Motor Vehicle Latch Coupling Lever Inertia Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass inertia-based locking systems for motor vehicle latches are not consistently effective due to reliance on spring elements, which are prone to fluctuations in spring constants and temperature effects, leading to potential unintentional door openings during accidents or excessive operating speeds.
Innovation Solution
A latch design that integrates a coupling lever mounted within the operating lever, utilizing a mass inertia element and a leg spring to control the coupling lever's movement, ensuring secure locking by preventing uncoupling between the operating lever and triggering lever during excessive speeds, thus preventing unintentional door openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring elements are used in mass inertia-based locking systems, then the coupling lever can be actuated, but the system becomes unreliable due to fluctuations in spring constants and temperature effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring element from the mass inertia-based locking system. Instead of using a spring to actuate the coupling lever, the system uses a direct mass inertia element that responds to acceleration forces without relying on elastic components. This extraction eliminates the reliability issues associated with spring constant fluctuations and temperature sensitivity while maintaining the core functionality of the locking system.
2Reliability
If a separate mass inertia element is used, then unlocking during accidents can be prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mass inertia element directly with the coupling lever into a single integrated component. The mass inertia element is formed as part of the coupling lever itself, eliminating the need for separate components. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining the accident prevention capability, as the integrated design ensures that the mass inertia function is inherent to the coupling mechanism rather than being added as a separate system.
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
This design provides a structurally simple, cost-effective, and space-efficient mass inertia-based securing system that effectively prevents unintentional door openings by using the operating lever as both a storage and guide for the coupling lever, ensuring reliable operation even under high accelerations.
Implementation Method 1
a mass inertia element, where the mass inertia element acts on the coupling lever in such a way that the coupling lever is deflected along its guide track if a limit speed is exceeded
Data Source
AI summary
A latch for a motor vehicle, having a locking mechanism with a catch and at least one pawl, a triggering lever, whereby by means of the triggering lever a locked locking mechanism can be unlocked, an operating lever and a coupling lever, whereby the operating lever can be coupled with the triggering lever dependent on an operating speed of the operating lever by means of the coupling lever and whereby the coupling lever is mounted and guided in the operating lever.