Lock holder for a motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock holder (1) for a motor vehicle door lock comprising a lock holder plate (6), a lock holder bracket (2) consisting of a locking bolt (3), a central piece (4) and a connecting bolt (5), wherein the lock holder bracket (2) has free ends (10, 11) and the free ends (10, 11) extend through the lock holder plate (6) and are connected to the lock holder plate (6) by means of a forming process, wherein the free ends (10, 12) are connected to the lock holder plate (6) by means of a bending process.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lock holder for a motor vehicle door lock comprising a lock holder plate, a lock holder bracket consisting of a locking bolt, a center piece and a connecting bolt, wherein the lock holder bracket has free ends and the free ends extend through the lock holder plate and are connected to the lock holder plate by means of a forming process.

[0002] The lock holder typically interacts with a locking mechanism of a corresponding vehicle door lock. Lock holder and vehicle door lock generally define the vehicle door locking mechanism. The lock holder, in conjunction with the locking mechanism in the vehicle door lock, ensures secure and reliable locking of the corresponding vehicle door. For this purpose, the lock holder is usually attached to a vehicle body, for example, a B- or C-pillar of the corresponding vehicle body. The vehicle door lock, on the other hand, is located in the vehicle door to be locked. In principle, the reverse is also possible.

[0003] Due to the primary locking function of the lock holder in conjunction with the locking mechanism in the vehicle door lock, it is, on the one hand, a particularly safety-relevant component, but, on the other, is subjected to particular stresses, particularly in the event of an accident. Indeed, the protection of vehicle occupants in a side impact depends largely on how reliably the lock holder and the interacting locking mechanism can absorb the applied forces. The primary factor here is that the vehicle door remains closed so that safety features provided in or on the vehicle door, such as brake assist, side airbags, side impact protection, etc., can exert their desired effect.

[0004] The forces absorbed by the interaction between the motor vehicle door lock and the lock holder act directly between the locking mechanism contained in the motor vehicle door lock and the locking bolt of the lock holder bracket, which is engaged with the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism consists of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, whereby after the rotary latch engages the locking bracket of the lock holder during a closing movement of the door element, a pawl engages in the rotary latch and prevents the door element from opening. The locking mechanism can have a preliminary detent and a main detent, which may be present in the door lock depending on the door element. Depending on the design of the locking mechanism, the respective detent position, i.e. main detent or preliminary detent, can be equipped with an opening or closing moment, so that a blocking lever can be used to secure the detent position.In order to be able to absorb the high forces that occur in the event of an accident, the locking parts are made at least in part from a metallic material, mounted in metallic axes and held on a metallic lock plate in the vehicle door lock.

[0005] Various approaches have already been pursued in the state of the art to further develop such lock holders so that they can absorb far greater forces than before in the event of a crash without causing or potentially causing tearing or general mechanical damage. In practice, material deformations and tearing are often observed in lock holders, particularly at the transition from the lock holder bracket to the lock holder plate.

[0006] Various approaches have been proposed to increase the forces that can be absorbed by the lock holder. For example, various approaches exist, such as equipping the lock holder or its lock holder bracket with different cross-sectional thicknesses, as described, for example, in EP 2 031 158 A2, or specifying an elongation of the lock holder with the aid of an indentation, as disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2010 021 677 A1. However, these approaches only inadequately reflect the loads actually occurring in practice and the deformation behavior of the lock holder typically associated with a crash or subjected to extreme forces. It has been shown that the connection between the lock holder bracket and the lock holder plate is a particularly important factor.

[0007] DE 10 2014 006 857 A1 discloses a lock holder for a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a lock holder plate and a lock holder bracket attached thereto, wherein the lock holder bracket is formed with a locking bolt, a center piece, and a connecting bolt. To reinforce the connection between the lock holder bracket and the lock holder plate, the document proposes that the lock holder bracket be positively connected to the lock holder plate via at least one material-thickened area. To create the positive connection, the part of the lock holder bracket or the locking bolt and / or the connecting bolt that extends beyond the lock holder plate is compressed.As a result of the upsetting process, the lock holder plate is also equipped with a bulge, which ensures that the upsetting caps created on the underside of the lock holder plate as a result of the upsetting process can be spaced apart from the locking bolt on the one hand and the connecting bolt on the other hand in relation to the body.

