Motor Vehicle Door Latching Device with Inertia-Guided Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latching devices for motor vehicles face challenges in preventing unintentional unlocking during accidents, particularly lateral impacts, due to structural complexity and limited reversibility, which can lead to irreversible damage and incomplete crash protection.
Innovation Solution
A latching device with a blocking mechanism guided by a mass inertia lever and spring elements, allowing reversible operation to prevent unlocking and enable secure re-engagement with the triggering chain, even under indirect impacts, using a dual-component blocking means with distinct spring elements for enhanced guidance and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blocking means is designed to prevent unlocking during accidents, then crash protection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and structural requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking means is integrated within the existing latching device structure, with the blocking element housed inside the latch case and the mass inertia lever nested within the module carrier. This nesting approach allows the crash protection function to be added without significantly increasing external dimensions or overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking means transitions from a static component to a dynamic system where the blocking element can move between blocked and unblocked positions, and the mass inertia lever can pivot in response to external forces. This dynamic design allows the system to automatically activate crash protection only when needed, rather than requiring a permanently complex structure.
2Ease of operation
If a blocking means is designed to be reversible for secure re-engagement, then ease of operation is improved, but the reliability may be compromised due to potential incomplete re-engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element provides continuous mechanical feedback to the blocking element, ensuring it returns to the unblocked position after activation. The spring's inherent elastic properties create a reliable restoring force that automatically guides the blocking element back to its starting position, providing feedback on the re-engagement status without requiring additional sensors or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking means is designed to automatically return to its unblocked state through the spring element's restoring force, without requiring manual intervention or additional actuation mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the stored elastic energy in the spring to reset the blocking element, simplifying the reversal operation while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If a mass inertia lever is used to guide the blocking means, then ease of operation is improved under indirect impacts, but the device complexity increases due to additional guiding mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The mass inertia lever utilizes the principle of inertia as a counterbalancing force against external impact forces. The lever's mass and pivot point are positioned to create a mechanical advantage that converts indirect impact forces into the motion needed to activate the blocking element, effectively using the vehicle's own inertia as part of the activation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The mass inertia lever acts as an intermediary between the external impact forces and the blocking element. It translates and transmits the force from indirect impacts through its pivot motion to the blocking element, mediating the interaction between the external environment and the crash protection mechanism while simplifying the response to various impact scenarios.
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 effectively prevents unlocking of the locking mechanism during accidents, allowing for reversible operation and minimizing damage, ensuring reliable crash protection and cost-effective construction.
Implementation Method 1
The blocking means can be held or guided in relation to the latching device by means of a spring element
Implementation Method 2
A latching device with a blocking mechanism guided by a mass inertia lever and spring elements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The object of the invention is a latching device (1) for a motor vehicle having a locking mechanism (3) with a catch (6) and at least one pawl (5), a triggering lever (4) whereby the locking mechanism (5) can be unlocked by means of the triggering lever (4), a means to block (11) a movement of the triggering lever (4) arranged on the latching device (1), whereby a blocking of the triggering lever (4) can be attained by a stress (F) acting externally on the vehicle and a shifting movement of the blocking means (11), and whereby the blocking means can be guided back into a starting posit ion de-pendent on the amount of external stress.