Motor vehicle lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle tailgate lock, equipped with a locking mechanism (4, 5) mainly comprising a bolt (4) and a pawl (5). Furthermore, an additional reinforcing element (9) is provided, which couples the rotational axis of the bolt (4) and the rotational axis of the pawl (5) to one another at a distance from the lock box (6). According to the invention, the reinforcing element (9) is additionally connected to the door leaf (1) or to the body part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle tailgate lock, comprising: a locking mechanism, which essentially comprises a bolt / ratchet and a pawl / pawl; and an additional reinforcement element, which couples the rotation axis of the bolt and the rotation axis of the pawl to each other in a manner that is at least spaced apart from the lock box. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art described in DE 20 2012 007 326 U1, the reinforcement element ensures, in particular, improved crash safety and reliably prevents malfunctions with a simple structural design. This is because such crash situations often result in the locking mechanism performing or potentially performing an unintended opening movement. Consequently, there is the possibility that a motor vehicle door previously secured by the latch could accidentally spring open and no longer protect the vehicle occupants.

[0003] In practice, an unintentional opening of a motor vehicle door means that safety devices provided there, such as side airbags and side impact protection, are no longer effective. Furthermore, when the motor vehicle door is open, the relevant motor vehicle door no longer contributes to strengthening the vehicle body. Consequently, it must be ensured, particularly in the event of a crash, that the locking mechanism, including the bolt and pawl, always secures the catch or the catch bow provided there.

[0004] The aforementioned prior art of this type, as described in DE 20 2012 007 326 U1, is already well established. The reinforcement element is typically a reinforcing plate, which is arranged coplanar with the bearing surface of the locking mechanism. In this way, the reinforcing plate and the bearing surface for the locking mechanism, together with the bearing pins defining the corresponding rotational axes, define a bearing mechanism with a rectangular cross-section. Forces acting on the motor vehicle lock according to the invention, in particular the lock case, in the event of a crash are absorbed particularly effectively by means of this bearing mechanism and transmitted to the associated motor vehicle door or vehicle body.

[0005] In practice, the lock catch or lock catch bow that interacts with the vehicle lock is usually located on the vehicle body, while the vehicle lock is located and fixed in or on the associated vehicle door. The term "motor vehicle door" should be understood broadly, thus encompassing not only, for example, a vehicle side door or a vehicle tailgate. Furthermore, within the scope of the present invention, the term "motor vehicle door" generally also includes a vehicle hood, a vehicle fuel tank cap, a vehicle charging cap, or any other vehicle hatch in or on the associated vehicle.

[0006] While the known method has proven itself, there is still room for improvement. Therefore, a reinforcing element, typically designed as a reinforcing plate, ultimately reinforces the lock box and the bearing pin defining the axis of rotation. This defines the aforementioned bearing mechanism. In other words, if the lock box is screwed to the motor vehicle door, any forces that may be absorbed by the reinforcing element are ultimately directed into the motor vehicle door via the bearing pin and the lock box. This also applies analogously to the case where the lock box is fixed to the motor vehicle body, which is also possible. In this case, the associated motor vehicle door has a lock catch that interacts with the vehicle lock.

[0007] Therefore, the forces acting on the reinforcement element are indirectly introduced into the motor vehicle door or body, namely via the support pins or the lock box. If, during this process, one or both support pins, along with any additional fastening bolts, deform, this can lead to a reduction in the efficiency of the force transmission. This can lead to a loss of strength or effective force transmission, particularly in the event of a crash. The present invention remedies this overall problem. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to develop a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle tailgate lock, in such a way that the introduction of force into the motor vehicle door or the motor vehicle body is improved, in particular in the event of a crash.

[0009] In order to solve this technical problem, the present invention proposes in this type of motor vehicle lock that the reinforcement element not only couples the two rotation axes of the lock tongue on the one hand and the lock pawl on the other hand to each other at least in a manner spaced apart from the lock box, but also additionally connects to the door leaf or body part.

