Motor vehicle lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock having a latch (4) and at least one locking pawl (6), the latch (4) being adjustable into an open position and into at least one locked position, the motor vehicle lock (1) having an actuating lever (7), a coupling arrangement (9) being arranged between the actuating lever (7) and the locking pawl (6), the invention relates to a motor vehicle lock (1) having a coupling arrangement which can be switched between a coupled state and a decoupled state, the motor vehicle lock (1) having an opening device (10) which has a motor-driven opening drive (11) which has at least one drive direction, the invention relates to an opening drive for an opening device (10), which, in an opening movement, adjusts an adjustment assembly (12) of the opening device (10) starting from a starting position of the adjustment assembly (12) in such a way that the adjustment assembly (12) actuates an opening lever (13) of the opening device (10) that can be pivoted about an opening lever axis (13a) in such a way that the locking claw (6) can be transferred into a raised position by an actuation stroke of the opening lever (13). According to the invention, the coupling arrangement (9) is arranged between the opening lever (13) and the detent pawl (6) in such a way that the opening device (10) is or can be coupled to the detent pawl (6) by means of the coupling arrangement (9) in order to transfer the detent pawl (6) into the raised position thereof, and the opening device (10) can be decoupled from the detent pawl (6) by means of the coupling arrangement (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock according to the preamble of claim 1 . Background Art

[0002] The motor vehicle lock in question can be associated with any closure element of the motor vehicle. In this context, the term "closure element" should be interpreted broadly. Such closure elements include, for example, side doors (in particular rear side doors), rear doors, tailgates, rear luggage compartment lids, front hoods, engine hoods or the like. The closure element can be articulated to the body of the motor vehicle in the manner of a pivoting door or in the manner of a sliding door.

[0003] The known motor vehicle lock (DE 10 2013 110 201 A1) on which the present invention is based is equipped with a bolt that can be pivoted about a geometric bolt axis and at least one pawl that can be pivoted about a geometric pawl axis, wherein the bolt can be adjusted into an open position and into at least one locked position, and wherein the pawl holds the bolt in the locked position in the lowered position and releases the bolt in the raised position. The motor vehicle lock has an electric opening device with an opening drive, which, during an opening movement, adjusts an adjustment component of the opening device from a starting position of the adjustment component so that the adjustment component raises the pawl with the opening movement.

[0004] In addition, the motor vehicle lock has an operating lever that can be pivoted about a geometric operating lever axis, wherein a coupling assembly is arranged between the operating lever and the locking pawl, and the coupling assembly can be switched between a coupled state and a decoupled state. In the decoupled state, the operating travel of the operating lever associated with lifting the locking pawl is idle, while in the coupled state, the locking pawl can be lifted by the operating travel of the operating lever.

[0005] In this regard, the motor vehicle lock can be implemented as an "electronic lock with mechanical redundancy", which can be opened in principle by means of an opening device in a motor-driven manner within the scope of the opening function. Only for emergency situations is at least one additional drive train, preferably for an outer door handle, provided which can be connected to the locking pawl to be lifted by means of a coupling assembly.

[0006] Known motor vehicle locks ensure that the locking pawl is reliably lifted. If a component of the opening device becomes stuck, tilted or jammed in the raised position of the locking pawl, the transfer of the locking pawl to its lowered position is a challenge. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention is based on the problem of designing and improving the known motor vehicle lock in such a way that the operational reliability is further improved.

[0008] The key is the basic consideration that the coupling arrangement is arranged not only between the actuating lever and the pawl but also between the opening device and the pawl in such a way that both the actuating lever and the opening device can be uncoupled from the pawl. In this case, it is then ensured that the pawl can be transferred back into its lowered position and the closure element can be closed and locked, thereby increasing the operational safety of the motor vehicle lock.

[0009] Specifically, it is proposed that the coupling assembly is arranged between the opening lever and the locking pawl so that the opening device is coupled or can be coupled to the locking pawl via the coupling assembly for transferring the locking pawl into its raised position, and the opening device can be uncoupled from the locking pawl via the coupling assembly.

[0010] Claim 2 relates to a first advantageous embodiment of the coupling arrangement, wherein an actuation travel of the opening lever in the decoupled state causes the locking pawl to be lifted, and wherein in the coupled state the locking pawl cannot be lifted by an actuation travel of the opening lever.

[0011] Claim 3 relates to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the coupling assembly, in which the actuating stroke of the opening lever in the decoupled state and in the coupled state causes the locking pawl to be lifted. The locking pawl can thus be lifted in a motor-driven manner in both coupling positions, resulting in particularly high operating comfort.

[0012] According to claim 4, the coupling assembly can be brought into a further third state, the decoupled state, in which the actuating travel of the opening lever is an idle travel. In this way, the opening device can be decoupled from the locking pawl in a particularly reliable manner.

[0013] Claims 5 and 6 relate to particularly preferred structural configurations of the coupling arrangement, which result in a simple and reliable construction of the coupling arrangement.

[0014] According to the design according to claim 7, the motor vehicle lock has a trigger rod coupled to the locking pawl or can be coupled thereto, through which the locking pawl can be lifted. In this case, the coupling rod is arranged on the trigger rod, which enables a particularly simple and compact structure of the coupling assembly.

