Motor Vehicle Drive Unit Blocking Mechanism for Output Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electromotorized opening drives for motor vehicle door latches often experience oscillations or uncontrolled movements due to component elasticities, leading to unusual noise and indifferent functional states.

Innovation Solution

A drive unit with a protrusion on the output element that detaches the blocking element from a stop through rotational movement, transferring it into a blocking position where it limits the output element's rotation, and returns to a resting position upon cessation of power, preventing further movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If elastic components are used in the drive unit, then flexibility and ease of manufacture are improved, but oscillations and uncontrolled movements occur leading to functional instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidfunctional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A blocking element is introduced as an intermediary component between the output element and the stop. This blocking element actively intervenes to prevent oscillations by blocking the output element when it reaches the end of its travel, thereby maintaining functional stability while allowing the use of elastic components for ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the blocking element is always engaged with the stop, then positional stability is improved, but the drive unit cannot achieve the required rotation range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional stabilityVSAvoidrotation range
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking element is designed to be dynamically positionable between two states: engaged with the stop to provide positional stability, and disengaged from the stop to allow the output element to rotate through the required range. The actuator controls this dynamic positioning, enabling the system to switch between stability and motion as needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the blocking element is disengaged from the stop during operation, then rotation freedom is improved, but oscillations and uncontrolled movements occur after the opening movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation freedomVSAvoidfunctional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking element is prepared in advance to be positioned in the blocking position before the opening movement completes. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the output element reaches the end of its travel, the blocking element is already in place to immediately prevent oscillations and uncontrolled movements, maintaining functional stability after the movement is complete

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3684994B1Drive unit for a motor vehicle component
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 KIEKERT AG
  • EP3684994B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3684994B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3684994B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The object of the present invention is a drive unit for a motor vehicle component with an electromotor (5) and a rotatable output element (7). Furthermore, a blocking element (9), which can be acted on by an actuator (1 0), is provided for interacting with a protrusion (15) on the output element (7). According to the invention, the protrusion (1 5) detaches the blocking element (9) from a stop (1 7) at the start of a rotational movement of the output element (7). Thus, the blocking element (9) is transferred into a blocking position with the aid of the actuator (1 0) in which the blocking element (9) blocks a rotation of the output element (7) beyond a specified point.