Motor vehicle 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) substantially comprising a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, an electromotive drive (8, 9, 10) having an electric motor (8) is provided, wherein, by means of an actuator (10), the electromotive drive (8, 9, 10) selectively urges a coupling element (7) of an operating lever chain (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) into the "engaged" and "disengaged" positions. According to the invention, the actuator (10) is assigned a blocking element (11) which ensures temporary blocking of the actuator (10) in order to switch off the electric motor (8) following an actuator movement, and subsequent reversal of the actuator (10).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Motor vehicle 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, and with an electric motor drive with an electric motor, wherein the electric motor drive acts on a coupling element of an actuating lever chain by means of an actuating element selectively into the positions "engaged" and "disengaged".

[0004] Motor vehicle locks, and in particular motor vehicle door locks of the above-described design, are used in various variants and in a variety of positions in and on a motor vehicle. These include, among others, tailgate locks, hood locks, fuel filler flap locks, and even seat locks. Generally, however, these motor vehicle locks, and in particular motor vehicle door locks, are installed on motor vehicle side doors.

[0005] Electric motor-driven opening drives are often used here, and are increasingly being used for comfort and acoustic reasons. With the help of such electric motor-driven opening drives, the locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and pawl in the closed position can be opened by the electric motor drive lifting the pawl from its locking engagement with the rotary latch. This opens the rotary latch with spring support, releasing a previously trapped locking bolt and thus the associated vehicle door.

[0006] However, in the event of a crash or a power failure of the electric motor drive for the locking mechanism, emergency measures, such as emergency operation or emergency opening, are required. This is often done by moving the operating lever chain to its "unlocked" position in the event of an emergency opening or crash, so that, for example, rescue personnel can open a corresponding vehicle door. This process is often referred to as "temporary crash redundancy (TCR)" because the operating lever chain is typically mechanically closed for the emergency opening and then often returns to its open and thus locked state.

[0007] This means that the operating lever chain in question is generally open during normal operation and thus "locked", so that the locking mechanism cannot be actuated using the operating lever chain during normal operation. Instead, in such a case, the electric motor drive ensures the electric motor opening. However, if emergency operation and consequently an emergency opening occurs, for example in the event of a crash, the operating lever chain is closed mechanically. This is generally ensured by the coupling element. In such a case, the coupling element is transferred to its "engaged" position, which corresponds to the closed design of the operating lever chain. As a result, arriving rescue personnel, for example, can mechanically open the locking mechanism via the thus closed operating lever chain.If, on the other hand, the coupling element is “disengaged” during normal operation and consequently the operating lever chain is “locked”, the operating lever chain cannot be caused to open the locking mechanism when subjected to pressure.

[0008] Such an approach has proven itself in principle, as the generic document DE 10 2019 132 764 A1 clearly demonstrates. This document uses an electric motor drive that actuates a locking element. The locking element can be used to control a locking device to assume its locking position. In addition to this electric motor drive, an electric motor opening drive is also implemented. This results in a structurally complex design because such electric motor drives are cost-intensive.

[0009] In contrast, the invention is based on the technical problem of realizing a structural simplification compared to the prior art and, in particular, of creating the possibility of enabling the electric motor drive to perform further functions in addition to the actuation of the coupling element.

[0010] To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock is characterized in the context of the invention in that a blocking element is assigned to the actuating element, which ensures a temporary blockage of the actuating element to switch off the electric motor after an actuating element travel and subsequent reversing of the actuating element and thus of the electromotive opening drive.

[0011] The blocking element implemented makes it easy to distinguish and separate individual functional states, which can be achieved using the electric motor drive, and corresponding actuator movements. Indeed, the motor vehicle lock in question generally assumes a locked state during normal operation, in which the associated actuating lever chain is open. Consequently, in this case, the actuator ensures that the coupling element of the actuating lever chain assumes its "disengaged" position. The actuating lever chain is open.

[0012] If, for example, the electric motor drive in question is also intended to enable the locking mechanism to be opened electrically, this generally requires unlocking first. This can be achieved by actuating the actuating element with the electric motor from a basic position, or by using a spring that preloads the actuating element in the "unlocked" direction of the operating lever chain.

