Automobile locking device
The motor vehicle locking device addresses the complexity of existing bonnet locks by using a claw with both sliding and guide pins to ensure safe preliminary locking and opening, achieving a simple and compact structure without additional components like catch levers.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024575163
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-22
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-17
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing motor vehicle bonnet locks require complex mechanisms and additional components like catch levers to ensure safe preliminary locking and opening, which complicates the structure and operation.
A motor vehicle locking device with a rotary latch and pawl mechanism, featuring a claw with both a sliding pin and a guide pin, allows for a simple and compact structure by ensuring safe preliminary locking without the need for additional components like catch levers.
The device achieves safe and reliable preliminary locking and opening with a double-stroke actuation of the release element, eliminating the need for catch levers and maintaining a compact structure.
Smart Images
Figure 2025519861000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001]
[0001] Description The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a motor vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle lock, preferably a motor vehicle bonnet lock, having a locking mechanism substantially consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl, and a release element for lifting the pawl. The locking mechanism takes a preliminary engagement position by first lifting the pawl and takes an open position after the pawl is actuated again. The pawl has a sliding pin that interacts with a groove of the rotary latch for this purpose.
Background Art
[0002]
[0002] A motor vehicle locking device generally refers to a locking device on or inside a motor vehicle that can be used to lock, for example, flaps, doors, seats, etc. Generally, this refers to a motor vehicle lock, particularly a motor vehicle bonnet lock, i.e., a motor vehicle lock used to engage a bonnet, door or flap on or inside a motor vehicle with the vehicle body. A motor vehicle bonnet lock actually refers to a motor vehicle lock for, for example, a front hood or a tailgate.
[0003]
[0003] Such a motor vehicle bonnet lock used in connection with, for example, the locking of a motor vehicle front hood or a motor vehicle tailgate is usually opened from the inside of the associated motor vehicle. For example, a Bowden cable that terminates inside the motor vehicle can be operated with a release lever as a release element to reliably unlock or open the associated motor vehicle bonnet lock. The actuating device used at this time can be a handle or a loop for manual actuation. However, in principle, electric actuation of the release lever or release element is also possible and is also encompassed by the present invention.
[0004]
[0004] The bonnet lock of a motor vehicle can generally be opened in the manner described, but due to spring force and safety reasons, it only opens up to a gap. This is necessary, for example, to prevent the front hood of the motor vehicle from opening fully if the actuating device is accidentally actuated during driving, which would lead to a dangerous obstruction of the driver's view.
[0005]
[0005] To fully open the motor vehicle hood from this gap position, a catch lever is usually actually used. For this purpose, the catch lever must be pivoted by the operator when the relevant motor vehicle is stationary. Only then is the hood or front hood finally released. In the open position of the locking mechanism, the catch lever engages around or over a locking bolt attached to the front hood of the motor vehicle.
[0006]
[0006] Such a catch lever and related mechanism are not required when the relevant motor vehicle lock is unlocked if, for example, it is guaranteed or can be guaranteed that the preliminary locking position of the locking mechanism is taken by the unlocking process. Then, the opening can be opened by manually pivoting the pawl from this preliminary locking position of the rotary latch, and thus the entire front hood of the motor vehicle can be opened. However, the prerequisite for this is that the preliminary locking position is taken safely.
[0007]
[0007] The general prior art according to German Patent Specification No. 10361186 relates to motor vehicle locks, in particular to motor vehicle bonnet locks in which a so-called snow load function is implemented. This snow load function means that when snow accumulates on the relevant cover, the cover does not open up to the gap position even if the pawl is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch using the release element. This is because there is a possibility that the relevant cover may be accidentally closed again due to the snow load.
[0008]
[0008] For this purpose, the teachings mentioned propose a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle bonnet lock, in which an effective latching connection is realized between a rotary latch and a pawl by means of a latching connection element and a latched connection element.
[0009]
[0009] The latching connection element can be latched with the latched connection element in the main closed position. It can be seen that the engagement is released in the direction of the open position. For this purpose, since the latching connection element is arranged or formed on a spring arm above a pawl present in the plane on the rotary latch side, a relatively complex mechanism is provided.
