Automobile locks, particularly 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 (4) and an emergency power source (6) for emergency actuation of said drive (4). The emergency power source 6 is arranged inside a housing 1 for a motor vehicle lock. According to the invention, the emergency power source (6) is replaceably accommodated in a compartment (7) which can be closed by a removable lid (8), and an additional power source (9) is provided which moves the emergency power source (6) to an at least partially exposed position relative to the motor vehicle door lock housing (1) after removal of the lid (8).

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002]

[0002] Motor vehicle locks, in particular motor vehicle door locks, with an electric drive are constructed and designed as electric locks for electrically opening a locking mechanism, which is realized in the motor vehicle lock and essentially consists of a rotary latch and a pawl. In principle, however, the electric drive can not only be used for electrically opening the locking mechanism, but alternatively or additionally for actuating so-called positioning elements. 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 for actuating a positioning element, it can be designed in a similar manner as described in DE 10 201 1 015 669 A1.

[0003]

[0003] In principle, however, an electric drive can also be used as a component of a vehicle lock to activate an operating lever chain inside the vehicle lock, for example to transfer it from a "locked" functional position to an "unlocked" functional position.

[0004]

[0004] All these functions can be systematically mapped and transformed only if the electric drive is supplied with sufficient electrical energy, which is usually obtained from the vehicle's main energy source or from an accumulator.

[0005]

[0005] 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 translated, or at least can no longer be translated by the electric motor. For this reason, approaches already exist in the prior art for realizing emergency energy storage and / or emergency energy sources.

[0006]

[0006] For example, the applicant's WO 2021 / 023341 describes a motor vehicle lock equipped with an electric drive for an actuating lever chain, in particular a locking lever chain, and further with an emergency energy store for the electrical supply of the drive during emergency actuation, in particular during emergency unlocking. In this example, the emergency energy store ensures that the locking lever chain provided in this position is transferred from its "locked" position to its "unlocked" position after an authentication check of the intended access actor.

[0007] The general prior art according to DE 10 2014 105 875 A1 relates to a car lock which is additionally equipped with an emergency supply for the voltage supply of the car lock in the event of an emergency operation. For this purpose, a known emergency power supply is arranged inside the housing of the car lock. In addition, a so-called auxiliary opening drive is implemented for electrically lifting the claw.

[0008]

[0008] The prior art is basically proven with regard to the basic possibility of an electrical emergency activation of an electric drive as part of a lock for a motor vehicle. However, the emergency power sources used at this time are not without their shortcomings. In fact, the emergency power sources can essentially be capacitors, batteries, etc. Such emergency power sources, like the vehicle battery as the main power source, can age and, in particular, discharge over a long period of time. In fact, this aspect is addressed by periodically or permanently charging the respective electrical emergency power source. However, this does not stop the effects of ageing and, in the worst case, can mean that in the event of failure of the main power source or the vehicle battery, the emergency power source is also not available to power the electric drive. The present invention seeks to improve this as a whole.

[0009] Summary of the Invention

[0010]

[0009] The invention is based on the technical problem of providing such a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door, which makes it possible to carry out the replacement of the emergency power supply in a simplified and routine manner.

[0011]

[0010] To solve this technical problem, a general automobile lock, and in particular an automobile door lock, within the scope of the present invention is characterized in that the emergency power source is interchangeably accommodated in a compartment that can be closed by a removable lid, and an additional (mechanical) power source is provided that moves the emergency power source to an at least partially exposed position relative to the automobile lock housing after the lid is removed.

[0012]

[0011] According to the invention, firstly, the emergency power supplies are accommodated in a compartment so as to be interchangeable. The compartment can be closed with a removable lid. This makes it possible to replace the emergency power supplies or at least check their function during, for example, maintenance work.

[0013]

[0012] Replacement and inspection of the emergency power supply is further facilitated within the scope of the present invention by the fact that an additional (mechanical) power source is provided. With the help of the power source, the emergency power supply is transferred to an at least partially exposed position after removing the lid. Such an exposed position corresponds to the emergency power supply protruding at least partially from the compartment and thus from the locking housing of the vehicle with the help of the power source, making it easier to grasp by an operator, for example. In other words, additional means for grasping and removing the emergency power supply from the compartment in which it is accommodated are not expressly required within the scope of the present invention. Rather, the automatic assumption of an exposed and protruding position of the emergency power supply after removing the lid means that maintenance operations on the emergency power supply can be performed quickly and efficiently.