[0015] Furthermore, in the embodiments according to claims 8 to 11 , the motor vehicle lock has a locking assembly, whereby switching of the coupling assembly is possible with a particularly simple and reliable construction.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the motor vehicle lock has an emergency locking device for transferring the coupling assembly into its uncoupled state according to claim 12. Thus, locking of the motor vehicle lock can be achieved in a particularly simple and reliable manner when the opening device blocks the locking pawl in its raised position.

[0017] According to a further embodiment according to claim 13, the locking pawl is lifted by means of the opening device in a motor-driven manner so that the locking assembly is transferred into its locked state. In this way, it is ensured that the motor vehicle lock is always locked in normal and proper operation and that the closing element can only be opened from the outside in a motor-driven manner, thereby achieving a high level of operating comfort.

[0018] According to claim 14, the coupling assembly can be transferred into its coupled state by means of the adjustment assembly starting from the starting position in an unlocking movement arranged opposite to the opening movement. On the one hand, the locking pawl can be lifted by the opening movement. On the other hand, however, a separate drive movement is generated by means of the unlocking movement, which can achieve unlocking, in particular without the risk of accidentally lifting the locking pawl and thus undesirably opening the latch, so that the locking pawl can then be lifted manually by means of the actuating lever. In this case, the motor vehicle lock according to the proposal is also advantageously operated with a single drive device, which serves not only as an unlocking drive device but also as an opening drive device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show only exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 A closure element of a motor vehicle in the form of a front side door with a motor vehicle lock according to the proposal is shown, wherein the lower left side has a detailed view of the components of the motor vehicle lock and the lower right side has two detailed views of the locking mechanism consisting of a latch and a locking pawl;

[0021] Figure 2 Two stereoscopic views are shown according to Figure 1 The main components of the motor vehicle lock;

[0022] Figure 3 Shown in a view from the front Figure 2 Some of the components of the motor vehicle lock in, wherein there is a coupling component in a) a decoupled state and b) a coupled state;

[0023] Figure 4 Shown in a view from the rear Figure 3 A component of a motor vehicle lock, wherein the coupling component has a) a decoupled state and b) a coupled state;

[0024] Figure 5 Shown in a view from the front Figure 3 the components of the motor vehicle lock in the opening movement a) when the locking pawl is raised and b) during emergency locking; and

[0025] Figure 6 Shown in a view from the rear Figure 5 The components of a motor vehicle lock in FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 1 during an opening movement a) when the locking pawl is raised and b) during an emergency locking operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The proposed motor vehicle lock 1 shown in the drawing can be associated with any closure element 2 of a motor vehicle. For further information on the term "closure element", reference is made to the introduction to the description. In the illustrated and in this respect preferred embodiment, the closure element 2 is a side door of a motor vehicle, here a front side door. All the related embodiments apply accordingly to all other types of closure elements.

[0027] In order to produce a retaining effect between the closure element 2 of the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle body 3, the motor vehicle lock 1 is equipped with a locking bar 4 which can be adjusted about a geometric locking bar axis 4a into an open position ( Figure 1 upper right), into at least one locking position, in particular into Figure 1 4 and adjusted to a pre-locked position between the open position and the main locked position. The latch 4 cooperates in a conventional manner with a closure 5, which here and preferably is in the form of a latch, in order to hold the closure element 2 in its respective locked position. The latch 4 is arranged on the closure element 2 and the closure 5 on the motor vehicle body 3. This can also be arranged in the opposite direction. The latch 4 is here and preferably preloaded, in particular spring-loaded, into its open position.

[0028] In order to achieve the above-mentioned retaining effect, the motor vehicle lock 1 has at least one locking pawl 6, here having exactly one locking pawl 6. However, the proposed solution can also be easily applied to a multi-pawl system. However, for the sake of clarity, the following embodiments relate to an arrangement with only a single locking pawl 6.

[0029] The locking pawl 6, which can be pivoted here about a geometric locking pawl axis 6a, can be moved from a lowered position ( Figure 1 and Figure 2 )Adjust to the raised position( Figure 5 a) and Figure 6 a), in the lowered position, the pawl stops the latch 4 in at least one locked position in the opening direction, and in the raised position, the pawl releases the latch 4 in the opening direction. Here and preferably, the pawl 6 is preloaded, in particular spring-loaded, into its lowered position.

[0030] To lift the pawl 6, the motor vehicle lock 1 has an actuating lever 7 that can be pivoted about a geometric actuating lever axis 7a and can be adjusted from a starting position to an actuating position during an actuating stroke. The actuating stroke includes at least a movement from the starting position to the corresponding actuating position of the actuating lever 7.

[0031] Such an operating lever 7 is here and preferably an outer operating lever, ie a lever which is coupled to an outer door handle 8 of a side door in the installed state. Such an operating lever 7 does not necessarily have to be the only operating lever of the motor vehicle lock 1. It is also possible that the motor vehicle lock 1 additionally has an inner operating lever.

[0032] Furthermore, a locking mechanism which can be engaged in the coupled state ( Figure 3 b) Figure 4 b)) and decoupled state ( Figure 3 a), Figure 4 a), Figure 5 a), Figure 6 a)). In the decoupled state, the actuating stroke of the actuating lever 7 associated with lifting the locking pawl 6 is an idle stroke. Thus, in the decoupled state, the locking pawl 6 is not lifted by the actuating stroke of the actuating lever 7. In contrast, in the coupled state, the locking pawl 6 can be lifted by the actuating stroke of the actuating lever 7, wherein the actuating stroke is converted into a movement of the locking pawl 6 for lifting the locking pawl 6. By switching from the coupled state to the decoupled state, the motor vehicle lock 1 is thus locked, so that the side door cannot be opened by the actuating lever 7. Conversely, the motor vehicle lock 1 is unlocked by switching from the decoupled state to the coupled state.

