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) made up substantially of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). In addition, a release lever (3, 4) is provided to actuate the pawl (2) and to open the lock (1, 2). According to the invention, the release lever (3, 4) is designed in two parts with a pawl release lever (3) acting on the pawl (2) and an actuating release lever (4) interacting with, for example, an actuating lever and / or drive. Both levers (3, 4) are either coupled together or decoupled from each other via a linearly displaceable coupling element (6).

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 a release lever for acting on the pawl and for opening the locking mechanism.

[0004] Almost all motor vehicle locks used in practice and described in the literature have a release lever with which the locking mechanism can be opened. The term "motor vehicle lock" is to be understood broadly here and includes not only motor vehicle door locks, but also, for example, motor vehicle locks used in connection with the locking of seats, tailgates, etc. Such motor vehicle locks are increasingly being operated by electric motors. This allows for special convenience applications and minimizes operating forces.

[0005] However, with such motor vehicle locks with an electric motor opening drive, there is a risk that the electric motor opening drive will not reverse or will not fully reverse or return to its home position after an opening process. This can happen, for example, if there is ice. This means that at least partial blockage of the release lever by the electric motor drive is possible and conceivable. As a result, following the desired opening process and with the rotary latch open, the subsequent closing process of a corresponding motor vehicle door is not possible or is blocked. This corresponds to a pawl that is not fully pivoted out opposite the rotary latch, so that the rotary latch may be blocked by the pawl after the opening process, and in any case, functional impairments cannot be completely avoided.

[0006] While the generic prior art according to DE 40 37 637 A1 already includes approaches to equipping the release lever with a memory device, which allows a previously set release position of the release lever to be stored until a closing movement of the vehicle door after the door has been opened cancels the memory. However, this involves a relatively complex memory device and also requires a memory function limit switch, which further increases the complexity. This is intended to provide an overall indication of whether the release lever is in a stored position or not.

[0007] Aside from the fact that the aforementioned, generic state of the art corresponds to a structurally complex solution, this approach is practically impossible to combine with an electric motor-driven opening drive, making it unsuitable for today's applications and requirements. The invention aims to remedy this situation.

[0008] 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 design effort is reduced and a functional solution is provided which in particular enables a perfect locking process after a locking mechanism has been opened.

[0009] 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 the release lever is designed in two parts with a pawl release lever acting on the pawl and an actuating release lever interacting with, for example, an actuating lever and / or a drive, wherein both levers are optionally coupled to one another or decoupled from one another via a linearly displaceable coupling member.

[0010] Within the scope of the invention, based on the previously discussed prior art, and very essentially, a two-part release lever is initially used. The release lever actually consists of the pawl release lever and the confirmation release lever. While the pawl release lever primarily ensures that the pawl can be lifted from its locking engagement with the rotary latch when the locking mechanism is closed, the actuation release lever generally imparts a pivoting movement to the release lever itself. Both levers are designed to be functionally and mechanically separate in their basic conception.

[0011] Using the additional coupling link, the two levers can now be selectively coupled or uncoupled. When the two levers are coupled, a rotationally fixed connection is established, so that a force applied to the actuating release lever is and can be transmitted to the pawl release lever, which in turn lifts the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch. As a result, the rotary latch can open with spring support and release a corresponding, previously trapped locking bolt. In the example, the door equipped with the motor vehicle lock in question can be opened easily.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, both aforementioned levers are mounted coaxially around a common axis of rotation. The coupling element is also mounted coaxially with the two levers. This allows the two levers, together with the coupling element, to pivot around the common axis of rotation. This is largely due to the fact that the coupling element is designed to be linearly displaceable and is mounted, for example, on the actuating lever or on both levers.

[0013] To achieve coupling and decoupling using the coupling link, the coupling link is equipped with at least one pin that selectively couples and decouples the two levers. Typically, two pins are provided, located opposite each other with respect to the common axis of rotation of the two levers, including the coupling link. Furthermore, the design is such that at least one pin extends through a corresponding recess in the respective lever. In this context, it is conceivable that the pin not only extends through the recess in question, but can also be moved or displaced within this recess. This is usually achieved by a thrust element, with the aid of which the coupling link can be acted upon, and in a linearly displaceable manner.

[0014] For example, both levers can each be equipped with a recess located on the circumference of a circular surface. If two pins are implemented opposite each other with respect to the rotation axis, corresponding circumferential recesses are observed with respect to the central rotation axis.

