Motor vehicle lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2), which mainly comprises a bolt (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, a release lever (3, 4) is provided for loading the pawl (2) and for opening the locking mechanism (1, 2). According to the invention, the release lever (3, 4) is designed in two parts with a pawl release lever (3), which acts on the locking pawl (2), and an actuation release lever (4), which interacts with, for example, an actuation lever and / or a drive. In this case, the two levers (3, 4) are selectively coupled to each other or disconnected from each other by means of a linearly displaceable coupling element (6).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, having a locking mechanism, which mainly comprises a bolt / ratchet and a pawl / pawl, and a release lever for loading the pawl and for opening the locking mechanism. Background Art

[0002] Almost all motor vehicle locks used in practice and described in the literature have a release lever by means of which the locking mechanism can be opened. The term "motor vehicle lock" is to be understood in a broad sense and relates not only to motor vehicle door locks but also, for example, to motor vehicle locks associated with the locking of seats, hatches, etc. Nowadays, such motor vehicle locks are increasingly being actuated electrically. This allows particularly comfortable use and low actuation forces.

[0003] However, there is the following danger in such a motor vehicle lock with an electric opening drive, that is, the electric opening drive, for example, does not or does not completely reverse / reverse or occupy its basic position after the opening process. This may occur, for example, when ice forms. It is possible or conceivable that the release lever is at least partially locked by the electric drive. This causes that after the desired opening process and when the lock tongue is opened, the subsequent locking process of the associated motor vehicle door cannot be realized or is locked. In this case, corresponding to this, the pawl cannot be completely swung out relative to the lock tongue, so that the lock tongue may still be locked by the pawl after the opening process, and functional impairment cannot be completely avoided in any case.

[0004] Although the prior art of this type according to DE 40 37 637 A1 has provided the following measure: the release lever is equipped with a storage device, by means of which the previously set triggering position of the release lever can be stored and the storage is not released until the locking movement of the motor vehicle door after opening. However, this is associated with a relatively complex structure of the storage device and additionally requires a storage function transmission switch, which further increases the cost. It is thus necessary to indicate overall whether the release lever is in the storage position.

[0005] In addition to the fact that the prior art of this type described corresponds to a complex solution, this method of processing cannot actually be combined with an electric opening drive and is therefore not suitable for current applications and requirements. Here, the present invention will make a remedy as a whole. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to develop such a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, in such a way that the construction costs are reduced and a functionally adapted solution is provided which enables a complete locking process, in particular after the locking mechanism has been opened.

[0007] In order to solve this technical problem, this type of motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is characterized within the scope of the present invention in that the release rod is constructed in two parts, including a pawl release rod for loading the lock pawl and an operating release rod for interacting with, for example, an operating lever and / or a drive device, wherein the two rods are selectively connected to each other or disconnected from each other via a linearly movable connecting piece.

[0008] Therefore, within the scope of the present invention, based on the prior art described above, it is essential to first use a two-part release lever. In fact, the release lever consists of a pawl release lever and an actuating release lever. The pawl release lever primarily ensures that the pawl can be disengaged from its locking engagement with the bolt in the locked state of the locking mechanism, while the actuating release lever usually introduces a pivoting movement into the release lever itself. In this case, the two levers are designed separately in terms of function and mechanics from the perspective of their basic concept.

[0009] The two levers can now be selectively coupled to each other or decoupled from each other by means of an additionally provided coupling. If the two levers are coupled to each other, there is a rotationally fixed connection so that a load on the actuation release lever is transmitted and can also be transmitted to the pawl release lever, which then in turn disengages the pawl from its engagement with the bolt. The bolt can thus be opened in a spring-assisted manner and releases the associated and previously caught locking pin. A door equipped with the relevant motor vehicle lock can be easily opened in the example case.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment, the two rods are mounted coaxially to one another about a common rotation axis. The coupling element is also mounted coaxially to the two rods. As a result, the two rods can be pivoted together with the coupling element about a common rotation axis. This is particularly facilitated if the coupling element is designed to be linearly movable and is mounted for this purpose, for example, on an actuation release lever or on the two rods.

