Inertial Blocking Member for Vehicle Door Release Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inertial blocking member subassemblies in vehicle door release handle systems are only effective during the acceleration phase of an impact event, potentially allowing unintended door opening during the deformation phase, which can be hazardous to occupants.
Innovation Solution
An inertial blocking member subassembly with a center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation, coupled with a biasing element and a retainer, moves from an at-rest to an engaged position under acceleration force, preventing door opening during both acceleration and deformation phases until the force attenuates, allowing the system to return to the at-rest position for safe operation post-impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inertial blocking member returns to at-rest position during deformation phase, then the door can be opened for occupant exit, but unintended door opening may occur during deformation phase
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member is designed to dynamically transition between blocked and unblocked states based on acceleration forces. During deformation phase, the member remains in blocked position due to retained acceleration forces, preventing unintended opening. After impact forces dissipate, the member automatically transitions to unblocked position, enabling door opening for occupant exit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes changes in acceleration force parameters to control the blocking state. The blocking member responds to the magnitude and duration of acceleration forces generated during impact, maintaining blocked position while acceleration forces are present and transitioning to unblocked position when forces attenuate below a threshold level.
2Reliability
If the blocking member is retained in engaged position longer, then prevention of unintended door opening is improved, but door opening may be prevented after impact event terminates
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member system provides feedback-based control by continuously responding to acceleration force conditions. The member remains engaged as long as acceleration forces from the impact event are present, and automatically disengages when forces attenuate, providing intelligent control that adapts to the actual impact conditions without requiring external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member automatically manages its own state transitions based on the presence or absence of acceleration forces. The system self-regulates the blocking duration without requiring external control mechanisms, extending the blocked state as long as impact forces persist and automatically transitioning to unblocked state when forces dissipate, thereby enabling door opening when safe.
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 unintended door opening during both phases of an impact event, ensuring occupant safety by maintaining the blocking position until acceleration forces dissipate, allowing the door to be safely opened after the event.
Implementation Method 1
the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the side-acting force vector can cause the door (plus the rest of the vehicle) to accelerate away from the door handle grip due to the inertia of the door handle grip
Implementation Method 2
a biasing element associated with the blocking member, the biasing element biasing the blocking member into the engaged position
Data Source
AI summary
An inertial blocking member subassembly comprising: an inertial blocking member associated with a release handle assembly framework, the blocking member having a center of gravity offset from an axis of rotation, and the blocking member being rotationally and translationally movable between an at-rest position, in which the blocking member does not prevent actuation of the release handle, and an engaged position, in which the blocking member prevents actuation of a release handle. A biasing element biases the blocking member into the engaged position. As a result of an acceleration force acting on the blocking member center of gravity, the blocking member is rotationally and translationally moved from the at-rest position to the engaged position, and in which engaged position the blocking member is retained by a blocking member retainer until disengagement of the blocking member retainer from one of the release handle assembly framework and the blocking member.