[0010]
[0010] DE 10 2016 010 467 A1 also includes the interaction between the rotary latch and the pawl. In this case, a trailing lever is assigned to the pawl or the rotary latch, so that the locking surface or the surface to be locked can be trailed in such a way that the rotary latch pivots through a defined pivoting angle in the opening direction without the locking surface and the surface to be locked being disengaged. This is intended to cancel out the generation of noise during the opening process.
[0011]
[0011] In a further technology of the applicant's past International Publication No. 2021 / 190684, in a hood lock, a pawl lifted by a release lever from the main return stop of a rotary latch having a first locking tooth interacts with a second locking tooth having the main return stop of the rotary latch during the unlocking process of the locking mechanism, thereby forcibly guiding the pawl and preventing a preliminary latching of the rotary latch. In this way, it is ensured that the preliminary latching position is safely taken during unlocking. Therefore, in order to open the known motor vehicle bonnet lock, two actuations of the release lever or a so-called double stroke are required. This is basically proven to be valuable because the known motor vehicle lock can reliably take the preliminary latching position on the one hand and can be opened from the preliminary latching position by pivoting the pawl again on the other hand.
[0012]
[0012] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle locking device so that a structurally simple and compact structure can be seen while maintaining the described function, i.e., the preliminary locking position is safely taken.
[0013]
[0013] To solve this technical problem, a general motor vehicle locking device within the scope of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the sliding pin already described, it also has a guide pin with which a locking claw interacts with the outer contour of a rotary latch.
[0014]
[0014] This means that, according to the present invention, the claw comprises two pins, namely, on the one hand, a sliding pin that interacts with a groove in the rotary latch and, on the other hand, a guide pin that interacts with the outer contour of the rotary latch. In this way, the opening process of the motor vehicle locking device according to the present invention can be realized and implemented in a particularly simple manner, and in accordance with the teaching of WO 2021 / 190684, the preliminary locking position is first safely taken. Only in connection with a further actuation of a release element for lifting the locking claw is the preliminary locking position of the locking mechanism released, and then the locking mechanism assumes the open position. In particular, this means that a catch lever, which is usually otherwise essential, can usually be omitted, and the motor vehicle locking device according to the present invention can be opened both manually and by means of an electric motor.
[0015]
[0015] Furthermore, the shape of the two pins of the claw is particularly adapted to a compact structure. This is because the groove in the rotary latch is typically designed as a sliding pin recess into which the sliding pin is pushed. Thus, there is at least a partial overlap between the claw and the rotary latch (top view), which is advantageous for the desired compact structure.
[0016]
[0016] Furthermore, the sliding pin and the guide pin are often designed to be arranged on respective sliding arms and guide arms of the claw. The two pins are preferably arranged at the ends of the associated arms. Furthermore, usually, the two arms having a pin therebetween are designed to form an acute angle.
[0017]
[0017] The two arms can each be arranged with the pins facing the bearing recesses of the claws. In most cases, the two arms with pins mostly extend radially with respect to the rotational axis of the claw. The rotational axis of the claw is defined by the fact that the bearing pin is pushed into the bearing recess of the claw and thus defines the rotational axis of the latter. As a result, the two arms with pins also mostly extend radially with respect to the bearing recess or the bearing pin in question.
[0018]
[0018] The sliding pin recess generally comprises at least one preliminary locking stop in order to ensure that the preliminary locking position or the preliminary locking position of the locking mechanism according to the invention is correctly and safely engaged. In most cases, at this point, two preliminary latching stops are provided offset from each other. The two preliminary latching stops can be offset radially with respect to the rotational axis of the rotary latch. In this way, it is possible for the two preliminary latching stops to separate the preliminary latch passage and the release passage of the sliding pin recess.