[0015] If the pin is located inside the recess, the two levers are coupled together in a rotationally fixed manner. However, if the pin is moved out of the recess, a relative movement between the two levers is possible and conceivable, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures. As a result of this relative movement, any blockages in the release lever, for example, caused by a motor or electric motor drive, an actuating lever, or other blockages, can be easily released. This is because all that is required is for the coupling element to decouple the two levers from each other, allowing a relative movement between the two levers.Since during an opening process the pawl is typically opened against the force of a pawl spring associated with it, following such a decoupling of the two levers, the aforementioned pawl spring can ensure that the pawl moves to its home position, and can also move to it, in which the rotary latch is subsequently held during the transition to its closed position. For this purpose, the pawl spring may not only apply appropriate pressure to the pawl, but is also, according to the invention, capable of moving the pawl release lever relative to the actuating release lever, for example, if the actuating release lever should be blocked.

[0016] The thrust element for acting on the coupling member is advantageously a worm gear. This means that the worm gear or thrust element in question usually has a circumferential eccentric or a curved contour for this purpose, with the aid of which the coupling member is transferred from its coupled position in the basic position to the uncoupled position. In fact, a spring may act on the coupling member for this purpose, which preloads the coupling member towards its position coupling the two levers. The uncoupled state of the coupling member can now be achieved by moving the thrust element orWorm wheel is acted upon and, against the force of the spring in question, the coupling member moves to such an extent that, in the example described, one or both pins leave the respective corresponding recess, so that the desired relative movement between the pawl release lever and the actuating release lever as both components of the release lever is possible.

[0017] In addition, it has proven particularly advantageous if the thrust element can be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the release lever. This allows the thrust element to engage a stop edge of the coupling link particularly easily, resulting in a compact design.

[0018] The invention is based on the realization that the coupling member is typically designed to be level with the two levers, which are also mounted on the same axis. In contrast, the stop edge of the coupling member can describe a plane perpendicular to this plane. The axis for the thrust element is usually also located in this plane, so that rotations about the axis of the thrust element pivot the corresponding arc contour, which then, in turn, via the stop edge, transfers the coupling member from its "coupled" position in the basic position to the "uncoupled" position with respect to the two levers, namely through a linear adjustment process.

[0019] Overall, this provides a particularly simple motor vehicle lock, suitable for both manual operation of the specially designed, two-part release lever and for use with an electric motor. Of course, combinations are also conceivable, allowing the special release lever to be operated both manually and by an electric motor.

[0020] In any case, according to the invention, any collisions of the release lever during its pivoting movement, for example with a housing of the motor vehicle lock, blockages by the electric motor drive and / or one or more actuating levers, no longer lead to the corresponding motor vehicle door not being able to be closed or only being able to be closed with difficulty following such an opening process.

[0021] Rather, in such a case, the thrust element acting on the coupling link ensures that the two levers, which are routinely coupled to each other and form part of the release lever, are decoupled or separated from each other via the coupling link. This allows for relative movement, allowing the pawl—regularly acted upon by the pawl spring—to return to its original position. From there, the rotary latch with the captured locking bolt is moved into the closed position, and the pawl easily falls into place and engages with a locking action.

[0022] Finally, it is also conceivable that such malfunctions could be detected, for example, by a sensor. This sensor could be one that scans the pawl. So-called pawl switches are used for this purpose, for example.

[0023] If the relevant sensor or pawl switch detects that, following an opening operation, for example by means of an electric motor using the release lever according to the invention, the pawl has not reached or has not fully reached its home position for a subsequent closing operation of the locking mechanism, this signal can be evaluated by a control unit so that it can be used to motorise the pushing element in order to ensure the described decoupling of the two levers. Of course, it is also possible for the two levers to be decoupled manually. In this case, the pushing element or the worm gear implemented at this point may be coupled to an actuating nut or generally to an actuating means via, for example, a connecting rod or a connecting means, so that an operator can manually ensure the desired decoupling of the two levers.

[0024] All of this results in an overall functional design and ensures that the associated vehicle door can be closed properly even after an electric motor-driven opening process encounters obstacles. The same applies if the locking mechanism has been opened manually and any subsequent blockages of the release lever or pawl are observed. In all of these cases, the two-part release lever can be decoupled using the coupling link, allowing relative movement between the two levers and thus enabling the pawl to assume its basic position required for a subsequent closing process with the help of the pawl spring. This represents the key advantage.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings:

[0026] Fig. 1 shows the motor vehicle lock according to the invention in a basic position and the functioning of the coupling member in a schematic section,

[0027] Fig. 2 shows the object according to Fig. 1 during an electromotive opening process,

[0028] Fig. 3 shows the object according to Fig. 2 following the opening process according to Fig. 2 and when the push element is actuated to decouple both levers of the two-part release lever and

[0029] Fig. 4 shows the motor vehicle lock according to Fig. 3 during a return movement in the uncoupled state.

