Rheopectic-Fluid Door-Handle Inertial Device for Crash Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inertial systems for vehicle door handles are complex, difficult to manufacture, and require extensive tools for installation, making them impractical for various handle types and costly to replace, while also risking false activation during normal vehicle maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A modular inertial device using a non-Newtonian fluid and rotor system that connects easily to different shafts without complex tools, featuring a housing with a single connection point and hermetic compartment to protect components, and a rheopectic fluid that increases viscosity at high rotation speeds to prevent accidental door opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated inertial system is designed for each type of new handle, then the reliability and precision of door opening prevention is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial device is designed as a universal component that can be adapted to multiple door handle types through a mounting bracket system. The device includes a housing with a mounting bracket that can accommodate different shaft configurations, allowing the same inertial mechanism to serve multiple handle designs without requiring dedicated systems for each handle type.
Solution Approach 2:
The door handle system is divided into separate modular components: the inertial device, the mounting bracket, and the shaft assembly. This segmentation allows the inertial device to be independently designed and manufactured as a standard component that can be mounted on various handle configurations, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If complex inertial systems are used to prevent accidental door opening, then the safety performance is improved, but the ease of manufacture and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial device is designed as a self-contained modular unit with integrated components (housing, non-Newtonian fluid chamber, rotor, and mounting bracket) that can be manufactured independently and then installed as a complete assembly. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing standardization of the inertial mechanism while maintaining the complex safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting bracket serves as an intermediary component that simplifies the installation of the inertial device onto different door handle shafts. The bracket provides a standardized interface between the inertial device and various handle configurations, making installation easier without compromising the complex inertial prevention mechanism.
3Stability of the object's composition
If inertial systems are mounted adjacent the interior surface of an escutcheon plate, then the integration with door handle assembly is improved, but the ease of disassembly and replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial device is designed as a separable module that can be independently removed from the door handle assembly. The mounting bracket provides attachment points that allow the inertial device to be securely integrated during operation but easily detached when replacement is needed, without requiring disassembly of the entire door handle mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket is pre-configured with attachment features that facilitate quick connection and disconnection of the inertial device. This preliminary design of the mounting interface allows service personnel to rapidly replace the inertial device without complex tools or procedures, while ensuring stable integration during normal vehicle operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the housing connects to multiple ends of the shaft, then the adaptability to different shaft configurations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with universal attachment features that can accommodate different shaft configurations through a single standardized interface. The bracket includes mounting holes and connection points that can adapt to various shaft positions and orientations, allowing one housing design to work with multiple shaft types without increasing overall device complexity.
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 device provides easy installation and adaptability across various door handles, enhances durability, and effectively prevents accidental door opening during crashes by reducing rotor speed through increased fluid viscosity, ensuring safety and simplicity in manufacturing and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a non-Newtonian fluid located within the housing, a rotor at least partly immersed in the non-Newtonian fluid and intended to rotate about a rotor axis
Implementation Method 2
The non-Newtonian fluid may be a rheopectic fluid
Implementation Method 3
The housing may comprise a compartment that is hermetically sealed
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) intended to be mounted on a door handle of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a housing (2), - a non-Newtonian fluid (3) located within the housing (2), - a rotor (4) at least partly immersed in the non-Newtonian fluid (3) and intended to rotate about a rotor (4) axis (X), wherein the device (1) forms a modular device (1) configured to be connected to one end of a shaft (5) of a door handle. The invention also relates to a door handle assembly intended to be connected to the device (1).