Motor vehicle locking device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023728586
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-03
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-09
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
AI Technical Summary
Motor vehicle locking devices, particularly hood locks, experience rattling noises due to relative movements between the hood and the vehicle body during operation, which existing designs attempt to mitigate using complex and expansive structures with leaf springs and energy accumulators.
A motor vehicle locking device featuring a leg spring that biases the ejector lever, fixed to a bearing dome defining its axis, creating a compact and easy-to-assemble structural unit that suppresses rattling noises by ensuring a secure spring-loaded contact between the locking bolt and the rotary latch.
The leg spring design provides a compact, easy-to-assemble solution that effectively prevents rattling noises by defining a structural unit with the bearing dome and ejector lever, ensuring a secure locking mechanism and reducing assembly complexity.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Description
[0002] Motor vehicle locking device
[0003] The invention relates to a motor vehicle locking device, in particular a motor vehicle lock, preferably a motor vehicle hood lock, with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl, and with an ejector lever prestressed by a spring for acting on a locking bolt interacting with the locking mechanism.
[0004] Motor vehicle locking devices generally face the problem that rattling noises can occur during operation. This can often be attributed to the relative movement of a hood, lid, door, flap, etc., secured to the vehicle body by the vehicle locking device. For this reason, motor vehicle locks, and especially hood locks, operate in such a way that the ejector lever acts on the locking bolt. This is ensured by the spring, which preloads the ejector lever accordingly.
[0005] This is usually done so that the ejector lever, which is pre-tensioned by the spring, rests on the underside of the locking bolt and moves it into a clamped position. The locking bolt is usually located in an inlet mouth of the rotary latch. Since the locking bolt has a certain amount of play compared to the inlet mouth, when the locking mechanism is in the closed position the ejector lever, which is pre-tensioned by the spring, ensures that the locking bolt is held in the clamped position within the inlet mouth. For this purpose, the locking bolt typically rests on a catch leg of the rotary latch. In fact, the design is usually such that the rotary latch has the relevant catch leg and a stop leg, which define the inlet mouth between them. With the help of the ejector lever, and taking into account the spring force on the ejector lever, the locking bolt can now be placed against one of the two legs inside the inlet mouth.This is usually the catch arm. In any case, this ensures, especially when the locking mechanism is in the closed position, that relative movements observed during operation of the vehicle locking device between the locking bolt and the rotary latch or the locking mechanism, or even inside the inlet opening, are no longer observed.
[0006] The generic prior art according to DE 10 2006 002 338 A1 proceeds in such a way that a so-called lifting part is implemented as an ejector lever. The lifting part is actuated by means of an energy accumulator, and a front flap on the locking bolt is thus moved into a raised position. The energy accumulator can be leaf springs arranged one above the other. These act on the lifting part or ejector lever from the outside. This is relatively complex in terms of assembly because, on the one hand, the leaf springs must be mounted inside a housing that accommodates the motor vehicle locking device, and, on the other hand, the lifting part or ejector lever must be mounted alongside other elements of the motor vehicle locking device. Furthermore, the use of the additional leaf springs in conjunction with the lifting part or ejector lever results in a relatively bulky structure.
[0007] In the known teaching, the ejector lever is loaded with the help of the energy storage device or the leaf springs in such a way that the overall vibration behavior is improved. In reality, such vibrations occur, for example, in the hood of a motor vehicle when the vehicle travels over bumpy road surfaces or when different aerodynamic forces act on the hood due to different speeds. Wind forces or crosswinds can also cause corresponding movements of the hood, even when the hood is in its closed position relative to the vehicle body, and the same applies to the vehicle locking mechanism.
[0008] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle locking device in such a way that rattling noises are still avoided while maintaining a functional design, whereby a particularly compact and easy-to-install variant is sought.
[0009] To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle locking device within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the spring preloading the ejector lever is designed as a leg spring which is fixed to a bearing dome defining an axis of the ejector lever.
[0010] According to the invention, a special spring is used, namely a torsion spring with a coiled section and two legs extending from it. The torsion spring in question is attached to a bearing dome. The bearing dome serves to define an axis or rotational axis of the ejector lever. In this way, it is already possible for the torsion spring in question, the bearing dome, and the ejector lever to define and can define a single structural unit.
[0011] In fact, at this point, the advantageous procedure is such that the leg spring in question, together with the bearing dome and the ejector lever, define a structural unit that can be secured in a locking manner to a housing of the motor vehicle locking device. This enables particularly simple assembly and, at the same time, a compact design. - In contrast, such a single assembly is not possible in the generic prior art according to DE 10 2006 002 338 A1. This is because, in the known teaching, the ejector lever, the associated spring, and also the bearing dome are obviously secured separately from one another in or on the housing of the motor vehicle locking device and mounted thereon, which is particularly time-consuming and, at the same time, requires mutual alignment of the aforementioned individual elements.
