Adjustable Cam Locking Device for Double-Leaf Vehicle Door Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Double-leaf bus doors lack reliable locking mechanisms between the two door leaves, leading to potential opening due to stresses and deformations caused by static overdetermination and tolerances, which disrupt alignment with the vehicle's outer skin.

Innovation Solution

A locking device featuring a cam device with adjustable cams and a catch device, allowing for variable adjustment of the cam fastening position to reduce tension and ensure proper alignment, combined with a length-adjustable guide linkage for correct door alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed cam device is used for locking the door leaf, then the locking mechanism is simple and reliable, but stresses and deformations occur due to tolerances and static overdetermination, disrupting alignment with the vehicle's outer skin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cam device is made adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the door leaf, allowing dynamic repositioning to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and static overdetermination. The cam can be positioned at different locations (e.g., closer to front or rear) to optimize alignment and reduce stresses in the locked state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position parameter of the cam device is made variable through an adjustment mechanism (such as a threaded rod or slots). This allows the cam's longitudinal position to be changed within a range, enabling compensation for tolerance accumulations and optimization of the locking geometry to maintain alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the cam position is fixed during manufacturing, then the device complexity is low, but alignment between door leaf and outer skin is disrupted due to tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking device complexityVSAvoiddoor alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A simple adjustment mechanism is introduced that allows the cam position to be varied along the longitudinal axis. This could be a threaded rod with a locking nut, or slots with adjustment holes, providing minimal complexity while enabling precise alignment compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment mechanism is designed to be set during manufacturing or installation. The cam position can be preliminarily adjusted to compensate for known tolerance variations, ensuring proper alignment without requiring complex real-time control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If adjustable cams are introduced to compensate for tolerances, then alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidlocking device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism changes only one critical parameter - the longitudinal position of the cam device. This single-degree-of-freedom adjustment is sufficient to compensate for tolerance accumulations while keeping the mechanism simple and maintainable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment mechanism provides a simple, low-complexity way to make the cam position variable. Examples include a threaded rod with lock nut, or predetermined adjustment holes in slots, which add minimal complexity while enabling precise alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2853672B1Vehicle door with adjustable wedge device
Publication Date: 2018.01.03 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP2853672B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2853672B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2853672B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a locking device (10) for locking a door leaf (101), advantageously for a double-leaf vehicle door (100), in particular a vehicle outward-swinging door. The locking device (10) comprises a cam assembly (1) which has at least one cam (2) for locking with a catch (3). The cam assembly (1) is characterized in particular by an adjustment device (4) by means of which the locking position of the at least one cam (2) can be variably adjusted.