Motor Vehicle Door Lock Cable With Movable End-Fitting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lock assembly processes are tedious and costly, requiring complex manipulations and prone to damage during transport, which increases assembly times and transport costs due to the rigidity of transmission and connection cables.
Innovation Solution
A cable system with a movable cable core and a mounting piece that holds the cable end in a delivery position to prevent damage during transport, allowing for simplified assembly by deactivating holding means to associate the cable with the lock case without visual control, using a guide rail and deforming elements for easy positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cable is pre-assembled with the lock case, then the assembly is complete and ready for installation, but the cable is vulnerable to damage from shocks and vibrations during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The cable assembly is divided into separate components: the cable with mounting piece and the lock case with lever, which are assembled only at the final installation stage rather than being pre-assembled together, protecting the cable from transport damage
Solution Approach 2:
The cable end piece is pre-positioned in the delivery position within the mounting piece before transport, and the holding means is pre-configured to maintain this position, enabling quick final assembly without requiring complex manipulations during installation
2Reliability
If the cable end is held in delivery position during transport, then the cable is protected from damage, but the assembly process requires additional steps to activate the holding means
Solution Approach 1:
The holding means is designed to be deactivated automatically by the cable end piece itself during the assembly process, eliminating the need for separate activation steps or additional tools by the assembler
Solution Approach 2:
The holding means acts as an intermediary mechanism that temporarily maintains the cable end piece in delivery position during transport, then facilitates smooth transition to operating position during assembly through automatic deactivation
3Manufacturing precision
If visual control is used to associate cable end with lever, then assembly precision is ensured, but assembly time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-alignment and self-association features where the cable end piece automatically finds and engages with the lever through guide means and geometric constraints, eliminating the need for visual inspection and manual positioning by the assembler
Solution Approach 2:
The cable end piece and lever are designed with asymmetric features that ensure correct orientation and association without requiring visual control, allowing rapid assembly through tactile feedback and geometric compatibility
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 solution reduces assembly costs and times by simplifying the assembly process and protecting the cable ends during transport, ensuring efficient and cost-effective lock assembly and installation.
Implementation Method 1
the holding means comprises a holding blade
Implementation Method 2
The holding means comprises a deforming element to allow the cable end piece to be moved from the delivery position to the operating position
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A~4D
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The invention relates to a cable (1) for a motor vehicle lock, comprising a cable core (11a, 21a) ending in a cable end-fitting (11, 21) at at least one end of a cable sheath (12, 22), the cable further comprising a mounting piece (4) fixed to the said end of the sheath (12, 22), the mounting piece (4) housing the cable end-fitting (11, 21), in which the cable end-fitting (11, 21) is mounted such that it can move between two positions, namely the delivery position and the operating position, at two distances from the said end of the sheath; – a retaining means (41, 42) for holding the cable end-fitting (11, 21) in the delivery position. The invention also relates to a corresponding lock accepting said cable, to a corresponding opening and locking assembly, and to a corresponding motor vehicle.