Motor vehicle locking device

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle locking device, in particular a motor vehicle lock, preferably a motor vehicle cover lock. The motor vehicle locking device comprises a lock box (6) used for supporting a locking mechanism (3, 4) which mainly comprises a locking tongue (3) and a locking claw (4). Furthermore, a lever mechanism (5) is provided, preferably for interacting with the locking mechanism (3, 4). Furthermore, at least one stepped mandrel (7, 8) for supporting the locking mechanism (3, 4) and / or the actuating lever mechanism (5) is provided, said stepped mandrel being fastened in the lock box (6). A spring element (9) is arranged on the stepped mandrel (7, 8). The stepped mandrel (7, 8) is formed in two parts with a metal core element (8) and a plastic sleeve (7) on the outer circumferential side. According to the invention, a plastic sleeve (7) is fitted onto the core element (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle locking device, in particular a motor vehicle lock, preferably a motor vehicle hood lock, which comprises: a lock box for supporting a locking mechanism mainly comprising a lock tongue / ratchet and a lock claw / ratchet; for example, an operating lever mechanism for interacting with the locking mechanism; at least one stepped mandrel fixed in the lock box for supporting the locking mechanism and / or the operating lever mechanism; a spring element arranged on the stepped mandrel, wherein the stepped mandrel is constructed in two parts with a metal core element and a plastic sleeve on the outer peripheral side. Background Art

[0002] Motor vehicle locking devices, in particular motor vehicle hood locks, are known in various variants and embodiments, for which reference is made only by way of example to DE 10 2019 128 463 A1 of the applicant. Such motor vehicle hood locks are typically used to lock a front hood or a rear hood in a motor vehicle. Furthermore, such motor vehicle hood locks are usually equipped with an electric drive, for example, in order to unlock the motor vehicle lock in question. In this case, the lever mechanism has one or more locking levers, which can be moved into their unlocked state by means of an electric drive.

[0003] After unlocking such a motor vehicle hood lock, it typically occurs that the associated hood is slightly pushed open by the spring force generated by the surrounding seal. In most cases, an opening device or an ejector lever is additionally provided for this purpose, which ensures that the hood is transferred into its disengaged position after the opening process of the locking mechanism. From this disengaged position, the user can easily grasp the hood through the gap thus created between the hood and the vehicle body and swing the hood upwards. In most cases, it is usually necessary to swing the catch hook away at this point.

[0004] Different embodiments of ejector levers are known in the prior art. For example, DE 10 2010 061518 A1 adopts the following measure, that is, a spring-loaded ejector arm is provided, which loads a locking pin on the associated front cover with the required spring force.

[0005] DE 10 2017 108 226 A1 provides that the locking pin on the cover is placed in the disengaged position by means of an ejector or an ejector rod. In this context, a closing drive is additionally provided, by means of which the locking pin can be transferred from the disengaged position to the locked position. For this purpose, a drive rod is provided in the known teaching, which actuates the ejector or the ejector rod and at least indirectly actuates the locking tongue.

[0006] The above-mentioned prior art clearly shows that the motor vehicle hood lock is relatively complex in design, since in addition to the necessary locking mechanism, which consists essentially of a locking tongue and a locking pawl, and an actuating lever mechanism, at least an ejector lever or generally an ejector device must also be provided in addition and in most cases. In most cases, a catch hook is also provided. For this reason, efforts are usually made to reduce the number of required components and to reduce costs overall. In addition, the noise generation of such motor vehicle locking devices is usually kept low and also minimized.

[0007] For this purpose, within the scope of this type of teaching according to DE 39 32 454 A1, in a motor vehicle lock, in particular a locking device, for a motor vehicle door, the following measures are taken, namely, a claw pin or a stepped spindle is provided, on which a claw or a locking claw is rotatably arranged. For this purpose, the stepped spindle not only has a collar and a flange mounted, but is also additionally provided with a resin sleeve in order to prevent the rod supported thereon from coming into contact with the metal part of the stepped spindle and thus avoid unpleasant noises. This has been proven in principle.

