Vehicle Door Latch Groove Protrusion for Quieter Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing door lock devices in vehicles produce loud noises when the vehicle door is unlocked due to the restoring force of the sealing strip, causing discomfort to passengers, and the fitting parts become skewed, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A door lock device with a protrusion part on the latch groove that gradually increases and then decreases in interference with the striker during disengagement, combined with an abutting part made of a different material to reduce noise and smooth disengagement, along with a base groove for the striker to pass through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing strip is squeezed to provide sealing force, then sealing performance is improved, but the restoring force causes the door to spring open loudly when unlocked
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion part acts as an intermediary element between the striker and the latch groove. It provides a controlled transition surface that mediates the disengagement process, allowing the striker to gradually exit the latch groove rather than suddenly releasing, thereby reducing the noise generated by the sealing strip's restoring force
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion part is designed in advance to provide cushioning during the disengagement process. By creating a gradual transition zone with increased interference amount, it cushions the sudden release of the striker, reducing the impact and noise before the door fully opens
2Productivity
If the striker is quickly disengaged from the latch groove, then unlocking speed is improved, but the door springs open rapidly causing loud noise and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion part creates a dynamic disengagement process where the interference amount changes during movement. As the striker moves along the protrusion part, the interference amount varies, naturally controlling the speed of disengagement to balance unlocking efficiency with noise reduction
3Ease of manufacture
If the latch groove has a simple structure without protrusion parts, then manufacturing is easier, but the striker disengages too quickly causing noise
Solution Approach 1:
The latch groove is segmented into different zones by the protrusion part. This segmentation creates distinct functional areas: a first region with smaller interference amount for initial engagement, and a second region with larger interference amount for controlled disengagement, adding functionality without significantly complicating manufacturing
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 device effectively reduces the noise and speed of door opening by slowing down the disengagement of the striker, preventing sticking and further noise reduction through material abutment, while maintaining smooth operation.
Implementation Method 1
a protrusion part protruding toward an inner side of the latch groove is provided on a surface of the latch groove that contacts the striker when the latch rotates... the amount of interference of the latch groove on the striker during the disengagement of the striker can be increased... the speed at which the striker is disengaged can be slowed down
Implementation Method 2
the abutted part is made of a material different from that of the base component... the abutted part made of a material different from that of the base component abuts against the abutting part, so that the noise for positioning the latch during unlocking can be reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A door lock device for a vehicle capable of reducing the sound produced when a vehicle door is unlocked includes: a base component, where the base component is fixed to a vehicle door for opening and closing an opening of a vehicle body; a striker, where the striker is fixed to an edge of the opening on the vehicle body; and a latch, where the latch is arranged on the base component and has a latch groove capable of being engaged with and disengaged from the striker, and the latch is capable of rotating between a locking position in which the striker is constrained by the latch groove and an unlocking position in which the striker is released, wherein a protrusion part protruding toward an inner side of the latch groove is provided on a surface of the latch groove that contacts the striker when the latch rotates.