Car locking device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, preferably a motor vehicle rear door lock, equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a rotating latch (1) and a pawl (2). It also provides a locking bolt (3) interacting with the locking mechanism (1, 2). Furthermore, it provides a damping element (4) for the locking mechanism (1, 2) and / or the locking bolt (3). According to the invention, the damping element (4) has at least three stop profiles (4a, 4b, 4c) for the rotating latch (1), the pawl (2) and the locking bolt (3).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle lock, preferably a rear door lock for a motor vehicle, comprising a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl, further comprising a locking bolt interacting with the locking mechanism and a damping element for the locking mechanism and / or the locking bolt.

[0002]

[0002] A locking device for a motor vehicle is usually arranged in or on a motor vehicle door, preferably on the rear door of the motor vehicle. In contrast, a locking bolt is arranged on the body. When the vehicle door in question is closed, the locking bolt moves into an entrance opening of the locking mechanism or of a locking case or a corresponding locking housing. In this way, the rotary latch is usually moved first into a pre-locking position and then into a main locking position in which it is held in place by a claw. In principle, the locking mechanism can also have several claws in the sense of a multi-claw locking mechanism.

[0003]

[0003] A damping element provided at this point usually ensures, for example, that the rotating latch or pawl is damped during this process. As a result, an overall improvement in comfort and an improvement in acoustics have been observed. For example, this corresponds to the procedure from the general prior art according to DE 10 2006 025 719 A1.

[0004]

[0004] Furthermore, in the further prior art according to DE 20 2012 001 961 U1, there is already an approach for providing two stops on a common stop profile or damping element. One stop is provided for the electric motor drive, and another, second stop interacts with a locking element, for example a locking lever. In this way, in the described exemplary case, a synergistic effect is already realized in which the electric motor drive on the one hand and the locking element in question on the other hand do not depend on different separately designed damping elements, but rather the common stop profile comprises two corresponding stops. The stop profile can be made of rubber or rubber-elastic plastic.

[0005]

[0005] The prior art has proven itself generally when it comes to combining, for example, two stops for damping elements associated with a locking device for a motor vehicle in association with a common stop profile. However, further simplifications and cost reductions are still required. Herein lies the invention. Summary of the Invention

[0006]

[0006] The invention is based on the technical task of further developing such a locking device for motor vehicles in such a way that the manufacturing and assembly costs are further reduced compared to conventional procedures.

[0007]

[0007] In order to solve this technical problem, a general motor vehicle locking device in the context of the present invention is characterized in that the damping element has at least three stop profiles for the rotating latch, the pawl and the locking bolt.

[0008] According to the invention, a (single) common damping element is used, which is able to damp the rotary latch, the pawl and ultimately the lock bolt during their movement and interaction with each other.

[0009]

[0009] The invention is based firstly on the knowledge that damping of the movement of the pawl is typically performed or should be advantageously performed when the pawl falls into the main notch of the rotary latch. In this main locking position of the locking mechanism, the locking bolt is usually also in its end position with respect to the entrance opening for the locking bolt defined by the rotary latch, and therefore the corresponding damping position of the pawl also usually corresponds to the corresponding damping position of the locking bolt. In other words, most of the time (in the main locking position of the locking mechanism), both the pawl and the locking bolt are in their respective damping positions. As a result, both the pawl and the locking bolt rest on the corresponding stop profile. In contrast, the stop profile provided for the rotary latch is free from the rotary latch.

[0010]

[0010] In fact, the stop profile for the rotary latch normally only acts or has an effect when the rotary latch is in its fully or almost fully open position (not in the closed position or main notch as mentioned above). In this connection, the corresponding stop profile for the rotary latch ensures that the almost spring-loaded opening movement of the rotary latch is damped.

[0011]

[0011] In this way, effective damping of the essential elements of the motor vehicle locking device, i.e. the rotary latch as well as the pawl and the locking bolt, is achieved. Typically, the pawl and the locking bolt are damped together in the main locking position of the locking mechanism, i.e. they rest against the corresponding stop profiles of the damping element. In contrast, the stop profile for the rotary latch only becomes effective when the rotary latch is fully or almost fully open. This functional separation makes it possible to arrange the three stop profiles for the rotary latch, the pawl and the locking bolt on one (single) damping element in different positions relative to each other.

[0012]

[0012] For this purpose, the damping element advantageously comprises a rotary latch arm, a pawl arm and a locking bolt arm, the three arms being connected such that the pawl arm and the locking bolt arm extend on either side of a central rotary latch arm.