[0014]

[0013] This is because the operator or user can easily grasp the emergency power supply in the region of this projection and pull it out of the compartment by projecting it against the compartment or against the housing for the vehicle lock. This does not require additional tools, other means etc. This makes it significantly easier to replace and especially to service the emergency power supply.

[0015]

[0014] In this connection, it proves to be advantageous if the additional force source is designed as a spring and / or gravity. In other words, in the first embodiment, a spring can be provided as a mechanical force source, whereby the emergency power supply is transferred to the exposed position immediately after the lid closing the compartment is removed. The spring in question can be arranged in the compartment at the bottom end. It also proves to be particularly advantageous if the spring is designed in this situation as an electrical contact as well.

[0016]

[0015] The invention is based on the recognition that, for example, when a battery or an accumulator is used as an emergency power source, the negative pole often coincides with the bottom side of the battery. If this battery is inserted bottom-first into a compartment and hits the spring in question at the bottom end of the compartment, during this process the spring is compressed on the one hand and can act as a contact for the negative pole in question on the other hand. In this embodiment, after installing the battery or emergency power source and closing the compartment using a removable lid, the spring ensures that the battery is transferred to the exposed position after removing the lid.

[0017]

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, gravity can also be used as an additional force source for the emergency power supply. In this case, the compartment usually has at least one vertical extension component. In other words, the entire compartment is oriented inside the automobile lock housing such that, for example, in addition to the horizontal extension component, at least one vertical extension component is observed to describe the location and extent of the compartment.

[0018]

[0017] Thus, with respect to a typical coordinate system related to a motor vehicle, it is expected that the compartments are not obviously (solely) oriented, for example, in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the motor vehicle, and thus in the horizontal plane spanned by the car door lock. Rather, at least a vertical extension component is found, i.e. the compartments are also oriented in the vertical axial or Z direction inside the car lock housing. In most cases, the compartments are arranged at an angle to the main plane of the car lock housing. The main plane of the car lock housing usually coincides with the XZ plane, with the X direction indicating the longitudinal direction.

[0019]

[0018] In any event, this particular arrangement allows a gravitational force to act on the emergency power supply inside the compartment so that when the removable lid is removed, the emergency power supply will slide out of the compartment by gravitational force, or at least assume the exposed position described above.

[0020] Furthermore, the inventive arrangement allows the emergency power supply to be arranged in a space-saving and / or space-optimised manner, so that it can be arranged, for example, in the lock in such a way that the arrangement of the locking mechanism components and / or the bearing shafts of the actuating mechanism is not affected.

[0021]

[0020] In addition, the design is usually such that the lid removably closes the compartment at the top end. In other words, the spring acting on the emergency power source is optionally implemented as a force source at the bottom end of the compartment, but the removable lid ensures that the compartment can be closed at the top end as well. In most cases, the compartment is a recess or receptacle on the inside of the car lock that fits the outer contour of the emergency power source.

[0022]

[0021] In this connection, it has also proven useful if the removable lid is designed in two parts, the compartment component extending into the compartment and the housing component fitting into the open area of ​​the housing for the motor vehicle lock. The compartment component can also have a seal closing the compartment. In this way, the compartment, which is normally closed except for the open area of ​​the housing for the lock, is tightly closed with the removable lid as soon as the removable lid is fitted onto the top end of the compartment. This is because the closing seal on the compartment component ensures the desired media-tight closure.

[0023]

[0022] This ensures that the emergency power supply inside the compartment to which the removable lid is attached is protected from moisture, dirt or dust, which significantly increases the lifespan of the emergency power supply.

[0024]

[0023] In addition, it proves to be useful in this context if the housing component adapted to the open area of ​​the vehicle lock housing is equipped with latches and / or fastening means for releasably attaching to the vehicle lock housing. In other words, the housing component of the removable lid ensures that the open area of ​​the vehicle lock housing is releasably and tightly closed. It proves to be particularly advantageous if the open area of ​​the compartment is provided at the entrance mouth of the vehicle lock housing, since such an entrance mouth of the vehicle lock housing is easily accessible when the vehicle door is open. In fact, the locking bolt or the locking holder on the body side usually drives the entrance mouth through the entrance mouth in question, where it can interact with the rotary latch as part of the locking mechanism typically accommodated inside the vehicle lock housing, consisting of the rotary latch and the claw in question.

