Motor Vehicle Lock Release Lever Momentum

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle locks with electric drive units, such as those using worm gear drives and spring mechanisms, often require additional motors or mass elements to generate sufficient momentum for unlocking in emergency situations, leading to increased costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle lock design that utilizes an electric drive unit to actuate a release lever and generate additional momentum directly, eliminating the need for extra electric drives by employing a dual-function drive unit that both opens the locking mechanism and provides the necessary force, using a combination of gear stages and lever mechanisms to achieve high forces or speeds as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If additional motors or mass elements are used to generate sufficient momentum for unlocking in emergency situations, then the unlocking force is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunlocking forceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electric drive unit with the release lever mechanism into a single integrated assembly. The electric drive unit directly actuates the release lever, merging the motor function and lever actuation function into one component system, thereby achieving high unlocking force without adding separate motors or mass elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electric drive unit serves multiple functions: it acts as the motor, directly drives the release lever, and provides the necessary momentum for unlocking. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional dedicated emergency unlocking components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining sufficient unlocking force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Force

If additional motors or mass elements are used to generate sufficient momentum for unlocking in emergency situations, then the unlocking force is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunlocking forceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electric drive unit with the release lever mechanism into a single integrated assembly. The electric drive unit directly actuates the release lever, merging the motor function and lever actuation function into one component system, thereby achieving high unlocking force without adding separate motors or mass elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electric drive unit serves multiple functions: it acts as the motor, directly drives the release lever, and provides the necessary momentum for unlocking. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional dedicated emergency unlocking components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining sufficient unlocking force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a spring mechanism with additional momentum is introduced, then the reliability for emergency unlocking is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency unlocking reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electric drive unit is designed to automatically generate and apply additional momentum when needed for emergency unlocking. The system monitors the locking mechanism state and activates the electric drive unit to provide the necessary force, eliminating the need for separate spring mechanisms or manual intervention while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables safe and efficient unlocking of the locking mechanism with the minimal number of electric drives, reducing costs and complexity while ensuring operation even under high stress or jammed conditions, with precise control over force application.

Implementation Method 1

an electric drive unit (2), wherein the release lever (14) can be actuated by the electric drive unit (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric motor: Linear Motor

Implementation Method 2

using a combination of gear stages and lever mechanisms to achieve high forces or speeds as needed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 3

using a combination of gear stages and lever mechanisms to achieve high forces or speeds as needed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS11377882B2Motor vehicle lock

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 KIEKERT AG

AI summary

A motor vehicle lock, preferably an electrically actuatable motor vehicle lock, comprising a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a release lever, an electric drive unit, wherein the release lever can be actuated by the electric drive unit, and the locking mechanism can be unlocked by the release lever, also comprising a release aid, wherein additional momentum for unlocking the locking mechanism can be guided into the locking mechanism by means of the release aid, the additional momentum can be generated using the electric drive unit.