[0012] At the same time, the invention provides a solution that is still functional, because the torsion spring also prevents any rattling noises, for example, from a hood or flap. To achieve this, the torsion spring is usually designed so that its coiled section encloses the bearing pin in question. The torsion spring is usually designed so that its loose leg acts on the ejector lever, while its fixed leg is secured to the housing of the vehicle locking device.
[0013] The loose leg of the leg spring can therefore move together with the ejector lever, ensuring the spring-loaded contact of the ejector lever with the locking bolt. The ejector lever usually rests against a lower edge or a curve on the underside of the locking bolt. The locking bolt, in turn, is attached to a cover or flap. In this way, the leg spring ensures that, when the locking mechanism is in the closed position, the spring-loaded ejector lever presses the locking bolt inside the inlet mouth against one of the two legs of the rotary latch. This leg is usually the catch leg of the rotary latch. This effectively suppresses any rattling noises from the respective cover or flap during operation.
[0014] A particularly simple and functional assembly is achieved if the coil section surrounding the bearing dome is already or will be inserted onto the bearing dome in question. Furthermore, to actuate the ejector lever, the loose leg of the leg spring, which moves along with the ejector lever, usually engages under a contact edge of the ejector lever for the locking bolt resting against it.
[0015] This means that the locking bolt usually rests with its lower edge or curve against the corresponding contact edge of the ejector lever. The contact edge of the ejector lever is, in turn, gripped under by the loose leg, a component of the leg spring. This allows the loose leg of the leg spring to exert a spring-loaded action directly on the contact edge of the ejector lever and thus on the locking bolt.
[0016] In contrast, the fixed leg generally engages in a locking manner in an opening in the housing. This means that the fixed leg ultimately ensures the locking connection of the assembly consisting of the leg spring, the bearing dome, and the ejector lever to the housing.
[0017] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the legs adjoining the winding section, i.e., the loose leg and the fixed leg, form an obtuse angle between them. This obtuse angle takes into account the installation conditions and the topology of the ejector lever. Typically, the ejector lever is mounted on the same axis as the pawl. Accordingly, the common axis of the ejector lever and pawl is spaced from an axis of the rotary latch and thus also from the inlet opening of the rotary latch, in which the locking bolt is caught.
[0018] As a result, the ejector lever is usually designed as a two-arm lever, with one arm providing the contact edge for the locking bolt and the other, opposite arm, providing a connection for, for example, additional manual or motorized actuation. This two-armed, more or less elongated or obtuse-angled design of the ejector lever is also reflected in the fact that the leg spring is also designed at an obtuse angle, following the design of the ejector lever.
[0019] Finally, it has proven particularly advantageous in this context if the apex of the obtuse angle enclosed by the two legs is arranged in the region of a highest point of the winding section in the installed position. This means that as soon as the motor vehicle locking device is mounted in or on an associated motor vehicle, the apex in question is located at the highest point of the winding section. This highest point is usually located in a so-called vertical axis direction or Z direction. This allows the fixed leg to engage particularly easily in the opening of the housing. The opening in question is usually located on a short L-leg of the usually L-shaped housing or a lock case that is usually implemented at this point.
[0020] The short L-leg in question usually extends in the vehicle's transverse or Y-direction when the motor vehicle locking device, and thus also the housing, is installed. In contrast, the long L-leg, on which the locking mechanism and the ejector lever are typically mounted, is usually oriented in the Z-direction in cross-section, or its longitudinal extension is intended to be in the transverse or Y-direction.
[0021] In this way, the apex, or highest point, of the coil section is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the short L-shaped leg of the housing. This provides additional security for the leg spring attached to the bearing mandrel inside the housing, preventing the coil section from being removed from the bearing mandrel or becoming detached.
[0022] The result is a motor vehicle locking device that is particularly compact, easy to install, and simultaneously prevents any rattling noises from a hood, tailgate, or generally a hatch or door on a motor vehicle equipped with it. This can ultimately be attributed to the special leg spring that acts on the ejector lever and its design. In fact, the leg spring is incorporated as a component of a locking connection, which is implemented at this point and is essentially detachable, between the assembly consisting of the leg spring, bearing dome, and ejector lever. The locking connection between, on the one hand, the fixed leg of the leg spring and, on the other hand, the opening in the housing of the motor vehicle locking device is observed. This is where the key advantages lie.