[0025]

[0024] As soon as the locking mechanism is opened, the associated vehicle door can also be swung outward relative to the vehicle body and the entrance mouth becomes accessible, whereby the lid removably closing the open area can be easily removed and an additional source of force ensures that the emergency power source is transferred to an at least partially exposed position.

[0026]

[0025] In this way, by mounting a removable cover or housing component on the entrance mouth of the housing for the motor vehicle lock, it is advantageously possible to additionally provide the entrance mouth with an actuating means, preferably manually actuable, for example an emergency actuating means for the above-mentioned locking mechanism. The emergency actuating means can, for example, be an emergency unlocking device. In general, however, it is also conceivable that it could serve as an actuating means for, for example, a child safety function, an anti-theft function, etc.

[0027]

[0026] In any case, the invention provides a compartment for accommodating an emergency power supply, advantageously inclined with respect to the main plane of the housing for the car lock, inside the housing for the car lock, together with an associated open area of ​​the compartment in the entrance mouth of the housing for the car lock, opening up the possibility of using the entrance mouth for additional functions, in particular preferably for manually operable actuation means. This can be, for example, a rotary knob that can be turned with a tool, a coin, a key, etc., in order to be able to carry out the above-mentioned functions, such as unlocking or locking, child-proofing functions, anti-theft functions, etc. In particular, the actuation means can be designed as an emergency actuation means. The actuation means can then act directly or indirectly, for example, on the claw and / or the electric drive. For example, the drive can be reversed so that the lock can be locked and / or disabled even in the event of a power supply failure.

[0028] As a result, a car lock, in particular a car door lock, is provided which implements a functional structure in such a way that the emergency power supply arranged inside the car lock housing can be replaced and, if necessary, can be particularly easily maintained. This can be attributed to the fact that, after removing the compartment lid, the emergency power supply is transferred with the help of a power source to an at least partially exposed position relative to the car lock housing.

[0029]

[0028] When the force of gravity or attraction acts on the emergency power supply, by removing the removable lid, the emergency power supply will, with the help of gravity, so to speak, slide out of the compartment and can therefore be grasped, inspected and, if necessary, replaced by the operator without the need for additional tools or additional effort. These are the main advantages. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030]

[0029] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of the drawings, in which only exemplary embodiments are shown. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an automobile lock. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a longitudinal section through a compartment housing an emergency power supply.

[0031] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0032]

[0030] The figure shows a motor vehicle lock, generally a lock for a motor vehicle door. The motor vehicle lock is equipped with a motor vehicle lock housing 1, which can be seen in particular in FIG. 1. Inside the motor vehicle lock housing 1, a locking mechanism 2, 3 is generally and diagrammatically provided, as is clearly shown in FIG. 1, which consists of a rotary latch 2 and a claw 3 which can be latched therewith. What is merely proposed is an electric motor drive 4 which in an exemplary embodiment is able to open the locking mechanism 2, 3. For this purpose, the electric drive 4 is able to act on the claw 3 and lift it out of engagement with the rotary latch 2.

[0033]

[0031] This causes the rotary latch 2 to open, spring-assisted or supported by the rubber sealing force, and releases the locking bolt (not shown). The locking bolt is actually captured by the rotary latch 2 and can move through the entrance mouth 5 into the automobile lock housing 1 and interact with the rotary latch 2.

[0034]

[0032] An emergency power supply 6 is also provided and arranged inside the housing 1 for the car lock according to the present embodiment. Indeed, within the scope of the present invention, the emergency power supply 6 is interchangeably accommodated in a compartment 7 which can be closed by a removable lid 8. The compartment 7 extends into the interior of the housing 1 for the car lock and can only be opened in the area of ​​the removable lid 8. According to the present embodiment, the emergency power supply 6 is an accumulator. Of course, this is not limiting.

[0035]

[0033] Of particular importance is the fact that an additional force source 9 is provided, which, after removal of the lid 8, shifts the emergency power supply 6 to an at least partially exposed position relative to the vehicle lock housing 1. This at least partially exposed position of the emergency power supply 6 relative to the vehicle lock housing 1 corresponds to the fact that the emergency power supply 6 simply slides out of the associated compartment 7 shown. This can be attributed to the fact that the force of gravity or attraction, indicated by the arrow, acts as an additional source of force 9. In addition, a spring 9 may be provided as a force source, which may also be located at the bottom end of the compartment 7 and come into contact with the emergency power supply 6.

