Motor vehicle lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, designed with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) consisting of a rotary latch (1) as well as a primary catch pawl (2), which interacts with the rotary latch (1), and a secondary catch pawl (3), which secures the primary catch pawl (2) in the lowered position. Additionally, a trigger lever (5) which acts on the secondary catch pawl (3) is provided. The secondary catch pawl (3) has an at least two-arm design with respect to a rotational axis (6), comprising a blockade arm (3a) which secures the primary catch pawl (2) and at least one actuation arm (3b). According to the invention, the actuation arm (3b), which lies opposite the blockade arm (3a) with respect to the rotational axis (6), is designed to interact with the trigger lever (5) and to entrain the primary catch pawl (2) in a lifting direction when the secondary catch pawl (3) is pivoted.

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 of a rotary latch and a primary pawl interacting with the rotary latch and a secondary pawl securing the primary pawl in the engaged position, and with a release lever acting on the secondary pawl, wherein the secondary pawl is designed with at least two arms with respect to a rotation axis, with a blocking arm securing the primary pawl and at least one actuating arm.

[0004] So-called multi-pawl locking mechanisms with a primary pawl and a secondary pawl are typically characterized by low opening forces while still maintaining a flawless locking function. In fact, for example, the engagement between the rotary latch and the primary pawl can be designed such that the primary pawl, in the engaged position, is equipped with an opening moment relative to the rotary latch or urges in the opening pivot direction, as described in the prior art according to EP 2 803 796 B1 with further documentation. Consequently, the secondary pawl ensures that the primary pawl, in the engaged position, does not pivot open when the rotary latch is engaged or is locked against pivoting in its opening direction.

[0005] Such a multi-pawl locking mechanism with the so-called opening tendency described above requires low actuation forces because only the secondary pawl needs to be pivoted open or away from its position blocking the primary pawl, and then the primary pawl usually pivots open automatically due to its opening tendency. For this reason, a compact and therefore cost-effective electric motor drive can be used, for example, for the electric motorized opening of such a multi-pawl or double-pawl locking mechanism. An alternative manual actuation can also be implemented easily and with very little force.

[0006] It should be emphasized that the described motor vehicle lock, in the form explained above, is generally used for all tasks related to locking doors, hatches, windows, etc. in motor vehicles. This means that the motor vehicle lock in question can be used for all types of locking elements in a motor vehicle. These include, for example, side doors, sliding doors, tailgates, trunk lids, hoods, glove compartment lids, fuel filler flaps, cargo area flaps, etc. This means that the term "motor vehicle lock" is to be interpreted broadly according to the application, and the motor vehicle door locks primarily addressed are merely one variant.

[0007] Comparable to the previously discussed EP 2 803 796 B1, a multi-pawl or double-pawl locking mechanism is also the subject of WO 2019 / 063755 A1, which represents the closest prior art. At this point, the secondary pawl is equipped with a counter-engagement element, which interacts with an engagement element on an actuating lever or release lever for the lifting engagement. In addition to the counter-engagement element of the secondary pawl, it also has a driver, which interacts with a counter-driver on the primary pawl. In fact, pivoting the secondary pawl in its lifting direction corresponds to the driver on the secondary pawl engaging with the counter-driver, and thus the primary pawl is carried along by the secondary pawl in its lifting direction.

[0008] The counter-engaging element and the driver on the secondary pawl are largely arranged at an obtuse angle to each other with respect to the rotational axis of the secondary pawl. Furthermore, the secondary pawl is additionally equipped with a locking surface on a blocking arm, which interacts with a counter-locking surface of the primary pawl.

[0009] The overall design of the known secondary pawl, which has at least three arms, with the counter-engagement element for the actuating lever or release lever, and additionally the driver for driving the primary pawl in the lifting direction, and finally the locking surface on the blocking arm for the primary pawl, results, on the one hand, in a jagged and complex structure of the secondary pawl and, on the other hand, and significantly, in individual components of the secondary pawl protruding into an inlet mouth of the rotary latch or an inlet slot of a lock case in the extension of the retraction direction of a locking bolt. This is unproblematic as long as the locking bolt, as an example of a component of a lock holder interacting with the motor vehicle lock, is held by the locking mechanism and, for example, a crash does not occur.