[0033] The actuating lever 7 is preferably provided for manual actuation. Here, the term "manual actuation" refers to an actuation which directs a user movement via a mechanical connection to the relevant component and triggers a mechanical adjustment movement there. Here, and preferably in the installed state, a user movement of the outer door handle 8 can be mechanically transmitted to the locking pawl 6 by the coupling assembly 9 in the coupled state for lifting the locking pawl 6 in order to achieve a mechanical redundancy solution. Therefore, for emergency operation, in particular in the event of an accident of the motor vehicle, a mechanical force chain for the locking pawl 6 is additionally provided.

[0034] In normal operation, the locking pawl 6 is always lifted in a motor-driven manner. In order to lift the locking pawl 6 in a motor-driven manner, the motor vehicle lock 1 has an opening device 10, which has a motor-driven opening drive 11, which has at least one driving direction, which here and preferably has two oppositely arranged driving directions. The opening device 10 adjusts the adjustment component 12 of the opening device 10 from the starting position of the adjustment component 12 in the opening movement so that the adjustment component 12 actuates the opening lever 13 of the opening device 10 that can be pivoted about the opening lever axis 13a so that the locking pawl 6 can be lifted from the opening position. Figure 3 The settlement position shown in a) is transferred to Figure 5 a). The opening lever 13 can be moved from the starting position ( Figure 3 ) to the control position ( Figure 5 ), wherein the actuation travel can be converted into a movement of the locking pawl 6 for lifting the locking pawl 6.

[0035] In the embodiment shown and in this respect preferred, the opening drive 11 is coupled to the adjustment assembly 12 via a worm 14. The adjustment assembly 12 in the embodiment shown in the figures and in this respect preferred has a worm wheel 15 meshing with the worm 14, which can actuate the opening lever 13 via a control contour 16. The opening drive 11 is advantageously designed to be drivable in the reverse direction.

[0036] Here and preferably, the opening device 10 is equipped with a single opening drive 11, which enables a simple and compact structure of the motor vehicle lock 1. In the present case, "drive direction" is to be understood as both rotation directions of the opening drive 11, which is here and preferably designed as a rotary electric motor.

[0037] Generally, the adjustment assembly 12 is such that its opening movement is mechanically transmitted to the opening lever 13. In particular, Figure 3 a) and Figure 4 A) shows the starting position of the adjustment assembly 12 , wherein an opening movement, which will be explained in more detail below, causes the locking pawl 6 to be lifted.

[0038] What is now important is that the coupling assembly 9 is arranged between the opening rod 13 and the locking pawl 6 in such a way that the opening device 10 is coupled to the locking pawl via the coupling assembly 9 or can be coupled thereto in order to transfer the locking pawl 6 into its raised position and that the opening device 10 can be decoupled from the locking pawl 6 via the coupling assembly 9.

[0039] The term “arranged between the opening rod and the locking pawl” should currently be understood to mean that the coupling assembly 9 is functionally arranged between the opening rod 13 and the locking pawl 6 , so that the opening rod 13 is mechanically coupled and / or can be mechanically coupled to the locking pawl 6 via the coupling assembly 9 .

[0040] Therefore, the coupling assembly 9 is configured to couple both the opening device 10 and the operating lever 7 to the locking pawl 6 in order to lift the locking pawl 6, and to decouple the locking pawl 6 from both the opening device 10 and the operating lever 7. Therefore, only a single coupling assembly 9 is required, which can save an additional separate coupling assembly 9 for coupling between the opening device 10 and the locking pawl 6. The motor vehicle lock 1 thus has a particularly simple structure, which in addition to the small construction space requirement also obtains a cost advantage. If, for example, the opening device 10 or a component of the opening device 10 fails in the raised position of the locking pawl 6 and cannot be driven in reverse, the opening device 10 can be decoupled from the locking pawl 6 so that the locking pawl 6 is transferred to its lowered position. So despite the functional failure of the opening device 10, the motor vehicle can still be locked.

[0041] Particularly advantageously, the adjustment assembly 12 has an adjustment spring assembly 17, which preloads the adjustment assembly 12 in the driving direction in the direction of the starting position. Therefore, the adjustment spring assembly 17 can be used to ensure in a simple manner that the adjustment assembly 12 is reset without the action of the drive assembly.

[0042] In the first embodiment, it is possible that in the uncoupled state of the coupling assembly 9, the operating stroke of the opening rod 13 transfers the pawl 6 to its released state, and in the coupled state of the coupling assembly 9, the operating stroke of the opening rod 13 related to lifting the pawl 6 is an idle stroke. Thus, in the uncoupled state, the pawl 6 can be transferred to its raised position only by the opening rod 13, so that the pawl 6 can be lifted only in a motor-driven manner. In contrast, in the coupled state of the coupling assembly 9, the pawl 6 can be introduced into its raised position only manually by the operating rod 7. If the functional failure described above occurs in the opening device 10 when the pawl 6 is lifted in a motor-driven manner, the opening device 10 can be decoupled from the pawl 6 by switching the coupling assembly 9 to its coupled state. The pawl 6 can be transferred to its lowered position again in this way, so that the motor vehicle lock 1 can be locked again.

