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, an electric drive (8, 9, 10) comprising an electric motor (8) is provided, the electric drive (8, 9, 10) selectively loading the coupling element (7) of the actuating lever train (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) into an engaged position and a disengaged position by means of the adjusting element (10). According to the invention, a locking element (11) is associated with the adjusting element (10), which locking element ensures that the adjusting element (10) is temporarily locked after a movement of the adjusting element in order to switch off the electric motor (8) and subsequently to reverse the adjusting element (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which has a locking mechanism and an electric drive device, wherein the locking mechanism mainly includes a lock tongue / ratchet and a lock claw / ratchet, and the electric drive device includes a motor, wherein the electric drive device selectively loads a connecting element of an operating lever system into an "engaged" position and a "disengaged" position by means of an adjusting element. Background Art

[0002] Motor vehicle locks, in particular motor vehicle door locks, of the above-described design are used in and on motor vehicles in different variants and at a plurality of locations. In practice, this also includes tailgate locks, hood locks, tank lid locks and seat latches. However, the relevant motor vehicle locks and in particular motor vehicle door locks are usually implemented on the motor vehicle side doors.

[0003] Here, electric opening drives are often used, which are increasingly used for reasons of comfort and acoustics. With such electric opening drives, a locking mechanism comprising a bolt and a pawl in a locked position can be opened by means of the electric drive, i.e., the pawl is disengaged from its locking engagement with the bolt. As a result, the bolt opens in a spring-assisted manner and releases the previously caught locking pin and thus the associated motor vehicle door.

[0004] However, in the event of a crash or a power failure of the electric drive for opening the locking mechanism, emergency measures or so-called emergency operation or emergency opening are required. For this purpose, measures are often taken such that in the event of emergency opening or in the event of a crash, the operating lever system is transferred to its "unlocked" position so that, for example, rescuers can open the associated motor vehicle door. This process is often also referred to as so-called "temporary crash redundancy (TCR)", because the operating lever system is typically mechanically closed for emergency opening and then often passes back to its open and therefore locked state.

[0005] This means that the operating lever system in question is usually disconnected and thus "locked" during normal operation, so that the locking mechanism cannot be loaded by means of the operating lever system during normal operation. More precisely, in this case, the electric drive ensures the electric opening. However, if an emergency operation and therefore an emergency opening occur, for example in the event of a crash, the operating lever system is mechanically closed. This is usually ensured by a coupling element. Therefore, the coupling element is transferred to its "engaged" position in this case, which corresponds to the closed design of the operating lever system. Thus, for example, an arriving rescuer can mechanically open the locking mechanism via this closed operating lever system. In contrast, if the coupling element is "disengaged" during normal operation and the operating lever system is therefore "locked", the operating lever system cannot be used to open the locking mechanism when loaded.

[0006] This method of handling has been proven in principle, as is clearly described in DE 10 2019 132 764 A1 of this type. An electric drive is provided here, which loads a safety element. With the aid of the safety element, the safety device can be controlled to occupy its safety position. In addition to the electric drive, an electric opening drive is additionally provided. This leads to a complex structure, because such an electric drive is expensive. Summary of the invention

[0007] In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of achieving a simplified design compared to the prior art and in particular of making it possible to improve the electric drive for other functions in addition to acting on the coupling element.

[0008] In order to solve this technical problem, this type of motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock is characterized within the scope of the present invention in that a locking element is provided for the adjusting element, which ensures that the adjusting element is temporarily locked after the adjusting element is moved to cut off the motor and subsequently reverse the adjusting element and thus reverse the electric opening drive.

[0009] The implemented blocking element makes it possible to easily distinguish and separate the individual functional states and the corresponding actuating element movements that can be realized by means of the electric drive. In practice, the motor vehicle lock in question usually assumes a locked state during normal operation, in which the associated actuating lever system is disconnected. The actuating element therefore ensures in this case that the coupling element of the actuating lever system assumes its "disengaged" position. The actuating lever system is disconnected.

