Motor vehicle lock, especially motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) comprising at least one rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2, 3). Furthermore, an electric motor drive (6, 7, 8) is provided for electrically opening the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3). Furthermore, an operating lever chain (9, 10) comprises a first operating lever (9) and a second operating lever (10), which are mounted coaxially for rotation about a common axis of rotation (11). The first operating lever (9) is actuated for mechanical opening, and the second operating lever (10) is actuated for electrically opening the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) by means of the electric motor drive (6, 7, 8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism comprising at least one rotary latch and a pawl, furthermore with an electric motor drive for electrically opening the locking mechanism, and with an operating lever chain, wherein the operating lever chain has a first operating lever and a second operating lever which are mounted coaxially to rotate about a common axis of rotation.

[0002] The prior art according to DE 10 2015 004 283 A1 concerns a motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which has a locking mechanism and the associated operating lever chain for opening the locking mechanism. Furthermore, a lock case with an L-shaped cross-section is implemented. One leg is designed as the locking mechanism leg for supporting the locking mechanism, and the other L-shaped leg is designed as the lever mechanism leg for supporting at least a large part of an operating lever mechanism or the operating lever chain. In this way, a relatively compact design with a protected construction is already observed and implemented.

[0003] Furthermore, DE 10 2007 003 948 A1 discloses a so-called self-opening mechanism that is nevertheless compact and simple in design. This self-opening mechanism is based on the fact that, in the locked state, a contact force vector originating from the contact point between the rotary latch and the first pawl is not aligned with the pawl's rotational axis, but rather is arranged at an angle to it. This results in a pivoting moment being generated via the rotary latch with respect to the first pawl, which pushes the first pawl into the open position in a "self-opening" manner.

[0004] This allows for smooth and quiet operation of the pawl when opening the locking mechanism. To block the self-opening mechanism, an additional blocking lever is provided. Furthermore, the prior art in question, according to DE 10 2007003 948 A1, also provides a second pawl that can be moved independently of each other. The first pawl can be engaged with the main catch of the rotary latch, while the second pawl interacts with the pre-catch. The blocking lever is assigned to the second pawl.

[0005] In the generic prior art according to DE 10 2021 128 868 A1, a motor vehicle lock is designed in such a way that the electric motor drive both acts on a release lever for electrically opening the locking mechanism and, for the most part, simultaneously transfers a locking unit to its "locked" position, interacting with an actuating element for this purpose. The locking unit essentially consists of a coupling element and a clutch control lever. A coupling pin is provided at the end of the coupling element, which can be moved up and down within a coupling contour.

[0006] The coupling contour represents a component of a first actuating lever, which, together with a second actuating lever, is mounted on the same axis as the base of the coupling contour and is rotatable about this axis. If the coupling pin is in a position spaced from the base of the coupling contour, this corresponds to the "locked" functional position of the safety unit. If, however, the coupling pin is in the base-side position inside the coupling contour, this corresponds to the "unlocked" functional position of the safety unit.

[0007] This provides a motor vehicle lock with reduced design complexity and a compact structure. However, there is still room for improvement, as the electric motor drive is still intended to be used to electrically open the locking mechanism, but an additional mechanical opening mechanism is often required. Such a design is recommended for reasons of redundancy, for example, to still enable mechanical locking mechanism opening in the event of a failure of the electric motor drive. To date, there are no convincing solutions for this that take a compact design into account.

[0008] Accordingly, the invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock in such a way that both electrical and mechanical opening of the locking mechanism is provided while at the same time having a compact design.

[0009] To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock is characterized in that the first actuating lever is actuated for mechanical opening and the second actuating lever is actuated by means of the electric motor drive for electrically opening the locking mechanism.

[0010] The invention is based, first and foremost, on the realization that the first operating lever for mechanical opening and the second operating lever for electrical or electromotive opening can be mounted coaxially around the common axis of rotation using the electric motor drive. This provides a particularly compact design. At the same time, this approach allows the operating lever chain and the locking mechanism to be functionally separated from each other, which further supports compactness. In fact, an L-shaped lock housing, specifically an L-shaped lock case, can be advantageously used here.

[0011] It is possible to arrange the operating lever chain on one L-shaped leg or operating leg. The locking mechanism is arranged on the other L-shaped leg or locking mechanism leg. This allows for a compact design for tight installation spaces without compromising functionality.

