Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting substantially of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, an actuating lever chain (9, 10, 11, 12) is provided for the locking mechanism (1, 2). In addition, at least one functional unit (14, 15, 16; 8, 13) driven by an electric motor (7, 13) is provided, said functional unit being optionally and interchangeably accommodated in an associated lock housing (3, 4). According to the invention, the functional unit (14, 15, 16; 8, 13) is designed as an opening drive (14, 15, 16) and / or active mass inertia element (8, 13).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Motor vehicle lock, especially motor vehicle door lock

[0003] 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 pawl, furthermore with an actuating lever chain for the locking mechanism, and with at least one functional unit driven by an electric motor, which is optionally and replaceably accommodated in an associated lock housing.

[0004] Motor vehicle locks, and in particular motor vehicle door locks, are characterized by increasing complexity. This can be attributed to the fact that electric motor actuations are currently not only used in conjunction with central locking or for electrical opening. Such electric motor drives are also increasingly used in conjunction with a security unit, such as a child safety lock, an anti-theft device, etc. Mass inertia elements also have such an electric motor drive, which can be used, for example, to block movement of the mass inertia element. This is the subject of DE 10 2020 102 084 A1, for example, and is due to the fact that it improves overall security.

[0005] The previously described increasing variety of vehicle locks, and in particular vehicle door locks, is in practice simultaneously encountering a similarly growing number of vehicle variants. This ultimately results in an exponentially or at least disproportionately increasing variety of vehicle locks, and in particular vehicle door locks, depending on the vehicle type to be equipped and the level of comfort or security to be implemented. In practice, this leads to increased production costs, because the lock housing typically has to be adapted to the respective functional units to be accommodated inside.

[0006] According to WO 2016 / 078638 A1, there are already approaches in the state of the art to replace individual components and thus reduce the design effort. Here, the design is such that the drive with the electric motor can actuate the locking mechanism and / or a locking element. The interaction takes place via at least one replaceable intermediate element. Depending on the desired functionality, the intermediate element is a locking intermediate element, an opening intermediate element, or a closing intermediate element.

[0007] The generic prior art according to WO 2014 / 032640 A1 generally proceeds in such a way that a functional unit driven by an electric motor in the form of a security unit is designed as a retrofit module that can be connected as needed to a base module largely comprising the locking mechanism, the operating lever chain, and a locking unit. For this purpose, the retrofit module has a retrofit module housing that is designed to be plugged onto an associated base module housing. For this purpose, both housings are equipped with corresponding centering devices. This solves the overall problem of providing different equipment variants of the respective motor vehicle lock depending on actual needs while realizing significant cost advantages. For this purpose, the known motor vehicle lock is equipped with the security unit or the associated retrofit module, or not.

[0008] The security unit is typically an anti-theft device, which generally prevents a vehicle door equipped with the corresponding lock from being opened unauthorized from the inside after a window has been damaged or destroyed. Such an anti-theft device is also unnecessary.

[0009] The state of the art has proven itself fundamentally successful because the base module implemented at this point can be equipped with the retrofit module or security unit as needed, or not. This allows a customer to individually decide whether to retrofit the security unit for their vehicle lock or vehicle door lock. This has proven itself fundamentally successful.

[0010] In addition to the security unit in the generic state of the art according to WO 2014 / 032 640 A1, there are now more extensive requirements for possible retrofitting, particularly with regard to working on the same production line. This often requires the optional installation of multiple functional units, just one functional unit, or no functional units in the lock housing, as well as the adaptation of the operating lever chain to this. To date, convincing practical proposals for this are lacking.

[0011] 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 variation possibilities are increased compared to the previous state of the art and the possibility of factory equipment in a production line exists.

