Dual-Latch Motor Vehicle Latching System with Coupling Lever
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latching systems for motor vehicle doors or flaps, particularly in pick-up trucks, face challenges in achieving advanced functionality while maintaining low manufacturing costs and ensuring reliable bolting and safety mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A latching system featuring a triggering lever with a pivotably attached coupling lever, which couples the operating lever to the triggering lever, enabling simultaneous operation of two separate latching devices with a double safety function and simple bolting mechanism, utilizing a Bowden cable for transmission and a bolting lever to prevent unscheduled triggering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a triggering lever with two connections is used to simultaneously trigger two separate latching devices, then the functionality for securing doors or flaps is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for additional connections and transmission means
Solution Approach 1:
The triggering lever is divided into multiple functional segments: the operating lever for user input, the triggering lever with two separate connections for dual latching devices, and a coupling lever to transmit movement. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific function, achieving reliable dual-latch operation while keeping individual components simple and manufacturable
Solution Approach 2:
The triggering lever serves multiple functions: it acts as a lever for rotational movement, provides two separate connections for two different latching devices, and works in conjunction with the coupling lever to transmit motion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining advanced functionality
2Reliability
If a coupling lever is added to couple the operating lever with the triggering lever, then the reliability of bolting is improved through double safety function, but the device complexity increases due to additional moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling lever acts as an intermediary component between the operating lever and the triggering lever. It receives rotational movement from the operating lever and transmits it to the triggering lever, which then actuates both latching devices. This intermediary mechanism provides a double safety function by ensuring that both latches are simultaneously and reliably actuated, while the simple lever design keeps the added complexity minimal
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling lever merges the functions of motion transmission and safety verification into a single component. By combining these functions, the system achieves high reliability without requiring multiple separate safety mechanisms, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity
3Reliability
If a bolting lever with stop point is implemented to prevent unscheduled triggering, then the safety is improved through redundant movement mechanism, but the manufacturing cost increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The bolting lever with its stop point is pre-configured to limit the rotational movement of the triggering lever. Before any triggering can occur, the system must be in the correct state where the stop point does not interfere with the triggering motion. This preliminary configuration prevents unscheduled triggering without requiring complex control systems, keeping manufacturing costs low
Solution Approach 2:
The bolting lever and stop point are implemented as simple mechanical components that can be easily manufactured from basic materials. Rather than using expensive electronic sensors or complex control mechanisms, the patent uses a straightforward mechanical stop that is inexpensive to produce and integrate into the existing latching system
Data Source
AI summary
A latching system for a door or flap of a motor vehicle includes a triggering lever and an operating lever to rotate the triggering lever, the triggering lever having two connections for simultaneous triggering of two separate latching devices for a door or flap, and further includes a coupling lever rotatably attached to the triggering lever to couple the operating lever with the triggering lever. Highly reliable bolting can be attained with simultaneously low manufacturing costs.