Motor Vehicle Lock Drive Part Stabilization and Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle lock drive components lack reliable feedback mechanisms to confirm the successful setting of drive positions, leading to potential instability and increased costs due to the need for additional components like microswitches, and are susceptible to deflection from desired positions without current to the coils.

Innovation Solution

A drive component with a rotatable drive part equipped with a holding arrangement for stabilization and a sensor arrangement for direct detection of the drive part's position, allowing for improved position detection and maintenance, reducing the need for additional components and enhancing operational reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a microswitch is used to detect the position of the drive part, then the position can be determined, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detectionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive part itself serves as the detection target for the sensor arrangement, eliminating the need for separate detection components like microswitches. The sensor arrangement directly detects the drive part's position, allowing the system to be self-sufficient in position measurement without additional complex components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The drive part serves multiple functions: it is both the actuating element that moves to change lock states and the target object for position detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If no holding arrangement is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the drive part cannot maintain its position reliably when current is not supplied to the coils

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holding arrangement is designed to automatically engage and stabilize the drive part in its desired position as the drive part reaches that position during operation. This preliminary stabilization action ensures the drive part maintains its position reliably without requiring continuous current supply to the coils, preventing deflection before it becomes a problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If indirect detection via downstream components is used, then the position can be inferred, but the reliability is reduced because position changes may occur for reasons other than drive position setting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detectionVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor arrangement directly detects the drive part itself rather than inferring position from downstream components. This self-detection approach ensures that the detected position changes are directly caused by drive part movement, eliminating false detections from other sources and improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 proposed solution ensures the drive part assumes and maintains desired positions reliably, increasing operational reliability and cost-effectiveness, while allowing for a more compact and inexpensive implementation.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor arrangement (7) for determining an actual position of the drive part (5) by detecting the drive part (5), wherein the holding arrangement (6) is a component part of the sensor arrangement (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

A particularly preferred embodiment provides for magnetic or electrical detection of the drive part (5) in that a corresponding - magnetic or electrical - detection circuit is closed which leads through the drive part (5) itself

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic detection: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 3

The holding arrangement (6) is designed to bring about stabilization of the drive part (5) in a desired position by acting on the drive part (5) with a holding force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical contact force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2966244B1Drive component of a drive train for a motor vehicle lock
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 BROSE SCHLIESSSYSTEME GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2966244B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2966244B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2966244B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive component of a drive train of a motor vehicle lock with a drive part rotatable about a drive part axis, with a holding arrangement for stabilizing the drive part in at least one stabilization position and a sensor arrangement for determining an actual position of the drive part by detecting the drive part.