Motor Vehicle Door Lock Bidirectional Slotted Link for Stable Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks, particularly door locks, suffer from complex movements of the coupling lever within the slotted link, leading to potential disruptions and malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
The slotted link is designed as a bidirectional slotted link with separate first and second paths, utilizing a center-zero spring and separation stops to ensure stable end positions, mimicking the ballpoint pen principle, preventing malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the coupling lever is guided by a conventional slotted link, then the coupling lever can change between engaged and disengaged states, but the complex movement path causes disruptions and malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The slotted link is segmented into two separate paths: a first path for transitioning from disengaged to engaged state, and a second path for transitioning from engaged to disengaged state. This segmentation eliminates the complex interwoven movement of the coupling lever pin within a single slotted link, thereby preventing disruptions and malfunctions while improving functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a bidirectional slotted link that utilizes two distinct spatial paths instead of a single linear path. The first path and second path are arranged in different spatial dimensions, allowing the coupling lever pin to follow separate trajectories for engagement and disengagement operations, thus simplifying the overall movement pattern and eliminating interference.
2Device complexity
If the slotted link uses a single path for coupling lever movement, then the structure is simpler, but disruptions and malfunctions occur due to complex coupling lever movement
Solution Approach 1:
The slotted link is divided into two separate paths within a single component structure. The first path handles the engagement transition while the second path handles the disengagement transition. This segmentation maintains structural simplicity while eliminating the operational disruptions that would occur in a single-path design.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted link is designed as a bidirectional structure that dynamically adapts its path based on the direction of movement. When the coupling lever is actuated in the engagement direction, the pin follows the first path; when actuated in the disengagement direction, the pin follows the second path. This dynamic path selection prevents malfunctions while maintaining structural efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a rotary latch and a pawl. Moreover, an actuating lever chain acting upon the locking mechanism is provided with a coupling lever. When engaged, the coupling lever ensures that the actuating lever chain is closed in order to actuate the locking mechanism and is open when disengaged. In order to change between these two stable end positions, the coupling lever engages by means of a pin into a slotted link of a positioning lever, which slotted link guides the pin. According to the invention, the slotted link is designed as a bidirectional slotted link in such a way that, when the coupling lever is acted upon, the pin reaches its first end position along a first path and, after the coupling lever has been acted upon again, reaches its second end position along a second path which is separate from the first path.