[0010] According to the present invention, the reinforcement element not only ensures the reinforcement of the rotational axis of the lock box or locking mechanism, which is typically defined by a support pin. It also additionally ensures the connection to the door leaf or body component. The first-mentioned situation corresponds to a motor vehicle lock according to the present invention being fixed in or on a motor vehicle door. In this case, not only is the support pin defining the rotational axis of the locking mechanism, and thus the lock box, reinforced by the reinforcement element, but it also additionally ensures the final connection of the door leaf to the lock box, supplementing the original fixing of the lock box to the relevant door leaf. In this way, forces that are observed and may act on the locking mechanism, particularly in the event of a crash, are not only directed into the door leaf via the lock box when reinforced by the reinforcement element, but are also directed directly into the relevant door leaf via the reinforcement element. This additionally reinforces the door leaf in the area where the lock box is fixed, and therefore the motor vehicle lock itself, thereby preventing the locking mechanism located within the motor vehicle lock from being impaired even in the event of a crash.

[0011] The same applies to the case where, in addition to its reinforcement function for the lock box and the support pin, the reinforcement element is alternatively supported on or connected to a body component. The body component can be a frame of the motor vehicle body that receives the associated motor vehicle door. In this case, the reinforcement element, on the one hand, ensures the reinforcement of the lock box and the support pin of the locking mechanism supported in the lock box, and on the other hand, also ensures that the forces acting on the locking mechanism are additionally directed into the body via the reinforcement element. In both cases, on the one hand, a particularly effective force transmission from the locking mechanism via the lock box into the door leaf or body component in the event of a crash occurs, while on the other hand, a further force transmission is additionally ensured directly into the door leaf or body component in question via the relevant reinforcement element. This provides a particularly reliable structure even in the event of a crash, as the door leaf or body component is additionally reinforced. This is a major advantage of the present invention.

[0012] To achieve this, the reinforcement element is specifically equipped with a locking mechanism plate arranged essentially parallel to the lock box and a sash cover / door wing cover connected to the door leaf or body part. In other words, the reinforcement element essentially consists of two different functional elements: the locking mechanism plate on the one hand and the sash cover on the other. The locking mechanism plate typically ensures reinforcement of the lock box by, similar to the previously described prior art according to DE 20 2012 007 326 U1, providing a roughly rectangular support between the locking mechanism plate in question, the support pin, and the lock box extending essentially parallel thereto, while the sash cover assumes the additional function of directly coupling or supporting the reinforcement element to the door leaf or body part.

[0013] For this purpose, the leaf guard is typically designed to be convexly curved in the closing direction of the associated motor vehicle door. Since the motor vehicle door is equipped with a door leaf, the leaf locking direction of the door leaf corresponds to the closing direction of the motor vehicle door. In the event of a collision, the motor vehicle door in question is often additionally loaded in this closing direction, particularly if it is a tailgate. As a result, the forces associated with a collision and extending substantially in the closing direction can be absorbed particularly effectively by the leaf guard, which is convexly curved in this direction and directly adjoins the door leaf.

[0014] For this purpose, the sash cover is usually equipped with three sash arms that extend essentially perpendicularly relative to one another. In this case, it has proven particularly advantageous to design the middle sash arm in a longitudinally slotted manner. Furthermore, the middle sash arm in question, or the longitudinal slots implemented here, typically have lateral reinforcing ribs. Furthermore, a design is often employed in which the middle sash arm with the longitudinal slot is additionally rib-shaped and raised relative to the two lateral sash arms. The aforementioned reinforcing ribs typically adjoin the longitudinal slots, i.e., they adjoin the longitudinal slots at their edges in their longitudinal direction.

[0015] This provides a particularly effective force introduction. Because the leaf cover is convexly curved in the locking direction, any potential impact forces acting on the motor vehicle lock according to the present invention in this locking direction are primarily absorbed by the leaf cover in question, specifically the central leaf arm with the longitudinal groove. Consequently, the longitudinal groove could open due to deformation. However, the two reinforcing ribs, each adjoining the longitudinal groove at the edge in the longitudinal direction, simultaneously ensure that the longitudinal groove opens essentially symmetrically with respect to the assumed line of symmetry. Furthermore, the reinforcing ribs prevent any deformation or shearing of the central leaf arm.

[0016] More precisely, a more or less uniform force transmission occurs from the door leaf or tailgate (in the example case) to the leaf cover, which primarily comprises a central leaf arm with a longitudinal groove, which deforms as a result. Nevertheless, the central leaf arm, in conjunction with the two lateral leaf arms, ensures that the forces associated with a crash are further absorbed by the locking mechanism plate connected to or integral with the leaf cover and ultimately transmitted via the support pin and the lock box to the lock catch, which is captured by the locking mechanism, and thus to the vehicle body.

