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) comprising mainly a locking bolt (1) and a locking claw (2). Furthermore, a lever train (4, 5) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2) is provided, which comprises a coupling lever (5). The coupling lever (5) ensures in the engaged state that the lever train (4, 5) is closed to load the locking mechanism (1, 2) and in the disengaged state that the lever train is opened. In order to switch between two stable end positions, the coupling lever (5) engages with a pin (7) into a guide (8) of a positioning lever (9), which guides the pin (7). According to the invention, the guide (8) is designed as a double stroke guide (8), so that by loading the coupling lever (5) the pin (7) is brought along a first stroke (11) to its first end position and after the coupling lever (5) is loaded again along a second stroke (12) separate from the first stroke to the second end position of the pin.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vehicle lock, particularly a vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism mainly composed of a bolt and a pawl, and an operating lever system acting on the locking mechanism. The operating lever system includes 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. The connecting rod is engaged with a guide portion / slide / groove of a positioning rod to guide the pin in order to switch between two stable end positions. Background Technology

[0002] Motor vehicle locks, particularly motor vehicle door locks, of the aforementioned type as described in, for example, the applicant's patent document DE 10 2019 133 654 A1, exemplarily possess a connecting rod that is oscillatingly received in or on a control lever about an axis. For this purpose, the connecting rod has a control channel or guide portion, which can be engaged with the control channel or guide portion by a pin. Depending on the position of the connecting rod or its pin portion within the guide portion, the control lever supporting the connecting rod can act on a release lever, and the control lever system closed in this manner disengages the pawl from its engagement with the bolt in the locked position of the locking mechanism. This unlocks the associated motor vehicle lock or its locking mechanism.

[0003] However, in addition to the engaged state and associated stable end position of the connecting rod, the connecting rod can also swing relative to the control lever in such a way that it cannot engage with the release lever when the control lever is loaded. In this case, the connecting rod occupies its disengaged state as another stable second end position. Here, the aforementioned control curve or guide is provided on the control lever in the prior art.

[0004] This is achieved in the aforementioned teachings, whereby the additionally equipped electric drive unit can simultaneously lock the lever and unlock the locking mechanism. This principle has been proven. This thus endows the electric drive device, or related drive unit, with dual functionality.

[0005] Similar prior art document DE 10 2019 127 109 A1 also describes this type of motor vehicle lock. In this case, a connecting rod is also provided, which is guided by a guide. For this purpose, the connecting rod has a pin that engages with the guide. The guide is located in or on an adjusting rod. Thus, by means of a re-installed electric drive, the lever system can be moved to the closed operating position via an emergency operating lever.

[0006] The existing technology has been proven in principle. However, due to the complex movement of the connecting rod and its pin within the guide section, functional malfunctions or even failures may occur. In this regard, the present invention provides a general remedy. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to develop such a vehicle lock, especially a vehicle door lock, to improve functional security and avoid failure.

[0008] To solve this technical problem, the present invention proposes a type of motor vehicle lock, particularly a motor vehicle door lock, in which the guide portion provided on or in the positioning rod is designed as a two-way guide portion, so that by loading the connecting rod, the pin reaches the first end position of the pin along the first stroke, and after the connecting rod is reloaded, the pin reaches the second end position of the pin along the second stroke separate from the first stroke.

[0009] Here, the two terminal positions, namely the first terminal position and the second terminal position, correspond to the engaged and disengaged states of the connecting rod, respectively. The rod stably occupies both terminal positions. Because the stroke required to occupy each terminal position is different, any failures are fundamentally avoided compared to existing technologies.

