Motor Vehicle Lock Sealing Lip Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing motor vehicle locks face issues with inadequate sealing against dust and moisture ingress due to suboptimal design of the connector plug relative to the lock housing, which complicates production and affects the reliability of the electrical components.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves forming a sealing lip from the same plastic material as the lock housing or electronic module, allowing for a single, integral unit that provides a seal between the housing and the module, eliminating the need for complex 2K injection molding and enabling independent design of the connector plug, and ensuring a tolerance-compensating effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing lip is molded onto the lock housing using 2K injection molding, then the sealing effect is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing lip is integrated directly into the lock housing as a single-component structure made from the same plastic material, eliminating the need for separate molding processes. The housing section forms the sealing lip in one injection molding operation, merging what would have been two separate components into one unified part.
Solution Approach 2:
The design utilizes the elastic properties of commonly used plastics by making the sealing lip sufficiently thin to achieve the desired sealing effect through material elasticity alone, without requiring additional reinforcement structures or complex assembly processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic module design is independent of the lock housing design, then the design flexibility is improved, but the sealing against dust and moisture becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing lip is formed as an integral part of the lock housing structure, creating a continuous seal that accommodates the electronic module while maintaining independence in module design. The housing section and sealing lip form an integral unit that seals around the electronic module connector plug.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing lip is designed with sufficient thinness to provide elastic sealing contact with the connector plug, allowing the electronic module to be positioned independently while maintaining effective sealing against dust and moisture ingress.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sealing lip is made thin to achieve sealing effect, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing lip thickness is optimized to be sufficiently thin to achieve elastic sealing contact and simplify manufacturing, while the material selection and geometric design ensure adequate structural strength for the sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock housing and sealing lip are made from the same plastic material that combines the structural strength required for housing integrity with the elastic properties needed for effective sealing, achieving both strength and sealing performance in a single material system.
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 approach enhances the sealing effectiveness against dust and moisture, simplifies the manufacturing process, and maintains design flexibility for the connector plug and lock housing, while reducing production complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one sealing lip is deflected at least partially elastically as a result
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical motor vehicle component, in particular a motor vehicle lock (1), comprising a lock housing (2) and an electrical module (3) arranged at least partially within the lock housing (2), which protrudes from a housing opening (4) and has a connector (5) arranged at least partially outside the lock housing (2), wherein the electrical module (3) engages positively with the lock housing (2) along the housing opening (4), the housing opening (4) being arranged in a housing section (6), in particular a housing cover. It is proposed that the housing section (6) be made at least partially, preferably entirely, of a plastic material and that the housing section (6) forms at least one sealing lip (8) made of the same plastic material along the housing opening (4), which sealing lip (8) engages in a sealing engagement with a sealing surface (9) on the electrical module (3).