Resilient Lock Mechanism for Misaligned Vehicle Doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock mechanisms for moveable components, such as commercial vehicle doors, malfunction due to misalignment between the lock body and bolt assembly, preventing effective locking and unlocking, especially in non-rigidly constructed vehicles where wear and damage can cause variable relationships between components.
Innovation Solution
A lock mechanism with a resiliently biased locking member and operating pin that allows for axial, transverse, and angular movement, facilitated by an electrically powered operating mechanism with a servo motor and cam, enabling the locking member to accommodate misalignment and unlock the mechanism despite positional variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional lock mechanism with fixed lock body and bolt assembly is used, then the locking function works when components are perfectly aligned, but the lock mechanism malfunctions when misalignment occurs due to wear, damage, or non-rigid construction
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism incorporates resiliently biased components (locking member with spring, operating pin with spring) that can dynamically adjust their positions. The locking member can move axially and transversely within the bolt assembly, and the operating pin can move axially within the lock body, allowing the mechanism to adapt to misalignment while maintaining reliable locking function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameters of the locking components by allowing the locking member to shift its position relative to the bolt assembly and the operating pin to shift relative to the lock body. This parameter adjustment enables the mechanism to accommodate misalignment between the lock body and bolt assembly while maintaining proper engagement
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lock mechanism uses resiliently biased moving parts to accommodate misalignment, then alignment tolerance is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is divided into two independent but cooperating assemblies: the lock body with the operating pin, and the bolt assembly with the locking member. Each assembly can move independently to accommodate misalignment, reducing the complexity of requiring a completely flexible unified structure while achieving the same adaptability
3Ease of operation
If the operating pin is moved axially away from the locking member to unlock, then unlocking capability is improved despite misalignment, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operating pin serves as an intermediary element between the operating mechanism and the locking member. By moving the operating pin axially, the system indirectly controls the position of the locking member and balls, enabling unlocking without requiring direct manipulation of the locking member itself, thus simplifying the overall control mechanism
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 mechanism ensures reliable locking and unlocking of commercial vehicle doors by accommodating misalignment, maintaining the door in a closed position while allowing easy release, even in scenarios with wear and damage, through the use of a servo motor-driven cam system that adjusts the operating pin's position to allow ball movement out of the groove.
Implementation Method 1
the locking member is resiliently biased to a normal position but is moveable away therefrom against the resilient bias
Implementation Method 2
the operating pin is resiliently biased to a rest position but is moveable axially away from its rest position
Implementation Method 3
the operating mechanism includes an electric motor driving a cam, and the cam engages a part of the operating pin so as to move the operating pin axially on driving the motor
Implementation Method 4
the operating mechanism includes an electric motor driving a cam, and the cam engages a part of the operating pin so as to move the operating pin axially on driving the motor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5B
AI summary
A lock mechanism for locking together first and second relatively moveable components (50,51) comprises a lock body (10) having a bore (31) for receiving a bolt assembly (11) for securing to the two components so that the lock body and bolt assembly are substantially aligned when the components come together. The bolt assembly includes a locking member (36) which carries opposed balls (44) in a transverse bore (43) and which are driven radially outwardly into a groove (22) formed in the bore of the lock body, by an operating pin (18) mounted within the lock body. The locking member (36) is resiliently mounted to have freedom of movement is several directions, to facilitate entry of the locking member into the lock body. A servo motor (26) is arranged to draw the operating pin (18) out of the locking member thereby to allow the balls to move inwardly out of the groove, so releasing the lock.