Motor vehicle lock

Abstract

Motor vehicle lock for an adjustable locking element (2-4) of a motor vehicle, with a lock latch (5) for the holding engagement with a locking wedge (6) or the like and a pawl (7) associated with the lock latch (5), wherein an auxiliary opening drive (9) with an electric drive motor (10) is provided for the motorized lifting of the pawl (7), wherein the motor vehicle lock (1) has an emergency supply arrangement (12) for the voltage supply of the motor vehicle lock (1) in emergency operation, in particular in the event of failure of a central battery of the motor vehicle, wherein a receiving arrangement (13) is provided for the mechanical reception, optionally also for the electrical connection, of at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement (12), and wherein the receiving arrangement (13) has a damping arrangement (14) for the mechanically damped reception of at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement (12). characterized in that the damped reception of at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement (12) is due to a particularly elastic deflectability of at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement (12) with respect to the motor vehicle lock (1) and that such a deflection leaves the electrical connection of the emergency supply arrangement (12) unaffected.

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock according to the preamble of claim 1, to a locking system with at least one such motor vehicle lock according to claim 11 and to an adjustable locking element of a motor vehicle with such a motor vehicle lock according to claim 12.The motor vehicle lock in question is used in all types of closure elements of a motor vehicle. These include, in particular, side doors, rear doors, tailgates, rear covers or engine hoods. These closure elements can basically be designed as pivoting or sliding doors.The known motor vehicle lock (DE 199 04 663 A1), on which the invention is based, has the usual closing elements catch and pawl. The motor vehicle lock is usually arranged on the associated locking element, while a locking wedge or the like is arranged fixed to the vehicle body. The latch can be brought into a closed position, in which it is in holding engagement with the locking wedge or the like and in which it is fixed by the pawl. The known motor vehicle lock is furthermore equipped with an auxiliary opening drive, with which the pawl can be lifted out, so that the latch, the locking wedge or the like can be adjusted into its open position releasing it.In particular in the case that the motor vehicle lock is designed as an electric lock, the safe voltage supply of the motor vehicle lock is of very particular importance. A motor vehicle lock is referred to herein as an "electric lock" if the pawl of the motor vehicle lock can be disengaged exclusively by motor, and not manually by user force.In order to be able to take account of the above, high requirements for the safety of the voltage supply, the known motor vehicle lock is equipped with an emergency supply arrangement for the voltage supply of the motor vehicle lock in emergency operation, in particular in the event of failure of a central battery of the motor vehicle. The emergency supply arrangement is usually equipped with an emergency battery, which takes over energy storage for emergency operation.One challenge with the known motor vehicle lock is that the availability of the emergency supply arrangement must be guaranteed over the entire service life of the motor vehicle. Against the background of the vibrations which constantly occur during the driving operation and in particular of the pulse-like mechanical loading of the motor vehicle lock when the locking element is closed, this high availability is problematic.One possibility for ensuring the above high availability of the emergency supply arrangement is presented with FR 2 775 718 A1, in that the battery of the emergency supply arrangement can be replaced with little effort. The emergency battery of the emergency supply arrangement can be replaced by a few handles when the closure element is open, there when the door is open. For this purpose, the emergency battery is fixed in a clamping manner in a battery compartment and in a manner resting against a rigid contact cover in order to ensure a secure electrical contact. The availability of the emergency supply arrangement can be increased in principle. However, it must also be ensured that the maintenance intervals matched to the service life of the emergency battery are maintained.The invention is based on the problem of configuring and further developing the known motor vehicle lock in such a way that the availability of the emergency supply arrangement is increased with low maintenance expenditure.The above problem is solved in a motor vehicle lock according to the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterising part of claim 1.The fundamental consideration is that the mechanically damped accommodation of at least a part of the emergency supply arrangement can lead to the service life of components of the emergency supply arrangement, in particular of batteries or capacitors, being increased.In detail, it is proposed that a receiving arrangement is provided for the mechanical receiving, optionally also for the electrical connection, of at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement, and