Vehicle Luggage Room Latch Assembly with Integrated Motor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latch assemblies for vehicle luggage rooms suffer from reduced power transmission efficiency due to multiple gears and increased component count, and a larger size due to the exposure of the drive motor.
Innovation Solution
A latch assembly design that reduces the number of gears between the drive motor and pawl, integrates the drive motor within the assembly, and employs a power conversion mechanism to convert rotational force into linear motion, utilizing a screw shaft and link mechanisms for efficient operation and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple gears are installed between the drive motor and the pawl, then the drive motor can be positioned outside the latch assembly, but the power transmission efficiency is reduced and the component count increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate gears from the transmission system, directly coupling the drive motor to the pawl mechanism. This removes the energy loss associated with multiple gear stages while maintaining the drive motor's external positioning for ease of installation and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using gears to transmit power from the drive motor to the pawl, the patent inverts the approach by having the drive motor directly drive the pawl through a simplified linkage mechanism, thereby eliminating the gear train and improving power transmission efficiency.
2Strength
If multiple gears are installed between the drive motor and the pawl, then the drive mechanism can be more robust, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate gears from the system, reducing the component count from multiple gears to a simplified direct-drive mechanism with fewer parts, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining robustness through direct motor-to-pawl coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of multiple gear stages into a single direct-drive mechanism, merging the power transmission function directly from the drive motor to the pawl, which reduces the number of components while maintaining the necessary mechanical strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If the drive motor is exposed to the outside of the latch assembly, then the gears can be installed, but the size of the latch assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gears from the latch assembly design, eliminating the need for additional space to accommodate multiple gear stages. This allows the latch assembly to maintain a compact size while still providing the necessary drive mechanism functionality through direct motor coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the drive motor within or adjacent to the latch assembly structure, positioning it such that it does not increase the overall volume of the assembly. The simplified direct-drive mechanism allows the motor to be integrated into the existing space without requiring additional external mounting volume.
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 design enhances power transfer efficiency, reduces the overall size of the latch assembly, and improves the reliability of cinching and releasing operations by minimizing components and internalizing the drive motor.
Implementation Method 1
a power conversion mechanism configured to convert a rotational force of a drive motor into a linear motion; The power conversion mechanism includes: a screw shaft configured to be rotated by the drive motor, and a holder screw-coupled to the screw shaft and configured to rotate the error lever while moving along an axial direction of the screw shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A latch assembly for opening and closing a vehicle luggage room may include: a base installed on an end portion of an opening and closing member to open and close a vehicle luggage room; a power conversion member to convert the rotational force of a drive motor into a linear motion; a claw to grip and restrain the striker when the opening and closing member is closed; a pawl to inhibit the rotation of the claw so that the claw maintains a state of having the striker restrained; an error lever installed to rotate with the pawl and configured to rotate so that the pawl is separated from the claw; and a link member to rotate the claw so that the claw grips the striker, when the power conversion member makes the linear motion.