Sunroof Deflector Locking Lever Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sunroof deflector arms in vehicles move down due to excessive air resistance when the sunroof is open, causing wind noise, and increasing the stiffness of the deflector spring to mitigate this issue reduces durability and increases the risk of mis-reversing the sunroof glass.
Innovation Solution
A structure that includes a locking lever with a hook and a hinge spring, which locks the deflector arm in place when the sunroof is open, preventing it from moving down, and a support lever that assists in maintaining the deflector arm's position, minimizing the stiffness of the deflector spring to reduce wind noise and enhance safety functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the stiffness of the deflector spring is increased to prevent the deflector arm from moving down due to air resistance, then the ability to prevent wind noise is improved, but the durability and lifespan of the deflector spring are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented between the deflector spring and the locking lever mechanism. The locking lever with hook engages with the deflector spring to provide additional support against air resistance, allowing the spring itself to maintain lower stiffness and thus preserving its durability while still preventing wind noise effectively
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the stiffness of the deflector spring is increased to prevent the deflector arm from moving down, then wind noise is reduced, but the sensitivity of the safety function for detecting objects on the sunroof glass deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is divided between the deflector spring and the locking lever mechanism. This segmentation allows the spring to maintain lower stiffness, preserving its ability to detect objects through resistance changes during sunroof closure, while the locking lever provides the additional support needed to prevent wind noise at high speeds
3Stability of the object's composition
If the stiffness of the deflector spring is increased to prevent downward movement of the deflector arm, then the deflector arm stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lever acts as an intermediary mechanism between the deflector arm and the deflector spring. This mediator provides the necessary support against air resistance through its hook engagement, allowing the system to achieve stable deflector arm positioning without requiring an excessively stiff spring, thus balancing stability with acceptable mechanism 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 solution effectively reduces wind noise, increases the durability and lifespan of the deflector spring, and decreases the likelihood of mis-reversing the sunroof glass by maintaining the deflector arm's position without significant increases in manufacturing costs or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a deflector spring 4 that is disposed between the deflector base 1 and the deflector arm 2 and provides elastic force to the deflector arm 2
Implementation Method 2
a hinge spring of which one end is coupled to the deflector arm and another end thereof is coupled to the locking lever, wherein the hinge spring presses the locking lever toward the deflector spring
Data Source
AI summary
A structure for supporting a sunroof deflector may include a deflector arm of which one end may be pivotably coupled to a deflector base on a roof of a vehicle and another end thereof may be connected with a deflector fabric, a deflector spring that may be disposed between the deflector base and the deflector arm and provides elastic force to the deflector arm, and a locking lever that may be pivotably fastened to the deflector arm by a hinge pin and has a locking lever with a hook at a front end thereof, wherein when a sunroof glass of the vehicle may be open, the hook of the locking lever may be locked to an end of the deflector spring and the deflector arm may be prevented from moving down accordingly.