that the receiving arrangement has a damping arrangement which ensures that the receiving of the at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement is effected in a mechanically damped manner.It has been recognized according to the proposal that, in particular, the energy-storing components of the emergency supply arrangement can be sensitive to mechanical vibrations and impulse-like mechanical impacts, in particular because of their often large mass, so that the service life of these components and thus the availability of the emergency supply arrangement can be increased by a damping arrangement according to the proposal with small structural means.The term "damping" is to be understood broadly in the present case. It comprises all measures which at least partially decouple the relevant part of the emergency supply arrangement from mechanical vibrations and shocks acting on the motor vehicle lock.The mechanical damping according to the invention is due to a deflection of the relevant part of the emergency supply arrangement. The fact that this deflection leaves the electrical connection of the emergency supply arrangement unaffected is of particular importance in this case. In other words, in the event of such a deflection, there is no disruption, in particular no interruption, of the connection of the emergency power supply. This is of importance in particular in the event of a crash. In such a crash situation, influencing of the electrical connection of the emergency supply arrangement is to be avoided under all circumstances.In the further preferred embodiment according to claim 2, a preferred direction is to some extent assigned to the damping arrangement, namely in such a way that at least the mechanical impulse due to the closing element turning into a closed position is damped by the damping arrangement. In the case of a side door pivotable about a vertical axis, the damping arrangement takes over damping at least with regard to mechanical pulses which are aligned with the transverse axis of the motor vehicle.The preferred embodiments according to claims 3 to 6 relate to various advantageous design variants for the design of the damping arrangement. The use of an in particular elastic damping material can be advantageous if a part of the receiving arrangement is formed from the damping material.Another variant according to claim 6 provides that the receiving arrangement has a supporting structure for the emergency supply arrangement, which is otherwise coupled to the motor vehicle lock via the damping arrangement. In a preferred variant, the supporting structure can be designed to be rigid in itself, while the damping arrangement provides the flexibility required for the damping.Particularly good results in the sense of the above problem can be achieved according to claim 7 in that in a variant there the energy storage device or devices is or are accommodated by the accommodation arrangement. The further preferred claims 8 and 9 show preferred designs for the energy store or stores of the emergency supply arrangement.According to a further teaching according to claim 11, which is of independent significance, a locking system of a motor vehicle having at least two motor vehicle locks according to the proposal is claimed.According to the proposal, each motor vehicle lock of the locking system is equipped with an emergency supply arrangement which is in turn accommodated in a mechanically damped manner at least in part in the manner mentioned above. Reference may be made to all explanations regarding the motor vehicle lock according to the proposal.According to a further teaching according to claim 12, which is likewise of independent significance, an adjustable closure element of a motor vehicle with a motor vehicle lock according to the proposal is claimed. With regard to this further teaching, reference may also be made to all explanations relating to the motor vehicle lock according to the proposal.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment. The drawing shows FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a motor vehicle having a locking system according to the proposal and motor vehicle locks according to the proposal, and FIG. 2 shows a motor vehicle lock of the locking system according to FIG. 1 in a partially disassembled side view.The motor vehicle lock 1 according to the invention can be used for a plurality of fields of application. In this respect, reference may be made to the explanations in the introductory part of the description.In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, preferred embodiments of the motor vehicle lock 1 are assigned to the front side doors 2, the rear side doors 3 and the rear cover 4. In the following, reference is always made to only a single motor vehicle lock 1.The motor vehicle lock 1 shown in FIG. 2 is, as mentioned above, associated with an adjustable closure element 2, 3, 4 of a motor vehicle. It is equipped in a manner customary per se with a latch 5 pivotable about a latch axis 5a for holding engagement with a key 6 or the like and with a pawl 7 assigned to the latch 5 pivotable about a pawl axis 7a. The pawl 7 can be brought into a engaged position shown in FIG. 2, in which it holds the latch 5 in the closed position shown in FIG. 2 by means of a pawl pin 8. The pawl 7 can also be lifted by a motor by means of an auxiliary opening drive 9, to which an electric drive motor 10 is