[0019]
[0019] When the locking device of a motor vehicle according to the invention, in particular the lock of a motor vehicle, is released starting from the main locking position or the main latch position, the sliding pin of the claw first moves along the preliminary latch passage until the sliding pin reaches one of the two preliminary latching stops. In most cases, the sliding pin in question is designed to move towards a first preliminary locking stop located radially outside compared to the rotational axis of the rotary latch within the sliding pin recess. As soon as the claw is released in this position or the release element ceases to operate further to lift the claw, the sliding pin usually moves towards a second preliminary locking stop located radially inside with respect to the rotational axis of the rotary latch. This is usually reliably done by a spring that pushes the claw into its closed position.
[0020] Starting from this preliminary locking position, if the locking claw is actuated again in the "open" direction during the second stroke, the locking claw is pushed into the opening passage of the sliding pin recess starting from the second radially inner preliminary locking stop in the sliding pin recess and can move along this opening passage to the opening stop. This is reliably done by a spring force acting on the rotary latch in the opening direction. This spring force may be due to a spring assigned to the rotary latch and pre-tensioned in the opening direction and / or a spring force constituted by the sealing force of the door rubber.
[0021]
[0021] In either case, there is a double-stroke actuation of the release element, and the locking mechanism safely takes and maintains its preliminary locking position after the first stroke. Only when the release element and the claw using the release element are released and the second stroke actuation is performed, the sliding pin moves into the opening passage, the rotary latch reaches the open position as a whole, and the locking bolt can be released. In this way, a particularly functional operation of the vehicle lock according to the present invention, especially a vehicle bonnet lock, is provided. All of this seems to be a simple and compact structure.
[0022]
[0022] This simple and compact structure is complemented by the fact that both the sliding pin and the guide pin are typically designed as bent edges on the claw and can thus be easily defined during the claw forming process. In fact, according to the present invention, the claw is punched out and then, or simultaneously, bent in relation to the two pins. Usually, high-strength steel is used as the material. The same applies to the rotary latch, which is also made of high-strength steel and only needs to have a sliding pin recess attached to fit the standard dimensions of the present invention. This sliding pin recess can be easily inserted into the rotary latch during the punching process.
[0023] As a result, a vehicle locking device having a small-sized and functionally reliable structure is obtained. On the one hand, due to the interaction between the sliding pin and the sliding pin recess, and on the other hand, due to the interaction between the outer contour of the rotary latch and the guide pin, the sliding pin in the sliding pin recess first surely and completely passes through the preliminary latch passage to one or both of the preliminary latch stop portions. Then, in relation to the second actuation of the release element, the sliding pin can move within the open passage of the sliding pin recess. This is further ensured by the guide pin that abuts against the outer contour of the rotary latch. These are the main advantages.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0024] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings showing only exemplary embodiments.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0025]
[0025] The figure shows, in the context of an exemplary embodiment, a motor vehicle lock, preferably a motor vehicle bonnet lock. This motor vehicle lock device comprises a locking mechanism 1, 2 consisting essentially of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. The figure also shows a locking bolt 3 which is captured by the rotary latch 1 in the main closed position or main latch position as shown in FIG. 1 and is released in the open position as shown in FIG. 6. For this purpose, the locking bolt 3 is received in an inlet 4 of the rotary latch 1, and the rotary latch 1 defines the said inlet 4 with two fork-shaped arms, namely a stop arm 1a and a capture arm 1b.
[0026]
[0026] Furthermore, a release element 5 is provided, shown merely for the sake of illustration, for lifting the pawl 2. For this purpose, the release element 5 acts on the pawl 2 such that the pawl 2 opens in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 1 about the axis 6 of the pawl 2, i.e. against the force of a spring 7, while the force of the spring 7, in contrast, acts on the pawl 2 in the clockwise direction with respect to the axis or axis of rotation 6.
[0027]
[0027] The release element 5 can be actuated manually by using a handle to actuate the release element 5 by means of a Bowden cable (not shown) or another flexible connection element. In principle, an electric actuation of the release element 5 is also conceivable. In the context of the present invention, a double-stroke actuation is used, i.e. until reaching a preliminary locking position corresponding to FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the pawl 2 is first simply pivoted counterclockwise about the axis of rotation 6 of the pawl 2 by a first stroke. Starting from that preliminary locking position, by a new second actuation of the pawl 2 by actuating the pawl 2 counterclockwise about the axis 6 of the pawl 2 using the release element 5, after this two-stroke actuation, finally and reliably the open position as shown in FIG. 6 is reached.