[0036]

[0034] In practice, the emergency power supply 6 or battery realized at this point is designed to move its negative pole relative to the spring 9. The spring 9 can also contact the negative pole of the emergency power supply 6 during this process, since the negative pole usually coincides mainly with the surface of the bottom end of the emergency power supply 6. In contrast, the positive pole of the emergency power supply 6 is contacted via a contact surface 10 on the removable lid 8. This contact surface 10 is connected to a spring-like contact end, similar to the spring 9 at the bottom end, so that in this way, if necessary, the emergency power supply 6 can be charged via the associated contact end, as shown in Fig. 2 by the corresponding pole on the terminal.

[0037] It can be seen that the compartment 7 is designed to be totally closed except for the opening 1a of the housing 1 for the car lock. In addition, the lid 8 is made up of two parts: a compartment part 8a which extends into the compartment 7 and an additional housing part 8b which closes the open area 1a of the housing 1 for the car lock.

[0038]

[0036] According to this embodiment, the compartment component 8a is provided with a contact surface 10 as well as a seal 11 which is used to close the compartment 7 as soon as the removable lid 8 is fitted in the open area 1a of the housing for the car lock 1. For this purpose, the housing component 8b of the removable lid 8 can be equipped with the simply indicated latch and / or fastening means 12 for releasably fastening to the housing for the car lock 1.

[0039] 1 and 2, it can be seen that the opening 1a of the car lock housing 1 is provided at the entrance mouth 5 of the car lock housing 1. In addition, the design according to the present embodiment is such that the compartment 7 has at least one vertical extension component Z, which is inclined with respect to the main surface E of the car lock housing 1 shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the above-mentioned gravitational force 9 acts as a source of additional force 9 on the emergency power supply 6, such that the emergency power supply 6 slides out of the compartment 7, assisted by gravity, after the removable lid 8 is removed.

[0040]

[0038] The design according to the invention is also advantageous in that the entrance mouse 5 is further equipped with a preferably manually operable actuation means 13. In an exemplary embodiment, this actuation means 13 for the vehicle lock or its locking mechanism 2, 3 is a manually actuable rotary knob which can be turned, for example, using a coin or a tool. This allows the vehicle lock in the vehicle lock housing 1 to be manually moved to positions such as "child lock / child unlock" or "anti-theft / anti-theft unlock". In addition, the actuation means 13 can also be used as an emergency actuation means so that it can be used to emergency unlock and / or lock the locking mechanism 2, 3 or the entire vehicle lock. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] Car lock housing 1, open area 1a, Rotating latch 2, Locking mechanism 2,3, Claw part 3, Drive unit 4, Entrance mouse 5, Emergency power supply 6, Section 7, lid 8, Compartment component 8a, power source 9, Spring 9, contact surface 10, direction 11, Fastening means 12, Actuation means 13.

Claims

1. A lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a locking device for a motor vehicle door, comprising an electric drive (4) and an electric emergency power source (6) for emergency operation of the drive (4), 1. A vehicle lock, comprising: an emergency power source (6) disposed inside a vehicle lock housing (1); the emergency power source (6) is interchangeably housed in a compartment (7) that can be closed by a removable lid (8); and an additional power source (9) for moving the emergency power source (6) to an at least partially exposed position relative to the vehicle lock housing (1) after the lid (8) is removed.

2. 2. Lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional force source (9) is designed as a spring and / or gravity.

3. 2. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the compartment (7) has at least one vertical extension component (Z).

4. 4. A lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the compartment (7) is inclined with respect to a main plane (E) of the housing (1) for the lock.

5. 5. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the lid (8) removably closes the compartment (7) at its uppermost end.

6. 6. The vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the lid (8) is designed in two parts: a compartment component (8a) that extends into the compartment (7) and a housing component (8b) that fits into the open area (1a) of the vehicle lock housing (1).

7. 7. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the compartment component (8a) comprises a seal (11) closing the compartment (7).

8. 8. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing component (8b) comprises latching and / or fastening means (12) for releasably fastening to the motor vehicle lock housing (1).

9. A car lock according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the open area (1a) of the car lock housing (1) is provided at an entrance mouth (5).

10. 10. A lock for a motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the entrance mouth (5) is further provided with actuating means (13), preferably manually actuable.

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