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, which is equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) mainly comprising a bolt (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, an actuating lever system (4, 5) is provided which acts on the locking mechanism (1, 2) and comprises a coupling lever (5). In the engaged state, the coupling rod (5) ensures that the joystick system (4, 5) is closed for loading the locking mechanism (1, 2) and in the disengaged state, the joystick system is opened. In order to switch between two stable end positions, the coupling rod (5) engages with a pin (7) into a guide (8) of the positioning rod (9) which guides the pin. According to the invention, the guide (8) is designed as a two-stroke guide (8) such that the pin (7) reaches its first end position along a first stroke (11) by loading the coupling rod (5), and the pin reaches its second end position along a second stroke (12) separated from the first stroke after the coupling rod (5) has been loaded again.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which comprises a locking mechanism mainly composed of a lock tongue and a lock claw, and an operating lever system acting on the locking mechanism, wherein the operating lever system comprises a connecting rod, wherein the connecting rod closes the operating lever system in an engaged state to load the locking mechanism and disconnects the operating lever system in a disengaged state, wherein the connecting rod is engaged with a guide part / slideway / slide groove of a positioning rod by means of a pin part in order to switch between two stable end positions. Background Art

[0002] A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, of the conventional structure of the aforementioned type, as described, for example, in the patent document DE 10 2019 133 654 A1 of the applicant, for example, has a coupling rod, which is received in or on an operating lever so as to be pivotable about an axis. For this purpose, the coupling rod has a control curve or a guide, into which the coupling rod can engage with a pin. Depending on the position of the coupling rod or its pin in the guide, the operating lever supporting the coupling rod can act on the release lever and, by means of the operating lever system closed in this way, the locking pawl is disengaged from its engagement with the locking tongue in the locked position of the locking mechanism. In this way, the associated motor vehicle lock or its locking mechanism is opened.

[0003] However, in addition to this engaged state of the coupling rod and the associated one stable end position, the coupling rod can also be pivoted relative to the actuating lever in such a way that the coupling rod cannot engage with the release lever when the actuating lever is loaded. In this case, the coupling rod assumes its disengaged state as a further stable second end position. In this case, the aforementioned control curve or guide is provided on the actuating lever in the prior art.

[0004] In this way, the above teaching achieves that the actuating lever can be locked and the locking mechanism can be unlocked simultaneously by means of an additionally provided electric drive unit. This has been proven in principle. The electric drive device or the associated drive unit is thus endowed with a dual function.

[0005] The subject matter of a similar prior art document DE 10 2019 127 109 A1 also describes a motor vehicle lock of this type. In this case, a coupling rod is also provided, which is guided by means of a guide. For this purpose, the coupling rod has a pin, which engages in the guide. The guide is arranged in or on the adjusting rod. Thus, by means of an electric drive device that is provided again, the rod system can be transferred to a closed operating position by means of an emergency operating lever.

[0006] The prior art has been proven in principle. However, due to the partially complex movement of the coupling rod together with its pin inside the guide, functional malfunctions or even failures may occur. The present invention will remedy this in general. Summary of the invention

[0007] 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 functional safety is increased and failures are avoided.

[0008] In order to solve this technical problem, the present invention proposes, with respect to this type of motor vehicle lock, especially a motor vehicle door lock, that the guide portion arranged on or in the positioning rod is designed as a two-way guide portion, so that by loading the connecting rod, the pin portion reaches the first terminal position of the pin portion along a first stroke, and after the connecting rod is loaded again, the pin portion reaches the second terminal position of the pin portion along a second stroke separated from the first stroke.

[0009] Here, the two end positions, the first end position and the second end position, correspond to the engaged state and the disengaged state of the coupling rod, respectively. Both end positions are stably occupied here. Due to the different strokes for occupying the end positions, any failures are fundamentally avoided compared to the prior art.

