Motor vehicle locks, especially motor vehicle door locks

Abstract

This invention relates to a vehicle lock, particularly a vehicle door lock. The vehicle lock has a locking mechanism (1, 2) mainly comprising a rotating locking fork (1) and a locking pawl (2). It also includes at least one actuating rod (4, 5, 6) and a release rod (7), which are engageable via a connecting element (8) in an engaged position and disengaged in a disengaged position. Finally, an inertial rod (9, 10) is provided to load the connecting element (8) into the disengaged position, at least in the event of a collision. According to the invention, in the event of a collision or after a collision, the actuating rod (4, 5, 6) must undergo a two-stroke loading to open the locking mechanism (1, 2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, particularly a motor vehicle door lock, having a locking mechanism comprising a rotating locking fork and a locking pawl. The motor vehicle lock also has at least one actuating rod and a releasing rod, which are capable of engaging in an engaged position of the connecting element and disengaging in a disengaged position of the connecting element via a connecting element. The motor vehicle lock also has at least one inertia rod for loading the connecting element into its disengaged position, at least in the event of a collision. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, the actuating rod can load the release rod when the connecting element is engaged, thereby lifting the locking pawl from its engagement with the rotary fork in the locked state of the locking mechanism. This can be achieved directly by the release rod, or indirectly by other elements or rods connected intermediately if necessary. However, if the connecting element is in its disengaged position, the actuating rod chain between the actuating rod and the release rod breaks. As a result, the oscillating motion of the actuating rod idles / does not function relative to the release rod. Therefore, the locking mechanism in the locked state remains in the locked functional position, and the locking pawl cannot be lifted from its engagement with the rotary fork. A locking rod is usually provided to allow the connecting element to move to its engaged and disengaged positions. This basic function is described, for example, in GB 2073 299B.

[0003] According to this prior art of EP 3 371 398 B1, an inertia bar is additionally provided, by means of which the load on the actuating rod caused by the inertia bar is disengaged, for example, in the event of an accident or collision involving the relevant motor vehicle. This is because, in this case, the inertia bar serves to load the connecting element to the extent that, in the event of a collision, the connecting element occupies its "disengaged" position. This prevents the unintentional opening of the vehicle lock, and in particular the vehicle door lock.

[0004] In the event of a collision, it is particularly important that the engagement of the connecting element and the locking mechanism of the vehicle lock or door lock remain in the locked position throughout the incident to best protect the occupants inside the vehicle. This is because it is crucial that the vehicle lock, especially the door lock, maintain its locked position under all circumstances during an accident or collision with an associated acceleration or lateral acceleration typically of 5g or greater. Only in this way can the associated safety systems, mostly located within the vehicle doors, such as side impact protection devices or side airbags, function effectively. In practice, during such a collision, when the connecting element is already in the engagement position, the associated inertial lever typically shifts, thereby shifting the connecting element from its engaged position to or retaining it in the disengaged position. Thus, even if the actuating lever shifts due to the accident, the release lever will not cause the locking pawl to disengage from its engagement with the rotating locking fork. The locking mechanism remains locked as intended.

[0005] The prior art, as described in EP 3 371 398 B1, has proven advantageous in principle, but room for improvement remains. Therefore, a collision scenario, along with all its details, is described. However, the actuation of vehicle locks, and particularly vehicle door locks, after a collision is only briefly mentioned. In fact, the known teachings are based on the premise that the vehicle lock should be able to be opened without problems, at least from the outside. The question of whether it can also be opened from the inside remains unresolved. Furthermore, the design aims to ideally eliminate the disengagement of the connecting element caused by the inertia rod after a collision, and for the connecting element to re-enter the engaged position.

[0006] This can be problematic, for example, in situations where the actuator is unintentionally loaded after a collision, either through deformation caused by the collision or through environmental influences such as trees, branches, or the location of a slope. In other words, the return of the connecting element to its engaged position after a collision may, in some cases, cause the vehicle door to open unintentionally, which could be problematic in the event of injury to an occupant. Furthermore, it has not been implemented whether a solution is also provided for an uninjured occupant to open the door from the inside. Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a comprehensive remedy. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to further improve such vehicle locks, especially vehicle door locks, so that they can be opened not only from the inside but also from the outside, and to prevent the vehicle door from being opened unintentionally after a collision.