[0012] To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes that the functional unit of a generic motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, be designed as an opening drive and / or an active inertia element. The term "element" in this context should not be understood exclusively as a single part (element), but can also refer to a functional unit or a module with the function of an inertia lock / crash lock. According to the invention, it is therefore particularly advantageous that the functional unit can represent an electrical opening, an inertia lock function, or both. The "inertia lock function" can be understood, in particular, as at least one function of the active inertia element (unit). This can involve at least the engagement or disengagement of a coupling element or blocking element.Alternatively or additionally, a TCR function can also be achieved.

[0013] It can be advantageous for the opening drive, in particular the electric motor of the opening drive, to enable the electrical opening of the locking mechanism and / or a TCR function (see definition below). Furthermore, it is conceivable for the drive unit, in particular the electric motor, to enable additional lock functions, e.g. anti-theft protection and / or child safety lock and / or central locking. So that the drive unit, in particular the electric motor, can fulfill the corresponding functions listed, the lock, in particular the lock housing, is designed in such a way that only different gears and / or levers need to be used. Alternatively, another additional motor can also be used. Accordingly, one electric motor can be used for the opening function and one or more further motors for the other functions.

[0014] Furthermore, it is advantageous to design the operating lever chain optionally as an internal operating lever chain, an external operating lever chain, or a combined internal / external operating lever chain. In this context, at least the external operating lever chain is modular and can be optionally incorporated into the lock housing or not. This measure of the invention, first of all, significantly increases the number of conceivable variations compared to the previous state of the art. In contrast to the generic teaching according to WO 2014 / 032640 A1, it is no longer a question of considering the security unit as a retrofit module or not. Rather, the invention is based on the optional interchangeability of the opening drive, the active inertia element, both of the aforementioned functional units, or neither of these two functional units.In conjunction with the design of the operating lever chain, optionally as an inside operating lever chain, outside operating lever chain, or combined inside / outside operating lever chain, this already results in 12 different variation options (four variants for the functional unit and three variants of the operating lever chain). These variation options are then increased to a total of 24 variants if an outside actuation is additionally used or without an outside actuation for the opening drive. In the simplest case, this outside actuation is a sensor assigned to an outside door handle, with the help of which the outside actuation of the outside door handle is interrogated and reported to a control unit, which in turn energizes the electric motor as part of the opening drive in order to be able to open the locking mechanism and thus an associated vehicle door.

[0015] All of the variants described, the number of which can in principle be increased, can already be realized and implemented in the factory in terms of production technology or lock housings. For this purpose, the housing or lock housing accommodating the entire motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock is advantageously equipped with stops, bearing points, receptacles, etc. for all variants. In this context, it has proven particularly advantageous if the lock housing is designed as a plastic injection-molded part and is therefore manufactured by plastic injection molding. This allows the stops, bearing points, and receptacles to be realized in one piece with the lock housing in a single step. Furthermore, the stops, bearing points, receptacles, etc. can be easily and automatically integrated into the production process for the lock housing.Furthermore, this allows the design to be configured in such a way that the lock housing is routinely equipped with the relevant stops, bearings, mounts, etc. for all variants, meaning that ultimately only one variant of the lock housing is available and is equipped with the elements of the vehicle lock during the production process. This simplifies inventory and facilitates manufacturing.

[0016] In fact, the stops can be those for the locking mechanism, individual levers of the operating lever chain, or even those for one or more electric motors. In this context, bearing points can be, for example, bearing pins molded onto the lock housing, which can serve to support individual levers of the operating lever chain. The bearing points can also be bearing pins for the rotary latch and the pawl, which are typically defined in a metal lock case as an additional component of the lock housing alongside a plastic cover.

[0017] The previously mentioned mounts provided in the lock housing may serve for the placement and alignment of the respective electric motor or drive wheels as components of a transmission connected downstream of the respective electric motor. In any case, all of these stops, bearing points, mounts, etc., can be implemented in the lock housing, and this applies to all variants. In simpler versions, this leads to individual stops, bearing points, or mounts not being used or required. However, this is easily compensated for in favor of standardized production of the lock housing, especially since the cover, as a component of the lock housing, is a cost-effective injection-molded plastic part.Either way, this results in significant manufacturing simplifications because one and the same lock housing is used for the various variants, regardless of the specific equipment of the vehicle lock. These are the key advantages.