[0010] If the locking mechanism is now to be opened electrically, for example, by means of an associated electric drive with an electric motor, then first an unlocking is usually required. For this purpose, the adjusting element can be loaded from the basic position by means of the electric drive or this can be ensured by a spring, by means of which the adjusting element is preloaded in the "unlocking" direction of the actuating lever system.

[0011] As soon as the adjusting element and thus the actuating lever system have assumed the "unlocked" state and thus the coupling element has been "engaged" after the coupling element has previously assumed the "disengaged" state in normal operation, the adjusting element movement can now be performed to electrically open the locking mechanism. This can be ensured, for example, by the signal of a sensor which informs the control unit that the electric drive is loaded with the information that the adjusting element and thus the actuating lever system have assumed their "unlocked" position. In this case, the coupling element can also be equipped with a corresponding sensor, which has been transferred from its "disengaged" functional position in normal operation to the "engaged" position.

[0012] The locking mechanism is now opened electrically within the scope of the adjustment element movement immediately following the "unlocked" state. For this purpose, the electric drive with the motor usually loads the adjustment element in the opposite direction to the actuation direction, which is already accomplished for the "unlocked" position to be assumed. The adjustment element movement of the electric drive with the motor and thus of the adjustment element continues until an additionally provided blocking element ensures temporary blocking of the adjustment element. Once the position of the adjustment element belonging to this has been reached, the locking of the adjustment element by the blocking element, which usually interacts directly with the adjustment element, ensures that the adjustment element is fixed and locked. The same applies to the motor that loads the adjustment element, which is thus locked or moved "in a locked manner".

[0013] Since the electric motor or the control unit is typically associated with a sensor device which detects, for example, the increased current consumption of the electric motor in the event of such a blocking movement, the process of blocking the actuating element by the engaging blocking element results overall in the electric motor being switched off.

[0014] By switching off the electric motor in this way, the spring associated with the electric drive can ensure that the adjusting element is reversed and that the blocking element is simultaneously pivoted out of or out of its blocking position relative to its blocking position. At the end of this process, the electric drive assumes its initial position again. The blocking of the adjusting element is limited in time, that is to say temporarily, i.e. only until the blocking element is in its blocking position relative to the adjusting element.

[0015] In the example case where the adjusting element is moved to electrically open the locking mechanism, the coupling element is usually and simultaneously loaded by the adjusting element and passes from its "engaged" position to the "disengaged" position. Thus, at the end of the movement of the adjusting element, the actuating lever once again assumes the "locked" position that it had assumed at the beginning.

[0016] Overall, the interaction between the adjusting element and the blocking element thus enables a complete functional separation when the adjusting element is loaded, for unlocking the actuating lever on the one hand and for electric opening on the other hand. All this is achieved with a simple and compact design, since only the adjusting element and the blocking element interact with each other for this purpose. This is a major advantage of the invention.

[0017] According to another advantageous embodiment, the blocking element and the adjusting element are each mounted so as to be rotatable about an associated axis. The two axes are arranged substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, the topological design is suitably selected such that the blocking element is arranged adjacent to the blocking profile of the adjusting element. The blocking element is usually designed as a blocking lever having at least a blocking arm and a control arm.

[0018] Here, the deadlock arm advantageously has a bolt that interacts with the profile of the adjusting element. Through the interaction between the bolt and the profile, the deadlock lever or the deadlock element can interact directly with the adjusting element or its profile so that the previously described temporary locking of the adjusting element to cut off the motor can be ensured. The profile involved is usually designed as a U-shaped tab. Here, the bolt arranged on the deadlock arm of the deadlock lever can be swung into the U-shaped tab involved through the opening of the U-shaped tab to temporarily lock the adjusting element. In this regard, the corners of the U-shaped tab ensure that the adjusting element is temporarily locked to cut off the motor when the bolt rests on the corners.

