Motor Vehicle Lock Triggering Train Disengagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle locks require high actuating forces for closing operations, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, and existing solutions often compromise opening operations due to the coupling between triggering and closing assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock design featuring a pawl assembly and a triggering train that disengages from the ejector lever during opening operations, allowing for a separate emergency actuation mechanism during closing, reducing actuating forces without complicating the design, and enabling the use of less powerful electric motors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the triggering train remains engaged with the ejector lever during closing operations for emergency actuation, then emergency actuation capability is provided, but actuating forces increase during opening operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the engagement state between the triggering train and ejector lever variable rather than fixed. The triggering train is designed to be disengageable from the ejector lever, allowing the system to dynamically switch between engaged and disengaged states. During normal opening operations, the triggering train remains disengaged to minimize actuating forces, while during closing operations it can engage with the ejector lever to provide emergency actuation capability. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to have emergency actuation capability only when needed, without permanently increasing actuating forces during opening operations.
2Force
If the triggering train is disengaged from the ejector lever during opening operations, then actuating forces are reduced, but emergency actuation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by establishing a cyclic pattern of engagement and disengagement between the triggering train and ejector lever. The system periodically engages the triggering train with the ejector lever during closing operations to provide emergency actuation, then periodically disengages it during opening operations to reduce actuating forces. This periodic switching between engaged and disengaged states allows the system to alternate between having emergency actuation capability and having reduced actuating forces, resolving the contradiction through time-based separation of the two requirements.
3Reliability
If a coupling mechanism is provided between triggering and closing assemblies for emergency actuation, then emergency actuation is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the triggering train to serve multiple functions. The triggering train is not only responsible for normal opening operations but also serves as an emergency actuation mechanism when engaged with the ejector lever during closing operations. By making the triggering train multi-functional, the patent avoids adding a separate dedicated emergency actuation mechanism, thereby enabling emergency actuation capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity. The same components perform both normal and emergency functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock including a latch and a pawl assembly associated with the latch including a pawl, the pawl assembly, in a blocking state, blocks the lock latch in a locking position, and a trigger assembly; the trigger assembly configured to actuate the pawl assembly out of the blocking state during an opening process; and a draw-in assembly including a coupling lever pivotable to a coupling position, for coupling to the lock latch to lock the lock latch. The closing assembly including an ejector lever including an ejector contour for ejecting the coupling lever, in an ejection position, out of engagement from the pawl, and a trigger section, in an emergency actuation, configured to engage the ejector lever via at least part of the closing process to eject the coupling lever and disengaged from the ejector lever during at least part of the opening process.