[0010] This can be mainly attributed to the fact that the guide part or the two-way guide part according to the invention ultimately acts and works according to the so-called ballpoint pen principle. "The first loading of the connecting rod" causes the connecting rod or its pin to occupy its first end position along the first stroke. This corresponds to a single press and lock of the mechanism in the case of a ballpoint pen. "Reloading the connecting rod (advantageously in the same operating direction)" now causes the pin of the connecting rod to reach and occupy the second end position along a second stroke extending separately from the first stroke. In the case of a ballpoint pen, this corresponds to pressing again and releasing the aforementioned lock. In this regard, it is crucial according to the invention that the first stroke and the second stroke are separated from each other in terms of position and function, so that the first end position and the second end position are respectively occupied reliably and stably, and no functional failure or irrelevant functional state can occur and cannot be seen according to the invention at all.

[0011] In order to realize and implement this in detail, the following design is further adopted, that is, the two-way guide has at least one separating stop separating the two strokes from each other. In most cases, two separating stops are provided. In addition to the separating stop, an escape stop is also provided. The interaction between the escape stop and the separating stop ensures that the first stroke and the second stroke are separated from each other in terms of position and function and furthermore occupy the first end position and the second end position respectively stably and without mutual influence. As described above, for this purpose and advantageously according to the invention, the two separating stops and the escape stop are arranged in the guide.

[0012] The positioning rod with the guide part is itself equipped with a center zero spring. The center zero spring ensures that the guide part or the positioning rod has and occupies an initial position, from which the swinging movement of the positioning rod and thus the swinging movement of the guide part carried by the positioning rod is achieved respectively against the spring force, and the center zero spring ensures the reset action accordingly from this initial position. Here, the center zero spring can advantageously be designed as a helical torsion spring arranged on the support column of the positioning rod, the helical torsion spring having a winding section and two legs extending from the winding section. In most cases, the following measures are taken, namely, the winding section surrounds the support column, and the two legs are respectively arranged on the edge side of the positioning rod or load the positioning rod.

[0013] Furthermore, the coupling rod is usually provided with a return spring. The return spring ensures that the coupling rod is preloaded or reset similarly to the guide in the direction of the initial position assumed by the coupling rod and the guide. In order to move the coupling rod, the force of the return spring assigned to the coupling rod must be overcome.

[0014] In particular, the coupling rod is equipped at least in a two-arm manner with a pin arm with a pin portion and an additional coupling arm. The operating lever system can be closed by means of the coupling arm in the engaged state of the coupling rod and disconnected in the disengaged state. For this purpose, the coupling rod can be supported on the operating lever and in the engaged state, when the operating lever is loaded, drive a release lever, which in turn disengages the pawl from its locking engagement with the bolt. In contrast, the disengaged state of the coupling rod corresponds to the coupling rod supported thereon making the loading of the operating lever ineffective for the release lever, so that the operating lever system is mechanically interrupted in this case and cannot open the locking mechanism including the bolt and the pawl in the locked state.

[0015] The coupling arm of the coupling rod and the pin arm with the pin portion, which are exemplary as described above and which establish a mechanical connection from the operating lever to the release lever, are generally arranged spaced apart from each other, in particular spaced apart at a certain angle. It has been proven in practice that the coupling arm and the pin arm are mounted so as to be rotatable about a common axis. In most cases, the coupling rod is additionally equipped with an operating arm. Here, the operating arm, the pin arm and the coupling arm have a common axis for the coupling rod to rotate. The coupling rod can be loaded by the operating arm. As described above, the coupling rod can thus be guided in the guide part by its pin portion between two stable end positions.

[0016] Here, "loading the coupling rod via its actuating arm" can be realized and implemented in any manner and method. For example, it is conceivable to manually load the coupling rod via the actuating arm. Direct manual loading has proven to be advantageous here. It is also conceivable to load the actuating arm indirectly or directly, for example via the lock cylinder. However, in the usual case, the coupling rod is loaded via the coupling arm and thus actuated by means of an electric drive. The electric drive can assume multiple functions in such a way that it can not only engage and disengage the coupling rod, but also enable electric opening.

