Vehicle Side Door Latch with Remote Cinching Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle door latches lack efficient and reliable mechanisms for power-assisted operation and manual override, especially in scenarios where battery power is lost, and do not effectively communicate the latch's functional positions to a vehicle body controller.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle side door latch with a remote cinching actuator featuring an integral motor, two-stage gear drive, and integrated switches that enables power release and cinching functions, along with a cinch override mechanism for manual operation and communication with a vehicle body controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a power release mechanism with motor and gear drive is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the motor, gear drive, cable, and latch mechanism into an integrated power release assembly. The motor is directly coupled to the gear drive which connects via cable to the latch, merging multiple components into a unified power-assisted system that reduces the need for separate manual operating mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: normal manual latching, power-assisted release, cinching operation, and override capability. The same basic latch structure serves all these purposes through different actuation paths, reducing overall system complexity despite adding power assistance.
2Loss of information
If integrated switches are added to communicate latch positions, then the information availability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Integrated switches are positioned to detect and feedback the positional state of the latch and pawl to the vehicle body controller. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about latch status without requiring complex communication systems, using simple switch contacts that trigger based on mechanical position.
3Reliability
If a cinch override mechanism is implemented for manual operation during battery loss, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The override mechanism is pre-configured with a dedicated override link and pawl that can be manually actuated independent of the power system. This preliminary setup ensures that when battery power is lost, the user can immediately engage the override mechanism without needing to understand or manipulate the power electronics, providing reliable manual control.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch system is segmented into independent power-driven components and manual override components. The override mechanism has its own separate actuation path through the override link and pawl that does not depend on the motor or electrical system, allowing it to function independently when power is unavailable.
4Productivity
If a two-stage gear drive system is used in the remote cinching actuator, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two-stage gear drive is extracted as a separate modular assembly within the remote cinching actuator. This allows the gear system to be optimized for speed and efficiency independently from the rest of the latch mechanism, with the first stage providing high torque and the second stage providing reduced gear ratio for faster cinching action.
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 versatile latch system that ensures reliable power-assisted operation and manual override capabilities, maintaining functionality even during battery loss, while enabling real-time communication of latch positions to the vehicle controller.
Implementation Method 1
Power release mechanism consists of an integral motor, wherein the motor rotation in one direction will drive the power release gear
Implementation Method 2
a two stage gear drive system coupled to a cable lever mechanically attached to the latch
Data Source
AI summary
A remote cinching actuator, which includes an integral motor wherein its rotation will drive the two stage drive gears system, that are coupled to a cable lever. This cable lever is mechanically attached to a cinch lever within the side door latch by the cable. The lever will rotate on its pivot and move the cinch drive link. A bearing attached to the cinch drive link will move during the cinching operation, traveling through a canal of a cinch override lever, to maintain the traveling course of the cinch drive link and, thereby, allowing the interaction between the cinch drive link and a claw to rotate the claw to its closed/primary position. A vehicle side door latch, including an integral motor and a power release gear for performing a power release function of the latch wherein the rotation of the motor in a power release direction will drive the power release gear which in turn will hit a power release lever to move the pawl release lever, so that the former can interact with a pawl lifter, coupled to the latch pawl, thereby allowing the claw to rotate to its open position. The side door latch also consists of a cinch override lever which allows the cancellation of the cinching function at any time of the cinching travel by interacting with a cinch override clutch lever, and in turn with a cinch override clutch link which is attached to both, the pawl release lever and the cinch override clutch lever. These interactions within the latch will allow the disengagement of the cinch drive link from the latch claw.