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) substantially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, an electromotive drive (3, 4, 5) for the locking mechanism (1, 2) is provided. An emergency actuation element (6, 7) is additionally provided for manually opening the locking mechanism (1, 2), for example in the event of a failure of the electromotive drive. According to the invention, the electromotive drive (3, 4, 5) has a deflecting contour (4a) for unlocking the emergency actuation element (6, 7).

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 electric motor drive for the locking mechanism, and with an emergency actuating element for manually opening the locking mechanism, for example in the event of a failure of the electric motor drive.

[0004] Motor vehicle locks, and especially motor vehicle door locks, are increasingly being equipped with an electric motor drive for the locking mechanism for reasons of comfort and improved acoustics. In this case, for example, a control unit ensures that, upon registration of a sensor signal, the electric motor drive is activated to release the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch. As a result, the rotary latch opens with spring support, releasing a previously trapped locking bolt and thus the associated motor vehicle door.

[0005] The sensor signal to initiate the described electrical opening process can, for example, originate from a switch on an exterior door handle. However, it is also possible that, following a question / answer dialogue between a user-side card or transponder and the vehicle, and following a positive access check, the vehicle lock in question is subsequently opened by an electric motor. Such an electric motor opening process therefore requires little or no operating force and is therefore favored in practice. In addition, the electric opening process is particularly quiet. However, the proper functioning of the electric motor drive for the locking mechanism requires that sufficient voltage and, in general, electrical energy is available from the on-board battery of the associated vehicle.In practice, problems can arise in this case where the battery in question is discharged or, for example, damaged to such an extent as a result of an accident that the required on-board voltage is no longer available. There are also so-called electrical backup solutions for such electric locks that rely on their own additional power source for emergency operation.

[0006] However, even with such emergency energy sources there is the general problem that they can be or become defective, lose their electrical energy, have not been charged during operation, etc. In this case, an emergency operating element is typically provided for manually opening the locking mechanism, for example in the event of a failure of the electric motor drive.

[0007] In fact, the generic prior art according to DE 10 2018 104 421 A1 proposes an emergency actuation element that is mechanically coupled to the associated motor vehicle door lock via a connecting element. Additionally, an actuator that interacts mechanically with the connecting element is provided, which blocks the connecting element during normal operation and releases it during emergency operation. The actuator can be moved by an electric motor. Therefore, the electric motor drive implemented at this point is only indirectly intended and implemented for the locking mechanism.

[0008] The further prior art according to DE 10 2015 122 121 A1 deals with a method for manually actuating a motor vehicle door, particularly for emergency opening. In this context, the vehicle speed is evaluated and at least one speed threshold is set using a control unit. Depending on the actuation of a door handle, the control unit is queried and controls a functional unit, depending on the speed, to unlock / open the motor vehicle door.

[0009] The final state of the art to be considered, according to DE 10 2019 126 596 A1, concerns a motor vehicle lock equipped with an electric motor drive for the locking mechanism. Furthermore, the electric motor drive can actuate a safety lever to assume its unlocked position. A stop is provided for the electric motor drive, which limits the movement of the electric motor drive, at least when actuated in the opening direction to release the unlocked position. This prevents the locking mechanism from opening.

[0010] The state of the art has generally proven itself when it comes to taking any emergency measures following, for example, a failure of the electric motor drive for opening the locking mechanism. However, the state of the art can be improved in that the proper actuation of the emergency actuation element or its activation / deactivation has not always been achieved without a doubt. In practice, the typical procedure is that the motor vehicle lock in question generally assumes its locked position. This also applies to the emergency actuation element. Only in the event of a failure of the electric motor drive should the emergency actuation element be transferred to its unlocked state for manual opening of the locking mechanism. This has not been achieved so far, or not with the required functional reliability. The invention aims to remedy this situation.

[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, such that the emergency actuation element can be precisely activated in the event of a failure of the electric motor drive. To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is characterized within the scope of the invention in that the electric motor drive has a deflection contour for unlocking the emergency actuation element.

[0012] The invention is based, first and foremost, on the realization that the electric motor drive can be used not only for the electrical opening of the locking mechanism. It can also be used, as a second function in emergency operation, to ensure that the emergency actuation element is unlocked via the deflection contour. This means that the emergency actuation element, like the rest of the motor vehicle lock, is typically "locked" in its functional position in the normal state. This means that any actuation of an outside door handle or an inside door handle, or both, generally has no effect on the corresponding motor vehicle door, which is expressly desired and even required in many countries while the motor vehicle is in motion.