[0028]
[0028] To implement and realize this in detail, the pawl 2 has a sliding pin 2a that interacts with the groove 8 of the rotary latch 1. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in addition to this sliding pin 2a, a further guide pin 2b that interacts with the outer contours 1c, 1d of the rotary latch 1 is also realized on the pawl 2. As already explained in the introduction section, both pins 2a, 2b are manufactured and realized by punching out the pawl 2 and bending the associated arms at the ends to define the respective pins 2a, 2b.
[0029]
[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment, the groove 8 of the rotary latch 1 is designed as a sliding pin recess 8 into which the sliding pin 2a is pushed. It can be seen that the sliding pin recess 8 can be divided into a preliminary latch passage 8a and an open passage 8b, which will be described in more detail below.
[0030]
[0030] It can also be seen that the sliding pin 2a and the guide pin 2b are respectively arranged on the end sides of the respective associated sliding arm and guide arm of the pawl 2. The two arms with the end stops 2a, 2b enclose an acute angle α shown only in FIG. 1 between the arms. Furthermore, the two arms with the pins 2a, 2b are each designed to be arranged opposite to the bearing recess of the pawl 2 that defines the axis or the axis of rotation 6. In fact, the two arms with the respective end pins 2a, 2b are designed to be mainly radial with respect to the axis of rotation 6 of the respective pawl 2.
[0031]
[0031] The sliding pin recess 8 includes at least one stop portion 9, 10 for a preliminary latch. In fact, within the scope of the exemplary embodiment, two stop portions 9, 10 for a preliminary latch are realized, namely a first stop portion 9 for a preliminary latch and a second stop portion 10 for a preliminary latch. The first stop portion 9 for a preliminary latch is disposed radially outside with respect to the axis or the rotation axis 11 of the rotary latch 1, and the second stop portion 10 for a preliminary latch is disposed radially inside with respect to the rotation axis 11 of the rotary latch 1. Also, it can be seen that the two stop portions 9, 10 for a preliminary engagement are radially offset with respect to the rotation axis 11 of the rotary latch 1. In this way, both of the two stop portions 9, 10 for a preliminary latch separate the preliminary latch passage 8a for the sliding pin 2a of the aforementioned claw 2 from the release passage 8b.
[0032]
[0032] The operating modes are as follows. FIG. 1 shows the locking mechanisms 1, 2 in the main closed position or the main latch position. Starting from this main closed position, where the release element 5 is actuated to lift or pivot the claw 2 counterclockwise about the axis 6, the lifting or pivoting of the claw 2 causes the sliding pin 2a in the preliminary latch passage 8a to also pivot counterclockwise about the rotation axis 6 of the claw 2, that is, to the position shown in FIG. 2 for the first time.
[0033]
[0033] Starting from the position shown in FIG. 2, the rotary latch 1 is actuated by a spring force in the counterclockwise direction around the axis or the rotation axis 11 of the rotary latch, where the sliding pin 2a can pivot until it reaches the first stop portion 9 for a preliminary engagement as shown in FIG. 3. This is possible because the counterclockwise pivoting movement of the claw 2 about the rotation axis 6 corresponds to the guide pin 2b of the claw 2 moving away from the protrusion 1c of the rotary latch 1, and during the transition from FIG. 1 to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary latch 1 can pivot counterclockwise about the axis 11 of the rotary latch by the spring force. The protrusion 1c of the rotary latch 1 is a component of the outer contours 1c, 1d.