[0008] To solve this technical problem, within the scope of the present invention, such a motor vehicle lock, and particularly a motor vehicle door lock, is characterized in that, in the event of a collision or after a collision, the actuating rod must undergo a two-stroke loading process to open the locking mechanism.

[0009] Advantageously, this is done in such a way that the actuating rod acts on the spring of the loading inertia rod during the first stroke of its two-stroke loading. During the second stroke, the actuating rod acts on the release rod engaged by the connecting element.

[0010] Therefore, within the scope of this invention, if the connecting element occupies the disengaged position before the collision, the inertial rod first, upon impact—similar to prior art according to EP 3 371 398B1—transfers the connecting element from its engaged position to or retains it in the disengaged position. Thus, the actuating rod can swing without problems upon impact, and its swinging motion is not transmitted to the release rod via the subsequently disengaged connecting element, nor to the locking mechanism. Instead, the swinging motion of the actuating rod does not function as intended.

[0011] Within the scope of this invention, the connecting element is transferred from the disengaged position to the engaged position again after the collision. However, this is contingent upon a two-stroke loading of the actuating rod. According to the invention, however, the actuating rod acts on a spring that loads the inertial rod during the first stroke. Thus, the spring serves to cause the inertial rod to release the connecting element after the first stroke of the actuating rod—and only then—no longer holding it in its disengaged position, thereby allowing the connecting element to transfer to the engaged position, for example, with the assistance of the spring. However, in principle, the inertial rod can also actively transfer the connecting element from the disengaged position to the engaged position after the first stroke or during the first stroke and after the actuating rod loads the spring acting on the inertial rod.

[0012] Regardless, the connecting element re-occupies its engaged position after the first stroke of the actuating rod. Therefore, the actuating rod can now act on the release lever engaged by the connecting element during its second stroke. Thus, within the range of the second stroke, the locking mechanism can be opened as desired. Conversely, the first stroke of the actuating rod corresponds to the loading of the spring provided for the inertia rod. During this process, the spring is transferred to a position that ensures the inertia rod leaves, and can also leave, the position previously occupied by the inertia rod and disengaged from the connecting element. Only at the end of this process does the connecting element occupy its engaged position.

[0013] Thus, the actuating rod can then load the engaged connecting element in the second stroke, which is mechanically connected to the release rod, thereby allowing the release rod itself to open the locking mechanism as intended.

[0014] Therefore, according to the invention, when the inertia rod—as in the prior art—has re-engaged with the connecting element after a collision, unintentional loading of the actuating rod, particularly after a collision, is prevented from directly causing the door to open. Instead, according to the invention, a first stroke of the actuating rod occurs before this process, firstly shifting the spring loading the inertia rod to a position that allows the spring to load the inertia rod in such a way that the inertia rod releases the connecting element or prevents the connecting element from (re-)remaining in its disengaged position. In principle, this method is of course used not only after a collision but also during a collision to prevent unintentional opening of the locking mechanism due to the swinging of the actuating rod.

[0015] However, decisively, according to the present invention and compared to the prior art, unintentional door opening caused by the swinging of the actuating rod is avoided after a collision and when the connecting elements are mostly in the engaged position. This is possible, for example, when the vehicle is in an inclined position after a collision or when, after a collision, a tree branch or other object grabs the actuating rod or external handle from below, thereby causing the vehicle door to be accidentally opened in the event of a collision without the measures of the present invention. Such unintentional opening after a collision is effectively avoided by the two-stroke loading of the actuating rod on the locking mechanism after a collision, implemented and necessary according to the present invention. This is the main advantage of the present invention.

