Motor vehicle lock with position detection device

Abstract

Lock for a motor vehicle with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (3, 4) for locking the rotary latch (1), with a position sensing means (7) that can be actuated by a lever (8) which can influence the position of a pawl (4), and with a position sensing means (12) that is arranged outside the plane of rotation of the rotary latch (1) and / or the pawl (3) that is capable of actuating the position sensing means (12), wherein two position sensing means (7, 12) are located outside the plane of rotation of the rotary latch (1) and / or outside the plane of rotation of a main locking pawl (3) of the locking mechanism, wherein the lever (8) that can influence the position of a pawl (4) is arranged within the plane of rotation of the rotary latch (1) and / or of the main locking pawl (3), characterized in that the lever (8) that can influence the position of a can affect the locking pawl (4),has at least one protruding bolt or protruding area (10, 14) for actuating a position detection means (7) and / or a locking pawl (4),

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle with a locking mechanism comprising a rotary latch and a locking pawl with which the rotary latch can be locked in a closed position.

[0002] As can be seen in German patent application DE 10 2009 026 921 A1, the rotary latch of a motor vehicle lock has a forked entry slot, also called an entry jaw, into which a locking bolt, also called a lock pin, of a vehicle door or hatch enters when the vehicle door or hatch is closed. The locking bolt then rotates the rotary latch from an open position to a closed position. Once the rotary latch has reached a closed position, the locking bolt can no longer leave the entry slot of the rotary latch. In such a closed position, a locking pawl engages the rotary latch, preventing it from being rotated back to the open position.

[0003] From DE 10 2009 026 921 A1 it is further known to provide two detent positions in a lock for a motor vehicle, which can be assumed successively by the rotary latch during closing, namely the so-called pre-detent position and the so-called main detent position. In the main detent position, the rotary latch is engaged by a main detent locking pawl. In the pre-detent position, the rotary latch is engaged by a pre-detent locking pawl.

[0004] To prevent a pawl from being moved unintentionally from its detent position, a blocking lever can be provided according to DE 10 2009 026 921 A1, which blocks such movement when the rotary latch is engaged. Such a blocking lever is required for the main detent pawl if the rotary latch and the main detent pawl are designed such that the pawl, in the main detent position, introduces an opening torque into the rotary latch in order to disengage a locking mechanism with minimal force.

[0005] DE 10 2009 026 921 A1 further teaches the provision of microswitches arranged laterally by pawls, which can be actuated by lateral contour areas of the pre-latching pawl and / or main latching pawl. The position of the respective pawl can be determined by actuating the microswitches in order to control a closing aid with which the locking mechanism can be automatically moved from the pre-latching position to the main latching position.

[0006] DE 10 2008 035 607 A1 discloses the provision of microswitches for detecting the positions of a locking mechanism, for example, to control the interior lighting of a motor vehicle. A single microswitch is arranged laterally to two locking pawls and can be actuated by the lateral contours of the locking pawls in order to determine the positions of the locking mechanism.

[0007] It is also known from DE 27 28 042 A1, EP 1 759 077 B1 and WO 2008 / 0145230A1 to arrange position detection means outside a plane of rotation of pawls.

[0008] The purpose of the invention is to further develop a lock of the type mentioned at the beginning.

[0009] The object of the invention is solved by a lock having the features of the first claim. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0010] The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl for locking the rotary latch, with a position detection means that can be actuated by a lever which can influence the position of a pawl, and with a position detection means that is arranged outside the plane of rotation of the rotary latch and / or the pawl which is able to actuate the position detection means, wherein two position detection means are located outside the plane of rotation of the rotary latch and / or outside the plane of rotation of a main locking pawl of the locking mechanism, wherein the lever which can influence the position of a pawl is arranged within the plane of rotation of the rotary latch and / or of the main locking pawl.

[0011] According to the invention, the lever which can influence the position of a pawl (4) has at least one protruding bolt or protruding area for actuating a position detection means and / or a pawl.