[0011] In order to achieve coupling and decoupling by means of the coupling, the coupling is equipped with at least one bolt which selectively couples and decouples the two rods. In most cases, two bolts are provided which are located opposite one another with reference to the common rotation axis of the two rods together with the coupling. In addition, a design is adopted in which at least one bolt penetrates an associated notch in the relevant rod. In this respect, it is conceivable that the bolt not only penetrates the relevant notch but can also move or be displaced in the notch. This is usually ensured by a push element, by means of which the coupling can be loaded, i.e. can be displaced linearly.

[0012] For example, the two rods can be equipped with notches arranged on the circumference of the circular surface. If two bolts are provided, which are opposite to each other with reference to the rotation axis, the notches on the corresponding circumferential sides are realized with reference to the central rotation axis.

[0013] If the bolt is inside the notch, the two rods are connected to each other in a manner that cannot rotate relative to each other. If, on the other hand, the bolt is removed from the notch, a relative movement between the two rods can be achieved or is conceivable, as will be described in detail below with reference to the description of the drawings. Due to this relative movement, any locking or other locking of the release lever, for example caused by a motor or electric drive or an actuating lever, can be easily released. In this case, it is only necessary for the coupling to release the two rods from each other so that a relative movement between the two rods can then be achieved.

[0014] Since the pawl is typically opened during the opening process against the force of the pawl spring assigned to it, the pawl spring in question can ensure that the pawl transitions and can also transition to its basic position after the two levers are disengaged in this way, and the locking tongue is then fixed in this basic position when transitioning to its locked position. For this purpose, the pawl spring can not only load the pawl accordingly, but also, according to the invention, can additionally move the pawl release lever relative to the actuation release lever, for example, when the actuation release lever is blocked.

[0015] Advantageously, the driving element for loading the coupling is a worm wheel. That is to say, the worm wheel or driving element mentioned for this purpose usually has an eccentric wheel or an arched protrusion on the circumferential side, by means of which the coupling is transferred from the coupling position it occupies in the basic position to the disengaged position. In practice, a spring can act on the coupling for this purpose, which preloads the coupling in the direction of the position in which it connects the two rods. The disengaged state of the coupling can now be assumed in the following way, that is, the driving element or the worm wheel is loaded and the coupling is moved to such an extent that, in the described example, one or both bolts leave the respectively associated notches, so that the desired relative movement between the claw release lever and the operating release lever as two components of the release lever can be achieved.

[0016] Here, it has finally been proved to be particularly advantageous that the push element can rotate around an axis, which extends perpendicularly to the axis of the release lever. In this way, the push element can act particularly simply on the stop edge of the coupling, and has achieved a compact structure.

[0017] The invention is based on the knowledge that the coupling is typically designed coplanarly with two rods that are also mounted coaxially. In contrast, the stop edge of the coupling can describe a plane that is perpendicular to this plane. In most cases, the axis for the push element is also arranged in this plane, so that a rotation about the axis of the push element causes the corresponding arched profile to pivot, which then in turn transfers the coupling from the "coupled" position it assumes in the basic position to the "disengaged" position relative to the two rods via the stop edge, i.e., by a linear adjustment process.

[0018] This provides a motor vehicle lock of particularly simple construction overall, which is suitable not only for manually actuating a specially designed two-part release lever, but also for using an electric drive therein. Of course, combinations are also conceivable in which the special release lever can be actuated not only manually but also electrically.

[0019] In either case, according to the invention, any collision of the release lever during its pivoting movement with, for example, the housing of a motor vehicle lock, any blocking caused by an electric drive and / or one or more operating levers does not (any more) result in the associated motor vehicle door not being able to be locked or only being able to be locked with difficulty after such an opening process.

