Parallel Motor Door Lock with Axial Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door lock mechanisms for vehicles face challenges in reducing size while maintaining sufficient torque to efficiently open or close doors, due to the radial space requirements of worm wheels and gear systems.
Innovation Solution
A door lock apparatus with a driving portion that includes parallel output shafts, internal ring gears, and an output gear, where pinion gears are mounted on the output shafts and an internal ring gear is fixed to a rotational shaft, allowing for compact design by optimizing the arrangement of components to reduce radial dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If small drive sources are used to reduce the size of the driving apparatus, then the apparatus size is reduced, but a relatively high rear ratio is necessary which requires a larger outside diameter for the worm wheel, making it difficult to reduce size in the radial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the arrangement from a planar configuration to a three-dimensional configuration by stacking drive sources and worm wheels in the axial direction. Multiple worm wheels are arranged axially rather than radially, allowing the system to achieve the required torque multiplication without increasing the radial dimension of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where multiple drive sources and worm wheels are stacked axially within a compact radial envelope. Each worm wheel meshes with its corresponding worm in a layered configuration, with components arranged concentrically around a central axis, effectively nesting multiple gear trains within each other's radial space.
2Device complexity
If multiple drive sources and worm wheels are disposed on the same plane with worms meshing with the outer circumference of the worm wheel, then the structure is simplified, but it becomes difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus in the radial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional axial stacking arrangement. Drive sources and worm wheels are positioned at different axial levels, with each worm wheel having a different diameter and being arranged concentrically. This vertical stacking eliminates the need for multiple components to occupy the same radial space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the single-planar gear train into multiple segmented stages arranged axially. Each stage consists of a drive source, worm, and worm wheel, with subsequent stages positioned at different radial distances from the center. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each stage's torque multiplication ratio while maintaining a compact overall radial footprint.
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 enables a compact door lock mechanism that effectively assists in opening and closing vehicle doors without increasing the overall size of the apparatus, enhancing its usability and integration in vehicle designs.
Implementation Method 1
an internal ring gear, which is fixed to a first end portion of the rotational shaft, and which meshes with the respective pinion gears of the plurality of drive sources
Implementation Method 2
an output gear, which is fixed to a second end portion of the rotational shaft, and which is configured to transmit power to the assisting mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A door lock apparatus has a lock mechanism for holding a vehicle door in a closed state, an assisting mechanism for assisting in closing and/or opening the vehicle door, and a driving portion for operating the assisting mechanism, and the driving portion has a plurality of motors in which output shafts are disposed parallel to each other and pinion gears are provided individually on the output shafts, a rotational shaft which is disposed parallel to the respective output shafts of the plurality of motors, an internal ring gear which is fixed to a first end portion of the rotational shaft and which meshes with the respective pinion gears of the plurality of motors, and a worm which is fixed to a second end portion of the rotational shaft and which is configured to transmit power to the assisting mechanism.