Motor vehicle lock assembly and method for producing same

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock assembly, in particular a motor vehicle bonnet lock assembly, which is equipped with a mechanical module (1) and an electrical module (2). The mechanical module (1) has at least one locking mechanism (3, 4) and a lock housing (5). In addition, the electrical module (2) is equipped with at least one electrical component carrier (6) and at least one electrical / electronic component (7) arranged thereon. The electrical module (2) can be fastened to the lock housing (5) of the mechanical module (1). According to the invention, the electrical component carrier (6) of the electrical module (2) engages releasably and electrically in a distortion-free manner into a corresponding latching aperture (5a) of the lock housing (5) of the mechanical module (1) by way of a latching lug (6a) in the course of a pivoting movement.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Motor vehicle lock assembly and method for its manufacture

[0003] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock assembly, in particular a motor vehicle hood lock assembly, comprising a mechanical module and an electrical module, wherein the mechanical module has at least one locking mechanism and a lock housing, wherein the electrical module is further equipped with at least one electrical component carrier and at least one electrical / electronic component arranged thereon or on the latter, and wherein the electrical module can be fastened to the lock housing of the mechanical module.

[0004] Today, locking systems for motor vehicles or motor vehicle locks essentially consist of two assemblies or modules: the actual mechanical part of the lock, the mechanical module, which is responsible for locking the associated vehicle door or hood, and the electrical module, which, for example, carries the actuators and supplies them with the necessary electrical power. The actuators can include electric motors and gears. Since the electric motors are controlled and their position is monitored by a control unit, the electrical module usually also includes several sensors for position detection.

[0005] For this purpose, the electrical module has at least one electrical component carrier. The electrical component carrier serves, on the one hand, to electrically contact the individual electrical / electronic components, particularly the actuators and sensors, and, on the other hand, functions as a mechanical carrier for the respective components. For this purpose, the electrical component carrier can be equipped with a lead frame, for example, housed in a plastic carrier plate and overmolded with the plastic. Generally, one or more conductor foils can also be used at this point for electrical contact. Combinations are also conceivable.

[0006] The electrical component carrier, equipped with the electrical / electronic component arranged thereon, and consequently the electrical module, is usually attached inside or to the lock housing of the mechanical module. This often requires various work steps, such as securing the electrical component carrier in or to the lock housing and establishing its electrical contact. As a result, soldering and screwing processes, as well as possibly a hot stamping process, are often required in practice. All of these manufacturing steps not only require the additional use of materials such as solder, but are also particularly time-consuming and therefore costly.

[0007] An electromechanical assembly for a vehicle locking system, and consequently an electrical module with an electrical component carrier, is described as an example in DE 10 2012 208 078 A1. For this purpose, the known electromechanical assembly has a switching device whose number of actuations is determined using an evaluation device.

[0008] In a door lock module for a vehicle door according to EP 1 087 082 A2, the electric door lock consists of a control part and a mechanical part connected to it. The electric control part is connected to the mechanical part of the door lock via an intermediate lever. The intermediate lever is designed in such a way that it accommodates the tolerances of both lock parts that must be taken into account when attaching the door lock to a front side of the associated motor vehicle door.

[0009] Within the scope of the generic state of the art according to the

[0010] DE 20 2015 009 935 U1 is designed so that the electrical component carrier comprises a separate housing and can be attached to an outer surface of the associated motor vehicle lock. For this purpose, the electrical component carrier is designed so that it interacts with the retaining means of the housing or lock housing of the motor vehicle lock. The retaining means in question are clip, snap, and / or locking connections. This has proven to be generally effective.

[0011] However, the known and generic procedure according to DE 20 2015 009 935 U1 involves the connection between the electrical component carrier and the lock housing of the motor vehicle lock being achieved through a vertical plug connection, because the electrical component carrier also has two plug contacts that protrude from an extension of the electrical component carrier. When connected to the lock housing, the plug contacts engage in corresponding sockets on the lock housing. The additional snap connection then prevents the electrical component carrier from becoming detached from the lock housing.

[0012] The known procedure presents the practical problem that, on the one hand, the plug contacts projecting from the electrical component carrier must be precisely aligned with the two sockets on or in the lock housing that receive them during assembly. On the other hand, such plug contacts are relatively fragile and can be bent or, in the worst case, even broken off during storage of the electrical component carrier or during assembly. All of this can potentially lead to delays in assembly and thus increased costs. The invention aims to remedy this situation.

[0013] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle lock assembly in such a way that it can be easily installed without the risk of damage. To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle lock assembly within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the electrical component carrier of the electrical module engages with a locking lug in a corresponding locking recess in the lock housing of the mechanical module during a pivoting movement, releasably and without electrical connection, or vice versa.

