Motor Vehicle Lock Position Securing with Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door and vehicle locks fail to securely maintain their position during high accelerations, such as in a crash, leading to unintended opening or unlocking, which can compromise safety by allowing doors to open unexpectedly.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism featuring a pivotably mounted lever with a counterweight that counteracts the acceleration force, preventing unwanted movement of the actuating element, combined with a spring mechanism for additional security, allowing for secure positioning without excessive force requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring mechanism is used to maintain lock position during high acceleration, then reliability is improved, but the force required to actuate the lock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a counterweight mechanism where a mass is positioned to create a moment that balances the spring force during normal operation. The counterweight's gravitational force creates a stabilizing moment that opposes the spring's restoring force, allowing the lock to maintain its locked position during high acceleration without requiring excessive actuation force. The counterweight is strategically positioned so that its moment arm creates a force balance that reduces the net force needed to actuate the locking mechanism while maintaining reliability under acceleration loads.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If strong springs are used to prevent unintended opening during crash, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight mechanism creates a moment balance that offsets the strong spring force during normal operation. By positioning the counterweight at an appropriate distance from the pivot point, its gravitational moment counteracts the spring's restoring moment, allowing the lock to resist unintended opening during crashes while requiring minimal effort for intentional actuation. The counterweight effectively neutralizes the spring force under static and dynamic conditions, making the strong spring unnecessary for normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight provides a preliminary opposing force that balances the spring force before any actuation occurs. This pre-balanced state means that during a crash or unintended acceleration, the lock is already in equilibrium and resistant to movement, yet the operator only needs to overcome a minimal residual force to actuate the lock intentionally.
3Reliability
If complex position locking mechanisms are used to secure actuating element, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple counterweight mechanism consisting of a mass attached to the actuating element's lever arm. This single component provides position security during high acceleration by creating a stabilizing moment that resists unintended movement. The counterweight approach avoids complex multi-component locking mechanisms while achieving reliable position security through gravitational force balance with the spring mechanism.
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 secures the actuating element's position during high accelerations, preventing unintended unlocking or opening, while allowing easy actuation with low power, thus ensuring safety and reliability without the need for strong springs or complex components.
Implementation Method 1
a counterweight which can be moved in the direction of movement of the actuating element and counteracts the acceleration force with its weight
Implementation Method 2
combined with a spring mechanism for additional security, allowing for secure positioning without excessive force requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a door lock or flap lock comprising a locking mechanism that has a rotary latch and a pawl for locking the rotary latch. The aim of the invention is to provide a lock with an improved position securing system for a moveably mounted actuation element of the lock. The aim is achieved in that the position securing system comprises a moveably mounted counterweight which can be moved in the same direction as the actuation element. The counter weight and the actuation element are connected together such that a movement of the counterweight activates a counter movement of the actuation element.