[0017] Corresponding to this can be the "armed" functional position of the associated safety device in the engaged state and the "safe" functional position in the disengaged state. Thus, in the "armed" position of the safety device, the engaged coupling rod ensures that the actuating lever mechanism is mechanically closed and thus the locking mechanism is opened "by, for example, manually loading the actuating lever mechanism via an outside door handle or an inside door handle". The "safe" position of the safety device and thus the disengaged position of the coupling rod relative to the actuating lever mechanism corresponds to the situation in which manual loading of the inside door handle or the outside door handle has no effect on the locking mechanism.

[0018] In addition to the function of the electric drive as a component of the safety device, within the scope of the invention, due to the achieved guide control of the coupling rod, the electric drive can in principle also enable the locking mechanism in question to be opened electrically, as described in detail in the prior art of this type according to DE 10 2019 133 654 A1. In either case, the guide is designed according to the invention as a two-way guide, which has a first stroke and a second stroke separated therefrom and two stable end positions respectively achieved thereby, which ensures a structure that is particularly adapted to the function and which simultaneously prevents any functional failures. This is a major advantage of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

[0020] Figures 1 to 6The connecting rod is shown from its Figure 1 The initial position shown in the figure follows the first stroke until the Figure 6 A view of the motor vehicle lock according to the invention during the transition to the first end position,

[0021] Figures 7 to 10 The connecting rod is shown from the corresponding Figure 6 The second stroke starts from the first end position and continues until the Fig.10 The travel course of its stable second end position in the view of Figure 1 The initial positions coincide with each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The motor vehicle lock is shown in the drawing, which is a motor vehicle door lock. The motor vehicle lock is simplified to its elements that are important for the present invention. In fact, the motor vehicle lock or the motor vehicle door lock has only Figure 1 The locking mechanism 1, 2 which is briefly outlined in the figure comprises a locking tongue 1 and a locking pawl 2. In addition, a locking pin 3 which is grasped by the locking tongue 1 as well as a release lever 4 and a connecting rod 5 can also be seen.

[0023] The release lever 4 and the coupling lever 5 define as a whole an actuating lever system 4, 5, by means of which the opening of the Figure 1 The locking mechanism 1, 2 shown in FIG. Figure 1 The opening movement of the locking mechanism 1, 2 shown in the locked state in FIG. 1 corresponds to the fact that the coupling rod 5 is not only in its Figure 1 The engagement state shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 and the ... Figure 1 For this reason, the coupling rod 5 can be supported on a joystick not shown in detail.

[0024] In the case of actuation of the actuating rod, and therefore the coupling rod 5, about its axis 6 or about another axis Figure 1 In the case of the swinging movement schematically sketched in FIG. 1 , the coupling rod 5 corresponds to Figure 1 The engagement state shown in the dashed view in FIG. 1 results in that the coupling lever 5 acts and can act on the release lever 4 with its coupling arm 5a, which in turn loads the pawl 2. The pawl 2 is thus engaged in accordance with Figure 1 In the example of , the locking bolt 1 is swung in the counterclockwise direction about its axis and releases the locking bolt 1 which was previously locked with the locking pawl 2 in the locked position of the locking mechanism 1, 2. Then, the locking bolt 1 can be moved in the Figure 1 The clockwise direction of the simplified outline in FIG. 2 is unscrewed and releases the locking pin 3 itself, thus releasing the associated motor vehicle door. Of course, this is only exemplary and purely schematic.

[0025] In either case, the following design scheme is adopted as a whole, that is, the operating lever system 4, 5 acting on the locking mechanism 1, 2 is equipped with the above-mentioned connecting rod 5. The connecting rod 5 is Figure 1 In the engaged state shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 , it is ensured that the operating lever system 4, 5 is closed to load the locking mechanism 1, 2. The coupling rod 5 is Figure 1 The solid line in Figure 1 The disengaged state occupied in corresponds to the actuation lever system 4, 5 being disconnected.