[0020] More precisely, the push element acting on the coupling ensures that the two levers, which are usually connected to each other and are part of the release lever, are decoupled or separated from each other by the coupling. This allows a relative movement and the pawl can be moved back as a whole - usually by a pawl spring - to its initial position, from which the bolt and the caught bolt are transferred to the locked position and the pawl easily falls into and locks into engagement therein.

[0021] Finally, it is also conceivable that such a malfunction is detected, for example, using a sensor. The sensor can be a sensor that detects a pawl. For this purpose, a so-called pawl switch is used by way of example.

[0022] If the relevant sensor or pawl switch now determines that, for example, after an electric opening process by means of the release lever according to the invention, the pawl has not or has not completely reached or has reached its basic position for the subsequent locking process of the locking mechanism, this signal can be evaluated by the control unit in the following way, that is, by means of the control unit, the push element is actuated in a motor-driven manner in order to ensure the described disengagement of the two rods. Of course, the disengagement of the two rods can also be achieved manually. In this case, the push element or the worm gear realized here can be connected to the nut-shaped operating part or the usual operating part, for example, by a connecting rod or a usual connecting part, so that the operator can manually ensure the desired disengagement of the two rods.

[0023] All of the above-mentioned cases allow for an overall functionally adapted design and for the associated motor vehicle door to be completely locked even after an obstructive electric opening process. This also applies to the case where the locking mechanism has been opened manually and any subsequent blocking of the release lever or the pawl is observed. In all of the above-mentioned cases, the two-part release lever can be disengaged by means of the coupling, so that a relative movement between the two levers is permitted and the pawl can therefore assume its basic position necessary for the subsequent locking process by means of the pawl spring. This is a major advantage of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show only one embodiment; in the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 The motor vehicle lock according to the invention is shown in a basic position and the operating principle of the coupling is partially schematically illustrated,

[0026] Figure 2 Show according to Figure 1 Objects during electric opening,

[0027] Figure 3 Show according to Figure 2 In accordance with Figure 2 After the opening process and when the push element is actuated to disengage the two levers of the two-part release lever, and

[0028] Figure 4 Show according to Figure 3 The motor vehicle lock during the reset movement in the disengaged state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The motor vehicle lock is shown in the drawings, which is designed as a motor vehicle door lock. For this purpose, the motor vehicle lock or the motor vehicle door lock has a locking mechanism which mainly comprises a lock tongue 1 and a lock claw 2. Here, the lock tongue 1 is only Figure 1 In order to open the locking mechanism 1, 2, the locking pawl 2 is required to perform a movement in Figure 1 The swinging motion of the bolt 1 in the counterclockwise direction around its axis is shown schematically in FIG. Figure 1 The latch is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction schematically shown in the figure, for example by an acting spring force, and in the fully opened state, a locking pin (not shown) is released. The associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

[0030] The other basic structure also includes release levers 3, 4, which are designed in two parts according to this embodiment, as will be described in detail below. The locking pawl 2 can be acted upon by means of the release levers 3, 4. Specifically, the above-mentioned opening process of the locking mechanism 1, 2 and the locking pawl 2 along the Figure 1 The counterclockwise pivoting movement required for this purpose, which is schematically shown in FIG. 1 , requires that the release levers 3, 4 perform the same pivoting movement around their axes or rotation axes 5. Figure 1 Thus, the pawl release lever 3, which is a component of the two-part release lever 3, 4, can be moved against the raised arm of the locking pawl 2 and cause the locking pawl to move along the raised arm. Figure 1 The counterclockwise pivoting shown schematically in FIG. This causes the locking mechanisms 1 , 2 to open as described.

