Reinforcing Insert for Motor Vehicle Lock Actuating Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle locks face safety limitations during side impacts due to deformation under increased mechanical loads, despite previous reinforcement efforts, which can lead to jammed mechanisms and difficulty opening doors.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock design featuring a lock housing with a reinforcing insert, made from a different material than the housing, such as metal, integrated into the actuating means opening to enhance wear resistance and deformation resistance, and connected via a snap-in mechanism for easy assembly, providing a guide and bearing for actuating components to improve safety and crash resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reinforcement components are added to the lock housing, then crash resistance and safety are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reinforcing the entire lock housing, the patent applies reinforcement only at the specific location where the actuating means passes through the housing. A reinforcing insert is provided in the opening area to locally strengthen the structure against crash forces, while maintaining the simplicity of the overall housing design and avoiding unnecessary complexity elsewhere in the system.
2Reliability
If reinforcement components are added to the lock housing, then crash resistance is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement function is segmented into a separate reinforcing insert component that can be manufactured independently and then assembled into the lock housing. This insert is designed to fit into the opening area and is connected via a snap-in mechanism, allowing for simple assembly without requiring complex welding or fastening processes, thereby keeping manufacturing costs low while improving safety.
3Reliability
If the lock housing is made more robust to withstand crash forces, then safety is improved, but the weight of the lock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies reinforcement only at the specific location where the actuating means passes through the housing. A reinforcing insert is provided in the opening area to locally strengthen the structure against crash forces, while maintaining the simplicity of the overall housing design and avoiding unnecessary complexity elsewhere in the system.
Data Source
AI summary
Motor vehicle lock (1) having a lock housing (2) with at least a locking mechanism (3) and actuating means (6), wherein at least one actuating means (6) extends through an opening (8) in the lock housing (2) and the opening (8) is provided with at least one reinforcing insert (9).