[0010] In the event of a crash, however, there is a risk that the locking bolt in question will "pierce," i.e., penetrate beyond the entry slot of the lock case and at least partially into the interior of the vehicle lock. In the known embodiment, this results in the secondary locking pawl being acted upon by the locking bolt in question, thereby releasing the primary locking pawl and thus the locking mechanism. Such a scenario represents a significant safety risk because it results in the unintentional opening of the locking mechanism and thus also of the associated vehicle door, and passengers in the vehicle can no longer be protected by, for example, side airbags, impact protection, etc. located on the vehicle door. The invention aims to remedy this situation.

[0011] The invention is based on the technical problem of creating such a

[0012] To further develop motor vehicle locks and in particular motor vehicle door locks in such a way that, taking into account the existing functionality and advantages, safety aspects in particular in the event of a crash are reflected.

[0013] To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, in a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, that the actuating arm opposite the blocking arm with respect to the axis of rotation is designed both to interact with the release lever and to entrain the primary locking pawl when the secondary locking pawl is pivoted in the lifting direction.

[0014] The invention is therefore initially based on the realization that the secondary pawl must still be equipped with the blocking arm and the actuating arm opposite the blocking arm with respect to the rotation axis. In contrast to the generic prior art according to WO 2019 / 063755 A1, however, the design is such that the actuating arm opposite the blocking arm with respect to the rotation axis is configured both to interact with the release lever and to entrain the primary pawl when the secondary pawl is pivoted in the lifting direction. This means that the actuating arm interacts with both the release lever and the primary pawl. In contrast, the generic prior art at this point relies on two actuating arms connected to one another at an obtuse angle with respect to the rotation axis and implemented in addition to the blocking arm.

[0015] Since, according to the invention and an advantageous embodiment, the secondary locking pawl comprises only the blocking arm and the actuating arm, which are advantageously located predominantly diametrically opposite one another with respect to the approximately central axis of rotation, a particularly slim design of the primary locking pawl is achieved according to the application. Furthermore, the primary locking pawl has a longitudinally elongated shape because the blocking arm and the actuating arm are advantageously located predominantly diametrically opposite one another with respect to the approximately central axis of rotation.

[0016] The overall result is that the blocking arm of the secondary pawl, which interacts with the primary pawl, still reaches close to the entry mouth of the locking mechanism and thus also to the entry slot of the lock case. However, the actuating arm, which is diametrically opposite the blocking arm with respect to the central axis of rotation, is oriented at a considerable distance from the entry mouth or entry slot in question. In this way, the invention is designed such that the locking bolt, which moves in the entry direction of the locking bolt, i.e. essentially in the longitudinal extension of the entry slot, encounters a "free space" overall even in the event of a "breakthrough". This is because no arms of the secondary pawl are placed or present in any way in the extension of the entry slot, so that the locking bolt can interact neither with the secondary pawl nor the primary pawl in the event of the breakthrough described.

[0017] This results in a direct, enormous increase in safety because, due to its design, even in the event of a crash, unintentional opening of the locking mechanism according to the invention is impossible. Rather, the consistent two-arm design of the secondary pawl, with the blocking arm and actuating arm advantageously positioned diametrically opposite one another with respect to the rotational axis, ensures that the described free area is maintained in the longitudinal direction of the inlet slot. In fact, both the triggering kinetics, i.e., the interaction with the trigger lever, and the interaction with the primary pawl, have been shifted within the scope of the present invention to the end opposite the blocking arm with the locking surface for the primary pawl there, and thus away from the inlet slot. This represents the key advantages.In an advantageous variant, the actuating arm has a release contour that interacts with the release lever and an additional drive contour that interacts with the primary pawl. The two contours are advantageously located on opposing surfaces of the actuating arm. Opposite the actuating arm is the blocking arm, which has or defines the aforementioned locking surface or contact surface for the primary pawl.