[0043] In the second embodiment shown in the figures and preferred in this respect, it is provided that at the coupling assembly 9 Figure 3 b) and in the coupled state shown in Figure 3 In the decoupled state shown in a), an actuation stroke of the opening lever 13 results in a motor-driven transfer of the locking pawl 6 into its raised position.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown in a), in the decoupled state of the coupling assembly 9, the opening lever 13 is coupled or can be coupled to the locking pawl 6 via the coupling assembly, so that the opening lever 13 is Figure 3 a) to Figure 5 The actuation stroke shown in the transition from a) causes the locking pawl 6 to be transferred into its raised position. Figure 3 a), the adjusting assembly 12 is in its starting position and the locking pawl 6 is in its lowered position. Figure 3 a), the adjusting assembly 12 is adjusted in the clockwise direction, so that the adjusting assembly 12 actuates the opening rod 13, thereby causing the opening rod to be moved in a clockwise direction. Figure 3 a) is pivoted in the clockwise direction until the opening lever 13 is reached. Figure 5 a). By opening the operating stroke of the lever 13, the locking pawl 6 is moved from its lowered position ( Figure 3 a)) to its raised position ( Figure 5 a)).

[0045] In the coupled state of the coupling assembly 9, the actuation stroke of the opening lever 13 also causes the locking pawl 6 to be lifted, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 In the coupled state of the coupling assembly 9, the actuation stroke of the opening lever 13 here and preferably causes the locking part to be opened. Figure 5 The arrangement shown in a) is explained below.

[0046] exist Figure 5 a) shows the case where the locking pawl 6 is lifted by a motor. If, for example, the opening drive 11 is jammed, the worm gear 15 of the adjustment assembly 12 is jammed, or the opening lever 13 is in the lifted state, the locking pawl 6 will be released. Figure 5 a), the locking pawl 6 is in its raised position and the motor vehicle lock 1 cannot be locked. In order to still be able to lock, it is preferably provided that the coupling assembly 9 can be switched into a decoupled state in which the actuating travel of the opening lever 13 is an idle travel. In this case, preferably, the actuating travel of the actuating lever 7 is also an idle travel in the decoupled state of the coupling assembly 9. Figure 5 b) and Figure 6 b) shows the coupling arrangement 9 in its decoupled state.

[0047] The coupling assembly 9 can be designed in a particularly simple manner under the following circumstances, namely: the coupling assembly 9 has a coupling rod 18 that can pivot around a geometric coupling rod axis 18a; the coupling rod 18 is in a decoupling position in the decoupling state of the coupling assembly 9, in which the coupling rod 18 is disengaged from the operating rod 7 during the operating stroke of the operating rod 7; and the coupling rod 18 is in a coupled position in the coupled state of the coupling assembly 9, in which the coupling rod 18 is in coupling engagement with the operating rod 7 during the operating stroke of the operating rod 7 or is in coupling engagement with the operating rod 7; the coupling rod 18 is in coupling engagement with the opening rod 13 during the operating stroke of the opening rod 13 or is in coupling engagement with the opening rod 13 in the coupling position and the decoupling position.

[0048] exist Figure 3 In b) the coupling lever 18 is shown in its coupled position and Figure 3 a) shows the situation in its decoupled position. As can also be seen from both figures, the coupling rod 18 engages with the opening rod 13 during the actuation stroke of the opening rod, whereby the movement of the opening rod 13 is transmitted to the locking pawl 6 for lifting the locking pawl, which is achieved by Figure 3 a) or Figure 3 b) to Figure 5 a) becomes clear.

[0049] also, Figure 3 a) shows that the actuating lever 7 is guided through the coupling rod 18 in the actuating travel in the decoupled position of the coupling rod 18, so that the actuating travel is an idle travel, as indicated by the dashed line. In contrast, the actuating lever 7 is guided through the coupling rod 18 in the actuating travel in the decoupled position of the coupling rod 18. Figure 3 In b)), engagement with the coupling lever 18 takes place, as a result of which a further movement of the actuating lever 7 is transmitted to the locking pawl 6 in order to lift it.

[0050] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the figures and preferred in this respect, it is provided that the coupling rod 18 is in a decoupled position in the decoupled state of the coupling assembly 9, in which the coupling rod 18 is disengaged from the actuating rod 7 during the actuating stroke of the actuating rod 7, and in which the coupling rod 18 is disengaged from the actuating rod 13 during the actuating stroke of the opening rod 13, as in Figure 5 b) and Figure 6 As shown in b).

[0051] exist Figure 5 b) and Figure 6 b) shows the decoupled position of the coupling rod 18. Figure 5b), the coupling rod 18 is in the decoupled position and remains disengaged from the opening rod 13 and the actuating rod 7 during the actuating stroke of the opening rod 13 and the actuating rod 7. As mentioned above, if a malfunction of the opening device 10 occurs in the raised state of the locking pawl 6 when the locking pawl 6 is lifted by the motor, for example, the opening rod 13 and the coupling rod 18 become stuck, the motor vehicle lock 1 cannot be locked, and the locking pawl 6 is not locked. Figure 5 A remedial measure can be achieved by transferring the coupling lever 18 into its uncoupling position, whereby the coupling lever 18 is disengaged from the opening lever 13, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 b) and Figure 6 The locking pawl 6 can then be transferred into its lowered position, since it is decoupled from the opening lever 13 and the locking pawl 6 can be pivoted independently of the opening lever 13 .