[0018] To implement this in detail, the functional unit can be equipped with its own functional housing. This functional housing is detachably mounted in the lock housing as a removable insert. This allows the functional housing to function and be designed, for example, to accommodate the opening drive, alternatively to accommodate the active inertia element, or to accommodate both the functional unit and the active inertia element. In principle, the relevant functional unit, and thus the removable insert, do not need to be installed in the lock housing at all if a very simply constructed motor vehicle lock without an opening drive and active inertia element is to be implemented.

[0019] The functional housing, in turn, is advantageously designed as a plastic injection-molded part. For this purpose, the functional housing, similar to the lock housing, has stops, bearings, receptacles, etc. for the one or more functional units housed therein. For example, one or more receptacles can be used for the electric motor as a component of the opening drive or the active inertia element. Using the bearing, a worm gear, for example, as a component of the opening drive, can be mounted inside the functional housing. The associated stops ensure that, in the example case, the opening drive can only be moved within certain limits.

[0020] To connect the functional housing to the lock housing, the functional housing can be secured, clipped, or otherwise detachably connected within the lock housing. A screw connection between the functional housing and the lock housing is also conceivable. Likewise, it is generally possible to work with multiple functional housings inside the lock housing, for example, with one functional housing housing the opening drive and a second functional housing for the active inertia element.

[0021] The active inertia element is preferably one whose movement can be blocked or released with the aid of the associated electric motor, as described in detail in the previously cited prior art according to DE 10 2020 102 084 A1. This means that the electric motor provided at this point actively intervenes in the function of the inertia element, in contrast to a passively operating inertia element, which, for example, cannot be blocked or influenced with regard to its movement. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the electric motor to engage an external actuation lever in the event of a crash, thus enabling external actuation. This safety function, known as TCR (Temporary Crash Redundancy), can increase crash safety, particularly in conjunction with an active mass lock or the active inertia element.In the event of a crash, the active inertia element blocks the exterior activation, preventing the lock from being accidentally unlocked or opened. The TCR allows the vehicle to be accessed from the outside again after the crash (the door or trunk lid can be opened using a handle). It is advantageous if the TCR function engages the exterior activation lever using an electric motor. This can be particularly advantageous regardless of whether an anti-theft device, a central locking system, or a mass crash lock prevents exterior activation.

[0022] In any case, this possibility provides the option of controlling the coupling of an associated clutch lever as part of the operating lever chain not only with the aid of the inertia element, but also with the aid of the electric motor as part of the active inertia element. Active inertia elements are particularly characterized by the fact that the mechanical blockability of the inertia element, made possible by the electric motor, enables the associated operating lever chain to be safely uncoupled or opened in any case. If the movement of the inertia element is blocked in this case, the operating lever chain can be acted upon, for example, by the outside door handle. As long as the inertia element remains in its initial position, the associated clutch lever generally remains disengaged and this does not trigger the locking mechanism.This will definitely prevent the lock from opening.

[0023] As already explained in the introduction, the external operating lever chain advantageously has a modular design. For this purpose, the external operating lever chain can be equipped with its own lever chain housing. Similar to the functional housing, the lever chain housing can be removably mounted in the lock housing as a removable insert. In this case, too, the lever chain housing is advantageously designed as a plastic injection-molded part and equipped with stops, bearing points, receptacles, etc. for the levers of the external operating lever chain housed therein. Furthermore, the lever chain housing in question can advantageously be secured, clipped, or otherwise removably anchored in the lock housing.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method for the selective production of a motor vehicle lock, as explained in more detail in claims 9 and 10. As a result, a motor vehicle lock and an associated method for its production are presented, which are characterized by a functional design and the possibility of production on one and the same production line. This can be attributed to the fact that a multitude of different design variants can be realized and implemented using practically one and the same lock housing. This was previously not considered possible in this consistency and form, so that overall production and cost advantages are observed. This is because the use of one and the same lock housing enables the use of a multitude of identical parts for the different variants, whereby individual variants require separate parts for their implementation.This is where the main advantages can be seen.

