Motor Vehicle Lock Carrier with Segmented Support Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motor vehicle locks are vulnerable to deformation and functional impairment under extreme accident-related loads, leading to displacement of locking components due to elastic deformation, which compromises the locking mechanism's effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A lock design featuring a separate structural unit with a lock carrier and rotary latch, supported by a lock carrier support part that engages with counter-supporting wall areas, allowing for the absorption of accidental loads through overlapping and recessed projections, preventing displacement even if fastening elements are damaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the lock carrier is supported by flanges and counter-flanges connected via fasteners, then the lock can be assembled and function normally, but the lock carrier becomes weakened and vulnerable to deformation under extreme accident loads
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple independent support wall sections and counter-support wall sections that can be separately manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for strength while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The support wall sections and counter-support wall sections are pre-formed with integrated fastening elements and positioning features before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures proper alignment and structural integrity during assembly, reducing the risk of deformation under load.
2Ease of manufacture
If the lock carrier is designed with standard insertion slots for the locking bolt, then the lock can be manufactured with simple geometry, but the lock carrier is weakened and susceptible to deformation in the area of flanges and counter-flanges
Solution Approach 1:
The lock carrier is constructed using composite material structures that combine different material properties to achieve both manufacturing simplicity and high reliability. The composite design allows for integrated insertion slots without compromising structural strength, as the composite construction distributes stress more effectively than homogeneous materials.
3Device complexity
If the lock components are held together by elastic deformations, then the assembly can be compact and simple, but the axes of the rotary latch and locking pawl can move apart under extreme stress, causing the locking pawl to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism incorporates pre-engineered tolerance compensation features and stress-distributing elements that anticipate and cushion against extreme accident loads. These features are built into the design beforehand to prevent excessive movement of the rotary latch and locking pawl axes, maintaining reliability even when elastic deformations occur.
4Strength
If the lock assembly is designed to engage with body-mounted counter-support walls, then the lock can absorb accidental loads, but the assembly requires precise positioning and additional fastening elements
Solution Approach 1:
The support wall sections and counter-support wall sections are pre-formed with integrated positioning features, guiding ribs, and self-aligning geometries before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures that the lock assembly automatically engages correctly with the body-mounted counter-support walls, reducing installation complexity while maintaining load absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into single components: the support wall sections simultaneously provide structural support, positioning, and fastening functions. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and assembly steps required, lowering installation complexity while maintaining the ability to absorb accidental loads.
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 lock effectively absorbs high accident-related loads without functional impairment, maintaining the structural unit's position within the access opening, ensuring continued locking functionality even under deformation.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary latch (3), which is biased from a locked position to an open position by a spring element
Implementation Method 2
a locking pawl (4), which is biased from an unlocked position to a locking position relative to the rotary latch (3) by a spring element
Implementation Method 3
In the event of an accident-related load and possible deformation of lock parts and/or the body, the assembly cannot be displaced from the access opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The lock has a separate component (1) including a lock support. A transferring element e.g. transmission rod and rope of Bowden cable, is indirectly connected with a lever arm of a lock pawl (4) after assembling the separate component. The separate component with supporting wall regions (6, 8) engages body-fixed counter supporting wall regions (7, 9) in installation position. The separate component is directly or indirectly connected with one of the counter supporting wall regions by a fastening element in a region of one of the supporting walls in the installation position.