[0013]

[0013] By locating the rotary latch arm centrally, the invention takes into account the fact that in the main locking position of the locking mechanism, both the pawl and the locking bolt, as mentioned above, are normally in contact with the corresponding stop profile of the damping element and assume their respective damping positions. In contrast, the damping position of the rotary latch is associated with a fully open position in which the locking bolt extends from the entrance mouth of the rotary latch and the pawl is at a distance from or lifted off the rotary latch. In this way, the bolts on the periphery of the rotary latch can easily interact with the central rotary latch arm or the stop profile provided thereon.

[0014]

[0014] It is further designed to place a rotation latch stop profile on the rotation latch arm, a pawl stop profile on the pawl arm, and finally a lock bolt stop profile on the lock bolt arm. The pawl stop profile and the lock bolt stop profile each have a central damping recess.

[0015]

[0015] The central damping recess additionally assumes a damping function together with the elastically designed damping element, since in the region of the damping recess the material of the damping element surrounding it can move into the damping recess, so that additional macroscopic damping of the movements of both the claw and the lock bolt is provided by the damping recess. In contrast, the (elastomeric) material of the damping element provides mainly microscopic damping. In other words, the damping recess can deflect inwards and thus absorb and damp relatively strong impacts on the associated stop profile from the claw on the one hand and the lock bolt on the other hand. All this takes place without the damping element in the region of the corresponding stop profile being mechanically damaged.

[0016]

[0016] In contrast, stop profiles for rotary latches are generally pot-shaped or arch-shaped to accommodate the bolt on the rotary latch. The invention is based on the knowledge that the bolt in question on the outer periphery of the rotary latch moves or engages with the pot-shaped stop profile for the rotary latch in question only when the rotary latch assumes its open or nearly open position. The pot-shaped characteristic effectively brakes the bolt of the rotary latch and stops the opening movement of the rotary latch.

[0017]

[0017] In particular, it has proven to be effective if the stop profile for the pawl is designed in a prismatic manner with a polygonal periphery for interacting with a polygonal recess of the corresponding pawl. Due to this corresponding polygonal design, the pawl is not only braked when it assumes the main locking position, but at the same time, the pawl is fixed in its position in this main locking position of the locking mechanism. The mutual engagement of the polygonal periphery of the stop profile for the pawl with the corresponding polygonal recess of the pawl ensures that the pawl is centered and held in that position. This means that the stop profile for the pawl not only has a braking and damping function for the pawl, but also ensures that the pawl is centered and maintains the position it has assumed (main locking position).

[0018]

[0018] The stop profile for rock bolts is usually prismatic and has a trapezoidal periphery for the mainly cylindrical rock bolts moving against it. The trapezoidal periphery of the stop profile for rock bolts ensures a particularly effective damping, especially since the above-mentioned central damping recess is also implemented in this respect, because when a cylindrical rock bolt hits the trapezoidal periphery of the stop profile for rock bolts, the corresponding trapezoidal design can, as it were, widen and also widen, since the material displaced in this process can simultaneously escape into the damping recess. In any case, this method allows a particularly effective damping of the movement of the rock bolt, both geometrically and acoustically.

[0019]

[0019] Finally, the design is such that the stop profile for the lock bolt and the stop profile for the pawl form an obtuse angle between them. In addition, the stop profile for the lock bolt and the stop profile for the pawl are usually connected at their ends to a central rotary latch arm which has a stop profile for the rotary latch. The invention is based in particular on the knowledge that in the main locking position of the locking mechanism, the pawl on the one hand and the lock bolt on the other hand are positioned apart from each other, whereas in the open position of the rotary latch, the bolt is located in the center of the circumference of the rotary latch, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment.

[0020]

[0020] Finally, it has proven to be particularly advantageous for the damping element with three arms and three stop profiles to be made as a single piece from a thermoplastic material. Flexible or elastomeric plastics have proven to be particularly suitable, for example PUR (polyurethane) plastics and in particular PUR elastomers. However, other elastomeric plastics such as SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), NBR (nitrile rubber), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), etc. can be used as well. The above-mentioned plastics can generally be processed by injection molding, so that the damping element with the individual arms and profiles can be produced in one go, in one piece and cost-effectively. The one-piece construction also facilitates the installation in the housing of the motor vehicle locking device, so that, overall, the special advantages previously claimed in terms of production and assembly and therefore the observed cost reduction are achieved. These are the main advantages. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021]

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of drawings which show exemplary embodiments only. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a locking device for a motor vehicle according to the invention with detailed cut-outs in different functional positions. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 shows a locking device for a motor vehicle according to the invention with detailed cut-outs in different functional positions.