[0017] In any case, a particularly rigid design of the door leaf is achieved here, thereby preventing any deformation of the locking mechanism even in the event of a crash, which could lead to unintentional opening of the door leaf or the associated motor vehicle door or motor vehicle tailgate.

[0018] In this case, it has also been proven that the longitudinal grooves each open into a transverse groove at the end. This allows for particularly effective deformation, in particular bulging, of the central leaf arm having the central longitudinal groove and the lateral reinforcement ribs. A further reinforcement measure is provided as follows: in addition to the reinforcement ribs extending in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal grooves at the edges, additional reinforcement ribs are provided. These additional reinforcement ribs can be provided on the edges of the reinforcement cover in the region of the two lateral leaf arms. These additional reinforcement ribs are usually located at least in the associated fixing region, by means of which the two lateral leaf arms are fixed to the door leaf.

[0019] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle lock assembly comprising a door leaf and a motor vehicle lock of the aforementioned structure. Furthermore, a vehicle body-side lock catch is provided in this case. The motor vehicle lock assembly according to the present invention comprises a front-side cover portion of the motor vehicle lock and a cover-side receiving portion of the lock catch. Furthermore, a design is employed in which the cover portion and the cover, which is a component of the cover-side receiving portion, engage with each other in the locked state. For this purpose, the cover portion and the cover can each be designed as a plastic injection-molded part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate only one embodiment; in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A motor vehicle lock according to the invention is shown in a perspective view, and

[0022] Figure 2 A motor vehicle lock assembly according to the present invention is shown with its various components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The figures show a motor vehicle lock which is designed as a motor vehicle tailgate lock according to this embodiment. In practice, the motor vehicle tailgate lock is located inside a motor vehicle tailgate having a door leaf 1. The motor vehicle lock interacts with a lock catch 2 on the vehicle body side, which is Figure 1 Only partially visible in Figure 2 In principle, the motor vehicle lock, which will be described in more detail below, can also be fastened to the motor vehicle body or body 3, while the lock catch 2 is located on the door leaf 1. However, this is not shown.

[0024] As is conventional, the motor vehicle lock has a locking mechanism 4, 5, which essentially comprises a locking tongue 4 and a locking pawl 5. This is best achieved in accordance with Figure 2 As can be seen in the figure. To this end, the locking mechanism components 4, 5 involved, namely the bolt 4 and the pawl 5, are rotatably accommodated in a metal lock housing 6. Support pins 7, 8 each ensure rotatable support. Here, the support pin 7, which rotatably supports the bolt 4, defines the rotation axis of the bolt 4. In contrast, the support pin 8 ensures that the pawl 5 is rotatably supported in the lock housing 6 and forms the associated rotation axis.

[0025] The two bearing pins 7 and 8 are each fixed in the metal lock housing 6 on the one hand and in an additional reinforcement element 9 on the other hand. To this end, the two bearing pins 7 and 8 can be riveted into the relevant lock housing 6 or reinforcement element 9 or connected in some other way to the metal structural component 6 and 9 in question. In this case, the reinforcement element 9 ensures that the two rotation axes of the locking bolt 4 on the one hand and the pawl 5 on the other hand are coupled to each other in a manner spaced apart from the lock housing 6. To this end, the reinforcement element 9 at least partially defines a rectangular bearing arrangement, which comprises the metal reinforcement element 9, the lock housing 6, which is also metal and runs at least partially parallel thereto, and the two bearing pins 7 and 8 connected thereto.

[0026] According to the invention, the reinforcing element 9 is additionally connected to the door leaf 1 or the vehicle body component. This means that, on the one hand, the reinforcing element 9 ensures that the two bearing pins 7 , 8 of the locking tongue 4 and the locking pawl 5 are connected to the lock box 6 . On the other hand, the reinforcing element 9 also ensures a direct connection to the door leaf 1 . If the motor vehicle lock shown is installed in or on a vehicle body 3 , the reinforcing element 9 instead connects the two bearing pins 7 , 8 and the lock box 6 to the relevant vehicle body 3 .