[0025] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail using drawings illustrating possible embodiments; in the following:

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle lock according to the invention with an active mass inertia element and

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a motor vehicle lock according to the invention with the built-in opening drive.

[0028] The figures show a motor vehicle lock, which is a motor vehicle door lock. In its basic design, this has a locking mechanism 1, 2 essentially consisting of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. For this purpose, the rotary latch 1 and the pawl 2 are mounted in a lock case 3. The lock case 3, in conjunction with a cover 4, defines a lock housing 3, 4. While the lock case 3 is made of metal, for example, from high-strength steel, the cover 4 is a plastic injection-molded part. This allows the cover 4 and the lock housing 3, 4 as a whole to be equipped with stops 5, bearing points 6 and receptacles 7, which are only indicated by way of example and are only occasionally provided with reference symbols in the figures.The stops 5, bearing points 6, and receptacles 7 in question are defined in the respective plastic cover 4 and thus in the lock housing 3, 4, for all variants to be discussed below, as shown and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This means that the motor vehicle lock, and in particular the motor vehicle door lock, to be described in more detail below, has one and the same lock housing 3, 4, regardless of the implemented functions and thus the implemented variant. This facilitates production and storage.

[0029] In addition, the lock housing 3, 4 is equipped with an operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 for the locking mechanism 1, 2. For this purpose, the operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 has a release lever 9, a control lever 10, an internal operating lever 11, and finally a clutch lever 12.

[0030] It can be seen that the release lever 9 and the internal operating lever 11 are mounted on the same axis with respect to a common axis A. When the internal operating lever 11 is acted upon in a clockwise direction about the axis 14, when the coupling lever 12 is engaged, the internal operating lever 11 is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the release lever 9 and in this way the clockwise movement is also transmitted in a clockwise direction to the release lever 9, which can thereby lift the pawl 2 from its latching engagement with the rotary latch 1. The aforementioned components inside the lock housing 3, 4, i.e. the rotary latch 1, the pawl 2, the release lever 9, the control lever 10, the internal operating lever 11 and also the coupling lever 12 are implemented in both variants according to Figs. 1 and 2. The same applies to the stops 5, bearing points 6 and holders 7.

[0031] Within the scope of the variant according to Fig. 1, an active inertia element 8, 13 is now additionally implemented, which is only used in this variant shown in Fig. 1 and is otherwise not reflected in the illustration according to Fig. 2. The inertia element 8, 13 is composed of an inertia lever 8 and an associated electric motor 13, which is only indicated in Fig. 1 and can be accommodated in an associated receptacle 7 inside the lock housing 3, 4.

[0032] The inertia lever 8 can be blocked or secured with the help of the electric motor 13. This usually occurs in the initial position of the inertia lever 8 indicated in Fig. 1. If the inertia lever 8 is blocked in the initial position shown in Fig. 1 with the help of the electric motor 13, the control lever 10, which is connected to the inertia lever 8 via a pin, cannot move. This causes the clutch lever 12 to be deflected.

[0033] Blocking the inertia lever 8 thus leads to a disengagement of the actuating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 because the clutch lever 12 is thereby deflected. This corresponds to an idle stroke of the actuating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 because a corresponding actuation of the inner actuating lever 12, for example, is idle. If, on the other hand, the inertia lever 8 is not blocked by the electric motor 13, the clutch lever 12 can be engaged and the actuating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 can be mechanically closed in this way, so that the inner actuating lever 11 and the release lever 9 are then coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner and their joint actuation in a clockwise direction around the common axis A results in the locking mechanism 1, 2 being able to be opened as described.For this purpose, it is necessary, for example, that the mass inertia lever 8 engages the clutch lever 12 through acting inertia forces in the event of a crash and closes the actuating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 for emergency actuation.

