Cam-Guided Lock Mechanism to Prevent Unintentional Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locks are prone to unintentional unlocking due to strong vibrations or excessive force, posing a risk of loss or unauthorized access to secured items, particularly energy storage devices in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A lock design featuring a cam-guided actuating element and bolt engagement through a guide track, requiring additional mechanical force to overcome the return element's restoring force and the cam control, ensuring secure movement between locked and unlocked positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple return element is used to hold the bolt in the locked position, then the lock structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the lock is vulnerable to unintentional unlocking due to strong vibrations or excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cam control as an intermediary mechanism between the actuating element and the bolt. The cam control includes a cam with a cam surface and a guide track that guides the cam. When the actuating element rotates, the cam moves along the guide track, converting rotational motion into linear motion to move the bolt. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the bolt can only be moved when sufficient force is applied through the cam control, preventing unintentional unlocking while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the bolt is held firmly in the locked position by a strong return element, then resistance to unintentional unlocking is improved, but the force required to intentionally unlock the lock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic force transformation through the cam control mechanism. The cam surface is designed with specific geometry that transforms the rotational force applied to the actuating element into linear force on the bolt. During intentional unlocking, the user applies rotational force to the actuating element, which through the cam's mechanical advantage, generates sufficient linear force to overcome the return element's holding force and move the bolt. The guide track ensures this force is applied in the correct direction, enabling easy intentional unlocking while maintaining strong locked position stability.
3Reliability
If a cam control mechanism is added to prevent unintentional unlocking, then security and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the cam control mechanism. The cam control simultaneously serves as the actuation mechanism (converting rotational to linear motion), the force transmission mechanism (transmitting force from actuating element to bolt), and the control mechanism (ensuring bolt only moves when cam follows the guide track). By combining these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate mechanisms, the patent achieves improved security against unintentional unlocking while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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
Enhances security and reliability by making unintentional unlocking difficult, requiring dual forces to transition states and providing a compact, user-friendly operation with semi-automatic locking features.
Implementation Method 1
a return element, in particular a spring, which forces the bolt into its locking position
Implementation Method 2
the actuating element and the bolt engage by means of a cam guided in a guide track such that actuation of the actuating element causes a movement of the cam along the guide track and thereby a movement of the bolt
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a lock with a bolt, a return element cooperating with the bolt, and a rotatable actuating element for moving the bolt from a locking position to an unlocking position, wherein the movement of the bolt from the locking position to the unlocking position occurs against a return force of the return element, and wherein the actuating element and the bolt are engaged by means of a cam guided in a guide track such that actuation of the actuating element causes a movement of the cam along the guide track and thereby a movement of the bolt from the locking position to the unlocking position.