[0052] In order to transmit the operating stroke of the opening rod 13 and the operating stroke of the operating lever 7 to the locking pawl 6, it is provided that: the locking pawl 6 is coupled or can be coupled with a trigger rod 19 which can be pivoted around a trigger rod axis 19a; the manipulation of the trigger rod 19 causes the locking pawl 6 to be transferred to its released state; and the coupling rod 18 is arranged on the trigger rod 19 in a manner that can be pivoted around the coupling rod axis 18a.

[0053] The trigger lever 19 can here and preferably be moved from a basic position ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 ) pivots to the trigger position ( Figure 5 and Figure 6 ), in the basic position the locking pawl 6 is in its lowered position, and in the triggering position the locking pawl 6 is raised.

[0054] It is particularly advantageous if the trigger lever 19 is preloaded, in particular spring preloaded, into its basic position. The trigger lever 19 is then automatically transferred into its basic position as soon as no force acting in the opposite direction, which is greater than the preload force, acts on the trigger lever. In particular, when the trigger lever 19 is decoupled from the opening device 10 in the event of a functional fault of the opening device 10 described above by adjusting the coupling lever 18 into its decoupling position, the trigger lever 19 is automatically pivoted into its basic position.

[0055] In the coupled position of the coupling lever 18 ( Figure 3 b)), the coupling rod is brought into engagement with the actuating lever 7 during the actuating stroke of the actuating lever 7 such that the actuating lever 7 Figure 3 b) further pivoting in the clockwise direction causes the trigger lever 19 to Figure 3b) in the clockwise direction. Here, the trigger lever 19 engages with the locking pawl 6 in such a way that the locking pawl 6 is transferred to its raised position within the range of the actuation stroke of the actuating lever 7. In the coupling position ( Figure 3 b)) or in the decoupled position ( Figure 3 In a), the coupling rod engages with the opening lever 13 during the actuation stroke of the opening lever 13 in such a way that the locking pawl 6 is transferred into its raised position, as in Figure 5 As shown in a).

[0056] Here and preferably, the coupling lever 18 is preloaded, in particular spring-preloaded, into its coupling position, whereby a particularly easy adjustment of the coupling lever 18 into its starting position is made possible.

[0057] In order to switch the coupling assembly 9 simply and reliably, it is advantageously provided that the motor vehicle lock 1 has a locking assembly 20 which can be brought into a locked state ( Figure 3 a) and Figure 4 a)) Neutralize the unlocked state ( Figure 3 b) Figure 4 b) Figure 5 b) and Figure 6 b)); adjustment of the locking component 20 from its locked state to its unlocked state causes adjustment of the coupling component 9 from its uncoupled state to its coupled state; and adjustment of the locking component 20 from its unlocked state to its locked state causes adjustment of the coupling component 9 from its coupled state to its uncoupled state. Here and preferably, the locking component 20 can be introduced into the uncoupled state, whereby the coupling component 9 switches into its uncoupled state.

[0058] In the transition of the locking assembly 20 from the locked state to the unlocked state, the coupling assembly 9 is switched from its decoupled state to its coupled state, such as from Figure 4 a) to Figure 4 b) The conversion is combined from Figure 3 a) to Figure 3 b) is shown. Conversely, in the transition of the locking assembly 20 from the unlocked state to the locked state, the coupling assembly 9 is switched from its coupled state to its decoupled state, such as from Figure 4 b) to Figure 4 a) The conversion is combined from Figure 3 b) to Figure 3 Thus, the coupling assembly 9 can be switched into a coupled state and a decoupled state in a simple manner by means of the locking assembly.

[0059] from Figure 5 a) to Figure 5 b) and from Figure 6 a) to Figure 6b) shows the adjustment of the locking component 20 from the locked state to the uncoupled state. By transferring the locking component 20 to the uncoupled state, the coupling component 9 is transferred to its uncoupled state, such as Figure 5 b) and Figure 6 b).

[0060] In order to switch the coupling lever 18 into its coupled position and its uncoupled position, the embodiment shown in the figure and preferred in this respect is provided that the locking assembly 20 has an adjusting lever 21 that can be pivoted about a geometric adjusting lever axis 21a and a switching lever 22 that can be pivoted about a geometric switching lever axis 22a; the pivotable adjusting lever 21 can be introduced from a first adjusting position into a second adjusting position; the pivotable switching lever 22 can be introduced from a first switching position into a second switching position in which the switching lever 22 couples the coupling lever 18 to its coupled position. The connecting rod 18 is held in its decoupled position, in which the switching rod 22 holds the coupling rod 18 in its coupled position or the coupling rod 18 is in its coupled position; the adjusting rod 21 and the switching rod 22 are coupled to each other in such a way that adjustment of the adjusting rod 21 from the second adjustment position to the first adjustment position causes a transfer of the switching rod 22 from the second switching position to its first switching position; and adjustment of the adjusting rod 21 from the first adjustment position to the second adjustment position causes a transfer of the switching rod 22 from the first adjustment position to its second switching position.

