Vehicle Door Lock with Centering Guide Wedge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle door locks for agricultural machines face challenges with increasing door weights, requiring higher release forces and increased complexity, and are prone to bending or fracture due to misalignment, which reduces their service life.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door lock design featuring a rectangular lock case with symmetrically positioned rotary latches and locking pawls, utilizing a two-part actuating lever and a centering and guide device to minimize forces on the lock pin and latches, allowing for easier operation and assembly, and incorporating a location, centering, and guide wedge to maintain proper alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the door weight increases, then the locking strength is improved, but the release force required increases and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into multiple independent locking elements (first and second locking elements) that can be actuated separately. Each locking element has its own locking arm, detent, and spring mechanism, allowing the system to distribute the locking function across multiple components rather than relying on a single complex mechanism that requires high release force.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking elements are designed to be actuated dynamically through a sequential process: the first locking element is engaged first, then the second locking element is engaged afterward. This dynamic sequencing allows the system to achieve full locking strength through multiple stages rather than requiring all locking elements to be engaged simultaneously with high force.
2Strength
If the door weight increases, then the locking strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into multiple independent locking elements (first and second locking elements) that can be actuated separately. Each locking element has its own locking arm, detent, and spring mechanism, allowing the system to distribute the locking function across multiple components rather than relying on a single complex mechanism that requires high release force.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking elements are designed to be actuated dynamically through a sequential process: the first locking element is engaged first, then the second locking element is engaged afterward. This dynamic sequencing allows the system to achieve full locking strength through multiple stages rather than requiring all locking elements to be engaged simultaneously with high force.
3Reliability
If the door is misaligned, then the locking mechanism can still engage, but the lock pin and latches are subjected to bending forces that reduce service life
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism incorporates cushioning elements and flexible connections that allow for misalignment compensation before the locking engagement occurs. The spring mechanisms and detent structures are designed to absorb and distribute misalignment forces, preventing these forces from being transmitted to the lock pin and latches during engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arms and detent structures serve as intermediary elements between the door and the lock pin. These intermediaries absorb and distribute misalignment forces, preventing direct transmission of bending forces to the lock pin and latches. The spring mechanisms act as cushions that mitigate the impact of misalignment on the critical locking components.
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 design reduces the forces required to open and close the door, enhances manufacturing simplicity, and extends the service life by absorbing misalignment forces, ensuring secure and reliable operation even with heavy, misaligned doors.
Implementation Method 1
two rotary latch spiral springs 213, of which only one is represented, which are arranged around the rotary latch swivel pins 208. These rotary latch spiral springs 213 are supported in each case by a spring limb on a projecting part 214, which is formed on the rotary latches 209 lying more or less diametrically opposite the throats 211 and by a second spring limb internally on the longitudinal wall 204 of the case (not illustrated), and endeavor to hold the rotary latches 209 in an opened position, that is to say to force apart the noses 210 which face one another.
Implementation Method 2
a spiral detent lever spring (not illustrated), which spring is arranged, for example, around the detent lever swivel pin 218 and is supported by its detent lever spring legs on the longitudinal wall 205 of the case and on a lever bolt 226 provided at the free end of the detent lever 217.
Implementation Method 3
When a vehicle door is closed, the lock pin 206 that is arranged horizontally on the door pillar arrives in the vicinity of the throats 211 in the rotary latches 209. Through the effect of the pressure exerted by the lock pin 206 on the rotary latches 209, these are caused to pivot about the rotary latch swivel pins 208 against the pressure of the rotary latch spiral springs 213 in a mutually opposite direction of rotation.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary latch lock for a vehicle door has a lock case forming a cut-out recess for a lock pin; a first rotatably mounted rotary latch engageable with the lock pin; a first rotary latch spring for imposing a force on the first rotary latch; a rotatably mounted actuating lever engaging in the lock case; a first locking pawl pivoting about a first pivot axis; and a guide device for locating, centering and guiding the vehicle door during opening and closing of the vehicle door. The first rotary latch, the first latch spring and the first locking pawl are arranged within the lock case. The first locking pawl engages the first rotary latch, causing the first rotary latch to be maintained in a locked position engaging the lock pin. The actuating lever actuates the first locking pawl, causing it to release the first rotary latch from its locked position.