Flush Handle Flap System for Crash Deployment Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flush handles in motor vehicles can undesirably deploy during a crash due to inertial forces, posing a risk of injury to occupants.
Innovation Solution
A flap system with a rotatable body and a reversibly deformable member that tilts between blocking and disengaged configurations, preventing unwanted handle deployment by spacing the flap apart from the handle in the blocking configuration and allowing deployment when triggered by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the handle is designed as a flush handle that fits with the door panel surface, then aerodynamics and visual appearance are improved, but the handle can undesirably deploy during a crash due to inertial forces
Solution Approach 1:
A flap system is introduced as an intermediary component between the handle and the external environment. The flap can be positioned in a blocking configuration to prevent undesired handle deployment during crashes while allowing normal handle operation when disengaged, thus mediating between aerodynamic requirements and safety control
Solution Approach 2:
The flap system is pre-positioned in a blocking configuration that actively prevents undesired handle deployment before a crash occurs. This preliminary protective action counteracts the inertial forces that would otherwise cause harmful handle deployment during vehicle accidents
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
Prevents unintended handle deployment during crashes, ensuring the handle remains locked until actuated by the user, enhancing safety by blocking the deployment path and maintaining control over handle movement.
Implementation Method 1
the door can undesirably be unlatched because of the inertial force resulting from the displacement of the motor vehicle applied to the handle arrangement mechanism
Implementation Method 2
the reversibly deformable member can be a helical coil spring
Data Source
AI summary
A flap system for impairing with an undesired deployment of a handle of a handle arrangement of a motor vehicle includes: a body, an axle and a reversibly deformable member, the body being rotatable around the axle and including a flap and a driving member, the flap system tilting about the axle between a blocking configuration and a disengaged configuration. The reversibly deformable member maintains the flap system in the blocking configuration, the flap system moving to the disengaged position by actuation of the driving member triggering the deformation of the reversibly deformable member and the rotation of the body around the axle. When the flap system is mounted in the handle arrangement, the flap, in the disengaged position, is spaced apart from the handle to allow its deployment and, in the blocking configuration, faces the handle to prevent its deployment.