Vehicle Door Lock Release Lever for Emergency Closing Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks with closing devices face challenges in reliably interrupting the closing process during emergencies, such as when clothing or fingers get jammed, without compromising the number of components or design complexity.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism featuring a rotary latch and a drive pawl, where a release lever can directly or indirectly interact with the drive pawl to interrupt the closing process, utilizing a release lever and an ejector lever to ensure safe disengagement from the rotary latch, allowing manual or electrical actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drive pawl is immediately lifted from engagement with the rotary latch during closing, then emergency interruption is achieved, but the structure becomes overly simple and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a release lever as an intermediary component between the actuation force and the drive pawl. The release lever mediates the disengagement process by converting rotational movement into linear displacement that pushes the drive pawl out of engagement with the rotary latch, providing a more reliable and controlled emergency interruption mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The interruption mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the release lever for actuation, the ejector lever for force transmission, and the drive pawl for engagement control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If a release lever is introduced to disengage the drive pawl, then flexibility of interruption is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release lever is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an actuation mechanism for emergency interruption and as part of the normal unlocking sequence. The ejector lever similarly serves dual purposes in force transmission and engagement control, reducing the need for separate dedicated components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the emergency interruption function with the normal unlocking function through the shared use of the release lever and ejector lever mechanisms. This consolidation allows the system to handle both emergency and normal operations with a unified set of components, balancing flexibility with component count
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the drive pawl is disengaged under high sealing forces, then safety is improved, but the force required for disengagement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector lever acts as a mechanical intermediary that provides force multiplication through its lever arm geometry. By positioning the fulcrum strategically, the ejector lever amplifies the input force from the release lever, enabling disengagement of the drive pawl even under high sealing forces without requiring excessive actuation force
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement surface between the drive pawl and rotary latch features curved or spherical contact areas. This curvature design allows for smoother disengagement by reducing mechanical interlocking and friction, enabling the drive pawl to be pushed out of engagement more easily even when high sealing forces are present
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle side door lock, having a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a closing device having at least one drive pawl for driving the rotary latch, wherein the drive pawl can be brought into engagement with the rotary latch a lock housing, and wherein the drive pawl can be disengaged from the rotary latch by actuation of a release lever.