[0008] In addition, attempts have been made to incorporate a stepped mandrel including a spring element in such a way that the spring force can be introduced into the associated lever mechanism by means of a bearing sleeve, as described in detail in connection with a motor vehicle locking device in DE 10 2018 114 280 A1. However, this presupposes a specially designed bearing sleeve made of plastic. However, such a bearing sleeve made of plastic is not suitable, in particular, for supporting locking mechanism components, namely the bolt and / or the pawl, in the lock box, since high breaking forces often have to be transmitted here. The present invention remedies this as a whole. Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to develop such a motor vehicle locking device in such a way that it is possible to mount the locking mechanism elements while taking into account a cost-effective and functionally suitable design.

[0010] In order to solve this technical problem, a motor vehicle locking device of this type is characterized in that a plastic sleeve is put onto the core element.

[0011] In this way, the invention firstly works with metal core elements which are fastened in the lock box and which can therefore also withstand high breaking forces. In practice, such high breaking forces usually occur on locking mechanisms and can lead to the step-shaped spindle being detached from the lock box supporting the relevant locking mechanism elements. This largely prevents metal core elements with step-shaped spindles from being used within the scope of the invention.

[0012] Unlike the closest prior art according to DE 39 32 454 A1, the plastic sleeve is not molded on the metal core element, but is manufactured separately from the metal core element and then joined to the core element in a way that it is put on. As a result, the core element and the plastic sleeve can be produced separately and optimally matched to the corresponding requirements. In fact, the plastic sleeve is mainly used as a supporting sleeve for the spring element within the scope of the present invention. The spring element is typically a helical torsion spring, which has a helical winding section and legs adjacent to the winding section at the end side. Now, according to the present invention, the helical winding section uses the plastic sleeve as a supporting sleeve and is designed in such a way that the relevant winding section helically surrounds the plastic sleeve. As a result, the two legs of the helical torsion spring that extend from the helical winding section can be fastened in a fixed position on the one hand and on the other hand be used to load the rod supported on the stepped mandrel.

[0013] In practice, the following design is usually adopted in this respect: one leg of the helical torsion spring is fixedly fixed to the lock box, while the other leg loads the relevant rod with spring force. The rod in question can be a locking mechanism element or a rod as a component of an actuating lever mechanism. Specifically and preferably, a stepped mandrel is used to support the pawl. In addition, an ejection rod as a component of the actuating lever mechanism, which can be loaded by means of a spring or a spring element, is supported coaxially with the pawl. In this case, the motor vehicle locking device is designed as a motor vehicle hood lock, which is of course only exemplary and cannot be understood as restrictive.

[0014] In order to connect the plastic sleeve to the metal core element intact and captively by means of the insertion, it is advantageous to provide the plastic sleeve with clamping ribs extending in the longitudinal direction and surrounding the receiving opening for the core element. That is to say, the plastic sleeve first has a receiving opening into which the core element is inserted. In order to prevent the insertion process from being accidentally canceled, the plastic sleeve is provided with clamping ribs extending in the longitudinal direction. Here, the clamping ribs surround the receiving opening for the core element.

[0015] Furthermore, in most cases and advantageously, the following design is adopted: the clamping ribs are each provided with front-side locking teeth for engaging the flange on the core element. Therefore, as soon as the metal core element is inserted forwardly into the receiving hole of the plastic sleeve with the flange typically arranged on the front side, the locking teeth arranged on the front side of the clamping ribs ensure that the locking teeth can engage the flange on the metal core element after a certain and predetermined plug-in stroke. The metal core element has now not only been inserted into the receiving hole of the plastic sleeve, but is also locked at the same time by the interaction of the locking teeth on the front side of the clamping ribs with the flange. As a result, the core element and the plastic sleeve cannot be separated from each other (any more), or this requires considerable applicable force and can lead to damage to the clamping ribs or the locking teeth. Separation of the core element from the plastic sleeve is usually not provided anyway, because the stepped mandrel manufactured and realized in this way is then fastened in a locking box. However, previously, in most cases, the helical torsion spring was placed on the plastic sleeve with its winding section.

