Arrangement for electrically actuating an inner door of a vehicle with a mechanical emergency actuation

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for electrically actuating a vehicle door from the inside with a mechanical emergency actuation, comprising an operating element (5, 29) and an electric switch element (11) for electrically actuating a door lock, which are connected to a power supply. In an arrangement which can be reliably actuated in the event of a voltage supply failure, a mechanical emergency actuation element (7, 29) is held in a rest position by an electrically activated switch actuator (13), wherein in the event of a voltage supply failure, the electrically deactivated switch actuator (13) releases kinematics (15, 17, 19) of the mechanical emergency actuation element (7, 29) for independently setting an emergency actuation position.

Description

[0001] Arrangement for the electrical operation of an interior door of a vehicle with a mechanical emergency operation

[0002] The invention relates to an arrangement for the electrical actuation of an interior door of a vehicle with a mechanical emergency actuation, comprising an operating element and an electrical switching element for the electrical actuation of a door lock, which are connected to a power supply.

[0003] DE 10 2015 122 359 A1 discloses a door handle assembly of a motor vehicle, comprising a support fastened to the inside of the door, a handle arranged on the outside of the door, a door lock that can be opened mechanically or electrically, and sensor electronics for detecting actuation of the handle. A mechanical retaining element exerts a retaining force on a second longitudinal end of the handle and holds the handle in an undeflected position. Upon detection of actuation with a force less than the retaining force, the sensor electronics electrically opens the door, leaving the handle undeflected. Upon actuation of the handle with a force greater than the retaining force, the handle can be deflected into an emergency actuation position, in which the handle mechanically opens the door.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for the electrical actuation of a driver's door from the inside with a mechanical emergency actuation, which can be reliably actuated in the event of a power supply failure.

[0005] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims. Further features, possible applications, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the explanation of exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the figures.

[0006] The object is achieved by the subject matter of patent claim 1. In the arrangement explained above for electrically actuating a vehicle door from the inside with a mechanical emergency actuation, comprising an operating element and an electrical switching element for electrically actuating a door lock, which are connected to a power supply, a mechanical emergency actuation element is held in a rest position by the electrically activated switching actuator, wherein in the event of a power supply failure, the electrically deactivated switching actuator releases the mechanical emergency actuation element for independent setting of an emergency actuation position. This has the advantage that a fault in the power supply enables currentless activation of a mechanical fallback level for an emergency. Such an automatic activation function increases the availability and operability of the mechanical opening in the interior of the vehicle in an emergency.Unintentional activation of the fallback level is reliably prevented because the operation of the actuating element for electrically opening the side door and the operation of the emergency actuating element are separated.

[0007] Unlike exterior door handles, which must be pulled to open the vehicle door from the outside in an emergency, pulling a door handle inward would close the vehicle door rather than open it as desired in an emergency. In the described case, the mechanical emergency opening only needs to unlock the door lock from the inside. A pull handle is unnecessary.

[0008] Advantageously, the emergency actuation element is coupled with the kinematics for executing a failover movement from the rest position to the emergency actuation position. This kinematics allows the vehicle door to be opened from the inside independently of the electrical actuators and without compromising the reliability of the actuation in the event of a power failure. The kinematics can execute the failover movement through a pivoting movement or a screw-like movement.

[0009] In one embodiment, the kinematics has a pivot point fixed to the housing for releasing the emergency actuation element into the emergency actuation position. This decouples the kinematics from the electric opening drive in the event of a power failure, ensuring that both are not affected in their functioning.

[0010] In one variant, the kinematics comprises a locking lever with a pawl for holding the mechanical emergency actuation element. This allows a simple lift of the operating element to trigger the mechanical fallback function. In a particularly simple embodiment, the operating element is designed as a pushbutton element, which is fixed in a support element. On the inside of the support element, the switching actuator connected to the power supply is attached, which guides the locking lever when activated. This creates a very compact and therefore space-saving arrangement.

[0011] It is advantageous if the mechanical emergency actuating element is preloaded in its rest position by a spring drive of the kinematics that rests against a stop. The mechanical emergency actuating element can be pushed out of the locking pawl if the power supply to the switching actuator fails. The spring drive, for example in the form of a leg spring, ensures that the fallback level is automatically set and the emergency interior door handle is released.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the mechanical emergency actuation element and the push-button element are formed by the same actuation element. This reduces the number of individual parts and thus the cost of the assembly.

[0013] In another variant, the electrically activated switching actuator is connected to the mechanical actuating element via a rod-and-bracket assembly, with the bar of the rod-and-bracket assembly featuring a heart-shaped curve to guide the spring element. Using the heart-shaped curve mechanism, the idle state or emergency actuation position is achieved simply by pressing the spring element, with the emergency position being adjustable with minimal force.

[0014] In another embodiment, the mechanical emergency actuation element is ergonomically embedded in the interior door panel. Thus, the mechanical emergency actuation element remains concealed under normal circumstances and only becomes visible when an emergency situation occurs. This design preserves the design freedom in the vehicle's interior while maintaining the ergonomics of the electric door opening function.

[0015] The design of the vehicle's interior is advantageously always unaffected when the mechanical emergency actuation element is arranged on the underside of an armrest of the vehicle door.

