Motor Vehicle Bonnet Lock with Self-Service Retention Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle bonnet locks often fail to securely snap into place after opening, leading to safety issues such as the bonnet potentially flipping open during driving, and existing solutions are either cumbersome or complex.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle door lock design where the lock retainer pin continues to drop into the rotary latch during the first opening operation, transferring the pawl to a release position, allowing the bonnet to be opened easily and ensuring secure closure without additional force, using a structurally simple mechanism with a retention element and shift lever.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a catch hook is used to double secure the lock retainer pin, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as the driver must reach through a gap to manually pivot the catch hook
Solution Approach 1:
The catch hook is designed to pivot automatically through interaction with the rotary latch during normal opening operations, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the existing mechanical movements to achieve the security function without requiring the driver to reach through the gap and manually operate the catch hook
2Ease of operation
If a drive for a swing arm is added to move the locking mechanism, then ease of operation is improved by allowing opening solely through the operating lever, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catch hook mechanism is merged with the existing rotary latch and pawl mechanism, so that a single operating lever operation can control both the rotary latch and the catch hook through their mechanical interaction. This eliminates the need for separate drives for the swing arm while maintaining the ability to open the bonnet from inside the vehicle
3Ease of operation
If the bonnet is lowered slowly after opening, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates as the lock retainer pin may not snap into place
Solution Approach 1:
The pawl and rotary latch mechanism is designed to preemptively prevent the lock retainer pin from remaining in an unsecured state. As the bonnet is lowered, the mechanical interaction between the rotary latch and pawl ensures that the lock retainer pin is positively engaged, counteracting the tendency for it to fail to snap into place when lowered slowly
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 safety and comfort by allowing easy bonnet operation from within the vehicle, preventing unintentional bonnet opening during driving and reducing complexity, while maintaining secure locking mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring defining the gap
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle door lock, particularly a motor vehicle bonnet lock, includes a ratchet mechanism which substantially consists of a rotary latch and a pawl. The ratchet mechanism interacts with a lock retainer pin on a vehicle bonnet. A retention element is additionally provided which holds the pawl in a retention position, raised from the rotary latch, during unlocking of the bonnet. The lock retainer pin continues to engage in the rotary latch when in said retention position. During a first opening process which proceeds from the retention position, the lock retainer pin transfers the retention element into a release position that releases the pawl. During a subsequent bonnet closing process, the pawl can thus engage in the rotary latch, which can be pivoted without exertion of force by the lock retainer pin at least into the hold position.