[0027] However, according to this embodiment, the reinforcement element 9 not only ensures an additional friction-locking connection of the lock box 6 to the bearing pins 7, 8, but also ensures that the lock box 6 is additionally connected to the door leaf 1 via the reinforcement element 9. The invention is based on the knowledge that the lock box 6 is directly connected to the door leaf 1 in question, for example, screwed, and is also indirectly connected to the door leaf 1 at another point via the reinforcement element 9. This can again be achieved by a screw connection on the corresponding fastening area 9a of the reinforcement element 9.

[0028] The present invention is also based on the following additional knowledge: the door leaf 1 of the motor vehicle tailgate, which is implemented here, is shaped largely rectangular or approximately rectangular in the edge region in the installation region of the associated motor vehicle lock. The metal lock box 6 is primarily connected to the horizontally or largely horizontally extending leg 1a of the door leaf 1, while the fastening region 9a of the reinforcement element 9 is connected to the other leg 1b of the door leaf 1, which extends vertically or largely vertically relative thereto.

[0029] In this way, the reinforcement element 9 not only ensures that the two support pins 7 , 8 of the locking mechanism components 4 , 5 are additionally reinforced with the lock box 6 . Furthermore, the reinforcement element 9 provides additional reinforcement for the door leaf 1 in the fastening area or edge region of the motor vehicle lock, because the reinforcement element 9 additionally connects, on the one hand, the largely horizontally extending leg 1 a of the door leaf 1 , and, on the other hand, the vertically or largely vertically extending leg of the door leaf 1 . In other words, the reinforcement element 9 extends between the two legs 1 a, 1 b like a diagonal crossbeam. As a result, the door leaf 1 is additionally reinforced in this area.

[0030] To this end, the reinforcement element 9 firstly comprises a locking mechanism plate 9b arranged substantially parallel to and extending from the lock box 6. The locking mechanism plate 9b, in connection with the lock box 6, ensures a rectangular support structure, achieved here, by connecting the locking mechanism plate 9b to the supporting pins 7 and 8 of the locking tongue 4, on the one hand, and the pawl 5, on the other hand, which are fixed to the locking mechanism plate 9b. This support structure, similar to the prior art according to DE 20 2012 007 326 U1, ensures the reinforcement of the lock box 6 and the locking mechanisms 4 and 5. Furthermore, the reinforcement element 9 is equipped with a leaf cover 9c, which, according to this embodiment, is connected to the door leaf 1. Ultimately, this leaf cover 9c ensures the reinforcement of the corner region between the two legs 1a, 1b of the door leaf 1 in the manner already described.

[0031] For this purpose, the sash cover 9c is equipped with three sash arms 10, 11, which extend essentially perpendicularly relative to one another. Two lateral sash arms 10 and a central sash arm 11 are provided. The central sash arm 11 is designed in a longitudinally slotted manner and has a longitudinal groove 12 for this purpose. The longitudinal groove 12 itself has lateral reinforcing ribs 13. In fact, there are two reinforcing ribs 13, which are respectively connected to the longitudinal groove 12 on the edge side and respectively delimit the longitudinal groove 12 on the edge side in the longitudinal extension direction or extend in the longitudinal direction along the edge of the longitudinal groove 12. It can also be seen that the central sash arm 11 is rib-shaped and raised relative to the two lateral sash arms 10.

[0032] The longitudinal grooves 12 themselves transition into transverse grooves 14 at their ends. This results in the longitudinal grooves 12 expanding essentially symmetrically relative to the central plane of symmetry, particularly in the event of a crash. This expansion is controlled and free of distortion, which is ensured by the lateral reinforcements 13. At the same time, the corresponding transverse grooves 14 at the ends of the longitudinal grooves 12 allow the central leaf arm 11 to deform in the region of the longitudinal grooves 12. This is essentially due to the fact that the forces associated with such crashes usually act in the closing direction of the door leaf 1. For this purpose, the corresponding forces Figure 2 Indicated by arrow F in FIG.