[0012] In fact, in this context, according to an advantageous embodiment, the second operating lever extends to the locking mechanism leg for interaction with the locking mechanism provided there. This means that the generally only interface for the mechanical coupling between the operating lever chain on the operating leg and the locking mechanism on the locking mechanism leg is provided via the second operating lever.

[0013] For this purpose, the second actuating lever is advantageously equipped with a buffer in the area of ​​the interface in question. This buffer can be connected to the second actuating lever in question, specifically at the end. In this way, the second actuating lever can advantageously interact with a release lever on the locking mechanism leg as an additional component of the locking mechanism, which in turn then corresponds to the actuation and, in particular, the opening of the locking mechanism. In principle, this can also be achieved by forming the release lever and the pawl or one of the pawls as a single piece.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the design is such that the first actuating lever, upon its mechanical actuation, entrains the second actuating lever to open the locking mechanism. The invention utilizes the fact that only, and generally, the second actuating lever represents the previously described sole interface to the locking mechanism leg. This means that by mechanically actuating the first actuating lever and thereby entraining the second actuating lever to open the locking mechanism, it is ensured that, during this process, the previously mentioned release lever on the locking mechanism leg is actuated via the second actuating lever, thus enabling the locking mechanism to open as desired.

[0015] To implement this in detail and design, the first operating lever is usually equipped with a lug to engage the second operating lever. As soon as the first operating lever is mechanically actuated, its pivoting movement around the common axis of rotation with the second operating lever causes the first operating lever to engage the second operating lever via the lug in the pivoting movement, so that both operating levers pivot together around the axis of rotation. This, in turn, causes the release lever on the locking mechanism arm to be actuated via the second operating lever, opening the locking mechanism.

[0016] A further increase in compactness is achieved within the scope of the invention by the fact that an output pulley, as a component of the electric motor drive, is also rotatably mounted on the common axis of rotation, coaxial with the two actuating levers. The output pulley in question can be engaged with the second actuating lever in its opening direction. Furthermore, the output pulley in question can be disengaged from the second actuating lever in its opposite opening direction. The opening direction of the output pulley corresponds to the direction of rotation of the output pulley about the axis of rotation in question, which corresponds to the locking mechanism being opened entirely during this process.

[0017] This allows the mechanical and electric motor actuation of the two actuating levers to be implemented and implemented particularly easily, functionally, and independently of each other. To electrically open the locking mechanism, all that is required is that the output disk engages with the second actuating lever and is actuated in the opening direction. Consequently, the output disk and the second actuating lever rotate together around the rotation axis. The first actuating lever remains unaffected. As a result, the second actuating lever acts on the release lever on the locking arm, so that the locking mechanism is opened as desired.

[0018] If, however, the locking mechanism is to be opened mechanically, the first actuating lever is pivoted mechanically around the rotation axis. The lug on the first actuating lever ensures that the second actuating lever is pivoted together with the first actuating lever around the rotation axis during this process. The output disk remains stationary. As a result, the second actuating lever again ensures that the release lever on the locking mechanism arm opens the locking mechanism as desired. This allows the functionalities to be seamlessly separated from one another and, at the same time, results in a particularly compact and functionally efficient design.

[0019] This is further enhanced by the fact that the driven pulley is designed as a gear segment. This allows the driven pulley to easily engage the second actuating lever in its opening direction and disengage from the second actuating lever in the opposite opening direction. In the simplest case, the second actuating lever has a pin against which the second driven pulley or gear segment moves to open the second actuating lever. To disengage the driven pulley from the second actuating lever, it is merely necessary to pivot the driven pulley in the opposite opening direction.

[0020] Finally, it has proven particularly advantageous in this context if the locking mechanism is designed as a multi-pawl locking mechanism. In particular, a two-pawl locking mechanism with a pre-locking pawl and a main locking pawl is used. In this case, the pre-locking pawl is usually equipped with a lever arm that also serves as the release lever. This means that, according to the example, the release lever and the pre-locking pawl are formed as a single piece. This is, of course, only an example and is by no means mandatory.

[0021] Using the second operating lever, the release lever and thus the pre-locking pawl can now be actuated to open the locking mechanism. This is achieved in such a way that the pre-locking pawl subsequently releases the main locking pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch.