[0019] That is, as soon as the bolt enters the relevant corner of the U-shaped web, this directly leads to the blocking of the movement of the adjusting element by the blocking element or the blocking lever. The same applies to the motor that acts on the adjusting element. The resulting blocking of the motor leads to the switching off of the adjusting element and the subsequent reversal, as already described.

[0020] For this purpose, the blocking element is equipped with an associated spring, in particular a tilt spring / torsion spring. The tilt spring assists the movement of the blocking element in such a way that, when the adjusting element is moved in the “unlocking” direction, the blocking element pivots with its bolt into the shaped portion of the adjusting element and pivots out again relative to the shaped portion after the adjustment element has been moved. For this purpose, the tilt spring in question is usually arranged on an additional spring arm of the blocking lever.

[0021] That is, the deadlock lever typically has three arms, namely the deadlock arm that supports the bolt, the control arm already mentioned above, and the spring arm to which the tilt spring is connected. The control arm assists the corresponding pivoting movement of the deadlock element or the deadlock lever, that is, when the deadlock lever is pivoted in and out relative to the molding on the adjusting element.

[0022] After the adjustment element has been moved, the actual reversal process of the adjustment element is usually initiated by means of a spring. For this purpose, the electric drive has the spring in question to reverse the adjustment element. Here, the spring can be integrated into the transmission or into the electric drive with the motor.

[0023] Thus, a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is provided and realized, which first and foremost offers the possibility of blocking an electric drive with an electric motor or an adjusting element acted upon by it in a simple manner and method immediately and temporarily, that is to say in a limited time, i.e. by means of a blocking element or a blocking lever. In this way, the electric drive can ultimately be used for at least two functions, namely on the one hand, the coupling element of the operating lever system is selectively transferred into an "engaged" position and a "disengaged" position, and on the other hand, the electric opening of the locking mechanism can be ensured. 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 A general detailed overview of a motor vehicle lock according to the invention in the form of a motor vehicle door lock is shown,

[0026] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D Shown in the transition from the “locked” initial position to Figure 2D an electric drive with an adjusting element and a locking element in different functional positions during the transition from the "unlocked" end position in the

[0027] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D The adjustment element moves until Figure 3D The basis for the motor locking in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D The theme, and

[0028] Figure 4 Shown in accordance with Figure 3D After the locking position, the transition to the corresponding Figure 2A The view in the figure shows the reversal process of the adjusting element and the extension of the locking element when the initial position is reached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The accompanying drawings show a motor vehicle lock which, according to this embodiment, is a motor vehicle door lock. Figure 1 The locking mechanism 1 and 2 shown in FIG. 1 mainly include a locking tongue 1 and a locking claw 2. The locking tongue 1 and the locking claw 2 are Figure 1 In order to open the locking mechanism 1, 2, it is necessary that the release lever 3, which is also shown there, is actuated in a closed state. Figure 1 Clockwise movement around its axis, schematically shown in FIG.

[0030] The release lever 3 is a component of an actuating lever system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. In addition to the release lever 3, the actuating lever system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 also includes an inner actuating lever 4, an outer actuating lever 5 and a transmission lever 6, which acts on a coupling lever 7 or a coupling element 7, which is designed according to this embodiment as a coupling slide 7 which is linearly supported on the inner actuating lever 4.

[0031] The transmission rod 6 can be acted upon by means of an electric drive 8, 9, 10. For this purpose, the electric drive 8, 9, 10 has an electric motor 8, a downstream transmission 9 and an adjusting element 10, which can perform a pivoting movement about its axis in the clockwise and counterclockwise direction, which is achieved by Figure 1 The double arrow in . In this case, the blocking element 11 , which is associated with the adjusting element 10 , is important for the subsequent investigation.

