Vehicle Handle Hinge Segmentation for Moldability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle handle devices face challenges in moldability and workability, particularly with thin plate-shaped hinge portions that can be prone to distortion or short shots during molding, affecting the reliable fixation of cable devices.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle handle device with a handle case featuring a cable fixing base, cap portion, and hinge portion, where the hinge includes a breaking portion that disengages to allow engagement of protrusion and receiving portions for secure cable fixation, enabling easy assembly and moldability without complex wall thickness designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the thickness of the hinge portion is increased, then the hinge portion can be molded without short shots, but the hinge portion may be distorted and cracked when the cap portion is rotated
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge portion is divided into a first hinge piece and a second hinge piece that are detachably connected. This segmentation allows each piece to be molded with optimal thin thickness without causing distortion or cracking, while still providing sufficient structural integrity when assembled together to form the complete hinge mechanism.
2Reliability
If the thickness of the hinge portion is decreased, then distortion and cracking during rotation are prevented, but short shots occur at the time of molding
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hinge portion into multiple thin pieces rather than using a single thick piece, the design achieves both goals: each thin piece can be molded without short shots and is resistant to distortion during rotation, while the assembled pieces provide the necessary structural integrity.
3Ease of operation
If the cap portion and cable fixing base are assembled with rotatable hinge, then cable device fixation workability is improved, but the structure becomes complex affecting moldability
Solution Approach 1:
The first hinge piece is integrated into the cable fixing base and the second hinge piece is integrated into the cap portion, merging the hinge functionality directly into these components. This reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall structure, making the integrally molded product more manufacturable while still providing the necessary rotatable connection for cable fixation.
4Productivity
If integrally molded product is used for handle case, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but hinge portion and connecting piece assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece is designed with a breaking portion that can be easily removed after molding. This extraction of the connecting piece allows the hinge pieces to be detachably connected, simplifying the assembly process of the integrally molded product while maintaining manufacturing efficiency. The breaking portion enables straightforward disassembly for assembly purposes.
Data Source
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AI summary
This vehicle handle device that operates a door lock device via a cable device includes an operation member connected to the cable device, and a handle case accommodating the operation member. The handle case includes: a cable fixing base in which the cable device is arranged; a cap portion that fixes the cable device to the cable fixing base; and a hinge portion that engages an engaging piece provided on one of the cable fixing base and the cap portion with an engaged piece provided in the other of the cable fixing base and the cap portion, the hinge portion connecting the cap portion to the cable fixing base in a manner enabling pivoting thereof.