[0013] As soon as the actuator and thus the actuating lever chain have assumed the "unlocked" state and the coupling element has consequently been "engaged" after previously assuming its "disengaged" state during normal operation, an actuator movement can now be performed to open the locking mechanism using an electric motor. This may be achieved, for example, by a signal from a sensor that informs a control unit acting on the electric motor drive that the actuator and thus the actuating lever chain have assumed their "unlocked" position. The respective sensor can also be assigned to the coupling element, which was transferred from its "disengaged" functional position during normal operation to the "engaged" position.

[0014] During this actuator movement following the "unlocked" state, the locking mechanism is now opened by an electric motor. To do this, the electric motor drive with electric motor generally acts on the actuator in the opposite direction to the direction of actuation used to assume the "unlocked" position. This actuator movement of the electric motor drive with electric motor, and consequently also of the actuator, continues until the additional blocking element temporarily blocks the actuator. Once the corresponding position of the actuator has been reached, the blocking element, which usually interacts directly with the actuator, ensures that the actuator is held and locked. The same applies to the electric motor acting on the actuator, which consequently experiences a blockage or "runs to block."

[0015] Since the electric motor or the control unit is typically assigned a sensor which, for example, detects an increased current consumption of the electric motor during such a blocking movement, this process of blocking the actuating element by the incoming blocking element leads to the electric motor being switched off.

[0016] As a result of this deactivation of the electric motor, a spring associated with the electric motor drive can ensure that the actuating element is reversed and, at the same time, the blocking element pivots out from its blocking position or leaves the blocking position. At the end of this process, the electric motor drive returns to its home position. The blocking of the actuating element is limited in time, i.e., temporary, only as long as the blocking element remains in its blocking position relative to the actuating element.

[0017] During the actuator movement for the electric motor-driven opening of the locking mechanism in the example case, the coupling element is generally also actuated simultaneously by the actuator and moves from its "engaged" position to the "disengaged" position. As a result, the operating lever chain returns to the "locked" position it was in at the beginning of the actuator movement at the end of the actuator movement.

[0018] Overall, the interaction between the actuating element and the blocking element enables a flawless functional separation when the actuating element is actuated, on the one hand to unlock the operating lever chain, and on the other hand, for electric motorized opening. All this is achieved while maintaining a simple and compact design, because only the actuating element and the blocking element interact with each other. This represents the key advantages.

[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the blocking element, like the actuating element, is each mounted so as to be rotatable about a corresponding axis. Both axes are arranged predominantly parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, the topological design is also appropriately selected so that the blocking element is arranged adjacent to a blocking contour of the actuating element. The blocking element is generally designed as a blocking lever with at least a blocking arm and a control arm.

[0020] The blocking arm advantageously has a pin that interacts with a contour of the actuating element. Due to the interaction between the pin and the contour, the blocking lever or the blocking element can interact directly with the actuating element or its contour in order to ensure the previously described temporary blocking of the actuating element for switching off the electric motor. The contour in question is usually designed as a U-shaped web. The pin arranged on the blocking arm of the blocking lever can pivot into the U-shaped web in question via an opening in the U-shaped web to temporarily block the actuating element. In this context, a corner of the U-shaped web usually ensures the temporary blocking of the actuating element with the pin resting against it for switching off the electric motor.

[0021] This means that as soon as the pin enters the relevant corner of the U-shaped web, this immediately causes the actuator to be blocked in its movement via the blocking element or the blocking lever. The same applies to the electric motor driving the actuator. The resulting blockage of the electric motor leads to the switching off and subsequent reversal of the actuator, as already described.

[0022] For this purpose, the blocking element is equipped with an associated spring, specifically a toggle spring. The toggle spring assists the movement of the blocking element in such a way that, when the actuator moves in the "unlock" direction, the blocking element pivots its pin into the contour of the actuator and, once the actuator has completed its travel, pivots out again relative to the contour. For this purpose, the toggle spring in question is usually attached to an additional spring arm of the blocking lever. This means that the blocking lever typically has three arms: the blocking arm, which supports the pin, the previously mentioned control arm, and finally the spring arm, to which the toggle spring is connected. The control arm assists the pivoting movement of the blocking element or blocking lever, both when the blocking lever pivots in and out relative to the contour of the actuator.

[0023] The actual reversing process of the actuator following the actuator travel is usually initiated by a spring. For this purpose, the electric motor drive has a spring in question for reversing the actuator. The spring may be integrated into a gear or otherwise into the electric motor drive with the electric motor.

