locking device

Abstract

Locking device for a vehicle seat, with a locking mechanism (10) for mechanically locking a movable pawl (12) of the locking mechanism (10) with a counter element (14), in which - an output (34) is rotatably driven by a motor drive for actuating the locking mechanism (10) via a first gear, by which output a component of the locking mechanism (10) can be actuated via a second gear (6), wherein a pivot lever (7) is pivotably driven about a pivot axis by the second gear (6), which pivot lever has a transmission element (9) at a radial distance from the pivot axis, by means of which the component of the locking mechanism (10) can be actuated, - the motor drive and the first gear form an actuator unit (5) designed as an assembly, - the pivoting lever (7) can be driven manually by an operating element (8), and - the actuator unit (5), the pivoting lever (7), the operating element (8) and the second gear (6) or a gear housing (41) containing the second gear (6) are arranged in a common housing (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking device for a vehicle seat according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such locking devices are used in vehicle seats for locking and unlocking, for example, rear seat systems in order to create and release a locking of a backrest with the vehicle structure.

[0003] For reasons of economy, such locking devices should be designed in such a way that they can be used cost-effectively in different variants for different seating systems.

[0004] EP 2 186 672 A1 discloses a device for folding and motor-locking a seat by means of a locking device in a motor vehicle. For this purpose, an eyelet is arranged on the seat, which can be engaged behind by a latch pivotable about an axis for locking. The latch is moved via a coupling by a rotatably driven lever, with the lever being arranged on the output shaft of a geared motor.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a locking system of the type mentioned at the outset which enables cost-effective construction of different variants of locking devices.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention in that an output can be rotatably driven by the motor drive via a first gear, by which output a component of the locking mechanism can be actuated via a second gear, wherein a pivoting lever can be pivotally driven about a pivot axis by the second gear, which pivoting lever has a transmission element at a radial distance from the pivot axis, by means of which the component of the locking mechanism can be actuated. Simple assembly is achieved by the motor drive and the first gear forming an actuator unit designed as a subassembly which can be pre-assembled. In order to be able to operate the locking device manually, e.g. in the event of a defect in the electric motor drive or in the event of a power failure, the pivoting lever can be pivotally driven manually by an operating element.A compact component requiring little installation space, which can be installed as a complete unit in a vehicle seat, is achieved by arranging the actuator unit, the pivot lever, the operating element and the second gear or a gear housing containing the second gear in a common housing.

[0007] It saves components and installation space if the operating element and the pivot lever are designed as a single piece.

[0008] Since motor drives deliver a high speed with low torque, the first gear meets the requirement of speed reduction and torque increase that applies to all types of locking devices.

[0009] The second gear then provides the missing transmission to the respective variant of the locking device.

[0010] For the different variants of locking devices, the motor drive and the first gear can be used as the same standard components, which significantly reduces their manufacturing costs and logistical effort.

[0011] The second gear then adapts the overall transmission ratio to the requirements of the respective variant of the locking device.

[0012] At the same time, the design of the second gearbox allows adaptation to different installation spaces in which the number of gearbox components, their diameters and positions can be varied.

[0013] Preferably, the motor drive is an electric motor drive, in particular a DC motor.

[0014] If the locking mechanism is defective and its parts cannot be moved, overloading could cause damage to parts of the locking device.

[0015] To limit the maximum current required in the vehicle's electrical system, which typically occurs when the system reaches a limiting limit, current limiting and / or voltage limiting can be used. Another useful advantage of current or voltage limiting is that the individual components of the transmission stages can be designed smaller, making them lighter and more cost-effective.

[0016] To further prevent the aforementioned damage, the electric motor drive can be equipped with a current or voltage limiter. The current or voltage limiting components can be integrated into the electric motor drive or designed as a separate unit.

[0017] Such a design integrated into the electric motor drive is particularly space-saving.

[0018] In another embodiment, such damage can be avoided by providing that the output can be driven in rotation from an output shaft of the first gearbox via an overload clutch, wherein in a simple embodiment the overload clutch can be a friction clutch.

