Inertial Blocking Member Subassembly with Negative-Acceleration Accelerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inertial blocking member subassemblies in vehicle door release handle assemblies are only effective during the positive acceleration phase following an impact, failing to rapidly respond and prevent unintended door opening during the negative acceleration phase.

Innovation Solution

An inertial blocking member subassembly with a bell crank actuator and manually actuatable door handle grip, featuring a blocking member with an offset center of gravity and an accelerator body, which moves the blocking member into an engaged position during negative acceleration to prevent door opening, and returns to the at-rest position upon positive acceleration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional inertial blocking member subassembly with a freely-rotating mass and offset center of gravity is used, then the blocking member can be moved to the blocking position during the positive acceleration phase, but the subassembly fails to respond rapidly enough during the negative acceleration phase to prevent unintended door opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of unintended door openingVSAvoidresponse speed to impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The accelerator body is configured to rotate in advance during the negative acceleration phase (before the positive acceleration phase) to carry the blocking member toward the blocking position. This preliminary action ensures the blocking member is already in position or near-position when the positive acceleration occurs, eliminating the response delay of conventional designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The accelerator body acts as a counterweight mechanism with its own offset center of gravity relative to the blocking member's center of gravity. The accelerator body's rotation in response to negative acceleration generates the force needed to move the blocking member to the blocking position, effectively using the impact force itself to activate the blocking function before the door can open.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Ease of operation

If the blocking member is designed to return to the at-rest position after impact, then the door can be opened in the usual manner after an impact event, but the subassembly cannot maintain the blocking position during the entire duration of acceleration forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor opening after impactVSAvoidduration of blocking position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The subassembly uses a dynamic system where the accelerator body and blocking member can rotate freely in response to acceleration forces. The blocking member remains in the blocking position as long as acceleration forces (positive or negative) are acting on the system. Only when all acceleration forces dissipate and the system returns to rest does the blocking member return to the at-rest position, automatically enabling door opening when safe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Effectively prevents unintended door opening during the negative acceleration phase of an impact by intercepting the bell crank actuator, ensuring the door remains closed until all acceleration forces dissipate or the handle is manually activated.

Implementation Method 1

As a result of a negative acceleration force acting on the accelerator body center of gravity, the accelerator body rotates about the axis of rotation and carries the blocking member toward the engaged position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative acceleration force: Inertia

Implementation Method 2

As a result of a positive acceleration force acting on the blocking member center of gravity, the blocking member is rotationally and/or translationally moved into the engaged position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPositive acceleration force: Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS9567777B1Inertial blocking member subassembly with negative-acceleration inertial blocking member accelerator

Publication Date: 2017.02.14 ADAC PLASTICS INC

AI summary

An inertial blocking member subassembly includes an inertial blocking member associated with a release handle assembly framework, the blocking member having a center of gravity which is offset from an axis of rotation, and the blocking member being rotationally and/or 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 the release handle. An accelerator body, freely mounted relative to the inertial blocking member for rotational movement about the axis of rotation, has a center of gravity which is offset from both the axis of rotation and center of gravity of the inertial blocking member. As a result of a negative acceleration force acting on the accelerator body center of gravity, the accelerator body rotates about the axis of rotation and carries the blocking member toward the engaged position thereof.