Vehicle Door Lock Transmission Rod Distortion Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door lock apparatuses experience distortion in the transmission rod when the door is opened, leading to a deterioration in operation sensitivity and loss of transmission stroke due to the inclined mounting of the base plate relative to the vertical direction, which impairs the smooth transmission of the opening operation from the exterior door handle.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle door lock apparatus is designed with a linkage that traces an arcuate trajectory with its plane of rotation located farther in the frontward direction of the vehicle frame than the fixing surface, intersecting it at an angle, reducing the inclination of the transmission rod's path and minimizing distortion by ensuring the transmission rod's lower end is orthogonal to the plane of rotation, thus maintaining the integrity of the opening operation's transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the base plate is mounted on an inclined door surface, then the door lock apparatus can be adapted to various door shapes, but the transmission rod becomes distorted leading to deterioration of operation sensitivity and loss of transmission stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the plane of rotation farther in the frontward direction of the vehicle frame than the fixing surface, creating a spatial separation that allows the transmission rod to operate in a different dimensional plane. This reduces the impact of base plate inclination on transmission rod distortion while maintaining adaptability to various door shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate plane of rotation that acts as a mediator between the inclined fixing surface and the transmission rod. By positioning this plane at an angle relative to the fixing surface plane, it compensates for the inclination effects and maintains smooth transmission of the opening operation.
2Reliability
If the plane of rotation is positioned farther frontward than the fixing surface and intersected at an angle, then transmission rod distortion is reduced, but the structural complexity of the linkage mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the plane of rotation relative to the fixing surface, with the plane of rotation located farther frontward and intersected at a specific angle. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes transmission rod alignment and minimizes distortion while maintaining manageable structural complexity through deliberate geometric design.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a housing, a fork, a pawl, a first lever displaceably provided in the housing such that the first lever can act on the pawl, and a second lever pivotably provided in the housing. One end of the second lever has a linkage coupled to a lower end of a transmission rod, which is coupled to an exterior door handle. The second lever pivots in response to an opening operation being performed on the exterior door handle and acts on the first lever. A plane of rotation contains an arcuate trajectory traced by the linkage when it pivots in response to the opening operation being performed, and is located farther in a frontward direction of a vehicle frame than a fixing surface. The plane of rotation is inclined relative to a plane containing the fixing surface, and intersects this plane in the vehicle downward direction.