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023]

[0022] The figure shows a motor vehicle locking device, which in an exemplary embodiment is a lock for a motor vehicle door, in particular a lock for a rear motor vehicle door. The motor vehicle lock shown has a locking mechanism 1, 2, which essentially consists of a rotating latch 1 and a claw 2. Furthermore, a locking bolt 3 interacting with the locking mechanism 1, 2 is visible, which can be arranged, for example, on the body side, whereas the locking mechanism 1, 2 is arranged on the door or flap side.

[0024]

[0023] Of particular importance is the damping element 4 for the locking mechanism 1, 2 and the locking bolt 3. It can be seen that the damping element 4 has a total of three stop profiles 4a, 4b, 4c for the rotary latch 1, the pawl 2 and the locking bolt 3. In fact, at this point, the rotary latch stop profile 4a is provided on the corresponding rotary latch arm, the pawl stop profile 4b is provided on the corresponding pawl arm and finally the locking bolt stop profile 4c is provided on the corresponding locking bolt arm. According to an exemplary embodiment, the respective stop profiles 4a, 4b, 4c can be identified by the corresponding three arms of the damping element 4. It can also be seen that the three arms are connected to each other in such a way that from a central rotary latch arm with the rotary latch stop profile 4a on both sides, a pawl arm with the pawl stop profile 4b and a locking bolt arm with the locking bolt stop profile 4c extend.

[0025] In FIG. 1, the locking device for a motor vehicle is shown and reproduced in the main locking position of the locking mechanism 1. In this main locking position, it can be seen that both the pawl 2 and the locking bolt 3 are in contact with the corresponding stop profiles 4b, 4c and thus assume their respective damping positions. Furthermore, this example makes clear that both the stop profile for the pawl 4b and the stop profile for the locking bolt 4c each have a central damping recess 5. This central damping recess 5 allows the corresponding profile, i.e. the stop profile 4b, 4c, to accommodate a relatively large travel distance when the pawl 2 on the one hand and the locking bolt 3 on the other hand contact the respective profile 4b, 4c. This is because the damping recess 5 is slightly deformed inwards and allows this deformation. This means that even large travel distances can be adjusted and controlled in combination with damping.

[0026]

[0025] It can be seen that the stop profile 4a for the rotary latch is generally designed in a pot-like manner so that the bolt 6 of the rotary latch 1 can engage therewith. For this purpose, the bolt 6 is arranged on the outer circumference of the rotary latch 1. In the closed or main locking position of the locking mechanism 1, 2 shown in Figure 1, said bolt 6, and therefore the rotary latch 1, is spaced apart from the pot-like stop profile 4a for the rotary latch. In fact, the stop profile 4a for the rotary latch is only effective when the rotary latch 1 is moved to its fully open or almost fully open position, as shown in Figure 2.

[0027] It can be seen that the pawl stop contour 4b is prismatic and has a polygonal periphery, which can interact with a corresponding polygonal recess 2a of the pawl 2, i.e. when the pawl 2 and the locking mechanism 1, 2 as a whole are in the main locking position shown in FIG. 1. This is because in this main locking position, not only does the pawl 2 move in a damping manner relative to the corresponding pawl stop contour 4b, but the damping recess 5 is also designed to deform. Rather, in the main locking position assumed by the pawl 2, the interaction between the polygonal periphery of the pawl stop contour 4b and the corresponding polygonal recess 2a of the pawl 2 ensures that the pawl 2 is centered to some extent at the same time in this position.

[0028]

[0027] The stop profile 4c for a rock bolt is also prismatic and has a trapezoidal periphery for the mainly cylindrical rock bolt 3 moving relative to it. Due to the trapezoidal character of the stop profile 4c for a rock bolt including the damping recesses 5, any movement of the rock bolt 3 towards the main locking position is first absorbed by possible deformations of the damping recesses 5 when it hits the stop profile 4c for a rock bolt. These deformations are further permitted by the fact that the trapezoidal periphery of the stop profile 4c for a rock bolt is widened at this point, thus allowing the deformation of the damping recesses 5.

