Motor Vehicle Door Lock Cover for Axial Latching Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks, particularly door locks, face issues with axial movement and potential damage of the latching element due to plastic sheathing, leading to noise and reduced operational comfort.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cover made of the same material as the locking mechanism component, typically steel, to overlap and secure the latching element axially, ensuring the bearing axis is stable and preventing axial movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic sheathing is used to axially secure the latching element, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the sheathing can shear off or break leading to axial movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the cover from plastic to metal (specifically steel), transforming it from a non-metallic to a metallic material. This parameter change provides significantly higher strength and axial securing capability while maintaining the simple structural form and manufacturing process of the original plastic sheathing solution.
2Reliability
If a metal cover is used to axially secure the latching element, then axial securing is improved and reliability is increased, but the complexity of the locking mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal cover serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural component of the locking mechanism, provides axial securing for the latching element, and functions as a protective cover. By combining these functions into a single component, the patent avoids increasing device complexity while achieving improved reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the latching element is pivotally mounted in the engagement area, then comfort and acoustics are improved, but axial movement of the bearing axis occurs due to insufficient securing
Solution Approach 1:
The metal cover is designed to preemptively prevent axial movement of the latching element's bearing axis by providing rigid axial securing through its metallic structure. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the potential instability before it can occur during operation, maintaining both comfort and stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl as locking mechanism components. In addition, a latching element, which is mounted on the rotary latch and/or the pawl so as to be pivotable primarily in a locking mechanism plane, is provided in an engagement region between the two locking mechanism components. In order to axially secure the latching element, according to the invention, at least one locking mechanism component is equipped with a cover which is made of the same material and at least partly extends over the latching element.