Vehicle Lid Actuator with Integrated Stopper to Reduce Backlash
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lid-body opening/closing apparatuses for vehicles face challenges in reducing part count, simplifying structure, lowering manufacturing costs, and minimizing malfunctions and abnormal noises due to backlash, primarily due to the complexity involving a latch and pawl mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A simplified design using a single stopper that engages with the linearly-movable and rotary shafts, eliminating the need for a latch and pawl, and incorporating an electric actuator to control the stopper's position for improved operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a latch and pawl mechanism is used to hold the lid body in the closed position, then the reliability of the opening/closing function is improved, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the pawl component from the traditional latch-pawl mechanism, retaining only the latch that integrates with the rotary shaft. This simplification maintains the essential latching function while reducing part count and structural complexity, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch is integrated with the rotary shaft as a unified structure, combining two previously separate components (latch and rotary shaft) into one. This merging reduces the number of parts, simplifies assembly, and maintains the latching function, thereby improving reliability while reducing device complexity.
2Reliability
If a latch and pawl mechanism is used to hold the lid body, then the opening/closing function is reliable, but the manufacturing cost increases due to higher part count
Solution Approach 1:
The pawl component is extracted and removed from the mechanism, reducing the part count from two (latch and pawl) to one (latch integrated with rotary shaft). This reduction directly lowers manufacturing costs while preserving the essential latching function through the simplified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the latch with the rotary shaft into a single integrated component, the patent reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This integration directly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining functional reliability.
3Ease of operation
If multiple components (latch, pawl, coupling pins, coupling holes) are used, then the opening/closing function is achieved, but backlash occurs due to dimensional tolerances and assembly errors
Solution Approach 1:
The latch and rotary shaft are merged into an integrated structure, eliminating the coupling pin and coupling hole interfaces that were sources of backlash. This reduction in interface points directly reduces the accumulation of dimensional tolerances and assembly errors, improving operation smoothness and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
By removing the pawl and its associated coupling mechanisms, the patent eliminates multiple interfaces where backlash could occur. The simplified structure with fewer mating surfaces directly reduces the impact of dimensional tolerances and assembly variations, leading to smoother operation.
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
This design enhances closure tightness, reduces manufacturing costs, and minimizes malfunctions and noise by reliably engaging the stopper with the shafts, allowing for efficient manual operation and automatic actuation, even at high speeds.
Implementation Method 1
an electric actuator that is energized when actuated (induced) by (in response to) a manual opening operation for displacing the lid body to the open position
Implementation Method 2
a stopper that (i) is supported by the housing, (ii) is displaceable (movable, pivotable) between a blocking position at which the stopper engages one of the linearly-movable shaft and the rotary shaft, thereby prohibiting the linearly-movable shaft from moving from the second position to the first position, and a nonblocking position at which the stopper is separated from the linearly-movable shaft, (iii) is biased toward the blocking position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A lid-body opening/closing apparatus 1 for use in a vehicle comprises: a housing (90); a linearly-movable shaft (10) supported by the housing (90) such that the linearly-movable shaft (10) is capable of undergoing linear reciprocating motion in the direction of an axial center (X10) and is nonrotatable around the axial center (X10); a rotary shaft (30) supported by the linearly-movable shaft (10) such that the rotary shaft (30) is capable of undergoing linear reciprocating motion in the direction of the axial center (X10) and is rotatable around the axial center (X10); and a stopper (50) that: is supported by the housing (90); is displaceable between a blocking position at which the stopper (50) prohibits the linearly-movable shaft (10) from moving from a second position to a first position, and a nonblocking position at which the stopper (50) is separated from the linearly-movable shaft (10); is biased toward the blocking position; and displaces to the nonblocking position in response to a manual opening operation for displacing the lid body (5) to an open position.