[0014] Within the scope of the invention, a detachable coupling between the electrical component carrier on the one hand and the lock housing on the other is initially achieved by establishing a snap-in connection at this point. The snap-in connection utilizes a snap-in lug on the electrical component carrier and a snap-in recess on or in the lock housing. In principle, the reverse procedure is also possible. In this case, the lock housing is equipped with the snap-in lug, which in turn releasably engages the snap-in recess of the electrical component carrier.

[0015] Of particular importance for the invention, and in contrast to the generic prior art according to DE 20 2015 009 935 U1, the design is such that the locking connection between the locking lug and the locking recess is established by means of a pivoting movement. This means that the connection between the electrical component carrier and the lock housing via the locking connection is achieved by means of a pivoting movement, whereas the generic prior art uses a strictly linear plug connection at this point, simply to ensure additional electrical contact between the plug contacts there and the associated sockets.

[0016] In contrast, the invention operates without any electrical connection, meaning there is no electrical connection between the electrical component carrier and the lock housing, but rather a purely mechanical, detachable coupling. This allows the electrical component carrier to be detachably coupled to the lock housing during a pivoting movement, creating the locking connection, because an electrical connection expressly does not need to be established during this process. This also eliminates any potential malfunctions or damage to the resulting non-existent electrical connection. These are the key advantages.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the electrical component carrier is equipped, in addition to the locking lug, with a pivot stop for engaging a pivot recess in the lock housing. This means that to achieve the pivoting movement when the electrical component carrier and the lock housing are joined, the electrical component carrier engages with its pivot stop in the corresponding pivot recess in the lock housing. In this case, it is usually also provided that the locking lug and the pivot stop on the electrical component carrier are largely opposite each other.

[0018] In this context, it has also proven effective to arrange the locking lug and the pivot stop on a mounting flange of the electrical component carrier. To ensure that the electrical component carrier can be securely secured to the lock housing during the locking connection, the electrical component carrier is additionally equipped with a centering lug. The centering lug can be arranged on the mounting flange, preferably between the locking lug and the pivot stop. Furthermore, the design in this context is such that, when the electrical component carrier is assembled, the centering lug engages in a corresponding centering recess on the lock housing.

[0019] The invention also relates to a method for producing a motor vehicle lock assembly of the type described above. During the pivoting movement of the electrical component carrier relative to the lock housing, the locking lug of the electrical component carrier engages the locking recess of the lock housing with its locking lug in a releasable manner and without electrical connection. Furthermore, the design is such that the pivoting movement of the electrical component carrier relative to the lock housing is configured as a circular arc. To realize the circular arc or the circular arc movement, the pivot stop acts as the center point of the respective circular arc. Furthermore, the centering lug additionally ensures centering during this pivoting movement by progressively engaging the centering lug in the centering recess of the lock housing during the pivoting movement.

[0020] The result is a motor vehicle lock assembly and a corresponding method for its production, both characterized by a particularly functional and simple design. Furthermore, the elimination of an electrical connection between the electrical component carrier and the lock housing ensures that the joining of the two components can be achieved during a pivoting movement and, in particular, a circular arc movement. This provides a particularly intuitive and simple assembly, especially since the centering lug engaging in the centering recess additionally centers the electrical component carrier relative to the lock housing.

[0021] The lock housing can, in principle, be a plastic housing enclosing the motor vehicle lock. However, the lock housing typically serves as a lock housing or counterpart for the electrical component carrier that can be releasably attached to it. The electrical component carrier, in turn, is typically equipped with at least one electrical or electronic component arranged on or attached to it. This may be one or more sensors, for example, one or more switches, and in particular, microswitches.

[0022] In addition, the electrical component carrier has a plastic carrier plate into which a stamped grid may be embedded and enclosed by a plastic injection molding process. Furthermore, the electrical component carrier is usually equipped with a molded connection socket. The electrical / electronic components carried by the electrical component carrier can be electrically coupled to a control unit, for example, on the door or body, via the connection socket. All that is required is that a plug is inserted into the connection socket after the electrical component carrier has been mounted on the lock housing, thus establishing the necessary electrical connection. These are the key advantages.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings:

[0024] Fig. 1 the motor vehicle lock assembly according to the invention in

[0025] Shape of a motor vehicle hood lock assembly in an overview,

[0026] Fig. 2A to 2D the assembly of the electrical component carrier on the lock housing and

[0027] Fig. 3 a detail of the lock housing mounted

[0028] Electrical component carrier in perspective view.

[0029] The figures depict a motor vehicle lock assembly, and in particular a motor vehicle hood lock assembly. This assembly comprises a mechanical module 1 and an electrical module 2, which are designed and manufactured separately and subsequently combined to form the hood lock, as explained in more detail below.