[0024] The result is a motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which, first and foremost, fundamentally opens up the possibility of being able to block the electric motor drive with electric motor or the actuating element actuated by it in a simple manner, directly and temporarily, i.e. for a limited time, namely with the help of the blocking element or blocking lever. In this way, the electric motor drive can ultimately be used for at least two functions: firstly, to transfer the coupling element of the actuating lever chain optionally into the "engaged" and "disengaged" positions, and secondly, to ensure that the locking mechanism can be opened by means of an electric motor. These are the key advantages.

[0025] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in which: Fig. 1 shows the motor vehicle lock according to the invention in the form of a

[0026] Motor vehicle door lock in a general and detailed overview,

[0027] Fig. 2A to 2D the electric motor drive with actuator and blocking element in different functional positions during the transition from the initial position “locked” to the end positions “unlocked” in Figure 2D,

[0028] Fig. 3A to 3D the object according to Figures 2A to 2D during a control element travel until the blockage of the electric motor in Fig. 3D and

[0029] Fig. 4 the reversing process of the control element and the

[0030] Swinging out of the blocking element following the blocking position according to Fig. 3D in the transition to the starting position according to the illustration in Fig. 2A.

[0031] The figures depict a motor vehicle lock, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is a motor vehicle door lock. This lock has a locking mechanism 1, 2, which is only indicated in Fig. 1 and essentially consists of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. The rotary latch 1 and pawl 2 are shown only schematically in section in Fig. 1, specifically in the closed state. To open the locking mechanism 1, 2, a release lever 3, also shown there, must perform a clockwise movement around its axis, as indicated in Fig. 1.

[0032] The release lever 3 is a component of an actuating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. In addition to the release lever 3, the actuating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 also includes an internal actuating lever 4, an external actuating lever 5 and a transmission lever 6, which works on a coupling lever 7 or a coupling element 7, which according to the exemplary embodiment is designed as a coupling slide 7 mounted linearly on the internal actuating lever 4.

[0033] The transmission lever 6 can be actuated by means of an electric motor drive 8, 9, 10. For this purpose, the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 comprises an electric motor 8, a downstream gear 9, and an actuating element 10, which can perform pivoting movements clockwise and counterclockwise around its axis, as indicated by a double arrow in Fig. 1. A blocking element 11, which is assigned to the actuating element 10, is also essential for the following considerations.

[0034] According to the exemplary embodiment and not restrictively, the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 is designed as a TCR drive and additionally or simultaneously as an electric motor opening drive. This is of course only an example and is in no way mandatory. The electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 could just as well be used for other combined functions or actuating movements. The “TCR on” position corresponds to the fact that the transmission lever 6 does not act on the coupling element 7 or the coupling slide 7, so that the latter occupies an exposed position in relation to the internal operating lever 4. This means that in this case the coupling slide 7 (supported by a spring) projects beyond the front side of the internal operating lever 4, so that a pivoting movement of the internal operating lever 4 in the counterclockwise direction, as indicated in Fig. 1, results in the coupling element orThe clutch slide 7 can be acted upon by the release lever 3, which performs the clockwise movement indicated in Fig. 1 in order to thereby open the locking mechanism 1, 2. However, this is not shown in detail.

[0035] This means that in the "TCR on" position of the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10, according to the exemplary embodiment, an emergency opening of the operating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or of the locking mechanism 1, 2 acted upon thereby is possible. In principle, the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 can also be referred to as a locking drive, which in the example described assumes its "unlocked" position or controls the operating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 into the "unlocked" position by the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 actuating the transmission lever 6 such that the coupling element 7 assumes its "engaged" position. As already mentioned, this is not shown in Fig. 1. In this case, the coupling element 7 assumes its exposed position relative to the internal operating lever 4.

[0036] Rather, Fig. 1 shows the functional state "TCR off" of the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10. In this state, the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 acts on the coupling element 7 against the force of the associated spring. Alternatively, one can also say that the actuating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is in its "locked" position and the coupling element 7 assumes its functional position "disengaged". In this case, the transmission lever 6, against the force of the spring acting on the coupling element 7, ensures that the coupling element 7 assumes its retracted position shown in Fig. 1 compared to the internal actuating lever 4. As a result, the counterclockwise movement of the inner operating lever 4 indicated in Fig. 1 does not lead to an opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2, because the inner operating lever 4 performs an idle movement relative to the release lever 3.

