Motor Vehicle Door Latch Pawl Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motor vehicle door latch devices have high manufacturing costs and weight due to the need for a separate opening lever fixed to the pawl by crimping, increasing the number of parts.

Innovation Solution

A door latch device with a metal core pawl and synthetic-resin molding that integrates the pawl, releasing, and handle-moving levers, eliminating the need for a separate opening lever and reducing the number of parts and weight by using a synthetic-resin box-like body and metal cover and back members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate opening lever is fixed to the pawl by crimping, then the lever can transmit opening operations, but the number of parts increases and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening operation transmissionVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The opening lever is integrated directly into the pawl structure as a unified component. The pawl includes a body portion and an opening lever portion that are formed as a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate parts and crimping connections while maintaining the functionality of transmitting opening operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated pawl structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the locking component (pawl) and the opening mechanism (opening lever). This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components needed in the door latch device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a separate opening lever is fixed to the pawl by crimping, then the lever can transmit opening operations, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening operation transmissionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The opening lever and pawl are manufactured as a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate crimping operations and assembly steps. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated pawl structure is designed with distinct functional portions (body portion and opening lever portion) that can be optimized for manufacturing while remaining as a unified component, allowing for efficient production without complex assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If a separate opening lever is fixed to the pawl by crimping, then the lever can transmit opening operations, but the weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening operation transmissionVSAvoidpawl assembly weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the opening lever into the pawl as a single component, the total weight is reduced compared to having separate parts. The unified structure eliminates redundant material and connection components, resulting in a lighter overall assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10017970B2Motor vehicle door latch device

Publication Date: 2018.07.10 HI-LEX ACT CORP

AI summary

A motor vehicle door latch device which comprises a body, a latch and a pawl. The pawl engages with the latch to prevent the latch from turning. The pawl comprises a core and a synthetic-resin portion. A releasing portion is disposed on a basic axial portion of a core. The releasing portion is formed together with the core or the synthetic-resin portion in order to reduce the associated manufacturing costs and weight of the device.