Motor vehicle locks, especially motor vehicle door locks

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with an actuating lever system (3 to 9) and at least one electric drive device (10 to 12) for the actuating lever system (3 to 9). The actuating lever system (3 to 9) has at least one child safety lever (3), at least one anti-theft safety lever (4) and at least one central locking lever (5). According to the invention, the electric drive device (10 to 12) is arranged and constructed as a single drive device for realizing a central locking device, a child safety device and an anti-theft safety device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, having an actuating lever system and at least one electric drive for the actuating lever system, wherein the actuating lever system has at least one child safety lever, at least one anti-theft safety lever and at least one central locking lever. Background Art

[0002] In addition to the lever system, the relevant motor vehicle lock, in particular the motor vehicle door lock, is usually and additionally equipped with a locking device / locking mechanism, which mainly includes a rotary lock fork and a locking pawl. Different functional positions of the motor vehicle lock can be realized and implemented by the lever system and at least one electric drive device working on this basis. Thus, the functional position "child safety device open" corresponds to locking the associated motor vehicle door from the inside (generally this involves one or both of the rear side doors of the motor vehicle). In other words, the relevant motor vehicle door cannot be opened from the inside. However, since the relevant external locking is not achieved, it can be opened from the outside.

[0003] In the functional position "locked" or "central locking", the actuating lever is arranged such that an external locking is achieved, whereas the relevant motor vehicle door can still be opened unchanged from the inside, since the internal locking is not cancelled in this case.

[0004] Finally, the functional position "security" usually corresponds to the relevant motor vehicle door being locked both from the inside and from the outside, so that even if the window is hit and there is an attempt at theft, the motor vehicle door cannot be opened, more precisely neither from the inside nor from the outside.

[0005] The "locked" or "secured" state of the relevant component parts of the operating lever system is usually implemented and realized in practice in such a way that the relevant coupling rod ensures a mechanical interruption. The locking device cannot therefore be opened by the (opened) operating lever system. If, on the other hand, the operating lever system or the corresponding part of the operating lever system is in the "unlocked" or "opened" state, this includes the engaged position of the relevant coupling rod. The operating lever system is closed in this case, so that in the unlocked state and when the operating lever system is loaded, for example manually or mechanically, the locking pawl can be disengaged from the rotary latch by the release lever, so that the locking device is opened.

[0006] In order to realize the different functional positions described above in the sense of "central locking / central unlocking", "child safety / child unlocking" and finally "anti-theft safety / anti-theft unlocking", the prior art according to DE 10 2005 052 190 A1 works with the drive motor of the locking lever on the one hand and the drive motor for the anti-theft safety lever / child safety lever on the other hand. This results in a relatively high structural effort, which also leads to high costs.

[0007] The prior art of this type according to DE 10 2015 116 283 A1 is similar. In this document, an electric drive for the anti-theft safety lever and an electric drive for the central locking lever are also implemented. Therefore, a relatively complex structure still exists, which brings about significant manufacturing costs. In addition, in this document, the use of multiple motors increases the weight of such a motor vehicle lock, which is disadvantageous for the general demand to reduce the weight of motor vehicle components. The present invention remedies this as a whole. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to further develop such a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, in such a way that the structural and economic costs are reduced and an embodiment with the lowest possible weight is achieved compared to previous designs.

[0009] In order to solve this technical problem, the present invention proposes for a motor vehicle lock of this type, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, that an electric drive is provided and designed as the only drive for realizing a central locking device, a child safety device and an anti-theft safety device.

[0010] Therefore, within the scope of the present invention, explicitly and in contrast to the previous prior art, only a single and approximately central drive device is used, with the help of which all the previously described functional positions, namely "locked / unlocked", "child safety / child unlocked" and finally "anti-theft safety / anti-theft unlocked" can be realized and implemented.

[0011] In order to realize and implement this in detail, the child safety bar, the anti-theft safety bar and the central locking bar are coaxial with each other. In addition, it has been proved to be advantageous that a locking coupling rod is additionally provided. In addition, the locking coupling rod is advantageously coaxial with the child safety bar, the anti-theft safety bar and the central locking bar.

