Motor Vehicle Door Lock Emergency Energy Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motor vehicle door locks face functional issues and increased energy requirements during emergency operations due to the interaction between main and emergency energy sources, which can lead to unreliable performance.
Innovation Solution
An electrically operable motor vehicle door lock design featuring a relay-based switching element actuated by the main energy source, connecting the motor to the emergency energy source upon failure, ensuring seamless emergency operation with reduced current requirements, allowing the door to be unlocked or opened reliably.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capacitor is used as emergency energy source to supply brief electric current for motor operation, then emergency door unlocking is enabled, but functional problems occur due to interaction between main energy source and emergency energy source
Solution Approach 1:
A relay is introduced as an intermediary device between the main energy source and the motor, and between the emergency energy source and the motor. The relay acts as a mediator that automatically connects or disconnects the motor from either energy source based on system state, eliminating the need for complex interaction management between the main and emergency energy sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay is configured to automatically detect the state of the main energy source and self-actuate to switch between energy sources without external intervention. When the main energy source fails, the relay automatically connects the emergency energy source to the motor, and when the main energy source is restored, it automatically switches back, making the system self-managing.
2Reliability
If mechanical emergency connecting elements are engaged automatically when power supply fails, then emergency operation is enabled, but energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical emergency connecting elements with an electromechanical relay system. The relay uses electromagnetic actuation controlled by the energy source state to switch connections, eliminating the need for separate mechanical emergency connectors and reducing overall energy requirements while maintaining reliable emergency operation.
3Ease of operation
If an actuator is provided for disengaging mechanical emergency connecting elements, then relocking after emergency operation is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay system automatically performs both the emergency connection and the subsequent disconnection/relocking functions. When the main energy source is restored, the relay automatically switches back to connecting the motor to the main energy source and disconnects the emergency energy source, eliminating the need for a separate manual actuator and enabling automatic relocking.
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
The solution enables reliable emergency operation of the motor vehicle door lock by automatically switching to the emergency energy source, ensuring the door can be opened without difficulty from inside or outside, with reduced power consumption and improved functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a relay made up of two synchronously actuated switches and a coil
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An electrically operable motor vehicle door lock (1) has a locking mechanism including at least one locking element (2) and/or actuating element, a motor (3) which acts on the locking element (2) and/or actuating element, and an emergency energy source (12) for emergency operation of the motor (3) in the event of failure of a main energy source (6). A switching element (8, 9) actuated by the main energy source (6) is provided. The switching element (8, 9) connects the emergency energy source (12) to the motor (3) electrically in the event of failure of the main energy source (6) to and provide for the emergency operation.