Vehicle Latch Intermittent Pin Bypass Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door latches with mechanical actuators face complexity in providing a bypass feature for the manual release mechanism when in a locked state, leading to inefficient and potentially cumbersome configurations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door latch design incorporating a fork bolt, detent lever, bell crank lever, release lever, and intermittent pin, where the intermittent pin bypasses the bell crank lever when in a locked state, preventing movement from the closed to open position, allowing for efficient operation without added complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bypass feature is provided in the latch to prevent manual release when locked, then security and locked state reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases due to numerous additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bypass feature with the existing manual release mechanism by integrating an intermittent pin that selectively engages or disengages from the bell crank lever. This merging approach allows the bypass functionality to be incorporated into the existing latch structure rather than adding completely separate components, thereby improving locked state reliability while minimizing increases in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The intermittent pin is designed to dynamically engage with the bell crank lever in the unlocked state (allowing manual release) and disengage in the locked state (enabling bypass). This dynamic engagement/disengagement mechanism allows the same component to serve dual functions depending on the latch state, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If numerous components are added to provide a bypass feature, then the bypass functionality is achieved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to increased assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The intermittent pin serves multiple functions: it acts as a connector between the release lever and bell crank lever during normal operation, and simultaneously serves as a bypass mechanism when disengaged. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated bypass components, thereby achieving bypass versatility while maintaining ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The manual release mechanism is segmented into distinct functional zones: the release lever, the intermittent pin, and the bell crank lever. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently with simpler geometries and assembled in a straightforward sequence, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while enabling the bypass functionality
3Ease of operation
If the intermittent pin is positioned to bypass the bell crank lever, then the manual release mechanism is disabled, but the movement transfer from release lever to bell crank lever is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The intermittent pin acts as an intermediary element that can either transmit or block movement between the release lever and bell crank lever. When engaged, it mediates the movement transfer for normal operation; when disengaged, it mediates the bypass by allowing the release lever to move without transferring motion to the bell crank lever. This intermediary role simplifies the overall movement transfer mechanism while enabling both operational modes
Data Source
AI summary
A latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted thereto; a detent lever movably mounted thereto, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from a closed position to an open position when the detent lever is in a latched position; a bell crank lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the bell crank lever moves the detent lever from the latched position to the released position as the bell crank lever moves from the first position to the second position; a release lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a first position and a second position; and an intermittent pin operatively coupled to bell crank lever and the release lever, wherein movement of the release lever is not transferred to the bell crank lever when the intermittent pin is in the second position.