[0010] This can be mainly attributed to the fact that the guide section, or the two-way guide section according to the invention, ultimately functions and operates based on the so-called ballpoint pen principle. "A single and initial loading of the connecting rod" causes the connecting rod or its pin to occupy its first terminal position along the first stroke. In the case of a ballpoint pen, this corresponds to a single press and locking of the mechanism. "(Advantageously along the same direction of operation) Reloading the connecting rod" now, according to the invention, causes the pin of the connecting rod to reach and occupy the second terminal position along a second stroke that extends separately from the first stroke. In the case of a ballpoint pen, this corresponds to a second press and release of the aforementioned locking mechanism. The key aspect of the invention in this respect is that the first and second strokes are separate from each other in position and function, thereby reliably and stably occupying the first and second terminal positions respectively, and fundamentally preventing and observing any functional malfunctions or irrelevant functional states according to the invention.

[0011] To achieve and implement this in detail, a further design is adopted in which the two-stroke guide has at least one separating stop that separates the two strokes from each other. In most cases, two separating stops are provided. In addition to the separating stops, a clearance stop is also provided. Here, the interaction between the clearance stop and the separating stops ensures that the first and second strokes are separated from each other in position and function, and that they respectively and stably occupy the first and second terminal positions without affecting each other. As described above, for this purpose and advantageously according to the invention, two separating stops and a clearance stop are provided within the guide.

[0012] The positioning rod with the guide section is equipped with a center zero-position spring. The center zero-position spring ensures that the guide section, or positioning rod, has and occupies an initial position, and from this initial position, the spring force is overcome to achieve the swinging motion of the positioning rod, and thereby the swinging motion of the guide section carried by the positioning rod. The center zero-position spring correspondingly ensures a reset function from this initial position. Here, the center zero-position spring can advantageously be designed as a helical torsion spring arranged on the support column of the positioning rod, having a coiled section and two legs extending from this coiled section. In most cases, the coiled section surrounds the support column, and the two legs are respectively arranged on the edge side of the positioning rod, or in other words, loading the positioning rod.

[0013] In addition, a common measure is to equip the connecting rod with a return spring. The return spring ensures that the connecting rod, similar to the guide, is preloaded or reset in the direction of its initial position occupied by the connecting rod and the guide. Now, to move the connecting rod, the force of the return spring associated with the connecting rod must be overcome.

[0014] Specifically, the connecting rod is equipped with at least two arms, including a pin arm with a pin and an additional connecting arm. The operating lever system can be closed in the engaged state and disengaged in the disengaged state by means of the connecting arm. For this purpose, the connecting rod can be supported on the operating lever and, in the engaged state, actuates the release lever when the operating lever is loaded, which in turn disengages the locking pawl from its locking engagement with the bolt. Conversely, the disengaged state of the connecting rod corresponds to the loading of the operating lever onto the release lever being ineffective by the connecting rod supported thereon, thus mechanically disengaging the operating lever system and preventing the locking mechanism, including the bolt and locking pawl, from being locked in the locked state.

[0015] As described above, in the exemplary mechanical connection establishing the linkage from the lever to the release lever, the connecting arm and the pin arm with the pin are generally arranged spaced apart from each other, especially at a certain angle. It has been demonstrated in practice that the connecting arm and the pin arm are mounted to rotate about a common axis. In most cases, the connecting lever is additionally equipped with a control arm. Here, the control arm, the pin arm, and the connecting arm have a common axis for rotating the connecting lever. The connecting lever can be loaded via the control arm. Thus, as described above, the connecting lever can be guided within the guide section by its pin between two stable end positions.

[0016] Here, "loading the connecting rod via the operating arm of the connecting rod" can be achieved and implemented in any manner and method. For example, it can be considered to manually load the connecting rod via the operating arm. Direct manual loading has proven advantageous. Similarly, it can be considered to load the operating arm indirectly or directly, for example, via the lock cylinder. However, in general, the connecting rod is loaded and thus manipulated via the connecting arm by means of an electric drive device. Here, the electric drive device can perform multiple functions, namely, by means of the electric drive device not only to engage and disengage the connecting rod, but also to achieve electric opening.

