing flange only at the specific location where the striker enters the base member, rather than uniformly increasing the thickness of the entire base member. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary bending rigidity at the stress concentration point while keeping the rest of the base member thin and lightweight.
2Strength
If a reinforcing plate is welded to the base members to increase bending rigidity, then the strength is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reinforcing flange with the base member by forming them as a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate reinforcing plates and welding processes, simplifying manufacturing while providing the necessary structural reinforcement at the striker entry point.
3Weight of moving object
If the base members are made thinner to reduce weight and size, then the device becomes more compact and lightweight, but the bending rigidity and strength decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains thin base members for overall weight reduction while adding a localized reinforcing flange at the critical stress point where the striker enters. This allows the base member to remain thin and lightweight in non-critical areas while providing sufficient bending rigidity where needed.
4Ease of manufacture
If the base members are made thinner to reduce manufacturing cost, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the bending rigidity and resistance to collision damage decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the base member and reinforcing flange into a single integrated component that can be manufactured as one piece. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing the necessary reinforcement at the critical striker entry point to prevent deformation and breakage during collisions.
Data Source
AI summary
An upper door latch device for a vehicle is provided which satisfies the requirements of strength and is lightweight. A reinforcement flange section (261) extends downward from an extension section of a striker entry groove (26a), into which a striker enters, and bent forward at a right angle, or at substantially at a right angle, is provided at a side edge of a front base plate (26), which faces outside of the vehicle. A front mounting section (262) is provided continuous with the lower part of the reinforcement flange section (261).