Automobile locks, especially automobile door locks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, equipped with an electric drive (7, 8) and an emergency power source (9) for activating the drive (7, 8) in case of an emergency. The emergency power source 9 is arranged inside the housing (5, 6) of the motor vehicle lock. According to the invention, the emergency power source (9) is located in the area of ​​the disengagement part (4) of the lock mechanism (2, 3).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, having an electric drive and an electrical emergency energy source for electrical emergency operation of the drive, the emergency energy source being arranged inside a housing for the motor vehicle lock.

[0002]

[0002] Motor vehicle locks with an electric drive, in particular motor vehicle door locks, are constructed and designed as electric locks for electrically opening a locking mechanism which is realized, for example, inside the motor vehicle lock and which essentially consists of a catch and a claw. In principle, however, the electric drive can not only be used for electrically opening the locking mechanism, but also alternatively or additionally for actuating a so-called opener. In principle, the electric lock can also be of the type described in DE 101 64 829 B4. For example, if an electric drive is used to power an opener, it can be designed in a similar manner as described in DE 10 2011 015 669 A1.

[0003]

[0003] In principle, however, the electric drive can also be used as a component of a vehicle lock to activate an operating lever chain in the vehicle lock, for example to transfer it from a "locked" to an "unlocked" functional position. All these functions can be regularly mapped and transformed only if the electric drive is supplied with sufficient electrical energy. This electrical energy is usually obtained from the vehicle's main energy source or from an accumulator.

[0004]

[0004] For example, if this main energy source has a voltage drop or is damaged, the functions mentioned above in terms of "electrically opening", "turning off" or "unlocking" cannot be transformed, at least not anymore by the electric motor. For this reason, approaches already exist in the prior art for realizing emergency energy storage or emergency energy sources.

[0005]

[0005] For example, the applicant's WO 2021 / 023341 describes a lock for a motor vehicle equipped with an electric drive for an operating lever chain, in particular a lock chain, and further with an emergency energy store for the electrical supply of the drive in the course of an emergency operation, in particular an emergency unlocking. In this example, the emergency energy store ensures that the lock lever chain provided in this position is transferred from its "locked" position to its "unlocked" position after an authentication check of the operator intending to access it.

[0006] The general prior art according to DE 10 2014 105 875 A1 relates to a motor vehicle lock which additionally comprises an emergency supply for the voltage supply of the motor vehicle lock in the event of an emergency operation. For this purpose, a known emergency supply is arranged inside the lock housing of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, a so-called auxiliary opening drive is implemented for electrically lifting the pawl.

[0007]

[0007] The prior art is basically proven with regard to the basic possibility of an electrical emergency operation of an electric drive as part of a lock for a motor vehicle. However, the electrical emergency energy sources used here are not without their shortcomings. The electrical emergency energy sources can in fact be capacitors, batteries, etc. Such emergency energy sources, like the vehicle battery as the main energy source, are subject to ageing effects and can discharge in particular over long periods of time. In practice, this aspect is addressed by periodically or permanently charging the respective electrical emergency energy source. However, this does not stop the effects of ageing and in the worst case may mean that in the event of failure of the main energy source or the vehicle battery, the emergency energy source is also not available to supply electrical energy to the electric drive. The present invention as a whole aims to improve this.

[0008] overview

[0009]

[0008] The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a lock for a motor vehicle in such a way, and in particular for a lock for a motor vehicle door which allows for a simple and routine replacement of the emergency energy source.

[0010]

[0009] In order to solve this technical problem, a general motor vehicle lock within the scope of the present invention, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is characterized in that the emergency energy source is arranged in the area of ​​the entrance mouth for the locking mechanism.

[0011] Firstly, the invention is based on a lock for a motor vehicle equipped with an emergency electric energy source in order to ensure emergency operation of the electric drive, for example in case of failure of the main energy source or the vehicle battery. In this connection, the electric drive can be used as an example and, without being limited thereto, for electrically opening the locking mechanism consisting of a catch and a pawl. In addition, the electric drive can also be used to supply the opener as a component or an associated assembly with the necessary electric energy. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the electric drive can be used to actuate an operating lever chain, for example to transfer it from a "locked" to an "unlocked" functional state.

[0012]

[0011] In order to ensure safe implementation and realization even in the event of failure of the vehicle battery or the main energy source, the emergency energy source in the housing for the motor vehicle lock can be regularly replaced according to the invention or its functionality can be easily checked. According to the invention, the emergency energy source is arranged in the area of ​​the entrance mouth for the locking mechanism, which essentially consists of a catch and a claw. The invention is based on the recognition that when the door of the motor vehicle belonging to the motor vehicle lock is open, the entrance mouth in question is directly accessible to the locking mechanism. This means that the emergency energy source can also be easily checked and replaced if necessary. The emergency energy source usually has a removable cover for this purpose.