[0017] This corresponds to the "disengaged" position and the "secure" position of the associated safety device in the engaged state and disengaged state, respectively. Therefore, in the "disengaged" position, the engaged connecting rod ensures that the lever mechanism is mechanically closed, and thus the locking mechanism is opened "by manually applying the lever mechanism, for example, via the exterior or interior door handle." The "secure" position, and therefore the disengaged position of the connecting rod relative to the lever system, corresponds to the situation where manual application to the interior or exterior door handle has no effect on the locking mechanism.

[0018] In addition to its function as an electric drive unit as part of a safety device, within the scope of this invention, the electric drive unit can, in principle, electrically open the locking mechanism involved due to the guide control achieved by the connecting rod, as described in detail in the prior art of this type according to DE 10 2019 133 654 A1. In either case, the guide unit is designed according to the invention as a two-way guide unit, having a first stroke and a separate second stroke, and two stable end positions respectively achieved therefrom. This ensures a structure particularly suited to the function while preventing any functional failure. This is a major advantage of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only one embodiment; in the drawings:

[0020] Figures 1 to 6Shown in the connecting rod from its in Figure 1 The initial position shown in the diagram follows the first stroke until it is determined according to... Figure 6 The vehicle lock according to the invention during the transition process of the first terminal position in the view,

[0021] Figures 7 to 10 The connecting rod is shown from the corresponding Figure 6 The first terminal position begins along the second stroke until, according to Figure 10 The line progression in the view, its stable second terminal position, which is consistent with... Figure 1 Their initial positions coincide. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The accompanying drawings show a vehicle lock, which is a vehicle door lock. The vehicle lock is simplified to its essential element for this invention. In reality, a vehicle lock, or vehicle door lock, has only... Figure 1 The simplified outline shows locking mechanisms 1 and 2, including a bolt 1 and a pawl 2. Also visible are the locking pin 3 held by the bolt 1, the release lever 4, and the connecting lever 5.

[0023] Release lever 4 and connecting lever 5 together define the control lever system 4 and 5, which allows the opening of the control lever system. Figure 1 Locking mechanisms 1 and 2 are shown in the image. Figure 1 The opening movement of locking mechanisms 1 and 2, shown in the locked state, corresponds to the following in this embodiment: the connecting rod 5 is not only in its locked state... Figure 1 The engagement state is shown in dashed lines, and additionally, it is performed counterclockwise around its axis 6. Figure 1 The swing motion is roughly sketched in the middle. For this purpose, the connecting rod 5 can be supported on the control lever, which is not shown in detail.

[0024] The joystick, and therefore the connecting rod 5, is positioned around its axis 6 or around other axes. Figure 1 In the case of the simplified swing motion, the corresponding action of the connecting rod 5 is as follows: Figure 1 The engagement state shown in the view indicated by the dashed line is caused here, where the connecting rod 5 acts on and can act on the release rod 4 via its connecting arm 5a, the release rod itself loading the locking pawl 2. Therefore, the locking pawl 2, according to... Figure 1 In the example case, it swings counterclockwise around its axis and releases the latch 1, which was previously locked in the locked position with the pawl 2 in the locking mechanisms 1 and 2. Thus, the latch 1 can then move along... Figure 1 The lock is opened by turning clockwise, as shown in the simplified diagram, and the locking pin 3 is released, thus releasing the associated vehicle door. Of course, this is merely an example and purely illustrative.

[0025] In either case, the overall design scheme is as follows: the operating levers 4 and 5 acting on the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 are equipped with the aforementioned connecting rod 5. The connecting rod 5... Figure 1 The dotted lines indicate that in their engaged state, the levers 4 and 5 are closed to engage the locking mechanisms 1 and 2. The connecting lever 5... Figure 1 The solid line in the middle and in Figure 1 The disengaged state occupied in the middle corresponds to the disengagement of control levers 4 and 5.

