Car Locks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door, equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). An electric drive (3, 4) is provided for unlocking at least the locking mechanism (1, 2). In addition, a manually loadable emergency actuation element (11) is provided for unlocking the locking mechanism (1, 2) in the event of an emergency, said emergency actuation element (11) being at least partially arranged outside the lock housing (7, 8, 9) and acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2) by means of at least one transmission element (12) for performing the emergency release operation. According to the invention, the emergency actuation element (11) in combination with the transmission element (12) is coupled to a trigger lever (5) via at least one through hole (13) in the lock housing (7, 8, 9).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotating latch and a pawl portion, an electric drive for at least opening the locking mechanism, and a manually operable emergency operating element for emergency opening of the locking mechanism, the emergency operating element being arranged outside the lock housing and operated via at least one transmission element to the locking mechanism for emergency opening.

[0002] Today, motor vehicle locks, in particular motor vehicle door locks, are increasingly equipped with an electric drive for reasons of convenience, at least for opening the locking mechanism. For this reason, such motor vehicle locks are also called electric locks. The locking mechanism is therefore usually not mechanically coupled to, for example, the exterior door handle in order to open the locking mechanism. Instead, actuation of the exterior door handle activates a sensor, which is used via a control unit to activate the electric drive, which opens the locking mechanism. For this purpose, the electric drive usually operates directly or indirectly on a trigger lever. The trigger lever is usually used to lift a claw from latching engagement with a rotary latch when the locking mechanism is closed. This releases the locking bolt, which was previously captured by the rotary latch. The corresponding vehicle door can be opened accordingly.

[0003]

[0003] Such electric locks have proven themselves in practice, since they require practically no force from the operator on the exterior door handle and are gentle and silent in operation. However, to ensure their operation, it is necessary to supply the electric drive with sufficient electrical energy. The problem at this point is that the main energy source, which is usually located inside the vehicle in the form of one or more batteries, becomes fully or partially discharged after long periods of inactivity or due to a defect. As a result, it becomes impossible to unlock the vehicle. Nevertheless, various approaches have been pursued in the prior art to allow emergency operation.

[0004] For example, DE 10 2019 127 109 A1 describes a lock for a motor vehicle with an emergency actuation, which is provided with an emergency energy source for the emergency actuation of a lever chain. For this purpose, the lever chain has an emergency actuation lever, which is inoperable in a normal position and which is brought to at least its operating position by an emergency actuation drive so as to close the emergency actuation lever chain. This is intended to provide a simple and cost-effective emergency actuation of the lever chain. However, the design effort required for the electric drive and the emergency energy source is not significant. Furthermore, malfunctions due to an at least partially discharged emergency power source cannot be completely excluded.

[0005]

[0005] In a further prior art according to WO2019 / 076402A1, the procedure is such that an operating lever chain for emergency opening of the locking mechanism is implemented in a lock for a motor vehicle door. There is also a control element which directly or indirectly blocks the operating lever chain during normal operation and releases it for emergency opening. The control element is equipped with an electric motor with a drive element. Furthermore, the control element can optionally block or release a flexible connection element for coupling the operating lever chain to the handle. Again, this ultimately leads to the implementation of an additional electric drive in connection with the operating lever chain for emergency operation, which increases the design complexity.

[0006]

[0006] In the general prior art according to US 2011 / 0107800 A1, a locking cylinder is provided on the outside of the locking housing and is realized as an emergency operating element. A key inserted into the locking cylinder can be used for emergency opening of the locking mechanism as an alternative to an electric drive. For this purpose, the locking cylinder is connected to a trigger lever via a connecting rod.

[0007]

[0007] The prior art has proven generally and fundamentally with respect to realizing emergency operation of the locking mechanism, for example in the event of failure of the electric drive or the vehicle battery or main energy source that supplies it. However, complex solutions with their own drive force, operating lever chain and emergency power supply are often prevailed in this place. If the general prior art uses an emergency operating element that is manually operated outside the locking housing, the fundamental problem in this place is that moisture or dirt can penetrate into the inside of the locking housing through the connecting rod as a transmission element and the associated forced opening and reach the electric drive. This may cause damage to the electric drive.

[0008] For reasons of cost and weight, such electric drives often operate with parts or gears made of plastic. Dirt or moisture penetrating the locking housing at this point can cause abrasive damage to such plastic gear wheels, causing permanent malfunction or even complete failure. The present invention generally seeks to remedy this.

[0009] overview

[0010]

[0009] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door, taking into account a simple, functional and cost-effective design and ensuring permanent functionality even on a long-term scale.

[0011]

[0010] In order to solve this technical problem, the present invention proposes that in this type of motor vehicle lock, in particular in a motor vehicle door lock, the emergency operating element is connected to a transmission element and coupled to a trigger lever, and at least one through hole is interposed in the lock housing.

