Vehicle Door Inner Panel Slot to Prevent Impact Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle doors are prone to opening during impact events due to deformation of the inner door panel, which can lead to unintended door opening and failure to absorb impact forces effectively.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an attenuation slot adjacent to the interior door handle attachment area on the inner door panel, which allows differential deformation between the slot edges, thereby minimizing the movement of the door handle and maintaining the door in a closed position during impacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the inner door panel is made rigid to maintain door handle position, then the door handle stability is improved, but the door panel cannot deform to absorb impact energy, causing the door to open during impact events

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor handle position stabilityVSAvoidimpact energy absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The inner door panel is segmented by introducing an attenuation slot that divides the panel structure into distinct zones. This segmentation allows the panel to deform in a controlled manner during impact, with the slot acting as a deformation zone that absorbs energy while keeping the door handle attachment area relatively stable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the door panel are given different mechanical properties through the attenuation slot design. The area around the slot is designed to deform and absorb energy, while the area near the door handle attachment remains more rigid to maintain handle position stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If the door panel is designed to deform during impact to absorb energy, then the impact energy absorption is improved, but the door handle movement increases causing unintended door opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact energy absorptionVSAvoiddoor handle position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The attenuation slot acts as an intermediary element between the impact force and the door handle attachment area. It mediates the deformation process by providing a designated zone that absorbs energy while isolating the door handle region from excessive movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The attenuation slot extracts or removes material from a specific location in the inner door panel, creating a controlled deformation zone. This extraction allows the panel to deform in a predictable manner that absorbs impact energy without transmitting excessive movement to the door handle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the attenuation slot is positioned closer to the door handle attachment area, then the door handle movement is reduced, but the slot edge stress concentration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor handle position stabilityVSAvoidslot edge strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The slot geometry is designed to adapt to the dynamic loading conditions during impact. The curved or tapered edges of the attenuation slot allow for stress distribution that changes with the deformation state, reducing stress concentration while maintaining handle stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 attenuation slot effectively attenuates the deformation of the door handle, ensuring the door remains closed and allowing adjacent pillars to absorb impact forces, thus preventing unintended door opening and enhancing impact energy absorption.

Implementation Method 1

In response to an impact event proximate a central area of the door structure, the door structure and the interior latch handle attachment area deform such that the first slot edge and the interior latch handle move relative to the second slot edge of the attenuation slot

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS20230294492A1Vehicle body structure

Publication Date: 2023.09.21 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A door structure is moveable to and from of a closed orientation covering a door opening and an open orientation exposing the door opening of a vehicle. The door structure has an inner door panel with an interior latch handle attachment area and an attenuation slot adjacent to the interior latch handle attachment area. The attenuation slot is defined between a first slot edge and a second slot edge. The interior latch handle is installed to the interior latch handle attachment area. A portion of the interior latch handle is located adjacent to the first slot edge of the attenuation slot. In response to an impact event proximate a central area of the door structure, the door structure and the interior latch handle attachment area deform such that the first slot edge and the interior latch handle move relative to the second slot edge of the attenuation slot.