Motor vehicle lock, in particular 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) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (1) and a locking pawl (2). Furthermore, an electric motor drive (4, 5) is implemented. Also included is a lever mechanism (3, 6, 7, 10) with locking levers (6, 7), wherein the locking lever (6, 7) is divided into two parts: a first locking lever (6) and a second locking lever (7), which are rotatably mounted about a common axis (8). According to the invention, the first locking lever (6) is configured for electrically opening the locking mechanism (1, 2) in conjunction with the electric motor drive (4, 5). The second locking lever (7) is equipped with a mechanical interface (7a, 10a) to a coupling lever (10), so that only the second locking lever (7) needs to be actuated to assume positions such as "unlocked" or "locked".

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a locking pawl, furthermore with an electromechanical drive, and with a lever mechanism with a locking lever, wherein the locking lever is divided into two parts and equipped with a first and second locking part lever, which are rotatably mounted about a common axis.

[0002] Such a motor vehicle lock is described by way of example in DE 195 07 367 T1. This concerns a motor vehicle door lock with a central locking drive and a split central locking lever. This design is intended to simplify the control of the central locking drive while still ensuring exceptional reliability and operational safety. For this purpose, the central locking lever has two locking lever sections that are positively connected to each other.

[0003] A first locking lever is connected to an internal locking lever. A second locking lever is connected to an output element of the central locking drive, as well as to a transmission lever and an external locking lever. The second locking lever is also designed to actuate at least one electrical switch.

[0004] In this way, the split locking lever allows the operation of the aforementioned electrical switch to be decoupled from the operation of the internal locking lever in the "theft-proof" position. This ensures that the switch positions always correspond to the corresponding positions of the vehicle door lock.

[0005] Another prior art, according to DE 10 2019 127 112 A1, relates to a motor vehicle lock in which the lever chain or lever mechanism has a split lever. This allows the split lever to be moved from a normal position to an emergency operating position using the electric motor drive. For this purpose, the split lever is equipped with two lever arms connected to each other via a joint. The angle between the two lever arms can be changed using the drive.

[0006] The normal position of the split lever corresponds to an angled arrangement of the lever arms, whereas the emergency operating position corresponds to an extended arrangement of the lever arms. This is intended to achieve and implement a simple and cost-effective emergency operation of the lever chain.

[0007] The prior art already addresses the issue of emergency operation. Such emergency operation is particularly necessary in the event of a crash. In the teaching according to DE 10 2019 127 112 A1, in such a crash and during emergency operation, the drive is energized. As a result, an emergency release occurs, the split lever assumes its extended position, and a decoupling from a supplementary locking drive takes place. Consequently, a low drive power is sufficient for the emergency operation to move the known automotive lock to the desired "unlocked" or "emergency unlocked" position. From there, the lock can then be manually opened in an emergency.

[0008] This results in a so-called TCR (temporary crash redundancy), meaning that in the event of a crash and in its aftermath, a mechanical actuating lever chain is closed and activated. This triggers an emergency release and, consequently, an emergency actuation of the lock to open it – temporarily, i.e., only after and as a consequence of the crash. This has proven to be effective in principle.

[0009] However, the prior art referenced above, according to DE 10 2019 127 112 A1, requires at least two drives for this purpose: on the one hand, the locking drive, and on the other hand, the additional electric motor drive with an emergency power source for the emergency operation of the lever chain. This is complex and expensive because such drives generally rely on an electric motor and other components such as a worm gear driven by the electric motor, etc. This is where the invention comes in.

[0010] 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 the technological and monetary costs are reduced.

[0011] To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, starting from a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, that the first locking lever is equipped for electrically opening the lock in conjunction with the electromechanical drive and the second locking lever is equipped with a mechanical interface to a clutch lever, so that only the second locking lever needs to be actuated to assume positions such as "unlocked" or "locked".

[0012] The invention is based on the premise that the (single) electric motor drive required at this point can be used for two fundamental functions. First, the electric motor drive provides the electrical opening of the lock. Second, and additionally, the electric motor drive can perform a locking and unlocking function. This is possible because the locking lever, or central locking lever, is divided into two sub-levers: the first locking sub-lever and the second locking sub-lever, which are rotatably mounted about a common axis.

