Motor Vehicle Lock With Double-Acting Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks fail to maintain functionality and facilitate easy opening after a crash, particularly when power is lost, due to the coupling element remaining in a disengaged state, preventing rescue personnel from accessing the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A double-acting spring mechanism is integrated with a mass inertia element, comprising a crash spring part and an engaging spring part, to maintain the coupling element in a disengaged position during normal operation and temporarily lock it to the actuation lever during a crash, allowing easy unlocking and opening with a two-movement or single-movement action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mass inertia element is used to ensure crash unlocking by transferring the coupling element from engaged to disengaged state, then passenger protection in the event of a crash is improved, but the lock fails to remain unlockable after power loss following a crash
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element provides dynamic restoring force that automatically returns the coupling element to the engaged state after crash-induced displacement, enabling the system to transition from a static crash-unlock state to a dynamic recovery state that facilitates post-crash opening
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element serves as a simple, passive mechanical component that provides temporary crash protection by allowing disengagement during impact, then automatically resets to enable subsequent opening operations without requiring additional power or complex mechanisms
2Reliability
If the coupling element is forced guided through a control contour to ensure crash unlocking, then crash-induced unlocking is achieved, but the actuation lever chain cannot be restored for subsequent opening operations
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is extracted from the complex control contour mechanism and applied directly to the mass inertia element, simplifying the restoration process by providing a direct mechanical return path that bypasses the need for complex lever chain repositioning
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the coupling element remains in disengaged state after crash to prevent unintentional opening, then crash protection is improved, but rescue personnel cannot open the vehicle door after power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element converts the harmful effect of power loss (inability to open door) into a beneficial automatic restoration mechanism, where the stored elastic energy actively returns the coupling element to enable opening operations when needed by rescue personnel
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
Ensures reliable operation of the motor vehicle lock both during normal operation and after a crash, enabling easy and safe unlocking by maintaining the coupling element's disengaged state until actuated, facilitating quick access post-crash.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (11) acting on the mass inertia element (9, 10) is designed to be double-acting with a crash spring part (11a) and an engaging spring part (11b)
Implementation Method 2
a mass inertia element (9, 10) which acts on the coupling element (7) at least in the event of a crash
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock is provided with an actuation lever chain for a locking mechanism. The actuation lever chain has at least one actuation lever and a coupling element. A mass inertia element is also produced, which acts on the coupling element at least in the event of a crash. As well as a spring acting on the mass inertia element. According to the invention, the spring is designed to be double-acting, with a crash spring part and an engaging spring part.