[0016] According to an advantageous design, the spring provided to the inertia bar engages with the guide opening of the inertia bar via a spring leg. Here, the relevant spring leg can essentially occupy two positions within the guide opening. One position of the spring leg can be the stationary position, i.e., the position occupied by the spring leg during normal operation of the vehicle lock. Furthermore, a different collision position is also achieved, in which the spring leg occupies the collision position in the event of a collision. During the two-stroke actuation, the actuating rod, in its first stroke, is used to return the spring leg within the guide opening from its collision position in the event of a collision to its stationary position. In this stationary position, the spring leg, or the spring loading the inertia bar, can be used to swing the inertia bar, so that the connecting element remains in its disengaged position before the inertia bar is released. The connecting element can then occupy its engaged position, for example, with the assistance of the spring. In principle, it is also possible that the inertia bar, together with the spring and the spring leg in the stationary position, actively moves the connecting element into the engaged position within the guide opening. The second stroke of the actuating rod is then used to open the locking mechanism as intended. Because the connecting element is now engaged, the actuating rod can act on the thereby engaged release rod through the connecting element. The associated actuating rod chain is mechanically locked.

[0017] According to another advantageous design, not only is an actuating rod provided, but a main actuating rod, as well as an internal actuating rod and / or an external actuating rod, can also be provided. In most cases, it is even designed to include not only an internal actuating rod but also an external actuating rod in addition to the main actuating rod. This creates the possibility that, after a collision, the vehicle lock or its locking mechanism according to the invention can be opened by a two-stroke actuation of not only the internal actuating rod but also the external actuating rod.

[0018] The actuators, namely the main actuator, internal actuator, and external actuator, are typically supported coaxially. The main actuator is usually designed as a double-arm actuator. In practice, the main actuator typically has an inertial arm and an actuating arm. The inertial arm of the main actuator mostly interacts with the inertial rod, and specifically with the spring provided for the inertial rod. In contrast, the actuating arm is mostly configured to interact with the internal actuator. That is, the internal actuator can load the actuating arm of the main actuator when it is actuated.

[0019] In order for the inertial arm of the main actuator to interact with the spring of the inertial arm, the inertial arm is typically equipped with a guide profile for the spring leg. With the help of the guide profile, the spring leg can be transferred from the collision position occupied in the event of a collision to a stationary position within the guide opening during the first stroke of the actuator or main actuator, as previously explained.

[0020] Finally, the external actuating rod advantageously has a stop for interacting with a mating stop on the main actuating rod. Thus, the loading on the external actuating rod is used to oscillate the main actuating rod so that, in the first stroke of either the actuating rod or the external actuating rod, the spring leg of the spring provided to the inertia rod is transferred from the impact position—as described—to the rest position.

[0021] The result is a vehicle lock that offers further improvements in security compared to known prior art, as it reliably prevents unintentional opening of the door, especially after a collision. The actuating rod two-stroke loading according to the invention is used to open the locking mechanism after or during a collision. In the first stroke of the actuating rod or main actuating rod, the inertial rod holding the connecting element in the disengaged position is transferred to the position where the connecting element is released. For this purpose, the actuating rod or main actuating rod acts on a spring that loads the inertial rod in the first stroke. The second stroke of the actuating rod or main actuating rod ensures that a release rod engaged via the connecting element can be loaded to lift the locking pawl from its engagement with the rotating locking fork and open the locking mechanism as intended. This is a key advantage of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only one embodiment; wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 The vehicle lock according to the invention is shown in its normal position.

[0024] Figure 2 To simplify the illustration, the basis for the collision scenario is shown. Figure 1 Motor vehicle locks

[0025] Figure 3A and Figure 3B The first and second strokes of the actuator are shown.

[0026] Figure 4 Shown from the perspective of the main actuator Figure 3A and Figure 3B Perspective detail, and

[0027] Figure 5 Show Figure 4 Details. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The attached diagram shows a vehicle lock, which is a vehicle door lock. This vehicle lock has the function of only... Figure 1 The locking mechanisms 1 and 2 shown in the figure mainly include a rotating locking fork 1 and a locking pawl 2. The rotating locking fork 1 and the locking pawl 2 are respectively supported in a lock box 3 made of steel.

