Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, having a lever train (2, 3, 4, 5) which comprises at least a safety lever (5) and a lever (4). In addition, an electromagnetic unit (6) is implemented, which selectively holds and releases the safety lever (5). According to the invention, a sensor (7) for checking the electromagnetic unit (6) is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which has an operating lever system and an electromagnetic unit. The operating lever system at least includes a safety lever and an operating lever, and the electromagnetic unit selectively holds and releases the safety lever. Background Art

[0002] Motor vehicle locks, in particular motor vehicle door locks, are usually equipped with one or more motor drives in order to realize and implement different functional positions. These different functional positions are, for example, the "locked / unlocked", "child lock on / child lock off" or "anti-theft lock on / anti-theft lock off" positions, which can usually be summarized in the general term "locked / unlocked" and represented by a safety lever. Therefore, depending on the specific design, the safety lever can be a locking lever, a child safety lever, an anti-theft lever or a combination thereof. This has basically proven to be effective.

[0003] In the general prior art according to DE 60 2004 007 638 T2, the motor vehicle lock is designed to achieve remote control. This specifically includes that locking can be achieved even when the operating lever system or the locking lever system is blocked.

[0004] For this purpose, the known teachings propose, in particular, a locking lever as a safety lever, which can be manually switched from its unlocked position to the locked position and back. Furthermore, the locking lever can be acted upon mechanically by the door handle. Finally, the possibility of electromechanical actuation using an electromagnet is also mentioned.

[0005] Such electromagnetic actuation of the safety lever presupposes that the safety lever is designed to be magnetizable, at least in the region of interaction with the electromagnet. Furthermore, the range of action of such an electromagnet is limited with regard to the adjustment movement of the safety lever. For this reason, in practice, the above-mentioned motor drive is mainly used to act on the safety lever or, more generally, on the lever of the actuating lever system. This is because only with the aid of such an electric drive can the usually significant adjustment movement of the lever to be acted on be achieved. For this purpose, the already mentioned electromagnetic drive usually has an output disk and an actuating cam arranged on the output disk.

[0006] In all of the above-mentioned motor vehicle locks, in particular motor vehicle door locks, the general problem is, for example, to protect the vehicle occupants in the event of an accident on the one hand and to allow unhindered access to the interior of the vehicle to rescue personnel arriving on the scene on the other hand. Various solutions are known in the prior art, which work with mass inertia elements, for example, in order to lock an external door handle or to transfer a locked motor vehicle lock to its unlocked position in the event of a crash. These known approaches have proven generally effective, but are usually complex in design and their functionality can be improved.

[0007] With the aid of an electromagnet realized according to the general prior art DE 60 2004 007 638 T2, it is generally possible to hold and release the safety lever as required, or to hold it in its "locked" position, or to move it into the "unlocked" position. This is done silently due to the effect of a magnetic holding force and is therefore superior in terms of noise performance to the known motor drive with an output disk and an operating cam. However, a problem with this safety system is that the exact state of the electromagnetic unit is unknown. Therefore, no information can be directly derived as to whether the safety lever is in the "locked" position or in the "unlocked" position.

[0008] The safety lever is usually in contact with the electromagnet or the electromagnetic unit in its "locked" functional position. In contrast, the "unlocked" position of the safety lever corresponds to the electromagnet not (any more) magnetically attracting the safety lever. These different functional positions cannot yet be checked in the prior art and transmitted, for example, to a control unit. This is where the invention comes in. Summary of the invention

[0009] The invention is based on the technical problem of improving such a motor vehicle lock in such a way that the functional state of the safety lever can be easily checked.

[0010] In order to solve this technical problem, a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, according to the present invention is characterized in that a sensor for checking the electromagnetic unit is provided.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the sensor is designed as a magnetic field sensor, for example a Hall sensor. That is, the sensor or magnetic field sensor can check and detect the basic presence and the strength of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic unit. For this purpose, the sensor is advantageously arranged in the interaction area of ​​the safety lever and the electromagnetic unit.