[0033] In any case, this collision situation leads to and is related to the Figure 2 The force F in the direction shown in the figure results in that the middle leaf arm 11 is in any case expanded and, if necessary, additionally bulges relative to the two lateral leaf arms 10. This can occur along the already existing bulge of the middle leaf arm 11 relative to the two lateral leaf arms 10. Due to the longitudinal grooves 11 provided in connection with the reinforcement ribs 13, this process does not lead to a distortion or breakage of the reinforcement element 9 as a whole. This ensures that the leaf cover 9c is and remains integrally connected to the locking mechanism plate 9b. The locking mechanism plate 9b can therefore always ensure that the supporting pins 7, 8 of the lock tongue 4 on the one hand and the lock claw 5 on the other hand remain in place and are reinforced as desired relative to the locking plate 6. Possible accidental opening of the locking mechanisms 4, 5 can thus be excluded.

[0034] Supplementary support for this is provided by further and additional reinforcement ribs 15, at least in the fastening region 9a, on the edge of the reinforcement cover 9. These additional reinforcement ribs 15 ensure that the fastening region 9a of the sash cover 9 does not deform, or does not deform significantly, even in the event of a crash, and in particular that the sash cover 9 does not break as a result. This is a major advantage of the present invention.

[0035] In accordance with Figure 2The illustration also shows a motor vehicle lock assembly, which, in addition to the door leaf 1 and the motor vehicle lock already described, also features a separate body-side lock catch 2. The motor vehicle lock assembly has a front cover 16 of the motor vehicle lock, which is pushed from the front onto an access opening 17 containing the two locking mechanism components 4, 5. The front cover 16 corresponds to a cover 18 that surrounds the lock catch 2, which is fixed to the vehicle body 3. When the tailgate or door leaf 1 is installed and locked, the cover 16 engages in the cover 18, i.e., largely or at least substantially in a positive-locking manner. This additionally centers the motor vehicle lock relative to the vehicle body 3 and guides the tailgate during the locking process.

[0036] List of reference numerals:

[0037] Door 1

[0038] Leg 1a

[0039] Leg 1b

[0040] Lock 2

[0041] Motor vehicle body3

[0042] Lock tongue 4

[0043] Locking mechanism 4, 5

[0044] Locking mechanism parts 4, 5

[0045] Locking claw 5

[0046] Lock Box 6

[0047] Structural components 6, 7

[0048] Support pins 7, 8

[0049] Structural pins 7 and 8

[0050] Support pin 8

[0051] Reinforcement element 9

[0052] Fan cover 9

[0053] Fixed area 9a

[0054] Locking mechanism plate 9b

[0055] Fan cover 9c

[0056] Fan arms 10, 11

[0057] Longitudinal groove 12

[0058] Reinforcement 13

[0059] Transverse groove 14

[0060] Reinforcement 15

[0061] Covering portion 16

[0062] Enter opening 17

[0063] Hood 18

[0064] Arrow F

[0065] Force F

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle tailgate lock, comprising: a locking mechanism (4, 5), the locking mechanism mainly comprising a locking tongue (4) and a locking pawl (5); an additional reinforcing element (9), the reinforcing element coupling the rotation axis of the locking tongue (4) and the rotation axis of the locking pawl (5) to each other in a manner at least spaced apart from the lock box (6); It is characterized by: The reinforcement element (9) is additionally connected to the door leaf (1) or the vehicle body component.

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that The reinforcement element (9) is equipped with a locking mechanism plate (9b) arranged substantially parallel to the lock box (6) and a leaf cover (9c) connected to the door leaf (1) or the vehicle body component.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that: The leaf cover (9c) is convexly curved in the door leaf locking direction.

4. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The fan cover (9c) has three fan arms (10, 11) which extend substantially perpendicularly relative to each other.

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that: The middle fan arm (11) is configured with lateral reinforcing ribs (13) in the form of longitudinal slots.

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The middle leaf arm (11) is raised in a rib-like manner relative to the two lateral leaf arms (10).

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The two reinforcing ribs (13) are respectively connected to the longitudinal groove (12) in the longitudinal direction on the edge side.

8. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that: The longitudinal grooves (12) each open into a transverse groove (14) at the ends.

9. The motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that Additional reinforcing ribs (15) are provided on the edge side of the reinforcing cover (9c), at least in the associated fixing region (9a).

10. A motor vehicle lock assembly, comprising: a door leaf (1), a motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and a lock catch (2) on the vehicle body side, characterized in that: A front-side cover (16) of a motor vehicle lock and a cover-side receptacle for a latch (2) are provided, wherein the cover (16) and the cover (18) for the latch (2) engage with one another in the locked state.

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