assigned. For this purpose, the drive motor 10 is preferably connected to the pawl 7 by a drive cable 11. The motorized lifting of the pawl 7 is in FIG. 2 a pivoting of the pawl 7 clockwise about a pawl axis 7 a.An emergency supply arrangement 12 for supplying voltage to the motor vehicle lock 1 in emergency operation is assigned to the motor vehicle lock 1, here and preferably in the event of failure of a central battery of the motor vehicle. The central battery is preferably the battery which also provides the energy required for starting the motor vehicle.It is now essential that a receiving arrangement 13 is provided for mechanically receiving at least a part of the emergency supply arrangement 12, wherein the receiving arrangement 13 has a damping arrangement 14 for mechanically damped receiving of the at least a part of the emergency supply arrangement 12. Here and preferably, the receiving arrangement 13 receives the energy stores 12 a, 12 bof the emergency supply arrangement 12, as explained further below.In principle, the receiving arrangement 13 can serve exclusively for the mechanical receiving of the relevant part of the emergency supply arrangement 12. In addition, however, it can also be provided that the receiving arrangement 13 also provides the electrical connection of the relevant part of the emergency supply arrangement 12. It is shown in FIG. 2 merely by way of example that the energy stores 12 a, 12 bof the emergency supply arrangement 12 are mechanically fixed by clamping springs 15 of the receiving arrangement 13 and additionally electrically contacted. Other structural configurations for this part of the receiving arrangement 13 are conceivable.The damping according to the proposal is otherwise due to an in particular elastic deflection capability of the at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement 12 accommodated by the accommodation arrangement 13 with respect to the motor vehicle lock 1. This deflection is provided in the deflection directions A and B. The essential factor here is the fact that a deflection of the emergency supply arrangement 12 leaves the electrical connection of the emergency supply arrangement 12, i.e. the electrical coupling of the clamping springs 15, unaffected. Thus, even in the event of a crash, there is no risk of impairing the electrical connection of the emergency supply arrangement 12 by the accelerations acting in the event of a crash.In the exemplary embodiment shown and thus preferred, the motor vehicle lock 1 is arranged on the respective closure element 2- 4 in the mounted state. It can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 2 that the damping arrangement 14 is designed at least for damping the mechanical impulse due to the closing element 2- 4 turning into a closed position. The closing direction is indicated in each case by the reference sign 16 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and corresponds substantially to the deflection direction A of the supply arrangement 12.In the exemplary embodiment shown and thus preferred, the damping arrangement 14 has a spring arrangement 17 for the mechanically damped accommodation of the relevant part of the emergency supply arrangement 12. The spring arrangement 17 comprises on the one hand two helical compression springs 18 in the deflection direction A and on the other hand four helical compression springs in the deflection direction B, which have already been referred to above as "clamping springs 15". Alternatively or additionally, the damping arrangement 14 can have a damping material, the deformability of which ensures a corresponding damping effect.Numerous variants are conceivable for the configuration of the spring arrangement 17. Here and preferably, the spring arrangement 17 has at least two spring elements 18 which act in opposite directions. It is also conceivable that more than two spring elements 18 are provided. The clamping springs 15 also act in pairs in opposite directions on the energy stores 12 a, 12 bof the emergency supply arrangement 12.In the case where the damping arrangement 14 comprises a damping material, it is preferably such that the damping material is a plastic material and, in a particularly preferred embodiment, is a foamed plastic material. It is also conceivable that the damping material is a rubber material or the like.A particularly preferred structural configuration of the receiving arrangement 13 is evident from the illustration according to FIG. 2, in this case it is the case that the receiving arrangement 13 has a supporting structure 19, here and preferably a supporting structure 19 configured as a supporting frame, which is otherwise coupled to the motor vehicle lock 1 via a part of the damping arrangement 14, namely via the spring elements 18. The supporting structure 19 accommodates at least a part of the emergency supply arrangement 12, namely the energy stores 12 a, 12 bof the emergency supply arrangement 12.As mentioned above, the emergency supply arrangement 12 has at least one energy store 12 a, 12 b, in this case two energy stores 12 a, 12 b, wherein the at least one energy store 12 a, 12 b, in this case the energy stores 12 a, 12 b, are accommodated by the accommodation arrangement 13. The emergency supply arrangement 12 is preferably equipped with a capacitor 12 aand an emergency battery 12 b. In this case, the emergency battery 12 bpreferably serves for charging the capacitor 12 a, which