Lid Urging Structure with Variable Lever Arm Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lid urging structures face challenges in maintaining a large torque at the maximum open position to prevent sudden closure due to external forces while making the closing operation difficult, leading to impact sounds and a compromised quality feel in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A spring member is used, with one end linked to the supply-port-forming member and the other to the lid, elastically deformed between the closed and maximum open positions, varying the distance from the spring end to the lid's turning center to maximize torque at the open position and reduce it during closing, ensuring the lid remains open against external forces and closes smoothly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large urging force of the snapping member is applied to strengthen the holding state of the lid in the open position, then the lid cannot easily move to the closed position by external force, but the closing operation becomes difficult and the lid closes suddenly generating impact sound
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is designed to dynamically change its urging force based on the lid's position. The distance between the spring end and the turning center varies with lid angle, being maximum at the maximum open position to provide large torque for reliability, and decreasing during closing to facilitate easy operation and prevent sudden closure with impact
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member's effective lever arm length (distance from spring application point to turning center) is changed as a function of lid position. This parameter change allows the system to achieve high holding torque at open positions while reducing resistance during closing operation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of 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
This configuration maximizes torque at the maximum open position to prevent sudden closure and reduces torque during closing, preventing impact sounds and maintaining a high-quality vehicle feel by ensuring smooth operation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member (16) having one spring end (16a) linked to the supply-port-forming member (4) and the other spring end (16b) linked to the lid (5), and provided in such a way so as to be most elastically deformed at an intermediate position between the closed position and a maximum open position of the lid (5)
Data Source
AI summary
An urging structure for a lid includes a spring member having one spring end linked to a supply-port-forming member and the other spring end linked to a lid, and provided so as to be most elastically deformed at an intermediate position between a closed position and a maximum open position of the lid to urge the lid. The spring member is linked to the lid in such a way so as to vary a distance between the other spring end and a turning center of the lid, and the distance stays constant when the lid is in the closed position and in the intermediate position, increases in a process of moving from the intermediate position to the maximum open position, and becomes maximum when the lid is in the maximum open position.