Vehicle Fuel Door Latch Anti-Thrust Lever Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing push type latch structure for fuel doors in vehicles is prone to misoperation even when the door is closed and locked, leading to reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism featuring a rotatable push type latch device with a locking rod and anti-thrust lever, actuated by a drive motor and gear system, which selectively locks the fuel door and prevents it from being thrust backwards, combined with a guide unit and drain hole in the locking slot to enhance operational reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a push type latch structure is used for the fuel door, then the fuel door can be easily opened by simple button manipulation, but the latch structure may misoperate even when the fuel door is closed and locked
Solution Approach 1:
The latch structure is designed with dynamic states: an engaged state where the locking rod engages with the locking slot to secure the fuel door, and a disengaged state where it releases. The anti-thrust lever dynamically shifts position based on door state, being pushed forward when door is closed and retracting when open, preventing unintended activation while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-thrust lever acts as an intermediary component between the locking mechanism and external forces. It mediates by absorbing and redirecting thrust forces that would otherwise directly affect the latch, preventing misoperation while allowing the simple button manipulation to remain effective for intentional opening
2Reliability
If the locking rod is engaged with the locking slot to secure the fuel door, then the fuel door maintains a locked state, but water may accumulate in the locking slot causing misoperation
Solution Approach 1:
The drain hole extracts water from the locking slot by providing a dedicated drainage path. Water that accumulates in the locking slot during normal operation is continuously removed through the drain hole, preventing water buildup that could cause corrosion or misoperation of the locking mechanism while maintaining the secure locked state
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 solution effectively prevents improper operation of the latch, enhancing the operational reliability of the fuel door by ensuring secure locking and preventing water accumulation, thus maintaining the fuel door's closed state effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator may include a drive motor, a pinion gear mounted to an output shaft of the drive motor
Implementation Method 2
The guide unit may include a guide rib formed in a sliding slot of the anti-thrust lever, and a guide member provided in the housing and including a guide groove to which that the guide rib is slidably coupled
Implementation Method 3
The locking slot is provided in a bottom thereof with a drain hole for draining water from the locking slot
Data Source
AI summary
An opening and closing device for a fuel door of a vehicle including a push type latch device for locking or unlocking the fuel door that may be rotatably mounted to a side of a housing by a hinge unit, may include a locking rod movable by an actuator and selectively locked to a locking slot provided in the hinge unit to which the fuel door may be attached, thereby controlling rotation of the hinge unit, and an anti-thrust lever operated in conjunction with the locking rod actuated by the actuator to selectively support the fuel door so as to prevent the fuel door from being thrust backwards.