[0012] The position of a locking pawl is not determined directly, but indirectly, by querying the position of a lever that can influence the pawl's position. Since this lever is generally positioned very close to a housing wall for the lock, the electrical conductor tracks of the position detection device can be shortened. This reduces manufacturing effort and material costs.

[0013] A position sensing device is arranged outside the plane of rotation of the rotary latch and / or the pawl that the position sensing device is capable of actuating. The plane of rotation refers to the plane within which the corresponding component, i.e., the pawl or the rotary latch, can be pivoted or rotated. This arrangement of the position sensing device has also proven to be particularly advantageous. Space is typically available outside the respective plane of rotation. This space is therefore used additionally. Overall, this embodiment allows for a particularly compact design. Furthermore, conductor tracks for the position sensing device can typically be routed to an electrical connection for the lock in a particularly suitable manner. These conductor tracks can then be especially short.

[0014] Two position sensing elements are located outside the plane of rotation within which the rotary latch and / or main locking pawl can pivot. In particular, all position sensing elements are located outside the plane of rotation within which the rotary latch and / or main locking pawl can pivot. This allows the footprint required for the locking mechanism to be advantageously kept small. A plane outside the plane of rotation, within which the rotary latch and a main locking pawl can rotate, is regularly utilized by this design. For this reason, the available installation space can be used more effectively. This additional utilization occurs, for example, when installation space is required for a pre-locking pawl outside the main locking pawl.

[0015] The lever, which is capable of influencing the position of a pawl of the locking mechanism, is located in the plane of rotation in which the rotary latch and / or a main locking pawl can pivot. According to the invention, this lever has one or more bolts or areas projecting from the plane of rotation for actuating a position sensing device and / or a pawl. In principle, the lever is also capable of influencing the position of a pawl located in the same plane of rotation as this lever.

[0016] In order for the main locking pawl to actuate a push-button switch as a position detection means, it advantageously has a stepped surface in one area, in particular in an end area of ​​a lever arm.

[0017] The lever capable of influencing at least one position of a pawl is preferably a release lever that can be pivoted to disengage the locking mechanism. Such a release lever therefore serves a dual purpose. A release lever is fundamentally pivoted to disengage the locking mechanism by actuating an associated handle.

[0018] The release lever is particularly capable of pivoting a pre-locking pawl and / or a blocking lever in order to disengage the locking mechanism.

[0019] The position detection device is, in particular, a push-button switch, preferably a microswitch. This embodiment provides a particularly simple and reliable position detection device. However, the position detection device can also be, for example, an optical sensor or a capacitive sensor.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism comprises a pre-latching pawl that is arranged outside the plane of rotation of the main latching pawl. The rotary latch then particularly includes a stop in the form of a projection or a bolt that projects from the plane of rotation of the rotary latch in order to enable the rotary latch to be engaged by the pre-latching pawl.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the rotary latch, in the main detent position, is able to introduce an opening moment into the main detent pawl. This embodiment includes a blocking lever that is able to block such an unintentional pivoting of the pawl.

[0022] In one embodiment, all the electronics for the lock are arranged on one side, which reduces manufacturing effort. Therefore, there are no two spatially separated areas containing electrical or electronic components that need to be bridged by conductor tracks.

[0023] In one embodiment, one or more, preferably all, position detection means are arranged above the entry opening of the rotary latch when the latch is assembled. This arrangement provides particularly reliable protection for the position detection means and the electrical and electronic components also located there against dirt that can enter the latch, which is otherwise shielded, particularly by a housing, via the entry opening. For the same reasons, the electrical and electronic components are better protected against moisture. The latch is considered assembled when it is installed in a door or flap, particularly of a motor vehicle.

[0024] Advantageously, the lock has a maximum of two position detection devices. A maximum of two position detection devices is sufficient to detect all relevant positions of the locking mechanism.

[0025] The invention further advantageously contributes to reducing the number of housings required, enabling the production of different lock types with compact housings. The manufacturing effort for producing different locks can therefore be reduced.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates the structure of a locking system with exactly two position detection devices.

