Coupled Lock Mechanism to Prevent Vibration-Induced Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locks for electric vehicles and energy stores are prone to unintentional unlocking due to vibrations or strong accelerations, leading to potential loss of secured items and unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A lock mechanism with a coupling element that moves between coupled and decoupled states, allowing manual actuation without direct force application on the latch, and a blocking element to prevent accidental unlocking, enhancing security and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the latch is directly actuated by a strong spring element, then the locking reliability is improved, but the risk of unintentional unlocking during vibration or acceleration increases
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling element is introduced as an intermediary between the actuation element and the latch. This coupling element can be in a coupled state (transmitting force) or decoupled state (isolating the latch from actuation forces). During vibration or acceleration, the coupling element can decouple, preventing unintentional latch movement while maintaining the spring element's locking function.
2Ease of operation
If the actuation element directly moves the latch, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against unauthorized access is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element serves as a mediator that must be properly engaged between the actuation element and the latch for unlocking to work. This intermediate coupling mechanism ensures that only authorized actuation through the proper channel can unlock the latch, while direct or unauthorized actuation on the latch itself is prevented.
3Reliability
If a coupling element is added to decouple actuation from latch movement, then the security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is designed with dynamic characteristics, being movable between a coupled state (when engaged with the latch) and a decoupled state (when disengaged). This dynamic behavior allows a single component to provide both security through decoupling and ease of operation through coupling, without requiring multiple separate mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a lock including a locking mechanism having a latch that is movable between a latched position, which is provided for securing a counter-piece movable relative to the locking mechanism, and an unlatched position provided for releasing the counter-piece, and having an actuation element for manually moving the latch into the unlatched position. The lock furthermore includes a coupling element that can be transferred between a coupled state, in which it is coupled to the latch, and a decoupled state, in which it is movable relative to the latch, and that can be moved from a passive position into an active position by means of the actuation element, wherein the latch can be moved into the unlatched position by a movement of the coupling element, which is in the coupled state, from the passive position into the active position by the actuation element.