[0016] In order to achieve and complete a particularly advantageous and easy-to-install locking connection between the locking teeth on the front side of the clamping rib and the flange on the metal core element, the clamping rib usually extends conically from the circumferential edge of the plastic sleeve in the direction of the core element. Due to this conicity of the clamping rib, the locking teeth on the front side of the clamping rib can simply overlap the flange on the front side of the core element and engage it in a locking manner, so that the core element and the plastic sleeve are engaged with each other in this way.

[0017] The clamping ribs are usually arranged equidistantly from one another at the same angular distance. The invention is based on the additional knowledge that plastic sleeves and metal core elements are usually cylindrical or (in the case of plastic sleeves) hollow cylindrical. In this case, the two elements are joined to one another with a coincident cylindrical axis in the installed state.

[0018] Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if, in addition to the clamping ribs, guide ribs are provided for the core element, which also extend in the longitudinal direction of the plastic sleeve. The guide ribs ensure that the core element is well guided and supported in the receiving opening of the plastic sleeve over its length.

[0019] In addition, the following design is adopted here, that is, the guide ribs are adjacent to the clamping ribs in the longitudinal extension direction of the receiving hole with a spacing. It has also proven to be advantageous that each clamping rib is assigned a guide rib. In other words, the clamping ribs and the guide ribs are each equidistantly configured with the same angular spacing relative to the common cylindrical axis of the plastic sleeve and the metal core element received in the receiving hole. The spacing between the respective clamping rib and the adjacent guide rib in the longitudinal direction ensures that the clamping ribs can engage the flange in a complete and locking manner when the metal core element is inserted into the receiving hole.

[0020] As mentioned above, the stepped mandrel is usually used to support the pawl and advantageously also the ejector lever, which in turn is loaded by means of a spring. For this purpose, the leg extending from the winding section of the helical torsion spring can be supported on the one hand in the lock box and on the other hand on the ejector lever in question, so that the ejector lever is loaded with the required spring force by the helical torsion spring. As a result, the ejector lever can transfer the locking pin adjacent to the hood into the open position when the motor vehicle hood is locked, so that the user can then easily open the hood in question manually, as has already been described at the beginning with reference to the related prior art in this regard.

[0021] Thus, a motor vehicle locking device is provided which is of cost-effective design, since firstly the conventional stepped mandrel of metal construction is dispensed with. Typically, in practice, a stepped mandrel is used which is made completely of metal, in particular high-strength steel, so that the locking pawl and the ejection rod are to be supported by means of the stepped mandrel. In this case, however, the stepped mandrel simultaneously serves as a bearing sleeve for a spring, in particular a helical torsion spring, for loading the ejection rod.

[0022] Although the prior art of this type according to DE 39 32 454 A1 already works with a combination of a metal core element and a plastic sleeve for the outer circumference of the stepped mandrel. Here, however, the plastic sleeve is obviously injected onto the stepped mandrel. Subsequent installation by a sleeve process is thus not necessary. However, for example, the plastic sleeve cannot be adapted to different installation conditions, in particular different helical torsion springs. In addition, this manufacturing process is complicated and expensive. In contrast, the present invention uses individual components that can be manufactured flexibly and can be easily joined to each other. This is a major advantage of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show only one embodiment; in the drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a motor vehicle locking device according to the present invention is shown,

[0025] Figure 2 The side view shows in detail the Figure 1 The stepped mandrel used in the locking device of

[0026] Figure 3 The previous view shows that Figure 2 Stepped mandrel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The motor vehicle locking device is shown in the drawings, which is designed as a motor vehicle lock and according to this embodiment is designed as a motor vehicle hood lock. In fact, the motor vehicle locking device shown is used to lock only Figure 1 The cover 1 is schematically shown in FIG. The cover 1 can be a front cover or a rear cover of a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a locking pin 2 for this purpose. Figure 1 In the locked state shown in FIG. 1 , the locking pin 2 is held by means of locking mechanisms 3 , 4 in a locked state of the cover 1 relative to the motor vehicle body (not shown).