[0030] The figures show a motor vehicle lock designed as a motor vehicle door lock. For this purpose, the motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock has a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. The rotary latch 1 is only partially and schematically indicated in Fig. 1. To open the locking mechanism 1, 2, the pawl 2 must perform a pivoting movement in a counterclockwise direction around its axis, as indicated in Fig. 1. As a result, the rotary latch 1 is also pivoted in the counterclockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1, for example by acting spring forces, and when fully opened releases a locking bolt (not shown). The associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

[0031] The further basic structure then also includes a release lever 3, 4, which is designed in two parts according to the exemplary embodiment, as will be explained in more detail below. The pawl 2 can be acted upon with the help of the release lever 3, 4. Specifically, for the previously mentioned opening process of the locking mechanism 1, 2 and the pivoting movement of the pawl 2 required for this in the counterclockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1, the release lever 3, 4 must perform the clockwise pivoting movement also indicated in Fig. 1 about its axis or axis of rotation 5. This allows a pawl release lever 3, as a component of the two-part release lever 3, 4 to move against an upright arm of the pawl 2 and pivot this in the counterclockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1. This has the result that the locking mechanism 1, 2 opens as described.

[0032] According to the invention and of particular importance is the fact that the release lever 3, 4 is constructed in two parts. In fact, the two-part release lever 3, 4 is composed, first of all, of the pawl release lever 3 already mentioned, which acts on the pawl 2, and, in addition, of an actuating release lever 4. The actuating release lever 4 can, in turn, interact with an actuating lever (not expressly shown), an electric motor drive, or both. In principle, however, the said actuating lever and / or the electric motor drive can also act on the pawl release lever 3 in order to pivot the two-part release lever 3, 4 as a whole about the rotation axis 5 in the clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1 when the locking mechanism 1, 2 is opened.

[0033] Of further importance to the invention is the fact that both levers, i.e. the pawl release lever 3 and the actuation release lever 4, are or are optionally coupled to one another or decoupled from one another via a coupling member 6. For this purpose, the coupling member 6 can be moved linearly, i.e. is designed to be linearly displaceable. The coupling member 6 is arranged and mounted on the top or bottom (not shown) of the two levers 3, 4 with the same axis and plane as the two levers 3, 4. This means that the main extent of the coupling member 6 coincides with a plane E spanned by the two levers 3, 4 in the region of the axis of rotation 5. The same applies to the rotary movement of the coupling member 6, which also takes place around the axis of rotation 5 common to the two levers 3, 4.

[0034] The coupling member 6 is furthermore and essentially equipped with at least one pin 7 that selectively couples and uncouples the two levers 3, 4. According to the exemplary embodiment, two pins 7 are provided, which are diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the rotation axis 5, as can be further seen from the detailed illustration in Fig. 1. The two pins 7 engage in corresponding recesses 8 in the respective lever 3, 4.

[0035] When comparing the detailed illustration in Fig. 1 with the perspective representation, it can be seen that the two pins 7, as well as the recesses 8, extend in the axial direction of the axis of rotation 5, specifically perpendicular to the plane E essentially spanned by the coupling member 6 and the two levers 3, 4. As a result, a pushing movement (linear pushing process) indicated by arrows in the detailed illustration according to Fig. 1 means that, as a result of this pushing movement, the pins 7 can be moved out of the associated recesses 8, specifically radially in relation to the axis of rotation 5. The result of this is that the two levers 3, 4 are coupled to one another when the relevant pin 7 is retracted into the recess 8, whereas the extended state corresponds to the uncoupled state of the two levers 3, 4.

[0036] In order to implement and realize this linear thrust movement already indicated in Fig. 1, an additional thrust element 9 is provided, with the aid of which the coupling member 6 can be acted upon. This becomes particularly clear when comparing Figures 2 and 3, in which the linear thrust movement additionally indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2 is shown. During this thrust movement, with the aid of the thrust element 9, the coupling member 6 is moved with the two opposing pins 7 radially relative to the axis of rotation 5 and transversely to the recesses 8. For this purpose, the thrust element 9 is designed as a worm gear 9 according to the exemplary embodiment. For this purpose, the thrust element or worm gear 9 works on a stop edge 6a of the coupling member 6.