[0022] Finally, the rotary latch can also be constructed in several parts. In this case, it's conceivable that the rotary latch consists of a main latching rotary latch and a pre-latching rotary latch, which are sandwiched together. Furthermore, the design is usually such that both pawls are mounted on the same axis and are rotatable.

[0023] Furthermore, the pre-locking pawl interacts with the pre-locking of the rotary latch on the pre-locking rotary latch in a pre-locking plane, and the main locking pawl interacts with a main lock of the rotary latch on the main locking rotary latch in a parallel, spaced-apart main lock plane. The design of the locking mechanism as a multi-pawl locking mechanism and, in particular, a double-pawl locking mechanism, as well as the design of the rotary latch with the main locking rotary latch and the pre-locking rotary latch, are each options that are advantageous and support functionality, but are by no means a mandatory requirement. Rather, this not only fulfills all safety requirements but also results in low opening forces with reduced noise emissions. This is in addition to the particularly compact design of the motor vehicle lock according to the invention. These are the key advantages.

[0024] The invention is illustrated below using a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; it shows: Fig. 1 the motor vehicle lock according to the invention in a basic overview, Fig. 2 the motor vehicle lock in section when looking in direction X as shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a view of the motor vehicle lock according to the Fig. 1 from direction Y with the lock housing removed and Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 the vehicle lock after the Fig. 1 from the direction W again with the lock housing removed and in the Fig. 5 additionally removed main locking pawl.

[0025] The figures depict a motor vehicle lock designed as a motor vehicle door lock. The motor vehicle door lock has a locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 consisting of at least one rotary latch 1 and one pawl 2, 3. In fact, according to the exemplary embodiment, two pawls 2, 3 are implemented: a first pawl 2 and a second pawl 3. The first pawl 2 is the main locking pawl 2, whereas the second pawl 3 is designed as a pre-locking pawl 3.

[0026] The Fig. Figure 2 clearly shows that the rotary latch 1 in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a sandwich rotary latch. In fact, the rotary latch 1 consists of a main latching rotary latch 1a that interacts with the main latching pawl 2, and an additional pre-latching rotary latch 1b that interacts with the pre-latching pawl 3. The main latching rotary latch 1a and the pre-latching rotary latch 1b are connected to one another in a sandwich-like stack and are designed to pivot about a common pivot axis 4.

[0027] The two pawls 2, 3, i.e., the main locking pawl 2 and the pre-locking pawl 3, are also mounted so as to rotate coaxially around a common axis of rotation 5. This results in low opening forces and reduced noise emissions. Furthermore, this allows for a particularly compact design because the distance between the pre-locking and main locking points on the rotary latch 1 can be reduced (see Fig. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

[0028] In order to additionally set particularly low opening forces, the rotary latch 1 or, according to the exemplary embodiment, the main latching rotary latch 1a is designed with a latching element 1c pivotally mounted thereon, which can be partially seen in the Fig. 1. Such a locking element may be designed in a similar way to that described in detail in WO 2020 / 083435 A1, which originates from the applicant.

[0029] It should be emphasized that neither the design of locking mechanisms 1, 2, and 3 as multi-pawl locking mechanisms, and especially as double-pawl locking mechanisms, nor the design of rotary latch 1 as a sandwich rotary latch are in any way mandatory. Rather, these are particularly advantageous variants.

[0030] Particularly essential to the invention is an electric motor drive 6, 7, 8, which is used to electrically open the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3, as will be explained in more detail below. For this purpose, the electric motor drive 6, 7, 8 according to the exemplary embodiment consists of an electric motor 6 and a gear 7, 8 connected to it. The gear 7, 8 in turn has a gear 7 meshing with an output worm of the electric motor 6 and an output element or output disk 8 acted upon by this. The output disk 8 is a gear segment according to the exemplary embodiment.

[0031] Of further fundamental importance is an actuating lever chain 9, 10. The actuating lever chain 9, 10 has a first actuating lever 9 and a second actuating lever 10. Both actuating levers 9, 10 are mounted coaxially around a common rotational axis or axis 11. The output-side gear segment 8 or the driven disk 8 of the electric motor drive 6, 7, 8 is also rotatably mounted on the common rotational axis 11.

