Motor Vehicle Latch Locking Device Crash Rebound Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle latch locking mechanisms fail to prevent inadvertent opening during crashes due to excessive acceleration, which compromises safety by disabling airbags and lateral impact protection.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a movable trigger connected to an inertia component via an elastic link and a blockade lever, which remains in a blocking position during rebound effects from high acceleration, preventing the latch from opening inadvertently by ensuring the inertia component is only moved out of its blocking position with slow, purposeful activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple inertia component is used to block the activation lever during high acceleration, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability fails during rebound effects
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into distinct functional components: an inertia component for detecting high acceleration, a blockade lever for blocking the activation lever, and an elastic link for connecting these elements. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably during crash events and rebound effects, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockade lever acts as an intermediary element between the inertia component and the activation lever. During rebound effects, the blockade lever is positioned by the inertia component to block the activation lever, preventing inadvertent opening. This intermediary mechanism ensures reliable crash protection without requiring a complex overall structure.
2Reliability
If the locking mechanism remains blocked during rebound effects, then safety is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to delayed opening
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device dynamically adapts its state based on acceleration conditions. During normal operation with low acceleration, the inertia component allows the activation lever to move freely, enabling easy opening. During crash rebound effects with high acceleration, the inertia component positions the blockade lever to block the activation lever, ensuring safety. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockade lever is preliminarily positioned by the inertia component during rebound effects to prevent inadvertent opening before it can occur. This preliminary blocking action ensures safety during crash events, while the design allows for easy operation during normal conditions when the blockade lever is not engaged.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact design with minimal components is used, then the installation space is reduced, but the reliability during rebound effects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inertia component and blockade lever are merged into a compact integrated assembly that performs multiple functions within a small volume. The elastic link efficiently connects these components, allowing reliable crash and rebound protection without requiring excessive installation space. This merging resolves the contradiction between compactness and reliability.
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 inadvertent opening of the latch during crashes by maintaining the locking mechanism in a blocked state until the rebound effect ceases, ensuring high functional safety with minimal components and compact design, thus enhancing safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The trigger (2) is connected to an inertia component (9) by an elastic link (12)
Implementation Method 2
the inertia component (9) which blocks the triggering lever (3) in a blocking position in the event of a crash
Data Source
AI summary
An opening device for a motor vehicle latch with a trigger which can be moved from a starting position into an opening position for pivoting of a triggering lever from a starting position into an opening position and which is connected with an inertia component by a deflectable knee lever, with a blockade lever, which can be moved by deflection of the knee lever from a starting position into a blocking position, whereby the movement of the triggering lever into the opening position is prevented when the blockade lever is in its blocking position, whereby the knee lever is deflected by excessive acceleration of the trigger and the blockade lever is thus moved into its blocking position.