Locking unit for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Motor vehicle door lock, preferably for a door or a hatch of a motor vehicle, comprising a release lever (1), an inertia element (2), a first spring element (3), wherein the inertia element (2) is actuated by means of the release lever (1) and via the first spring element (3), wherein the release lever (1) acts directly on the first spring element (3), characterized in that a locking lever (4) is provided, wherein the locking lever (4) can be brought into engagement with the inertia element (2) at a predeterminable high actuation speed of the release lever (1), so that a movement of the inertia element (2) can be blocked.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lock, preferably for a door or a flap of a motor vehicle, comprising a release lever, an inertia element, a first spring element, wherein the inertia element can be actuated by means of the release lever and via the first spring element.

[0002] A locking unit in a vehicle lock ensures that, in the "locked" position, a corresponding operating lever, for example, an external operating lever, is deactivated. In this position, the locking mechanism cannot be opened, for example, by the external operating lever. However, the locking unit can usually be moved from a "locked" to an "unlocked" position using an internal operating lever, so that, for example, people inside the vehicle are still able to open the door from the inside even when the vehicle door lock is locked.

[0003] DE 196 24 640 C1 describes a motor vehicle door lock with a pawl, a rotary latch, and a blocking device. The blocking device prevents the door from springing open in the event of excessive acceleration caused by a crash. DE 197 38 492 A1 discloses a motor vehicle door lock with a pivoting lever and a blocking device that prevents unintentional opening in the event of lateral acceleration. DE 198 03 871 A1 describes a lock with a locking member that is movably mounted on a lock actuating lever. In the event of a crash-related acceleration of a lock actuating member, the locking member can be moved into a housing-fixed locking position that blocks the lock actuating member. DE 20 2011 106 663 U1 discloses an actuating device for a motor vehicle door lock with a handle and a locking lever.During normal operation, the locking lever deflects when the handle is subjected to force, rendering the handle ineffective during a crash-induced acceleration. WO 2014 / 135142 A1, which can be considered the closest prior art, discloses a motor vehicle door lock that uses a blocking lever to secure the door during rapid opening. The locking mechanism works during rapid opening, i.e., a single impact or impulse on the lock.

[0004] In the event of an accident, several impacts or impulses may occur in succession, so that the blocked lock could open unintentionally.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a motor vehicle door lock of the type mentioned above, wherein the lock is blocked in the event of an accident, so that an unintentional opening of the door, for example in the event of several impacts in succession, is prevented.

[0006] The object is achieved by a motor vehicle door lock having the features specified in claim 1 and by a method according to claim 9. The invention proposes a motor vehicle door lock comprising a release lever, an inertia element, and a first spring element, wherein the inertia element can be actuated by means of the release lever and via the first spring element, wherein the release lever acts directly on the first spring element. The first spring element can be actuated directly by the release lever. A locking lever is provided which can be brought into engagement with the inertia element at a predeterminable high actuation speed of the release lever, so that movement of the inertia element can be blocked. The advantage lies in the optimal utilization of the spring properties. Furthermore, delay-free engagement of the inertia element is guaranteed.In a method according to the invention for securing a motor vehicle lock, particularly in the event of an accident, a first spring element is actuated by means of a release lever, and the first spring element is pivoted together with an inertia element, so that a locking mechanism is opened. At a predeterminable high actuation speed of the release lever, the first spring element is tensioned against the gravity of the inertia element, and the movement of the release lever is blocked by the inertia element. A locking lever is engaged with the inertia element at a predeterminable high actuation speed of the release lever, so that movement of the inertia element is blocked.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the inertia element has a stop contour for the release lever. Preferably, a contour section is located on the inertia element so that the release lever can engage positively in the contour section. The release lever could preferably engage positively in the inertia element. However, a frictional connection could also be used, for example. A direct and stable force connection would be realized.

[0008] The locking lever is preferably designed to engage the inertia element via a positive locking mechanism. The inertia element can be blocked by the locking lever interacting with a stop contour. The lock can then no longer be opened using the release lever, as the inertia element cannot be moved from the locked position. This would also be the case in an accident involving high acceleration, making it impossible to open the lock from the outside.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the inertia element is cylindrical. The inertia element has a body shape that can be described as a wheel. The inertia element is rotatably mounted and can therefore rotate or pivot in either direction. The inertia element can fulfill multiple functions and work together with the release lever and the locking lever.

[0010] The locking lever is held in its unactuated position by a first spring element. In a preferred embodiment, one spring leg of the first spring element rests against the locking lever and holds the locking lever in its initial position. Starting from the initial position, the first spring element is only released from engagement with the inertia element if the outer handle is actuated very quickly. In the event of an impulse or excessively rapid actuation of the outer operating lever, the first spring element acts as a mass locking spring. An accident thus causes the locking lever to be moved into the actuated position, whereby the locking lever interacts with the inertia element. The release lever is thus excluded from the lever chain and, upon further actuation, runs into the void. Preferably, a second spring element can be attached to the locking lever spindle and act on the locking lever.The second spring element preloads the locking lever into the unactuated position. If the first spring is released from the locking lever due to a very high acceleration of the external actuating lever, the locking lever moves against the inertia element. The spring force of the second spring causes the locking lever to move into the actuated position and engage, in particular, a positive engagement, with the inertia element.