[0031] It is now particularly important according to the invention that the release lever 3, 4 is designed in two parts. In fact, the two-part release lever 3, 4 firstly comprises the pawl release lever 3 already mentioned, which acts on the pawl 2, and an additional actuation release lever 4. In this case, the actuation release lever 4 itself can interact with an actuation lever (not explicitly shown), an electric drive, or both. In principle, however, the actuation lever and / or electric drive mentioned can also act on the pawl release lever 3, so that the two-part release lever 3, 4 is moved along the entirety of the locking mechanism 1, 2 during the opening process. Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the embodiment shows a clockwise rotation about the rotation axis 5.

[0032] Another important point for the present invention is that the two rods, namely the pawl release rod 3 and the operating release rod 4, are selectively connected to each other or disconnected from each other via the coupling 6. For this purpose, the coupling 6 can be moved linearly, i.e., is designed to be linearly movable. Here, the coupling 6 is arranged and mounted on the two rods 3, 4 coaxially and coplanarly on the upper side or on the lower side (not shown). That is, the main extension of the coupling 6 coincides with the plane E spanned by the two rods 3, 4 in the area of ​​the rotation axis 5. This also applies to the rotational movement of the coupling 6, which is also realized around the common rotation axis 5 with the two rods 3, 4.

[0033] The coupling 6 is furthermore essentially equipped with at least one bolt 7 for selectively coupling and decoupling the two rods 3, 4. According to this embodiment, two bolts 7 are provided, which are located opposite each other with respect to the rotation axis 5, more precisely, diametrically opposite, as can be additionally provided according to the embodiment. Figure 1 Here, two bolts 7 are respectively engaged in the associated notches 8 in the relevant rods 3, 4.

[0034] exist Figure 1 It can be seen from the comparison of the detail view in FIG. 1 and the perspective view that the two bolts 7 and the notch 8 have an extension in the axial direction of the rotation axis 5, that is, perpendicular to the plane E mainly formed by the coupling 6 and the two rods 3, 4. Figure 1 The pushing movement (linear movement process) schematically indicated by an arrow in the detail view of FIG. 5 results in that the bolt 7 can be moved out of the associated recess 8, i.e. radially relative to the rotation axis 5, due to the pushing movement. This results in that the two rods 3, 4 are coupled to each other in the state in which the associated bolt 7 is inserted into the recess 8, while the extended state corresponds to the state in which the two rods 3, 4 are disengaged from each other.

[0035] In order to implement and realize Figure 1 The linear push motion already shown schematically in FIG. 1 is provided with an additional push element 9, by means of which the coupling 6 can be loaded. This is particularly true in Figure 2 and Figure 3The comparison clearly shows that Figure 2 8. In the case of a pushing movement by means of the pushing element 9, the coupling part 6 with the two opposite bolts 7 is moved radially relative to the rotation axis 5 and transversely to the notch 8. For this purpose, the pushing element 9 is designed as a worm gear 9 according to this embodiment. The pushing element or worm gear 9 acts on the stop edge 6a of the coupling part 6 for this purpose.

[0036] It can be seen that the stop edge 6a of the coupling part 6 extends essentially perpendicularly relative to the plane E. In this perpendicular plane, the push element or worm wheel 9 is also equipped with a correspondingly designed arched protrusion 10 in order to generate the desired push movement and to move the coupling part 6 linearly. For this purpose, the push element or worm wheel 9 is supported as a whole in a rotatable manner about an axis 11, which in turn extends perpendicularly to the rotation axis 5 of the release levers 3, 4.

[0037] The working principle is as follows. Figure 1 The motor vehicle lock is shown in the basic position. Figure 2 During the transition from , the release levers 3, 4 are loaded for the opening process. This corresponds to the release levers 3, 4 moving about their rotation axis 5 along the Figure 1 The clockwise direction shown schematically in FIG. Figure 2 At the end of the opening process of the view in , the stop edge 6a of the coupling member 6 is opposite to the pushing element or the worm gear 9. The pawl release lever 3 and the operating release lever 4 are connected to each other by the coupling member 6 in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0038] If during the opening process, the release levers 3 and 4 are locked, then Figures 2 to 3 During the transition process of the release lever 3, 4, the coupling piece or the coupling slide 6 can be linearly moved by the push element or the worm gear 9. The coupling slide was previously in a position that mechanically coupled the two rods 3, 4 to each other. As a result, the two rods 3, 4 swing synchronously around the common axis 5 during the opening process of the release lever 3, 4.