[0013] Only when emergency operation or emergency actuation must be initiated, for example because the electric motor drive is at risk of failing or the power supply can no longer be guaranteed, does the electric motor drive ensure that the emergency actuation element is unlocked via its deflection contour. By unlocking the emergency actuation element, an operator can then easily open the locking mechanism mechanically and manually via the emergency actuation element or an emergency actuation lever chain installed at this point and thus also unlocked. To do this, the electric motor drive usually acts on a clutch lever via the deflection contour, moving this lever from its "disengaged" position assumed during normal operation to the "engaged" position. When the clutch element is in the disengaged position, the aforementioned emergency actuation lever chain and the emergency actuation element are mechanically interrupted.In contrast, the "engaged" position of the coupling element corresponds to the emergency actuation lever chain being mechanically closed. The invention achieves this by using the deflection contour to transfer the coupling element from its routinely assumed disengaged position to the engaged position.

[0014] This means that the vehicle lock is mechanically locked throughout during normal operation. To realize and implement the unlocking of the emergency operating element, the electric motor drive must be controlled in such a way that a type of "parking position" is reached. This occurs in such a way that in this parking position, the deflection contour transfers the coupling element, as part of the emergency operating lever chain, from its disengaged to the engaged position. This typically occurs when the electric motor drive fails or threatens to fail. This can occur in the event of a crash or when the battery voltage of a vehicle battery drops below a certain limit. The same may apply to an emergency power source.

[0015] Either way, the invention operates in such a way that if the vehicle electrical system voltage or the voltage of the emergency power source drops, the electric motor drive is activated at least to the extent that it assumes its previously mentioned "parking position." This corresponds to the electric motor drive acting with its deflection contour on the clutch element as part of the emergency operating lever chain, so that the clutch element is transferred from its previously assumed disengaged position to the engaged position. The emergency operating lever chain is now closed or unlocked, and manual actuation of the emergency operating element allows the locking mechanism to be opened mechanically and manually.As long as the electric motor drive remains in the described "parking position," the mechanical emergency actuation is active and the coupling element is unlocked, allowing the corresponding vehicle door to be opened from the inside, for example, using an interior door handle. Opening from the outside is also possible, of course.

[0016] In order to enable the electric motor drive to precisely move to the "parking position" in question, a further advantageous embodiment provides that the deflection contour for the coupling element, in the example case, covers a defined range of the electric motor drive's travel path. This means that the travel path of the electric motor drive corresponds at least to the fact that the locking mechanism can be opened by lifting the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch. Furthermore, the travel path also encompasses the defined range in question, in which the deflection contour ensures that the emergency actuation element is active or the coupling element is unlocked, thus mechanically closing the emergency actuation lever chain.

[0017] To ensure that this defined range can be precisely approached as part of the travel range of the electric motor drive, an electrical control signal from the electric motor drive and / or signals from a sensor are evaluated. In the former case, the electrical control signal from the electric motor drive is examined for any current increase upon reaching the deflection contour.

[0018] The invention is based on the realization that approaching the previously mentioned "parking position" is accompanied by increased mechanical resistance. This is because approaching the "parking position" requires that the clutch element is transferred from its previously and routinely assumed disengaged position to the engaged position via the deflection contour. This entails a certain amount of force, which manifests itself in a current increase in the electrical control signal of the electric motor drive. This current increase can be evaluated by a control unit controlling the electric motor drive, specifically to the extent that the current increase identifies the reaching of the deflection contour. Consequently, once the current increase has been determined, the electric motor drive is generally switched off. This is because the electric motor drive has now reached the previously mentioned "parking position."

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, a drive pulley of the electric motor drive and / or a sensor associated with the electric motor can also be used. In this case, the position of the drive pulley can be detected using the sensor, specifically to determine whether the discussed "parking position" has been reached or not. A sensor associated with the electric motor can also be evaluated in the same or additional manner. This sensor could be a rotation angle sensor.

[0020] The invention is based on the realization that a specific angle of rotation of the electric motor corresponds to a specific travel of the drive pulley, from which it can then be determined whether the clutch element has been reached by the deflection contour of the electric motor drive or not. In all of these cases, the sensor reliably provides information about whether the "parking position" has been assumed by the electric motor drive or not. Of course, the sensor signal can also be combined with the evaluated current increase upon reaching the deflection contour. This further increases the accuracy of assuming the "parking position."

[0021] The drive pulley usually not only has a contour for controlling the sensor in question, but is also usually equipped with an actuating cam for the pawl. This allows the drive pulley, and thus the electric motor drive as a whole, to fulfill its dual functionality within the scope of the invention: firstly, to lift the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch for electric motorized opening, and secondly, to switch to emergency opening mode using the electric motor drive.

[0022] The sensor mentioned above, or even multiple sensors, can operate in different ways. It's conceivable that the sensor operates either tactilely or non-contact. Consequently, the sensor can be a switch, a Hall sensor, or a combination of both. An optical sensor is also possible.