[0027] The Fig.Figure 1 shows a locking mechanism with a rotary latch 1 that can be rotated about an axis 2. The locking mechanism comprises a main locking pawl 3 and a pre-locking pawl 4, which can be rotated about a common axis 5. The rotary latch 1 is engaged by the main locking pawl 3. The locking mechanism is therefore in the main locking position. The pre-locking pawl 4 is located above, and thus outside, the plane of rotation of the main locking pawl 3 and the rotary latch 1. A projection 6 extends upwards from the rotary latch 1, which serves to engage it in the pre-locking position.

[0028] The locking mechanism comprises a first push-button switch 7 as a position sensing means, which can be actuated by a release lever 8. The release lever 8 can be rotated or pivoted about its axis 9. The release lever 8 can directly pivot the pre-locking pawl 4 by means of an upwardly projecting bolt 10 and is also capable of preventing the pre-locking pawl 4 from pivoting in the opposite direction. The release lever 8 can also pivot a blocking lever (not shown). The blocking lever is capable of blocking the main locking pawl 3 when it is in its detent position. If the blocking lever blocks the main locking pawl 3, a blocking surface of the blocking lever rests against the blocking surface 11 of the main locking pawl 3. The release lever can therefore indirectly influence the position of the main locking pawl.

[0029] Additionally, a push-button switch 12 is arranged above and thus outside the plane of rotation of rotary latch 1 and main locking pawl 3. The main locking pawl 3 is able to actuate the push-button switch 12 by means of a stepped surface 13 arranged at the end of a lever arm.

[0030] Both position detection means 7 and 12 are located above, and therefore outside, the plane of rotation within which the rotary latch 1, the main locking pawl 3, and the release lever 8 can pivot. The locking lever is generally pivoted in the same plane as the aforementioned three components: rotary latch 1, main locking pawl 3, and release lever 8. The release lever 8 has an upwardly projecting bolt 14 with which the push-button switch 7 can be actuated. The two push-button switches 7 and 12 are located, at least substantially, in the plane of rotation of the pre-locking pawl 4. The entry jaw of the rotary latch 1 is indicated by reference numeral 15. Reference symbol list: 1 rotary trap 2 Axis range for the rotary latch 3 Main locking pawl 4 Pre-locking pawl 5 Axis area for the pre-locking pawl and for the main locking pawl 6. Elevation of the rotation trap 7 push buttons 8 release levers 9 Axis range for the readout lever 10 bolts protruding from the release lever 11 Blockage area 12 push buttons 13 stepped surfaces 14 bolts protruding from the release lever 15 Inlet mouth of the rotary trap

Claims

[1] Lock for a motor vehicle with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (3, 4) for locking the rotary latch (1), with a position sensing means (7) that can be actuated by a lever (8) which can influence the position of a pawl (4), and with a position sensing means (12) that is arranged outside the plane of rotation of the rotary latch (1) and / or the pawl (3) which is able to actuate the position sensing means (12), wherein two position sensing means (7, 12) are located outside the plane of rotation of the rotary latch (1) and / or outside the plane of rotation of a main locking pawl (3) of the locking mechanism, wherein the lever (8) that can influence the position of a pawl (4) is arranged within the plane of rotation of the rotary latch (1) and / or of the main locking pawl (3), characterized by, that the lever (8) which can influence the position of a pawl (4) has at least one protruding bolt or protruding area (10, 14) for actuating a position detection means (7) and / or a pawl (4) [2] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by that the one or more position detection means (7,12) are located in the plane of rotation of a pre-locking pawl (4) of the locking mechanism. [3] Lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a pawl (3) has a stepped surface (13) for actuating a position detection means (12). [4] Lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the lever (8) which can influence the position of a pawl (4) is a release lever (8) for disengaging the locking mechanism. [5] Lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterized bythat all the electronics for the lock are located on only one side. [6] Lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that one or more, preferably all, position detection means (7, 12) are arranged in the assembled state of the locking device above the inlet opening (15) of the rotary latch (1). [7] Lock according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a push-button switch (7, 12) is provided as a position detection means.

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