[0026] Now, in order to position the connecting rod 5 between the two aforementioned stable end positions, that is, in the position of the connecting rod 5... Figure 1 The disengaged state shown in the diagram, or the initial position presented here, is consistent with the state shown in the diagram. Figure 6 The connecting rod 5 reliably moves back and forth between the engagement positions of the functional positions, and in order to prevent functional failure, the connecting rod 5 is engaged by a pin 7 into a guide portion 8 that guides the pin, i.e., guides the connecting rod 5, in order to facilitate switching between the two stable end positions. Here, the guide portion 8 is provided on the positioning rod 9. The positioning rod 9 is only shown schematically and, according to this embodiment, can swing about the axis 10. The positioning rod 9 can be an adjusting rod, as is essentially the same in similar motor vehicle locks, especially in the prior art of this type according to DE 10 2019 133 654A1.

[0027] As described above, the guide portion 8 on or within the positioning rod 9 is designed as a two-way guide portion 8 according to this embodiment. In practice, the pin portion 7 on the connecting rod 5 can travel entirely within the guide portion 8 through the first stroke 11 until it reaches the pin portion 7, according to... Figure 6 The first terminal position in the functional position. Furthermore, the pin 7 is capable of completing the second stroke 12, that is, from the corresponding... Figure 6 The view moves from the first end position to the second end position, as shown in... Figure 10 And in the same way according to Figure 1 Presented in the initial position. Within the scope of this embodiment, corresponding to Figure 1 or Figure 10 The second terminal position can correspond to the "safe" position of the safety device, which in turn corresponds to the "disengaged" state of the connecting rod 5. And according to... Figure 6 The first terminal position in the functional positions is the "disarmed" state of the safety device, and correspondingly, the "engaged" position of the connecting 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 section 8 is not only designed as a two-way guide section 8, but also designed so that, by loading the connecting rod 5, the pin section 7 reaches the destination along its first stroke 11. Figure 6The first terminal position, and after reloading the connecting rod 5 (in the same direction of operation), transitions along the second stroke 12 separate from it to the position corresponding to the position in the first terminal position. Figure 10 or Figure 1 The second terminal position in the view. Here, the two routes 11 and 12 are separated from each other in terms of position and function.

[0029] This can be attributed to the fact that guide section 8 operates according to the ballpoint pen principle already described at the beginning. At this moment, from... Figure 1 The first loading of the connecting rod 5 is caused by the functional position of the second terminal, and the pin 7 transitions to the position according to... Figure 6 The first terminal position is locked or fixed to a certain extent. For this purpose, the two-way guide 8 is equipped with a separating stop 81 that separates the two strokes 11, 12 from each other. According to this embodiment, two separating stops 81, 82 are provided. In addition, in addition to the two separating stops 81, 82, an avoidance stop 83 can also be seen.

[0030] Here, two separating stops 81 and 82 are located on either side of the avoidance stop 83, which is opposite to the recess formed between the two separating stops 81 and 82. The pin 7 enters the recess at the end of the first stroke 11 and is in the corresponding position. Figure 6 It is held against the separating stop 82 in the first terminal position.

[0031] The positioning rod 9 is equipped with a minimally sketched center zero-position spring 13, which, according to this embodiment, can be designed as a helical torsion spring. The center zero-position spring utilizes its coiled section to surround the support post defining the shaft 10 and has two legs extending from the coiled section. The connecting rod 5 itself is equipped with a return spring 14, which ensures that the connecting rod 5 is transferred to its position... Figure 1 and Figure 10 The initial position or stable second terminal position presented in the middle (the "safety" position of the safety device and the "disengagement" position of the connecting rod 5).

[0032] Finally, it can be seen that, in addition to the already discussed connecting arm 5a, the connecting rod 5 is additionally equipped with a pin arm 5b that supports the pin portion 7. Furthermore, in most cases, an operating arm 5c is also provided. Here, the three arms 5a, 5b, and 5c previously discussed for the connecting rod 5 are rotatably connected to a common shaft 6. Furthermore, it can be seen from this embodiment that the three arms 5a, 5b, and 5c define the connecting rod 5 at a certain angle relative to each other.