[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing that illustrates only one exemplary embodiment. The sole Figure 1 shows an overview of the motor vehicle locking device according to the invention.
[0024] Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle locking device, which is generally designed as a motor vehicle lock and more specifically as a motor vehicle hood lock 1. Using the motor vehicle hood lock 1 as shown in Fig. 1, a front hood 2, only indicated here, can be secured and locked. For this purpose, a locking bolt 3 is connected to the front hood 2, which in turn interacts with a locking mechanism 4, 5 as an essential component of the motor vehicle locking device or the motor vehicle hood lock 1.
[0025] Specifically, the locking mechanism 4, 5 essentially consists of a rotary latch 4 and a pawl 5. The rotary latch 4 has a stop leg 4a and a catch leg 4b, which define an inlet opening between them, into which the locking bolt 3 is fully retracted and held in the closed position or main locking position of the locking mechanism 4, 5 shown in Fig. 1. An ejector lever 7 preloaded by a spring 6 is also provided to act on the locking bolt 3. By means of the spring 6, the ejector lever 7 is preloaded such that the locking bolt 3 is held in contact with the catch leg 4b inside the inlet mouth according to the exemplary embodiment, thus suppressing any rattling noises or relative movements of the locking bolt 3 inside the inlet mouth of the rotary latch 4 between the stop leg 4a and the catch leg 4b. This is indicated schematically by an arrow in Fig. 1.
[0026] It can be seen that the locking bolt 3 is bow-shaped or U-shaped in the exemplary embodiment and rests with its lower edge or underside against the ejector lever 7 in question, specifically a contact edge 7a of the ejector lever 7. The ejector lever 7 is in turn mounted on a bearing dome 8 as a rotation axis. A further bearing pin 9 provides a rotatable mounting of the rotary latch 4. Both bearing pins 8, 9 each define largely parallel axes of rotation and are rotatably mounted in a housing or lock case 10 of the motor vehicle locking device.
[0027] In the exemplary embodiment and in cross-section, the lock case 10 is L-shaped with a long L-leg 10a and a short L-leg 10b. Both the locking mechanism 4, 5 and the ejector lever 7 are mounted on the long L-leg 10a of the lock case 10. In contrast, the short L-leg 10b typically and predominantly provides stiffening of the lock case 10. Furthermore, the overall design is such that, in the installed position of the motor vehicle locking device or the motor vehicle hood lock 1 shown in Fig. 1, the long L-leg 10a is largely aligned in a vertical axis or Z direction of the motor vehicle in cross-section and extends longitudinally in a transverse direction or Y direction of the vehicle. The short L-leg 10b of the lock case 10 is designed in its longitudinal extension in the respective Y-direction or transverse direction, and extends in its width in the longitudinal direction orX-direction, which is not explicitly shown in Fig. 1 but is merely indicated by a dot.
[0028] Of course, these location and orientation specifications are merely examples, because the motor vehicle locking device in question can generally also be oriented and arranged with the longitudinal extension of the lock case 10 in the longitudinal direction or X-direction of the motor vehicle. In this case, for example, two motor vehicle locking devices are implemented on either side of a hood or front hood 2. However, this is not shown in detail.
[0029] Either way, and according to the invention, the aforementioned spring 6, which acts on the ejector lever 7, is designed as a leg spring 6 according to the exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the leg spring 6 is secured to the bearing mandrel 8 defining the axis of the ejector lever 7. The design is such that the leg spring 6 in question surrounds the bearing dome 8 with its coil section 6a. Within the scope of the exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that the coil section 6a surrounds the bearing dome 8 in question at a distance, so that movements between the two legs 6b and 6c emanating from the coil section 6a can be easily transmitted to the coil section 6a, reducing or expanding its diameter.
[0030] In fact, the design is such that the leg spring 6 acts upon the ejector lever 7 with its loose leg 6b. This means that the loose leg 6b moves together with the ejector lever 7. In contrast, the further, second leg is fixed as a fixed leg 6c to the housing, specifically to the lock case 10.
[0031] For this purpose, the loose leg 6b engages under the previously mentioned contact edge 7a of the ejector lever 7 for the locking bolt 3 resting thereon. In contrast, the fixed leg 6c of the leg spring 6 engages in a locking manner in an opening 11 in the housing 10 or the lock case 10. Specifically, the opening 11 is provided and realized in the short L-leg 10b of the L-shaped lock case 10.
