Closing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing device for a motor vehicle lock, in particular to a motor vehicle door lock closing aid. This has at least two electric motors (8), at least one worm wheel (9), and a transmission (10, 11, 12) downstream of the worm wheel (9), wherein both electric motors (8) mesh with the worm wheel (9). According to the invention, the transmission (10, 11, 12) is at least in part integrated into the worm wheel (9).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Closing device

[0003] The invention relates to a closing device for a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock closing aid, with at least two electric motors, furthermore with at least one worm wheel, and with a gear following the worm wheel, wherein both electric motors each mesh with the worm wheel.

[0004] Closing devices for automotive locksmiths are typically used when a locking mechanism, consisting of a rotary latch and pawl, as part of a vehicle lock in question, assumes its pre-locking position. This pre-locking position is usually detected by a sensor. The corresponding sensor signal is used, for example, by a control unit to activate one or both electric motors, thus moving the locking mechanism from its pre-locking to the main locking position.

[0005] Often, the rotary latch is moved to a so-called overtravel position and then reset until the main notch is reached. This allows for a particularly convenient locking process for the vehicle lock in question.

[0006] The motor vehicle locks used here cover all types of locks in or on motor vehicles. These include, for example, side door locks, tailgate locks, hood locks, etc. Reference is made, for example, to DE 10 2013 111 039 A1, which in this context uses a planetary gear as a transmission or gear stage. The generic prior art according to DE 10247979 A1 already shows a closing aid with multiple electric motors. For this purpose, two electric motors are implemented in the embodiment according to Figure 1, which engage the worm gear on the outer circumference via associated drive shafts with worms located thereon. This allows a drive shaft or output shaft to be actuated in both directions of rotation.Additionally, a gear mechanism is connected downstream, which transmits the closing movement of a closing aid with two levers connected like a toggle lever to a rotary latch via an angle lever. This is intended to make the electromechanics as reliable and cost-effective as possible.

[0007] A comparable state of the art is known from DE 103 93 002 B4. In this case, too, two electric motors are used, which work together on a centrally located worm gear. This is intended to provide a drive device and a door closer that allows for smaller dimensions.

[0008] The two electric motors used in the prior art therefore result in a compact design overall, because a bulky single electric motor, typically used and alternatively used, is replaced by two compact electric motors that jointly drive the common worm gear. However, further improvements are possible in terms of power transmission and reducing the required installation space. The invention aims to remedy this overall.

[0009] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a closing device for a motor vehicle lock in such a way that its compactness is further increased compared to the prior art while simultaneously realizing and implementing a particularly reliable design. For this purpose, the gear mechanism is at least partially integrated into the worm gear. In fact, it has proven particularly advantageous in this context if the gear mechanism, or at least a first gear stage, is fully integrated into the worm gear.

[0010] In this way, the worm gear also functions as the gear housing for the entire gear stage, or rather, its first gear stage. At least the worm gear partially assumes the function of the gear housing in question, namely when the gear is partially integrated into the worm gear.

[0011] Generally, however, the gearbox or first gearbox is completely enclosed by the worm gear, so that the worm gear functions and can function as the gear housing for the first gear stage or the entire gearbox. This further increases compactness because the interior of the worm gear can be used as a housing for the gearbox or first gear stage.

[0012] For this purpose, the worm gear is generally equipped with a wooden gear on the inside. The hollow gear can be formed as a component of the worm gear. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for the hollow gear to be non-rotatably connected to the worm gear. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the transmission is designed as a spur gear and / or planetary gear.

[0013] In fact, such a spur and / or planetary gear is characterized by the fact that the individual gears can typically be arranged in a common plane. If this plane coincides with the plane spanned by the worm gear, the worm gear can be particularly usefully used to accommodate the spur and / or planetary gear in question with its individual gears.

[0014] Furthermore, the compact design is further enhanced by the fact that the two electric motors are generally arranged at an angle to each other, and in particular at right angles to each other. Furthermore, the two electric motors arranged at an angle to each other mesh with the shared worm gear. In this context, the design is also such that both electric motors are identical, in particular with the same power and size. This results in synergy effects, as two identically constructed electric motors are used to drive the worm gear, and the two identically constructed electric motors also ensure a particularly uniform drive of the worm gear because their power output is equal. Accordingly, any jamming or irregular running is not to be expected.At the same time, the identical size of the two electric motors ensures that they can be designed to be particularly small, which has a positive additional effect on the compact design of the closing device according to the invention.

[0015] If a planetary gear is particularly advantageous in this case, the overall design is such that the planetary gear consists of a hollow gear, a central sun gear, and planetary gears. These gears are all arranged in a single plane. The same applies to the hollow gear and the worm gear, making the planetary gear a particularly compact and powerful transmission that can also be easily integrated into the worm gear. This is because the worm gear, with its outer peripheral hollow gear, surrounds and effectively encloses the individual other gears of the planetary gear.