[0008] The solutions known from the prior art have generally proven themselves, but are reaching their limits with recent developments in the automotive industry. The use of batteries in hybrid or electric vehicles increases the loads on the vehicle door lock in the event of an accident. The batteries present in vehicles increase the overall weight of the vehicle many times over, so that the loads on the locking mechanism and the lock holder in the event of an accident are also increased. Consequently, approaches must be found to increase the stability of the lock holder. This is where the invention comes in.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide an improved lock holder for a motor vehicle door lock. In particular, the object of the invention is to improve the load-bearing capacity of the lock holder and increase the tensile strength of the lock and lock holder system.

[0010] The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. However, it should be noted that the exemplary embodiments described below are not limiting; rather, any possible variations of the features described in the description and the subclaims are possible.

[0011] According to claim 1, the object of the invention is achieved by providing a lock holder for a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a lock holder plate, a lock holder bracket consisting of a locking bolt, a center piece, and a connecting bolt, wherein the lock holder bracket has free ends, the free ends extending through the lock holder plate and being connected to the lock holder plate by means of forming, and wherein the free ends are connected to the lock holder plate by means of bending. The design of the lock holder according to the invention now creates the possibility of connecting the lock holder bracket to the lock holder plate by means of a special forming process, thus providing greater tensile strength in the system comprising the lock and lock holder.In particular, forming by bending makes it possible to create larger contact surfaces between the lock holder plate and the bent free ends of the lock holder bracket. These larger contact surfaces result in a better load distribution, which, in conjunction with the contact surfaces of the lock holder plate and the free ends of the lock holder bracket, leads to a better load distribution. This load distribution can achieve a higher tensile strength of the lock holder overall.

[0012] The individual stresses experienced in an accident are particularly relevant to safety, as it is essential to ensure that the doors, hatches, or hoods remain closed. The side doors are particularly important in this regard, as the vehicle's occupants must be protected. Only in combination with the secure closing of the door can other safety systems such as brake assist, seatbelts, airbags, etc., fully develop their effectiveness. The inventive design of the lock holder, and in particular the bending of the free ends against the underside of the lock holder plate, allows the lock holder to be adapted to the vehicle manufacturer's specifications.

[0013] In the event of an accident, the locking system, consisting of the vehicle lock and lock holder, is subjected to extreme loads. These loads are simulated during the locking system's approval process, including in tensile and tear tests. In the tensile test, the lock holder is loaded until it breaks. This is to determine, on the one hand, whether the specifications set out in the requirements document are met, and, on the other hand, to identify weak points. The inventive design of the lock holder now makes it possible to design the lock holder so that it can be individually adapted to the loads. This can be achieved, for example, by changing the length of the bent free ends and correspondingly increasing the contact surface of the free ends on the underside of the lock holder plate.

[0014] As already indicated above, the lock holder according to the invention not only applies to a side door, but can also be used in the area of ​​a hood, tailgate, sliding door, cover, folding seat, etc. Its use is conceivable wherever pivoting or sliding components on the motor vehicle must be held securely in place.

[0015] The lock holder has a locking bolt, a center piece, and a connecting bolt. These components together form a bow-shaped structure, so that these components can also be referred to as a lock holder bow. The arrangement of the locking bolt, the center piece, and the connecting bolt, which can be described as a bow-shaped structure, forms an opening through which a locking mechanism of a motor vehicle lock can interact with the lock holder. A locking mechanism arranged on the motor vehicle lock and consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl is moved relative to the lock holder in such a way that the rotary latch can move around the locking bolt, after which a pawl subsequently locks the rotary latch in its engaged position. Depending on the application of the motor vehicle lock or the lock holder, a pre-locking position and / or a main locking position can be assumed here. In the locked position, the rotary latch encloses the locking bolt.If an extreme load is applied to the locking bolt in one of these locking positions, the rotary latch moves over the locking bolt until the rotary latch comes into contact with the center piece of the lock holder. Depending on the force acting on the locking system, the loaded side door, for example, must withstand the tensile forces and prevent the side door from opening. Due to the increased or ever-increasing demands on the locking system, the lock holder must be adapted to these increased requirements. The inventive design of the lock holder with the bent free ends that extend through the lock holder plate allows for individual adaptation to the increased and ever-increasing loads.

[0016] If a purely virtual coordinate system is placed into the motor vehicle, a vertical axis forms a Z-axis, an axis in the transverse direction of the vehicle a Y-axis and an axis in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle an X-axis. If the lock holder is used in a side door and in the event of, for example, a side impact of another vehicle on the motor vehicle, the lock holder is subjected to extreme loads. The lock holder is essentially subjected to a load in the X-direction because the motor vehicle lock and the lock holder move away from each other so that the rotary latch of the locking mechanism described above comes into contact with the center piece. It is precisely in this extreme situation that the lock holder must be able to withstand the extreme loads. These forces are simulated in the tensile test and correspond to the real requirements that must be able to be absorbed in the event of an accident.

