Auxiliary Closing Drive Blind Bowden Cable Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing auxiliary closing drive for motor vehicle locks lacks flexibility during final assembly, as the fixed assignment to Bowden cables restricts its use across different variants and requires costly transportation with pre-connected cables.
Innovation Solution
The auxiliary closing drive allows Bowden cable connection when the drive housing is closed, featuring a guide device that enables 'blind' connection without manual steering, enabling flexible assembly and transportation without pre-connected cables, with variants formed at any production stage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the auxiliary closing drive is coupled to the Bowden cable during assembly with the drive housing open, then the connection is secure, but the manufacturing process loses flexibility and the auxiliary closing drive cannot be used for different Bowden cable lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The drive housing is designed as a separate assembly unit that can be closed before final connection to the Bowden cable. The core receptacle is prepared in advance within the closed housing, allowing the Bowden cable to be connected independently at different stages of production without requiring the housing to be open during final assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The core receptacle is pre-positioned and prepared within the drive housing before the housing is closed. This preliminary preparation allows the housing to be sealed and transported independently, with the Bowden cable connection being performed as a final simple operation without requiring disassembly or complex alignment procedures.
2Ease of operation
If the auxiliary closing drive is transported with the already connected Bowden cable, then the assembly is complete, but the transportation cost increases and handling becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary closing drive is designed as a modular unit that can be transported independently of the Bowden cable. The drive housing with the pre-positioned core receptacle forms a complete, self-contained assembly that can be handled and transported separately, reducing logistics complexity and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The Bowden cable connection is extracted as a separate final operation from the main auxiliary closing drive assembly. This allows the drive unit to be manufactured, tested, and transported independently, with the Bowden cable being connected only at the final installation stage, thereby reducing transportation requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drive housing is closed before connecting the Bowden cable, then the auxiliary closing drive can be transported independently, but the connection must be made through a Bowden cable opening requiring precise guidance
Solution Approach 1:
A guide device is introduced as an intermediary element between the Bowden cable core and the core receptacle. This guide device facilitates the connection process by providing precise alignment and guidance, enabling the Bowden cable to be connected through the closed drive housing opening without requiring complex manual steering or alignment procedures.
4Ease of manufacture
If the core end piece is hung in the core receptacle during assembly with the housing open, then the connection is straightforward, but the manufacturing process cannot be optimized for different production stages
Solution Approach 1:
The core receptacle is prepared and positioned within the drive housing during the housing assembly stage, before the housing is closed. This preliminary action allows the housing to be sealed and prepared for transport, with the final Bowden cable connection being a simple operation that can be performed at any stage of production without requiring complex disassembly or reconfiguration.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The invention relates to a closing assist drive for the motorized adjustment of a lock latch (2) of a motor vehicle lock (4) during a closing assist process, wherein the closing assist drive (1) has a drive housing (7) with a housing interior (8) and in the housing interior (8) a drive motor (9) and an actuating element (10) downstream of the drive motor (9) which is pivotable about an actuating element axis (10a), wherein the actuating element (10) can be coupled to a Bowden cable (11) for the purpose of transmitting drive movements, wherein the Bowden cable (11) has a Bowden cable sheath (12) and a Bowden cable core (13) and wherein the actuating element (10) has a core receptacle (14) for the drive-related engagement with a, in particular spherical, core end piece (15) of the Bowden cable core (13).It is proposed that the drive housing (7) has a Bowden cable opening (17) for threading the Bowden cable core (13) in a threading movement (18, 19) and that the closing auxiliary drive (1) has a guide device (20) for the Bowden cable core (13) which guides the core end piece (15) in the course of the threading movement (18, 19) into a positive drive-technical engagement with the core receptacle (14) of the actuating element located in the interior (8) of the housing.