[0016] In this case, the design is additionally such that the sun gear is connected to the worm gear and / or the ring gear. In most cases, the sun gear is connected to the worm gear, so that the tooth ratio between the sun gear and worm gear or the planet gear and worm gear determines the gear ratio achieved by the planetary gear used. In addition, the design can advantageously be further modified so that the planet gears are connected to a common planet gear carrier for the indirect or direct drive of, for example, a closing pawl. This means that via the planet gear carrier in question, a rotary motion can be tapped from the gear in question or the first gear stage inside the worm gear. This rotary motion is either converted via a further gear stage and then into a closing motion, or directly provides the closing motion.

[0017] For example, it is conceivable that the planetary gear carrier is coupled to an output shaft, which in turn, for example, via a lever arrangement, acts on the rotary latch in a closing direction or closes it. This lever arrangement may be a toggle lever arrangement. This can generally act on the rotary latch and ensure that the rotary latch is moved from its pre-locking position to the main locking position. However, it is also conceivable that the output shaft of the planetary gear carrier in question acts on the pawl in a closing direction of the locking mechanism. Both locking mechanism parts can also be driven in a closing direction.

[0018] The result is a closing device for a motor vehicle lock and, in addition, a motor vehicle lock, in which the closing device operates directly or indirectly on the rotary latch and / or the pawl. The closing device is in turn equipped with two electric motors, each of which meshes with the worm gear on its outer circumference.

[0019] This provides a particularly compact and cost-effective design, as two compact and cost-effective electric motors can be used. At the same time, the integration of the gear into the worm gear ensures that the closing drive in question has a minimal surface area without significant depth, and can therefore be easily combined with a vehicle lock or, in general, any conceivable closing device in or on a vehicle. These are the key advantages.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below using only one exemplary embodiment; in the following:

[0021] Figure 1 shows the closing device according to the invention in a schematic perspective view and

[0022] Figure 2 shows an output shaft leading from the closing device according to Figure 1, including a lever mechanism for closing a locking mechanism and, specifically, the rotary latch of a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a closing device for a motor vehicle lock, and in particular, a closing aid for a motor vehicle door lock. Figure 2 shows a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2 for the motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock in question. According to the exemplary embodiment, a lever arrangement 3, 4, which is actuated by an output shaft 5, acts on the rotary latch 1. The output shaft 5, in turn, is set in rotation by means of an arrangement shown in Figure 1.

[0024] The rotations of the output shaft 5, indicated in principle in Figure 2, are now used to move the rotary latch 1 from its assumed pre-locking position to the main locking position according to the exemplary embodiment. For this purpose, the locking mechanism 1, 2 may first be moved into an overtravel position. With the aid of a sensor 6 assigned to the rotary latch 1, a control unit 7 can now determine whether the rotary latch 1 has assumed its pre-locking position. If this is the case, the control unit 7 ensures that the output shaft 5 is set in rotation by actuating two electric motors 8 as shown in Figure 1, thus ensuring that the rotary latch 1 is moved from the pre-locking position in question to the main locking position.The further basic structure of the closing device includes, in addition to the electric motors 8 as shown in Figure 1, a worm wheel 9 and a gear 10, 11, 12 following the worm wheel 9.

[0025] According to the exemplary embodiment, the gear unit 10, 11, 12 is designed as a planetary gear unit 10, 11, 12. This is, of course, only an example and is by no means mandatory. Instead of the planetary gear unit 10, 11, 12, a spur gear unit (not shown) can also be used.

[0026] It can be seen that the planetary gear train 10, 11, 12 consists of a ring gear or hollow gear 10, planet gears 11, and a central sun gear 12. The central sun gear 12 is integrally connected to the worm or worm gear 9. In this way, rotational movements transmitted to the worm gear 9 via the two electric motors 8 are transferred to the sun gear 12, which in turn is set in rotation. The rotations of the sun gear 12 are absorbed by the planet gears 11 meshing with the sun gear 12, which consequently rotate inside the hollow gear 10. A planet gear carrier 13 serves to capture the combined rotation of the planet gears 11 and transmit it to the output shaft 5. For this purpose, the planet gear carrier 13 is connected to the output shaft 5 in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0027] It can be seen that the gear mechanism 10, 11, 12 or planetary gear mechanism 10, 11, 12 in question is at least partially integrated into the worm gear 9. According to the exemplary embodiment, the design is such that the gear mechanism 10, 11, 12 in question is completely integrated into the worm gear 9, and according to the exemplary embodiment, is enclosed by the worm gear 9. This means that the housing for the gear mechanism 10, 11, 12 and the worm gear 9 coincide according to the exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the design is such that the hollow gear 10 provided on the inside of the worm gear 9 is connected to the worm gear 9 in a rotationally fixed manner. In principle, the hollow gear 10 could also be formed as such on the inside of the worm gear 9.