[0026] Now, in order to move the coupling rod 5 between the two aforementioned stable end positions, i.e., between the coupling rod 5 Figure 1 The disengaged state shown in the figure or the initial position presented here is different from the one shown in the figure. Figure 6 In order to reliably move back and forth between the functional position and the engagement position in the coupling rod 5, and to prevent functional failures, the coupling rod 5 is engaged with a pin 7 in a guide 8 that guides the pin, that is, the coupling rod 5, for switching between the two stable end positions. Here, the guide 8 is arranged on a positioning rod 9. The positioning rod 9 is only schematically shown and can be swiveled around an axis 10 according to this embodiment. The positioning rod 9 can be an adjusting rod, as it is fundamentally arranged in similar motor vehicle locks, especially in the prior art of this type described according to DE 10 2019 133 654A1.

[0027] As described above, the relevant guide 8 on or in the positioning rod 9 is designed as a two-way guide 8 according to this embodiment. In fact, the pin 7 on the coupling rod 5 can be passed through the first stroke 11 in the guide 8 as a whole until it reaches the pin 7. Figure 6 In addition, the pin 7 can complete a second stroke 12, that is, from the corresponding Figure 6 From the first end position of the view in FIG. 1 to the second end position, as in FIG. Fig.10 and in the same way according to Figure 1 In the scope of this embodiment, corresponding to Figure 1 or Fig.10 The second end position can correspond to the "safety" position of the safety device, which in turn corresponds to the "disengaged" state of the coupling rod 5. Figure 6 The first end position in the functional position is the "released" state of the safety device and correspondingly the "engaged" position of the coupling rod 5. The safety device can be a locking device, a child lock locking device, an anti-theft lock locking device or a combination thereof.

[0028] It can be seen that the guide portion 8 is not only designed as a two-way guide portion 8, but also designed so that, by loading the coupling rod 5, the pin portion 7 is brought along its first stroke 11 to the position at which the pin 7 is located. Figure 6and after the coupling rod 5 has been acted upon again (in the same actuating direction), along a second stroke 12 separated therefrom, to a position corresponding to the position in Fig.10 or Figure 1 Here, the two strokes 11, 12 are separated from each other in terms of position and function.

[0029] This can be attributed to the fact that the guide 8 functions according to the ballpoint pen principle already described at the beginning. Figure 1 The first loading of the coupling rod 5 in the functional position of the second end position or in accordance with the second end position causes the pin 7 to transition to the Figure 6 The first end position of the guide 8 is locked or fixed there to a certain extent. For this purpose, the two-way guide 8 is equipped with a separation stop 81 that separates the two strokes 11, 12 from each other. According to this embodiment, two separation stops 81, 82 are provided. In addition to the two separation stops 81, 82, an escape stop 83 can also be seen.

[0030] Here, the two separating stops 81, 82 are located on both sides of the escape stop 83, which is opposite to the recess formed between the two separating stops 81, 82, into which the pin 7 enters at the end of the first stroke 11 and at the corresponding Figure 6 In the first end position of the dividing element, the dividing element is held against the dividing stop 82 .

[0031] The positioning rod 9 is equipped with a central zero spring 13, which is only schematically outlined and can be designed as a helical torsion spring according to this embodiment, which surrounds the support column defining the axis 10 with its winding section and has two legs extending from the winding section. The coupling rod 5 itself is equipped with a return spring 14, which ensures that the coupling rod 5 is transferred to its position in the Figure 1 and Fig.10 The initial position or the stable second end position (“safety” position of the safety device and “disengagement” position of the coupling rod 5 ) present in FIG.

[0032] Finally, it can also be seen that the coupling rod 5 is equipped with a pin arm 5b that carries the pin 7 in addition to the coupling arm 5a already mentioned. In addition, an actuating arm 5c is provided in most cases. Here, the three arms 5a, 5b and 5c mentioned above of the coupling rod 5 are rotatably connected to a common shaft 6. In addition, it can be seen from this embodiment that the three arms 5a, 5b and 5c define the coupling rod 5 at an angle relative to each other.

