Motor Vehicle Door Lock With Single-Axis Lever Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks with electrical opening mechanisms require significant installation space and weight due to complex lever kinematics and cable drives, which hinder compact design and efficient force transmission.
Innovation Solution
The pawl, triggering lever, and actuation lever are pivotably accommodated about a single axis of rotation with a complementarily designed connection geometry, allowing for a compact arrangement and direct force transmission without the need for additional space-consuming lever assemblies or cable drives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional lever kinematics and cable drives are used to transmit actuating forces from the electric motor to the triggering lever, then sufficient actuating forces can be achieved, but the installation space and weight of the motor vehicle lock increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuation lever and triggering lever into a single integrated component that rotates about a common axis. This combination eliminates the need for separate cable drives and intermediate lever assemblies, directly transmitting actuating forces from the electric motor to the pawl while significantly reducing the installation space required in the lock mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex cable drive system and intermediate lever assemblies from the traditional locking mechanism. By using a direct rotation connection between the actuation lever and triggering lever about a common axis, the design removes unnecessary components that consumed installation space while maintaining sufficient force transmission capability.
2Ease of operation
If traditional lever kinematics with multiple axes and cable drives are used, then the locking mechanism can be actuated, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (actuation lever, triggering lever, and their connection mechanisms) into a simplified integrated structure that rotates about a single common axis. This merging reduces the number of parts and connection points, thereby lowering device complexity and making assembly easier while maintaining full actuation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes complex intermediate lever assemblies and cable drive systems from the mechanism. By implementing a direct rotation connection between the actuation lever and triggering lever, the design eliminates unnecessary mechanical complexity while preserving the ability to actuate the locking mechanism effectively.
3Reliability
If large levers and numerous lever assemblies are used to achieve sufficient actuating forces, then the locking mechanism can be opened reliably, but the weight of the motor vehicle lock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuation and triggering functions into a single integrated lever system that rotates about a common axis. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple large levers and intermediate assemblies, reducing the overall weight of the locking mechanism while maintaining reliable actuation force transmission from the electric motor to the pawl.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes numerous intermediate lever assemblies and cable drives that contributed to the weight of the system. By implementing a direct rotation connection with minimal components, the design achieves reliable locking mechanism opening with significantly reduced weight.
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 significantly reduces installation space and weight while maintaining sufficient actuating forces for easy and quiet operation of the locking mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
an electromotive drive unit for actuating the triggering lever, and wherein the drive unit is formed at least by an electric motor and a transmission stage
Implementation Method 2
the transmission stage has an actuation lever for actuating the triggering lever
Implementation Method 3
the pawl, the triggering lever and the actuation lever have the same axis of rotation and are accommodated in the motor vehicle lock so as to be pivotable about this axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock—in particular, a motor vehicle door lock—having a locking mechanism which includes a rotary latch and a pawl—in particular, a single pawl—wherein the rotary latch is able to latch into at least one latch position by means of the pawl; a rotatable triggering lever, wherein the locking mechanism can be moved by means of the triggering lever from the at least one latch position into an open position; and an electromotive drive unit for actuating the triggering lever, and wherein the drive unit is formed at least by an electric motor and a transmission stage, and the transmission stage has an actuation lever, wherein the pawl, the triggering lever, and the actuation lever are accommodated in the motor vehicle lock so as to be able to pivot about the same axis of rotation, wherein at least the actuation lever and the triggering lever engage with one another via a complementarily designed connection geometry, such that a movement of the actuation lever can be transmitted to the triggering lever.