Automobile Door Latch Vertical Space Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle door latch devices that combine a releasing motor, a locking motor, and a locking mechanism are bulky due to the complex positional relationships among these elements, making the housing larger and less efficient.
Innovation Solution
The door latch device is designed with the locking mechanism and electric release mechanism positioned above and below the striker-entering line, respectively, allowing for a more compact housing by arranging the releasing motor, releasing worm wheel, and electric release lever longitudinally within the vehicle, minimizing downward projections and optimizing space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a releasing motor, locking motor, and locking mechanism are combined in a single housing, then the door latch device can provide both electric release and locking functions, but the housing becomes larger and the device more bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the locking mechanism above the striker-entering line and the electric release mechanism below it, utilizing vertical spatial arrangement. The releasing motor, releasing worm wheel, and electric release lever are arranged longitudinally within the housing to minimize downward projections, effectively using the vertical dimension to pack multiple functions into a compact footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The door latch device is divided into distinct functional segments: the locking mechanism (with locking motor and locking lever) positioned above the striker-entering line, and the electric release mechanism (with releasing motor and release lever) positioned below it. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently while maintaining overall compactness.
2Volume of stationary object
If the locking mechanism and electric release mechanism are positioned above and below the striker-entering line, then the housing can be made more compact, but the positional relationship among elements becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of mechanisms relative to the striker-entering line, with the locking mechanism above and the electric release mechanism below. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes space utilization and allows for compact housing design while maintaining clear functional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle door latch device comprises a locking motor; a locking rotary member that can be rotated by the locking motor; a locking mechanism comprising a mechanical element that can be shifted to an unlock state or a lock state by rotation of the locking rotary member; a releasing motor; and an electric release lever pivotally mounted to a housing via a release shaft and rotated by the releasing motor to enable an engagement mechanism to be released regardless of a state of the locking mechanism. If an entering line along which a striker enters a striker entering groove of a body to engage with the engagement mechanism is defined as a striker entering line, a case for the locking motor is positioned above the striker entering line and a case for the releasing motor is positioned below the striker entering line.