[0032] According to this embodiment and without limitation, the electric drives 8, 9, 10 are designed as TCR drives and additionally or simultaneously as electric opening drives. Of course, this is merely exemplary and not mandatory. Therefore, the electric drives 8, 9, 10 can also be equally well adapted for other combined functions or regulating movements. In this "TCR open" position, the transmission rod 6 does not load the coupling element 7 or the coupling slide 7, so that it occupies an exposed position relative to the inner operating lever 4. That is, the (spring-assisted) coupling slide 7 in this case protrudes beyond the front side of the inner operating lever 4, so that the inner operating lever 4 is moved in the counterclockwise direction. Figure 1 The pivoting movement schematically shown in FIG. 1 results in that the release lever 3 can be loaded by the coupling element or coupling slide 7 and actuated in Figure 1 2, so that the locking mechanism 1, 2 can be opened. However, this is not shown in detail.

[0033] That is, in the "TCR open" position of the electric drive 8, 9, 10, emergency opening of the control lever system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or the locking mechanism 1, 2 loaded by it can be achieved according to this embodiment. In principle, the electric drive 8, 9, 10 can also be called a locking drive, which in the example case occupies its "unlocked" position or controls the control lever system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 into the "unlocked" position in the following way, that is, the electric drive 8, 9, 10 loads the transmission rod 6 in such a way that the coupling element 7 occupies its "engaged" position. This - as described - in Figure 1 Here, the coupling element 7 occupies its exposed position relative to the inner operating lever 4.

[0034] More precisely, Figure 1The "TCR off" functional state of the electric drive 8, 9, 10 is shown. In this state, the electric drive 8, 9, 10 loads the coupling element 7 against the force of the associated spring. Alternatively, it can also be said that the control lever system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is in its "locked" position and the coupling element 7 occupies its "disengaged" functional position. In this case, the transmission lever 6 thus ensures that the coupling element 7 occupies its "locked" position against the force of the spring loading the coupling element 7. Figure 1 4 is shown in the retracted position relative to the inner operating rod 4. Therefore, the inner operating rod 4 is Figure 1 The counterclockwise movement schematically shown in FIG. 1 does not lead to an opening of the locking mechanism 1 , 2 , since the inner actuating lever 4 performs a lost motion relative to the release lever 3 .

[0035] On the contrary, the outer lever 5 is Figure 1 In the case of a pivoting movement in the clockwise direction about its common axis with the release lever 3, which is also schematically shown in FIG, the release lever 3 can be loaded and the clockwise movement of the release lever 3 necessary for opening the locking mechanism 1, 2 can be initiated. Here, the described function can belong to "child lock locking". Of course, other positions and functions are also conceivable in principle.

[0036] Now, according to the present invention, it is particularly important that not only the previously described blocking element 11 is provided for the adjusting element 10, but also that the blocking element 11 ensures temporary blocking of the adjusting element 10 as a whole, as will be described later with reference to the following. Figures 2A to 4 As explained in detail below. Due to the blocking of the adjusting element 10 and thus the electric motor 8, the electric motor 8 is switched off, because the electric motor 8 and thus the electric drives 8, 9, 10 are acted upon by a control unit (not explicitly shown), which determines an increased current consumption due to the blocking of the electric motor 8. This increased current consumption is interpreted as a blocking and leads to the switching off of the electric motor 8. The switching off of the electric motor 8 now allows the adjusting element 10 to be reversed, as will be explained in detail below. In this case, the switched-off electric motor 8 does not actually offer any mechanical resistance to this reverse movement of the adjusting element 9, so that only Figure 4 A spring 16 , which is schematically indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1 and is a component of the electric drive 8 , 9 , 10 , ensures the desired reversal.

[0037] Now if we go from the Figure 1 Starting from the initial position of the motor vehicle lock in the view Figure 2A In the figure, it is shown as reduced to the adjusting element 10 and the locking element 11, then the corresponding Figure 1 The state of the control lever 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is that the TCR is closed or locked. Therefore, the coupling element 7 is "disengaged" and the control lever system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is mechanically interrupted or disconnected. The electric drive device 8, 9, 10 ensures this.