[0061] exist Figure 4 b) shows the locking assembly 20 in its unlocked state. The adjusting lever 21 is then in its second adjustment position and the switching lever 22 is in its second switching position. The coupling lever 18 is in its coupling position and is preferably preloaded, in particular spring-loaded, in this case. Figure 4 b) is preloaded in the clockwise direction into the coupled position. In this case, the coupling lever 18 can be supported on the switching lever 22 or held in the coupled position in another way.

[0062] In order to adjust the locking assembly 20 into its locked state, the adjusting rod 21 is moved Figure 4 b) in clockwise direction from its second adjustment position ( Figure 4 b)) is pivoted to its first adjustment position ( Figure 4 a). In this case, the adjusting rod 21 is coupled to the switching rod 22 in such a way that the switching rod 22 is Figure 4 b) in the clockwise direction from its second switching position ( Figure 4 b)) is pivoted to its first switching position ( Figure 4 a). In this case, the switching lever 22 is in engagement or in engagement with the coupling lever 18 in such a way that the coupling lever 18 is in engagement with the coupling lever 18. Figure 4b) in the counterclockwise direction from its coupled position to its uncoupled position. Figure 4 a)) to its second adjustment position ( Figure 4 b)) causes a pivoting of the switching lever 22 from its first switching position into its second switching position and, with it, a pivoting of the coupling lever 18 from its decoupling position ( Figure 4 a)) to its coupling position ( Figure 4 b) Pivot in.

[0063] The coupling between the adjusting lever 21 and the switching lever 22 is here preferably realized by a spring and / or a stop between the adjusting lever 21 and the switching lever 22 .

[0064] In order to reliably hold the locking assembly 20 in its unlocked state and / or locked state, it is preferably provided that the adjusting lever 21 is held in its first adjustment position and in its second adjustment position by means of a latching assembly 23, and that the latching assembly 23 has a latching point to be overcome, which must be overcome when switching from one adjustment position to the other. In this way, the locking assembly 20 is reliably held in the locked state and in the unlocked state. Adjustment of the locking assembly 20 into the unlocked state and / or locked state can then be achieved only by overcoming the latching point to be overcome.

[0065] exist Figure 6 In a), the situation in which the locking pawl 6 is raised by the opening device 10 is shown. If a malfunction of the opening device 10 occurs when the locking pawl 6 is in its raised position, such as a jamming of the opening drive 11, a jamming of the adjustment assembly 12 and / or a jamming of the opening lever 13, for example, with the coupling lever 18, the locking pawl 6 remains in its raised position, so that the side door cannot be closed and the motor vehicle lock 1 cannot be locked. In order that the locking pawl 6 is nevertheless transferred to its lowered position and the motor vehicle lock 1 can be locked, it is preferably provided here that the switching lever 22 can be pivoted relative to the adjusting lever 21 in such a way that the switching lever 22 can be moved from the first switching position ( Figure 6 a)) is introduced into the third switching position ( Figure 6 b)), in this third switching position the switching lever 22 holds the coupling lever 18 in its decoupling position without changing the position of the adjusting lever 21 .

[0066] From the switching lever 22 Figure 6 Starting from the first switching position shown in a), the switching lever can Figure 6 a) Adjust in clockwise direction to Figure 6b) in the third switching position shown. Here, the switch lever 22 can be pivoted relative to the adjusting lever 21 so that the adjusting lever 21 remains unchanged in its first switching position. For this purpose, the adjusting lever 21 can abut against a stop (not shown) of the motor vehicle lock housing.

[0067] As in Figure 6 a) to Figure 6 As can be seen in the switchover from b), a pivoting of the switching lever 22 from its first switching position into its third switching position causes a pivoting of the coupling lever 18 from its decoupling position into its uncoupling position.

[0068] In this way, the coupling rod 18 is disengaged from the opening rod 13, so that the trigger rod 19 can be Figure 6 b) is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction, whereby the locking pawl 6 can be transferred from its raised position to its lowered position, thereby achieving an emergency locking.

[0069] If you observe at the same time Figure 4 a), Figure 4 b) and Figure 6 b) As can be seen, it is preferably provided here that the first switching position of the switching lever 22 is located between the second switching position and the third switching position.

[0070] In the embodiment shown in the figures and preferred in this respect, it is provided that the motor vehicle lock 1 has an emergency locking device for transferring the coupling assembly 9 into its uncoupled state. In order to design the emergency locking device, it is provided here and preferably that the switching lever 22 is coupled or can be coupled to an emergency locking lever 24 that can be pivoted about an emergency locking lever axis 24a in such a way that an especially manual actuation of the emergency locking lever 24 causes the switching lever 22 to be transferred into its third switching position.

[0071] A particularly simple actuation of the emergency lock lever 24 is possible if the emergency lock lever 24 can be actuated manually by a user, in particular by means of a motor vehicle key, preferably by means of a linear movement of the motor vehicle key, as in Figure 5 b) and Figure 6 b) is indicated by the motor vehicle key represented by a dotted line.

[0072] from Figure 5 a) and Figure 6 a) Start, the emergency locking rod 24 can Figure 6 a) from the basic position in a counterclockwise direction to the switching position ( Figure 5 b) and Figure 6 b). In this case, the emergency lock lever 24 engages with the switch lever 22 in such a way that the switch lever 22 is pivoted into its third switch position by the emergency lock lever 24. Figure 5b) and Figure 6 b) is shown.