[0029] The basic structure also includes actuators 4, 5, and 6. In fact, this incorporates the main actuator 4, the external actuator 5, and the internal actuator 6. Additionally, a release lever 7 and a connecting element 8 are provided. Furthermore, inertia levers 9 and 10 are also included.

[0030] The connecting element 8 is movable in its longitudinal direction to occupy an engaged position and a disengaged position, and for this purpose is supported on the release lever 7 in a linearly movable manner. The engaged position belongs to... Figure 1 The normal state is shown in the diagram. In this engaged position or state of the connecting element 8, the external actuating rod 5 can interact with the connecting element 8, which, in itself, loads or "drives" the release rod 7 via a coaxial support. This interaction corresponds to the connecting element 8 moving from... Figure 1 Starting from the normal state, it swings clockwise as shown in the figure. In this case, the actuation rod chain, which is composed of actuating rods 4, 5, 6, the engaged connecting element 8, and the release rod 7, which is also engaged based on the connecting element 8, can, under the loading shown therein, lift the locking pawl 2 from its engagement with the rotating locking fork 1 and open the locked locking mechanisms 1, 2.

[0031] And if the connecting element 8 is located in its Figure 2In the disengaged position shown, actuators 4, 5, and 6 cannot act on connecting element 8 and therefore cannot open locking mechanisms 1 and 2. Thus, the movement of actuators 4, 5, and 6 is ineffective in this situation.

[0032] According to this embodiment, the connecting element 8 is connected by means of inertial rods 9 and 10. Figure 1 The engagement position is transferred according to Figure 2 The disengaged position is shown. In principle, the connecting element 8 can also be moved to the engaged and disengaged positions by means of the locking element or the locking rod 11, specifically, independently of the inertial rods 9 and 10. However, according to this embodiment, the inertial rods 9 and 10 are used for this purpose in the event of a collision.

[0033] Therefore, the inertia rods 9 and 10 are generally constructed as two pieces, each having a mass element 10 and an adjusting element 9 hingedly coupled to the mass element. The mass element 10 is supported in the lock box 3 in a manner rotatable about the shaft 12. Furthermore, the inertia rods 9 and 10 are also equipped with a spring 13, which will be described below.

[0034] exist Figure 1 In the normal state shown, the inertia rods 9 and 10 rest against the stop portion 14 of the lock housing with their mass element 10, and the connecting element 8 is not loaded by the adjusting element 9. However, if a collision occurs now, such as when... Figures 1 to 2 The transition observed and the associated lateral acceleration are then generated by the mass element 10 from... Figures 1 to 2 During the transition, it swings clockwise around its axis 12. This causes the adjusting element 9, which is hinged to the mass element 10, to move against the connecting element 8 and cause the connecting element to move from its position. Figure 1 The joint position shown in the figure is transferred to according to Figure 2 In the disengaged position shown. Therefore, any movement of the actuators 4, 5, and 6 relative to the connecting element 8 is ineffective, and thus the connecting element 8 and therefore the release lever 7 cannot be loaded. The locking mechanisms 1 and 2, in the locked position, remain locked.

[0035] Now, according to Figure 3A and Figure 3B It can be understood in Figure 2 The basic diagram illustrates the loading of the vehicle lock according to the invention after a collision. In practice, the actuators 4, 5, and 6 must undergo a two-stroke loading process to open the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 after the collision, according to... Figure 3A and Figure 3B It becomes clear. In fact, actuators 4, 5, and 6 are used in the first stroke to load spring 13, which interacts with inertia rods 9 and 10. Here, in the inertia rods 9 and 10... Figure 3AIn the collision position occupied by the actuator rods 4, 5, and 6, or the position shifted due to the collision, when the actuator rods 4, 5, and 6 are loaded with a first stroke, such that when the actuator rods 4, 5, and 6 are loaded with a first stroke, the actuator rods 4, 5, and 6 are loaded with a first stroke. Figures 3A to 3B During the transition, actuators 4, 5, and 6 act on the relevant spring 13.

