Vehicle Door Lock Active Lever Spring Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door lock devices face challenges in smoothly transitioning between locked and unlocked states, especially during panic situations, due to complex arrangements of active levers and open links, which can lead to increased component count and potential for component deformation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door lock device with a simplified arrangement featuring an active lever, open link, and spring system, where the spring biases the open link toward the unlocked state, allowing it to return to the initial position, and a pushing arm portion that disengages from the open link to facilitate smooth unlocking, reducing the need for additional springs and components, and enabling automatic door unlocking without increasing the number of parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex arrangement of active lever and open link system is used, then the door lock can maintain locked and unlocked states, but the number of components increases and the risk of component deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the active lever and open link into a more integrated configuration where the pushing arm portion of the active lever directly interacts with the open link. This merging reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the necessary locked and unlocked state functionality through the spring-loaded engagement mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the spring mechanism from a separate component and integrates it directly into the active lever assembly, where the spring is contained within the active lever body. This extraction and integration reduces overall component count while maintaining the elastic recovery function needed for panic situation unlocking.
2Reliability
If additional springs and components are added to ensure smooth unlocking, then unlocking reliability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is merged with the active lever assembly, with the spring housed within the active lever body and directly engaging the open link. This integration eliminates the need for separate spring mounting components and reduces the total part count while ensuring reliable elastic recovery for smooth unlocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded pushing arm portion automatically engages and disengages from the open link without requiring additional actuators or control mechanisms. The spring provides self-service elastic recovery that ensures smooth unlocking operation, eliminating the need for complex control systems or additional components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the open link is rigidly connected to the lift lever, then the locking mechanism is stable, but the ability to return to initial position during panic situations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic connection between the open link and lift lever through a tilting mechanism. The open link can tilt by a predetermined amount relative to the lift lever, allowing it to maintain stable engagement during normal operation while enabling automatic return to the initial position during panic situations through the spring-loaded active lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism in the active lever provides beforehand cushioning by storing elastic energy that can be rapidly released during panic situations. This pre-stored energy cushions the transition and ensures the open link can return to its initial position even when the door is being pulled open during a panic event.
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 configuration allows for smooth switching between locked and unlocked states during panic situations, reduces the number of components, and prevents deformation of lift and open link components, achieving efficient and cost-effective operation while maintaining the door in a closed state during crashes.
Implementation Method 1
a spring interposed between the outside open lever and the open link, the spring biasing the open link toward the unlocked state and causing the open link to be held relatively movably with respect to the lift lever to permit return of the open link to the initial position
Implementation Method 2
a pushing arm portion provided in the active lever, the pushing arm portion being configured that when the active lever is in the unlock position, the pushing arm portion engages with the open link which is in the unlocked state so that the open link tilts by switching a position of the active lever from the unlock position to the lock position
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle door lock device includes a latch mechanism having a lift lever and further includes an inside open lever, an outside open lever, an open link and an active lever. A spring is interposed between the outside open lever and the open link. In the housing, provided is an unlocked state holding guide for holding the open link in an unlocked state when the active lever is in an unlock position and when the outside open lever rotates. In the active lever, provided is a locked state holding guide for holding the open link in a locked state when the active lever is in a lock position and when the outside open lever rotates. This construction enables reduction of the number of components and construction of the device in a simple and inexpensive manner.