[0019] Such an overload clutch designed as a friction clutch is constructed with simple parts when the output shaft of the first gearbox is wrapped around by one end region of a wrap spring with frictional engagement, wherein the wrap spring is inserted with its other end region into a cylindrical coaxial recess of the output with frictional engagement.

[0020] Other possibilities are that the output shaft of the first gearbox projecting into the coaxial recess is enclosed with a certain radial force by, for example, the elastic material of the component having the coaxial recess.

[0021] It is also possible to design the output shaft of the first gearbox and the component having the coaxial recess as a 2-component plastic injection-molded part with different shrinkage behavior of the two components, so that during relative rotation and when a certain torque is exceeded, the frictional engagement between the output shaft and the component having the coaxial recess is overcome.

[0022] Another possibility for load limitation is that a limit switch is integrated in the second gearbox, by means of which the electric motor drive can be disconnected from the vehicle's electrical system once the end position of the output has been reached.

[0023] The limit switch can, for example, be designed as a button that reacts to a mechanical touch, such as a microswitch, or as a contactless sensor element, such as a Hall sensor.

[0024] To avoid the high torques typically generated by the motor during a blockage, the end position can be selected in such a way that the kinematic energy stored in the first gear and / or the second gear during the unlocking process is used to ultimately reach the end position required to release the locking unit. This allows the electric drive to be shut down before the required end position is reached.

[0025] A further integration that simplifies assembly is possible if the actuator unit has the overload clutch and the output.

[0026] If the electric motor drive is a non-self-locking electric motor drive, manual operation of the locking device is possible when the electric motor drive is not energised.

[0027] Even with a self-locking electric motor drive, manual operation is possible because the control element can be operated independently of the electric motor drive. This ensures that the operating forces during manual operation, i.e., operation not via the gear-motor unit, remain at the level defined for purely manual operation.

[0028] Furthermore, unlocking can occur in the event of insufficient voltage within the vehicle's electrical system.

[0029] The locking mechanism can have any design. Principles of such locking mechanisms are described, for example, in DE 10 2004 056 086 B3, DE 103 04 574 B4, and DE 103 05 177 A1, to whose disclosures reference is made. Locking mechanisms that can be released by means of an electric motor and a gear are known in particular from JP 2006-290 334 A, DE 11 2005 001 056 T5, EP 0 106 725 B1, and DE 601 17 274 T2. In addition, the documents DE 39 00 219 A1, DE 10 2005 047 905 A1, DE 10 2006 039 504 A1, DE 10 2004 061 960 A1, DE 42 22 405 A1, DE 33 12 493 A1, DE 10 2005 057 462 A1 and DE 20 2006 008 821 U1 define the general state of the art for locking mechanisms of this type.

[0030] Preferably, the output of the first transmission is an output pinion that engages a gear of the second transmission.

[0031] The second gear can have a pinion by means of which an output gear can be driven pivotably about an output axis coaxial with the pivot axis of the pivot lever, wherein the output gear has a stop at a radial distance from the output axis, by means of which a counter-stop of the pivot lever can pivotally act on the pivot lever.

[0032] The coaxial position is typically the most favorable for this design, as it does not result in any geometric changes to the position of the control lever. However, in other designs, a position other than coaxial may also be possible.

[0033] Preferably, the stop of the output gear allows the pivot lever to pivot in a direction that drives the locking mechanism into an unlocking position. When the output gear moves in the opposite direction, freewheeling occurs.

[0034] A spring action returns the actuator unit, comprising the first gear and the electric motor drive, to its initial position after reaching the end position (unlocking). The spring action is designed in such a way that, together with the restoring torque of the locking unit, it ensures a safe return of the system.

[0035] In order to go from a high output speed with low output torque of the motor drive to a low speed with high torque, the first gear unit can be a reduction gear unit.

[0036] It is particularly space-saving if the first gear is a planetary gear, whereby a sun pinion can be rotatably driven by the motor drive, which engages planetary gears which rotate in a ring gear and are rotatably mounted on a planet carrier having an output shaft coaxial with the sun pinion.

