Motor Vehicle Door Lock Latching Element for Low-Friction Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks with electromotive drives face challenges in achieving compact design, reduced weight, and cost while ensuring efficient power transmission to the locking mechanism, particularly due to high frictional forces between the rotary latch and pawl during opening.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pivotable latching element in the engagement region between the rotary latch and pawl, optimized with a rolling movement instead of friction, and utilizing an evoloid gear stage in the electromotive drive to reduce actuating forces, allowing for a compact and low-friction opening process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a reduction gear with high gear ratio is used to amplify the opening force, then the required actuating force from the electric motor is reduced, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reduction gear is divided into multiple stages: a first reduction gear stage with a first gear ratio and a second reduction gear stage with a second gear ratio. This segmentation allows the total reduction ratio to be achieved through multiple smaller gear stages rather than a single large gear stage, reducing the size and weight of individual components while maintaining the overall force amplification effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lateral displacement component to the gear engagement mechanism. The gear teeth are designed such that they engage and disengage with a lateral displacement relative to the rotational axis, creating a two-dimensional engagement path that reduces the radial forces and allows for more compact gear design with lower weight.
2Weight of moving object
If the electric motor size is reduced to lower costs and weight, then the actuating power is insufficient, but increasing the motor size increases cost and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The power transmission is segmented into multiple gear stages with intermediate shafts. The first reduction gear stage transmits power from the electric motor to an intermediate shaft, and the second reduction gear stage transmits from the intermediate shaft to the output shaft. This segmentation allows each gear stage to operate with lower forces, enabling the use of smaller, less expensive motors while achieving the required total actuating power through cumulative gear ratios.
3Device complexity
If a single reduction gear stage is used, then the device is simpler, but the gear ratio spread is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reduction gear is segmented into two distinct gear stages: a first reduction gear stage with a first gear ratio and a second reduction gear stage with a second gear ratio. This segmentation enables the system to achieve a higher total gear ratio spread (product of the two individual ratios) while keeping each individual stage relatively simple and manageable in complexity.
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 a more compact, lightweight, and cost-effective electromotive drive with high reduction ratios, reducing the required electrical power and frictional forces, resulting in a more efficient and optimized locking mechanism operation.
Implementation Method 1
a rolling movement occurs instead of a friction movement between the pawl and the rotary latch. This is because during this process, the latching element provided in the engagement region is pivoted, so that as a result, the pawl can be lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch with a significantly reduced force compared to the existing prior art.
Implementation Method 2
the electromotive drive is equipped with at least one evoloid gear stage. Such evoloid gear stages are characterized not only by a compact design, but also a large gear ratio spread.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, preferably an electric lock, which is equipped with an electromotive drive and a locking mechanism that can be actuated by the drive and consists substantially of a rotary latch and a pawl. The drive is provided with at least one evoloid gear stage. According to the invention, 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 arranged in the engagement region between the rotary latch and the pawl.