[0012] Locking coupling rod and central locking rod are usually connected to each other by spring. In this way, central locking rod and locking coupling rod can carry out relative motion to each other, but still get back in the relative position determined under the effect of spring respectively after deflection.

[0013] In addition and advantageously, the locking coupling rod has an actuating bolt for loading the anti-theft safety lever. In addition, the locking coupling rod is usually equipped with two control arms. Here, the two control arms engage alternately or jointly in the notches of the drive device. In addition to the two control arms, another control arm of the central locking rod also engages in the relevant notch of the drive device. The relevant notch is usually located on or in the transmission wheel of the drive device. The transmission wheel is usually the transmission wheel on the output side.

[0014] The electric drive generally has a driven worm which cooperates with a driven gear or a first transmission wheel. In addition, the drive gear or the first transmission wheel is advantageously equipped with an embedded spring which, after the electric drive has been loaded or moved, returns the electric drive as a whole to its starting position. This generally applies to both rotational movements that can be achieved with the aid of the driven gear, namely a rotational movement in the clockwise direction and a rotational movement in the counterclockwise direction.

[0015] Here, the driven gear or the first transmission wheel can interact with the associated, output-side transmission wheel or the second transmission wheel, in which the associated notch is located. Of course, more than two transmission wheels can also be realized and implemented.

[0016] Furthermore, the relevant second transmission wheel usually also additionally has an actuating profile for at least a child safety lever. That is to say, on the one hand, both control arms of the locking coupling lever or, alternatively, only one of the two control arms engage in a notch on the relevant output-side transmission wheel or second transmission wheel, in which the other control arm of the central locking lever also engages. As a result, the central locking lever and the locking coupling lever can be acted upon by means of the relevant output-side transmission wheel of the electric drive. Furthermore, the actuating profile on the transmission wheel can act upon the child safety lever. In most cases, the relevant actuating profile also serves to act upon the anti-theft safety lever, in particular to return it to its initial position.

[0017] Thus, a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is provided which is particularly compact, cost-effective and lightweight compared to the prior art and yet functions reliably. This is essentially because the electric drive for implementing the central locking device, the child safety device and the anti-theft safety device acts as the only drive and no further second drive or further drives are provided. Rather, the improved further kinematics ensure that the individual functional positions can be separated from one another without problems. Essentially, the coaxial mounting of the child safety bar, the anti-theft safety bar and the central safety bar in conjunction with the locking coupling rod plays a role in this regard.

[0018] It is expressly pointed out here that the term central locking lever also includes and covers embodiments which do not necessarily have a central locking device for all motor vehicle locks located in a motor vehicle or are connected to such a central locking device. Rather, the central locking lever can in principle also be a separately realized locking lever. Since there are usually a plurality of motor vehicle locks in a motor vehicle and these are brought centrally into their "unlocked / locked" position, the relevant locking lever is generally designed as a central locking lever. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show only one exemplary embodiment, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 The motor vehicle lock according to the invention is shown in a front view.

[0021] Figure 2 The following diagram shows Figure 1 object.

[0022] Figure 3 Front and rear views showing the central locking process Figure 1 and Figure 2 Motor vehicle locks.

[0023] Figure 4 The front and rear views show the child safety device during operation. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Motor vehicle locks.

[0024] Figure 5 The relevant motor vehicle lock is shown in the “anti-theft security” functional position.

[0025] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The unlocking process or design of the anti-theft safety device and the child safety device is schematically shown.

