Vehicle double draw lock

Abstract

A vehicle lock (100) comprises a base plate (1) having a slot (10) adapted to receive a striker (4), a catch (2) having a fixing seat (20) adapted to fix the striker (4), a first spring (5) having an arm (50) acting on the striker (4) and / or the catch (2) to push the catch (2) towards an open position, a pawl (3) adapted to lock the catch (2) in a closed position, a second spring (6) pushing the pawl to the locking position, at least one Bowden cable (8) connected to the pawl. The catch (2) can be arranged in an intermediate closed position between the closed position and the open position, and the pawl (3) can be arranged in an intermediate locking position, wherein the catch (2) is locked in the intermediate closed position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a double-pull lock for a door and / or a hatch, in particular for a vehicle engine hood. BACKGROUND

[0002] Automobile manufacturers generally prefer to use a double safety lock for the engine hood of their vehicles. This type of lock is activated by the user a first time to obtain a partial opening, in which the hood is raised a few millimeters (25-30 mm) and is still held by the lock, and a second time by the user to obtain a complete opening and lifting of the hood.

[0003] This type of lock is generally referred to as a "double-pull lock".

[0004] US 8,419,114 discloses a lock for a vehicle engine hood comprising a first catch that holds the hood in the closed position and a second catch that holds the hood in the partially open position. The two catches are actuated by a cam connected to a release mechanism actuated by the user in the passenger compartment. In this way, a first actuation of the release mechanism releases the first catch and a second actuation of the release mechanism releases the second catch.

[0005] This closing device has some drawbacks in terms of safety. In fact, the cam is inserted between the two catches and is connected to a cable actuated by a mechanical or electronic system. This closing device is therefore easily tampered with and forced. In addition, the rotation of the cam pulled by the cable requires a considerable force to be exerted on the cable. The mechanical actuation is therefore quite cumbersome for the user, who needs to exert a certain force on the actuation lever connected to the cable of the cam. The electronic actuation requires the provision of an electric actuator with a certain power to exert a force sufficient to pull the cable.

[0006] DE 102016117282 discloses a vehicle double-pull lock according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] US 2019 / 017291 discloses a vehicle double-pull lock provided with a push catch and a striker spring.

[0008] KR 20150124850 discloses a complex lock comprising a mechanism with several components.

[0009] WO 2015 / 077549 discloses a lock that is not a double-pull lock, in which, after being set in the closed position, the catch makes an additional downward stroke under the push of the striker. SUMMARY

[0010] The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a double-pull lock for a vehicle engine hood that is safe, versatile, reliable and easy to manufacture and operate.

[0011] These objects are achieved according to the application having the characteristics of the independent claim 1.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the application emerge from the dependent claims.

[0013] The lock according to the application is defined by claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] Other features of the application will be apparent from the following detailed description, which is merely illustrative and non-limiting, of an embodiment thereof, as shown in the attached drawings, wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 is a top view of the lock according to the application in the closed position.

[0016] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the three components of the lock of Figure 1

[0017] Figure 3 is a view of the lock according to the application during the first actuation;

[0018] Figure 4 is a view of the lock according to the application in the intermediate closed position;

[0019] Figure 5 is a view of the lock according to the application after the second actuation;

[0020] Figure 6 is a view of the lock according to the application in the open position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] With reference to the attached drawings, a lock according to the application is disclosed, which is indicated in its entirety with the reference number 100.

[0022] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the lock 100 comprises a base plate 1, on which a catch 2 and a pawl 3 are hinged.

[0023] The base plate 1 comprises a U-shaped slot 10 suitable for receiving a striker 4. The lock 100 can be integral with the body of the vehicle, while the striker 4 can be integral with the lid of the bonnet, or vice versa.

[0024] A first pivot pin P1 and a second pivot pin P2 are provided in the base plate 1 for pivoting the catch 2 about a first pivot axis X1 and the pawl 3 about a second pivot axis X2. The two pivot axes X1, X2 are parallel and orthogonal to the base plate 1.

