Vehicle Door Latch Inertial Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door opening prevention devices in vehicles increase costs and weights due to unnecessary components, face layout issues with peripheral components, and require multiple designs and tests for different vehicle types, as they rely on balance weights applied to the outside handle to prevent door opening during broadside collisions.
Innovation Solution
A door opening prevention device that uses a striker locking lever operated by inertia, which catches the door striker, and omits the weight balance on the outside handle by integrating a balance weight and striker locking lever within the latch assembly, allowing the latch to restrict the striker instead, reducing costs and weights, and improving layout design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a balance weight is applied to the outside handle lever to prevent door opening in broadside collision, then door opening prevention is achieved, but costs and weights are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The balance weight function is merged with the door latch assembly by integrating a balance weight on the claw lever. This combines the door locking function and the collision prevention function into a single integrated mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate balance weight on the outside handle lever and reducing overall weight and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The balance weight function is extracted from the outside handle lever system and relocated to the claw lever within the latch assembly. This extraction allows the outside handle lever to be simplified while maintaining the collision prevention function through the integrated balance weight on the claw lever.
2Reliability
If a balance weight is applied to the outside handle lever to prevent door opening in broadside collision, then door opening prevention is achieved, but costs are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The balance weight function is merged with the door latch assembly by integrating a balance weight on the claw lever. This combines the door locking function and the collision prevention function into a single integrated mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate balance weight on the outside handle lever and reducing overall weight and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The claw lever is given multiple functions: it serves as both the door locking mechanism and the collision prevention mechanism through its integrated balance weight. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs.
3Ease of operation
If the outside handle lever is rotated when occupant pulls the handle, then door opening is enabled, but gap with glass becomes insufficient causing layout problems
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening mechanism is segmented into independent rotational components. The claw lever rotates independently on its hinge shaft to enable door opening, while the balance weight on the claw lever is positioned to rotate within its own path. This segmentation allows both functions to coexist without interference with the glass.
Solution Approach 2:
The balance weight is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the glass, rotating on the hinge shaft in a manner that avoids collision with the glass. This dimensional arrangement allows the balance weight to perform its collision prevention function without encroaching on the space needed for glass installation.
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
This solution reduces costs and weights by using a smaller balance weight, allows for common application across various vehicle types without additional testing, and enhances layout design by avoiding interference with the door glass, thereby improving marketability and reducing development costs.
Implementation Method 1
a balance weight which is rotatably coupled to a side surface of a claw disposed in the latch assembly, wherein the balance weight is pivotable downward by inertia in the broadside collision of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the balance weight receives restoring force of a return spring which is installed on the hinge shaft and connects the side surface of the claw and the balance weight
Data Source
AI summary
A door opening prevention device in a broadside collision of a vehicle, having a latch assembly which locks and unlocks a door side striker in conjunction with an operation of an outside handle when the outside handle may be operated, may include a balance weight which may be rotatably coupled to a side surface of a claw disposed in the latch assembly, wherein the balance weight may be pivotable downward by inertia in the broadside collision of the vehicle, and a striker locking lever slidably engaged to the side surface of the claw and elastically biased upwards, wherein the striker locking lever may be fitted between the side surface of the claw and the door side striker to jam the claw and the door side striker while being moved in a down direction by contact with the balance weight by the inertia in the broadside collision of the vehicle.