[0037] Of course, any other type of gear, such as a spindle gear, can also be used.

[0038] A locking device for a vehicle seat can have a housing in which an operating element for manually actuating the locking mechanism is arranged, wherein an actuator unit and a second gear can additionally be arranged in the housing in such a way that a motor, in particular electric motor, actuation of the locking mechanism is also possible.

[0039] Such a modular design makes it possible to provide a locking device for manual operation that can also be motor-operated by adding additional components. The external dimensions of the locking device remain unchanged. A locking device that can only be operated manually and one that can also be operated by an electric motor are thus easily interchangeable.

[0040] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a locking device, Fig. 2 a perspective view of a locking mechanism of the locking device according to Fig. 1 with open locking housing, Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the locking device according to Fig. 1 components to be arranged without actuator unit and with housing, Fig. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the components of the actuator unit of the locking device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking device according to Fig. 1 components to be arranged in the assembled state, Fig. 6 a perspective view of the actuator unit according to Fig. 4 in assembled state, Fig. 7 a perspective view of a second gear of the locking device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the components to be arranged in a housing of a second embodiment of a locking device in the assembled state, Fig. 9 a perspective view of the actuator unit of the locking device according to Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 a perspective view of a second gear of the locking device according to Fig. 8.

[0041] The locking device shown comprises an actuator part 1 with a housing 3 and a locking part 2 with a locking housing 4.

[0042] Housing 3 and locking housing 4 are connected to each other by a clip connection. It is understood that any other suitable type of connection, such as a screw connection, may also be used.

[0043] An actuator unit 5, a second gear 6 and a pivot lever 7 with operating element 8 are arranged in the housing 3.

[0044] A locking mechanism 10 arranged in the locking housing 4 can be actuated by a transmission element 9. The operating element 8, the pivot lever 7, and the transmission element 9 are formed as a single piece in this example.

[0045] The locking housing 4 consists of two housing shells, of which one housing shell 11 in Fig. 2, which accommodates the locking mechanism 10.

[0046] The locking mechanism 10 has a pawl 12 which is pivotally mounted on a first bearing pin 13 fixedly arranged in the locking housing 4.

[0047] The latch 12 has a groove-like hook mouth 15 for interaction with a counter element 14 of a backrest (not shown), which in a locked state crosses a slot-like outwardly leading receptacle 16 of the locking housing 4 at least approximately at a right angle and encloses the counter element 14 from three sides, while in an open state it opens obliquely towards the receptacle 16.

[0048] A second bearing pin 17 is fixedly arranged in the locking housing 4, parallel to the first bearing pin 13. A clamping eccentric 18 is pivotally mounted on the second bearing pin 17 as a securing element. This clamping eccentric 18 is preloaded toward the pawl 12 by a spring (not shown) acting between the locking housing 4 and the clamping eccentric 18. In the locked state, the clamping eccentric 18, as a first securing element, exerts a closing moment on the pawl 12 by means of a clamping surface 19 curved eccentrically to the second bearing pin 17.

[0049] A catch 21 serves as a second securing element next to the clamping eccentric 18 and is also pivotally mounted on the second bearing pin 17. The catch 21 has a catch surface located adjacent to the clamping surface 19, but is spaced apart from the latch 12 when locked. In the event of a crash, if the latch 12 experiences an opening moment and pushes the clamping eccentric 18 away, the catch surface comes into contact with the latch 12 without the latch 12 being able to exert a moment on the catch 21. The catch 21 therefore serves to support the latch 12 and prevent it from opening. Both securing elements thus ensure the locked state. In this position, the catch 21 also closes the hook mouth 15, which is open on one side, with a closing extension 20.