[0036] Specifically, in Figure 3A As can be seen, in the event of a collision or during a collision, spring 13 engages with one of its spring legs 13a into the guide opening 15 of the inertial rods 9, 10 or the mass element 10. In effect, the associated spring leg 13a of spring 13 is then positioned within its collision position C within the guide opening 15, which is determined according to… Figure 4 As can be seen in the enlarged view. Therefore, spring leg 13a is also used to keep the main actuator rod 4 against the relevant spring leg 13a in the event of a collision. Therefore, any movement of actuator rods 4, 5, and 6 relative to locking mechanisms 1 and 2 is ineffective because in Figure 3A In the diagram, the connecting element 8 has already occupied its disengaged position. For this purpose, the adjusting element 9 is used in conjunction with the mass element 10 as a component of the inertia rods 9 and 10.

[0037] After the collision ended and from Figures 3A to 3B During the transition, inertial rods 9 and 10 mainly return to their original positions. Figure 1 In the normal position shown. Correspondingly, the mass element 10 is positioned around its axis 12 from... Figure 3A Starting from the position in the middle, it swings counterclockwise in the event of a collision. Inertia rods 9 and 10 are... Figure 3B The position in the middle corresponds to this.

[0038] Now, according to Figure 3B The loading of actuators 4, 5, and 6 in the functional positions corresponds to the loading of spring leg 13a of spring 13 by main actuator 4. In effect, spring leg 13a is thus transferred from its collision position C, which it previously occupied within the guide opening 15 in mass element 10, to its rest position R.

[0039] The spring 13, by occupying a stationary position R with respect to its spring leg 13a, loads the inertia rods 9 and 10 such that at the end of the first stroke of the actuating rods 4, 5, and 6, the adjusting element 9 disengages from the connecting element 8. Thus, the connecting element 8 can be transferred from its previously disengaged position (with the assistance of the spring) and during a collision event to an engaged position, as this engaged position corresponds to... Figure 1 The normal state is shown. This causes the actuators 4, 5, and 6 to be able to move freely during the second stroke. Figure 3BThe diagram shows that the external actuating rod 5 acts on the connecting element 8, and therefore, in the second stroke, the actuating rods 4, 5, and 6 act on, and may also act on, the release rod 7 engaged by the connecting element 8. Thus, within the range of the second stroke of the actuating rods 4, 5, and 6, the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 are opened as intended by lifting the locking pawl 2 from its engagement with the rotating locking fork 1 via the release rod 7.

[0040] The following details the movement and interaction of the main actuator 4, together with the external actuator 5 and the internal actuator 6. In fact, the related actuators 4, 5, and 6 are coaxially supported, i.e., they share the same axis 16. Furthermore, the main actuator 4 is designed as a double-arm actuator. Specifically, an inertial arm 4a is implemented here, which interacts with the spring legs 13a or springs 13 of the inertial arms 9 and 10 as described above. Additionally, an actuator arm 4b, which is a component of the main actuator 5, is also implemented.

[0041] The inertial arm 4a and thus the main actuating rod 4 generally have a guiding profile 17, according to Figure 4 The guide profile is best seen in the perspective view. With the aid of this guide profile 17, the spring leg 13a moves during the first stroke of the actuating rods 4, 5, and 6, and from... Figures 3A to 3B During the transition, it moves from its previous collision position C, which was occupied within the guide opening 15 in the inertia rods 9 and 10, to its stationary position R. Furthermore, a stop 18 is also implemented on the external actuation rod 5, which also optimally... Figure 4 The stop portion is seen and understood in the diagram. The stop portion 18 at the outer actuator 5 interacts with the mating stop portion at the main actuator 4.

[0042] Figure 3A This illustrates the end of the collision and the first stroke of actuators 4, 5, and 6. In fact, the first stroke of actuators 4, 5, and 6 corresponds to the external actuator 5 swinging counterclockwise around the common axis 16, as shown in... Figure 3A As shown in the diagram, the counterclockwise movement of the external actuator 5 now causes the external actuator 5 to move against the main actuator 4 with its stop 18. Thus, the main actuator 4, with its contour 17, serves to move the spring leg 13a of the spring 13, which is received within the contour 17, from the impact position C to the rest position R. A similar stroke can also be produced by means of the internal actuator 6, which acts on the actuator arm 4b of the main actuator 4 and similarly causes the main actuator 4 to move as a whole according to... Figure 3B In the view, it moves counterclockwise around the common axis 16.