[0012] Placing the sensor in the safety bar and electromagnetic unit interaction region ensures that the sensor accurately detects the presence and strength of the magnetic field of the electromagnet or electromagnetic unit in the region where the electromagnet or electromagnetic unit can act on the safety bar.

[0013] Advantageously, the sensor is therefore arranged to detect both the switching state of the electromagnetic unit and to measure the magnetic field, thereby providing diagnostic capabilities. That is, the sensor can firstly detect the switching state of the electromagnetic unit. In the simplest case, this corresponds to the electromagnetic unit being switched on or off. The switched-on state can correspond to the safety lever, which can be magnetized at least in the interaction region with the electromagnet or the electromagnetic unit, being attracted by the electromagnetic unit.

[0014] With the additional possibility of diagnosis and magnetic field measurement by a sensor, there is also an alternative that the sensor determines from the measured magnetic field whether the magnetic field is sufficient to actually hold the safety lever in contact with the electromagnetic unit. The invention is generally based on the recognition that the safety lever is usually elastically coupled to the operating lever so that when the operating lever is acted upon, a force acts on the safety lever to move the safety lever away from the electromagnetic unit.

[0015] Proper function is only guaranteed if the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet or the electromagnetic unit is sufficient to keep the safety lever in its "locked" position. Since the sensor or magnetic field sensor used according to the invention is advantageously arranged not only to detect the switching state but also to measure the magnetic field, it can be used to check the switching state of the electromagnetic unit and whether the magnetic field provided by the electromagnetic unit is sufficient to keep the safety lever in contact with the electromagnetic unit. That is, in addition to detecting the switching state, the sensor is also capable of performing diagnostics.

[0016] In this way, the control unit, which is connected to the sensor and supplied with the corresponding sensor signal, can fully detect the corresponding state of the electromagnetic unit and thus also the corresponding state of the safety lever. As a result, for example, an error or fault signal is output not only if the electromagnetic unit remains switched off or does not generate a magnetic field despite the power supply, but also if an insufficient magnetic field is generated. This results in the safety lever still being or possibly being in its "unlocked" state in the "switched on" switching state of the electromagnetic unit. This provides the control unit with comprehensive information and allows complete information to be assembled about the functional state of the relevant motor vehicle lock. Major advantages can be seen from this.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the operating lever system is equipped with a coupling rod in addition to the safety lever, which coupling rod interacts with the safety lever. It has proven useful for this purpose if the coupling rod is, for example, rotatably mounted on the operating lever. Thus, if the operating lever is acted upon, the coupling rod rotatably mounted on the operating lever is entrained in the process. Furthermore, since the safety lever usually has a follower profile that acts on the coupling rod, the coupling rod can be transferred into its "disengaged" position in the process.

[0018] This is because the safety lever and the operating lever are usually also elastically coupled to each other. A spring, in particular a disc spring or a helical spring, is often used here to elastically couple the two levers together. As a result, the coupling lever can be coupled / uncoupled depending on the electromagnetic unit acting on the safety lever. The safety lever can be a locking lever. However, the safety lever can also be designed as a child safety lever or an anti-theft lever. Combinations are also possible.

[0019] If the safety bar is in its "locked" position, the safety bar contacts the electromagnetic unit. To this end, the electromagnetic unit is energized and generates a magnetic field that serves to attract the entire magnetizable safety bar or at least the magnetizable area of ​​the safety bar in the area of ​​interaction with the electromagnet.

[0020] If the actuating lever is now acted upon in this "locked" position of the safety lever, the safety lever still remains in contact with the electromagnetic unit by means of the electromagnetic unit. As a result, the follower profile on the safety lever, which acts on the coupling lever, can act on the coupling lever. Since the coupling lever and the follower profile on the safety lever are rotatably mounted on the actuating lever, the pivoting movement of the actuating lever relative to the stationary safety lever causes the coupling lever to move from its normally occupied "coupled" functional position into the "disengaged" position.

