Motor Vehicle Latch Spindle Nut Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle latches with spindle drives face challenges in safely and simply recording the neutral position of the spindle nut, often requiring costly lever technology and complex positioning mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle latch with a spindle drive that incorporates an activation device directly interacting with the spindle nut, allowing for precise and accurate recording of the spindle nut's position using a sensor, enabling a simple and cost-effective construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lever technology is used to record the neutral position of the spindle nut, then the position can be recorded, but the construction becomes costly and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition recording reliabilityVSAvoidconstruction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the position recording function from complex lever technology and implements it directly through the spindle nut's interaction with the activation device. The spindle nut itself serves as the positioning element, eliminating the need for separate lever mechanisms while maintaining reliable neutral position detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical lever-based position recording with a direct mechanical interaction between the spindle nut and activation device. This substitution simplifies the system by eliminating intermediate lever mechanisms while achieving the same positioning function through a more straightforward spindle nut-activation device coupling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If complex positioning mechanisms are used to ensure accurate recording of spindle nut position, then positioning accuracy is improved, but manufacturing costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespindle nut position measurement precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the positioning function and the activation function into a single integrated system. The activation device is directly coupled to the spindle nut, combining what were previously separate functions (positioning and activation) into one unified mechanism that is simpler to manufacture while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The activation device serves multiple functions: it acts as both the activation mechanism for the latch and the positioning indicator for the spindle nut. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate positioning mechanisms, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring accurate position recording.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10683683B2Latch with closure device for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.06.16 KIEKERT AG

AI summary

The object of the invention is a motor vehicle latch (1), in particular an electrically actuated flap latch, demonstrating a locking mechanism (11) comprising a catch (10) and at least one pawl, a triggering lever (9), whereby by means of the triggering lever (9) the locking mechanism (11) can be unlocked, a closure device (8), whereby by means of the closure device (8) the locking mechanism (11) can be transferred at least from a pre-ratchet position into a main ratchet position and the closure device (8) demonstrates a spindle drive (4), whereby a functional position (N, O, Z) of the spindle drive (4) can be recorded by sensors, and whereby the spindle drive (4) demonstrates a spindle nut (5) and the spindle nut (5) interacts with an activation device (6) in such a way that using a sensor (7) at least a functional position (N, O, Z) of the spindle nut (5) can be detected.