Lock Insert With Flexible U-Shaped Buffer For Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle door lock buffers lack sufficient flexibility and dust resistance, leading to friction issues and potential overloading during the lock holder's movement, which can result in noise and dust particle accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A U-shaped insert with flexible shell legs and a clinging surface, featuring stiffening and fastening ribs that taper towards the base, made of plastic with reduced wall thickness and nub or golf ball structures, ensures gentle movement and dust particle containment, while maintaining stability through stiffening ribs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the insert is made rigid with a surface covering, then the lock holder can be guided, but friction increases and dust particles accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The insert's wall thickness parameter is varied across different regions: thicker in the shell legs for stability, thinner in the section for flexibility. This parameter change enables the insert to provide both guidance and reduced friction, allowing dust particles to be pressed into the plastic material.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the insert are given different properties: the shell legs have reinforcement ribs for stability, while the section has reduced wall thickness for flexibility and dust resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between guidance and reduced friction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the insert is made flexible, then friction is reduced and dust particles are contained, but stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is designed with non-uniform wall thickness: the shell legs have greater thickness for stability and reinforcement, while the section has reduced thickness for flexibility. This local quality differentiation allows the insert to be stable where needed and flexible where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is segmented into functionally distinct regions: shell legs for structural support and stability, and a section for flexible contact with the lock holder. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its properties for its specific function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wall thickness is reduced for flexibility, then the insert becomes more compliant, but structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wall thickness is locally optimized: thicker in the shell legs where structural strength is needed, thinner in the section where flexibility is required. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between overall strength and local flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is divided into segments with different wall thickness characteristics. The shell legs provide structural strength, while the section provides flexibility. This segmentation allows the insert to achieve both strength and flexibility in their respective locations.
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 provides an elegant entry guide with reduced friction and dust resistance, ensuring smooth operation and enhanced durability by allowing dust particles to be pressed into the plastic, thus minimizing friction and noise, while maintaining necessary stability values.
Implementation Method 1
Plastic has proven to be very favorable as a material for the insert, especially since the 'forming' of the stiffening and fastening ribs can also be realized particularly favorably in the tapering shape. It has been found that it is particularly favorable if the insert is made of polyoxymethylene (POM) and the buffer housing is made of polyurethane (PUR).
Implementation Method 2
The inlet buffer is provided with an insert or a cover on the side facing the lock holder, which has a U-shape, is rigid and has a surface covering. This surface covering should consist of ceramic material with a low coefficient of friction.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A lock (1) is provided for a motor vehicle door (2), wherein an insertion buffer (4) in the lock housing (3) is provided with a flexible insert (8) for the lock retainer (5) or the wire thereof. Said insert (8) has a U-shaped section, which overall or at the lowest point defines a clinging surface (15) for the wire of the lock retainer (5), wherein an accordingly suitable plastic is provided. Furthermore, the clinging surface (15) can also have special structures in order to avoid noise development while the lock is closed.