Side Door Lock Common-Shaft Drive for Compact Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks face challenges in achieving compact designs with reduced component counts while maintaining functionality, particularly in side doors where space is limited, and there is a need for cost-effective solutions that reduce weight and assembly time.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock design featuring a common shaft for the actuating lever and gearwheel, integrated with a worm gear mechanism, reduces the number of components and installation space by using a single bearing point, allowing for a backlash-free transmission of drive torque and rapid adjustment times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the actuating lever and gearwheel are mounted on separate shafts with individual bearing points, then the locking mechanism has sufficient stability and reliability, but the device occupies more installation space and has higher structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating lever and gearwheel are merged onto a common shaft, eliminating the need for separate bearing points. This consolidation reduces the overall installation space and simplifies the structural complexity while maintaining the functional stability of the locking mechanism through optimized force transmission paths
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used for the drive mechanism, then the locking mechanism has reliable force transmission, but the manufacturing cost and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the actuating lever and gearwheel onto a single shaft, the number of components is reduced, which lowers manufacturing costs and simplifies assembly. The integrated design maintains force transmission reliability through direct mechanical coupling and optimized load distribution across the shared bearing points
3Weight of stationary object
If a compact design with reduced components is implemented, then the weight and assembly time are reduced, but the stability and reliability of the locking mechanism may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The consolidation of components reduces the overall weight of the locking mechanism while maintaining stability through optimized structural design. The common shaft design ensures proper force distribution and mechanical stability, and the reduced component count simplifies assembly time without compromising the reliability of the locking function
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
This design achieves a compact, stable, and efficient locking mechanism with reduced components, enabling rapid unlocking and reduced manufacturing costs, while maintaining high functionality and stability.
Implementation Method 1
an electric drive unit consisting of an electric motor with a worm gear stage downstream of the electric motor. The gear wheel of the worm gear stage is equipped with a cylindrical lateral surface which extends as a ramp about an axis of rotation of the worm gear wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle door lock having a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, wherein the rotary latch can be engaged in at least one engaging position by means of the pawl; a release lever, wherein the locking mechanism can be transferred from the engaging position to a release position by means of the release lever; an electrical drive unit and an actuating lever, wherein the actuating lever can be actuated by the drive unit and the locking mechanism can be unlocked at least indirectly by means of the actuating lever, wherein the actuating lever and a gearwheel of the drive unit can be mounted on a common shaft.