[0013] This allows not only the functions of electric opening, locking, and unlocking to be implemented with a single drive, but this variant is particularly advantageous when implementing the previously mentioned TCR (temporary crash redundancy). The second locking lever can easily perform the mechanical functions of "locked" and "unlocked," requiring only the actuation of this second locking lever. This results in low actuation forces, allowing for the use of a compact and cost-effective electric motor drive. Furthermore, the design is compact because both locking levers are rotatably mounted around a common axis, enabling seamless interaction between them.

[0014] In this context, it has proven particularly advantageous if the first locking lever has teeth. These teeth allow the electric motor drive to easily engage the first locking lever for electrical opening. This is because a worm gear is usually incorporated into the electric motor drive, which engages with the aforementioned teeth of the first locking lever.

[0015] Furthermore, it has proven particularly advantageous if the first locking lever is equipped with a spring, and especially a center-zero spring. This spring allows the first locking lever to be returned to its home position particularly easily and reliably. Such a center-zero spring is characterized by the fact that it is tensioned with every deflection of the first locking lever, i.e., both when the electric motor drive, with its worm gear, engages the first locking lever's teeth and applies force in a first direction, and also when the force is applied in a second, opposite direction. In fact, the first locking lever can generally be pivoted clockwise and counterclockwise around the axis common with the second locking lever.The same applies to the second locking lever, which can also be pivoted clockwise and counterclockwise around the aforementioned common axis.

[0016] Furthermore, the spring in question, or center-zero spring, not only ensures that the first locking lever returns to its home position after being actuated by the electric motor, but also allows it to be positioned against different contact surfaces of the first locking lever. This enables the return forces to be adjusted differently depending on the direction of rotation of the first locking lever from its deflected to its home position. Therefore, such a center-zero spring can be easily adapted to different conditions and designs.

[0017] Furthermore, the first locking lever is generally equipped with several drive elements. These drive elements can be contours, arms, etc., on the locking lever in question. Combinations are, of course, also possible.

[0018] The usual procedure involves a first drive element on the first locking lever interacting with a release lever for electric opening. This drive element for electromechanical or electric opening can be a pin that pivots the release lever. This is, of course, only an example and should not be interpreted as a limitation.

[0019] Furthermore, the first locking lever has at least one additional drive element that interacts with the second locking lever. In this context, a second drive element and a third drive element can be distinguished. The second drive element is designed to actuate the second locking lever in the "lock" direction. The third drive element, on the other hand, ensures that the second locking lever is actuated in the "unlock" direction.

[0020] That is, depending on the position and design of the respective drive element, the first locking lever ensures that the second locking lever is either "unlocked" or "locked." These different functional positions generally correspond to the second locking lever interacting with a clutch lever for this purpose. The second locking lever may have a contour or lever arm that engages in a corresponding recess on the clutch lever. The contour / lever arm and the recess together define a mechanical interface. This allows the clutch lever to be moved linearly or actuated in other ways.

[0021] In this way, the clutch lever can assume the "engaged" position, which corresponds to the "unlocked" position of the second locking lever. In this "unlocked" position of the second locking lever, or "engaged" position of the clutch lever it actuates, the clutch lever ensures that the lever chain or mechanism implemented at this point is closed, from, for example, a manual handle to the release lever. This allows a pawl to be lifted from its engagement with a rotary latch by manually actuating the handle using the release lever, and the associated locking mechanism to be mechanically opened. This occurs, for example, when mechanical redundancy is required after a crash. This generally corresponds to the "TCR engaged" or "TCR activated" position.

[0022] If, however, the second locking lever assumes its "locked" position, the contour or lever interacting with the clutch lever ensures that the clutch lever is moved to its "disengaged" position. As a result, the lever mechanism is mechanically interrupted. Any force applied to the handle is therefore ineffective, and the lock cannot be opened mechanically. However, electric opening is still possible under normal operating conditions. The second locking lever is actuated to its "unlocked" and "locked" positions by the opposite direction of actuation of the (single) drive mechanism to that of electric opening.

[0023] Finally, the second locking lever is advantageously equipped with a spring, and in particular a tilting spring. The tilting spring ensures that the second locking lever is secured in its previously mentioned "locked" and "unlocked" positions. This means that any deviations of the second locking lever from these positions are only possible against the force of the tilting spring. Switching the second locking lever from the "locked" to the "unlocked" position is also only possible by applying additional force to the tilting spring.