[0038] Unlocked from FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B The priority that can be seen in the transition process now corresponds to the control element 10 from Figure 2A The function location in Figure 2B 1. The locking lever 11 is thus pivoted in the direction of the adjusting element 10. In practice, the locking element 11 is designed according to this embodiment as a locking lever having at least a locking arm 11a and a control arm 11b. According to this embodiment, a spring arm 11c is additionally provided, on which a spring 12, in particular a tilt spring 12, acts. Therefore, the locking element 11 is designed as a three-arm locking lever 11.

[0039] Because from FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B During the transition from the functional position to the unlocking position, the pivoting movement of the adjusting element 10 in the direction of “unlocking” is accompanied by the counterclockwise movement of the adjusting element 10, so the edge of the adjusting element 10 can act on the control arm 11b and ensure as a whole that the blocking element or the blocking lever 11 pivots in the counterclockwise direction in the direction of the adjusting element 10 during this process. The adjusting element 10 itself can usually be loaded in the unlocking direction by a spring force or—as in this embodiment—by corresponding energization of the electric motor 8 as a component of the electric drive 8, 9, 10.

[0040] Finally, from Figure 2B to Figure 2C In the transition process of the adjusting element 10, when the adjusting element 10 further moves in the counterclockwise direction, the locking arm 11a of the locking element 11 enters the locking shaped portion 14 of the adjusting element 10 with the bolt 13 arranged at the end side. The locking shaped portion 14 is a U-shaped tab, and the bolt 13 is swung into the U-shaped tab through the opening 15 to temporarily lock the adjusting element 10. It can be seen that the locking element 11 is arranged adjacent to the locking shaped portion 14 or the U-shaped tab 14 as a whole.

[0041] Finally, from Figure 2C to Figure 2D During the transition process, the bolt 13 on the locking arm 11a has reached the stop 14a of the U-shaped lug 14, so that the adjustment element 10 has reached its end position according to the "unlocking" or "TCR open" or "engagement" of the coupling element 7.

[0042] After the "unlocked" state, which can also be detected by sensors and transmitted to the control unit, the control unit itself now ensures that the electric drive 8, 9, 10 is acted upon in the direction of the adjustment element movement, which will be discussed in detail later, to electrically open the locking mechanism 1, 2. As described, the movement of the adjustment element 10 according to the sequence of figures 2A to 2D can be realized and implemented in a spring-assisted manner or by means of the electric drive 8, 9, 10.

[0043] In either case, Figure 2D and Figure 3A It can be seen from the comparison of Figure 2D After the "unlocked" position in the control unit, the adjusting element 10 is loaded in the counterclockwise direction to electrically open the locking mechanism 1, 2. At this time, the adjusting element 10 is in the "unlocked" position according to Figure 1 The counterclockwise movement starting from the initial position of the adjusting element 10 causes the adjusting element 10 to move in the counterclockwise direction. Figure 1 The bolt 10a shown schematically in FIG. 1 is moved toward the actuating arm 3a of the release lever 3 and thereby ensures that the release lever 3 is moved along the Figure 1 The locking mechanism 1, 2 is pivoted clockwise as shown schematically in FIG.

[0044] The adjusting element 10 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Figure 3A The oscillating motion that began in Figure 3B During the transition process, the locking element or locking lever 11 swings around its axis in the clockwise direction. When the adjusting element 10 moves further around its axis in the counterclockwise direction (which is activated by the loading by the electric drive 8, 9, 10), finally according to Figure 3C and Figure 3D In the further sequence of the accompanying drawings, Figure 3D In the view of FIG. 1 , the locking arm 11a reaches the corner of the shaped part or U-shaped web 14 with the bolt 13 arranged on the end side. Now, the adjusting element 10 can no longer be pivoted further in the counterclockwise direction about its axis by means of the electric drive 8, 9, 10, and the adjusting element 10 is blocked. The same applies to the electric motor 8.