[0013]

[0012] In fact, the cover can be advantageously arranged in a recess for a receptacle of the lock holder which interacts with the locking mechanism. As soon as the door of the vehicle is opened and the lock holder exposes the recess in question, the emergency power supply can be accessed via the removable cover. This means that the emergency power supply can be removed and replaced if necessary, but also checked and repaired if necessary.

[0014]

[0013] For this purpose, the cover is usually equipped with guide tongues on both sides, which allow it to be perfectly fitted in the area of ​​the inlet mouth. Moreover, the cover is usually designed as a sliding bar and can therefore be opened and closed by a sliding movement.

[0015]

[0014] Furthermore, the cover usually closes the compartment for the receptacle of the emergency power source on the head side. This means that the emergency energy source is accommodated in the compartment, the top of which is closed by the cover, which is removable. At this point, yet another design has proven to be particularly advantageous, in which the compartment for the receptacle of the emergency energy source extends mainly perpendicular to the level of the locking mechanism. This means that the locking mechanism, which essentially consists of a catch and a claw, opens the level of said locking mechanism. The compartment for the receptacle of the emergency energy source extends vertically to this locking mechanism level. The invention is based on the recognition that there is usually enough space in the locking housing in the direction perpendicular to the level of the locking mechanism and in the extension of the inlet mouth to set the emergency energy source there.

[0016]

[0015] The compartment for the receptacle of the note energy source is generally a component of the housing body. In fact, the locking housing is usually composed of at least two parts, the housing body and an additional housing cover. Of course, this applies only in advantageous design circumstances and is by no means mandatory. The compartment is a component of the housing body. The housing body generally defines the wet room housing part of the locking housing. Although the compartment is part of the housing body and is therefore a wet room housing part, it is generally designed to be closed so that the emergency power source in the compartment can continue to function for as long as possible in order to protect it from environmental influences, especially moisture.

[0017]

[0016] As already explained, the housing body is generally closed by a housing cover. The housing body defines the wet room housing part of the lock housing, while the housing cover usually serves to define the dry room housing part as a further component of the lock housing of the motor vehicle. The dry room housing part usually includes the electric drive and the electronic control unit including the associated circuit board. Of course, this is merely advantageous and not essential.

[0018]

[0017] As a result, a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is obtained which is functionally designed such that the emergency power source is located in the area of ​​the entry mouth of the lock mechanism. The emergency power source is housed in a compartment equipped with a removable cover and can therefore be easily removed from the compartment and checked, replaced or repaired if necessary. All of the above is possible at least when the motor vehicle door equipped with the corresponding motor vehicle lock is opened and the entry mouth is then accessible for operating the emergency power source. This minimizes the need for maintenance and allows the emergency energy source to be checked or replaced regularly during maintenance. These are the main advantages.

[0019]

[0018] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of drawings which show exemplary embodiments only. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile lock according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the motor vehicle lock according to FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a compartment for a receptacle of an emergency energy source. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a cross section through FIG.

[0021] [Detailed Description]

[0019] In the drawings a motor vehicle lock is shown, which is a lock for a motor vehicle door. It can be seen that this motor vehicle lock comprises a lock case 1 carrying a locking mechanism 2, 3 consisting of a catch part 2 and a claw part 3, which are only shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1 the catch part 2 is partially visible in the area of ​​the entrance mouth 4, into which a body-side lock holder, not shown, can be retracted in order to thus interact with the locking mechanism 2, 3. On the other hand, the motor vehicle lock shown in Fig. 1 is arranged on or inside a motor vehicle door, not shown.

[0022]

[0020] The entrance mouth 4 is accessible when the car door is in an open state. It is, for example, placed on the face side of the car door and connects the car outer panel and the car inner panel of the car door. In addition to the lock case 1, another substantial structural element of the car lock shown is the car lock housing 5, 6. In this embodiment, the car lock housing 5, 6 is composed of one housing body 5 and a housing cover 6 that seals the other housing body 5. This means that moisture or environmental influences can only enter the interior of the car lock housing via the entrance mouth 4 as soon as the housing body 5 is closed using the housing cover 6.

[0023]

[0021] The basic structure of the shown motor vehicle lock also includes, according to an exemplary embodiment, an electric drive 7,8 equipped with an electric motor 7 and a driven pulley 8. With the help of the driven pulley 8, in the closed position of the locking mechanism 2,3, the claw part 3 can be lifted out of the locking engagement with the catch part 2. As a result, the catch part 2 is opened by a spring and releases a locking bolt (not shown) which was previously inserted into the locking mechanism 2,3 via the entrance mouth 4. This allows the motor vehicle door to be opened as a whole.

[0024] Of substantial importance to the invention is a further emergency energy source 9, which can best be seen in the section of FIG. 4. In an exemplary embodiment, but without being limited thereto, the emergency energy source 9 is a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. Of course, the emergency energy source 9 can also be designed differently, for example as a capacitor or otherwise. In any case, it is ensured that in case of failure of the main energy source or the vehicle battery, which is not explicitly shown, the electric drives 7, 8 can alternatively be energized with the aid of the emergency electric energy source 9 in order to be able to activate and in particular open the locking mechanisms 2, 3 in an emergency according to the exemplary embodiment.