[0023] The result is a motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which consistently assumes its locked position during normal operation and is only transferred to the unlocked position of an emergency operating lever chain in emergency operation. This is ensured by the electric motor drive, which according to the invention performs a dual function. With the help of the electric motor drive, the locking mechanism can typically be actuated for electrical opening in one direction of rotation, whereas in the other direction of rotation or in the same direction of rotation, the emergency operating lever chain in question can be unlocked for manual and mechanical emergency opening of the locking mechanism. For this purpose, the electric motor drive is equipped with a deflection contour, usually for a coupling element. With the help of the deflection contour, the coupling element is transferred from its previously assumed disengaged position to the engaged position.

[0024] In this way, the associated emergency operating lever chain transitions from its open to a closed mechanical state, allowing the locking mechanism to be opened mechanically via the emergency operating element as an alternative to electrical opening in emergency mode. All of this is achieved particularly simply and reliably, using only an electric motor drive. This keeps costs and design effort low. These are the key advantages. The invention is explained in more detail below using a drawing that represents only one exemplary embodiment; in the drawings:

[0025] Fig. 1 shows the motor vehicle lock according to the invention schematically in a first embodiment,

[0026] Fig. 2 shows the object according to Fig. 1 in a variant,

[0027] Fig. 3 shows a further third embodiment of the invention and

[0028] Fig. 4 and 5 further possible embodiments of the invention.

[0029] The figures depict a motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock. Its basic design comprises a locking mechanism 1, 2 consisting essentially of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2, both of which are schematically illustrated and depicted in Fig. 1. In the functional position shown in Fig. 1, the locking mechanism 1, 2 is in its closed state. To open the locking mechanism 1, 2, an electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 is provided for the locking mechanism 1, 2.

[0030] According to the exemplary embodiment, the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 consists, without limitation, of an electric motor 3, a drive disk 4 meshing with the electric motor 3, and an actuating cam 5 on the drive disk 4. Clockwise rotation of the drive disk 4 about the corresponding axis of the drive disk 4 results in the actuating cam 5, which according to the exemplary embodiment is located on an underside of the drive disk 4, acting on a pin 2a as a component of the locking pawl 2, so that the locking pawl 2 pivots about its axis in the clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1. As a result, the rotary latch 1 is released from the locking pawl 2 and, in turn, can pivot open with spring support in the counterclockwise direction also indicated in Fig. 1 and release an associated locking bolt. As a result, a motor vehicle door equipped with the locking bolt can be opened.

[0031] The further basic structure also includes an emergency actuation element 6, 7, which is a component of a manually actuated and purely mechanically acting emergency actuation lever chain 6, 7. With the help of the emergency actuation element 6, 7, a manual opening of the locking mechanism 12 is possible - regardless of the previously described electrical opening process.

[0032] According to the exemplary embodiment, the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 has a deflection contour 4a for the emergency actuating element 6, 7 or for unlocking the emergency actuating element 6, 7. For this purpose, the emergency actuating element 6, 7 according to the exemplary embodiment is composed of a coupling element 6 on the one hand and a transmission lever 7 on the other.

[0033] The transmission lever 7 interacts with the deflection contour 4a. Furthermore, the transmission lever 7 according to the exemplary embodiment ensures that the coupling element 6 transitions into its "engaged" position indicated in Fig. 1 when the transmission lever 7 is actuated by means of the deflection contour 4a.

[0034] The "engaged" position of the coupling element 6 indicated in Fig. 1 corresponds to the emergency operating lever chain 6, 7 being mechanically closed. Actuating the emergency operating lever chain 6, 7 in question, for example by a handle provided at the end (e.g., an interior door handle), results in the pin 2a of the pawl 2 being acted upon again via this emergency operating lever chain 6, 7, or being able to be acted upon again in such a way that the pawl 2—this time manually and mechanically—is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 1, so that, as a result, the locking mechanism 1, 2 opens and releases the locking bolt in question. This is particularly possible if the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 fails for the reasons already described.

[0035] According to the exemplary embodiment, the deflection contour 4a is realized and provided on the drive pulley 4 as a component of the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5. Furthermore, the deflection contour 4a covers a defined range (angle a) of the travel of the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5.

[0036] According to the exemplary embodiment, the angle a is approximately 70°. The entire travel of the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5, in contrast, corresponds to a complete rotation of the drive disk 4, i.e., according to the exemplary embodiment, to an angle of 360° of the drive disk 4. According to the invention, the defined range a is assumed by evaluating an electrical control signal of the electric motor drive, as the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 3 illustrates in more detail, or by evaluating signals from a sensor 7, as already illustrated by way of example in Fig. 1 and also in the other exemplary embodiments.