[0050] A release lever 22 for unlocking the locking device protrudes from the catch 21 as a molded arm. By moving this release lever 22 downward from the locked state, for example by means of a Bowden cable, the catch 21 and thus the catch surface pivots away from the pawl 12. By means of a driver, the catch 21 takes the clamping eccentric 18 with it, possibly after a short idle stroke, and pulls the pawl 12 open by means of a tension spring (not shown), so that the pawl 12 releases the counter element 14. Through suitable geometric relationships, the catch 21 and / or the clamping eccentric 18 exert an opening moment on the pawl 12 in the positions they have assumed after the movements relative to the pawl 12 or otherwise hold it open.In this position, the counter element 14 can now be guided out of the hook mouth 15 by a pivoting movement of the rear seat backrest due to the relative movement of the locking device with respect to the counter element 14 and the locking can thus be completely released.

[0051] The locking device can be relocked by engaging the counter element 14, which pivots the latch 12 back. The clamping eccentric 18 and the catch 21 assume their previously described initial positions of the locked state.

[0052] The actuator part 1 comprises the actuator unit 5 with a non-self-locking DC motor 24, which can be energized via a current limiting unit 25. Energization is provided by a manually operable switch (not shown).

[0053] The output of the DC motor 24 is a sun pinion 26 which extends through a coaxial opening 27 of a ring gear 28 of a planetary gear 29 belonging to a first gear, said ring gear 28 being connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the DC motor 24, and which engages two planetary gears 30 which rotate in the ring gear 28.

[0054] The planet gears 30 are rotatably mounted on a planet carrier 31, which has an output shaft 32 coaxial with the sun pinion 26.

[0055] On the output shaft 32, a wrap spring 33 is arranged with one end region having a frictional engagement and a form fit (not shown), which is inserted with its other end region into a cylindrical coaxial recess (not shown) of an output 34 having a friction fit.

[0056] The components of the planetary gear 29 are held together by a cover 35 that can be connected to the ring gear 28. This cover 35 also provides torque support for the actuator unit 5, which is designed as a preassembled subassembly in the housing 3.

[0057] The output 34 has, on its side opposite the cylindrical coaxial recess, an output pinion 23 which engages with a spur gear 36 of the second gear 6.

[0058] A pinion (not shown) which is coaxially connected to the spur gear 36 engages with a sector-shaped output gear 37 and pivotally drives it.

[0059] In the embodiment of the Fig. 8 to 10, an intermediate gear 38 is arranged between the output pinion 23 and the spur gear 36, which is shown without teeth for the sake of simplicity.

[0060] The second gear 6 is arranged in a gear housing 41 consisting of two housing halves 39 and 40. The second gear 6 is inserted into a shaft 42 of the housing 3 together with the gear housing 41.

[0061] Furthermore, the actuator unit 5 and the pivot lever 7 having the transmission element 9 are arranged in the shaft 42 and are pivotably mounted in the housing 3 by means of a pivot shaft 43.

[0062] The output gear 37 is mounted freely rotatably on the pivot shaft 43.

[0063] Diametrically opposite the transmission element 9, the pivot lever 7 has the operating element 8, by means of which the pivot lever 7 can be pivoted manually.

[0064] At a radial distance from the pivot shaft 43, an axially projecting counter-stop 44 is formed on the operating element 8, which counter-stop 44 projects through an elongated hole 45 of the housing half 40, which extends radially to the pivot shaft 43, into the gear housing 41 into the pivoting range of a stop 46 of the output gear 37.

[0065] To unlock, the output gear 37 is driven by the actuator unit 5 in the direction of arrow 47 and the stop 46 comes into contact with the counter-stop 44 and moves the operating element 8 and with it the pivoting lever 7 also in the direction of arrow 47.

[0066] The locking mechanism 10 is moved into an unlocking position by the transmission element 9 engaging in the locking mechanism 10.

[0067] The second gear 6 and the planetary gear 29 are reset via a torsion spring 48, which is supported on the housing half 39 and acts on the spur gear 36.

[0068] In the event of a locking action, depending on the design of the torsion spring 48, the second gear 6 including the actuator unit 5 may already be reset, so that the operating element 8, the pivot lever 7, and the transmission element 9 are reset freely and decoupled from the second gear 6. If the torsion spring 48 is designed such that it compensates for the magnetic cogging torque of the DC motor 24 and the friction torques in the components of the actuator unit 5 and the second gear 6 that move relative to one another, the counter-stop 44 and the stop 46 abut one another during the reset of the locking part 2. However, this is not mandatory.

