Espagnolette Lock Mutual Interlocking Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing espagnolette locks for swing doors of motor vehicle bodies do not effectively secure the doors in an open position, leading to uncontrolled pivoting during transportation or ventilation, and lack a straightforward mechanism for deliberate unlocking.

Innovation Solution

The espagnolette locks are designed to interlock using locking formations on one lever engaging with a locking receptacle on another, allowing for secure mutual locking and easy handling, with the locking position only cancellable by a deliberate pawl release, ensuring secure and controlled door positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If locking levers are designed to interlock for securing swing doors in open position, then door positioning stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor positioning stabilityVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking levers automatically interlock with each other when the swing doors are in the open position, securing themselves without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms. The detent features on one locking lever engage with detent receptacles on the other locking lever, creating a self-securing system that maintains door position stability while avoiding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a mutual locking mechanism is implemented between rotary rod locks, then reliability of door positioning is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor positioning reliabilityVSAvoidunlocking operation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A release device acts as an intermediary mechanism that simultaneously disengages both locking levers from their interlocked position. When the release device is actuated, it moves the locking levers out of their interlocking configuration, allowing both swing doors to be unlocked together. This maintains reliability by ensuring coordinated unlocking while improving ease of operation by providing a single control point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If detent features are added to locking lever free ends for interlocking, then manufacturing precision requirements are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking feature precisionVSAvoidlocking lever structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detent features and detent receptacles are integrated directly into the locking lever structures themselves, combining the locking function with the existing lever geometry. The free end of each locking lever incorporates detent features that engage with corresponding receptacles on the opposing lever, eliminating the need for separate locking components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precise manufacturing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 provides a secure and easy-to-handle mechanism for maintaining swing doors in an open position, preventing uncontrolled pivoting and allowing deliberate unlocking, enhancing safety and usability during transportation and ventilation.

Implementation Method 1

the locking lever, which, viewed from the rotary rod, has a free end beyond the locking pawl; the locking pawl spring-loaded into a locking position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the one locking lever forms a detent receptacle by means of the locking pawl and a detent opening fixed to the locking lever, and the other locking lever has two corresponding detent forms at its free end

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3647518B1Rotary rod closing devices designed for interaction
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 PWP
  • EP3647518B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3647518B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3647518B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to rotary rod locks (5) designed to interact with one another, in particular for swing doors (2, 3) of motor vehicle bodies (1), each with a rotary rod (6) and a locking lever (10), wherein the locking lever (10) has a handle part (23) or is pivotally connected to a handle part (23) and a base body (22), wherein the locking lever (10) has a locking pawl (20) which is spring-loaded into a locking position, wherein after both rotary rod locks (5) are turned into their open position, mutual locking of the locking levers (10) is made possible, wherein the locking lever (10) further has a free end (31) beyond the locking pawl (20) as seen from the rotary rod (6).To further improve such an interaction of rotary rod locks, it is proposed that one locking lever (10) forms a detent receptacle (37) by means of the locking pawl (20) and a locking lever-fixed detent opening (36), and that the other locking lever (10) has two corresponding detent features (32, 33) at its free end (31).