[0073] After the emergency locking lever 24 has been actuated, it is transferred here and preferably automatically to the position in which it was previously located. Figure 5 a) and Figure 6 a) is the basic position shown. For this purpose, the emergency locking lever 24 is preloaded, in particular spring-loaded, into its basic position.

[0074] For easy and efficient adjustment of the closure assembly 20 , it is preferably provided that the opening device 10 is coupled to the closure assembly 20 in such a way that a lifting of the locking pawl 6 during the opening process causes the closure assembly 20 to be transferred into its closed state.

[0075] from Figure 3 b) and Figure 4 b) (where the locking assembly 20 is in its unlocked state), the motor-driven opening process can be initiated by the opening device 10. The opening drive 11 is moved in the opening direction, thereby adjusting the adjustment assembly 12. The adjustment assembly 12 has a worm gear 15, which is Figure 4 b) in the counterclockwise direction. Here, the stop element 25 of the worm wheel 15 engages with the adjusting element 26 of the adjusting lever 21 so that the adjusting lever 21 is pivoted from its second adjustment position to its first adjustment position, thereby switching the coupling lever 18 from its coupling position to its decoupling position.

[0076] from Figure 3 a) and Figure 4 Starting from a), in which the locking assembly 20 is in its locked state, a motor-driven opening process can also be initiated by the opening device 10. Figure 4 As is known from a), the stop element 25 of the worm wheel 15 is guided past the adjusting element 26 of the adjusting lever 21 , so that the adjusting lever 21 remains in its first adjusting position and the coupling lever 18 remains in its decoupling position.

[0077] Therefore, the coupling assembly 9 is always in the decoupled state during normal use of the motor vehicle lock 1. In order to enable manual opening of the side door from the outside in an emergency, it is preferably provided that the opening device 10, starting from the starting position, adjusts the adjustment assembly 12 in an unlocking movement (which is carried out in a drive direction arranged opposite to the opening movement) so that the coupling assembly 9 is switched from the decoupled state to the coupled state by the adjustment assembly 12. Here and preferably, the opening device 10 switches the coupling assembly 9 to the coupled state by the adjustment assembly 12 in the event of a crash.

[0078] from Figure 3 a) and Figure 4Starting from a) (where the locking assembly 20 is in its locked state, the coupling assembly 9 is in its uncoupled state and the adjusting assembly 12 is in its starting position), a motor-driven unlocking process can be initiated by the opening device 10. For this purpose, the opening drive 11 is operated in an unlocking movement arranged opposite to the opening movement, so that Figure 4 a), the worm wheel 15 of the adjustment assembly 12 is adjusted in the clockwise direction. Here, the unlocking element 27 of the worm wheel 15 engages with the unlocking stop 28 of the adjustment lever 21 so that the adjustment lever 21 is adjusted from its first adjustment position to its second adjustment position. By coupling the switching lever 22 to the adjustment lever 21, the switching lever is adjusted from its first switching lever position 22 to its second switching lever position 22, whereby the coupling lever 18 is switched to its coupling position and thus the coupling assembly 9 is switched to its coupled state. The side door can then be opened from the outside by the actuating lever 7.

[0079] The opening drive 11 is designed to adjust the coupling assembly 9 sufficiently quickly to allow a manual opening of the side door to be possible in a reliable manner in the event of a crash.

[0080] In the embodiment shown in the figures and which is preferred in this respect, the actuating lever axis 7a, the opening lever axis 13a and the triggering lever axis 19a are arranged coaxially with respect to one another, which results in a particularly compact design of the motor vehicle lock 1 .

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock having a latch (4) which can be pivoted about a geometric latch axis (4a) and having at least one pawl (6) which can be pivoted about a geometric pawl axis (6a), wherein: The locking bar (4) can be adjusted into an open position and into at least one locking position, in particular a main locking position, and if necessary into a pre-locking position between the open position and the main locking position, wherein the locking pawl (6) can be adjusted into a lowered position, in which the locking pawl (6) holds the locking bar (4) in at least one locking position, and into a raised position, wherein the motor vehicle lock (1) has an operating lever (7), in particular an external operating lever, which can be pivoted about a geometric operating lever axis (7a), wherein a coupling component (9) is arranged between the operating lever (7) and the locking pawl (6), which coupling component can be switched between a coupled state and a decoupled state, wherein in the decoupled state, the locking pawl (6) can be adjusted into a lowered position, in which the locking pawl (6) holds the locking bar (4) in at least one locking position, and in the raised position, the locking pawl (6) releases the locking bar (4). The operating travel of the operating lever (7) in relation to lifting the locking pawl is an idle travel, wherein in the coupled state, the locking pawl (6) can be transferred into a released state by the operating travel of the operating lever (7), wherein the motor vehicle lock (1) is provided with an opening device (10), the opening device having a motor-driven opening drive (11), the opening drive having at least one driving direction, the opening drive adjusting an adjustment component (12) of the opening device (10) from a starting position of the adjustment component (12) in an opening movement so that the adjustment component (12) operates an opening lever (13) of the opening device (10) which is pivotable about an opening lever axis (13a) so that the locking pawl (6) can be transferred from the lowered position to the raised position by the operating travel of the opening lever (13), It is characterized in that The coupling assembly (9) is arranged between the opening rod (13) and the locking claw (6) in such a way that the opening device (10) is coupled or can be coupled to the locking claw (6) via the coupling assembly (9) in order to transfer the locking claw (6) to its raised position, and the opening device (10) can be decoupled from the locking claw (6) via the coupling assembly (9).

