Motor Vehicle Door Lock Coupling Unit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recent motor vehicle door locks with additional driving means for central and double locking functions require elaborate mechanical designs, including intermediate levers, which complicates the design and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle door lock with a coupling unit that directly interacts with the drive element, eliminating the need for intermediate levers by using a drive motor and drive element positioned in the same plane, where the actuating contour on the driving pulley engages with the actuating pin on the coupling unit, allowing direct operation of the locking mechanism through a two-arm coupling lever.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate levers are used to provide central locking and double locking functions, then the locking functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate levers from the mechanical system. By removing these unnecessary components, the design achieves central locking and double locking functions through a simplified direct coupling between the drive element and the locking mechanism, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it enables both central locking operation and double locking function through a single integrated component. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate intermediate levers for each locking mode, reducing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate levers are used to provide central locking and double locking functions, then the locking functionality is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing intermediate levers from the system, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This extraction of unnecessary components directly lowers manufacturing costs while preserving the required locking functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple intermediate levers into a single integrated coupling unit. This consolidation reduces the total number of components, simplifies the bill of materials, and reduces manufacturing complexity, thereby lowering production costs.
3Device complexity
If a direct coupling between drive element and locking mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling unit serves as an intermediary element that maintains a controlled mechanical connection between the drive element and the locking mechanism. This intermediary component ensures smooth and reliable operation transitions between locked and unlocked positions while preserving the benefits of a simplified direct coupling design.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle door lock having a locking device (4, 5, 6), at least one actuating element (7) and a catch (1, 2), and having a coupling unit (8) between the actuating element (7) and the catch (1, 2), in which the locking device (4, 5, 6) when in the “locked” position can be unlocked by a first traveling movement (unlocking traveling movement) of the actuating element (7) and the catch (1, 2) can be opened by a second traveling movement (opening traveling movement) of the actuating element (7), wherein the locking device (4, 5, 6) has a drive element (4) which acts directly upon the coupling unit (8).