Motor Vehicle Lock Cinching Safety via Freewheel Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing motor vehicle lock cinching function, while increasing user-friendliness, poses a risk of injury due to the application of full cinching force when objects or fingers are inserted into the gap between the door and the vehicle body during the closing process, reducing operational safety.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a spring-biased freewheel mechanism between the cinching drive and the catch, which allows a freewheel distance to be overcome against the spring bias before applying full cinching forces, warning the user with low forces and allowing time to retract objects, thereby enhancing operational safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cinching function is implemented to increase user-friendliness during door closing, then the ease of operation is improved, but the operational safety deteriorates due to risk of injury from full cinching force applied to objects or fingers in the gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a warning phase before the main cinching action. The control unit detects when an object or finger is present in the gap before full cinching force is applied, and issues a warning signal to alert the user. This allows the user to retract the object/finger before the harmful full cinching force is applied, thus preventing injury while maintaining the cinching function's effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect the presence of objects or fingers in the gap between the door and vehicle body during the cinching process. The control unit continuously monitors this information and adjusts the cinching operation accordingly - issuing warnings when objects are detected and only applying full cinching force when the gap is clear, thereby ensuring safety while maintaining operational effectiveness.
2Productivity
If the full cinching force is applied immediately to close the door efficiently, then the productivity is improved, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to potential injury to objects or fingers in the gap
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary detection phase before applying full cinching force. The control unit checks for the presence of objects or fingers in the gap using sensors, and only proceeds with full-force cinching when the area is clear. This preliminary action prevents harmful effects while maintaining efficient door closing when safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses real-time feedback from sensors to monitor the gap area during the door closing process. Based on this feedback, the control unit dynamically adjusts the cinching force - applying full force only when no objects or fingers are detected, and reducing force or issuing warnings when objects are present. This ensures high productivity when safe while preventing harmful effects.
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 effectively reduces the risk of injury by applying only low forces during the initial stages of the cinching routine, allowing the user to withdraw objects before the full cinching force is applied, thus improving operational safety with minimal additional constructional effort.
Implementation Method 1
a spring biased freewheel mechanism, which is limited to a freewheel distance, is provided between the cinching drive and the catch
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock has a pawl and a catch that may be moved into an open position, a preliminary latching position and a main latching position. In one of the latching positions, the catch is or may be brought into holding engagement with a lock striker. In the installed state, during a cinching routine, the catch is moved into its main latching position by a cinching drive. A spring biased freewheel mechanism, which is limited to a freewheel distance, is provided between the cinching drive and the catch. With the reaction force of the catch exceeding a predefined level, the cinching drive freewheels with respect to the catch against the spring bias of the freewheel mechanism, until the freewheel distance is reached and the freewheel mechanism is interlocked for force transmission.