[0025] ​The lock catch 2 comprises a central part 20 arranged around a first pivot pin P1. An arm 21 protrudes from the central part. A U-shaped holder 22 is arranged in the arm 21 for holding the striker 4 when the striker 4 is in the slot 10 of the base plate, thereby closing the lock, as shown in Figure 1

[0026] The holder 22 is provided with a first stop tooth 23 above. The holder 22 is provided with a second stop tooth 24 at the entrance. The first stop tooth 23 has a cam surface 27 towards the holder 22. The second stop tooth 24 has a cam surface 28 arranged outside the holder 22.

[0027] A stop bar 25 protrudes from the arm 21 below the holder 22 and towards the pawl 3.

[0028] A stop block 26 protrudes from the arm 21 above the holder 22.

[0029] The lock catch 2 is rotatable around a first pivot axis X1 from a closed position (Fig. 1) where the striker 4 is locked, to an open position (Fig. 2) where the striker 4 is released. The lock catch 2 can be in an intermediate closed position (Fig. 3) between the closed position and the open position. Figure 1 Figure 6 Figure 4

[0030] The first spring 5 pushes the lock catch and / or the striker 4, thereby pushing the lock catch 2 towards the open position.

[0031] The first spring 5 is arranged in the base plate 1 in a peripheral position relative to the first pin P1. The first spring 5 has an arm 50 arranged on the slot 10 of the base plate, thereby pushing the striker 4 outwards when the striker 4 is arranged in the slot 10 of the base plate. Thus, the first spring 5 acts as a catapult for the striker 4.

[0032] The first spring 5 comprises a spiral part 51 connected to the arm 50, such that the arm 50 protrudes tangentially from the spiral part 51. The spiral part 51 of the first spring is arranged in the circular-arc shaped housing 11 of the base plate, corresponding to the corner of the base plate.

[0033] The pawl 3 comprises a central part 30 arranged around a second pivot pin P2. A first arm 31a and a second arm 31b protrude in opposite directions from the central part 30 of the pawl.

[0034] The pawl is provided with a stop tooth 32 on the first arm. The stop tooth 32 of the pawl is adapted to be stopped against the first stop tooth 23 of the lock catch arranged above the holder 20 of the lock catch, thereby locking the lock catch 2 in the closed position.

[0035] The stop tooth 32 of the pawl is also adapted to be stopped against the second stop tooth 24 of the lock catch, thereby locking the lock catch 2 in the intermediate closed position. Figure 4

[0036] ​​​​​The detent teeth 32 of the pawl have cam surfaces 38 which are adapted to cooperate with the cam surfaces 27 of the first detent teeth of the catch and with the cam surfaces 28 of the second detent teeth of the catch.

[0037] The pawl 3 is rotatable about the second pivot axis X2 from a locked position (in which the catch 2 is locked) Figure 1 to a released position (in which the catch 2 is released). The pawl 3 can be arranged in an intermediate locked position in which the catch is locked in an intermediate closed position. Figure 3

[0038] The pawl 3 is pushed to the locked position by a second spring 6. The second spring 6 of the pawl has a helical portion 60 arranged around the second pivot axis P2, a first end 61 fixed to the base plate 1 and a second end 62 pushing the pawl 3. For example, the second end 62 of the second spring pushes the first flange 33 of the pawl arranged behind the detent teeth 32 of the pawl.

[0039] The first flange 33 of the pawl receives a ball 70 of a first Bowden cable 7 connected to an actuation device (not shown), for example a manually operated actuation lever or an electric actuator. With reference to Figure 1 , the first Bowden cable 7 extends from the base plate 1 to the right side.

[0040] The second flange 34 is arranged in the second arm 31b of the pawl. The second flange 34 of the pawl receives a ball 80 of a second Bowden cable 8 connected to an actuation device (not shown), for example a manually operated actuation lever or an electric actuator. With reference to Figure 1 , the second Bowden cable 8 extends from the base plate 1 to the left side.

[0041] The pawl 3 comprises a detent lever 35 protruding from the second arm 31b of the pawl towards the catch 2, so as to cooperate with the detent lever 25 of the catch.

[0042] The present description continues with the description of the operation of the lock 100.

[0043] With reference to Figure 1 , the lock 100 is in the fully closed position.