[0045] This blocking of the actuating element 10 is accompanied by an increased current rise for applying pressure to the electric motor 8 , which current rise can be detected by way of example by a control unit (not shown explicitly). This current rise is interpreted as blocking of the electric motor 8 and leads to the electric motor 8 being switched off.

[0046] Thus, the adjusting element 10 can now be loaded by means of the already mentioned spring 16, namely in accordance with a pivoting movement about its axis in the clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown by the arrows there, the motor 8 or the electric drive 8, 9, 10 is now switched off and cannot (anymore) load the adjusting element 10, so that the adjusting element can more or less swing freely and only loaded by the spring 12, i.e. in the clockwise direction.

[0047] That is, the adjusting element 10 is temporarily blocked by means of the blocking element 11 when the bolt 13 enters the corner of the U-shaped web 14 on the adjusting element 10 and ensures temporary, that is to say time-limited, blocking of the adjusting element 10 and thus the electric motor 8 there.

[0048] from Figure 4 Starting from the reverse movement of the adjusting element 10 in the clockwise direction by means of the spring 12, which is shown schematically here, the adjusting element 10 finally reaches its position according to Figure 2A The initial position of the view in and thus the adjustment process already described above can be completed again.

[0049] List of reference numerals:

[0050] Locking mechanism 1, 2

[0051] Lock tongue 1

[0052] Locking claw 2

[0053] Release lever 3

[0054] Manipulator arm 3a

[0055] Joystick system 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

[0056] Internal joystick 4

[0057] External joystick 5

[0058] Transfer rod 6

[0059] Connecting rod / connecting element 7

[0060] Motor 8

[0061] Transmission mechanism 9

[0062] Adjustment element 10

[0063] Bolt 10a

[0064] Drive device 8, 9, 10

[0065] Locking element 11

[0066] Locking arm 11a

[0067] Control arm 11b

[0068] Spring arm 11c

[0069] Flip spring 12

[0070] Tie 13

[0071] Locking forming part 14

[0072] Stopper 14a

[0073] Splice 14

[0074] Opening 15

[0075] Spring 16.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) and an electric drive device (8, 9, 10), wherein the locking mechanism mainly comprises a lock tongue (1) and a lock claw (2), and the electric drive device comprises a motor (8), wherein: The electric drive (8, 9, 10) selectively loads the coupling element (7) of the control lever system (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) into an "engaged" position and a "disengaged" position by means of an adjusting element (10). It is characterized in that The adjusting element (10) is provided with a locking element (11), which ensures that the adjusting element (10) is temporarily locked after the adjusting element is moved to cut off the motor (8) and then reverse the adjusting element (10).

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The blocking element (11) and the adjusting element (10) are each mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis, wherein the two axes extend substantially parallel to one another and are spaced apart from one another.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The locking element (11) is arranged adjacent to a locking shaped portion (14) of the adjusting element (10).

4. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The locking element (11) is designed as a locking lever (11), which has at least a locking arm (11a) and a control arm (11b).

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that: The locking arm (11a) has a pin (13) which interacts with a locking formation (14) of the adjusting element (10).

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that: The locking profile (14) is designed as a U-shaped web (14), into which the bolt (13) is pivoted through an opening (15) in order to temporarily lock the adjusting element (10) and thus the motor (8).

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, characterized in that: The corners of the U-shaped web (14) ensure that the adjusting element (10) is temporarily locked when the bolt (13) abuts against the corners, in order to switch off the motor (8).

8. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The blocking element (11) has an associated spring (12), in particular a tilt spring (12).

9. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that: The spring (12) is arranged on an additional spring arm (11c) of the blocking lever (11).

10. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The electric drive (8, 9, 10) has a spring (16) for reversing the adjusting element (10).

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