Motor Vehicle Lock Blocking Lever with Opposite Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks with hook-shaped blocking levers face challenges in efficiently and precisely locking and unlocking due to limited control over spring preload and center of gravity distribution, leading to potential misalignment and increased effort in operation.
Innovation Solution
A lock mechanism featuring a rotatably mounted blocking lever with two lever arms extending in opposite directions and a third shorter lever arm, designed to shift the center of gravity minimally, along with a spring-loaded lever arm to facilitate rotational movement and a stop for precise positioning, enhances the locking and unlocking process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hook-shaped blocking lever is used, then the pawl can be blocked when it locks the rotary latch, but it requires more force to turn the blocking lever and may cause misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking lever is divided into multiple lever arms (first, second, and third lever arms) extending in different directions from the rotation axis. This segmentation allows each arm to serve specific functions: the first and second arms provide counterbalancing for easier rotation, while the third arm performs the blocking action on the pawl.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second lever arms are designed to extend in substantially opposite directions to create a counterbalancing effect. This counterweight arrangement reduces the effort required to rotate the blocking lever by balancing the forces acting on it during operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the blocking lever is designed with multiple lever arms, then the center of gravity shifts away from the rotation axis, but this increases the effort required to rotate it
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking lever employs asymmetric lever arm lengths with the third lever arm being shorter than the first and second arms. This asymmetric design strategically positions the center of gravity while maintaining the counterbalancing effect of the longer opposite arms, optimizing both functionality and ease of rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the blocking lever have different lengths and functions. The first and second lever arms are longer to provide counterbalancing, while the third lever arm is shorter to perform the specific blocking function with minimal gravitational interference, creating local optimization of properties.
3Force
If the third lever arm is made longer, then it can more effectively move and block the pawl, but it shifts the center of gravity further from the axis of rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The design optimizes the length parameter of the third lever arm, making it shorter than the first and second arms. This parameter change ensures that the center of gravity remains close to the rotation axis, minimizing the effort required to rotate the blocking lever while still providing sufficient blocking force through the third arm's hook-shaped engagement with the pawl.
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
This configuration improves the ease of turning the blocking lever, ensures precise locking, and reduces the force required for unlocking, providing a more reliable and efficient locking mechanism with improved operational precision and reduced effort.
Implementation Method 1
The rotatably mounted blocking lever (8) is prestressed by a spring (10) in such a way that the blocking lever (8) is urged into the blocking position
Implementation Method 2
As a result, the center of gravity is shifted towards the axis of rotation in comparison to the hook-shaped blocking lever mentioned at the beginning. This makes it easier to turn the blocking lever.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle, comprising a locking mechanism composed of a rotary latch and at least one detent, in particular a preliminary catching detent (13) for locking the rotary latch a first time and a main catching detent (13) for subsequently locking the rotary latch, and a rotatable blocking lever (8) which blocks the at least one detent (6) when the detent (6) locks the rotary latch (4). The lock is characterized in that the blocking lever has two lever arms (8b, 8c) which substantially extend in opposite directions in relation to the hinge pin (9).