[0037] It can be seen that the stop edge 6a of the coupling member 6 extends predominantly vertically relative to plane E. In this vertical plane, the thrust element or worm gear 9 is also equipped with a correspondingly designed curved contour 10 to generate the desired thrust movement and to linearly displace the coupling member 6. For this purpose, the thrust element or worm gear 9 is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis 11, which in turn runs perpendicular to the rotational axis 5 of the release lever 3, 4.

[0038] The mechanism works as follows. Fig. 1 shows the motor vehicle lock in its basic position. In the transition to Fig. 2, the release lever 3, 4 is actuated for an opening operation. This corresponds to the release lever 3, 4 being actuated about its rotational axis 5 in the clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1. At the end of the opening operation, as shown in Fig. 2, the stop edge 6a of the coupling member 6 is opposite the thrust element or worm gear 9. Both the pawl release lever 3 and the actuation release lever 4 are rotationally coupled to one another via the coupling member 6.

[0039] Should the release lever 3, 4 become blocked during this opening process, the coupling member or coupling slide 6 can subsequently be moved linearly during the transition from Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 via the thrust element or worm gear 9. This is previously in a position that mechanically couples the two levers 3, 4. As a result, both levers 3, 4 are pivoted synchronously around the common axis 5 during the opening process of the release lever 3, 4.

[0040] If, in this context, the release lever 3, 4 becomes blocked, as indicated purely schematically by a "cross" in Fig. 3, the pawl 2 cannot be moved to its home position by means of a pawl spring (not shown). This can be detected by the sensor or pawl switch described above and not explicitly shown.

[0041] A control unit interrogating the sensor or pawl switch in question may subsequently ensure that the thrust element 9 is acted upon, in such a way that the coupling member 6, in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 2 and indicated by the arrow there, is moved to the "right." In this way, the two opposing pins 7 leave their corresponding recesses 8, so that subsequently and according to the functional illustration in Fig. 3, the two levers 3, 4 are decoupled from one another. This can result in a relative movement between the two levers 3, 4, as can be seen by comparing Figs. 2 and 3.

[0042] The result of this is that, in the example shown, the pawl release lever 3 is pivoted (slightly) counterclockwise about the rotation axis 5 during the transition from Fig. 2 to Fig. 3, as indicated by an arrow in Fig. 3. This is ensured by the pawl spring assigned to the pawl 2 and not expressly shown. In any case, following the decoupling of the two levers 3, 4, the pawl 2 assumes its basic position comparable to the position in Fig. 1. Following this, the actuating release lever 4 can also follow the pivoting movement of the pawl release lever 3, as can be seen in the transition from Fig. 3 to Fig. 4. In addition, the coupling member 6 can be returned to its initial position as shown in Fig. 1. This can be achieved by a spring (not expressly shown) preloading the coupling member 6 towards this basic position.

[0043] List of reference symbols:

[0044] 1 rotary latch

[0045] 2 pawls 1 , 2 locking mechanisms

[0046] 3 latch release levers

[0047] 4 actuating trigger levers

[0048] 3, release lever

[0049] 5 Rotation axis 6 Coupling link

[0050] 6a Stop edge

[0051] 7 cones

[0052] 8 recesses

[0053] 9 Thrust element or worm wheel 10 Curved contour

[0054] 11 Axis

Claims

Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially comprising a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), and with a release lever (3, 4) for acting on the pawl (2) and for opening the locking mechanism (1, 2), characterized in that the release lever (3, 4) is designed in two parts with a pawl release lever (3) acting on the pawl (2) and an actuating release lever (4) interacting with, for example, an actuating lever and / or drive, wherein both levers (3, 4) are optionally coupled to one another or decoupled from one another via a linearly displaceable coupling member (6).

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that both levers (3, 4) are mounted on the same axis around a common axis of rotation (5).

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling member (6) is also mounted axially coaxially with the two levers (3, 4) and is pivoted with them about the common axis of rotation (5).

4. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coupling member (6) is equipped with at least one pin (7) which selectively couples and uncouples the two levers (3, 4).

5. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that two pins (7) opposite one another with respect to the axis of rotation (5) are provided.

6. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the at least one pin (7) engages in an associated recess (8) in the respective lever (3, 4).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coupling member (6) can be acted upon by means of a thrust element (9).

8. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the thrust element (9) is designed as a worm wheel (9).

9. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the thrust element (9) acts on a stop edge (6a) of the coupling member (6).

10. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the sliding element (9) is rotatable about an axis (11) which runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation (5) of the release lever (3, 4).

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