Rack-and-Pinion Door Release Button Without Backup Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current release systems for vehicle doors, which combine electronic buttons with backup mechanical mechanisms, result in redundancy, increased complexity, and higher costs due to the potential loss of electric continuity.
Innovation Solution
A button assembly comprising a housing, actuator, rack gear, and pinion gear, where the pinion gear is meshed with the rack gear and coupled to an extension member, allowing mechanical actuation of the latch between engagement and disengagement positions without reliance on electric continuity, featuring a pulley and cam surface design to manage force and displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If an electronic button system is used for door release, then aesthetic appearance and space utilization are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential loss of electric continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electronic button interface with a mechanical actuation system into a single integrated assembly. The button assembly includes an actuator that directly engages a rack gear, which in turn rotates a pinion gear to actuate the latch mechanism. This combination allows the system to maintain the aesthetic and space benefits of an electronic button while ensuring mechanical reliability through direct mechanical coupling to the latch, eliminating the need for separate backup mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a backup mechanical mechanism is added to the electronic button system, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the button interface and mechanical actuation into a single integrated assembly where the actuator is mechanically coupled to the rack gear. This integration eliminates the need for separate backup mechanisms while maintaining reliability, as the mechanical components are directly connected and function as a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The button assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the user interface for door release, converts linear actuator motion to rotational motion through the rack and pinion mechanism, and directly actuates the latch mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
3Force
If a rack gear and pinion gear mechanism is used, then mechanical advantage and force multiplication are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack gear and pinion gear are integrated into a compact assembly where the rack extends from the actuator and directly meshes with the pinion gear, which is coupled to the latch mechanism. This integration allows for efficient force transmission and multiplication while maintaining a compact design that minimizes overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism converts linear motion along the first axis (actuator translation) to rotational motion about the second axis (pinion gear rotation) through the meshing of the rack and pinion. This dimensional transformation provides mechanical advantage while keeping the components compact and the overall system design efficient.
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 provides a cost-effective, reliable, and aesthetically pleasing mechanical actuation system for vehicle door release, eliminating the need for redundant mechanisms and ensuring consistent operation regardless of electric power availability.
Implementation Method 1
The pinion gear is meshed with the rack gear and with the extension member coupled to the pinion gear. The mesh between the pinion gear and the rack gear facilitates rotation of the pinion gear as the rack gear translates
Implementation Method 2
The pulley is fixed to the pinion gear and configured to rotate in unison with the pinion gear about the second axis
Implementation Method 3
The pulley comprises a cam surface spaced from and extending around the second axis, with the pulley configured to abut the extension member along the cam surface. The cam radius varying about the second axis facilitates increasing a resistant force exerted on the operator as the actuator translates
Data Source
AI summary
A button assembly for a release system comprises a housing and an actuator coupled to the housing and translatable along a first axis. The actuator comprises a contact surface configured for engagement by an operator to translate the actuator along the first axis, and a rack gear extending along the first axis and away from the contact surface. The button assembly further comprises a pinion gear coupled to the housing and rotatable about a second axis, orthogonal to the first axis. The pinion gear is meshed with the rack gear and with the extension member coupled to the pinion gear. The mesh between the pinion gear and the rack gear facilitates rotation of the pinion gear as the rack gear translates, with the rotation of the pinion gear facilitating movement of the extension member and movement of the latch between the engagement and disengagement positions.