Rotary Latch Support for Motor Vehicle Lock Overload

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motor vehicle locks fail to maintain the rotary latch in the main latching position during crashes due to excessive forces, leading to potential door opening, as the pivot bearing can break or deform, causing the rotary latch to tip and loosen from its position.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle lock with a rotary latch and pawl system that includes a supporting means, such as a screw-on point, which stabilizes the rotary latch during overloads by connecting it to the vehicle chassis, preventing tipping and breakage of the pivot bearing, and ensuring the latch remains in the main latching position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the rotary latch is designed to rotate freely on a pivot bearing, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates under overload conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation of rotary latchVSAvoidmaintaining latching position under overload

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a supporting means that is pre-positioned to engage with the screw-on point before overload occurs. This supporting means includes a support surface that is preliminarily arranged to receive forces from the screw-on point, preventing the rotary latch from tipping or disengaging during crash conditions while allowing normal rotation during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the pivot bearing is made robust to prevent breakage, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivot bearing stabilityVSAvoidstructure of rotary latch

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a supporting means as an intermediary element between the rotary latch and the screw-on point. This supporting means includes a support surface that mediates the force transmission during overload, preventing direct stress on the pivot bearing while maintaining the simplicity of the pivot bearing structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the rotary latch is constrained to prevent tipping, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreventing rotary latch tippingVSAvoidrotation freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing a supporting means with a support surface at a specific location on the rotary latch. This support surface is locally positioned to engage with the screw-on point only when needed (during overload), while leaving the rest of the rotary latch free to rotate normally during operation. The supporting means thus provides constraint only where and when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11371267B2Motor vehicle lock with rotary latch support

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 KIEKERT AG

AI summary

A motor vehicle lock including a rotary latch and a pawl for latching the rotary latch in a latching position, in particular main latching position, and also a lock plate with a screw-on point for attaching the motor vehicle lock to a vehicle door or vehicle flap, wherein the rotary latch comprises a support which is provided in such a manner that, in the latching position, in particular main latching position, the rotary latch can be supported on the screw-on point via the support in the event of an overload. Opening of a vehicle door or flap can thus be avoided even in the event of a crash.