[0028] According to the exemplary embodiment, the worm gear 9 has a straight toothing on its outside, into which respective worms on the output shafts of the electric motors 8 engage. Since the two electric motors 8 are arranged at right angles to one another according to the exemplary embodiment and mesh with the external toothing of the worm gear 9, and are also designed to be of the same power and size according to the exemplary embodiment, the worm gear 9 is driven uniformly and without jamming by the two electric motors 8. The rotary motion introduced into the worm gear 9 via the two electric motors 8 is transmitted to the sun gear 12, which is integrally connected to the worm gear 9. The sun gear 12, in turn, ensures that the planet gears 11 rotate around the sun gear 12 and thus set the planet gear carrier 13 with the connected output shaft 5 in rotation.

[0029] The rotating output shaft 5 then ensures, as shown in Figure 2, that after the locking mechanism 1, 2 has assumed its pre-locking position, the rotary latch 1 is acted upon in a closing direction by means of the lever arrangement 3, 4. For this purpose, the lever arrangement, or rather the two levers 3, 4, are toggle levers. This is, of course, only an example and is not mandatory.

[0030] This means that the planetary gears 11 are all connected to the planetary gear carrier 13, which provides the indirect or direct drive of a closing pawl or the lever arrangement 3, 4, and thus, according to the exemplary embodiment, the rotary latch 1. Instead of the rotary latch 1, however, the pawl 2 can also be subjected to a closing movement. In principle, it is even conceivable for both the rotary latch 1 and the pawl 2 to be subjected to a closing action using the closing device according to the invention.

[0031] The worm gear 9, like the planetary gear 10, 11, 12, can be made of plastic or designed as a plastic injection-molded part. Furthermore, the design is such that the common plane spanned by the individual gears 10, 11, 12 of the gear or planetary gear 10, 11, 12 coincides with the plane spanned by the worm gear 9. Furthermore, the material thickness of the gears 10, 11, 12 in question is adapted to the thickness of the worm gear 9 or the length of the outer peripheral toothing, so that the planetary gear 10, 11, 12 is arranged completely inside and enclosed by the worm gear 9.

[0032] The gears 10, 11, 12 of the planetary gear 10, 11, 12 generally have straight teeth, but can also be equipped with helical teeth. The same applies to the outer peripheral toothing of the worm gear 9. In any case, it is conceivable that, in addition to the illustrated planetary gear 10, 11, 12 as the first gear stage, one or more additional gear stages could be implemented, which then ultimately act on the output shaft 5 and the connected lever arrangement 3, 4 to act on the rotary latch 1 in a tightening direction. However, this is not shown in detail.

[0033] Finally, it can be seen that the worm gear 9 is cup-shaped and defines and represents a structural unit (made of plastic) with the sun gear 12. The hollow gear 10 is inserted into the cup-shaped worm gear 9 and is connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner. In principle, however, the worm gear 9 and the hollow gear 10 can also be formed as a single piece. The interior of the hollow gear 9 accommodates the planetary gears 11, which rotate about respective axes defined by individual bearing journals on the planetary gear carrier 13. The planetary gear carrier 13, like the planetary gears 11 and the hollow gear 10, can be made of plastic or as an injection-molded plastic part. This allows for the realization and implementation of a particularly cost-effective and, at the same time, lightweight design.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Closing device for a motor vehicle lock, in particular Motor vehicle door lock closing aid, with at least two electric motors (8), furthermore with at least one worm gear (9), and with a gear (10, 11, 12) following the worm gear (9), wherein both Electric motors (8) each mesh with the worm wheel (9), characterized in that the gear (10, 11, 12) is at least partially integrated into the worm wheel (9).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two electric motors (8) are arranged at an angle, in particular at right angles, to each other and mesh with the common worm wheel (9).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two electric motors (8) are of the same design, in particular of the same power and size.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the worm wheel (9) has an internal hollow gear (10).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the hollow gear (10) is designed as a component of the worm wheel (9) and / or is connected to the worm wheel (9) in a rotationally fixed manner.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the gear (10, 11, 12) is designed as a spur gear and / or planetary gear (10, 11, 12).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the gear (10, 11, 12) is designed as a planetary gear (10, 11, 12) with the hollow gear (10), a central sun gear (12) and planet gears (11).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the sun gear (12) is connected to the worm gear (9) and / or the hollow gear (10).

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the planetary gears (11) are connected to a planetary gear carrier (13) for the indirect or direct drive, for example of a closing pawl.

10. Motor vehicle lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), characterized by a closing device according to one of claims 1 to 9, which works directly or indirectly on the rotary latch (1) and / or the pawl (2).

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