[0021] As a result, the disengaged coupling rod cannot mechanically connect the actuating lever to the additionally provided release lever, so that the locking mechanism, which consists essentially of a bolt and a pawl and can be acted upon by means of the release lever, is held in its closed position.

[0022] If, however, the electromagnetic unit is disconnected and the safety lever is released, the safety lever can move together with the operating lever if the actuating lever is acted upon. As a result, the coupling lever also remains in its "coupled" position and in this way the operating lever can act on the release lever via the coupled coupling lever, so that in the closed state of the locking mechanism the pawl engaging the bolt is lifted with the aid of the release lever. The locking mechanism and the associated motor vehicle door are opened. This is where the major advantage lies. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show only one embodiment; in which:

[0024] Figure 1 The motor vehicle lock according to the invention is shown in the "locked" state,

[0025] Figure 2 Shows the basis for being in control state Figure 1 Motor vehicle locks,

[0026] Figure 3 Shows the status of the "unlock" function. Figure 1 theme. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The drawings show a motor vehicle lock, which is designed as a motor vehicle door lock according to the present embodiment. To this end, the motor vehicle door lock first has a locking mechanism 1 and an operating lever system 2, 3, 4, 5, which are only shown. The operating lever system 2, 3, 4, 5 is equipped with at least a safety lever 5 and an operating lever 4.

[0028] As can be seen from the accompanying drawings, in addition to the safety lever 5 and the operating lever 4, a coupling lever 3 and a release lever 2 are additionally provided. The coupling lever 3 is rotatably mounted on the operating lever 4. In the present embodiment, the operating lever 4 is an external operating lever 4 (but not limited thereto), which can be acted upon by means of a handle 8 or a motor drive.

[0029] Furthermore, an electromagnetic unit 6 is implemented, which selectively holds and releases the safety lever 5. For this purpose, the safety lever 5 is designed to be magnetizable at least in the interaction area 9 with the electromagnetic unit 6. Usually, the safety lever 5 is designed to be fully magnetizable, for example it can be designed as a (magnetizable) steel lever.

[0030] The electromagnetic unit 6 is controlled by a control unit 10. Furthermore, according to the present invention, a sensor 7 is provided for checking the electromagnetic unit 6, and the signal of the sensor is also acquired by the control unit 10.

[0031] According to the present embodiment, the sensor 7 is a magnetic field sensor, which is designed as a Hall sensor by way of example. That is, a semiconductor chip operating according to the Hall effect is used as the magnetic field sensor 7. For this purpose, the sensor or magnetic field sensor 7 is arranged in the interaction region 9 between the safety lever 5 and the electromagnetic unit 6.

[0032] Thus, not only a switching state measurement of the electromagnetic unit 6 but also a magnetic field measurement can be performed by means of the sensor or magnetic field sensor 7. The switching state of the electromagnetic unit 6 is usually an "on" and "off" state, which can be detected using the sensor or magnetic field sensor 7 and transmitted to the control unit 10. In addition, the sensor or magnetic field sensor 7 is also provided for magnetic field measurement, so that a diagnosis can be performed.

[0033] That is, the magnetic field strength in the interaction region 9 can also be detected by means of the sensor or magnetic field sensor 7 arranged in the interaction region 9. From this magnetic field strength, it can be inferred whether the safety lever 5 is reliably in contact with the electromagnetic unit 6 when the electromagnetic unit 6 is energized. This usually relates to the "locked" state of the safety lever 5, i.e. the state in contact with the electromagnetic unit 6.

[0034] If, however, the electromagnetic unit 6 is switched off, it releases the safety lever 5 which switches to its “unlocked” functional position. This also applies if the magnetic field strength in the interaction region 9 is insufficient.

