Motor Vehicle Lock Guide Element and Reinforcing Pillar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motor vehicle locks are heavy and costly due to the use of large metal parts, which increases their weight and cost, and they cannot be modified to use non-metallic materials for retention parts that withstand forces during a crash.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock design that replaces the traditional plate with a guide element and reinforcing pillar, allowing for rotational guidance of the pawl pin and enhanced mechanical strength without increasing weight or cost, while maintaining standard interfaces and actuation kinematics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large metal plate is used to position all fixing points imposed by the manufacturer, then the lock can be fixed to the vehicle, but the mass and cost of the lock increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lock structure is divided into separate functional components: a counter-plate for fixing to the vehicle, a guide element for guiding the pawl pin, and reinforcing pillars for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing the need for a single large heavy plate while maintaining fixing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The counter-plate is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides the fixing interface to the vehicle door and serves as a mounting surface for the guide element and reinforcing pillars. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate large plates for each function, reducing overall mass.
2Reliability
If a large metal plate is used to position all fixing points, then the lock can be fixed to the vehicle, but the cost of the lock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock is segmented into smaller components (counter-plate, guide element, reinforcing pillars) that can be manufactured separately using simpler, less expensive processes. This avoids the need for a single large complex plate, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining fixing reliability through the distributed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock uses a composite structure combining metal counter-plate with guide elements and reinforcing pillars that may use different materials optimized for their specific functions. This allows cost optimization by selecting materials based on performance requirements rather than using expensive metal throughout.
3Strength
If metal parts are used for the retention part, then mechanical strength during crash is ensured, but the mass of the lock increases
Solution Approach 1:
Metal material is applied locally only where high strength is required (counter-plate for fixing, reinforcing pillars for structural support) rather than throughout the entire lock. The guide element and other non-critical components can use lighter materials, reducing mass while maintaining retention strength during crash.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock employs a composite construction with metal components for strength-critical functions and potentially lighter materials for other parts. This allows optimization of mass by using metal only where mechanically necessary for crash resistance.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle door comprising: - a counterplate (3) intended to be fastened to a motor vehicle door, - a bolt (5) and a bolt pin (7), the bolt (5) being intended to cooperate with a strike and able to rotate around the bolt pin (7) between an open position and a closed position of the lock, and a pawl (6) comprising a pivoting pawl pin (10) and a retaining end (11) able to cooperate with said bolt (5) in the closed position of the lock to prevent the rotation of the bolt (5), characterised in that said lock comprises a guide element (41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46) in which at least one guide hole (12) is arranged to guide the rotation of the pawl pin (10) and in that the lock comprises at least one reinforcing pillar (14, 15; 21, 22) maintaining the guide element, said guide element (41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46) being separated from the bolt pin (7).