[0012]

[0011] The through-hole of the locking housing can be designed and realized in such a way that neither dirt nor moisture can penetrate the locking housing. This further applies to an advantageous embodiment of the invention in which the through-hole has at least one seal. Furthermore, it has proven to be particularly advantageous in this context if the through-hole is arranged in a dry-room housing part of the locking housing. It is also advantageous if the emergency operating element at least partially extends the through-hole.

[0013]

[0012] In fact, a particularly preferred variant of the invention provides that the lock housing is divided into a dry-room housing part and a wet-room housing part. The locking mechanism is located in the wet-room housing part, while the electric drive is located in the dry-room housing part of the locking housing. The trigger lever for electrically opening the locking mechanism, which is typically actuated by the electric drive, can be designed in two parts as a result of this particular arrangement, one lever part of the trigger lever being located in the dry-room housing part of the locking housing and interacting there with the electric drive. On the other hand, another second lever part of the trigger lever is located in the wet-room housing part of the locking housing and acts directly or indirectly on the pawl, lifting it out of engagement with the rotary latch and opening the locking mechanism. Both lever parts are rotatably fixedly connected to each other and usually engage with a seal via a rotary through-hole, which separates the dry-room housing part and the wet-room housing part of the locking housing and ensures a seal against dust, moisture, etc.

[0014]

[0013] As a result, the dry-room housing part of the locking housing is already protected against the ingress of dirt and moisture due to its design. According to the invention, this also applies in view of the additional emergency operating element provided, since the emergency operating element is coupled to a trigger lever connected to a transmission element via a through-hole located in the dry-room housing part of the locking housing. This allows the emergency operating element to be operated by interposing the transmission element on the lever part of the trigger lever located in the dry-room housing part of the locking housing.

[0015]

[0014] Since the lever part is sealed against the corresponding lever part of the wet-room housing part of the locking housing and the emergency operating element including the transmission element operates the trigger lever or the lever part of the trigger lever in the dry-room housing part of the locking housing via a similarly sealed through-hole of the locking housing, a hermetic design of the dry-room housing part of the locking housing is observed in its entirety and in particular in its dry-room housing part. Since the electric drive is located in the associated dry-room housing part of the locking housing, its function is not impaired even over long time scales. This also applies if individual or all gear wheels, worm gears etc., which are components of the electric drive, are made entirely or partly from plastic. Furthermore, moisture kept away from the dry-room housing part of the locking housing does not endanger the permanent function of the electric motor located therein, even over long time scales.

[0016] The dry room housing part and the wet room housing part of the lock housing are defined in the housing shell on the one hand and in the housing cover on the other hand, each made of plastic and separated from each other by a dividing wall, which generally only has the above-mentioned rotary feed-through and to which the two lever parts of the trigger lever are connected in a rotationally fixed and sealed manner. These are the main advantages.

[0017]

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, the through-hole of the locking housing is designed as a rotary / sliding through-hole. This means that the emergency operating element can be operated by rotating and / or pressing the transmission element on the trigger lever, since the through-hole allows both rotary and sliding movements in this situation. For emergency operation or emergency opening of the locking mechanism, a combination of rotary and sliding movements is also possible and is configured according to the invention.

[0018]

[0017] According to another method, the transmission element can be connected to the trigger lever in question. In this connection, it is also possible for the transmission element to be molded onto the trigger lever, so that both form a structural unit or an integral component. It has also proven to be advantageous if the transmission element is designed as a transmission lever mounted in or on the locking housing. For example, the transmission element can be designed as a linearly retractable slider mounted in the locking housing, which, when actuated with the aid of an emergency operating element, actuates a lever for emergency opening of the locking mechanism.

[0019]

[0018] Alternatively, however, the transmission lever in question can also be mounted on the outside of the locking housing. In this case, it is usually designed to reach into a through-hole in the locking housing. An equivalent sealed rotary through-hole can be realised, as in the case of a trigger lever, where the two lever parts provide a torsion-proof connection through the dividing wall between the dry-room and wet-room housing parts of the locking housing.

[0020]

[0019] The emergency operating element itself can be a rigid element, for example designed as a pin or slider. In principle, the emergency operating element can also be designed to be flexible. In this case, the emergency operating element is, by way of example and not of limitation, a cable or a Bowden cable. In principle, the two variants described above can also be combined with each other. In this case, the emergency operating element is designed with a rigid component in the form of a pin or slider and also has a flexible component in the form of a cable or a Bowden cable.

