Flush Door Handle Flap Mechanism Against Crash Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flush handles in motor vehicles can undesirably unlatch during a crash due to inertial forces, posing a risk of ejection and potential injury to users.
Innovation Solution
A handle arrangement with a flap system that includes a body, axle, and a reversibly deformable member, which tilts between blocking and disengaged configurations to prevent undesired deployment, using a driving member to actuate the flap system and maintain the handle in a stowed position unless triggered by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the handle is designed as a flush handle for improved aerodynamics and visual appearance, then the aerodynamic performance and visual quality are improved, but the handle becomes susceptible to undesired deployment during crashes due to inertial forces
Solution Approach 1:
The flap system is pre-configured to block the handle's deployment path before a crash occurs. The reversibly deformable member maintains the flap in a blocking configuration that physically obstructs the handle from moving from stowed to deployed position, counteracting the inertial forces that would otherwise cause undesired deployment during a crash.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap system acts as an intermediary element between the handle and the external environment. This intermediate blocking mechanism prevents direct inertial forces from acting on the handle during a crash, mediating the force transmission and preventing unintended handle deployment while maintaining the flush design's aerodynamic benefits.
2Reliability
If the flap system is added to prevent undesired handle deployment, then the crash safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flap system integrates multiple functions into a single compact mechanism: the body provides structural support, the axle enables rotation, the reversibly deformable member provides both blocking and release functionality, and the flap performs the actual blocking action. This merging of functions reduces overall complexity compared to having separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap system employs dynamic characteristics through the reversibly deformable member that can transition between blocked and released states. This dynamic element allows the system to adapt its behavior based on operational conditions - maintaining a blocking configuration during normal operation and allowing handle deployment when the deformable member releases, thereby providing crash safety without permanent complexity.
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 flap system effectively blocks the handle from deploying during crashes, ensuring user safety by preventing unintended ejection and enhancing vehicle security.
Implementation Method 1
the reversibly deformable member configured to resist to an acceleration of the body rotation about the axle
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a flap system (1) for impairing with an undesired deployment of a handle (13) of a handle arrangement (9) of a motor vehicle, the flap system (1) comprising a body (3), an axle (5) and a reversibly deformable member (7), the body (3) being rotatable around the axle (5) and comprising a flap (15) and a driving member (17), the flap system (1) tilting about the axle (5) between a blocking configuration and a disengaged configuration, the reversibly deformable member maintaining the flap system in the blocking configuration, the flap system moving to the disengaged position by actuation of the driving member (17) triggering the deformation of the reversibly deformable member (7) and the rotation of the body (3) around the axle (5), wherein when the flap system (1) is mounted in the handle arrangement (9) the flap (1), in the disengaged position, is spaced apart from the handle (13) to allow its deployment and, in the blocking configuration, faces the handle (13) to prevent its deployment.