Motor Vehicle Lock Lever Mounting Using Bayonet Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks face challenges in maintaining a defined axial position of levers due to geometrical tolerances, requiring expensive and precise installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock design featuring a bearing sleeve element that serves as both a spacer and an axially two-sided bearing for the activating lever, utilizing a bayonet fitting for secure and cost-effective mounting, allowing for premounting and parallel installation processes without the need for precise movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional mounting methods are used for levers on bearing domes, then geometrical tolerances of components must be strictly controlled, but this leads to increased manufacturing expense and complex installation processes
Solution Approach 1:
A bayonet fitting is introduced as an intermediary mounting mechanism between the lever and bearing dome. This fitting includes a mounting arm with a lever arm that connects to the bearing dome through a geometrically tolerant interface, while the lever itself connects to the mounting arm through the bayonet fitting. This intermediary structure absorbs geometrical tolerances and eliminates the need for precise direct mounting, thereby reducing manufacturing expenses while maintaining lever position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from requiring precise geometrical parameters (exact axial positions and orientations) to using a bayonet fitting with inherent tolerance accommodation. The bayonet fitting allows for angular and positional variations within defined ranges, changing the parameter control from tight tolerances to relaxed tolerances with mechanical compensation, thus reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise installation movements are required for mounting levers, then defined axial position can be maintained, but this increases installation complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The bayonet fitting serves as a mediator that eliminates the need for precise installation movements. The fitting's design allows for simple insertion and locking actions without requiring alignment precision, thereby simplifying the installation process while maintaining the defined axial position of levers through its mechanical geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The bayonet fitting is designed to be pre-assembled or pre-positioned in a manner that facilitates easy final installation. The mounting arm and lever arm are configured to engage in a predetermined sequence of simple movements, eliminating the need for complex real-time alignment during installation, thus improving ease of operation while ensuring precise lever positioning.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple bearing components are used to support levers axially, then lever position can be precisely controlled, but this increases device complexity and component quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The bayonet fitting combines multiple functions into a single integrated component structure. It integrates the mounting interface, the lever support, and the positioning mechanism into one unified bayonet fitting assembly, eliminating the need for separate bearing components for each function. This merging reduces device complexity and component quantity while maintaining precise axial lever positioning through the fitting's inherent geometric design.
Solution Approach 2:
The bayonet fitting is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mechanical support, precise positioning, and secure mounting for the lever. This universal component replaces multiple specialized bearing components, reducing overall device complexity while achieving the same or better positioning accuracy through its integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle lock with a lock mechanism and with a lock housing to receive the lock mechanism, wherein the lock mechanism comprises at least one activating lever which can swivel about a geometrical lever axis, wherein a bearing sleeve element is provided, on which the activating lever is radially mounted, wherein the activating lever is mounted on the bearing sleeve element axially at both sides and for this it is coupled to the bearing sleeve element by a bayonet fitting and in the process of installing the motor vehicle lock the activating lever and the bearing sleeve element can be premounted to form a separate unit by creating the bayonet fitting.