[0069] Alternatively, for unlocking, the operating element 8 and with it the pivot lever 7 can be moved manually in the direction of the arrow 47, whereby the transmission element 9 engaging in the locking mechanism 10 moves the locking mechanism 10 into an unlocking position.

[0070] During this manual unlocking, a freewheel exists between the counter-stop 44 of the operating element 8 and the stop 46 of the output gear 37; the counter-stop 44 and the stop 46 are thus decoupled from each other in this case. Due to this decoupling of the counter-stop 44 and the stop 46, this movement of the operating element 8, pivot lever 7, and transmission element 9 is transmitted to the locking mechanism 10, but not to the second gear 6.

[0071] This means that when unlocking manually using the operating element 8, the second gear 6 and the actuator unit 5 are not acted upon by the first gear.

[0072] As already mentioned, the locking device can be unlocked either manually or by motor. The operating element 8, the actuator unit 5, which includes the first gear and the DC motor 24, and the second gear 6 are arranged in the housing 3 of the actuator part 1.

[0073] It is also conceivable to omit the actuator unit 5 and / or the second gear 6. In this case, the locking device can be operated exclusively manually. List of reference symbols 1 actuator part 2 locking part 3 housings 4 locking housings 5 Actuator unit 6 second gearbox 7 swivel levers 8 Control element 9 Transmission element 10 Locking mechanism 11 Housing shell 12 jack 13 first bearing bolt 14 Counter element 15 Hookmouth 16 recording 17 second bearing bolt 18 clamping eccentric 19 clamping surface 20 Closing process 21 Catch 22 Release lever 23 Output pinion 24 DC motor 25 Current limiting unit 26 sun pinion 27 Coaxial opening 28 ring gear 29 planetary gears 30 planetary gears 31 planet carrier 32 Output shaft 33 Wrap spring 34 downforce 35 Cover 36 spur gear 37 Output gear 38 intermediate gear 39 Housing half 40 housing half 41 Gearbox housing 42 Shaft 43 Swivel shaft 44 Counter stop 45 slot 46 stop 47 Arrow 48 torsion spring

Claims

[1] Locking device for a vehicle seat, comprising a locking mechanism (10) for mechanically locking a movable pawl (12) of the locking mechanism (10) with a counter element (14), in which - an output (34) is rotatably driven by a motor drive for actuating the locking mechanism (10) via a first gear, by which output a component of the locking mechanism (10) can be actuated via a second gear (6), wherein a pivot lever (7) is pivotably driven about a pivot axis by the second gear (6), which pivot lever has a transmission element (9) at a radial distance from the pivot axis, by means of which the component of the locking mechanism (10) can be actuated, - the motor drive and the first gear form an actuator unit (5) designed as an assembly, - the pivoting lever (7) can be driven manually by an operating element (8), and - the actuator unit (5), the pivoting lever (7), the operating element (8) and the second gear (6) or a gear housing (41) containing the second gear (6) are arranged in a common housing (3). [2] Locking device according to claim 1, characterized by that the motor drive is an electric motor drive which has a current limitation and / or a voltage limitation. [3] Locking device according to claim 2, characterized by that a limit switch is integrated in the second gear (6), by means of which the electric motor drive can be separated from an electrical system of the vehicle after the end position of the output has been reached. [4] Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the output (34) can be driven in rotation by an output shaft (32) of the first gear via an overload clutch. [5] Locking device according to claim 4, characterized bythat the overload clutch comprises a wrap spring (33), one end region of which wraps around the output shaft (32) of the first gear with frictional engagement, the wrap spring (33) being inserted with its other end region into a cylindrical coaxial recess of the output (34) with frictional engagement. [6] Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second gear (6) is spring-loaded to drive the locking mechanism (10) into a locking position.

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