[0033] The working principle is as follows. From the connecting rod 5 in Figure 1 or Figure 10Starting from the second terminal position or initial position ("safe" position or "disengaged" position), the loading on the connecting rod 5 or its operating arm 5c in a counterclockwise direction with respect to shaft 6 causes pin 7 to... Figure 1 The first stroke 11 begins within the guide section 8 from the second terminal position, or initial position. This can be achieved from... Figures 1 to 2 This is evident during the transition process. Here, the return spring 14 of the loading connecting rod 5 is loaded and preloaded. Simultaneously, the pin 7 ensures, as it moves along its first stroke 11 within the guide 8, that the positioning rod 9 with the guide 8 is in contact with the guide. Figures 1 to 2 During the transition, it swings slightly counterclockwise around its axis 10. At this time, the pin 7 on the pin arm 5b of the connecting rod 5 continues to move along the first stroke 11 until the pin 7 reaches the guide portion 8. Figure 3 The terminal position is shown in the diagram. At this point, the connecting rod 5 is offset to its maximum around its axis 6 and finally reaches the position shown in the diagram. Figure 1 The "joint" position is indicated by a dashed line. (From...) Figures 3 to 4 During the transition process, when the pin 7 moves further within the guide 8, the center zero-position spring 13 of the loading positioning rod 9 ensures that the positioning rod 9 and therefore the guide 8 are reset. At this time, from Figures 1 to 2 And further to Figure 3 During the transition, the positioning rod 9 and the guide part 8 swing counterclockwise around the axis 10, thereby shifting the center zero-position spring 13. Now, the center zero-position spring 13 reaches... Figure 3 After ensuring the functional position, the positioning rod 9 and therefore the guide part 8 are reset in a counterclockwise direction, as can be achieved by means of... Figures 3 to 4 The transition process is evident. Now, the sales section 7 is abutting against the avoidance stop section 83.

[0034] Therefore, the return spring 14 of the loading connecting rod 5 can make the connecting rod 5 return to its original position. Figures 4 to 5 During the transition, it is reset clockwise to such an extent that the pin 7 abuts against the recess between the two separating stops 81 and 82. Figure 5 This is shown. Now from Figures 5 to 6 During the further transition process, the center zero-position spring 13 ensures that the positioning rod 9 and therefore the guide part 8 rotate clockwise around the axis 10 toward the positioning rod 9 and the guide part 8 respectively. Figure 1 The orientation of the initial position of the view in the image is loaded, so that the pin 7 eventually reaches the first terminal position at the end of the first stroke 11, as shown. Figure 6 As shown. Because the positioning rod 9 and therefore the guide part 8 are (slightly) preloaded relative to the shaft 10 in a clockwise direction by means of the center zero-position spring 13 without change, they stably occupy the position. Figure 6 This terminal location.

[0035] Now, in order to [do something] according to the guide section 8 and therefore the connecting rod 5 Figure 6 In the "engaged" position, or the "disengaged" position of the safety device, it can transition again from the stable first terminal position of pin 7 to... Figure 10 or Figure 1 At the second terminal position of the functional position, the connecting rod 5 needs to be reloaded so that the pin 7 can complete the second stroke 12, which is separate from the first stroke 11, until it reaches the position according to the... Figure 10 The second terminal position in the view. From Figures 6 to 7 This process can be seen during the transition. In fact, the loading applied to the connecting rod 5 in this case corresponds to the connecting rod 5 being loaded again in a counterclockwise direction around its axis 6.

