Electric Vehicle Latch with Inhibiting Lever for Emergency Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door latches with double pawl arrangements face challenges in emergency conditions, particularly when the door is accidentally closed with the key inside, leading to inability to reopen due to undesired closure and potential damp ingress affecting electrical components.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle latch design incorporating a supporting body with a C-shaped lateral opening, an electrically-operated release and lock assembly, inside and outside emergency release mechanisms, and an inhibiting lever to prevent auxiliary ratchet displacement when the door is open, ensuring secure locking and easy manual operation in emergencies while minimizing damp exposure to electrical parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door is closed with the key inside the vehicle, then the door can be secured, but the door becomes impossible to reopen due to undesired closure
Solution Approach 1:
The inhibiting lever is positioned to preemptively block the auxiliary ratchet's movement path before undesired closure can occur. When the door is open, the lever physically prevents the auxiliary ratchet from displacing to the enabling position, thereby counteracting the potential harmful action of accidental closure with the key inside.
Solution Approach 2:
The inhibiting lever acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the door position and the auxiliary ratchet. It mediates the interaction by conditionally blocking the ratchet's movement based on door status, preventing the direct transmission of closing force to the locking mechanism when the door is open.
2Ease of operation
If the C-shaped lateral opening is provided for striker engagement, then the latch can function properly, but damp may ingress and affect electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: the C-shaped opening area for mechanical engagement and the electrical component area for electronic operations. This spatial segmentation allows the opening to maintain its necessary functionality while isolating electrical parts from potential damp exposure paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism itself acts as an intermediary barrier that controls access to the interior cavity. While the C-shaped opening provides necessary access for striker engagement, the movable latch components (ratchet, pawls, lever) create a controlled interface that can prevent uncontrolled damp ingress while maintaining operational access.
3Reliability
If the double pawl arrangement is used for secure locking, then the locking reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The primary pawl and auxiliary ratchet with secondary pawl are merged into a single integrated locking system where both components work simultaneously on the same ratchet mechanism. This combining approach achieves enhanced security through multiple locking points while avoiding the complexity of entirely separate locking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet mechanism serves multiple functions: it engages with both the primary pawl for basic locking and the auxiliary ratchet for enhanced security. The same ratchet structure provides both single-click and double-click locking positions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
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 design enhances emergency operation reliability by allowing secure locking and easy manual unlocking, preventing accidental door closure issues and reducing the risk of damp damage to electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary ratchet biased by a spring into a disabling position
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor adapted to transform electrical energy to mechanical energy
Implementation Method 3
first cam means provided on the discus for interacting with the secondary pawl to move the secondary pawl into the auxiliary ratchet release position
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A vehicle latch (1) comprising: - a supporting body (2) adapted to be fixed to a vehicle door in a given use position; - a ratchet (15) carried by said supporting body (2) and movable between a release position, wherein the ratchet (15) is positioned to receive or release a fixed striker (4), and at least one lock position, wherein the ratchet (15) is positioned to retain said striker (4); - a releasable locking mechanism (16) carried by said supporting body (2) and cooperating with said ratchet (15) to prevent disengagement between the striker (4) and the ratchet (15); and - an electrically-operated release and lock assembly (6) carried by said supporting body and which can be activated selectively to free the ratchet (15) from the striker (4) or to lock the ratchet (15) in a condition of engagement with the striker (4), said release and lock assembly (6) comprising an electric motor (46). In the use position of said supporting body (2), said electric motor (46) is fixed to an upper portion of the supporting body (2) and in a position adjacent to said ratchet (15) and higher than the position of said releasable locking means (16) .