[0032] According to the invention, the design is such that the first actuating lever 9 is designed for mechanical opening and the second actuating lever 10 is designed for electrical opening of the locking mechanism 6, 7, 8 with the aid of the electric motor drive 6, 7, 8. This means that the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 in question can be opened mechanically via the first actuating lever 9. This corresponds to an actuation of the first actuating lever 9 around the common axis of rotation 11 in the sense of a Fig. 2. This corresponds to a clockwise movement in the rear view after the Fig. 3, as visualized by the arrows drawn there.

[0033] The first actuating lever 9 can be actuated, for example, by a door handle or other manual device with the interposition of mechanical connecting elements (not shown). In fact, the two actuating levers 9, 10 may be components of an internal actuating lever chain, although this is not mandatory, of course. An external actuating lever chain could just as easily be implemented, or even hybrid forms are conceivable.

[0034] The locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 can also be opened electrically using the electric motor drive 6, 7, 8. For this purpose, the second actuating lever 10 is actuated by the electric motor drive 6, 7, 8. This involves another counterclockwise movement - this time of the driven disk or gear segment 8 - around the rotation axis 11, as indicated by the arrow in the Fig. 2. Corresponding to this in the rear view after the Fig. 3 is associated with a clockwise movement of the output disk 8 or the gear segment 8 around the common axis 11.

[0035] According to the exemplary embodiment, the mechanical coupling to the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 is established solely via the second operating lever 10. This means that the second operating lever 10 represents, as it were, the (only) interface of the operating lever chain 9, 10 to the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3. This supports the compact design. According to the exemplary embodiment, the operating lever chain 9, 10 is arranged on an L-shaped leg of an L-shaped lock housing 13, 14. For this purpose, the lock housing 13, 14 has an L-shaped lock case 13, 14 as an essential structural element. One L-leg 13 is designed as a locking mechanism leg 13 and serves to support the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3. The second L-leg 14, on the other hand, is an actuating leg 14. The actuating leg 14 consequently accommodates the actuating lever chain 9, 10.

[0036] When comparing the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shows that the operating lever chain 8, 9 mounted on the operating arm 14 can only interact with the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 mounted on the locking mechanism arm 13 via the second operating lever 10. For this purpose, the second operating lever 10 in question is equipped with a buffer 12 at its end and extends to the locking mechanism arm 13.

[0037] In order to realize and implement the opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 in detail, the first actuating lever 9 is rotated around the rotation axis 11 in the illustration according to the Fig. 2 is pivoted counterclockwise. During this process and during mechanical actuation, the first actuating lever 9 engages the second actuating lever 10 to open the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3. For this purpose, the first actuating lever 9 is equipped with a lug 9a that extends into a plane defined by the second actuating lever 10 and can thus engage the second actuating lever 10.

[0038] Since, in addition, the driven disk 8 or the gear segment 8 as a component of the electric motor drive 6, 7, 8 can be brought into engagement with the second actuating lever 10 in the opening direction and disengaged from the second actuating lever 10 in the opposite opening direction, the process of mechanically actuating the first actuating lever 9 results in the first actuating lever 9 in question only taking the second actuating lever 10 along via its nose 9a and in doing so both levers 9, 10 in the view according to the Fig. 2 can be pivoted counterclockwise around the common axis of rotation 11. The output disk or gear segment 8 remains at rest. The counterclockwise pivoting movement in the illustration according to the Fig. 2 corresponds to the fact that during this process the buffer 12 provided at the end of the second operating lever 10 is in the playback position after the Fig. 2 and also in the representation after the Fig. 3 moves “upwards”.

[0039] This results in the pre-locking pawl 3 being acted upon via the buffer 12 in question. This is because an arm 3a of the pre-locking pawl 3 functions as a release lever 3a. This means that the release lever 3a is a component of the pre-locking pawl 3. Since the actuation of the pre-locking pawl 3 around its axis or rotational axis 5 in the illustration according to the Fig. 4 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction indicated there upon an "upward" movement of the buffer 12, the rotary latch 1 is released from the pre-locking pawl 3. If the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 is in the main position, the pre-locking pawl 3 pivoted counterclockwise around the rotational axis 5 during this process ensures that the main locking pawl 2 is entrained by this process, so that the rotary latch 1 is again released from both pawls 2, 3.