[0021]

[0020] As a result, a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is obtained which provides a functionally reliable, durable, simple and cost-effective emergency operating system, since the emergency operating element is located on the outside of the lock housing, for example behind the cover of the door panel or the exterior mirror, and can be easily activated manually by the user in case of failure of the electric drive. Since the emergency operating element operates the transmission element and thus the locking mechanism for emergency opening, and is connected to the transmission element in question by means of at least one through-hole in the lock housing, a perfect sealing of the lock housing can be achieved and it can be retrofitted. This applies in particular to the dry room housing part of the lock housing, in which the electric drive and at least one lever part of the trigger lever are located. These are the main advantages. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022]

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of drawings which show exemplary embodiments only, and in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a lock for a motor vehicle according to the invention in a first variant with the housing cover removed. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a further second embodiment having a representation equivalent to FIG. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A shows a variant of the third embodiment in a different view. [Figure 3B]FIG. 3B shows a variant of the third embodiment in a different view. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A again shows a further design variation in a different view. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B again shows a further design variation in a different view.

[0023] [Detailed Description]

[0022] The drawings show a motor vehicle lock, not limited to motor vehicle door locks. For this purpose, the motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock has a locking mechanism 1, 2 consisting of a rotating latch 1 and a pawl 2, which are substantially shown only in Fig. 1. In addition, the basic design includes an electric drive 3, 4, which acts on a trigger lever 5 to lift the pawl 2 out of latching engagement with the rotating latch 1 in the closed state of the locking mechanism 1, 2.

[0024]

[0023] The electric drive 3, 4 is substantially composed of an electric motor 3 and a drive wheel 4 or gear wheel driven to the output side by the electric motor 3. According to this embodiment, the drive wheel 4 has a three-dimensionally extending helical contour on the surface facing the trigger lever 5. As a result, when the drive wheel 4 rotates, the trigger lever 5 attached to the drive wheel 4 pivots about its axis 6 via the contour and opens the locking mechanisms 1, 2, i.e. in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 1. As a result, when the locking mechanisms 1, 2 are closed, the claw 2 is lifted out of engagement with the rotary latch 1 and the lock bolt engaged with the rotary latch 1 is released. The car door is part of the car door lock and is opened by the electric motor, not shown.

[0025]

[0024] To initiate the electric opening of the locking mechanisms 1, 2, a control is provided which normally acts on the electric motor 3 and queries a sensor, not shown. The sensor can be a switch on the outer door handle. If the outer door handle is operated, the actuation of the switch ensures that the control unit interprets this as an opening signal and thus activates the electric motor 3 to rotate the drive wheel 4 such that the trigger lever 5 pivots in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 1 as described above. Of course, this applies only as an example. This is because the electric or electric opening of the locking mechanisms 1, 2 can also be performed without a sensor, for example following a question / answer dialogue by an identification element on the user side of the control unit.

[0026] The illustrated vehicle door lock is generally housed in a lock housing 7, 8, 9, which comprises a housing shell 7 and a housing cover 9, which can be seen in particular in FIG. 3B. The housing shell 7 and the housing cover 9 are separated from each other by a dividing wall 8. In this way, the housing shell 7 connected to the dividing wall 8 forms the wet room housing part 7, 8. Furthermore, the dry room housing part 8, 9 of the described lock housing 7, 8, 9 can be seen, which is defined by the dividing wall 8 in connection with the housing cover 9.

[0027]

[0026] It can be seen that the locking mechanisms 1, 2 are mainly arranged in the wet-room housing parts 7, 8. The wet-room housing parts 7, 8 of the locking housings 7, 8, 9 are not protected from environmental influences and moisture, since an entrance mouth through which the locking bolt, not shown, enters to interact with the rotary latch 1 of the locking mechanism 1, 2 is realized at this point. In contrast, the dry-room housing parts 8, 9 of the locking housings 7, 8, 9 are substantially sealed against such environmental influences. This is due to the fact that the trigger lever 5 has a lever part in the dry-room housing parts 8, 9, as can be seen in FIG. 1. This lever part is non-rotatably connected to the other lever part of the trigger lever 5 of the wet-room housing parts 7, 8. The trigger lever 5 is sealed through a sealed rotary through-hole 10 in the dividing wall 8, which is the only connection between the wet-room housing parts 7, 8 of the locking housings 7, 8, 9 and the dry-room housing parts 8, 9. This makes it possible to prevent moisture and dust that have entered the wet-room housing parts 7, 8 from reaching the dry-room housing parts 8, 9. In this way, in particular the electric drives 3, 4 are permanently protected against environmental influences and their functional reliability is provided over the long term.