is designed here and preferably as a double layer capacitor. In emergency operation, at least a first power output to the motor vehicle lock 1 takes place via the double layer capacitor 12 a.The term "double layer capacitor" is to be understood broadly in the present case. It also comprises a circuit arrangement of more than one double layer capacitor 12a. The term "emergency battery" is also to be understood broadly in the present case. It also comprises a circuitry arrangement of more than one emergency battery 12 b.With regard to the mode of operation of a preferred arrangement comprising capacitor 12 aand emergency battery 12 b, reference may be made to German Utility Model Application DE 20 2013 103 042.2 of 09. July 2013, which is assigned to the assignee and the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.The emergency battery 12 bof the emergency supply arrangement 12, which is accommodated by the accommodation arrangement 13 as mentioned above, preferably has at least one non-rechargeable primary cell. In principle, however, it can also be provided that the emergency battery 12 bhas at least one rechargeable secondary cell, wherein the secondary cell is then preferably assigned a charging circuit for charging the at least one secondary cell.Here and preferably, an electric lock control 20 is provided which, if appropriate, provides, in addition to other control functions such as the actuation of the drive motor 10, an actuation of the emergency supply arrangement 12. In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least a part of the lock control 20 is accommodated by the accommodation arrangement 13. This is particularly advantageous in that the lock control 20 and the remaining components of the emergency supply arrangement 12 which are accommodated by the accommodation arrangement 13 perform identical movements, which simplifies electrical contacting between these components.The above lock control 20 is preferably completely integrated into the motor vehicle lock 1 and at least partially accommodated by the accommodation arrangement 13. The lock controller 20 can take over the entire control of the motor vehicle lock 1. This also includes, for example, the activation of a possibly present auxiliary locking drive for the adjustment of the latch 5 from a pre-locking position, not shown, into the main locking position shown. Other control functions of the lock control 20 are the control of an electric window lifter, the control of an electric adjusting drive for the closure element 2- 4, the control of an electric external or internal mirror or the like.The complete integration of an above lock control 20, which is also referred to as a "door control device", is particularly advantageous insofar as electrical interfaces between the lock control 20 and the motor vehicle lock 1 are largely omitted. The omission of such fault-prone, electrical interfaces is always associated with an increase in operational reliability. Moreover, by integrating the lock control 20 into the motor vehicle lock 1, a saving in required installation space can be achieved.It should also be noted that the receiving arrangement 13 can preferably be designed with a view to high robustness against unfavourable ambient temperatures. This takes into account the fact that, depending on the configuration of the emergency supply arrangement 12, particularly high or particularly low ambient temperatures can lead to an impairment of the performance and / or the service life of the emergency supply arrangement 12.In the simplest case, the receiving arrangement 13 is positioned such that the influence of extreme ambient temperature on the emergency supply arrangement 12 is reduced. In another preferred variant, at least a part of the emergency supply arrangement 12, in particular an emergency battery 12 bof the emergency supply arrangement 12, is equipped with a thermal insulation which further preferably provides at least a part of the proposed damping arrangement 14. For example, the thermal insulation can be a soft-elastic sheathing which provides a corresponding damping function.According to a further teaching which is of independent significance, a locking system of a motor vehicle having at least two motor vehicle locks according to the proposal is claimed. Such a closing system according to the proposal is illustrated in FIG. 1. The fact that each motor vehicle lock 1 has its own emergency supply arrangement 12 is advantageous here, which considerably reduces the cabling outlay for the provision of an emergency supply arrangement. All the explanations relating to the proposed motor vehicle lock 1 apply correspondingly to the proposed locking system.According to a further teaching, which is likewise of independent significance, an adjustable closure element 2- 4 of a motor vehicle with a motor vehicle lock 1 according to the proposal is claimed. With regard to this further teaching, reference may also be made to the explanations relating to the motor vehicle lock 1 according to the proposal.The design of the damping arrangement 14 is of particular importance for the proposed closure element 2- 4 in such a way that the damping arrangement 14 is designed at least for damping the mechanical impulse due to the closure element 2- 4 turning into a closed position. In this respect, too, reference may be made to the corresponding explanations relating to the proposed motor vehicle lock 1.