[0044] The striker 4 is locked in the fixed seat 22 of the catch. The catch 2 is in the closed position and is locked by the pawl 3 in the locked position. The first spring 5 has the arm 15 under the striker 4 and pushes the striker 4 so as to eject it from the slot of the base plate.

[0045] To open the lock 100, the user performs a first actuation by pulling one of the Bowden cables 7, 8 of the pawl in the direction of the arrow Fl. As a result, the pawl 3 rotates about the second pivot pin P2 from the locked position to the released position. Figure 3 ​The locking pawl 2 is released from the ratchet 3. The first spring 5 pushes the striker 4 in the direction of the arrow F1. The striker 4 pushes the locking pawl 2 in the direction of the arrow F2, which in turn rotates the locking pawl 2 around the first pivot pin PI. The locking pawl 2 is now in the unlocked position. The locking teeth 32 of the ratchet are released from the locking teeth 23 of the locking pawl. At the same time, the second spring 6 is loaded.

[0046] After being released from the ratchet 3, the locking pawl 2 can be rotated around the first pivot pin PI in the direction of the arrow F2 under the pushing force of the first spring 5, which in turn pushes the striker 4, so that the striker 4 partially disengages from the fixed seat 22 of the locking pawl.

[0047] During the rotation of the locking pawl 2 around the first pivot pin PI, the locking pawl's locking teeth 32 are arranged in the fixed seat 22 of the locking pawl between the second locking teeth 24 and the first locking teeth 23 of the locking pawl.

[0048] When the Bowden cable of the ratchet is released, the ratchet 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow F3 under the pushing force of the second spring 6 back to the intermediate locking position, in which the locking teeth 32 of the ratchet engage with the second locking teeth 24 of the locking pawl arranged in the intermediate locking position.

[0049] The striker 4 moves a few millimeters in the groove 10 of the base plate.

[0050] During this upward movement of the striker 4, the arm 50 of the first spring rotates with the striker 4.

[0051] The hood is now in a partially closed state. In fact, the striker 4 has moved a few millimeters upwards, slightly lifting the hood, but the striker 4 is still retained in the fixed seat 22 of the locking pawl, which is locked by the ratchet in the intermediate locking position, preventing the hood from being fully opened.

[0052] To fully open the hood, the user actuates one of the two Bowden cables 7, 8 of the ratchet in the direction of the arrow F4, which rotates the ratchet around the second pivot pin P2. This rotation of the ratchet determines the disengagement of the locking teeth 32 of the ratchet from the second locking teeth 24 of the locking pawl.

[0053] As Figure 5 shown, in this case the locking pawl 2 is free. The arm 50 of the first spring pushes the striker 4, which in turn pushes the locking pawl 2, which rotates in the direction of the arrow F5 until the open position, in which the striker 4 disengages from the groove 10 of the base plate.

[0054] It should be noted that when the striker 4 begins to pop out of the fixed seat 22, the arm 50 of the first spring is stopped against the locking block 26 of the locking pawl, pushing the locking pawl 2 to the open position.

[0055] The arm 50 of the first spring 5 is stopped in the open position before the entrance of the groove 10 of the base plate, stopped against the edge 12 of the base plate.

[0056] When the catch 2 is in the open position, the stop block 26 of the catch is arranged between the arm 50 of the first spring and the protrusion 13 of the base plate, so as not to move from said position.

[0057] When the Bowden cable is released, the pawl 3 is rotated in the direction of the arrow F6 under the push of the second spring 6.

[0058] With reference to Figure 6 the cam surface 38 of the stop tooth 32 of the pawl is stopped against the cam surface 28 of the second stop tooth 24 of the catch.

[0059] To close the lock 100, the striker 4 is pushed in the direction of the arrow F7 into the slot 10 of the base plate, the spring 5 is loaded and the catch 2 is pushed to rotate in the direction of the arrow F8 around the first pivot pin PI. Consequently, the cam surface 28 of the second stop tooth 24 of the catch slides on the cam surface 38 of the stop tooth of the pawl and the pawl is rotated in the direction of the arrow F9, so that the stop tooth 32 of the pawl passes over the second stop tooth 24 of the catch.