[0037] In contrast, the external actuating lever 5, when pivoted clockwise about its axis common to the release lever 3 (also indicated in Fig. 1), is able to act on the release lever 3 and initiate the clockwise movement of the release lever 3 required to open the locking mechanism 1, 2. The described functionality may be part of a "child safety lock." In principle, other positions and functionalities are of course also conceivable. According to the invention, and of particular importance, the actuating element 10 is not only assigned the previously mentioned blocking element 11. Rather, the blocking element 11 as a whole ensures a temporary blocking of the actuating element 10, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figs. 2A to 4.As a result of this blockage of the actuating element 10 and thus also of the electric motor 8, the electric motor 8 is switched off because the electric motor 8 and consequently the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 are actuated by a control unit (not expressly shown), which detects an increased current consumption as a result of the blockage of the electric motor 8. This increased current consumption is interpreted as a blockage and leads to the electric motor 8 being switched off. Switching off the electric motor 8 now allows the actuating element 10 to reverse, as will be explained in more detail below. This is because the switched off electric motor 8 offers practically no mechanical resistance to such a reversing movement of the actuating element 9, so that a spring 16, indicated only by an arrow in Fig. 4, as a component of the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10, ensures the desired reversing.

[0038] If we now assume the basic position of the motor vehicle lock as shown in Fig. 1, which is shown in Fig. 2A reduced to the actuating element 10 and the blocking element 11, this includes the state shown in Fig. 1, namely "gate off" or "locked." The coupling element 7 is therefore "disengaged," and the actuating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is mechanically interrupted or open. This is ensured by the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10.

[0039] A priority of unlocking, which can be seen in the transition from Fig. 2A to Fig. 2B, corresponds to the fact that the actuating element 10, starting from the functional position in Fig. 2A, performs a counterclockwise movement, as indicated in Fig. 2B. As a result, the blocking lever 11 pivots in the direction of the actuating element 10. In fact, the blocking element 11 according to the exemplary embodiment is designed as a blocking lever with at least one blocking arm 11a and one control arm 11b. In addition, and according to the exemplary embodiment, a spring arm 11c is also implemented, on which a spring 12 and in particular a toggle spring 12 engages. Accordingly, the blocking element 11 is designed as a three-armed blocking lever 11.

[0040] Since the pivoting movement of the actuating element 10 in the "unlocking" direction during the transition from Figure 2A to the functional position of Figure 2B is accompanied by the already described counterclockwise movement of the actuating element 10, an edge of the actuating element 10 can act on the control arm 11b and, overall, ensures that during this process the blocking element or the blocking lever 11 is pivoted counterclockwise toward the actuating element 10. The actuating element 10 may, in turn, and generally, be acted upon in the unlocking direction by the force of a spring or—as in the exemplary embodiment—by a corresponding current supply to the electric motor 8 as a component of the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10.

[0041] As the counterclockwise movement of the actuating element 10 continues during the transition from Fig. 2B to Fig. 2C, the blocking arm 11a of the blocking element 11, with a pin 13 provided at its end, finally engages a blocking contour 14 of the actuating element 10. The blocking contour 14 is a U-shaped web into which the pin 13 pivots via an opening 15 to temporarily block the actuating element 10. It can be seen that the blocking element 11 is arranged adjacent to the blocking contour 14 or the U-shaped web 14.

[0042] During the transition from Fig. 2C to Fig. 2D, the pin 13 on the blocking arm 11a has finally reached a stop 14a of the U-shaped web 14, so that the actuating element 10 has reached its end positions in the sense of "unlocked" or "TCR on" or "engaged" of the coupling element 7. Following this "unlocked" state, which can also be detected by sensors and transmitted to the control unit, the control unit in turn ensures that the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 is actuated in the direction of the actuating element movement for the electric motor opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2, which will be examined in more detail below. As stated, the movement of the actuating element 10 can be carried out and carried out with spring support according to the sequence of figures 2A to 2D or with the aid of the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10.

[0043] In any case, a comparison of Fig. 2D and 3A shows that after reaching the "unlocked" position in Fig. 2D, the actuating element 10 is actuated in a counterclockwise direction in order to open the locking mechanism 1, 2 by means of an electric motor. This is because a counterclockwise movement of the actuating element 10, starting in the initial position according to Fig. 1, results in the actuating element 10 moving to an actuating arm 3a of the release lever 3 via a pin 10a indicated there in Fig. 1, and thereby ensuring that the release lever 3 is pivoted in the clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1 in order to be able to open the locking mechanism 1, 2.

