Tapered Door Support Pin for Blast-Resistant Vehicle Sealing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door latches in military vehicles fail to maintain functionality and safety during and after a blast event, as they can disengage or bend, allowing gas ingress and potentially trapping occupants.

Innovation Solution

A door support assembly featuring a high-strength door support pin with a tapered section and flange, combined with a latch mechanism that engages and disengages with the pin, ensuring the door remains sealed during blasts and allows for easy egress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a combat latch mechanism is fixed in place on the vehicle interior requiring mechanical disengagement, then the door provides sufficient shielding during blast events, but the latch may disengage or bend during severe blasts, allowing gas ingress or trapping personnel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor seal integrity during blastVSAvoiddoor egress after blast

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door support pin is designed with a tapered section that allows it to dynamically adjust its position within the plate passage during blast deflection, maintaining engagement while accommodating door panel movement. The taper geometry enables the pin to self-adjust rather than rigidly resist deformation forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The door support pin features a tapered geometry with a specific angle range (5-45 degrees) that changes the dimensional parameters of the pin along its length. This parameter variation allows the pin to maintain structural integrity while accommodating blast-induced deflections and maintaining reliable engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the door panels deflect to blunt the blast, then the door provides blast protection, but the deflection can cause the latch paddle to disengage or bend

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblast protectionVSAvoidlatch mechanism integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The tapered geometry of the door support pin provides a cushioning effect by allowing gradual adjustment during blast deflection. The taper angle is designed to absorb and distribute the shock loads from blast events, preventing sudden disengagement or catastrophic failure of the latch mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The door support pin is designed with a tapered section that allows it to dynamically adjust its position within the plate passage during blast deflection, maintaining engagement while accommodating door panel movement. The taper geometry enables the pin to self-adjust rather than rigidly resist deformation forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a tapered section with ratio 1:1 to 5:1 is used on the door support pin, then binding is prevented during door operation, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor operation smoothnessVSAvoidtaper geometry accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The door support pin features a tapered geometry with a specific angle range (5-45 degrees) that changes the dimensional parameters of the pin along its length. This parameter variation allows the pin to maintain structural integrity while accommodating blast-induced deflections and maintaining reliable engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8550535B1Taper door connector strategy

Publication Date: 2013.10.08 ND DEFENSE LLC

AI summary

A door support assembly for a motor vehicle is described. Generally speaking, the assembly includes a pin with a tapered section and being attached to the vehicle door, a passage with a mating surface for the tapered section fixed to the vehicle, and a latching mechanism configured to pull the vehicle door inward when engaged. When the latch mechanism is engaged, the assembly provides zero-gap with the door frame. The pin is tapered to a degree that it does not become wedged within the passage as the result of an explosive event.