[0034]
[0034] Here, the sliding pin 2a is in contact with a first preliminary engagement stop portion 9 located radially outside the rotation axis 11 of the rotary latch 1. During the transition from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4, upon release of the release element 5, the claw 2 is actuated by the spring 7 of the release element 5 and pivots clockwise about the axis 6 of the claw 2 starting from the position shown in FIG. 3 until the sliding pin 2a abuts against a second preliminary engagement stop portion 10 arranged radially inside the rotation axis 11 of the rotary latch 1. This is possible because during the transition from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4, due to the spring force acting on the rotary latch, the rotary latch can rotate slightly counterclockwise again about the axis 11 of the rotary latch. At the same time, the guide pin 2b that contacts the curved contour 1d which is part of the outer contours 1c, 1d of the rotary latch 1 ensures that the sliding pin 2a reaches the second preliminary engagement stop portion 10 safely and reliably. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking mechanisms 1, 2 take their preliminary locking position safely and theoretically permanently. The release element 5 is not actuated in the same way as the claw 2.
[0035]
[0035] In order to be able to finally open the locking mechanisms 1, 2 from this preliminary locking position shown in FIG. 4, it is necessary to use the release element 5 to pivot the claw 2 counterclockwise again about the axis 6 of the claw 2 as shown in FIG. 4. This can be seen in the transition from FIG. 4 to FIG. 5. This process corresponds, on the one hand, to the sliding pin 2a entering the opening passage 8b of the sliding pin recess 8 and, on the other hand, to the sliding pin 2b leaving the outer contours 1c, 1d of the rotary latch 1. Starting from the position shown in FIG. 5, here the rotary latch 1 can continue to open counterclockwise about the axis 11 of the rotary latch 1 due to the spring force acting on the rotary latch 1 until the sliding pin 2a moves relative to the opening stop portion 12 in the sliding pin recess 8. The rotary latch 1 is now fully open and releases the locking bolt 3 emerging from the inlet 4. The associated hood can be easily opened by the user.
Description of the reference numerals
[0036] 1, 2 Locking mechanism 1 Rotary latch 1a Stop arm 1b Capture arm 1c Protrusion 1d Arc contour 1c, 1d Outer contour 2 Claw 2a Sliding pin 2b Guide pin 3 Locking bolt 4 Entrance 5 Release element 6 Axis or axis of rotation 7 Spring 8 Sliding pin, sliding pin recess 8a Preliminary latch passage 8b Release passage 9 Stop for the first preliminary latch 10 Stop for the second preliminary latch 11 Axis or axis of rotation 12 Stop for release α Acute angle
Claims
1. An automotive locking device, in particular an automotive lock, preferably a bonnet lock of a motor vehicle, having a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), and a release element (5) for lifting the pawl (2), wherein the locking mechanism (1, 2) first takes a preliminary engagement position by lifting the pawl (2) and takes an open position after the pawl (2) is actuated again, and the pawl (2) has a sliding pin (2a) interacting with a groove (8) of the rotary latch (1) for this purpose, in an automotive locking device. An automotive locking device, characterized in that the pawl (2) further has a guide pin (2b) interacting with the outer contour (1c, 1d) of the rotary latch (1).
2. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding pin recess (8) of the rotary latch (1) is designed as the groove (8) into which the sliding pin (2a) is pushed.
3. The locking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sliding pin (2a) and the guide pin (2b) are preferably arranged on respective associated sliding arms and guide arms of the pawl (2), preferably on the end side.
4. The locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two arms having the pins (2a, 2b) enclose an acute angle (α) between the arms.
5. The locking device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the two arms having the pins (2a, 2b) are each arranged opposite a bearing recess (6) of the pawl (2).
6. The locking device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the two arms having the pins (2a, 2b) extend mainly in a radial direction with respect to the rotational axis (6) of the pawl (2).
7. The locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sliding pin recess (8) has at least one preliminary engagement stop (9, 10).
8. The locking device according to claim 7, characterized in that two preliminary latch stops (9, 10) are provided which are arranged offset from each other.
9. The locking device according to claim 8, characterized in that the two preliminary engagement stops (9, 10) are offset radially with respect to the rotational axis (11) of the rotary latch (1).
10. The locking device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the two preliminary latch stop portions (9, 10) separate the preliminary latch passage (8a) and the release passage (8b) of the sliding pin recess (8) from each other.