[0017] It has proven particularly advantageous if the free ends are bent towards the centre of the lock holder plate. The free ends of the lock holder bracket extend through the lock holder plate, with corresponding openings being present in the lock holder plate. The lock holder bracket is preferably made from a metallic wire, in particular a steel, which has a round cross-section. The free ends of the lock holder bracket, which can also be described as U-shaped, are passed through the corresponding round openings in the lock holder plate and bent in the manner according to the invention. The bending takes place towards the centre of the lock holder plate, so that, figuratively speaking, the lock holder bracket has a square or rectangular overall shape after bending.Bending toward the center of the lock holder plate creates a contact surface between the bent sections of the lock holder bracket and the lock holder plate. In contrast to the conventional riveting of the free ends to the lock holder plate, bending allows for larger contact areas between the lock holder bracket and the lock holder plate. Larger contact surfaces can distribute the forces acting on the lock holder across their entire length, thus achieving an overall load distribution at the free ends. This load distribution ultimately leads to an increase in the tensile strength of the lock holder.

[0018] If the free ends, in the bent state, rest against the lock holder plate in such a way that the free ends are spaced apart, in particular minimally spaced, from one another, this results in an advantageous development of the invention. In particular, by spacing the free ends after bending, further shaping of the bent ends can be carried out. In particular, if the free ends are very closely spaced after bending, further shaping of the free, bent ends can result in a deformation such that the free ends rest against one another after the subsequent deformation. In particular, a further upsetting process, in which the height of the bent free ends is subsequently and additionally deformed, represents an additional advantage.

[0019] The forming and subsequent upsetting described above offers several advantages. A first advantage is that the additional upsetting process allows the height of the round wire of the lock shackle to be reduced. After forming, the bent wire may protrude beyond the lock holder plate. The additional forming process allows the height of the wire to be reduced so that the free ends do not protrude beyond the lock holder plate again or protrude to a lesser extent. In any case, the additional upsetting process allows the bent part of the wire of the lock holder shackle to be flattened, thus providing a more favorable contact surface on the vehicle body.A further advantage of the additional forming of the free ends is that the contact surface of the free ends on the lock holder plate can be enlarged. This provides a larger contact surface for transferring a tensile force or load to the lock holder. The contact surface between the bent end and the lock holder plate is also enlarged.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, the lock holder plate has a recess, wherein the free ends are bent into the recess. The recess in the lock holder plate can, for example, be formed into the lock holder plate by deep drawing and extend at least partially over the lock holder plate. However, it is also conceivable for the recess to extend across the entire width of the lock holder plate. The recess in the lock holder plate is formed continuously into the lock holder plate, resulting in a recess that extends from the openings for inserting the free ends of the lock holder bracket up to across the middle of the lock holder plate. In a preferred embodiment, there is therefore a single recess in the lock holder plate into which the two ends of the lock holder bracket are bent.However, it is also conceivable that, for example, two recesses, one for each free end, are formed into the lock holder plate.

[0021] It can also be advantageous if the free ends are positively seated in the recess. A positive fit between the free ends and the recess can be created, for example, by a suitable selection of the wire of the lock holder bracket and / or a shaping of the recess in the lock holder plate and / or further deformation of the free ends after bending. The positive fit between the recess and the free ends of the wire of the lock holder bracket makes it possible to create a full-surface, or at least partially full-surface, contact of the free ends with the lock holder plate. This can provide favorable load distribution in the event of a tensile force on the lock holder.Another advantage is that by adjusting the recess, the thickness of the wire of the lock holder bracket, and / or additionally shaping the free ends of the bent wire, a flat contact surface can be created on the underside of the lock holder bracket. A flat contact surface of the lock holder plate and the lock holder bracket ends offers the advantage of easy installation on the vehicle, as no shaping is required in the bodywork area of ​​the lock holder. The lock holder plate with the appropriately shaped free ends can then be mounted on a flat surface of the vehicle.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the invention, an advantage arises when the lock holder bracket rests against the surface of the lock holder plate with a deformation on the locking bolt and the connecting bolt. An additional deformation in the form of upsetting or embossing on the lock holder bracket makes it possible to provide an additional bead on the locking bolt and the connecting bolt. The additional deformation on the longitudinal extensions of the locking bolt and the connecting bolt can then serve as a contact surface when inserting the lock holder bracket into the openings in the lock holder plate. The beads then serve as assembly aids, as they can ensure secure positioning during assembly of the lock holder bracket and when bringing the lock holder bracket together with the lock holder plate.Another advantage of the beads is that they can serve as abutments when forming the free ends, i.e., when bending the free ends. This simplifies assembly and ensures secure positioning of the lock holder bracket relative to the lock holder plate when forming the free ends.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the free ends can be bent in opposite directions or in different directions. Depending on the design of the lock holder plate, its arrangement in the motor vehicle, and / or the load on the lock holder, it may be advantageous for the free ends to be bent in opposite directions or in different directions on the lock holder. This can be advantageous, for example, when a large lock holder plate is required or when very high forces act on the lock holder and correspondingly large lengths of the bent sections must be realized.

