Lock Pawl Narrow Surface Rotary Latch Bending Point

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing locks for vehicle or building doors/flaps face challenges in reliably opening under excessive loads or malfunctions, particularly due to worn-out components like Bowden cables, which can reduce the pivot range of the release lever, and require wider locking surfaces to prevent opening, increasing weight and volume.

Innovation Solution

A lock design with a narrower locking surface on the pawl's locking arm, allowing a smaller pivot movement to release the mechanism, and a predetermined bending point on the rotary latch to maintain engagement under excessive loads, reducing weight and volume while ensuring reliable locking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wider locking surface is used on the pawl to prevent opening under excessive loads, then the reliability of the locking mechanism is improved, but the weight and volume of the lock increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliability under excessive loadsVSAvoidlock weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary latch is designed with a predetermined bending point that allows it to deform in advance under excessive loads. This preliminary deformation action increases the overlap between the rotary latch and pawl locking surfaces, preventing the pawl from moving out of its locked position without requiring a wider locking surface structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism utilizes changes in the geometric parameters of the rotary latch under load. The predetermined bending point causes the rotary latch to change its shape and position, increasing the overlap with the pawl locking surface dynamically in response to applied loads, rather than relying on a statically wider locking surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a wider locking surface is used on the pawl to prevent opening under excessive loads, then the reliability of the locking mechanism is improved, but the volume of the lock increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliability under excessive loadsVSAvoidlock volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary latch is designed with a predetermined bending point that allows it to deform in advance under excessive loads. This preliminary deformation action increases the overlap between the rotary latch and pawl locking surfaces, preventing the pawl from moving out of its locked position without requiring a wider locking surface structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism utilizes changes in the geometric parameters of the rotary latch under load. The predetermined bending point causes the rotary latch to change its shape and position, increasing the overlap with the pawl locking surface dynamically in response to applied loads, rather than relying on a statically wider locking surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the pivot range of the release lever is reduced due to worn components, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of opening the lock deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease lever operationVSAvoidlocking mechanism opening reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary latch is designed with a predetermined bending point that allows it to deform in advance under excessive loads or during the opening process. This preliminary deformation ensures that the locking surfaces separate reliably even when the release lever has limited pivot range due to wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of component wear (reduced pivot range) into a beneficial outcome. The predetermined bending point in the rotary latch compensates for the limited pivot range, ensuring that the opening function remains reliable even when the release lever and its connecting components are worn

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 design allows for reliable locking and reduced weight and volume by enabling a smaller pivot movement to open the lock, even under excessive loads, and compensates for tolerances and deformations, preventing unplanned opening.

Implementation Method 1

a predetermined bending point on the rotary latch to maintain engagement under excessive loads

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10012013B2Lock for a flap or door

Publication Date: 2018.07.03 KIEKERT AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a door lock or flap lock comprising a locking mechanism that consists of a latch (1) and at least one pawl (2) for locking the latch (1). The locking surface of the pawl is so narrow that even slight pivoting movements are sufficient to unlock a locked locking mechanism, thus allowing for a reduction in volume and weight.