Motor Vehicle Lock Microswitch with Inverted Lever Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks with rotary latches and pawls fail to reliably and durably signal the position of locking mechanism components, leading to potential misalignment and fatigue issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a microswitch actuated by a pivotable lever with a preloaded spring, which reverses movement to reliably signal the position of locking mechanism components, ensuring consistent and long-lasting operation by actuating and releasing the microswitch based on the locking mechanism's state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a microswitch is directly actuated by movement of locking mechanism components, then position detection is achieved, but the microswitch experiences fatigue and reliability deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
A lever is introduced as an intermediary between the locking mechanism component and the microswitch. The lever pivots on the microswitch actuator, reversing the movement direction: when the locking component moves toward the microswitch, the lever pivots to move the microswitch actuator away, preventing direct contact and fatigue accumulation on the microswitch while still enabling position detection through the lever's pivotal motion.
2Loss of information
If the microswitch is actuated by locking mechanism movement, then position signaling is achieved, but the microswitch becomes overloaded and fatigued
Solution Approach 1:
The lever inverts the movement relationship: instead of the locking component directly actuating the microswitch, the lever pivots on the microswitch actuator. When the locking component moves in one direction (toward the microswitch), the lever pivots to move the actuator in the opposite direction (away from the locking component), thereby protecting the microswitch from overload while maintaining position signaling capability.
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 solution effectively prevents fatigue in the microswitch and ensures reliable long-term signaling of locking mechanism positions, maintaining accurate position detection even with frequent opening and closing of vehicle doors and flaps.
Implementation Method 1
The actuating means comprises a preloaded spring with which the lever can be pivoted into its position which actuates the microswitch
Implementation Method 2
By actuation, the other end of the spring can be connected to the second electrical conductor to create an electrical connection between the two conductors
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle comprising a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and pawl for locking the rotary latch and a micro-switch (1) for detecting a position of a locking mechanism component (2). Said micro-switch (1) is enabled when the component (2) has been moved towards the micro-switch (1) for detecting the position thereof and the locking mechanism is locked. According to the invention, the lock is reliable and durable and the position of the locking mechanism component is determined.