[0030] For this purpose, the mechanical module 1 is equipped with at least one locking mechanism 3, 4 comprising a rotary latch 3 and a pawl 4 cooperating therewith. In the illustration according to Fig. 1, the locking mechanism 3, 4 is shown in its closed state. The locking mechanism 3, 4 is rotatably mounted in a lock case 5, which in the exemplary embodiment functions as a lock housing 5, to which an electrical component carrier 6 is releasably attached as a component of the electrical module 2 within the scope of the invention. In this way, the mechanical module 1 and the electrical module 2 are combined to form the illustrated motor vehicle hood lock. This serves, for example, to lock a front hood (not shown) against a motor vehicle body.

[0031] The electrical component carrier 6 is equipped with at least one electrical / electronic component 7 arranged thereon or on it. Within the scope of the exemplary embodiment, the electrical / electronic component 7 is, and not limited to, a sensor or switch 7, with the aid of which the position of an ejector lever AH can be queried. According to the exemplary embodiment, the ejector lever AH is mounted coaxially with the locking pawl 4.

[0032] Of course, the position of another component of the mechanical module 1 can also be queried and sensed using component 7 or the sensor or (micro)switch 7 implemented at this location. Corresponding signals from component or switch 7 are then transmitted to a control unit 8, which is only schematically indicated. The control unit

[0033] 8 is connected via a plug 9 to the electrical component carrier 6 or a connection socket 10 realized at this point, into which the plug

[0034] 9 can be plugged in for contacting. According to the exemplary embodiment, the connection socket 10 is formed onto the electrical component carrier 6 or represents a component of the electrical component carrier 6. Consequently, the electrical component carrier 6 with the electrical / electronic component 7 arranged thereon and the connection socket 10 as a whole and according to the exemplary embodiment defines the electrical module 2, which is combined as a prefabricated unit with the mechanical module 1 to form the illustrated motor vehicle hood lock, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0035] In fact, according to the exemplary embodiment, the electrical module 2 can be releasably attached to the lock housing 5 of the mechanical module 1. To this end, according to the exemplary embodiment and the invention, the electrical component carrier 6 of the electrical module 2 releasably engages a corresponding locking recess 5a in the lock housing 5 of the mechanical module 1 with a locking lug 6a, which can be seen particularly in Fig. 3 and is, for example, molded on. Furthermore, the design in this context is such that the locking connection 5a, 6a thus realized between the locking lug 6a and the locking recess 5a is established during a pivoting movement between the electrical component carrier 6 and the lock housing 5, as can be seen from the sequence of figures in Figs. 2A to 2D.In addition, the coupling between the electrical component carrier 6 and the lock housing 5 is realized in the context of the exemplary embodiment and according to the invention without any electrical connection, ie at this point there is only a mechanical connection between the electrical component carrier 6 and the lock housing 5, without an additional electrical connection being established or required in this context.

[0036] For this purpose, the electrical component carrier 6 is equipped with a pivot stop 6b in addition to the locking lug 6a. The pivot stop 6b serves to engage in a corresponding pivot recess 5b on the lock housing 5, as can be seen particularly in the transition from Fig. 2A to Fig. 2B. The overall design is such that the locking lug 6a and the pivot stop 6b on the electrical component carrier 6 are largely opposite one another, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 2A. This also results in the locking lug 6a and the pivot stop 6b being arranged on a fastening flange 6d of the electrical component carrier 6. The fastening flange 6d additionally carries a centering lug 6c. Furthermore, the fastening flange with the locking lug 6a, the pivot stop 6b and the centering lug 6c is integrally formed on the electrical component carrier 6.

[0037] The centering lug 6c is arranged not only on the mounting flange 6d of the electrical component carrier 6, but also between the locking lug 6a and the pivot stop 6b. In this way, the centering lug 6c can engage in a centering recess 5c of the lock housing 5 when the electrical component carrier 6 is mounted on the lock housing 5.

[0038] Consequently, it can be seen from the assembled state in Fig. 2D that the locking lug 6a on the electrical component carrier 6 engages in the locking recess 5a of the lock housing 5. Likewise, the centering lug 6c of the electrical component carrier 6 engages with the corresponding centering recess 5c of the lock housing 5. Finally, this union is achieved by the electrical component carrier 6 being arranged with its pivot stop 6b in the corresponding pivot recess 5b during this process, and in this way the pivoting movement or circular arc movement can be carried out with the pivot stop 6b as the center, as can be seen in the transition from Fig. 2C to Fig. 2D.

[0039] While the lock housing or lock case 5 is made of metal, in particular high-strength steel, which also typically applies to the rotary latch 3, the pawl 4, and the ejector lever AH, the electrical component carrier 6 is generally made of plastic. This is usually a plastic injection-molded part. During the plastic injection molding process, the stamped grid located inside the electrical component carrier 6, which is not explicitly visible, is encased in plastic and thus electrically insulated and protected from environmental influences. Nevertheless, the electrical / electronic component 7 can be contacted with the stamped grid. The stamped grid also extends into the connection socket 10, so that the desired electrical connection with the plug 9 and ultimately the control unit 8 can be established in the installed state.

