Vehicle Door Release Apparatus Lip Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door release apparatuses for vehicles require welding, which increases production costs, time, and complexity, and poses challenges in quality control and environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A door release apparatus that anchors the lip to the handle using rivets instead of welding, allowing for rapid, cost-effective assembly without specialized skills and minimizing environmental impact, while ensuring structural integrity and easy inspection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If welding is used to anchor the lip to the handle, then structural integrity is achieved, but production costs and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the joining method from welding to mechanical fastening using self-tapping screws. This parameter change in the connection technology eliminates the need for complex welding procedures, hot spots, and cooling times, thereby significantly reducing production time while maintaining adequate structural integrity for the application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical welding process with a purely mechanical fastening system using self-tapping screws. This substitution eliminates thermal effects, specialized equipment requirements, and post-weld cleaning operations, streamlining the production process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Strength

If welding is used to anchor the lip to the handle, then structural integrity is achieved, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive self-tapping screws as temporary or semi-permanent fasteners that are cheaper than welding operations. These mechanical fasteners eliminate the need for expensive welding equipment, skilled welders, and post-weld processing, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the costly welding process with a simple mechanical fastening system using self-tapping screws, eliminating equipment costs, labor costs for skilled welders, and post-weld cleaning and inspection costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If welding is used to compose the button and supporting structure, then structural integrity is achieved, but quality control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidquality control

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces welding with mechanical fastening using self-tapping screws in the button assembly. This substitution makes quality control straightforward through visual inspection and simple mechanical checks, eliminating the need for complex weld inspection procedures and waiting periods for crack development

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Strength

If welding is used in the release apparatus, then structural integrity is achieved, but environmental impact increases due to chemical cleaning requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the welding process with mechanical fastening using self-tapping screws, thereby eliminating the need for chemical cleaning agents and slag disposal procedures. This substitution removes the environmental harm associated with welding byproducts and chemical waste management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3235979B1Release apparatus for vehicle doors

Publication Date: 2019.06.12 PASTORE & LOMBARDI

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AI summary

A release apparatus for doors of vehicles, such as vans, trucks, heavy goods vehicles, articulated trucks, trailers, and the like, which comprises a base (2), which can be anchored stably to the door, and a handle assembly (3), which has at least one main plate (4) that is associated with means for fixing to a rod (A); in turn, the rod (A) can be coupled rotatably to the door and supports at least one respective unit for anchoring to the frame of the vehicle; the handle assembly (3) is able to rotate with respect to the base (2) between at least one locking configuration, in which the unit can engage even indirectly the frame of the vehicle, and at least one release configuration, in which the unit is in any case disengaged from the frame of the vehicle, in order to allow the rotation of the door; the means comprise a lip (6) that is adjacent and integral with the plate (4); the lip (6) is partially rolled up onto itself so as to define an insertion seat (7) for the rod (A); the lip (6) is further coupled to the plate (4) by means of at least one permanent connection element (9), of the type of a rivet, a nail, and the like.