[0018] In order to implement the two contours realized on opposite surfaces of the actuating arm in detail, the design is such that the release contour is arranged on a surface of the secondary pawl facing the release lever and the drive contour is arranged on a surface common to the primary pawl. The invention is based on the finding that the primary pawl, the secondary pawl and the rotary latch together define a common locking plane. The release lever is arranged parallel to this locking plane in its own plane at a distance from it. The invention essentially achieves this by having the release lever and the secondary pawl mounted coaxially around a common bearing pin. In any case, this allows both contours to be realized and implemented on the opposite surfaces of the actuating arm.

[0019] Since, in addition, the two contours are provided at the ends of the actuating arm in question, the previously described distance from the inlet slot is set to a maximum. For this purpose and in detail, the driving contour on the actuating arm for the primary pawl is generally designed as a curved contour for a nose of the primary pawl that slides or moves along it. The trigger contour, on the other hand, can be a pin for a stop on the trigger lever that moves against it during the opening process. In a particularly preferred variant, both contours on the secondary pawl, i.e. the driving contour as well as the trigger contour, are designed as components of a plastic casing.The invention is based on the realization that the secondary locking pawl is already equipped with the plastic sheathing in question for reasons of better acoustics, which at least partially encloses a metallic core. According to the invention, the plastic sheathing, which is usually produced by overmolding with plastic, can now be used, in addition to improving the acoustics, to define the two contours on the secondary locking pawl in the plastic sheathing during the injection molding process in question.

[0020] Similarly, it is also possible for the nose on the primary pawl to be formed as part of a plastic sheathing there. This means that the primary pawl also has such a plastic sheathing, which at least partially encloses a metal core. In this case, the injection molding process for the plastic sheathing is used to define the nose on the primary pawl.

[0021] The result is a multi-pawl locking mechanism, and in particular a double-pawl locking mechanism, that ensures reliable operation and, at the same time, safe operation, especially in the event of a crash. The primary pawl can generally be equipped with an opening moment, and the secondary pawl ensures that the primary pawl is held in a detent position on the rotary latch. In this case, a single detent position is generally sufficient.

[0022] As soon as the secondary pawl is lifted from its position on the primary pawl using the release lever, the primary pawl automatically pivots open due to the applied opening torque. This allows the use of a particularly compact drive to actuate the release lever. For example, it is conceivable that a winding or cable drive could be used here to actuate the release lever. Such a winding or cable drive is generally known from the long-expired utility model DE 20 2007 000 733 U1. This allows the winding drive or cable drive in question to be placed at a distance from the locking mechanism and the release lever inside the motor vehicle lock and, in conjunction with the special design of the secondary pawl as a whole, ensures that the previously mentioned "free space" is present in the extension of the inlet slot. This is where the key advantages lie.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings:

[0024] Fig. 1 shows the motor vehicle lock according to the invention in an overview and

[0025] Fig. 2 and 3 individual detailed views of the motor vehicle lock according to Fig. 1 .

[0026] The figures show a motor vehicle lock, which is not limited to a motor vehicle door lock. This is equipped with a locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 consisting of a rotary latch 1, a primary pawl 2 and a secondary pawl 3. The primary pawl 2 interacts with the rotary latch 1 and can engage in a notch 1a of the rotary latch 1, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is the only notch of the rotary latch and thus also of the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3. Since the primary pawl 2 is equipped with an opening moment, the secondary pawl 3 ensures that the primary pawl 2 is held in locking engagement with the rotary latch 1 and is blocked. For this purpose, the rotary latch 1 and the two pawls 2, 3 are mounted in a lock case 4 around mutually parallel axes. The axes are spaced apart from each other and form a triangle as shown in Fig. 1.

[0027] In addition, a release lever 5 is provided, with the aid of which the secondary pawl 3 can be pivoted in the clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1. The pivoting movement of the secondary pawl 3 results in the secondary pawl 3 releasing the primary pawl 2, which in turn, due to the described opening tendency upon its release by the secondary pawl 3, pivots out of the notch 1a of the rotary latch 1 in the clockwise direction also indicated in Fig. 1 and releases the rotary latch 1. As a result, the rotary latch 1 can also pivot open about its axis (spring-assisted) in the clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1.