[0026] List of reference numerals:

[0027] Rotate the lock fork 1

[0028] Locking claw 2

[0029] Locking device 1, 2

[0030] Joystick system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

[0031] Child safety bar 3

[0032] Anti-theft safety bar 4

[0033] Central locking lever 5

[0034] Control arm 5a

[0035] Extension arm 5b

[0036] Inner connecting rod 6

[0037] External connecting rod 7

[0038] Locking connecting rod 8

[0039] Control arms 8a, 8b

[0040] Protrusion 8c

[0041] Operation pin 8d

[0042] Transfer rod 9

[0043] Motor 10

[0044] Driving devices 10, 11, 12

[0045] Transmission gear 11

[0046] Transmission gear 12

[0047] Operation pin 12a

[0048] Gap 14

[0049] Axis 15

[0050] Spring 16

[0051] Sensor 17

[0052] Anti-theft safety bar 18 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 A motor vehicle lock according to the invention in the form of a motor vehicle door lock is shown schematically and in an overview in . The motor vehicle lock firstly comprises a locking device 1 , 2 which essentially comprises a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2 in a substantially horizontal locking device plane.

[0054] In addition, an actuating lever system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 is implemented, the essential components of which are shown simplified according to the embodiment and which extend relatively in a plane perpendicular to the locking device plane. In addition, electric drives 10, 11, 12 for the actuating lever systems 3 to 9 are provided.

[0055] The lever system 3 to 9 has at least one child safety lever 3, an anti-theft safety lever 4 and a central locking lever 5. Furthermore, the lever system 3 to 9 comprises an inner coupling lever 6, an outer coupling lever 7 and a transmission lever 9 and finally a locking coupling lever 8.

[0056] The electric drive 10, 11, 12 consists of an electric motor 10 and a driven worm wheel or drive wheel 11 as a first transmission wheel. The driven worm wheel 11 is rotated by means of a worm located on the driven shaft of the electric motor 10. In addition, the driven worm wheel 11 is equipped with an embedded spring 13, by means of which the electric drive 10, 11, 12 is transferred back to its basic position after being loaded. The driven wheel 11 or the first transmission wheel 11 meshes with the second transmission wheel 12, which is the transmission wheel 12 on the output side of the electric drive 10 to 12.

[0057] According to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A comparative observation shows that the second transmission wheel 12 of the electric drive devices 10 to 12 has a radial notch 14. The central locking lever 5 engages with the control arm 5a in the notch 14. In addition, two further control arms 8a, 8b as components of the locking coupling lever 8 can be selectively or jointly engaged in the notch 14, as will be described in detail below. The relevant central locking lever 5 also engages with the extension arm 5b in the notch of the transmission lever 9, so that the transmission lever rotates in a mainly horizontal plane parallel to the locking device plane.

[0058] According to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can be seen from the overview in FIG, the child safety lever 3, the anti-theft safety lever 4 and the central locking lever 5 are each coaxial with one another, more precisely supported on a common axis 15. The locking coupling lever 8 is also supported coaxially with respect to the axis 15. In addition, the locking coupling lever 8 is also elastically coupled to the central locking lever 5 via a spring 16. The projection 8c provided on the locking coupling lever 8 can interact with a switch or a general sensor 17 in order to transmit the "locked" position or the "central locking" position to a control unit not shown in detail.

[0059] The second transmission gear or transmission wheel 12 is not only Figure 2 The rear side, which can be seen in FIG. 1 , is provided with the already described notch 14 for engaging the control arm 5a of the central locking lever 5 and also selectively engaging the two control arms 8a, 8b or one of the two control arms of the locking coupling lever 8. On the front side, the associated second transmission gear or transmission wheel 12 is additionally provided with an actuating bolt 12a, by means of which the anti-theft safety lever 4 and, according to this embodiment, the child safety lever 3 can be loaded, as will be explained in detail below.

[0060] The working principle of the present invention is as follows: Figure 3 Starting from the diagram in the following, the locking process or central locking process is described. Figure 1Starting from the basic position in the middle, the first transmission gear or transmission wheel 11 is started in the following manner: Figure 3 , thereby the second transmission gear or transmission wheel 12 meshing therewith moves in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, the lower control arm 8b of the locking coupling rod 8 is inserted into the notch 14 together with the control arm 5a of the central locking rod 5. In contrast, the upper control arm 8a of the locking coupling rod 8 moves to the edge of the notch 14 in the second transmission gear 12, thereby locking the locking coupling rod 8 as a whole and when the second transmission gear 12 continues to move in the counterclockwise direction. However, this does not apply to the central locking rod 5, which is locked from Figure 1 The diagram in the figure starts at Figure 3 In the transition of , a clockwise movement is therefore performed around the common axis 15. As a result, the transmission rod 9 is pivoted and the transmission rod acts on the outer coupling rod 7. As a result, the outer coupling rod 7 is "disengaged" and the external actuation is therefore interrupted.