[0033] The working principle is as follows. Figure 1 or Fig.10Starting from the second end position or initial position ("safety" position or "disengagement" position) in the embodiment, the coupling rod 5 or its operating arm 5c is loaded in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the shaft 6, so that the pin portion 7 is moved from Figure 1 From the second end position or initial position in the guide 8, a first stroke 11 is performed in the guide 8. Figure 1 to Figure 2 In this process, the return spring 14 that loads the coupling rod 5 is loaded and preloaded. At the same time, the pin 7 ensures that the positioning rod 9 with the guide 8 moves along the first stroke 11 when it moves in the guide 8. Figure 1 to Figure 2 During the transition process, the pin portion 7 on the pin arm 5b of the connecting rod 5 continues to move along the first stroke 11 until the pin portion 7 reaches the position in the guide portion 8. Figure 3 The end position shown in FIG. 4 is now the coupling rod 5 which is maximally deflected about its axis 6 and finally reaches the end position shown in FIG. Figure 1 The "joined" position is shown in dashed lines. Figure 3 to Figure 4 When the pin 7 moves further in the guide 8 during the transition process, the central zero spring 13 loading the positioning rod 9 ensures that the positioning rod 9 and thus the guide 8 are reset. Figure 1 to Figure 2 And further to Figure 3 During the transition process, the positioning rod 9 and the guide part 8 swing together in the counterclockwise direction around the axis 10, so that the center zero spring 13 has been deflected. Now, the center zero spring 13 reaches Figure 3 After the functional position in the middle is ensured, the positioning rod 9 and thus the guide part 8 is reset in the counterclockwise direction, as can be done by Figure 3 to Figure 4 Now, the pin 7 abuts against the avoidance stop 83.

[0034] Thus, the return spring 14 loading the connecting rod 5 can make the connecting rod 5 Figures 4 to 5 During the transition process, the pin portion 7 is reset in the clockwise direction to such an extent that it comes into contact with the recess between the two separating stops 81 and 82 . Figure 5 Now in Figures 5 and 6 During the further transition process, the center zero spring 13 ensures that the positioning rod 9 and thus the guide part 8 move in the clockwise direction around the axis 10 toward the positioning rod 9 and the guide part 8 corresponding to Figure 1 The direction of the initial position of the view is loaded, so that finally at the end of the first stroke 11, the pin portion 7 reaches the first terminal position, as Figure 6 Since the positioning rod 9 and thus the guide part 8 are (slightly) preloaded in the clockwise direction relative to the axis 10 by means of the central zero position spring 13, they are stably positioned in the Figure 6 This terminal position in.

[0035] Now, in order to determine the connection between the guide 8 and the coupling rod 5 according to Figure 6 In the "engaged" position of the safety device or the "released" position of the safety device, from the stable first end position of the pin 7, a transition can be made again to the "engaged" position according to Fig.10 or Figure 1 In order to achieve the second end position of the functional position in the embodiment, the coupling rod 5 needs to be loaded again so that the pin portion 7 can complete the second stroke 12 separated from the first stroke 11 until it reaches the second end position according to the functional position in the embodiment. Fig.10 The second end position in the view from Figure 6 to Figure 7 This process can be seen in the transition process of . In fact, the loading of the coupling rod 5 corresponds in this case to the coupling rod 5 being loaded again around its axis 6 in the counterclockwise direction.

[0036] For this purpose, the associated actuating arm 5c can be loaded manually or by means of an electric drive, as has already been explained in the description above. That is, similar to the previously explained ballpoint pen principle, reloading in the same direction of the coupling rod 5 ensures that the previously achieved locking is released and can be released after the pin 7 has completed the first stroke 11 or reaches the position according to Figure 6 The first end position in the view of Figure 6 to Figure 7 During the transition process of "the coupling rod 5 is loaded in the counterclockwise direction around its axis 6 on its operating arm 5c", the pin portion 7 can leave the lower separation stop 82. As a result, the center zero spring 13 can load the positioning rod 9 in the counterclockwise direction around the axis 10 of the positioning rod, so that the pin portion 7 is moved from the lower separation stop 82 to the lower separation stop 82. Figure 7 The functional position of Figure 8 location.