[0037] If one looks at the embodiment according to Fig. 3, the electrical control signals of the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 are evaluated at this point with regard to a current increase when the deflection contour 4a is reached. In fact, when comparing the side view with the top view according to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the deflection contour 4a is each equipped with a front and end ramp, which each merge into a plateau. As soon as the drive disk 4 is rotated about its axis with the help of the electric motor 3, the deflection contour 4a ensures that, with its help, the transmission lever 7 is increasingly pivoted counterclockwise about its axis when it hits the ramp, as shown in Fig. 1. As a result, the coupling element 6 orThe clutch lever provided at this point moves downwards and moves from its "disengaged" position, which it regularly assumes during normal operation, to the "engaged" position shown in Fig. 1. As a result, the emergency operating lever chain 6, 7 also assumes its unlocked position. The thus closed lever can now be released via the handle, which is part of the emergency operating lever chain 6, 7.

[0038] Emergency operating lever chain 6, 7 can be used to open the locking mechanism 1, 2 manually and mechanically, as described.

[0039] In order to ensure that the engaged position of the coupling element 6 and thus of the transmission lever 7 can be correctly determined and approached with the deflection contour 4a in accordance with the functional position in Fig. 1, the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 3 evaluates the current increase I schematically indicated there as a function of the angle 0 swept by the drive disk 4. This is indicated by the schematic diagram. At this point, a current increase occurs when the drive disk 4 with the deflection contour 4a moves against the transmission lever 7 and lifts it against mechanical resistance and pivots it in the counterclockwise direction already described in order to finally engage the coupling element 6. This is indicated by Fig. 3, where the current increase can initially be identified with a slope at the beginning of the deflection contour 4a and then a plateau region with an increased current increase.

[0040] In any case, this current increase, schematically indicated in Fig. 3, can be evaluated by a control unit 8 that controls the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 and is only indicated, so that the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 can be stopped upon reaching the so-called "parking position" shown in Fig. 1. This is again ensured by the control unit 8 that acts on the electric motor 3.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, the previously mentioned sensor 7 can also be assigned to the drive pulley 4 of the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 and / or the electric motor 3. This sensor 7 is acted upon by means of a circumferential contour 9 on the drive pulley 4, as shown in Fig. 1 and 2. In principle, the contour 9 can also be a magnet provided on the drive pulley 4, as shown in Fig. 4, which interacts with a sensor 7 designed as a Hall sensor when overlapping, so that the previously discussed “parking position” can be easily detected and determined. The variant according to Fig. 5 is equipped with a further different embodiment in which a sensor 7 is again implemented in the form of a Hall sensor, which responds to the rotary movements of a ring magnet on the output shaft of the electric motor 3 as a stop or stop.Contour 9 reacts and then deduces the position of the electric motor 3 and thus the drive pulley 4.

[0042] This means that the sensor 7 can operate tactilely according to the embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In principle, a contactless application of the sensor 7 is also possible, as in the case of the embodiment according to Figs. 4 and 5 with the provided

[0043] Hall sensors are shown pictorially.

[0044] List of reference symbols

[0045] Lock 1 , 2

[0046] Rotary latch 1

[0047] Pawl 2

[0048] Cone 2a

[0049] Drive 3, 4, 5

[0050] Electric motor 3

[0051] Drive pulley 4

[0052] Deflection contour 4a

[0053] Actuating cam 5

[0054] Emergency operating element 6, 7

[0055] Coupling element 6

[0056] Transmission lever 7

[0057] Sensor 7

[0058] Control unit 8

[0059] Contour 9

[0060] Current rise I

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 electric motor drive (3, 4, 5) for the locking mechanism (1, 2), and with an emergency actuating element (6, 7) for manually opening the locking mechanism (1, 2), for example in the event of failure of the electric motor drive (3, 4, 5), characterized in that the electric motor drive (3, 4, 5) has a deflection contour (4a) for unlocking the emergency actuating element (6, 7).

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the deflection contour (4a) covers a defined area (a) of an actuating path of the electric motor drive (3, 4, 5).

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the defined area (a) is occupied by evaluating an electrical control signal of the electric motor drive (3, 4, 5) and / or signals from a sensor (7).

4. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrical control signal of the electric motor drive (3, 4, 5) corresponds to a current increase when the deflection contour (4a) is reached.

5. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that after the current increase has been detected, the electric motor drive (3, 4, 5) is switched off.

6. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a sensor (7) associated with a drive pulley (4) of the electric motor drive (3, 4, 5) and / or the electric motor (3) is provided.

7. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, characterized in that a contour (9) is assigned to the sensor (7).

8. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sensor (7) operates tactilely or contactlessly.

9. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sensor (7) is designed as a switch, Hall sensor, optical sensor, etc.

10. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the drive disc (4) has an actuating cam (5) for the pawl (2).

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