[0043] Because spring 13 is guided by one of its spring legs 13a within the guide opening 15 of the mass element 10 or the inertia rods 9, 10, while the other leg 13b of spring 13, designed as a helical torsion spring, is fixedly fastened in the lock housing or lock box 3, spring 13 here is transferred as a whole to its place according to Figure 1 In its normal position. Therefore, spring 13 is used to release the connecting element 8 at the end of the first stroke, allowing it to return to its previously occupied engaged position. In effect, spring 13, in conjunction with inertia rods 9 and 10, is used to move the adjusting element 9 away from the connecting element 8, so that the connecting element can be transferred under spring support according to the... Figure 1 In the engaged position. Now, the second stroke of the actuators 4, 5, and 6 causes the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 to be opened as described.

[0044] In fact, the second stroke of the external actuating rod 5 causes the connecting element 8 to move from the position according to... Figure 1 The normal state begins with a clockwise swing, and the release lever 7 thereby allows the locking pawl 2 to lift from its engagement with the rotating locking fork 1. Similarly, the internal actuating lever 6, schematically shown, causes the connecting element 8 to swing clockwise in the same sequence during its second stroke.

[0045] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0046] 1. Rotate the locking fork

[0047] 2 Locking claws

[0048] 3 Lock Box

[0049] 4. Main Actuator

[0050] 4a Inertial Arm

[0051] 4b Actuating Boom

[0052] 5 External Actuating Rod

[0053] 6. Internal Actuator

[0054] 7. Release lever

[0055] 8 Connecting elements

[0056] 9 Adjustment elements

[0057] 10 mass components

[0058] 11 Locking lever

[0059] 12-axis

[0060] 13 Springs

[0061] 13a, 13b Spring Legs

[0062] 14 Stop section

[0063] 15. Guide opening

[0064] 16-axis

[0065] 17. Guiding Profile

[0066] 18 Stop section

Claims

1. Motor vehicle lock having a locking mechanism (1, 2) which mainly comprises a rotary lock lever (1) and a locking pawl (2), the motor vehicle lock further having a release lever (7) and at least one actuating lever (4, 5, 6), the release lever and the at least one actuating lever being engageable and disengageable in an engaged position and a disengaged position of a coupling element (8) by means of the coupling element, the motor vehicle lock further having at least one inertia lever (9, 10) for loading the coupling element (8) into the disengaged position of the coupling element at least in the event of a crash, characterized in that the actuating lever (4, 5, 6) must undergo a two-stroke loading in order to open the locking mechanism (1, 2) in the event of a crash or after a crash, in that the actuating lever (4, 5, 6) acts on a spring (13) which loads the inertia lever (9, 10) in a first stroke and on the release lever (7) which is engaged by means of the coupling element (8) in a second stroke. The motor vehicle lock is a motor vehicle door lock. The spring (13) engages with a spring leg (13a) into a guide opening (15) of the inertia lever (9, 10). The spring leg (13a) mainly occupies two positions within the guide opening (15), namely a rest position (R) and a crash position (C).

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that A main actuating lever (4) is implemented, as well as an inner actuating lever (6) and / or an outer actuating lever (5).

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The levers (4, 5, 6) are supported coaxially.

4. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 3, characterized in that The main actuating lever (4) is designed as a two-armed lever having an inertia arm (4a) and an actuating arm (4b).

5. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The inertia arm (4a) has a guide contour (17) for the spring leg (13a) of the spring (13).

6. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that The outer actuating lever (5) has a stop (18) for interacting with a cooperating stop on the main actuating lever (4).

7. The automotive lock of claim 5, wherein The inner actuating lever (6) loads the actuating arm (4b) of the main actuating lever (4) upon actuation thereof.

8. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that ​ 9. The automotive lock of claim 5, wherein ​ 10. The automotive lock of claim 5, wherein ​

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