[0029] 1 and 2, it is clear that an obtuse angle α is formed between the lockbolt stop profile 4b and the pawl stop profile 4c. Moreover, the lockbolt stop profile 4c and the pawl stop profile 4b are each connected at their ends to a central rotary latch arm with a rotary latch stop profile 4a. In summary, the damping element with three arms and three stop profiles 4a, 4b, 4c is made in one piece from a thermoplastic material. Here, elastomeric plastics, such as, for example, PUR elastomers, have proven to be particularly preferred.

[0030]

[0029] As already explained, in the view according to Fig. 1 the motor vehicle locking device or the corresponding locking mechanism 1, 2 is in its main locking position. In this main locking position the pawl 2 is lowered into the main locking position of the rotary latch 1. Also the locking bolt 3 takes its end position at the inlet of the rotary latch 1. This means that both the pawl 2 and the locking bolt 3 are in their respective damped positions, in contact with the corresponding stop profile for the pawl 4b on the one hand and with the corresponding stop profile for the locking bolt 4c on the other hand. In contrast, the stop profile for the rotary latch 4a is not used.

[0031]

[0030] As soon as the locking mechanism 1, 2 is opened, so that the rotary latch 1 is pivoted counterclockwise around its axis starting from the closed or main lock position according to Fig. 1 according to the exemplary embodiment (with the claw 2 raised), the bolt 6 can move in the direction of the stop profile 4a for the rotary latch, as can be seen from Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the stop profile 4a for the rotary latch is pot-shaped, so that in the process the bolt 6 located on the rotary latch 1 or its periphery is received or retracted and braked by the pot-shaped stop profile 4a for the rotary latch. In fact, during this process the pot-shaped stop profile 4a for the rotary latch is "bent" to a certain extent, which is easily possible due to the design made of elastomer with other stop profiles 4b, 4c provided on one side.

[0032]

[0031] As a result, a locking device for a motor vehicle is provided, equipped with a single damping element 4 made of elastomeric thermoplastic material. The damping element 4 assumes a damping function for both the claw 2 and the locking bolt 3, in particular in the main locking position of the locking mechanism 1, 2. Furthermore, the damping element 4 ensures that the rotary latch 1 is also damped in its movements in its fully open or almost fully open position. The movement damping provided by the damping element 4 ensures that hard shocks are avoided at this point and, in particular, the acoustics are improved. These are the main advantages. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1...Rotary latch, 2…Catch part, 2...Polygonal recess, 1,2...Lock mechanism, 3…Rock bolt, 4…damping element, 4a, 4b, 4c...stop external shape, 4a…stop profile for rotary latch, 4b...stop external shape for claw part, 4c…Stop profile for rock bolt, 5…Central damping recess, 6…Bolt, α…obtuse angle.

Claims

1. A locking device for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle lock, preferably a motor vehicle rear door lock, comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), further comprising a locking bolt (3) interacting with said locking mechanism (1, 2) and a damping element (4) for said locking mechanism (1, 2) and / or said locking bolt (3), 13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the damping element (4) has at least three stop profiles (4a, 4b, 4c) for the rotary latch (1), the claw portion (2) and the locking bolt (3).

2. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping element (4) is equipped with a rotary latch arm, a pawl arm and a locking bolt arm.

3. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the three arms are connected such that the pawl arm and the lock bolt arm extend from either side of the central rotating latch arm.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rotation latch arm is provided with a rotation latch stop profile (4a), the pawl arm is provided with a pawl stop profile (4b) and the lock bolt arm is provided with a lock bolt stop profile (4c).

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the stop profile for the claws (4b) and the stop profile for the lock bolt (4c) each have a central damping recess (5).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop profile (4a) for the rotary latch is designed pot-shaped for a bolt (6) which engages in the rotary latch (1).

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the claw stop contours (4b) are prismatic with a polygonal periphery for interacting with corresponding polygonal recesses (2a) of the claws (2).

8. 8. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop profile for a rock bolt (4c) is also prismatic and that a trapezoidal periphery for a mostly cylindrical rock bolt (3) moves relative to the rock bolt stop profile (4c).

9. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the stop profile for a lock bolt (4c) and the stop profile for a pawl (4b) form an obtuse angle (α) with the stop profile for a lock bolt (4c) and the stop profile for a pawl (4b), and are each connected to one side of the central rotary latch arm by means of the stop profile for a rotary latch.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping element (4) with its three arms and three stop profiles (4a, 4b, 4c) is made in one piece from a thermoplastic, in particular an elastomeric plastic such as PUR.

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