[0035] As described above, in addition to the safety lever 5, the operating lever system 2, 3, 4, 5 is also equipped with a coupling lever 3, which interacts or can interact with the safety lever 5. For this purpose, the safety lever 5 has a follower molding 5a. The coupling lever 3 is rotatably mounted on the operating lever 4. For this purpose, the rotation axis 4a is provided on the operating lever 4, which in this embodiment is an outer operating lever as described above.

[0036] It can be seen that the safety lever 5 and the operating lever 4 are elastically coupled to each other. For this purpose, a spring 11 is implemented, which elastically couples the two levers 4, 5 to each other, and in this embodiment is a helical spring or a helical coil spring 11. In addition, the design allows the coupling lever 3 to be selectively coupled / uncoupled depending on the electromagnetic unit 6 acting on the safety lever 5, which will be explained in more detail below. The safety lever 5 as a whole can be a locking lever 5. Here, the implementation of a child safety lever or an anti-theft lever and a combination thereof is generally possible and conceivable.

[0037] The mode of action is as follows. Figure 1 1 shows the closed state of the locking mechanism 1. The safety lever 5 is in its "locked" functional position in contact with the electromagnetic unit 6 because the electromagnetic unit 6 is energized. The energization of the electromagnetic unit 6 and the sufficient magnetic field in the interaction area 9 for holding the safety lever 5 are detected by the sensor or magnetic field sensor 7 and transmitted to the control unit 10.

[0038] Now, based on Figure 1 In the functional position "locked", if, in the closed state of the locking mechanism 1, an action is exerted on the operating lever or the external operating lever 4 by means of the handle 8 - this corresponds to the operating lever or the external operating lever in the following manner: Figure 1 1. If the operating lever 4 moves in the clockwise direction about the axis 12 shown, the movement of the operating lever 4 in the clockwise direction about its axis 12 has no effect on the release lever 2 and thus on the locking mechanism 1. In fact, the operating lever 4 and the release lever 2 are mounted coaxially (see Figure 2 ).

[0039] Because when the operating lever 4 is now acted on clockwise about its axis 12, the safety lever 5 in the protective position ensures that the follower profile 5a can act on the coupling lever 3, which is mounted on the operating lever 4 in a manner that allows it to rotate about the axis 4a. Figure 1 Compared with the illustration in FIG. 1 , the connecting rod 3 swings counterclockwise around its rotation axis 7 or axis 4a, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 shown.

[0040] As a result, the connecting rod 3 is moved from the front and Figure 1The "coupled" state shown is moved to the "disconnected" position. As a result, the actuating lever 4 together with the disconnected coupling lever 3 cannot act on the release lever 2 mounted coaxially to the actuating lever 4. This is because the corresponding shaped portion of the coupling lever 3 passes over the mating shaped portion of the release lever 2, which can be seen by comparing Figure 1 and Figure 2 As a result, the release lever 2 remains in its position and the movement of the actuating lever 4 has no effect on the locking mechanism 1 as a whole, which therefore remains in its locked state.

[0041] That is, according to the electromagnetic unit 6 acting on the safety lever 5, when the safety lever 5 is in the "locked" position, the coupling rod 3 is disengaged. Therefore, the action on the operating lever 4 around the axis 12 of the operating lever 4 only causes the operating lever 4 to swing around the relevant axis 12, and the safety lever 5 is not driven. In this process, the spring 11 connecting the two rods 4 and 5 is stretched. The coupling rod 3 passes by the release lever 2, so that the locking mechanism 1 is not opened.

[0042] If the electromagnetic unit 6 is not (re) energized, the safety lever 5 can no longer be magnetically held in contact with the electromagnetic unit 6. This corresponds to Figure 1 and 2 The "locked" functional position of the safety lever 5 in contact with the electromagnetic unit 6 is shown as Figure 3 The transition of the safety lever 5n to the "unlocked" functional position is shown.