[0040] Using Figs. 2A to 2D, the installation or manufacturing process for combining the mechanical module 1 with the electrical module 2 can now be understood. Starting from Fig. 2A, the electrical component carrier 6 with its pivot stop 6b is first inserted into the corresponding elongated pivot recess 5b in the lock housing 5. This can be seen in the transition from Fig. 2A to Fig. 2B and finally in Fig. 2C, which shows the final state of this insertion process of the pivot stop 6b into the pivot recess 5b.

[0041] As soon as the pivot stop 6b is located at the base of the pivot recess 5b of the lock housing 5, as shown in Fig. 2C, the pivot stop 6b can be used as the center point for a pivoting movement of the electrical component carrier relative to the lock housing 5. This is represented by an arrow in Fig. 2C. During this pivoting movement, the electrical component carrier 6 is pivoted clockwise by approximately 45° along a circular arc around the center point in question or the pivot stop 6b according to the exemplary embodiment. During this process, the centering lug 6c on the electrical component carrier 6 increasingly engages the predominantly horizontal center recess 5c of the lock housing 5, thereby centering and aligning the electrical component carrier 6 relative to the lock housing 5. At the end of this pivoting movement, as shown in Fig. 2D, the locking lug 6a on the electrical component carrier 6 can engage the locking recess 5a in the lock housing 5.The electrical component carrier 6 is now aligned with the lock housing 5, and the motor vehicle hood lock is mounted according to the exemplary embodiment. To electrically connect the component 7 to the control unit 8, all that is required is that the plug 9 is inserted into the connection socket 10.

Claims

Reference symbol list Mechanical module 1 Electrical module 2 Rotary latch 3 Locking mechanism 3, 4 Latch 4 Lock case 5 Lock housing 5 Detent connection 5a, 6a Detent recess 5a Swivel recess 5b Electrical component carrier 6 Locking lug 6a Swivel stop 6b Centering lug 6c Mounting flange 6d Lug 6c Component 7 Switch 7 Control unit 8 Ejector lever AH Connector 9 Connection socket 10 Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle lock assembly, in particular motor vehicle hood lock assembly, comprising a mechanical module (1) and an electrical module (2), wherein the mechanical module (1) comprises at least one locking mechanism (3, 4) and a lock housing (5), wherein the electrical module (2) is further equipped with at least one electrical component carrier (6) and at least one electrical / electronic component (7) arranged thereon or thereon, and wherein the electrical module (2) is attachable to the lock housing (5) of the mechanical module (1), characterized in that the electrical component carrier (6) of the electrical module (2) engages with a locking lug (6a) in a corresponding locking recess (5a) of the lock housing (5) of the mechanical module (2) in a releasable and electrically unconnected manner during a pivoting movement, or vice versa.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical component carrier (6) is additionally equipped with a pivot stop (6b) for engagement in a pivot recess (5b) on the lock housing (5) in addition to the locking lug (6a).

3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking lug (6a) and the pivot stop (6b) are mostly opposite each other on the electrical component carrier (6).

4. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking lug (6a) and the pivot stop (6b) are arranged on a mounting flange (6d) of the electrical component carrier (6).

5. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrical component carrier (6) additionally has a centering nose (6c).

6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the centering nose (6c) is arranged on the mounting flange (6d) between the locking nose (6a) and the pivot stop (6b).

7. Assembly according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the centering nose (6c) engages in a centner recess (5c) of the lock housing (5) in the assembled state of the electrical component carrier (6).

8. Method for manufacturing a motor vehicle lock assembly, in particular a motor vehicle hood lock assembly, preferably according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a mechanical module (1) and an electrical module (2), wherein the mechanical module (1) has at least one locking mechanism (3, 4) and a lock housing (5), and wherein the electrical module (2) is equipped with at least one electrical component carrier (6) and at least one electrical / electronic component (7) arranged thereon or thereon, wherein the electrical module (1) is attached to the lock housing (5) of the mechanical module (1), characterized in that the electrical component carrier (6) of the electrical module (2) engages with a locking lug (6a) in a corresponding locking recess (5a) of the lock housing (5) of the mechanical module (1) in a releasable and electrically unconnected manner during a pivoting movement, or vice versa.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the pivoting movement of the electrical component carrier (6) is a circular arc movement about a pivot stop (6b) of the The electrical component carrier (6) is located at the center point.

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the electrical component carrier (6) is additionally centered during its pivoting movement by a centering nose (6c) of the electrical component carrier (6) dipping into a centering recess (5c) on the lock housing (5).

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