Vehicle Latch Apparatus Sequential Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latch apparatuses for vehicles require significant force to open, especially for older individuals, due to increased torque from door seals, making it difficult for them to operate the door.
Innovation Solution
A latch apparatus design that includes a base, latch gear, pawl, release lever, support shaft, and guide portion, where the release lever distributes constraint force to rotate the pawl, allowing the latch gear to be opened with a smaller force by transmitting this force through a support shaft and guide portion, reducing the torque required to release the pawl from the latch gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door seal is compressed as the vehicle door is closed, then the door is urged in an opening direction by restoring force of the door seal, but the torque transmitted to the latch gear is increased, making it difficult to operate the handle
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion acts as an intermediary mechanism between the pawl and the release lever. It includes a guide projection with an inner space that guides the movement of the projection pin, and a guide plate that elastically adjoins the release lever. This intermediary structure controls the release sequence, allowing the pawl to be released from the first locking portion before the second locking portion, thereby reducing the operational force required while maintaining reliable locking
Solution Approach 2:
The latch apparatus transitions from a static two-stage locking mechanism to a dynamic sequential release mechanism. The guide portion enables the pawl to move dynamically through different positions guided by the inner space, allowing controlled transition from the first to the second locking stage during release, which reduces the force needed for operation
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
Enables easy opening of the latch gear with a smaller force, reducing the operational difficulty for users, particularly older individuals, by distributing the constraint force effectively to rotate the pawl and release the latch gear.
Implementation Method 1
a guide plate protruding from the guide body and elastically adjoining the lateral surface of the release lever
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a latch apparatus. The latch apparatus includes: a base formed with an opening; a latch gear formed with a mounting groove to lock a striker entering the mounting groove through the opening; a pawl rotatably disposed on the base and engaging with the latch gear to prevent rotation of the latch gear; a release lever disposed to adjoin the pawl, transmitting constraint force of pressing the pawl, and rotating the pawl to release the latch gear; a support shaft secured to the base, supporting a lateral surface of the pawl and transmitting the constraint force of pressing the pawl; and a guide portion rotatably provided to the support shaft, pressed to rotate by the release lever, and guiding movement of a projection pin provided to the pawl.