Vehicle Door Modular Latch Mechanism Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft door locking mechanisms are heavy due to over-dimensioned materials and complex moving parts, leading to high opening forces and potential safety issues during door operation.
Innovation Solution
A modular latch fitting locking device with a stationary latch fitting arrangement mounted to the body structure, featuring a laterally moveable latch bar member and journal bearing structure, which reduces weight and complexity while ensuring secure latching, by integrating the latch mechanism into the door sill structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If latch mechanism with movable latch member and actuators is arranged within the door, then door locking function is achieved, but door weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the latch mechanism from the door structure and relocates it to the body structure. The movable latch member and actuators are now mounted to the body structure rather than the door, removing unnecessary weight from the door while maintaining the locking function. This is achieved by repositioning the entire latch assembly to engage with the door from the body side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the actuators and movable latch member on the body structure side rather than the door side. This inversion allows the door to be lighter while the body structure assumes the role of housing the actuating mechanisms, effectively swapping the functional locations of the locking components.
2Reliability
If latch mechanism is arranged within the door, then door locking function is achieved, but door structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex actuator and linkage arrangements from the door structure and relocates them to the body structure. This extraction simplifies the door structure by removing unnecessary moving parts, linkages, and mounting requirements from the door, while the body structure assumes the complexity of housing and actuating the latch mechanism.
3Strength
If over-dimensioned materials are used for latch mechanism, then structural strength is ensured, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing structural strengthening at specific locations in the body structure where the latch mechanism is mounted, rather than using over-dimensioned materials throughout the door. The body structure is locally reinforced at the latch mounting points to ensure adequate strength, allowing the door itself to be constructed with lighter, appropriately-sized materials.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention regards a body structure (1) of a vehicle (3), comprising a door structure (5), whereby an interface (7) is defined between the body structure (1) and the door structure (5), which door structure (5) is configured to be opened or closed when the vehicle (3) is standing still. A locking mechanism (9) comprises at least one stationary latch fitting arrangement (11) and a latch fitting locking device (13), which comprising at least one movable latch member (15) configured to be moved by a first actuator arrangement (17). The latch fitting locking device (13) and the first actuator arrangement (17) being mounted to the body structure (1). The stationary latch fitting arrangement (11) is mounted to the door structure (5).The present invention also regards a modular latch fitting locking device and a method for mounting of a modular latch fitting locking device (1013, 13M) to a body structure (1) of a vehicle (3).