Claims

Motor vehicle lock for an adjustable locking element (2-4) of a motor vehicle, having a latch (5) for holding engagement with a locking wedge (6) or the like and a pawl (7) assigned to the latch (5), wherein an opening auxiliary drive (9) having an electric drive motor (10) is provided for the motor-driven lifting of the pawl (7), wherein the motor vehicle lock (1) has an emergency supply arrangement (12) for the voltage supply of the motor vehicle lock (1) in emergency operation, in particular in the event of failure of a central battery of the motor vehicle, wherein a receiving arrangement (13) for the mechanical receiving, optionally also for the electrical connection, is provided, At least one part of the emergency supply arrangement (12) is provided and wherein the receiving arrangement (13) has a damping arrangement (14) for the mechanically damped receiving of the at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement (12), characterized in that the damped receiving of the at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement (12) is otherwise due to an in particular elastic deflection capability of the at least one part of the emergency supply arrangement (12) with respect to the motor vehicle lock (1) and in that such deflection leaves the electrical connection of the emergency supply arrangement (12) unaffected.Motor vehicle lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that the motor vehicle lock (1) is arranged on the closure element (2-4) in the mounted state, and in that the damping arrangement (14) is designed at least for damping the mechanical impulse which originates from the closure element (2-4) striking a closed position.Motor vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping arrangement (14) for the mechanically damped reception of at least part of the emergency supply arrangement (12) has a spring arrangement (17) and / or a damping material.Motor vehicle lock according to claim 3, characterised in that the spring arrangement (17) has at least one spring element (18), preferably in that the spring arrangement (17) has at least two spring elements (18) which act in opposite directions.Motor vehicle lock according to claim 3 and optionally according to claim 4, characterised in that the damping material is a plastic material, in particular a foamed plastic material.Motor vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving arrangement (13) has a supporting structure (19), in particular a supporting structure (19) designed as a supporting frame, which is otherwise coupled to the motor vehicle lock (1) via the damping arrangement (14) and which receives at least part of the emergency supply arrangement (12).Motor vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency supply arrangement (12) has at least one energy store (12a, 12b) and in that the at least one energy store (12a, 12b) is accommodated by the accommodation arrangement (13).Motor vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency supply arrangement (12) has at least one capacitor (12a) which is accommodated by the accommodating arrangement (13), preferably in that the at least one capacitor (12a) is a double-layer capacitor.Motor vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency supply arrangement (12) has at least one emergency battery (12b) which is accommodated by the accommodation arrangement (13), preferably in that the at least one emergency battery (12b) has at least one primary cell, and / or in that the at least one emergency battery (12b) has at least one secondary cell, and in that a charging circuit for charging the at least one secondary cell is assigned to the secondary cell.Motor vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electric lock control (20) is provided which provides an actuation of the emergency supply arrangement (12), preferably in that at least a part of the lock control (20) is accommodated by the accommodating arrangement (13).Locking system of a motor vehicle having at least two motor vehicle locks (1) according to one of the preceding claims.Adjustable closure element (2-4) of a motor vehicle having a motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10.

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