Actuating Drive Stabilizing Moment for Vehicle Locks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuating drives for motor vehicle applications, such as motor vehicle locks, face challenges in achieving precise and secure functional positions without the need for end stops, as they rely on continuous current supply and external forces to maintain position, especially when using electromagnetic actuating elements.
Innovation Solution
An actuating drive with an electromotive rotary actuator featuring a U-shaped coil body and a rotor with a permanent magnet, where the drive lever interacts with a switching lever to introduce a stabilizing moment, allowing secure positioning without additional latching means and enabling easy positioning of the rotor element relative to the drive lever.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electromagnetic actuating elements are used without end stops, then continuous current supply is necessary and external forces can easily move the rotor element out of functional positions, but the construction complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the drive lever relative to the rotor element using a locating element before the electromagnetic actuator is activated. This ensures that when the rotor element moves to its functional position, the drive lever is already correctly positioned to engage with the cam, eliminating the need for additional latching means and reducing construction complexity while maintaining position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism consisting of the cam and drive lever interaction. The cam on the rotor element interacts with the drive lever to provide mechanical advantage and stable positioning without requiring continuous power supply or additional latching components. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing reliable positioning through mechanical interaction rather than continuous electromagnetic force
2Reliability
If additional latching means are added to secure functional positions, then position stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional latching means by using the cam profile on the rotor element to directly engage with the drive lever. The cam's geometric shape provides the necessary mechanical advantage and positioning stability inherently, removing the need for separate latching components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor element serves multiple functions: it acts as both the electromagnetic actuator's moving component and as the cam mechanism for positioning the drive lever. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate latching means, as the rotor element itself provides both the magnetic interaction surface and the mechanical cam profile for stable positioning
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 solution enables stable and secure functional positions to be maintained with reduced construction complexity, allowing for precise and reproducible positioning of the drive lever, eliminating the need for continuous power supply to the actuator once a position is achieved.
Implementation Method 1
The disclosed non-contact rotary actuator generates a rotational movement by means of induced electric fields, which are generated by means of coils on a U-shaped stator
Implementation Method 2
The rotor element in this case comprises a magnetizable rotor, wherein the rotor can be oriented with respect to the induced electric field of the coil arrangement
Implementation Method 3
magnetic fields can be induced by means of the coil arrangement and the rotor shaft can be oriented in different functional positions by means of the magnetic fields
Data Source
AI summary
An actuating drive for motor vehicle applications, in particular for a motor vehicle lock comprising an actuating drive, for realizing different functional positions, includes an electromagnetic rotary actuator with a rotor and a stator, in particular a coil carrier, a drive lever, wherein the drive lever can be moved to different functional positions by the rotary actuator, and means for latching the drive lever in the functional position, wherein the drive lever interacts with a switching lever in such a way that, after a functional position of the drive lever is reached, a moment which stabilizes the functional position can be introduced into the drive lever by the switching lever.