Vehicle Trunk Actuator Nested Tube Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trunk opening and closing apparatuses for vehicles occupy valuable luggage space and are prone to damage, with complex configurations increasing material costs and assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven apparatus with a motor unit, inner and outer tubes, a bar-shaped spindle, and an elastic member, where the spindle engages with a threaded groove on the outer tube, allowing translation and rotation, and reducing the need for a nut gear assembly and spring guide tube, using a larger spindle diameter for increased durability and reducing noise and length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a hinge arm and torsion bar are used in the conventional trunk opening and closing apparatus, then the trunk can be opened and closed, but the hinge arms occupy valuable luggage space when the trunk is closed
Solution Approach 1:
The inner tube is nested inside the outer tube, with the motor unit housed within the inner tube. This nested configuration allows the entire mechanism to be compact, eliminating the need for separate hinge arms that would occupy luggage space while maintaining the trunk opening and closing function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the motor unit, inner tube, outer tube, and spindle into a single integrated assembly that replaces the conventional separate hinge arm and torsion bar components. This merging of functions into one compact unit eliminates space occupation while preserving the mechanical advantage and operational capability
2Reliability
If a hinge arm and torsion bar are used in the conventional trunk opening and closing apparatus, then the trunk can be opened and closed, but the torsion bar may be damaged by a luggage loaded in the luggage space
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the entire mechanism within the tube structure, the components are protected from external factors including luggage. The inner tube houses the motor unit and spindle, while the outer tube provides additional protection, creating a shielded environment that prevents damage from loaded luggage
Solution Approach 2:
The vulnerable torsion bar is extracted from the conventional configuration and replaced with a protected spindle mechanism housed within the nested tube structure. This extraction removes the component from exposure to potential damage sources while maintaining its functional role
3Reliability
If a gas lift is installed outside the luggage space in a midsize vehicle, then the trunk opening and closing function is achieved, but the configuration is complex, thus increasing material cost and the number of assembling processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the motor unit, drive mechanism, and structural support into a single integrated tube assembly. The inner tube contains the motor and spindle, the outer tube provides structural support and threading, and together they form a unified replacement for the complex gas lift system, reducing both material cost and assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The tube assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: the outer tube provides structural support and contains the threaded groove, the inner tube houses the motor unit and provides rotational support, and the spindle transmits rotational motion. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate gas lift components and reduces overall system 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 provides a simpler, cost-effective structure that enhances durability, reduces noise, and increases trunk space utilization by shortening the apparatus length, allowing for improved mounting and reduced RPM operation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member wound on an outer circumference of the outer tube
Implementation Method 2
a bar-shaped spindle having a threaded portion on an outer circumference thereof, and coupled to the motor unit to cause the threaded portion of the spindle to engage with the threaded groove of the outer tube when the motor is rotated, thus allowing the spindle to perform translation simultaneously with rotation
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for opening and closing a trunk for a vehicle, may include a motor unit equipped with a motor, an inner tube provided outside the motor unit to surround the motor unit, with a plurality of protrusions protruding from an outer circumference of the inner tube, an outer tube provided outside the inner tube to surround the inner tube and including a threaded groove being indented along an inner circumference of the outer tube, a bar-shaped spindle having a threaded portion on an outer circumference thereof, and coupled to the motor unit to cause the threaded portion of the spindle to engage with the threaded groove of the outer tube when the motor may be rotated, thus allowing the spindle to perform translation simultaneously with rotation, and an elastic member-wound on an outer circumference of the outer tube.