Motor Vehicle Door Lock with Blocking Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle door locks with electric drives for opening the locking mechanism often require mechanical actuation and complex solutions to ensure secure and reliable operation, particularly in emergency situations or to prevent erroneous current flows.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle door lock design incorporating an additional drive with an electric motor and driven pulley that cancels the mechanical safeguard of the electric drive, allowing for remote electrical opening and emergency mechanical operation, featuring a blocking lever that secures the electric drive against incorrect current flows and provides a continuous mechanical connection between the door handle and locking mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a blocking element is used to secure the electric drive against incorrect current flows, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for additional mechanical safety devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of erroneous unlockingVSAvoidmechanical safety device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking element is integrated into the electric drive assembly itself, combining the safety function with the drive mechanism. The blocking element is positioned to directly interact with the electric drive's output, eliminating the need for separate mechanical safety devices while maintaining reliability against incorrect current flows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking element acts as an intermediary component between the electric drive and the locking mechanism. It mediates the interaction by mechanically blocking the electric drive when the blocking element is in its blocking position, thereby preventing erroneous operation without requiring complex external safety systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a mechanical connection between door handle and locking mechanism is provided for emergency opening, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency opening capabilityVSAvoidmechanical connection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating lever chain is pre-configured and maintained in a ready state during normal operation. The levers are positioned and connected such that upon release of the blocking element, the mechanical connection can immediately transmit force from the door handle to the locking mechanism for emergency opening, eliminating the need for complex activation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical connection is divided into segmented actuating levers that can independently move and transmit force. This segmentation allows each lever to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining the overall mechanical connection, reducing complexity compared to a single rigid mechanical link.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If remote electrical opening is enabled without mechanical actuation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens due to potential incorrect current flows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote opening capabilityVSAvoidprotection against erroneous energization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking element serves as a mechanical intermediary that must be released before the electric drive can operate. This intermediary mechanism ensures that even if incorrect current flows to the electric drive, the blocking element will physically prevent the drive from actuating unless it has been properly released through the intended control sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking element is positioned to preemptively counteract any incorrect current flow by mechanically blocking the electric drive's output. This preliminary anti-action occurs before the electric drive can execute any erroneous commands, ensuring that remote electrical opening cannot occur without proper authorization through the control unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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

Enables compact, simplified actuation for electrical opening without mechanical action on the door handle and ensures the locking mechanism can be opened purely mechanically in emergency situations, preventing unintended unlocking due to faulty energization.

Implementation Method 1

an additional drive is provided which, for electrically opening the locking mechanism with the help of the electric drive, removes a mechanical safety device for the electric drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The blocking lever is typically equipped with at least one locking lug, which stops the electric drive in the event of an incorrect current supply

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical engagement: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 3

the additional drive is equipped with an output disc actuated by the electric motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromechanical actuation: Linear Motor

Data Source

PatentEP2951370B1Motor vehicle door lock
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 KIEKERT AG
  • EP2951370B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2951370B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2951370B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The object of the present invention is a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism and an electrical drive (4, 5) for electrically opening the locking mechanism. According to the invention, a complementary drive (7, 8) is provided in addition to the electrical drive (4, 5) for electrically opening the locking mechanism. With the aid of the electrical drive (4, 5), the additional drive (7, 8) releases, for the purpose of electrically opening the locking mechanism, a mechanical safety mechanism of the respective electrical drive (4, 5), which is formed by a blocking element (2).