Motor Vehicle Lock Spring Lip Damping Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motor vehicle locks generate creaking and opening noises due to relative movements between the lock holder and the lock, which are not adequately addressed by existing noise reduction methods.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle lock design incorporating a receptacle with a damping element and a spring lip, where the spring lip interacts with the damping element to provide additional force that counteracts the opening movement of the lock holder, reducing noise by stabilizing the spring lip and increasing its resilience through a ramped design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a spring lip interacts with the lock holder in the main latching position, then the lock holder is held under pretension and relative movements are prevented, but the structure becomes more complex and additional components are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecreaking noisesVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the spring lip and metal strip into a single integrated component. The metal strip is arranged on the spring lip such that they form a unified structure with different functional zones, eliminating the need for separate pretensioning and contact components while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring lip serves multiple functions: it provides pretension to the lock holder in the first section, and forms a contact surface with the metal strip in the second section. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed while achieving both pretensioning and noise reduction goals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a metal strip is added to the spring lip to provide contact surface, then the contact functionality is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact surfaceVSAvoidmanufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The metal strip is integrated with the spring lip to form a single component, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly processes for the metal strip. This reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the reliable contact surface functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution significantly reduces opening noise by providing a counteracting force during the unlocking process, enhancing the noise behavior of the locking mechanism while maintaining structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a damping element which can absorb a contact force originating from the locking bolt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the spring lip having a means for fixing the lock holder, the spring lip interacting with the damping element in such a way that the damping element has an additional providing force for fixing the lock holder, the force counteracting an opening movement of the lock holder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3610106B1Lock for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 KIEKERT AG
  • EP3610106B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3610106B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The subject matter of the invention is a lock (1) for a motor vehicle, having a receptacle (5) for a locking bolt (10), wherein the receptacle (5) has an input region (7) and an end region (8), a damper element (3), a spring lip (6) and a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, wherein the locking bolt (10) can be secured in the lock (1) by means of the locking mechanism and, at least in a main latching position (H), interacts with the rotary latch, the damper element (3) and the spring lip (6), and wherein the spring lip (6) has a means for securing (14) the lock holder (10).