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the decoupled state of the coupling assembly (9), an actuating stroke of the opening rod (13) causes the locking pawl (6) to be transferred to its released state, and in the coupled state of the coupling assembly (9), an actuating stroke of the opening rod (13) associated with lifting the locking pawl (6) is an idle stroke.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the coupled state and in the uncoupled state of the coupling assembly (9), an actuation stroke of the opening lever (13) in each case causes the locking pawl (6) to be transferred into its released state.

4. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The coupling assembly (9) can be switched into a decoupled state, in which the actuating travel of the opening lever (13) is an idle travel. Preferably, the actuating travel of the actuating lever (7) is an idle travel in the decoupled state of the coupling assembly (9).

5. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The coupling assembly (9) has a coupling rod (18) which is pivotable about a geometric coupling rod axis (18a). The coupling rod (18) is in a decoupled position in a decoupled state of the coupling assembly (9), in which the coupling rod (18) is out of coupling engagement with the actuating lever (7) during an actuating stroke of the actuating lever (7), and The coupling rod (18) is in a coupled position in the coupled state of the coupling assembly (9), in which the coupling rod (18) is in coupled engagement with the operating lever (7) or is in coupled engagement with the operating lever (7) during the operating stroke of the operating lever (7), The coupling rod (18) is in coupling engagement with the opening rod (13) or comes into coupling engagement with the opening rod (13) in the coupling position and in the decoupling position during an actuation stroke of the opening rod (13).

6. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The coupling rod (18) is in a decoupled position in the decoupled state of the coupling assembly (9), in which the coupling rod (18) is disengaged from the operating rod (7) during the operating stroke of the operating rod (7), and in which the coupling rod (18) is disengaged from the opening rod (13) during the operating stroke of the opening rod (13).

7. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The locking pawl (6) is coupled to or can be coupled to a trigger lever (19) which can be pivoted about a trigger lever axis (19a). Actuation of the trigger lever (19) causes the locking pawl (6) to be transferred into its released state, and The coupling lever (18) is arranged on a trigger lever (19) so as to be pivotable about a coupling lever axis (18a), and the coupling lever (18) is preferably preloaded, in particular spring-preloaded, into its uncoupled position.

8. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The motor vehicle lock (1) has a locking component (20) which can be brought into a locked state and an unlocked state. Adjustment of the locking component (20) from its locked state to its unlocked state causes adjustment of the coupling component (9) from its uncoupled state to its coupled state, and Adjustment of the locking component (20) from its unlocked state to its locked state causes adjustment of the coupling component (9) from its coupled state to its decoupled state. Preferably, the locking component (20) can be introduced into the decoupled state, whereby the coupling component (9) switches to its decoupled state.

9. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The locking assembly (20) comprises an adjusting lever (21) which can be pivoted about a geometric adjusting lever axis (21a) and a switching lever (22) which can be pivoted about a geometric switching lever axis (22a). The pivotable adjusting lever (21) can be moved from a first adjusting position into a second adjusting position. A pivotable switching lever (22) can be moved from a first switching position, in which the switching lever (22) holds the coupling lever (18) in its decoupling position, into a second switching position, in which the switching lever (22) holds the coupling lever in its coupling position or the coupling lever (18) is in its coupling position, The adjusting rod (21) and the switching rod (22) are coupled to each other in such a way that adjustment of the adjusting rod (21) from the second adjusting position to the first adjusting position causes the switching rod (22) to transfer from the second switching position to its first switching position, and adjustment of the adjusting rod (21) from the first adjusting position to the second adjusting position causes the switching rod (22) to transfer from the first adjusting position to its second switching position.

10. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The adjusting lever (21) is held in its first adjustment position and in its second adjustment position by means of a latch assembly (23), and The latching assembly (23) has a latching point to be overcome and which must be overcome when switching from one adjustment position to another.

11. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The switching lever (22) can be pivoted relative to the adjusting lever (21) in such a way that the switching lever (22) can be moved from a first switching position into a third switching position, in which the switching lever (22) holds the coupling lever (18) in its decoupling position without changing the position of the adjusting lever (21).

12. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The motor vehicle lock (1) has an emergency locking device for transferring the coupling assembly (9) into its uncoupled state, preferably, the switching lever (22) is coupled or can be coupled to an emergency locking lever (24) that can be pivoted about an emergency locking lever axis (24a) in such a way that actuation of the emergency locking lever (24), in particular manual actuation, causes the switching lever (22) to be transferred into its third switching position.

13. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The opening device (10) is coupled to the closure component (20) in such a way that a lifting of the locking pawl (6) during an opening process causes the closure component (20) to be transferred into its closed state.

14. A motor vehicle lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The opening drive device (11) adjusts the adjustment component (12) in an unlocking movement from the starting position along a driving direction arranged opposite to the opening movement in such a way that the coupling component (9) is transferred from the decoupled state to the coupled state by means of the adjustment component (12). Preferably, the opening device (10) switches the coupling component (9) to the coupled state with the aid of the adjustment component (12) in the event of a collision.

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