[0024] The result is a motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which features a strikingly simple lever mechanism and associated electric motor drive. According to the invention, this electric motor drive can be used in two ways. First, the (single) electric motor drive, in conjunction with the first locking lever, ensures that the obligatory locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and pawl is opened electrically. For this purpose, the first locking lever is pivoted about its axis, which is common with the second locking lever, by means of the electric motor drive. In this context, the drive element on the first locking lever ensures that the release lever is actuated, which in turn lifts the pawl, which is engaged with the rotary latch, from its engagement position. As a result, the rotary latch is released and opens with spring assistance.The second locking lever generally remains stationary during this process and is not engaged or actuated by the first locking lever. This corresponds to a first actuation direction of the electromechanical drive.

[0025] However, if the second locking lever is "unlocked" during the described electromechanical opening process and the functional position "TCR engaged" is observed as a result, then the first locking lever, via the first drive element, ensures that the second locking lever is actuated in the direction of "locking".

[0026] This means that, in connection with the electric or electromechanical opening, a mechanical check is simultaneously performed to ensure that the second locking lever has assumed its normally engaged "locked" position, or will assume it if, for example, a "TCR on" or "TCR inserted" signal has been unintentionally sent. This ensures that the mechanical redundancy is not activated during any electric or electromechanical opening process. This represents a significant safety feature because it effectively performs a regular check to verify that the "TCR off" position is engaged.

[0027] Only when, for example, in a crash event and with a corresponding signal from a crash sensor followed by the "TCR on" signal, the electric motor drive is actuated in the opposite direction to the electric motor opening, i.e., in a second actuation direction opposite to the first, does the second locking lever no longer assume its normally locked position. Instead, it is actuated by the first locking lever and moved towards the "unlock" position. For this purpose, the first locking lever has a third drive element, which in this case actuates the second locking lever in the "unlock" direction.This means that the second locking lever, via its contour or lever action, engages the recess in the clutch lever, ensuring that the clutch lever is moved from its "disengaged" position, which it maintains throughout normal operation, to the "engaged" position.

[0028] Now the lever chain or lever mechanism is mechanically closed, and the lock can be opened manually using the aforementioned handle. This is where the main advantages lie.

[0029] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing that illustrates only one embodiment; the drawing shows: Fig. 1 the motor vehicle lock according to the invention in its normal state during an indicated electromechanical opening process and Fig. 2 the object according to the Fig. 1 when assuming the functional position “insert TCR”.

[0030] The figures depict a motor vehicle lock, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is a motor vehicle door lock. This lock has a feature that is only partially visible in the Fig. 1 Indicative locking mechanism 1, 2 consisting essentially of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. A release lever 3 can act on the pawl 2, which is rotatable about an indicated axis, and in particular release it from its position in the Fig. The locking mechanism shown in Figure 1 engages the rotary latch 1. This corresponds to a pivoting movement of the release lever 3 around its axis in the clockwise direction indicated here. The clockwise movement of the release lever 3 causes the locking pawl 2 to pivot around its axis in the counterclockwise direction indicated there, and as a result, the rotary latch 1 can pivot clockwise. This releases a previously engaged locking bolt.

[0031] The pivoting movement of the release lever 3 about its axis in a clockwise direction, as described in the introduction, is effected in the exemplary embodiment by an electric motor drive 4, 5 acting on a locking lever 6, 7. The overall design is such that the locking lever 6, 7 is divided into two parts: a first locking lever 6 and a second locking lever 7. Both locking levers 6, 7 are rotatably mounted about a common axis 8 in a lock housing or lock case 9, which is located in the Fig. 1 is only hinted at.

[0032] According to the invention, the design is such that the first locking lever 6 is configured for electrically or electromechanically opening the lock 1, 2 in conjunction with the electromechanical drive 4. The procedure is as follows in detail. First, the electromechanical drive 4, 5 consists of an electric motor 4 with an output shaft and a worm gear located thereon, and a worm wheel 5 that can be driven by the worm gear on the output shaft. This allows the worm wheel 5 to rotate in the Fig. 1. Perform indicated rotational movements clockwise and counterclockwise around its axis, as shown by a double arrow in the Fig. 1 indicates. In addition, the worm gear 5 engages with a toothing in a toothing 6a of the first locking part lever 6.