[0028] It can be seen that the secondary pawl 3 is designed with at least two arms with respect to a rotation axis 6. In fact, the rotation axis 6 for the secondary pawl 3 is defined by a bearing pin anchored in the lock case 4. Similar bearing pins also serve to define the rotation axis of the rotary latch 1 and the primary pawl 2.

[0029] The secondary pawl 3 is designed with two arms relative to the rotational axis 6 defined by the bearing pin 6, namely, it has a blocking arm 3a securing the primary pawl 2 and at least one actuating arm 3b. According to the exemplary embodiment, the design is such that the blocking arm 3a is opposite the actuating arm 3b with respect to the rotational axis 6, specifically diametrically opposite it. Furthermore, the actuating arm 3b of the secondary pawl 3 is configured both to interact with the release lever 5 and to entrain the primary pawl 2 when the secondary pawl 3 pivots in the lifting direction, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0030] In particular, referring to Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that, first of all, the blocking arm 3a of the secondary pawl 3 is equipped with a metallic locking surface 7, which interacts with a corresponding metallic locking surface 8 on the primary pawl 2. In fact, the two locking surfaces 7, 8 abut one another in the closed state of the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 shown in Fig. 1.

[0031] The actuating arm 3b of the secondary pawl 3 is now equipped with an interaction contour 9 that interacts with the release lever 5, specifically with a stop 10 on the release lever 5 made of plastic. For this purpose, the release contour 9 on the actuating arm 3b is designed as a pin 9 for the stop 10 on the release lever 5, which moves against it during an opening process. In fact, an opening process of the secondary pawl 3 corresponds to the stop 10 performing a downward movement indicated by an arrow in the illustration according to Fig. 2, so that the pin 9 of the secondary pawl 3 is acted upon and the secondary pawl 3 pivots clockwise around its axis of rotation 6.

[0032] In addition, the actuating arm 3b of the secondary pawl 3 is additionally equipped with a driving contour 11 for the primary pawl 2. In fact, according to the exemplary embodiment, the driving contour 11 is designed as an arcuate contour 11, specifically for a nose 12 of the primary pawl 2 that moves along it. During an opening process of the secondary pawl 3, which corresponds to a clockwise rotation about the rotation axis 6, the nose 12 of the primary pawl 2 moves along the arcuate contour 11, and as a result, the primary pawl 2 is pivoted clockwise about its axis and carried by the secondary pawl 3 in the described process.

[0033] It can be seen that the secondary pawl 3 is equipped only with the blocking arm 3a and the actuating arm 3b. Both arms 3a, 3b are predominantly diametrically opposed with respect to the approximately central axis of rotation 6. Furthermore, the design is such that the two contours 9, 11 on the actuating arm 3b of the secondary pawl 3 are located on opposing surfaces of the actuating arm 3b. In fact, the release contour or pin 9 is located on a surface of the secondary pawl 3 facing the release lever 5. In contrast, the driving contour 11 or curved contour 11 is located on a surface common to the primary pawl 9 and can thus interact with the lug 12 on the primary pawl 2.

[0034] In addition, both contours 9, 11 are provided at the end of the actuating arm 3b of the secondary pawl 3. In this way, both contours 9, 11 have a virtually maximum distance from an inlet slot 13 in the lock case 4, indicated in Fig. 2, for a locking bolt 14, which is only indicated at this point. In fact, the locking bolt 14 moves into the inlet slot 13 in question in the direction of movement E indicated in Fig. 2 and can thus pivot the initially opened rotary latch 1 into its closed position indicated in Fig. 1. As soon as the rotary latch 1 reaches the closed position shown in Fig. 1, the primary pawl 2 engages and is secured by means of the secondary pawl 3.

[0035] It can be seen that in the retraction direction E of the locking bolt 14, due to the special design of the secondary pawl 3 and in particular the arrangement of both contours 11, 9 at the end of the actuating arm 3b opposite the blocking arm 3a, a "free area" 15 is defined in the interior of the motor vehicle lock as an extension of the retraction direction E, namely beyond or in the extension of the inlet slot 13. In the event of a crash, for example, the locking bolt 14 can move and dip into this free area 15 without any interaction with the primary pawl 2 or the secondary pawl 3 occurring or being possible. This expressly and according to the invention prevents an unintentional opening of the locking mechanism, particularly in the event of a crash.

