Automotive Latch Bearing Reduces Release Effort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle door latch systems face issues with high release effort due to frictional forces between ratchet and pawl engagement, noise during operation, and manufacturing complexity, as well as the need for multiple latch designs to accommodate different vehicle configurations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a ball bearing or roller bearing between the ratchet and pawl surfaces to reduce friction and facilitate easier release, with a bearing cage providing localized contact points for reduced friction and improved alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct contact between ratchet and pawl surfaces is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but high frictional force increases release effort
Solution Approach 1:
A bearing (ball bearing or roller bearing) is introduced as an intermediary element between the ratchet and pawl surfaces. The bearing reduces direct surface contact and frictional force through rolling contact, thereby reducing release effort while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of a single standardized component
2Ease of manufacture
If direct contact between ratchet and pawl surfaces is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but noise during operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing serves as a mediator that replaces sliding friction with rolling friction between the ratchet and pawl surfaces. This rolling contact significantly reduces operational noise while the bearing cage and standardized bearing design maintain manufacturing simplicity
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized latch designs are used for different vehicle configurations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing-based friction reduction mechanism is designed as a universal solution that can be integrated into various latch configurations for different vehicle applications. The standardized bearing component and its integration method provide adaptability across different latch designs without requiring specialized friction reduction mechanisms for each configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing is divided into separable components (bearing element and bearing cage), allowing flexible integration into different latch designs. This segmentation enables the same bearing mechanism to be adapted to various vehicle configurations while maintaining design simplicity
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 significantly reduces the release effort, minimizes noise, and allows for customizable latch designs using similar components, accommodating various vehicle configurations while maintaining low friction and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing for rotation within the cage during rotation of the ratchet and the pawl, such that contact between the ratchet and the pawl is facilitated by one or more contact regions between an exterior surface of the bearing and adjacent respective at least one of the pawl surface or the ratchet surface
Data Source
AI summary
A latch comprising: a housing having a slot for a striker; a ratchet rotationally mounted on the housing and biased for release of the striker from the slot and retaining of the striker in the slot dependent upon angular position of the ratchet with respect to the housing, the ratchet having a ratchet surface; a pawl rotationally mounted on the housing and biased towards the ratchet, the pawl having a pawl surface; and a rotatable bearing positioned between the pawl surface and the ratchet surface for rotation there between during rotation of the ratchet and the pawl, such that contact between the ratchet and the pawl is facilitated by one or more localized contact regions between an exterior surface of the bearing and adjacent respective at least one of the pawl surface or the ratchet surface; wherein the contact region is a localized contact region with respect to the exterior surface having a spheroidal shape.