[0024] The object of the invention is achieved from a process engineering perspective by providing a method for producing a lock holder for a motor vehicle lock, in which the free ends of a lock holder bracket are inserted through a lock holder plate and the free ends are subsequently deformed by bending. The method according to the invention makes it possible to provide a lock holder bracket that meets the increased requirements and the ever-increasing demands placed on the lock holder.

[0025] Overall, the method according to the invention and the lock holder designed according to the invention can increase the tear resistance and a lock holder can be provided which can be designed to be adaptable to the requirements of the automotive industry.

[0026] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the principle applies that the exemplary embodiment does not limit the invention, but merely represents an advantageous embodiment of the invention. The features presented can be implemented individually or in combination with other features of the description and the patent claims.

[0027] It shows: Fig. 1 a three-dimensional view of a lock holder bracket designed according to the invention in a view of an underside of the lock holder plate, Fig. 2 a lock holder bracket and a lock holder plate before joining the two components of a lock holder according to the invention, Fig. 3 a lock holder after joining the lock holder bracket and forming the free ends, and Fig. 4 the lock holder after additional compression of the free ends in a recess of the lock holder plate.

[0028] In the Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a lock holder 1 with a lock holder bracket 2 consisting of a locking bolt 3, a center piece 4, and a connecting bolt 5. The lock holder bracket 2 is fastened to a lock holder plate 6, wherein the lock holder plate 6 has two openings 7, 8 and a recess 9. It can be seen that the free ends 10, 11 are connected to the lock holder plate 6 by bending. The free ends 10, 11 are formed in the direction of a center axis M of the lock holder plate 6. The lock holder 1 is overall symmetrical to the center axis M, so that the openings 7, 8, which preferably serve to fasten the lock holder 1 to the body, are also symmetrical. The free ends 10, 11 are arranged in the region of the recess 9 and are spaced A apart from one another.In this exemplary embodiment, the free ends 10, 11 are formed twice, i.e., bent and compressed, so that a flat underside 12 can be realized, whereby the lock holder 1 as a whole can be mounted on a flat surface. In other words, the free ends 10, 11 do not protrude beyond the underside 12; preferably, the free ends 10, 11 form a uniform plane with the underside 12. By forming a uniform plane of the underside 12 of the lock holder plate 6 and the free ends 10, 11, an additional contact surface for the lock holder 1 on a vehicle body can be provided. An additional contact surface offers the advantage that additional holding force is provided for the lock holder bracket 2 through mounting on the vehicle body.

[0029] In the Fig. 2 shows the state of the lock holder 1 as it was before the assembly of the lock holder bracket 2 and the lock holder plate 6. The lock holder bracket 2 is constructed in one piece and is formed from a wire with a uniform diameter D. As clearly shown in the Fig. 2, the wire from which the lock holder bracket 2 is formed is processed before being inserted into the lock holder plate 6. The locking bolt 5 and the locking bolt 3 are each provided with a bead 13, 14, which was formed into the wire 15, for example by means of a swaging process. The wire 15 was additionally bent, resulting in an overall forming process for the lock holder bracket 2. It can be advantageous for the center piece 4 to be additionally formed, so that flat surfaces 16, 17 are formed on the center piece. The flat surfaces 16, 17 can then serve to ensure that, in the event of extreme load, a rotary latch resting on the lock holder bracket 2 comes into flat contact with the flat surface 17 of the center piece 4. An increase in the contact surface between the center piece 4 and the rotary latch leads to an increase in the contact surface and thus at the same time to the load distribution across the flat surface 17 of the center piece 4.The free ends 10, 11 of the lock holder bracket 2 are inserted into openings 18, 19 to connect the lock holder bracket 2 to the lock holder plate 6 and are pushed through the openings 18, 19 until the beads 13, 14 rest against the recess 9 and in particular the openings 18, 19. The beads 13, 14 thus provide an assembly aid and, at the same time, a support point for bending the free ends 10, 11. It can also be seen that the openings 7, 8 are formed, for example, as bores 7, 8 in the lock holder plate 6, wherein the bores 7, 8 also have a countersink 20, 21 so that assembly screws can also be flush with a surface 22 of the lock holder plate 6.