[0039] Now in this case, if there is any locking of the release levers 3, 4, such as Figure 3 As shown in the figure by the "cross" purely schematically, the pawl 2 cannot be transferred to its basic position by means of a pawl spring not shown. This can be detected in a sensory manner by means of a sensor or pawl switch already described at the beginning and not explicitly shown.

[0040] The control unit which queries the relevant sensor or pawl switch can then ensure that the push element 9 is loaded in such a way that the coupling element 6 is loaded according to Figure 2In the embodiment of the present invention and schematically indicated by the arrow there, the bolts 7 move to the "right". In this way, the two opposing bolts 7 leave their associated notches 8, so that the bolts 7 are then moved according to the Figure 3 In the functional view in FIG. 1 , the two rods 3 and 4 are disengaged from each other. This may cause a relative movement between the two rods 3 and 4, as can be seen in FIG. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen in the comparison.

[0041] This causes the claw release lever 3 to be released in the example shown. Figures 2 to 3 During the transition process, the rotation axis 5 (slightly) swings in the counterclockwise direction, such as Figure 3 As shown by the arrow in FIG. The pawl spring assigned to the pawl 2 and not explicitly shown ensures this. In any case, after the two rods 3, 4 are disengaged, the pawl 2 occupies a position similar to that in Figure 1 The basic position of the position in the middle. Then, the operating release lever 4 can also follow the swinging movement of the claw release lever 3, as can be seen from Figure 3 to Figure 4 In addition, the coupling 6 can be reset to its corresponding position in Figure 1 . This can be ensured by a spring which is not explicitly shown and which preloads the coupling element 6 in the direction of this basic position.

[0042] List of reference numerals:

[0043] 1 Lock tongue

[0044] 2 locking claws

[0045] 1.2 Locking mechanism

[0046] 3-claw release lever

[0047] 4 Operate the release lever

[0048] 3, 4 Release lever

[0049] 5 Rotation axis

[0050] 6 Connectors

[0051] 6a Stop edge

[0052] 7 bolts

[0053] 8 Notch

[0054] 9. The driving element or worm gear

[0055] 10 Arch forming part

[0056] 11 Axis

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) and a release lever (3, 4), wherein the locking mechanism mainly comprises a lock tongue (1) and a lock claw (2), and the release lever is used to load the lock claw (2) and to open the locking mechanism (1, 2). It is characterized in that The release lever (3, 4) is constructed in two parts, comprising a pawl release lever (3) for loading the pawl (2) and an operating release lever (4) for interacting with, for example, an operating lever and / or a drive device, wherein the two levers (3, 4) are selectively connected to or disconnected from each other via a linearly movable coupling member (6).

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two rods (3, 4) are mounted coaxially to one another about a common axis of rotation (5).

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that: The coupling element (6) is also mounted coaxially with the two rods (3, 4) and pivots together with the two rods about a common rotation axis (5).

4. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The coupling (6) is equipped with at least one bolt (7) for selectively coupling and decoupling the two rods (3, 4).

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that: Two bolts (7) are provided which are opposite to each other with the rotation axis (5) as a reference.

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: At least one bolt (7) engages in an associated recess (8) in the associated rod (3, 4).

7. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The coupling (6) can be loaded by means of a push element (9).

8. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that: The driving element (9) is designed as a worm gear (9).

9. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The pushing element (9) acts on the stop edge (6a) of the connecting piece (6).

10. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that: The push element (9) is rotatable about an axis (11) which extends perpendicularly to the rotation axis (5) of the release levers (3, 4).

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