Motor Vehicle Door Latch Combined Lever Spindle Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle door latches require complex mechanical constructions to achieve both closure and opening functions, and are limited in transferring high closure forces, leading to inefficiencies and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle door latch design featuring a combined closure/opening lever that uses a linear drive with a spindle and spindle nut, where the lever is connected to the catch and pawl via a pivoting mechanism, allowing for both closure and opening functions with a simple construction and high closure forces, utilizing a spring-assisted mechanism to ensure the latch returns to a neutral position even if the motor or spindle drive fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single linear drive with spindle and spindle nut is used to control both closure and opening functions, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to transfer high closure forces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single linear drive is segmented into two functional lever arms: a closure lever arm for closing the latch and an opening lever arm for opening the latch. This segmentation allows each lever arm to be optimized for its specific function while sharing the same drive mechanism, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high force transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever arms extend in opposite directions from the spindle nut, utilizing spatial dimensionality to separate the closure and opening functions. This dimensional arrangement allows both functions to be achieved with a single linear drive without compromising force transfer, as each direction can be optimized independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex mechanical constructions with control discs or multiple couplings are used to achieve both closure and opening functions, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single linear drive with spindle and spindle nut serves as a universal mechanism that performs both closure and opening functions. The spindle nut acts as a universal actuation point from which both the closure lever arm and opening lever arm originate, eliminating the need for separate drives or complex control mechanisms while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure lever arm and opening lever arm are merged into a single integrated lever system that shares the same spindle nut connection. This merging eliminates the need for separate control discs, multiple couplings, or independent drive mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving both closure and opening functions through the unified lever system.
3Reliability
If previous known execution forms are used, then basic latching function is achieved, but reliability under drive impairment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lever system is designed to be manually operable directly at the lever arms without requiring activation of the spindle drive. The closure lever arm and opening lever arm can be manually manipulated to open or close the latch, providing self-service capability that ensures reliability even when the motorized spindle drive is impaired or failed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever arms serve as intermediary elements between the user and the latch mechanism. Users can directly manipulate the lever arms to operate the latch, providing a mechanical intermediary that bypasses the need for the electrical spindle drive, thereby ensuring operation reliability under drive impairment conditions.
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
The design enables reliable and safe operation with high closure forces of up to 1000 Newtons, ensuring the latch can be easily opened or closed, and automatically returns to a neutral position, maintaining functionality even if the spindle drive is impaired, thus enhancing safety and reducing mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a spindle drive with a motor, spindle and a spindle nut located thereon, at least to close the locking mechanism, whereby the spindle nut at least impinges the catch in the closure direction via a closure lever
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a spring-assisted mechanism to ensure the latch returns to a neutral position even if the motor or spindle drive fails
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle door latch, in particular a servo latch, which is equipped with a locking mechanism including of a catch and a pawl. Furthermore, a spindle drive with a motor, spindle and spindle nut located thereon is executed at least to close the locking mechanism. The spindle nut impinges the catch at least in the closure direction via a closure lever. The closure lever is simultaneously formed as an opening lever to open the locking mechanism and consequently as a combined closure/opening lever. The combined closure/opening lever impinges either the catch in a closing direction or the pawl in an opening direction dependent on the actuating direction of the spindle drive.