[0016] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, in which at least one exemplary embodiment is described in detail—possibly with reference to the drawings. Described and / or illustrated features may form the subject matter of the invention alone or in any meaningful combination, possibly independently of the claims, and may, in particular, also be the subject of one or more separate applications. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0017] They show:

[0018] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a side door of a vehicle with an opening function from the inside,

[0019] Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention with an emergency opening function in the normal state,

[0020] Fig. 3 shows the first embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention with the emergency opening function in the emergency opening state,

[0021] Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention,

[0022] Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a side door of a vehicle with an opening function from the inside. The side door 1 comprises an armrest 3, into which an arrangement for electrically opening the side door 1 is integrated. The arrangement forms a locking unit. Of the arrangement, Fig. 1 shows a pushbutton element 5 for electrically opening the door in a normal state and an emergency actuating element 7 for mechanically opening the side door 1 in an emergency. Alternatively, an operating element that can be pressed, pushed, and / or pulled can also be used instead of the pushbutton element 5.

[0024] A first embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention is shown in Fig. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 describes the arrangement 9 in the normal state and Fig. 3 in the emergency opening state. The push button element 5 is arranged on a support element, for example the armrest 3, and is connected to an electrical switching element 11 which is connected to a voltage source 12 and which controls a lock control system (not shown in detail). This electrical switching element 11 additionally controls a switching actuator 13 in the form of an electromagnet or an electric motor, which is positioned on the underside of the support element 3 (Fig. 2a). The switching actuator 13 can be continuously energized or only at the moment the push button element 5 is pressed. In the energized state, the switching actuator 13 blocks movement of a kinematic system consisting of a locking lever 15 and a pawl 17 arranged on the locking lever 15.The pawl 17 serves as a mechanical latch for the emergency actuating element 7, preferably a lever, and fixes it in the normal state.

[0025] The locking lever 15 is preloaded by a leg spring 19 against a stop 21, the pivot point 23 of which is located at the connection point between the locking lever 15 and the locking pawl 17, as can be seen in Fig. 2b, which shows a bottom view of the armrest 3. The free end of the locking pawl 17 is connected to a Bowden cable 25 for actuating the door lock (not shown). When the pushbutton element 5 is actuated while the switching element 11 is energized, the switching actuator 13 fixes the locking lever 15. This rotates the entire kinematics 15, 17, mounted on a pivot point 27 fixed to the housing, in a predetermined direction, whereby the lock (not shown) is actuated via the Bowden cable 25.

[0026] In the event of a power failure, as shown in Fig. 3a and 3b, the switching actuator 13 is also de-energized and releases the locking lever 15. This rotates back about the housing-fixed pivot point 27, whereby the locking pawl 17 releases the emergency actuating element 7, which is then pushed out by the leg spring 19 about the pivot point (23), so that it becomes visible below the armrest 3 for the vehicle occupant to operate.

[0027] Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention. The functions of the push-button element and the emergency actuating element are combined in an actuating element 29, which is arranged in a recessed grip 31. To implement the push-button function, the switching actuator 13 is positioned below the free end of the actuating element 29, below the recessed grip 31. The push-button actuation of the actuating element 29 generates a trigger pulse to open the door lock and, at the same time, the switching actuator 13 is activated to secure the lever element 7 in its rest position. The actuating element 29 maintains its position and engages with its free end in a mechanical latch 33 formed on the underside of the actuating element 29. The actuating element 29 is guided at the opposite end in a bearing 35, which is coupled to the Bowden cable 25.When a rotational movement is carried out around this bearing 35, the Bowden cable 25 is actuated to open the lock.

[0028] A further embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention is shown in Fig. 5. A heart-shaped curve 37 is formed in the actuating element 29, in which the spring element 39, preloaded against the locking lever 7, is guided. This creates a push-push action when the locking lever 7 is actuated by the spring element 39, requiring little force (Fig. 5a). Additionally, the actuating element 29 is secured by a locking hook 41, which is connected to the switching actuator 13 via a linkage 43. In the event of a voltage drop, the switching actuator 13 releases the linkage 43, causing the locking hook 41 to release the actuating element 29.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Arrangement for the electrical actuation of a vehicle door from the inside with a mechanical emergency actuation, comprising an operating element (5, 29) and an electrical switching element (11) for the electrical actuation of a door lock, which are connected to a power supply, characterized in that a mechanical emergency actuation element (7, 29) is held in a rest position by an electrically activated switching actuator (13), wherein in the event of a power supply failure, the electrically deactivated switching actuator (13) releases a kinematics (15, 17, 19) of the mechanical emergency actuation element (7, 29) for the independent setting of an emergency actuation position.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the emergency actuating element (7, 29) is coupled to the kinematics (15, 17, 19) for executing a failure movement from the rest position into the emergency actuating position.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the kinematics (15, 17, 19) has a housing-fixed pivot point (27) for releasing the emergency actuating element (7) into the emergency actuating position.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the kinematics comprises a locking lever (15) which has a locking pawl (17) for holding the mechanical emergency actuating element (7).

5. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating element is designed as a push-button element (5) which is fixed in a carrier element (3), on the inside of which the switching actuator (11) is connected, which in the activated state guides the locking lever (15).

6. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical emergency actuating element (7) is actuated by a stop (21) is pre-tensioned in its rest position by a spring drive (19) of the kinematics (15, 17, 19) which is leaning against the spring drive (19) and which pushes the mechanical emergency actuating element (7) out of the locking pawl (17) when the voltage supply to the switching actuator (11) drops.

7. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical emergency actuating element and the push-button element are formed by the same actuating element (29).

8. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically activated switching actuator (13) is connected to the mechanical actuating element (29) via a rod-bracket device (41, 43), wherein the bracket (41) of the rod-bracket device (41, 43) has a heart curve (37) for guiding the spring element (39).

9. Arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical emergency actuating element (7, 29) is ergonomically embedded in an interior door panel.

10. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the mechanical emergency actuating element (7, 29) is positioned on an underside of an armrest 3.

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