Motor Vehicle Latching System with Acceleration-Dependent Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle latching systems are not compact and require a large number of components, making them inconvenient and slow to bolt and open, especially in emergency situations where quick entry or exit is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle latching system with an actuator driven by two different accelerations, allowing quick and convenient adjustment between bolted and open positions using an electromotor, featuring an inertia mass coupled with an actuator lever via a spring, enabling acceleration-dependent movement to adjust the system without needing many components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional latching system with multiple components is used, then the system is reliable, but the device complexity increases and the bolting operation becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the actuator lever, coupling lever, and opening lever into a single integrated lever assembly that pivots on a common axis. This merging of multiple components into one reduces device complexity while maintaining the reliability of the latching system through the coordinated movement of the integrated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The single lever assembly performs multiple functions: it acts as both the actuator lever for receiving motor-driven movement, the coupling lever for engaging with the inertia mass, and the opening lever for unlatching the door. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed while ensuring reliable operation through the unified design.
2Device complexity
If a conventional latching system with manual operation is used, then the system is simple, but the speed of bolting and opening becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inertia mass coupled to the lever assembly via a spring, creating a dynamic system that responds differently to slow versus rapid actuation. When the actuator lever is moved rapidly, the inertia mass lags behind due to its mass, allowing the lever to overcome the spring force and trigger the bolting or opening action quickly. This dynamic behavior enables fast operation without requiring an excessively complex system.
3Reliability
If the actuator lever is moved slowly, then the system adjusts to the bolting position, but the operation takes too much time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a two-stage periodic action: first, the actuator lever is moved rapidly to overcome the spring force and reposition the inertia mass and lever assembly into the bolting position; second, the lever is moved slowly to allow the spring to gradually return the inertia mass to its engaged position. This periodic action with varying speeds ensures both quick repositioning and reliable final engagement, minimizing overall bolting time while maintaining positioning accuracy.
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 quick and convenient bolting and opening of the vehicle, allowing for rapid entry or exit without manual unboltling, with a compact design that maintains convenience and reduces the risk of temporal delays during bolting.
Implementation Method 1
an inertia mass (18) coupled to an actuator lever (16) by a spring (19)
Data Source
AI summary
A latching system for a motor vehicle is formed of compact construction, that can manage with a small number of components and, enable bolting and/or opening the motor vehicle conveniently and quickly. The motor vehicle latching system is provided with an actuator and a drive for driving the actuator with a first acceleration and a second acceleration, whereby the actuator adjusts the latching system dependent on acceleration. If the drive accelerates the actuator sufficiently slow, the actuator moves the latching system into a first position. If the drive accelerates the actuator sufficiently quick, the actuator moves the latching system into a second position different from the first position. It is therefore adjusted by the drive dependent on the acceleration. Adjustment takes place quickly and especially conveniently without requiring an excessively large number of components. In particular, bolting and/or opening occurs in a motorized manner.