Actuation Unit with Sealed Pivot for Moisture Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuating units for motor vehicle movable parts, such as tailgates, are costly and time-consuming to manufacture while offering limited protection against environmental factors like moisture, requiring complex ventilation holes and sealing compounds to protect electrical components.
Innovation Solution
The actuating unit is designed with an axially symmetric pivot mechanism that encapsulates the interior space, eliminating the need for ventilation holes and sealing compounds, using a pivotally mounted actuating part and a housing part connected at their peripheral edges, with conductor elements integrated into the housing part and a holding element to secure the contact element, ensuring reliable electrical contact without external exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ventilation holes are provided in the actuating unit to allow displaced air to escape, then the actuating part can move freely, but moisture and dirt can penetrate into the interior, reducing the service life of electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating unit is divided into two separate parts: the actuating part and the housing part, connected through a pivot connection. This segmentation allows the actuating part to move freely while the housing part maintains the sealed interior space, preventing moisture and dirt ingress while preserving operational freedom
Solution Approach 2:
The interior space is pre-encapsulated and sealed before the actuating part is assembled to the housing part. The pivot connection is designed to maintain this seal during assembly, ensuring that the electrical components are protected from environmental factors before the unit is put into service
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sealing compounds or resin are used to enclose electrical components, then protection against moisture is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful practice of using sealing compounds and resin is completely extracted and eliminated from the design. Instead, a mechanical pivot connection between the actuating part and housing part creates a natural seal, protecting electrical components without requiring additional sealing materials or complex application processes
Solution Approach 2:
The housing part itself acts as a protective shell that encloses the electrical components. The pivot connection design maintains the integrity of this shell during actuating part movement, providing protection against moisture and dirt without requiring additional sealing films or compounds
3Ease of manufacture
If the actuating part is rigidly fixed to the housing part, then manufacturing is simpler, but the actuating unit cannot respond to manual actuation signals
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the actuating part and housing part is changed from rigid to dynamic through the pivot connection. This allows the actuating part to rotate relative to the housing part when manually actuated, enabling signal transmission while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the straightforward pivot mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot connection acts as an intermediary element between the actuating part and housing part. It transmits the rotational movement generated by manual actuation of the actuating part to the contact element, enabling signal generation while maintaining a simple and reliable mechanical connection
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 significantly increases the service life and functional properties of the actuating unit by preventing moisture and dirt ingress, reducing manufacturing costs and complexity, and eliminating the need for sealing compounds, while maintaining reliable electrical operation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable contact element which interacts with the conductor elements and one on the actuating part arranged plunger for deformation of the contact element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuation unit of a moving part (1) of a motor vehicle, in particular a rear hood (1), comprising an actuation part (10) that is fastened to a housing part (20), at least two conductor elements (21) disposed on the housing part (20), an elastically deformable contact element (22) that cooperates with the conductor elements (21), a plunger (11), which is disposed at the actuation part (10), for deforming the contact element (22). According to the invention, the actuation part (10) and the housing part (20) delimit an internal space (2) that is totally closed off from the environment (3), and the actuation part (10) is mounted pivotably about an axis (4) that runs axisymetrically with respect to the internal space (2).