[0037] Now from pin 7 Figure 8 From the functional position in the middle, the return spring 14 loading the coupling rod 5 ensures that the coupling rod 5 is swung in the clockwise direction around its axis 6 and thus along the second stroke 12 towards its corresponding Fig.10 or Figure 1 The second end position of the view in the Figures 8 to 9 The return spring 14 that loads the coupling rod 5 not only ensures that the coupling rod 5 pivots in the clockwise direction around its axis 6 during this process, but also that the pin portion 7 at the end of the pin arm 5b of the coupling rod 5 that moves along the second stroke 12 pivots the positioning rod 9 and thus the guide portion 8 around the axis 10 in the clockwise direction beyond the second stroke 12. Figure 1 The initial position shown in Figures 8 to 9 can be seen in the transition process.

[0038] As soon as the pin 7 has reached the free region there at the end of the second stroke 12, the positioning rod 9 can be reset again by means of the central zero position spring 13, which corresponds to the positioning rod 9 and thus the guide part 8 being swiveled in the counterclockwise direction about the associated axis 10, as can be seen from the Figures 9 and 10 Now, the connecting rod 5 or the connecting arm 5a has reached its corresponding Figure 1 The second end position of the initial position in the second stroke 12 is as follows: Fig.10 As presented in .

[0039] List of reference numerals:

[0040] Lock tongue 1

[0041] Locking claw 2

[0042] Locking mechanism 1, 2

[0043] Lock pin 3

[0044] Release lever 4

[0045] Connecting rod 5

[0046] Joystick system 4, 5

[0047] Connecting arm 5a

[0048] Pin arm 5b

[0049] Arms 5a, 5b, 5c

[0050] Axis 6

[0051] Pin 7

[0052] Guide 8

[0053] Separation stoppers 81, 82

[0054] Avoidance stopper 83

[0055] Positioning rod 9

[0056] Axis 10

[0057] Itinerary 11

[0058] Itinerary 12

[0059] Center zero spring 13

[0060] Return spring 14

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism mainly composed of a lock tongue (1) and a lock claw (2), and an operating lever system (4, 5) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2), wherein the operating lever system comprises a connecting rod (5), wherein: The coupling rod (5) in the engaged state closes the actuating lever system (4, 5) to load the locking mechanism (1, 2) and in the disengaged state disconnects the actuating lever system, wherein the coupling rod (5) engages with a pin (7) in a guide (8) of a locking rod (9) for switching between two stable end positions, It is characterized in that The guide portion (8) is designed as a two-way guide portion (8), so that by loading the connecting rod (5), the pin portion (7) reaches the first end position of the pin portion along a first stroke (11), and after the connecting rod (5) is loaded again, the pin portion reaches the second end position of the pin portion along a second stroke (12) separated from the first stroke.

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The double-stroke guide (8) has at least one separating stop (81, 82) for separating two strokes (11, 12) from each other.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that: In addition to the separation stop parts (81, 82), an avoidance stop part (83) is also provided.

4. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: Two separation stoppers (81, 82) and an avoidance stopper (83) are arranged in the guide portion (8).

5. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The positioning rod (9) is equipped with a center zero position spring (13).

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that: The central zero position spring (13) is designed as a helical torsion spring arranged on a supporting column of the positioning rod (9), and the helical torsion spring has a winding section and two legs extending from the winding section.

7. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The connecting rod (5) has a return spring (14).

8. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The connecting rod (5) is equipped at least in a double-arm manner with a pin arm (5b) having the pin portion (7) and a connecting arm (5a).

9. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that: The connecting arm (5a) and the pin arm (5b) are mounted so as to be rotatable about a common axis (6).

10. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: The coupling rod (5) additionally has an actuating arm (5c).

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