[0030] The Fig. 3 shows the state that the free ends 10, 11 assume after the free ends have been passed through the openings 18, 19 and then bent in the direction of the central axis M. Bending the free ends 10, 11 into the recess 9 of the lock holder plate 6 results in the free ends 10, 11 being seated in the recess 9. In this position of fastening the lock holder bracket 2 to the lock holder plate 6, the free ends 10, 11 could protrude beyond the underside 12, at least in some areas. In order to achieve a corresponding further form-fitting seat of the free ends 10, 11 in the recess and to generate a flat underside 12 on the lock holder 1, the free ends 10, 11 can undergo additional deformation.

[0031] The Fig.Figure 4 now shows the state in which the free ends 10, 11 have undergone additional compression. For this purpose, the free ends 10, 11 are further deformed using a force F. The additional deformation of the free ends 10, 11, which overall flattens the free ends 10, 11, simultaneously results in the free ends 10, 11 being positively seated against the recess 9. This achieves a further advantageous effect, namely that a large force transmission area can be achieved between the free ends 10, 11 and the lock holder plate 6.

[0032] If we now consider a coordinate system that is placed over the entire motor vehicle, the tensile strength in the x-direction can be increased by bending the free ends 10, 11. At the same time, the forming process leads to stabilization in the y-direction, i.e., in the bending direction of the lock holder bracket 2, so that the overall stability of the lock holder 1 can be increased. It should be noted that the forming of the lock holder bracket 2, and in particular of the free ends 10, 11, only slightly changes the material properties, although hot forming of the free ends in the first and / or second forming process can also be advantageous. List of reference symbols 1 lock holder 2 lock holder brackets 3 locking bolts 4 Middle piece 5 connecting bolts 6 Lock holder plate 7, 8, 18, 19 openings, bore 9 Deepening 10, 11 free end 12 Bottom 13, 14 bulge 15 wire 16, 17 flat surfaces 20, 21 Reduction 22 Surface M central axis A distance D Diameter F Force X, Y coordinate system QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 031 158 A2

[0006] DE 10 2010 021 677 A1

[0006] DE 10 2014 006 857 A1

[0007]

Claims

[1] Lock holder (1) for a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a lock holder plate (6), a lock holder bracket (2) consisting of a locking bolt (3), a central piece (4) and a connecting bolt (5), wherein the lock holder bracket (2) has free ends (10, 11) and the free ends (10, 11) extend through the lock holder plate (6) and are connected to the lock holder plate (6) by means of a forming process, characterized by that the free ends (10, 12) are connected to the lock holder plate (6) by bending. [2] Lock holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the free ends (10, 11) are bent in the direction of a central axis (M) of the lock holder plate (6). [3] Lock holder (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the free ends (10, 11) in the bent state rest against the lock holder plate (6) in such a way that the free ends (10, 11) are at a distance (A) from one another. [4] Lock holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the free ends (10, 11) can be compressed in the bent state by means of additional forming. [5] Lock holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the lock holder plate (6) has a recess (9) and that the free ends (10, 11) are bent into the recess (1). [6] Lock holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the free ends (10, 11) are positively positioned in the recess. [7] Lock holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the free ends (10, 11) are present in the recess (9) in such a way that the free ends (10, 11) form a flat surface with the underside (12) of the lock holder plate (6). [8] Lock holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the lock holder bracket (2) rests with a respective deformation (13, 14) on the locking bolt (3) and on the connecting bolt (5) on the surface (22) of the lock holder plate (6). [9] Lock holder (6) according to one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 8, characterized by that the free ends (10, 11) are bent in opposite directions or in different directions. [10] Method for producing a lock holder (1) for a motor vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, in which the free ends (10, 11) of a lock holder bracket (2) are inserted through a lock holder plate (6) and one end (10, 11) is deformed by means of bending.

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