[0034] A comparison of Fig. 1 and 2 shows that the active mass inertia element 8, 13 is not present or built into the variant according to Fig. 2. In contrast, the variant according to Fig. 2 has an opening drive 14, 15, 16. The opening drive 14, 15, 16 consists in detail of an electric motor 14 and an opening wheel 15 which is rotated by an output shaft of the electric motor 14. The opening wheel 15 in turn works on a transmission lever 16 which acts directly on the release lever 9 and, when appropriately applied, pivots the release lever 9 about its axis A in a counterclockwise direction in order to be able to open the locking mechanism 1, 2.

[0035] According to the exemplary embodiment, the opening drive 14, 15, 16 defines a first functional unit 14, 15, 16 as shown in Fig. 2. The active mass inertia element 8, 13 defines a second functional unit 8, 13. It can be seen that in the variant of the motor vehicle lock according to Fig. 1, the first functional unit or the opening drive 14, 15, 16 is not realized, but the active mass inertia element 8, 13 or the second functional unit 8, 13 is accommodated in the lock housing 3, 4. In contrast, the configuration or variant of the motor vehicle lock according to the invention, as shown in Fig. 2, is designed such that in this case, the first functional unit or the opening drive 14, 15, 16 is provided in the lock housing 3, 4, whereas the second functional unit or the active inertia element 8, 13 is not incorporated in this case. In addition to the configuration shown in Fig.1 and 2 of equipping the motor vehicle lock in question with the corresponding locking mechanism 1, 2 and the operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 in the common lock housing 3, 4 on the one hand with the first functional unit in the illustration according to Fig. 2 and on the other hand with the second functional unit 8, 13 according to Fig. 1, there is of course also the further option of equipping both of the aforementioned functional units 14, 15; 8, 13 in the lock housing 3, 4 at the same time, or of dispensing with both entirely, although this is not shown in detail.

[0036] In any case, it can be seen that both equipment variants according to Figs. 1 and 2 have a large number of identical parts, namely the locking mechanism 1, 2 and the operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 in conjunction with the lock housing 3, 4. Only the functional units 14, 15, 16; 8, 13 are implemented differently and are present in the lock housing 3, 4. While the expansion variant according to Fig. 1 is equipped with the second functional unit or the inertia element 8, 13, the embodiment variant according to Fig. 2, in contrast, has the first functional unit or the opening drive 14, 15, 16.

[0037] Furthermore, the operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 can be designed either as an internal operating lever chain, an external operating lever chain, or a combined internal / external operating lever chain. According to the exemplary embodiment, the operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12 is designed only as an internal operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12. An additional external operating lever, which can be implemented and implemented in a modular manner, can be retrofitted. This allows the external operating lever chain implemented in this way to also be designed as a modular unit and can be placed in the lock housing 3, 4 or not, as desired.

[0038] Not shown is the possibility of accommodating the respective functional unit 14, 15, 16; 8, 13 in its own dedicated functional housing. This functional housing, in turn, can be removably placed in the lock housing 3, 4 as an interchangeable insert. Of course, multiple functional units 14, 15, 16; 8, 13 can also be used inside the functional housing (not shown), although this is also not explicitly shown.

[0039] It is also possible to place the modular external operating lever chain according to the exemplary embodiment in the form of the external operating lever that can be additionally attached to axis A in a separate lever chain housing. This lever chain housing can also be removably accommodated in the lock housing 3, 4 as an interchangeable insert. However, this is also not shown in the exemplary embodiment.