[0040] In particular, the opening process from the main latch is realized with particularly low force. This is ensured by the locking element 1c, which is rotatably mounted on the main latch 1a and interposed between the main latch 1a and the associated main latch pawl 2. An opening movement of the main latch pawl 2 now leads to a mutual rolling movement between the main latch pawl 2 and the locking element 1c in question, which reduces the actuation forces in this area.

[0041] As already explained, an opening movement of the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 corresponds in the illustration to the Fig. 2 and, upon electrical opening, causes the output disk or gear segment 8 to pivot about the rotational axis 11 in the counterclockwise direction indicated there. During this pivoting movement of the output disk 8 or gear segment 8, it moves against a pin 10a on the second actuating lever 10. As a result, the second actuating lever 10 is driven along with this counterclockwise pivoting movement of the output disk 8 about the common rotational axis 11. The "upward" movement of the buffer 12 corresponds to this. The first actuating lever 9 remains at rest.

[0042] If, however, the first actuating lever 9 is mechanically actuated, it ensures that the second actuating lever 10 is driven along via the nose 9a attached to it. During this process, the gear segment 8 remains at rest and the pin 10a in question moves away from the gear segment 8. For this purpose, the pin 10a on the second actuating lever 10 may interact with an associated recess on the gear segment 8, which can be seen in the figures, although this is not mandatory.

[0043] Finally, the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and 4, 5, that the previously described “upward movement” of the buffer 12 ultimately causes the release lever 3a or the correspondingly designed arm 3a on the pre-locking pawl 3 to rotate counterclockwise around the associated rotation axis 5 as shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig.5 pivoted. This is possible because the second operating lever 10, together with the buffer 12, extends to the locking arm 13 with the locking mechanisms 1, 2, 3 mounted there. List of reference symbols 1 rotary latch 1a rotary latch 1b Pre-locking rotary latch 1c locking element 2 main locking pawl 3 pre-locking pawl 2, 3 pawl 1, 2, 3 locking 3 pre-locking pawl 3a Release lever arm 4 axis of rotation 5 axis of rotation 6 Electric motor 7 gear 8 Output pulley 8 gear segment 7, 8 gearboxes 6, 7, 8 drive 9 operating lever 9a Nose 10 operating levers 9, 10 Operating lever chain 10a cone 11 axis of rotation 12 buffers 13 locking arms 14 L-legs 13, 14 Lock housing 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] DE 10 2015 004 283 A1

[0002] DE 10 2007 003 948 A1 [0003, 0004] DE 10 2021 128 868 A1

[0005] WO 2020 / 083435 A1

[0028]

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) comprising at least one rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2, 3), further comprising an electric motor drive (6, 7, 8) for electrically opening the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), and with an operating lever chain (9, 10), wherein the operating lever chain (9, 10) has a first operating lever (9) and a second operating lever (10) which are mounted coaxially rotatable about a common axis of rotation (11), characterized by that the first operating lever (9) is actuated for mechanical opening and the second operating lever (10) is actuated by means of the electric motor drive (6, 7, 8) for electrical opening of the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3). [2] Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized by that the first actuating lever (9) during its mechanical actuation takes along the second actuating lever (10) to open the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3). [3] Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the first operating lever (9) is equipped with a nose (9a) for driving the second operating lever (10). [4] Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that an output disk (8) of the electric motor drive (6, 7, 8) is rotatably mounted coaxially to both actuating levers (9, 10) on the common axis of rotation (11). [5] Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized by that the driven pulley (8) can be brought into engagement with the second actuating lever (10) in the opening direction and disengaged from the second actuating lever (10) in the opposite opening direction. [6] Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the output disk (8) is designed as a gear segment (8). [7] Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the operating lever chain (9, 10) is arranged on an L-shaped operating leg (14) of an L-shaped lock housing (13, 14), while the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) is arranged on the other L-shaped locking mechanism leg (13). [8] Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized by that the second actuating lever (10) extends to the locking arm (13) for interaction with the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) provided there. [9] Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) is designed as a multi-pawl locking mechanism, in particular a two-pawl locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) with a main locking pawl (2) and a pre-locking pawl (3). [10] Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the rotary latch (1) is designed as a sandwich rotary latch consisting of a main latching rotary latch (1a) and a pre-latching rotary latch (1b).

Images