Motor Vehicle Door Latch Lever Assembly with Detachable Plug Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle door lock assembly is complicated and expensive due to housing sealing issues and requires specialized skills, with existing solutions not effectively addressing the need for simple and sealed housing assembly.
Innovation Solution
A detachable plug connection between two angularly connected levers, where one lever has a pin that engages in a spring-loaded pocket on the other lever, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and ensuring a largely sealed housing by minimizing the housing opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a detachable connection between inside locking lever and main locking lever is implemented using a coupling piece on a quick-release axle, then the assembly can be detached and reattached, but the assembly process becomes complicated and expensive requiring special skills and tools
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lever system is divided into separate modular components (inside locking lever and main locking lever) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The pin connection allows the levers to be segmented for repair or replacement while maintaining simple assembly procedures without requiring specialized tools or skills.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex quick-release axle mechanism that requires special tools, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple pin that can be directly inserted and removed. This reverses the conventional wisdom of using elaborate mechanisms for detachable connections, achieving simplicity where complexity was previously deemed necessary.
2Ease of operation
If an inside locking button with linkage is used to actuate the inside locking lever, then the locking function is achieved, but a large housing opening is required compromising the housing seal
Solution Approach 1:
The critical connection point (pin connection between levers) is extracted and positioned within the housing opening area. This allows the housing opening to be minimized to only what is necessary for the pin connection, rather than requiring a large opening for linkage mechanisms. The essential function is maintained while removing unnecessary structural requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing seal can be implemented as a flexible sealing element that adapts around the minimal opening required for the pin connection. This allows the housing to maintain its sealing integrity while accommodating the necessary opening for the detachable lever connection, preventing water and dirt ingress.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the pocket is positioned perpendicular to the lever and extends into the housing opening, then the housing opening can be minimized for better sealing, but the pin engagement geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket is designed with an asymmetric orientation, positioned perpendicular to the lever axis and extending into the housing opening. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the sealing by minimizing the housing opening footprint while the pin geometry is correspondingly designed to match this asymmetric pocket shape, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection geometry transitions from a planar arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration where the pocket extends into the housing opening depth. This dimensional change allows the housing opening to be minimized in the planar view while maintaining adequate pin engagement through the extended pocket structure.
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 solution simplifies assembly, reduces costs, and minimizes water and dirt ingress, allowing for efficient interaction between the inside and main locking levers while maintaining a small housing opening, thus enhancing the door lock's sealing and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The pocket is open on the side and the peg engages in the pocket from the side. As a result, the detachable plug-in connection is designed as a lateral clamp connection. The pocket of the pocket lever is usually equipped with spring-loaded side walls to accommodate the pivot of the pivot lever.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The subject matter of the present invention is a motor vehicle door latch, which in the basic design thereof is equipped with a locking mechanism (3, 4) and a lever system (5, 8, 9). The lever system (5, 8, 9) has at least two levers (5, 8), which are interconnected at an angle and which interact with each other. According to the invention, the two levers (5, 8) are coupled to each other in a pivoting manner by a detachable plug connection (15, 16) in the region of a housing opening (17).