[0033] For electric motor opening, the worm gear 5 is driven counterclockwise around its axis by the electric motor 4. As a result, the first locking lever 6, which meshes with the worm gear 5 via the toothing 6a, performs a movement in the Fig. The first locking lever 6 also pivots clockwise around its axis 8, which is common to the second locking lever 7. This clockwise pivoting movement of the first locking lever 6 around the axis 8 causes a first drive element 6b on the first locking lever 6, in the form of, for example, a pin, a contour, or a lever arm, to act on the release lever 3. Since the first locking lever 6 pivots clockwise around the axis 8, the drive element 6b causes the release lever 3 to also pivot clockwise around its axis. For the reasons already described, this in turn causes the pawl 2 to pivot counterclockwise around its axis and thus be disengaged from the rotary latch 1.The rotary latch 1 can then open clockwise with spring assistance, releasing a previously trapped locking bolt (not explicitly shown). This opens the locking mechanism 1, 2 electrically or by electromechanical action.

[0034] In contrast, and also according to the invention, the second locking lever 7 has a mechanical interface 7a, 10a to a clutch lever 10. According to the exemplary embodiment, this mechanical interface 7a, 10a is configured and designed such that, for this purpose, the second locking lever 7 has a contour, a lever, and, according to the exemplary embodiment, a lever arm 7a that engages, or can engage, in a recess 10a of the clutch lever 10. The interface 7a, 10a thus formed between the second locking lever 7 on the one hand and the clutch lever 10 on the other hand ensures that the second locking lever 7 is able to assume positions such as "unlocked" or "locked." This is again achieved by the electromechanical drive 4, 5, as will be explained in more detail below.For this purpose, the electromechanical drive 4, 5 is actuated in a second direction, which corresponds to a clockwise rotation of the worm gear 5. In the first and already described direction of actuation, the electromechanical drive 4, 5, with its counterclockwise-rotating worm gear 5, ensures the electrical or electromechanical opening.

[0035] In the Fig. Figure 1 represents the "locked" position of the locking lever 7 and, consequently, the corresponding "disengaged" position of the clutch lever 10. This includes the further "TCR off" position. In this position, any pressure applied to a handle 11 is inactive. In contrast, the Fig. 2. The functional positions are “unlocked” or “emergency unlocked” and “TCR on”. Then the handle 11 is effective and its application leads to the mechanical opening of the locking mechanism 1,2.

[0036] The release lever 3 and the clutch lever 10 together define a lever assembly 3, 6, 7, 10, which also includes the two locking levers 6, 7. The lever assembly 3, 6, 7, 10 can be actuated by the indicated handle 11 to open the locking mechanism 1, 2 in the event that an emergency release has occurred following a crash and, accordingly, temporary crash redundancy in the sense of "TCR on" has been engaged. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0037] Based on the previously described electric or electromechanical opening mechanism, it can be seen that the first locking lever 6 is associated with a spring, and in particular a center-zero spring 12. This center-zero spring 12 may be attached to different and in the Fig. The points 13 and 14 indicated on the outer circumference of the first locking lever 6 bear against the outer circumference of the first locking lever 6 with their legs 12a and 12b extending from a central coiled area 12c. This allows the center-zero spring 12 to reset the first locking lever 6 into its position in the Fig. In the basic position shown in Figure 1, a different spring force is generated. As previously explained, the electrical or electromechanical opening corresponds to the worm gear 5 rotating counterclockwise around its axis in the first direction of actuation, causing the first locking lever 6 to perform the described clockwise movement around its axis 8. As a consequence, the first drive element 6b on the first locking lever 6 ensures that, during this process, the release lever 3 pivots clockwise around its axis, and the lock 1, 2 opens electromechanically. During this process, the spring leg 12b of the center-zero spring 12 is tensioned. After the electromechanical actuation of the first locking lever 6 has ceased, the center-zero spring 12, with its tensioned spring leg 12b, ensures that the first locking lever 6 returns to its position as described in Figure 1. Fig. The basic position shown in section 1 is reset.

[0038] Should the clutch lever 10 not move within its position during the described electromechanical opening process, Fig. If the first locking lever 6 has assumed the "disengaged" position shown in Figure 1, and the second locking lever 7 is accordingly "unlocked," then during this process, namely the clockwise rotation of the first locking lever 6 about the axis 8, the first locking lever 6, with the aid of a further second drive element 15, acts upon the second locking lever 7, such that the latter "disengages" the clutch lever 10 via the interface 7a, 10a. Correspondingly, the first locking lever 6, acting clockwise, with the aid of the second drive element 15, either directly engages the second locking lever 7 during its clockwise movement about the common axis 8, or in any case, during this process ensures that the clutch lever 10 is "engaged" from its previously assumed position (see Figure 1). Fig. 2) into the in the Fig. The position shown in section 1 is transferred to "disengaged". As a result, each electromechanical opening operation using the electromechanical drive 4, 5 ensures that the lever assembly 3, 6, 7, 10 simultaneously assumes its "TCR off" position, consequently the clutch lever 10 is "disengaged", so that any application of force to the handle 11 is ineffective and does not unintentionally cause the locking mechanism 1, 2 to open.

