Vehicle Door Handle Assembly With Guided Motion to Prevent Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door handle assemblies that translate between rest and deployed positions are either expensive due to electric actuators or unreliable in power failures, and mechanical alternatives struggle with strong motion resistance, such as freezing at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door handle assembly using a bracket, handle, and levers with elastic means and guiding mechanisms, allowing translation and rotation only along a predetermined axis, incorporating a return lever with a delay element to ensure smooth operation and prevent jamming, even under external resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electric actuator is used to control the handle translation, then the handle operation is reliable and can overcome strong motion resistance, but the cost increases and the system becomes vulnerable to power supply failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric actuator system with a purely mechanical operation system. The handle assembly uses mechanical linkages, springs, and levers to achieve translation between retracted and deployed positions without any electric motors or power-dependent components. This substitution eliminates power supply vulnerability while maintaining operational reliability through passive mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical system is designed to be self-actuating through user input. When the user pulls the handle, the mechanical linkages automatically translate this motion into the necessary movements of the door latch mechanism. The spring-loaded return mechanism automatically returns the handle to its retracted position after use, eliminating the need for active control systems.
2Device complexity
If a mechanical system with spring means is used for handle operation, then the cost is reduced and power failure resistance is improved, but the system cannot overcome strong motion resistance such as freezing at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic mechanical linkages that can adapt to varying resistance conditions. The linkage geometry and spring tension are designed to provide mechanical advantage when overcoming resistance forces such as freezing conditions. The system transitions from a static spring mechanism to a dynamic linkage system that can leverage user pulling force effectively against high resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes curved surfaces and rounded geometries in the mechanical components to reduce friction and improve motion smoothness. Curved guide surfaces and rounded edges on the handle and linkage components allow for easier movement through resistant conditions by distributing contact forces and preventing binding, thereby overcoming freezing and high friction scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If the handle is allowed to move freely in multiple directions, then the operation flexibility is improved, but the system may jam due to misalignment or external factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handle motion into distinct, controlled degrees of freedom using guide elements and linkages. Rather than allowing free movement in all directions, the mechanism divides the motion into specific rotational and translational components that are mechanically guided. This segmentation prevents misalignment and jamming by constraining motion to predetermined safe paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary guide elements and linkage components between the handle and the door latch mechanism. These intermediaries mediate the motion transmission, ensuring that forces and movements are properly aligned and distributed. The guide elements act as intermediaries that prevent direct transmission of misaligned forces that could cause jamming.
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
Provides a cost-effective and reliable door handle mechanism that operates smoothly under various conditions, including power failures and extreme temperatures, without jamming, by leveraging passive rotation and guided motion.
Implementation Method 1
the return lever comprising an elastic means passively bringing back said return lever to its first position
Implementation Method 2
the second extremity of the handle is provided with guiding means configured so as to reduce the degrees of freedom of the handle with respect to the bracket when moving from the rest position to the activation position
Implementation Method 3
said first extremity being connected to a first lever, said first lever being designed to rotate with respect to the bracket about an axis of rotation which is parallel to a predetermined fixed direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle door handle assembly (1) comprising a handle (2) comprising a first extremity (22) and a second extremity (23) opposed to the first extremity (22), the first extremity (22) being connected to a first lever (3) connected to an opening lever, said first lever (3) rotating between a rest position where the first extremity (22) is in a rest position, a deployed position where the first extremity (22) is in a deployed position outside the bracket (10) and an opening position where the first lever (3) actuates the opening lever, the second extremity (23) being connected to a second lever (4) rotating between a rest position where the second extremity (23) is a rest position, an activation position where the second extremity (23) is pushed into the bracket (10), and a deployed position where the second extremity (23) is in a deployed position outside the bracket (10), the vehicle door handle assembly (1) also comprising a return lever (5) connected to the second lever (4), said return lever (5) rotating between a first position and a second position, the return lever (5) comprising an elastic means (56) passively bringing back said return lever (5) to its first position, the rotation of the second lever (4) to its activation position actuates the rotation of the return lever (5) from its first to its second position, and the passive rotation of the return lever (5) from its second to its first position actuates the rotation of the second lever (4) from its deployed position to its rest position. The second extremity (23) of the handle (2) is provided with guiding means (25, 104) configured so as to reduce the degrees of freedom of the handle (2) with respect to the bracket (10) when moving from the rest position to the activation position, the remaining degrees of freedom being translation and rotation about an axis parallel to a fixed direction.