Spring Retaining Assembly for Vehicle Latch Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle latch spring assemblies are prone to unintended removal during assembly, complicating the assembly process due to their design, which affects the reliability and security of the locking mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A spring retaining assembly is designed with a worm gear and housing configuration, where the spring has legs extending through apertures and holes, with one leg segment oriented at a non-parallel angle to prevent removal, ensuring secure engagement and retention within the assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the spring is designed with simple legs extending through holes, then the assembly structure is simple, but the spring is prone to unintended removal during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The first leg of the spring is designed with asymmetric geometry, including a first segment and a second segment oriented at a non-parallel angle to each other. This asymmetric configuration creates a geometric interlock with the aperture in the worm gear, preventing the spring from being accidentally removed while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the spring leg is oriented at a non-parallel angle, then the spring retention is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring leg transitions from a simple linear configuration to an angled configuration with specific geometric parameters. The non-parallel orientation of the first and second segments creates a locking effect against the aperture face, improving retention while the angled geometry can be manufactured using standard spring forming techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator mechanism of a vehicle latch assembly includes an electric motor having an output shaft. Also included is a worm coupled to the output shaft. Further included is a worm gear driven by the worm. Yet further included is a spring operatively coupled to the worm gear and to a latch housing, the spring having a first leg extending through an aperture defined by the worm gear and a second leg extending into a receiving hole defined by the housing, the first leg including a first segment extending along a first leg axis and a second segment oriented at a non-parallel angle to the first leg axis, the second segment contacting a face of the worm gear to prevent removal of the spring.