[0036] Finally, a comparison of the figures shows that the two contours 9, 11 are each formed as components of an associated plastic sheath 16 on the one hand on the primary pawl 2 and on the other hand on the secondary pawl 3 and are defined according to the invention. This means that the two contours 9, 11 are automatically defined and produced when the associated metallic core of the primary pawl 2 and the secondary pawl 3 is overmolded. Furthermore, Fig. 3 in particular makes it clear that the inventive design of the secondary pawl 3 enables a particularly large distance A between the rotary latch 1 and the primary pawl 2. In fact, this distance A can be up to 1 mm or even more, so that with a plastic sheath 16 shown in Fig.3, any interaction with the primary pawl 2 is not observed and cannot occur. Thus, any malfunctions are expressly avoided according to the invention when assuming this overtravel position.

[0037] Fig. 1 also shows a cable or winding drive 17, 18, which, in addition to an electric motor drive 17, also has a cable 18. The cable 18 can be wound and unwound on a drum. With the aid of the cable or winding drive 17, 18, the release lever 5 can be actuated and, in particular, its clockwise opening movement, indicated by an arrow in Fig. 1, can be initiated. For this purpose, the release lever 5, according to the exemplary embodiment, is mounted coaxially with the secondary pawl 3, taking into account the common bearing pin and defining the same axis of rotation 6.

[0038] List of reference symbols:

[0039] 1 , 2, 3 locking

[0040] 1 rotary latch

[0041] 1 a rest

[0042] 2 primary pawl

[0043] 3 Secondary pawl

[0044] 3a Blockade arm

[0045] 3b Actuating arm

[0046] 4 lock cases

[0047] 5 release levers

[0048] 6 axis of rotation

[0049] 7 metallic barrier surface

[0050] 8 metallic barrier surface

[0051] 7, 8 restricted areas

[0052] 9 Interaction contour / trigger contour / cone

[0053] 10 stops

[0054] 11 Driving contour / arc contour

[0055] 9, 11 contours

[0056] 12 Nose

[0057] 13 Inlet slot

[0058] 14 locking bolts

[0059] 15 outdoor area

[0060] 16 Plastic coating

[0061] 17 electric motor drive

[0062] 18 rope

[0063] 17, 18 Rope or winding drive

[0064] A distance

[0065] E Entry direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a primary pawl (2) interacting with the rotary latch (1) and a secondary pawl (3) securing the primary pawl (2) in the engaged position, and with a release lever (5) acting on the secondary pawl (3), wherein the secondary pawl (3) is designed with at least two arms with respect to a rotation axis (6) with a blocking arm (3a) securing the primary pawl (2) and at least one actuating arm (3b), characterized in that the actuating arm (3b) opposite the blocking arm (3a) with respect to the rotation axis (6) is designed both for interaction with the release lever (5) and for entraining the primary pawl (2) when the secondary pawl (3) is pivoted in Lifting direction is set up.

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the secondary pawl (3) has only the blocking arm (3a) and the actuating arm (3b), which are predominantly diametrically opposite one another with respect to the approximately central axis of rotation (6).

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating arm (3b) has a release contour (9) interacting with the release lever (5) and a driving contour (11) interacting with the primary pawl (2).

4. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the two contours (9, 11) are provided on opposite surfaces of the actuating arm (3b).

5. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the release contour (9) is arranged on a surface of the secondary pawl (3) facing the release lever (5) and the driving contour (11) is arranged on a surface common to the primary pawl (2).

6. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that both contours (9, 11) are provided at the ends of the actuating arm (3b).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the driving contour (11) is designed as an arcuate contour (11) for a nose (12) of the primary pawl (2) moving along it.

8. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the release contour (9) is designed as a pin (9) for a stop (10) on the release lever (5) which moves against it during the opening process.

9. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that both contours (9, 11) on the secondary pawl (3) are formed as components of a plastic casing (16).

10. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the nose (12) on the primary pawl (2) is formed as a component of a plastic casing (16).

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