[0043] Since the safety lever 5 is thus no longer (anymore) held stationary by the electromagnetic unit 6, renewed action on the actuating lever 4 in the clockwise direction about the axis 12 causes the safety lever 5 to be carried along in the process. This is achieved by means of the spring 11 which elastically couples the two levers 4, 5 together, which does not deform in the process. Since in this case there is also no relative movement between the coupling lever 3 and the safety lever 5 or its follower profile 5a, the coupling lever 3 remains in its position. Figure 1 Thus, the coupled coupling rod 3 can act with its shaped portion on the mating shaped portion on the release lever 2, and the action on the operating lever 4 in the clockwise direction around the axis 12 causes the release lever 2 to be also driven in the process and also swing clockwise around the common axis 12.

[0044] The swiveling movement of the release lever 2 in the clockwise direction about the axis 12 causes the release lever 2 to lift the pawl (not explicitly shown) as a component of the locking mechanism 1 from the locking tongue engaged therewith in the locked state of the locking mechanism 1. Accordingly, the locking tongue can be opened with the aid of a spring and releases the previously jammed locking pin. The relevant vehicle door is also opened in this way.

[0045] From Figure 1 The safety lever is positioned from the “locked” position shown to the Figure 2 The transition to the "unlocked" position shown and the simultaneous enabling of the locking mechanism 1 to be opened can be achieved either by the control unit 10 or, for example, due to a power failure of the electromagnetic unit 6. The latter possibility may correspond to an accident situation or a "crash". Since in this case the safety lever 5 designed as a locking lever leaves its "locked" or "locked" position, after such a crash the motor vehicle lock shown automatically transitions to its "unlocked" or "unlocked" state and can therefore still be opened from the outside using the actuating lever or the outer actuating lever 4 via the handle 8 in this example case. This corresponds to an "emergency unlocking" function sequence, which is clearly required.

[0046] Since the motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock is usually shown in its "locked" or "locked" position during operation of the motor vehicle. This lock can now be released either intentionally, for example using the control unit 10, or by interrupting the power supply to the electromagnetic unit 6 as described above. In both cases, the safety lever 5 is transferred from its "locked" or "locked" position to the unlocked or unlocked position with the above-mentioned consequences.

[0047] Reference numerals list

[0048] Locking mechanism 1

[0049] Joystick system 2, 3, 4, 5

[0050] Connecting rod 3

[0051] Joystick 4

[0052] Rotation shaft 4a

[0053] Safety bar 5

[0054] Follow-up forming part 5a

[0055] Electromagnetic unit 6

[0056] Magnetic field sensor 7

[0057] Handle 8

[0058] Interaction region 9

[0059] Control unit 10

[0060] Spring 11

[0061] Coil spring 11

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising an operating lever system (2, 3, 4, 5) and an electromagnetic unit (6), wherein the operating lever system comprises at least a safety lever (5) and an operating lever (4), wherein the electromagnetic unit selectively holds and releases the safety lever (5), It is characterized in that A sensor (7) is provided for checking the electromagnetic unit (6).

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensor (7) is designed as a magnetic field sensor (7), for example a Hall sensor.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The sensor (7) is arranged in the region (9) where the safety lever (5) interacts with the electromagnetic unit (6).

4. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The sensor (7) is arranged to detect the switching state of the electromagnetic unit (6) and also to measure the magnetic field, thereby providing diagnostic capabilities.

5. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The control lever system (2, 3, 4, 5) additionally comprises a coupling lever (3) which interacts with a safety lever (5).

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that: The connecting rod (3) is rotatably mounted on the operating rod (4).

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The safety rod (5) has a follower shaped portion (5a) which acts on the connecting rod (3).

8. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The safety lever (5) and the operating lever (4) are elastically connected to each other.

9. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The coupling rod (3) is coupled or decoupled according to an electromagnetic unit (6) acting on a safety rod (5).

10. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The safety lever (5) is designed as a locking lever.

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