[0028] The locking mechanism 3, 4 comprises a locking tongue 3 and a pawl 4 which is locked therewith in the locked state. In addition, an operating lever mechanism 5 is provided, which can interact with the locking mechanism 3, 4. The operating lever mechanism 5 is in this embodiment and not limited to an ejection lever 5 which is supported coaxially with the pawl 4 in a lock box 6. According to this embodiment, the stepped spindles 7, 8 ensure the common support of the pawl 4 and the ejection lever 5, which are associated with each other. Figure 2 It is shown in detail in FIG. 1 and is fastened in the lock box 6 .

[0029] A spring element 9 is arranged on the stepped mandrels 7, 8. The spring element 9 is a helical torsion spring 9 which helically surrounds the stepped mandrels 7, 8 or the plastic sleeve 7 arranged there and described in more detail below with its winding section 9a. Two legs 9b, 9c extend from the winding section 9a.

[0030] The leg 9b of the helical torsion spring 9 is supported in a fixed position, i.e. fixed to the lock box 6. In contrast, the free leg 9c acts on the ejection rod 5 and ensures that the ejection rod 5 is loaded with a spring force by the helical torsion spring 9. In fact, the helical torsion spring 9 ensures in this exemplary embodiment that the ejection rod 5 is moved along the axis A defined by the stepped mandrels 7, 8 with reference to the ejection rod 5. Figure 1 The ejection rod 5 is acted upon in the clockwise direction schematically shown in FIG. 5 , so that the ejection rod 5 can transfer the locking pin 2 with the contact surface 5 a into the above-described release position of the cover 1 .

[0031] Now according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The detailed structure of the stepped mandrel 7 , 8 is shown. In fact, the stepped mandrel 7 , 8 is constructed in two parts according to this embodiment with a metal core element 8 made of high-strength steel and the already mentioned plastic sleeve 7 on the outer circumference, which carries the helical winding section 9 a of the helical torsion spring 9 .

[0032] The connection between the metal core element 8 and the plastic sleeve 7 on the outer circumference is achieved in that the plastic sleeve 7 is placed onto the core element 8. The core element 8 itself is fastened, for example riveted, in the lock box 6 and can thus absorb the breaking forces acting on it.

[0033] For this purpose, the plastic sleeve 7 has clamping ribs 10 extending in the longitudinal direction and surrounding a receiving hole for the core element 8, which receives the core element 8. The clamping ribs 10 are each provided with a locking tooth 10a on the front side, by means of which the clamping ribs can engage in a locking manner with a flange 8d arranged on the front side of the metal core element 8. Here, the clamping ribs 10 extend conically from the circumferential edge 7a of the plastic sleeve 7 in the direction of the metal core element 8. It can be seen that the clamping ribs 10 are arranged equidistantly with respect to each other at the same angular distance. In addition, the plastic sleeve 7 and the metal core element 8 have a common axis A, i.e., they are each cylindrically or hollow-cylindrically constructed relative to the common axis A.

[0034] In addition to the clamping ribs 10, guide ribs 11 are also provided, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the plastic sleeve 7. The core element 8 is guided and held inside the receiving hole by means of the guide ribs 11. The following design is adopted here, that is, the guide ribs 11 are adjacent to the clamping ribs 10 in the longitudinal extension direction of the receiving hole with a spacing. In addition, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen from the comparison of , each clamping rib 10 corresponds to a guide rib 11. Therefore, the guide ribs 11 not only extend in the longitudinal direction of the plastic sleeve 7, but are also arranged equidistantly with respect to each other at the same angular distance. Therefore, the plastic sleeve 7 and the metal core element 8 as a whole have a rotationally symmetrical structure relative to the common axis A.