[0032] It can be seen that the two legs 6b, 6c of the leg spring 6 adjoining the coil section 6a enclose an obtuse angle a between them. Both legs 6b, 6c originate from a vertex S of the respective angle a. The obtuse angle a between the two legs 6b, 6c is designed in a similar way to an obtuse angle between two lever arms of the ejector lever 7. In fact, the ejector lever 7 is equipped with a lever arm supporting the contact edge 7a and a further lever arm 7b, which enclose an obtuse angle between them in a similar way to the two legs 6b, 6c of the leg spring 6. A handle or a drive may or may not be connected to the further arm 7b of the ejector lever 7.
[0033] The leg spring 6 is mounted with its coil section 6a on the bearing mandrel 8. For this purpose, the bearing mandrel 8 may be equipped with a stop flange at its end, which prevents the coil section 6a from slipping off the bearing dome 8. Furthermore, it can be seen that the ejector lever 7 is mounted on the same axis as the pawl 5 by means of the bearing dome 8. This means that the pawl 5 also uses the bearing dome 8 to define its axis of rotation.
[0034] In this way, the leg spring 6, the bearing dome 8, and the ejector lever 7 can together define a structural unit 6, 7, 8. The structural unit 6, 7, 8 can be secured together, as a whole, and in a locking manner to the housing 10 and, specifically, to the lock case 10 according to the exemplary embodiment. A locking connection 6c, 11 is created, which specifically encompasses the fixed leg 6c of the leg spring 6 on the one hand, and the opening 11 in the lock case 10 on the other. Furthermore, the pawl 5, which is mounted on the bearing dome 8 with the same axis as the structural unit 6, 7, 8, is simultaneously secured in the lock case 10. In principle, the locking connection can, of course, also be designed differently. In either case, the structural unit 6, 7, 8 in question can be combined with the housing or the lock case 10 in a locking manner, which enables particularly simple and quick assembly. Furthermore, it can be seen that in the installed position shown in Fig.1 the vertex S of the obtuse angle a is arranged in the region of a highest point of the winding section 6a.
[0035] This means that, when viewed from the front, the coil section 6a on the bearing dome 8 is equipped with a highest point in the Z direction, or vertical axis direction of the motor vehicle in its installed position. This highest point approximately coincides with the vertex S of the obtuse angle a between the two legs 6b, 6c of the leg spring 6. As a result, the vertex S in question is located in the immediate vicinity of the short L-leg 10b of the lock case 10, so that the short L-leg 10b is additionally secured, and thus also the leg spring 6, preventing it from becoming detached from the bearing mandrel 8 that supports it. This represents the key advantage.
[0036] List of reference symbols
[0037] Motor vehicle hood lock 1 Front hood 2 Locking bolt 3 Rotary latch 4
[0038] Stop leg 4a
[0039] Catch leg 4b
[0040] Locking mechanism 4, 5
[0041] Leg spring 6
[0042] Winding section 6a
[0043] Loose leg 6b
[0044] Legs 6b, 6c
[0045] Ejector lever 7
[0046] Contact edge 7a
[0047] Lever arm 7b
[0048] Camp Dome 8
[0049] Unit 6, 7, 8
[0050] Camp Dome 9
[0051] Lock case 10
[0052] L-leg 10a
[0053] L-leg 10b
[0054] Opening 11
[0055] Vertex S
[0056] Angle a
Claims
Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle locking device, in particular motor vehicle lock, preferably motor vehicle hood lock (1), with a locking mechanism (4, 5) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (4) and a pawl (5), and with an ejector lever (7) pre-tensioned by a spring (6) for acting upon a locking bolt (3) interacting with the locking mechanism (4, 5), characterized in that the spring (6) is designed as a torsion spring (6) which is fixed to a bearing dome (8) defining an axis of the ejector lever (7).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the leg spring (6) with its coiled section (6a) surrounds the bearing dome (8).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the torsion spring (6) with its loose leg (6b) acts on the ejector lever (7), while its fixed leg (6c) is fixed to a housing (10).
4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the winding section (6a) is mounted on the bearing dome (8).
5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the release leg (6b) engages a contact edge (7a) of the ejector lever (7) for the locking bolt (3) abutting thereon.
6. Device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the fixed leg (6c) engages in a snap-fit manner in an opening (11) in the housing (10).
7. Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the legs (6b, 6c) adjoining the winding section (6a) enclose an obtuse angle (a) between them.
8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the vertex (S) of the obtuse angle (a) is arranged in the installation position in the region of a highest point of the winding section (6a).
9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ejector lever (7) is mounted on the same axis as the locking pawl (5).
10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the torsion spring (6) together with the bearing mandrel (8) and the ejector lever (7) defines a component unit (6, 7, 8) that can be detented on the housing (10).