Vehicle Door Latch with Two-Way Torsional Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door latch mechanisms for vehicles face challenges in closing the door due to forces acting in the opening direction, leading to increased resistance and noise during opening.
Innovation Solution
A latch apparatus utilizing a two-way torsional spring applied to a claw lever, with an elastic member and movement guide to adjust elastic force, increasing resistance during opening and reducing resistance during closing, thereby reducing door opening sound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional spring is used to provide opening force, then the door can be opened, but the resistance during opening is insufficient and causes increased opening sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a two-way torsional spring that dynamically adjusts its characteristics based on the door's opening/closing state. The spring provides high resistance during closing to control the closing speed, and high resistance during initial opening to reduce opening sound, while providing low resistance during later opening stages to facilitate smooth opening. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between providing sufficient opening force and reducing opening sound.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-way torsional spring changes its mechanical parameters (stiffness, force characteristics) based on the operational state. By utilizing the slot and movement guide mechanism, the spring's effective length and compression ratio are adjusted according to the door's position, transforming the spring from a static component to one with variable parameters that adapt to different operational phases, thereby reducing opening sound while maintaining opening capability.
2Ease of operation
If the claw lever rotates freely, then the door can open easily, but the resistance during closing increases and closing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The two-way torsional spring applies preliminary anti-action by providing resistance during the closing operation. As the door closes, the spring compresses and generates a counteracting force that opposes the closing motion, thereby controlling the closing speed and preventing excessive closing resistance. This preliminary anti-action resolves the contradiction by allowing easy opening while managing closing forces.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the elastic force is increased to reduce opening sound, then the opening sound is reduced, but the resistance during closing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two-way torsional spring with the slot and movement guide mechanism dynamically adjusts the elastic force based on the door's position. During closing, the spring provides controlled resistance through its compression. During opening, the spring's elastic recovery provides resistance to reduce opening sound. The system transitions smoothly between these states, resolving the contradiction between reducing opening sound and managing closing resistance.
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 increases resistance during door opening, reducing the opening sound and improving door closing performance by adjusting the elastic force in the opposite direction of the claw lever's rotation.
Implementation Method 1
a two-way torsional spring is applied to a claw lever to increase resistance to a latch and a striker when a door is opened, and to reduce resistance when the door is closed
Implementation Method 2
a two-way torsional spring is applied to a claw lever
Implementation Method 3
an elastic member configured to adjust an elastic force provided to the claw lever, as the claw lever is rotated
Data Source
AI summary
A latch apparatus for a door of a vehicle is proposed. The latch apparatus includes a claw lever restrained by a pawl lever to lock a striker as the door is operated in a closed state, and released from the pawl lever to unlock the striker as the door is operated in an open state, and an elastic member configured to adjust an elastic force provided to the claw lever, as the claw lever is rotated in a state where a first end of the elastic member is movably inserted into a slot in the claw lever.