Motor Vehicle Lock Blocking Lever Eliminates Spring Reversal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks with electric motor drives suffer from power loss and unreproducible actuating movements due to the use of springs for reversing movements, which also increases technological complexity.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock design where the actuating and reversing movements of the drive element are purely motorized and without spring force, utilizing a blocking lever and mechanical stops to define the actuating positions and prevent undesired movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring is used to reverse the drive element to its base position after an actuating movement, then the drive element can return to its neutral position, but electrical power is lost due to the spring needing to be tensioned during the actuating movement
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is extracted and replaced with a purely motorized reversing movement. The drive element is reversed by the electric motor drive without spring force, eliminating the energy loss associated with spring tensioning while maintaining the ability to return to the base position
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical spring-based reversing system is replaced with an electric motor-driven system. The motorized reversing movement eliminates the need for spring tensioning during actuation, thereby preserving electrical power while achieving the same positional reversal function
2Reliability
If a spring is used to reverse the drive element, then the base position can be restored, but the base position may not be reproducible due to undesired or undefined actuating movements
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are introduced to monitor the position of the drive element and detect when the base position is reached. This feedback mechanism ensures that the motorized reversing movement stops at the correct position, preventing undefined actuating movements and ensuring reproducible base position while avoiding the need for additional controlled actuation
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-based mechanical positioning system is replaced with a motorized system controlled by sensors. This substitution provides precise, reproducible positioning through electronic control and feedback, eliminating the unreproducible base position issue inherent in spring-based systems
3Reliability
If sensors are used to monitor the position of the drive element, then undefined actuating movements can be detected, but the technological effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are used to monitor the drive element position and provide feedback to the control system. This allows detection of the base position and prevention of undefined actuating movements. The sensors are integrated into the existing motorized system, minimizing additional complexity while providing necessary monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors act as intermediaries between the drive element and the control system, providing position information without requiring direct mechanical linkage or complex mechanical feedback mechanisms. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving reliable position monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a rotary latch and a pawl. An electromotive drive is also implemented, which performs actuating movements using a drive element. There is also a blocking element for the drive element. According to the invention, the blocking element is designed as a blocking lever which is rotatable about a pin and which pivots into its blocking position by means of an actuating movement of the drive element. In this way, the actuating movement of the drive element and a subsequent reversing movement take place in a purely motorized manner and without spring force, specifically until the blocking position is reached.