[0035] The plastic sleeve 7 can be made of thermoplastic by a conventional injection molding process. In this injection molding process, the clamping ribs 10 and the guide ribs 11 can be simultaneously defined. In contrast, the metal core element 8 is made of high-strength steel and is therefore used to simultaneously support the pawl 4 and the ejector rod 5, as already described at the beginning. For this reason, the metal core element 8 protrudes from the plastic sleeve 7 and defines corresponding support areas for the pawl 4 on the one hand and the stepped spindle 5 on the other hand by the shoulders 8a and 8b provided there. On the front side of the support area 8b, the metal core element 8 transforms into a bolt 8c, which is fastened in the lock box 6.

[0036] In order to achieve the engagement between the support sleeve 7 and the metal core element 8, the metal core element 8 is inserted into the receiving hole, that is, until the locking teeth 10a of the front side of the clamping ribs 10 can engage the flange 8a of the front side of the metal core element 8. The locking connection between the core element 8 and the plastic sleeve 7 is thus achieved and completed. The helical torsion spring 9 can then be placed on the plastic sleeve 7 with its helical winding section 9a. The stepped mandrel 7, 8 together with the spring element 9 and the ejector rod 5 can then be fastened in the lock box 6 in a conventional manner, for example by riveting.

[0037] List of reference numerals:

[0038] Cover 1

[0039] Lock pin 2

[0040] Locking mechanism 3, 4

[0041] Lock tongue 3

[0042] Locking claw 4

[0043] Joystick mechanism 5

[0044] Contact surface 5a

[0045] Ejector rod 5

[0046] Lock Box 6

[0047] Stepped mandrel 7, 8

[0048] Plastic sleeve 7

[0049] Circumferential edge 7a

[0050] Core element 8

[0051] Shoulders 8a, 8b

[0052] Plug 8c

[0053] Flange 8d

[0054] Spring element 9

[0055] Helical torsion spring 9

[0056] Winding section 9a

[0057] Legs 9b, 9c

[0058] Free Leg 9c

[0059] Clamping rib 10

[0060] Locking tooth 10a

[0061] Guide rib 11

[0062] Axis A

Claims

1. A motor vehicle locking device, in particular a motor vehicle lock, preferably a motor vehicle hood lock, comprising: a lock box (6) for supporting a locking mechanism (3, 4) mainly comprising a locking tongue (3) and a locking pawl (4); an operating lever mechanism (5) for interacting with the locking mechanism (3, 4); at least one stepped spindle (7, 8) fixed in the lock box (6) for supporting the locking mechanism (3, 4) and / or the operating lever mechanism (5); a spring element (9) arranged on the stepped spindle (7, 8), wherein: The stepped mandrel (7, 8) is constructed in two parts with a metal core element (8) and a plastic sleeve (7) on the outer circumference. It is characterized in that The plastic sleeve (7) is fitted onto the core element (8).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The plastic sleeve (7) is provided with clamping ribs (10) extending in the longitudinal direction and surrounding a receiving opening for the core element (8).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The clamping ribs (10) are each provided with a front locking tooth (10a) for engaging a flange (8a) on the core element (8).

4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The clamping rib (10) extends conically from the circumferential edge (7a) of the plastic sleeve (7) in the direction of the core element (8).

5. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The clamping ribs (10) are arranged equidistantly from one another at the same angular distance.

6. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that In addition to the clamping ribs ( 10 ), guide ribs ( 11 ) for the core element ( 8 ) are provided, which likewise extend in the longitudinal direction of the plastic sleeve ( 7 ).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that The guide ribs (11) are respectively adjacent to the clamping ribs (10) with a spacing in the longitudinal extension direction of the receiving opening for the core element (8).

8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that Each clamping rib (10) corresponds to a guide rib (11).

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The stepped mandrels (7, 8) are used to support the locking claw (4).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that An ejection rod (5) which can be loaded by means of a spring element (9) and is a component of an actuating lever mechanism (5) is mounted coaxially with the pawl (4).

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