[0040] Either way, the motor vehicle lock according to the invention, and in particular the motor vehicle door lock, can be manufactured particularly easily and cost-effectively. To do so, it is merely necessary to first equip the lock housing 3, 4, which is common to all variants, with the locking mechanism 1, 2 and then with the corresponding operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12. Depending on the equipment variant, the second functional unit or the active mass inertia element 8, 13 can then be placed inside the lock housing 3, 4, thus resulting in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Alternatively, the first functional unit or the opening drive 14, 15, 16 can also be accommodated inside the lock housing 3, 4 by omitting the mass inertia element 8, 13. This then results in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.

[0041] The options for equipping the motor vehicle lock with the first functional unit 14, 15, 16, with the second functional unit 8, 13, with both functional units 14, 15, 16; 8, 13, or even without one of the two functional units 14, 15, 16; 8, 13 can be realized and implemented on one and the same production line. This can essentially be attributed to the matching motor vehicle lock 3, 4, which is equipped with the stops 5, bearing points 6, and receptacles 7 for all variants. This represents the key advantages. List of reference symbols

[0042] Rotary latch 1

[0043] Pawl 2

[0044] Lock 1 , 2

[0045] Lock case 3

[0046] Lock housingß, 4

[0047] Hood 4

[0048] Attacks 5

[0049] Storage locations 6

[0050] Recordings 7

[0051] Inertia lever 8

[0052] Mass inertia element 8, 13

[0053] Functional unit 8, 13

[0054] Release lever 9

[0055] Control lever 10

[0056] Internal operating lever 11

[0057] Clutch lever 12

[0058] Operating lever chain 9, 10, 11, 12

[0059] Electric motor 13

[0060] Axis A

[0061] Electric motor 14

[0062] Functional units 14, 15, 16; 8, 13

[0063] Opening wheel 15

[0064] Transmission lever 16

[0065] Opening drive 14, 15, 16

Claims

Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), furthermore with an actuating lever chain (9, 10, 11, 12) for the locking mechanism (1, 2), and with at least one functional unit (14, 15, 16; 8, 13) driven by an electric motor (7, 13), which is optionally and replaceably accommodated in an associated lock housing (3, 4), characterized in that the functional unit (14, 15, 16; 8, 13) is designed as an opening drive (14, 15, 16) and / or active mass inertia element (8, 13).

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating lever chain (9, 10, 11, 12) is designed optionally as an internal operating lever chain (9, 10, 11, 12), external operating lever chain or combined internal-external operating lever chain.

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that at least the external operating lever chain is of modular design and is optionally accommodated in the lock housing (3, 4) or not.

4. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lock housing (3, 4) is equipped with stops (5), bearing points (6), receptacles (7) etc. for all variants.

5. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the respective functional unit (14, 15, 16; 8, 13) is equipped with its own functional housing, which can be detachably used as an interchangeable insert in the lock housing (3, 4).

6. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the functional housing is provided with stops (5), bearing points (6), receptacles (7) etc. for the one or more functional units (14, 15, 16; 8, 13).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the functional housing is received in the lock housing (3, 4), for example by being locked, clipped or otherwise releasably received.

8. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the external operating lever chain is equipped with its own lever chain housing, which is detachably received in the lock housing as an interchangeable insert and is advantageously equipped with stops (5), bearing points (6), receptacles (7) etc. for the external operating lever chain received therein.

9. Method for manufacturing a motor vehicle lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially comprising a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), furthermore with an actuating lever chain (9, 10, 11, 12) for the locking mechanism (1, 2), and with at least one functional unit (14, 15, 16; 8, 13) driven by an electric motor (7, 13), after which the respective functional unit (14, 15, 16; 8, 13) is interchangeably received in the associated lock housing (3, 4), characterized in that the functional unit (14, 15, 16; 8, 13) is designed as an opening drive (14, 15, 16) and / or active inertia element (8).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the lock housing (3, 4) is equipped during its manufacture with stops (5), bearing points (6), receptacles (7) etc. for all variants, for example in the course of a plastic injection molding process.

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