[0025] Of course, as explained at the beginning, the electric drives 7, 8 can also be used to transfer the operating lever chain, not explicitly shown, from its "locked" state to its "unlocked" functional state. Moreover, as explained at the beginning of the description, it is also within the scope of the invention if the electric drives 7, 8 operate with openers, not explicitly shown.

[0026] According to the invention, an emergency energy source 9 is provided to be arranged in the area of ​​the entrance mouth 4 for the above-mentioned locking mechanism 2, 3. For this purpose, a removable cover 10 is assigned to the emergency power source 9.

[0027]

[0025] It can be seen that the emergency energy source 9 is accommodated in a compartment 11 closed at its head end by a removable cover 10, which here rests entirely in a recess 12 which is adapted for a lock holder which retracts into the inlet mouth 4, not explicitly shown. In this embodiment, the cover 10 is a sliding bar (i.e. a latch) which, by a sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the inlet mouth 4, as shown in Figure 3, can be moved between the closed and open positions shown, allowing the emergency energy source 9 in the compartment 11 to be removed and replaced if necessary.

[0028]

[0026] For this purpose, the removable cover 10 or the sliding bar realised in this respect has a latching cam 13 on its underside, which engages in an associated recess 14 in the compartment 11 as soon as the cover 10 or the sliding bar reaches the correct position for closing the compartment 11, thereby closing the compartment 11 as a whole. In fact, this guarantees that no contamination or moisture can enter the compartment 11 through the inlet mouth 4 via the removable cover 10 and possibly destroy the functionality of the emergency power supply 9.

[0029] It can be seen that the cover 10 is equipped on both sides with guide tongues 10a which, when the cover 10 is in the assembled state, engage in corresponding slots 10b located in a wall 15 which surrounds the inlet mouth 4. The wall 15 of the inlet mouth 4 forms a constituent part of the housing body 5.

[0030]

[0028] Furthermore, the design is such that the compartment 11 for the receptacle of the emergency energy source 9 extends mainly perpendicularly to the locking mechanism level E, as can be seen mainly from the cross-sectional view in Fig. 4. In fact, the locking mechanism level E straddles the locking mechanism 2, 3 consisting of the catch part 2 and the claw part 3. This means that the compartment 11 and with it the emergency energy source 9 arranged therein can be arranged in the area perpendicular to the locking mechanism level E and then in the entrance mouth 4 or in its vertical projection, taking advantage of the fact that there are generally no further assemblies inside the housing for motor vehicle locks 5, 6 in the area perpendicular to the locking mechanism level E and in the area projecting below the entrance mouth 4. The compartment 11 is a component part of the housing body 5, as is the wall 15 of the entrance mouth 4.

[0031]

[0029] The housing body 5 defines the wet-room housing part of the lock housing 5,6, and the housing cover 6, which closes the housing body 5, defines the associated dry-room housing part of the vehicle lock housing 5,6. This is best shown by FIG. 2. This means that the part of the housing body 5 closed by the housing cover 6, in which the electric drives 7,8 shown here and additionally the control unit 16 are located, is the dry-room housing part of the vehicle lock housing 5,6 sealed by the housing cover 6. In contrast, the part of the housing body 5, which refers to the lock case 1 and forms the entrance mouth 4 and the wall 15, is designed as a wet-chamber housing part. Finally, a seal 17 is provided, which seals the vehicle lock housing 5,6 against the vehicle door, and which is not shown but can be designed, for example, as an injection-molded foam seal.

[0032] [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 lock case, Locking mechanism 2,3, Catch part 2, Claw part 3, Entrance mouse 4, Automobile lock housing 5, 6, Housing body 5, Housing cover 6, Electric drive unit 7,8, Electric motor 7, Driven pulley 8, emergency power supply 9, Cover 10, Guide tongue 10a, Slot 10b, Plot 11, Recess 12, Latch cam 13, Recess 14, Wall 15, Control unit 16, Seal 17, Locking mechanism level E.

Claims

1. A lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door, having an electric drive (7, 8) and an electric emergency energy source (9) for emergency operation of said drive (7, 8), 1. A lock for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing for the motor vehicle lock, the housing comprising: a first power source for generating power for the motor vehicle; a second power source for generating power for the motor vehicle;

2. 2. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the emergency energy source (9) has a removable cover (10).

3. 3. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover (10) is placed in a recess (12) of a receptacle of a lock holder.

4. 4. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover (10) is equipped with guide tongues (10a) on both sides.

5. 5. The lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the cover (10) is configured as a sliding bar.

6. 6. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the cover (10) closes at the head side a compartment (11) for the receptacle of the emergency energy source (9).

7. 7. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the compartment (11) extends substantially perpendicular to the locking mechanism level (E).

8. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the compartment (11) is a constituent part of a housing body (5).

9. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the housing body (5) defines a wet room housing part of the motor vehicle lock housing (5, 6).

10. 10. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the housing body (5) is closed by a housing cover (6).

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