Motor Vehicle Lock Inertia Blocking Lever Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks are prone to unintentional opening during crashes due to excessive accelerations, which can be caused by the accidental actuation of the handle, and they often require a complex mechanism with multiple components to prevent this.
Innovation Solution
A lock with a locking mechanism featuring a rotatably mounted rotary catch, a pawl, a blocking lever, and a releasing lever interconnected by a spring, where the spring ensures the blocking lever remains in place during excessive accelerations, preventing the lock from opening inadvertently, and eliminating the need for a separate inertia lever.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex mechanism with multiple components (including separate inertia lever and blocking lever) is used to prevent unintentional opening during crashes, then the reliability of the lock is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the inertia lever and blocking lever into a single integrated component. The blocking lever is designed with an inertia portion that has a larger mass than the actuating portion, allowing it to function as both the blocking mechanism and the inertia-based crash protection mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for separate components while maintaining the reliability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking lever serves multiple functions: it blocks the pawl from disengaging the rotary catch during normal operation, and it acts as an inertia lever during crashes to prevent inadvertent opening. By giving the blocking lever multi-functionality, the patent reduces the overall number of components needed in the locking mechanism.
2Reliability
If a separate inertia lever is added to prevent inadvertent opening during crashes, then the reliability is improved, but the overall mass of the locking mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the separate inertia lever by integrating its function into the blocking lever. The blocking lever is designed with an inertia portion that has a larger mass than the actuating portion, allowing it to provide the necessary inertia-based crash protection without requiring additional components. This merging reduces the overall mass of the locking mechanism.
3Reliability
If more components are used to ensure the lock does not open inadvertently during crashes, then the reliability is improved, but the package size of the locking mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the inertia lever and blocking lever into a single component, which reduces the overall volume required for the locking mechanism. The blocking lever is designed with an inertia portion that has a larger mass than the actuating portion, allowing it to provide crash protection functionality within a compact form factor.
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
This design effectively prevents unintentional opening during crashes while reducing the number of components, package size, and overall mass, ensuring the lock remains secure and efficient with a simpler construction.
Implementation Method 1
the blocking lever has an inertia portion with a larger mass than the actuating portion of the releasing lever... If the releasing lever is greatly accelerated, as this is possible in the event of a crash, then, due to the inertia of the inertia lever, only the blocking lever is moved
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention belongs to a Lock for a motor vehicle comprising a locking mechanism with a rotatably mounted rotary catch for receiving a locking bolt, a pawl with which the rotary catch can be engaged for retaining the locking bolt, a blocking lever capable of blocking the pawl if the latter is located in its catching position, a releasing lever for disengaging the locking mechanism wherein the blocking lever and the releasing lever are interconnected by a first spring.