Vehicle Lock Coupling Mechanism With Integrated Idle Displacement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lock units are inflexible and require complex design adjustments for different installation spaces and scenarios due to direct coupling of actuation paths and forces with pivoting movements, limiting their versatility and ease of use in various applications.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a coupling mechanism that allows an actuating element's adjustment movement to be converted into a pivoting movement of the locking element only in a partial range, enabling an idle stroke or overstroke function, which increases flexibility by allowing independent adjustment movements without corresponding pivoting, facilitating easier adaptation to different scenarios and tolerance compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the actuating element is directly coupled to the locking element, then the actuation movement is efficiently transmitted, but the locking unit becomes inflexible and requires complex design modifications for different applications
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the actuating element and the locking element. This coupling mechanism includes a coupling element with a coupling interface that can be selectively coupled to different locking elements, allowing the actuating element to work with various locking element types without requiring redesign of the actuating element itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism is designed with universal coupling interfaces that can accommodate multiple types of locking elements and actuating elements. The coupling element can be selectively coupled to different locking elements depending on the application requirements, making the actuating element versatile across different installation scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the actuating element is directly coupled to the locking element, then the structure is compact, but the actuation path and direction are fixed and cannot be adjusted for different scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism introduces dynamic adjustability to the actuation path and direction. The coupling element can be selectively coupled in different orientations and positions, allowing the actuation path and direction to be adjusted according to specific application requirements while maintaining a relatively compact structure through modular design.
3Reliability
If the actuating element directly pivots the locking element, then the force transmission is direct, but tolerance accumulation becomes problematic when coupling multiple locking units
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism acts as a mediator that decouples the direct force transmission between the actuating element and locking element. This intermediate coupling element provides tolerance absorption and compensation capabilities, reducing the impact of cumulative tolerances when multiple locking units are mechanically coupled and operated by a single actuator.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
The proposed solution relates to a lock unit for a vehicle, having - a carrier (1), - a locking element (2), which can be pivoted on the carrier (1) between a locking position and a release position, - an arresting element (3), which can be pivoted on the carrier (1) between an arresting position and an unlocking position and, in its arresting position, arrests the locking element (2), in the locking position, so that it cannot be adjusted into the release position and, in its unlocking position, allows adjustment of the locking element (2) from the locking position into its release position, and - an actuating element (6), which can be adjusted on the carrier (1) within an adjustment region and is intended for pivoting the arresting element (3) from the arresting position in the direction of the unlocking position. The actuating element (6) is coupled to the arresting element (3) via a coupling mechanism (K), via which it is possible for an adjustment movement of the actuating element (6) to be converted into a pivoting movement of the arresting element (3) in the direction of the locking position of the latter, only in part of the adjustment region of the actuating element (6)