[0036] For this purpose, the associated control arm 5c can be loaded manually or by means of an electric drive device, as described above in the instruction manual. That is, similar to the principle of a ballpoint pen previously explained, reloading along the same direction as the connecting rod 5 ensures that the locking is released after the pin 7 completes its first stroke 11, and the previously achieved locking can be released, or in other words, the locking is achieved according to... Figure 6 The first terminal position in the view. Now from Figures 6 to 7 During the transition process, "the connecting rod 5 is loaded counterclockwise around its axis 6 on its operating arm 5c," causing the pin 7 to disengage from the lower separating stop 82. Consequently, the center zero-position spring 13 can load the positioning rod 9 counterclockwise around the axis 10 of the positioning rod, thus allowing the pin 7 to disengage from the lower separating stop 82. Figure 7 The functional position transitions to according to Figure 8 The location.

[0037] Now from Sales Department 7 Figure 8 From the functional position, the return spring 14 of the loading connecting rod 5 ensures that the connecting rod 5 swings clockwise about its axis 6 and thus along the second stroke 12 toward its corresponding position. Figure 10 or Figure 1 The view can be moved to the second terminal position. This can be done from... Figures 8 to 9 This is evident during the transition process. The return spring 14 of the loading connecting rod 5 not only ensures that the connecting rod 5 swings clockwise around its axis 6 during this process, but also that the pin 7, which moves along the second stroke 12 at the end of the pin arm 5b of the connecting rod 5, causes the positioning rod 9, and therefore the guide 8, to swing clockwise around the axis 10 beyond the... Figure 1 The initial position shown in the figure, as can be seen from... Figures 8 to 9 This can be seen from the transition process.

[0038] Now, as long as pin 7 has reached its free region at the end of the second stroke 12, positioning rod 9 can be reset by means of the center zero-position spring 13. This corresponds to positioning rod 9 and therefore guide 8 swinging counterclockwise around the associated axis 10, as can be achieved from... Figures 9 to 10 This can be seen during the transition process. Now, connecting rod 5, or connecting arm 5a, has reached its corresponding position. Figure 1 The second terminal position of the initial position in the second stroke 12, such as at the end of the second stroke 12. Figure 10 As presented in the text.

[0039] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0040] Locking tongue 1

[0041] Claw 2

[0042] Locking mechanisms 1 and 2

[0043] Lock pin 3

[0044] Release lever 4

[0045] Connecting rod 5

[0046] Control levers 4 and 5

[0047] Connecting arm 5a

[0048] Pin arm 5b

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

[0050] Axis 6

[0051] Sales Department 7

[0052] Guidance Section 8

[0053] Separating stops 81, 82

[0054] Avoidance stop 83

[0055] Positioning rod 9

[0056] Shaft 10

[0057] Itinerary 11

[0058] Itinerary 12

[0059] Center zero-position spring 13

[0060] Return spring 14

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock, comprising a locking mechanism mainly composed of a bolt (1) and a pawl (2) and an operating lever system (4, 5) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2), wherein the operating lever system includes a connecting rod (5), wherein, The connecting rod (5) closes the lever system (4, 5) in the engaged state to load the locking mechanism (1, 2) and disconnects the lever system in the disengaged state. The connecting rod (5) engages with the guide portion (8) of the positioning rod (9) via a pin (7) to allow switching between two stable end positions. Its features are, The guide (8) is designed as a two-way guide (8), so that by loading the connecting rod (5), the pin (7) reaches the first end position of the pin along the first stroke (11), and after the connecting rod (5) is reloaded, the pin reaches the second end position of the pin along the second stroke (12) which is separate from the first stroke.

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

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that, In addition to the partition stops (81, 82), there is also a clearance stop (83).

4. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, Two separating stops (81, 82) and one clearance stop (83) are provided inside the guide section (8).

5. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 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 center zero-position spring (13) is designed as a helical torsion spring arranged on the support column of the positioning rod (9), the helical torsion spring having a coiled section and two legs extending from the coiled section.

7. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 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 3, characterized in that, The connecting rod (5) is equipped with at least two arms, including a pin arm (5b) with the pin (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 that they can rotate about a common axis (6).

10. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that, The connecting rod (5) additionally has an operating arm (5c).

11. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle lock mentioned is a vehicle door lock.

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