[0028]

[0027] The basic structure of the car door lock according to the invention also includes a manually actuated emergency operating element 11. As can be seen from the various exemplary embodiments in Fig. 2, Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B, Fig. 4A, Fig. 4B, the emergency operating element 11 is arranged at least partially outside the lock housing 7, 8, 9. The emergency operating element 11 also operates the lock mechanism 1, 2 for emergency opening via at least one transmission element 12. The transmission element 12 is connected to the trigger lever 5. In the variant according to Fig. 1, the transmission element 12 and the trigger lever 5 are designed to form an integral component 5, 12. In contrast, the transmission element 12 in the variant shown in Fig. 2 is a slider mounted on the lock housing 7, 8, 9, which is connected to the trigger lever 5. The variants according to Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B use a transmission lever mounted outside the lock housing 7, 8, 9 as the transmission element 12. The exemplary embodiments shown in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B are equivalent.

[0029]

[0028] Now, what is decisive and essential for the invention is the fact that the emergency operating element 11 is coupled to the trigger lever 5 in connection with the transmission element 12 via at least one through-hole 13 in the locking housing 7, 8, 9. In the variant of FIG. 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is possible for the emergency operating element 11 to proceed at least partially through the through-hole 13. In this case, the through-hole 13 is designed with or without a seal, in any case, such that a tight closure of the locking housing 7, 8, 9 is observed in the area of ​​the through-hole 13. However, in principle, the through-hole 13 can also have an additional separate seal 14, as can be observed in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0030]

[0029] Furthermore, the through hole 13 is provided in the dry room housing parts 8, 9 of the lock housings 7, 8, 9. As a result, dust and moisture do not enter the dry room housing parts 8, 9 of the lock housings 7, 8, 9 through the through hole 13.

[0031]

[0030] The through-hole 13 may be a sliding through-hole, as shown in the exemplary embodiment according to figures 1 and 2. However, in principle, a rotating through-hole like the through-hole 13 is also conceivable at this location, as shown in figures 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B. In this connection, a combination of a rotating / / sliding through-hole is also possible.

[0032]

[0031] If the transmission element 12 is designed as a transmission lever mounted on the outside of the locking housing 7, 8, 9, a procedure is carried out in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of Figures 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B so that said transmission lever engages in the through-hole 13. As a result, the transmission lever or transmission element 12 can be easily coupled and actuated with the emergency operating element 11 on the output side and outside the locking housing 7, 8, 9.

[0033]

[0032] The emergency operating element 11 can be designed strictly as a pin or slider, for example, as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, variants are also conceivable in which the emergency operating element 11 is flexibly designed as a cable or Bowden cable, for example as shown in detail in the exemplary embodiments of Figures 2, 3A, 3B and 4A, 4B.

[0034]

[0033] The emergency operating element 11 can be manually actuated. For this purpose, the emergency operating element 11 may be placed behind a cover and becomes accessible after partially loosening this cover. The cover can be an inner cover of a door, an outer cover, a cover of an exterior mirror, etc., as long as it is ensured that the manually actuable emergency operating element 11 is accessible in the event of failure of the electric drive parts 3, 4 and can be actuated by the user for emergency opening of the locking mechanisms 1, 2.

[0035] [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1,2...Lock mechanism, 1...Rotary latch, 2...Claw part, 3, 4...Drive unit, 3...electric motor, 4...Drive wheel, 5...Trigger lever, 5,12…Component parts, 6...axis, 7,8,9…Lock housing, 7,8…Wet room housing parts, 8,9…Dry room housing parts, 7…Housing shell, 8…dividing wall, 9…Housing cover, 11...Emergency action element, 12...Transmission element, 13...Through hole.

Claims

1. A lock mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a claw portion (2); an electric drive unit (3, 4) for opening at least the locking mechanism (1, 2); a manually operable emergency operation element (11) for emergency opening of the locking mechanism (1, 2); In a vehicle lock, particularly a vehicle door lock, The emergency operating element (11) is arranged at least partially outside the lock housing (7, 8, 9) and is actuated by at least one transmission element (12) on the lock mechanism (1, 2) for the emergency opening, and the emergency operating element (11) is connected to a trigger lever (5) connected to the transmission element (12) via at least one through hole (13) in the lock housing (7, 8, 9).

2. 2. The lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the emergency action element (11) engages at least partially through the through hole (13).

3. 3. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the through hole (13) has at least one seal (14).

4. 4. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the through hole (13) is arranged in a drying chamber housing (8, 9) of the lock housing (7, 8, 9).

5. 5. The lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the through-hole (13) is designed as a rotating / sliding through-hole.

6. 6. The lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the transmission element (12) is connected to the trigger lever (5).

7. 7. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the transmission element (12) is configured as a transmission lever mounted on the lock housing (7, 8, 9).

8. 8. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the transmission element (12) is mounted on the outside of the lock housing (7, 8, 9) and passes through a through hole (13).

9. 9. The lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the emergency action element (11) is designed rigidly, for example as a pin or slider.

10. 10. Lock for a motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency operating element (11) is designed to be flexible, for example a cable or a Bowden cable.

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