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, a reset lever can be actuated via an internal operating lever. When actuated, the reset lever acts on the detent lever. A third spring element is located on the axis of the reset lever, with the third spring element acting on the reset lever. When the reset lever is in the unactuated position, the third spring element would be preloaded. This would create a lever chain emanating from the internal operating lever, which acts on the detent lever via the reset lever. The detent lever then returns to its unactuated position. However, it is conceivable that a two-link lever chain could be used, with the length of the lever chain depending on the installation space and the required forces. This would have the advantage of being able to influence the actuating forces and speeds.The force applied to the internal operating lever resets the locking lever via the reset lever, so that the locking system returns to its original position.

[0012] In this method, when the release lever is quickly actuated, the first spring element is tensioned against the gravity of the inertia element. This means that the first spring element is deflected and the inertia element remains in its initial position, so that the movement of the release lever is blocked by the inertia element. In contrast, when the release lever is actuated normally, i.e., when the outside door handle is manually operated, the inertia element is deflected together with the first spring element, so that a locking mechanism of the door lock opens.

[0013] By utilizing mass inertia, the locking mechanism is locked in the event of an accident and can, if possible, be reopened using the inside operating lever. In the event of multiple impacts or impulses on the outside operating lever, accidental opening of the locking mechanism can be effectively prevented.

[0014] The invention permits a variety of embodiments. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and described in more detail below.

[0015] It shows Fig. 1 the structure of a locking element as described above.

[0016] The proposed lock can be used in all conceivable locking devices, but preferably in motor vehicles.

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a lock housing 10 of a lock, preferably made of plastic, wherein the lock housing 10 serves at least to support the locking unit. Fig. 1 shows, among other things, a release lever 1 (external actuation lever) and a spring-loaded inertia element 2. If the release lever 1 is actuated normally, it engages with the contour section 11 of the inertia element 2 and rotates or pivots this inertia element 2. A first spring element 3 remains in its initial position in the inertia element 2 and is carried along with the inertia element 2.

[0018] Likewise, a locking lever 4 mounted on the inertia element 2 and a second spring element 5 are moved along when the inertia element 2 pivots or rotates. Moving the inertia element 2 without moving the first spring element 3 from its initial position opens a locking mechanism. If the release lever 1 is moved beyond a predetermined speed, for example, in the event of an accident, the first spring element 3 is moved from its initial position in the inertia element 2.

[0019] When the first spring element 3 is deflected from its initial position, the locking lever 4 is released. In the initial position, the first spring element 3 holds the locking lever 4 in its position on the inertia element 2. If the first spring element 3 is now deflected, the locking lever 4 falls into a locking position. In the present exemplary embodiment, the locking position is characterized in that the locking lever 4 engages on one side in the contour section 11 and at the opposite end in the lock housing 10. Preferably, the locking lever 4 thus assumes a positive locking position. Inertia element 2 remains in the position determined by the locking position. This position determined by the locking position allows the release lever 1 to engage in the contour section 11, but at the same time prevents movement of the inertia element 2 by means of the release lever 1. The locking mechanism cannot be opened using the release lever 1.

[0020] The locking lever 4 is moved back to its original position via the return lever 6, with the force of the third spring element 7 acting on the return lever 6. The return lever 6 has an inclined cut for resetting the locking lever 4, whereby the inclined cut engages with the contour of the locking lever 4 and moves the locking lever 4 back. The return lever 6 is actuated via an internal actuating lever 8.

[0021] After resetting the locking lever 4, the locking lever 4 returns to a position shown in the Fig. 1, so that the locking mechanism can be opened again via the internal operating lever 8 or the release lever 1.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle door lock, preferably for a door or a flap of a motor vehicle, comprising a release lever (1), an inertia element (2), a first spring element (3), wherein the inertia element (2) is actuated by means of the release lever (1) and via the first spring element (3), wherein the release lever (1) acts directly on the first spring element (3), characterized by that a locking lever (4) is provided, wherein the locking lever (4) can be brought into engagement with the inertia element (2) at a predeterminable high actuation speed of the release lever (1), so that a movement of the inertia element (2) can be blocked. [2] Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1 characterized by that the inertia element (2) has a stop contour for the release lever (1). [3] Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 2, characterized by that the locking lever (4) can be brought into engagement with the stop contour. [4] Motor vehicle door lock according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that the inertia element (2) is cylindrical. [5] Motor vehicle door lock according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that a reset lever (6) is present and the reset lever (6) interacts with the locking lever (4). [6] Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 5, characterized by that the reset lever (6) can be actuated by means of the internal operating lever (8). [7] Motor vehicle door lock according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that the locking lever (4) is held in its unactuated position by means of the first spring element (3). [8] Motor vehicle door lock according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that a second spring element (5) acts on the locking lever (4) so ​​that the locking lever (4) is held in an actuated position. [9] Method for securing a motor vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, in which a first spring element (3) is actuated by means of a release lever (1) and the first spring element (3) is pivoted together with an inertia element (2) so that a locking mechanism is opened, characterized by that at a predeterminable high actuation speed of the release lever (1) the first spring element (3) is tensioned against the gravity of the inertia element (2) and the movement of the release lever (1) is blocked by the inertia element (2), wherein a locking lever (4) is brought into engagement with the inertia element (2) at a predeterminable high actuation speed of the release lever (1) so that a movement of the inertia element (2) is blocked.

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