[0044] The counterclockwise pivoting movement of the actuating element 10, beginning in Fig. 3A, now results in the blocking element or blocking lever 11 being pivoted clockwise about its axis upon transition to Fig. 3B. As the actuating element 10 continues to move counterclockwise about its axis, which is initiated by the application of the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10, in the further sequence of figures according to Figs. 3C and 3D, the blocking arm 11a, with the pin 13 arranged at its end, finally reaches a corner of the contour or U-shaped web 14 in the illustration according to Fig. 3D. The actuating element 10 can now no longer be pivoted counterclockwise about its axis using the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10, and the actuating element 10 is blocked. The same applies to the electric motor 8.Such a blockage of the actuator 10 is accompanied by an increased current increase for the electric motor 8, which can be detected by the control unit (not explicitly shown). This current increase is interpreted as a blockage of the electric motor 8 and causes the electric motor 8 to be switched off.

[0045] As a result, the actuating element 10 can now be actuated by means of the aforementioned spring 16, specifically in the sense of a pivoting movement clockwise around its axis, as indicated by an arrow in Fig. 4. This is because the electric motor 8 or the electric motor drive 8, 9, 10 is switched off and can no longer act upon the actuating element 10, so that the latter can be pivoted more or less freely, clockwise, and only acted upon by the spring 12.

[0046] This means that the actuating element 10 has been temporarily blocked by means of the blocking element 11, namely when the pin 13 enters the corner of the U-shaped web 14 on the actuating element 10 and at this point ensures the temporary, i.e. time-limited, blockage of the actuating element 10 and consequently of the electric motor 8.

[0047] Starting from Fig. 4 and the reversing movement of the actuating element 10 indicated here by means of the spring 12 in a clockwise direction, the actuating element 10 finally returns to its home position as shown in Fig. 2A and can therefore once again complete the previously described actuating process.

[0048] Lock 1 , 2

[0049] Rotary latch 1

[0050] Pawl 2

[0051] Release lever 3

[0052] Actuating arm 3a

[0053] Operating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

[0054] Internal operating lever 4

[0055] External operating lever 5

[0056] Transmission lever 6

[0057] Clutch lever / clutch element 7

[0058] Electric motor 8

[0059] Gearbox 9

[0060] Control element 10

[0061] Cone 10a

[0062] Drive 8, 9, 10

[0063] Blocking element 11

[0064] Blocking arm 11a

[0065] Control arm 11 b

[0066] Spring arm 11c

[0067] rocker spring 12

[0068] Cone 13

[0069] Blocking contour 14

[0070] Stop 14a

[0071] Pier 14

[0072] Opening 15

[0073] Spring 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), and with an electromotive drive (8, 9, 10) with an electric motor (8), wherein the electromotive drive (8, 9, 10) acts on a coupling element (7) of an actuating lever chain (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) by means of an actuating element (10) selectively into the "engaged" and "disengaged" positions, characterized in that a blocking element (11) is assigned to the actuating element (10), which ensures a temporary blockage of the actuating element (10) for switching off the electric motor (8) after an actuating element travel and subsequent reversing of the actuating element (10).

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking element (11) as well as the adjusting element (10) are each mounted rotatably about an axis, wherein both axes run predominantly parallel to one another and are spaced apart from one another.

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blocking element (11) is arranged adjacent to a blocking contour (14) of the actuating element (10).

4. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blocking element (11) is designed as a blocking lever (11) with at least one blocking arm (11a) and one control arm (11b).

5. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that the blocking arm (11 a) has a pin (13) interacting with the blocking contour (14) of the actuating element (10).

6. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the blocking contour (14) is designed as a U-shaped web (14) into which the pin (13) pivots via an opening (15) for temporarily blocking the actuating element (10) and thus the electric motor (8).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, characterized in that a corner of the U-shaped web (14) ensures the temporary blocking of the actuating element (10) when the pin (13) rests against it to switch off the electric motor (8).

8. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the blocking element (11) has an associated spring (12), in particular a tilt spring (12).

9. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring (12) is arranged on an additional spring arm (11 c) of the blocking lever (11 ).

10. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the electric motor drive (8, 9, 10) has a spring (16) for reversing the actuating element (10).

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