Vehicle Door Latch Gear Train for Compact High-Force Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door latch equipment with electrical release mechanisms face challenges in providing a compact design capable of applying high forces to overcome seal hardening due to low temperatures or crash conditions, while maintaining a compact size.
Innovation Solution
The use of a planetary gear mechanism in combination with a gear wheel and worm, along with an electrical release motor, allows for a compact design that applies high torque to overcome seal hardening, coupled with a mechanical release mechanism for additional functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a compact electrical release mechanism is designed, then the space requirement is reduced, but the force capability to open the door under low temperature conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a planetary gear mechanism that dynamically transmits and amplifies torque from the electrical release motor. The planetary gear set with sun gear, planet gears, and ring gear creates a compact yet high-torque transmission system that can generate sufficient force to overcome seal hardening in low temperature conditions while maintaining a reduced spatial footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The planetary gear mechanism utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of gears to achieve high torque multiplication in a compact volume. By arranging gears in multiple dimensions (sun gear at center, planet gears orbiting, ring gear enclosing), the system achieves high force capability without proportionally increasing the overall volume of the electrical release mechanism.
2Volume of moving object
If both electrical and manual release mechanisms are packed in reduced space, then the overall device size is minimized, but the complexity of integrating both mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the manual release mechanism and electrical release mechanism into a unified latch assembly where both mechanisms share common components such as the latch body, engagement mechanism, and opening lever. The manual release lever and electrical release motor converge on the same latch release point, allowing both functions to coexist in reduced space while minimizing integration complexity through component sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening lever serves as a universal component that can be actuated by either the electrical release motor or the manual release lever. This multi-functional design allows a single component to fulfill multiple release functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated mechanisms and thereby minimizing overall device size while managing integration complexity.
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 enables a vehicle door latch equipment that can apply high forces to open doors under various conditions, including low temperatures, while maintaining a compact size and offering a mechanical backup for enhanced reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical release mechanism also comprising a planetary gear arranged between the electrical release motor and the rotatable opening lever
Implementation Method 2
a worm arranged on the output shaft of the electrical release motor which is configured to mesh with a gear wheel
Implementation Method 3
The use of a planetary gear enables having a mechanical release mechanism with a high torque in a limited space
Implementation Method 4
a spring arranged between the rotatable opening lever and a part which is fixed with respect to a housing of the vehicle door latch equipment to bring the rotatable opening lever back in the rest position
Implementation Method 5
an electrical release motor with an output shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door latch equipment includes an engagement mechanism to engage with a striker, a rotatable opening lever to rotate between a rest position and an actuation position wherein the rotatable opening lever releases the engagement mechanism, and an electrical release mechanism including an electrical release motor with an output shaft and a worm arranged on the output shaft of the electrical release motor which is arranged to mesh with a gear wheel in order to displace the rotatable opening lever. The electrical release mechanism also includes a planetary gear arranged between the electrical release motor and the rotatable opening lever.