[0039] The first locking lever 6 is further equipped with a third actuating element 16, which actuates the second locking lever 7 in the "unlock" direction. According to the exemplary embodiment, such unlocking or emergency unlocking generally occurs when a "TCR on" signal is received and used to actuate the electric motor drive 4, 5. For this purpose, the electric motor drive 4, 5 is energized and actuated in the opposite direction and second actuation direction compared to the previously described electric motor opening and first actuation direction. This opposite direction corresponds to the fact that the worm gear 5 now performs a clockwise movement around its axis instead of a counterclockwise movement.

[0040] This clockwise movement of the worm gear 5 now results in the second locking lever 7 being actuated via the aforementioned second drive element 16 on the first locking lever 6, namely its lever arm 7a is driven along by the third drive element 16 in conjunction with the counterclockwise movement. Since the lever arm 7a enters the recess 10a of the coupling element 10, this causes the coupling element 10 to be disengaged from its "disengaged" position. Fig. 1 in the "coupled" position according to the illustration in the Fig. 2 is transferred. During this process, a spring 17 associated with the second locking lever 7 is simultaneously tensioned. The spring 17 is a tilting spring 17, which secures the "locked" and "unlocked" functional positions of the second locking lever 7.

[0041] In any case, during this process of "engaging TCR", the second locking lever 7 performs a counterclockwise movement around the axis 8, which results in the clutch lever 10 moving from the "disengaged" position to the Fig. 1 moved “to the right” until the clutch lever 10 is in the “engaged” position as shown in the illustration. Fig. 2. This "engaged" functional position of the clutch lever 10 corresponds to the fact that the second locking lever 7 has assumed its "unlocked" or "emergency unlocked" functional position. This enables the clutch lever 10 to mechanically close the lever mechanism 3, 6, 7, 10. Accordingly, manually actuating the handle 11 in this "emergency unlocked" position allows the lock 1, 2 to be manually opened via the handle 11. Reference symbol list 1 rotary trap 2 locking pawls 3 release levers 4 electric motor 5 Schenk wheel 6 locking levers 6a Gearing 6b Carrying element 7 locking levers 7a Lever arm 8-axis 9 Lock housing / lock case 10 clutch levers 10a Exclusion 11. Handling 12 Center-zero spring 12a thigh 12b Spring leg QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 195 07 367 T1

[0002] DE 10 2019 127 112 A1 [0005, 0007, 0009]

Claims

Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (1) and a locking pawl (2), further with an electric motor drive (4, 5), and with a lever mechanism (3, 6, 7, 10) with locking levers (6, 7), wherein the locking lever (6, 7) is divided into two parts, comprising a first locking part lever (6) and a second locking part lever (7), which are rotatably mounted about a common axis (8), characterized in that the first locking part lever (6) is configured for electrically opening the locking mechanism (1, 2) in conjunction with the electric motor drive (4, 5) and the second locking part lever (7) is equipped with a mechanical interface (7a, 10a) to a coupling lever (10), such that only the second locking part lever (7) is used to assume positions such as "unlocked" or "locked". must be charged. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the first locking part lever (6) has a toothing (6a). Motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that a worm gear (5) engages in the toothing (6a) of the first locking part lever (6) as part of the electromotor drive (4, 5). Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first locking part lever (6) is equipped with a spring (12), in particular a center-zero spring (12) for returning to a basic position. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first locking part lever (6) is equipped with several drive elements (6b; 15, 16). Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that a first drive element (6b) on the first locking part lever (6) interacts with a release lever (3) for electrically opening the lock (1, 2). Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one further drive element (15, 16) of the first locking part lever (6) interacts with the second locking part lever (7). Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that a second drive element (15) is provided which acts on the second locking part lever (7) in the direction of “locking”. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a third drive element (16) is provided which acts on the second locking part lever (7) in the direction of “unlock”. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the second locking part lever (7) is equipped with a spring (17), in particular a tilting spring (17), which secures at least its functional positions “locked” and “unlocked”.

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