[0060] By pushing the striker 4 into the slot 10 of the base plate, the cam surface 27 of the first stop tooth 24 of the catch slides on the cam surface 38 of the stop tooth of the pawl and the pawl continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow F9 until the stop tooth 32 of the pawl passes over the first stop tooth 23 of the catch. At this point, the second spring 6 pushes the pawl, which is rotated in the opposite direction, so that the stop tooth 32 of the pawl engages with the first stop tooth 23 of the catch in the fully closed position. Figure 1 of the catch.

Claims

1. Vehicle lock (100), including: - A substrate (1) having a groove (10) adapted to receive a striker (4) integral with the body or cover of a vehicle. - A latch (2) having a retaining seat (22) adapted to secure the firing pin (4) when the firing pin (4) is in the groove (10) of the substrate; the latch (2) is hinged to the substrate about a first pivot (X1) to move from a locked position where the firing pin is locked to an open position where the firing pin is released. - A first spring (5) having an arm (50) that acts on the striking pin (4) and / or the latch (2) to push the latch (2) to the open position. - A pawl (3) adapted to lock the latch (2) in the closed position; the pawl (3) is hinged to the base plate about a second pivot (X2) to allow movement from the locked position where the latch is locked to the unlocked position where the latch is released; the pawl (3) includes a central portion (30) that rotates about the second pivot (X2) and a first arm (31a) and a second arm (31b) projecting in opposite directions from the central portion (30). - The second spring (6) pushes the pawl into the locked position. - At least one Bowden cable (8) is connected to the pawl, thereby moving the pawl (3) from the locked position to the unlocked position. Wherein, after the first actuation of the Bowden cable, the latch (2) is positioned in an intermediate closed position between the closed position and the open position; and The pawl (3) is positioned in the middle locking position, wherein the latch (2) is locked in the middle closed position. The pawl includes a first flange (33) and a second flange (34) respectively disposed in the first arm (31a) and the second arm (31b) of the pawl, wherein the first flange (33) of the pawl receives the ball (70) of the first Bowden cable (7) and the second flange (34) of the pawl receives the ball (80) of the second Bowden cable (8); The latch (2) includes a first stop tooth (23) disposed above the fixed base (22) and a second stop tooth (24) disposed in front of the fixed base (22). The pawl includes a stop tooth (32) adapted to engage with the first stop tooth (23) of the latch, thereby locking the latch (2) in the closed position; and adapted to engage with the second stop tooth (24) of the latch, thereby locking the latch (2) in the intermediate closed position; The pawl (3) includes a stop bar (35) protruding from the pawl toward the latch (2); and the latch (2) includes a stop bar (25) protruding from the latch to below the mounting base (22) and toward the pawl (3), thereby being stopped against the stop bar (35) of the pawl (3) after the first actuation of the Bowden cable, thereby preventing the latch (2) from entering the open position; The stop bar (25) of the latch (2) is different from the second stop tooth (24).

2. The lock (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The first stop tooth (23) has a cam surface (27) facing the fixed seat (22), and the second stop tooth (24) has a cam surface (28) disposed outside the fixed seat (22); and the stop tooth (32) of the pawl has a cam surface (38), the cam surface (38) of the stop tooth (32) being adapted to engage with the cam surface (28) of the second stop tooth of the latch and the cam surface (27) of the first stop tooth of the latch during the lock closing period.

3. The lock (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The stop tooth (32) of the pawl protrudes from the first arm (31a) of the pawl, and the stop bar (35) of the pawl protrudes from the second arm (31b) of the pawl.

4. The lock (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The first spring (5) is the ejection spring of the firing pin (4), which has an arm (50) disposed in front of the groove (10) on the substrate.

5. The lock (100) according to claim 4, wherein, The first spring (5) includes a helical portion (51) disposed in the outer shell (11) of the substrate and located in a peripheral position relative to the first pivot (X1).

6. The lock (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, The latch includes a stop block (26) protruding from the latch, located above the mounting base (22), and the arm (50) of the first spring is suitably configured to be stopped against the stop block (26) of the latch, thereby pushing the latch (2) to the open position.

7. The lock (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The second spring (6) includes a helical portion (60) arranged around the pivot (P2), a first end (61) fixed to the base plate (1), and a second end (62) that pushes the pawl (3).

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