[0061] In the process, the central locking lever 5 also actuates the inner coupling lever 6, which does not change the situation as a whole, however, that the outer coupling lever 7 has been "disengaged", so that in particular the motor vehicle lock shown cannot be (anymore) actuated from the outside. After the second transmission gear 12 has been reset by means of the spring 13 and thus the drive device 10 to 12 as a whole into its basic position, the locking coupling lever 8 and the central locking lever 5 are again oriented relative to each other by means of the spring 16 coupling the two levers 5, 8, so that the sensor or switch 17 is actuated and the acquisition of the locked state is reported to a control unit (not shown).

[0062] Watch Now Figure 4 , here it is shown that from the corresponding Figure 1 In this case, the first transmission gear 11 is loaded again in the counterclockwise direction, so that the two control arms 8a, 8b of the locking coupling rod 8 and the control arm 5a of the central locking rod 5 can be inserted into the notch 14 together. At the same time, the actuating profile 12a on the second transmission gear 12 acts on the child safety lever 3 in such a way that the child safety lever 3 is pivoted in the clockwise direction around the common axis 15 in the front view and thereby actuates the inner coupling rod 6, which in turn acts on the locking coupling rod 8 and transfers it to its "disengaged" position.

[0063] exist Figure 5 In this case, the second transmission wheel 12 is loaded in the counterclockwise direction again, and thus the locking coupling rod 8 is locked around the common axis 15 in Figure 5In the front view of the embodiment, the locking coupling rod 8 is swung clockwise to such an extent that the locking coupling rod 8 moves with its actuating bolt 8d toward the anti-theft safety rod 4 and drives the anti-theft safety rod with it as it moves clockwise around the common axis 15. As a result, the inner coupling rod 6 is first loaded and the second anti-theft safety rod 18 coaxial with the transmission rod 9 is swung.

[0064] Now, in Figure 6 and Figure 7 The corresponding unlocking process is shown in FIG. Figure 6 The unlocking from the central locking position or the anti-theft safety position is shown. Here, the locking coupling rod 8 and the anti-theft safety rod 4 are respectively reset to their initial positions. Figure 7 The resetting of the child safety bar 3 is diagrammatically shown in FIG.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock having an actuating lever system (3 to 9) and an electric drive device (10 to 12) for the actuating lever system (3 to 9), wherein: The operating lever system (3 to 9) has at least one child safety lever (3), at least one anti-theft safety lever (4) and at least one central locking lever (5). It is characterized in that The electric drive (10 to 12) is provided and designed as a single drive for implementing a central locking device, a child safety device and an anti-theft safety device. A locking coupling rod (8) is additionally provided, which is coaxial with the child safety rod (3), the anti-theft safety rod (4) and the central locking rod (5).

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking coupling rod (8) and the central locking rod (5) are connected to each other via a spring (16).

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The locking coupling rod (8) is equipped with an operating bolt portion (8d) for loading the anti-theft safety rod (4).

4. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The locking coupling rod (8) is equipped with two control arms (8a, 8b).

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that: The two control arms (8a, 8b) engage alternately or jointly with the other control arm (5a) of the central locking lever (5) in the recesses (14) of the drive devices (10 to 12).

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that: The recess (14) is arranged on or in a drive wheel (12) of a drive device (10 to 12).

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, characterized in that: The drive wheel (12) additionally has an actuating profile (12a) for the at least one child safety bar (3).

8. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: Motor vehicle locks are motor vehicle door locks.

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