Latch for motor vehicles, in particular latch for motor vehicle doors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a latch for an automobile, and more particularly to a latch for an automobile door having a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a catch portion (1) and a claw portion (2). Further, the locking mechanism (1, 2) is provided with a release lever (3) rotatable about a rotation axis (4). In addition, it includes an electric opening / closing drive device (8, 9) and a handle (10) connected to a connecting means (11). To release the locking mechanism (1, 2), the release drive device (8, 9) acts on the release lever (3) by a motor, and the handle (10) including the connecting means (11) acts on the release lever (3) manually alternatively or additionally. According to the present invention, the release drive device (8, 9) acts on the release lever (3) radially inward with respect to the rotation axis (4), and the connecting means (11) acts on the release lever radially outward with respect to the rotation axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a latch for a motor vehicle, particularly a latch for an automobile door. This latch essentially comprises a locking mechanism consisting of a catch part and a claw part, and further comprises a release lever for the locking mechanism rotatable around a rotation axis, an electric release drive device, and a handle connected to a connecting means. To release the locking mechanism, the release drive device acts on the release lever by a motor, and / or the handle including the connecting means manually acts on the release lever.

[0002] The locking mechanism consisting of a catch part and a claw part can, in principle, be equipped with a first claw part and a second claw part. For example, the general technical level according to DE 10 2019 117 557 A1 is used. There, an electric release drive device is provided as a component of a release line acting on the release lever. Also, a manual release process is possible, which is realized, for example, in relation to an emergency operation. DE 10 2008 048 772 A1 also adopts a similar approach.

[0003] Regarding the electric release drive device and the manual release process, the reduction of the operating force during the release process has already been addressed in known teachings. However, at present, the solutions so far are unconvincing. This is because, especially for the manual release process, a relatively large operating force is required, which may also be due to a complex structure. The present invention aims to improve this as a whole.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a latch for a motor vehicle, particularly a latch for an automobile door, with a low-cost structure and at the same time reducing the operating force of the release lever.

[0005] To solve this technical problem, a general automotive latch, particularly a latch for an automotive door, within the scope of the present invention is characterized in that the release drive engages the release lever radially inwardly with respect to the rotation axis, and the connecting means engages the release lever radially outwardly with respect to the rotation axis.

[0006] Within the scope of the present invention, the present invention is, firstly, based on the finding that a particularly compact and inexpensive structure is provided when both the release drive and the connecting means, and thus both handles, can interact directly with and engage the release lever. In principle, of course, it is also possible for both the release drive including the connecting means and the handle to act indirectly on the release lever to operate the release lever via an intermediate element. However, in principle, the release drive and the connecting means are designed to act directly on the release lever and engage the associated release lever radially inwardly and radially outwardly, respectively, with respect to the rotation axis of the release lever.

[0007] In fact, the handle ensures that the release lever can be manually operated to release the locking mechanism via the connected connecting means. This generally corresponds to a pivoting movement of the release lever about its rotation axis. The pivoting movement about the pivot axis of the release lever has, for example, the effect that a lug provided on the release lever lifts one of the claw parts or one of two claw parts out of the latching engagement with the catch part, and as a result, the locking mechanism is released with the aid of a spring. The previously captured locking pin is released. The same applies to the corresponding automotive door.

[0008] The connecting means engages with the release lever radially outside the axis of rotation, so a long lever arm is provided for this manual release process. Ultimately, a large torque is applied to the output side of the release lever on the latch via the handle, the connecting means, and the release lever. This means that only a small operating force must act on the handle so that the release lever can be actuated to lift the claw portion out of the latching engagement with the catch portion via the latch. This kind of (low) operating force is provided in case the electric release drive fails. In principle, the manual operation can also be carried out in the sense of an emergency operation.

[0009] In this case, during normal operation, the locking mechanism is generally released by the electric release drive. However, if the electric release drive fails due to a voltage drop in the electric battery supplying it, for example, due to a collision or the like, a mechanical operating lever chain belonging to the handle and the connecting means is engaged, which has been disengaged in advance during normal operation. As soon as the operating lever chain is engaged for emergency operation or emergency actuation, the locking mechanism can, as a result, be manually released via the handle and the connecting means. Of course, within the scope of the present invention, it is also possible for the locking mechanism to be manually released with the help of the release drive and via the handle including the connecting means. In this case, it is also possible and conceivable to manually release it as a result during normal operation.

[0010] In any case, the design according to the invention ensures that a particularly compact and inexpensive structure is obtained. This is because both the release drive and the connecting means can generally interact directly with the release lever. At the same time, intermediate elements can be omitted, so a compact structure is obtained. Finally, the handle to which the connecting means is connected engages with the release lever radially outside the axis of rotation, and a large torque is transmitted to the release lever, so the operating force is reduced. In contrast, the electric release drive acts radially inside the release lever, and the electric release drive is equipped with a corresponding design, for example, gears, operating cams, etc. to generate sufficient torque.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, as a result, the release drive generally has the actuating cam in question. The actuating cam typically engages in a recess of the release lever. In this way, a particularly compact structure is obtained. By engaging the actuating cam in the recess, the release lever and the electric drive can be arranged so as to be superposed in a front view, and can be arranged in different planes from each other. In addition, the release lever can be designed to be particularly expandable, in particular to operate radially outside the release lever with the aid of the connecting means, and thus to be automatically provided with a large lever arm for operating via the handle and the connecting means.

[0012] According to another advantageous embodiment, the actuating cam generally interacts with the outer profile in the recess. For this purpose, the outer profile generally has an actuating outer profile that interacts with the actuating cam. In addition, a further second outer profile is typically provided in the form of a contact outer profile for the actuating cam. Both outer profiles are preferably separated from each other by a ridge.

[0013] By the rotation of the electric release drive and the resulting release movement of the actuating cam associated with the electrical release process, the actuating cam slides along the actuating outer profile inside the recess and correspondingly acts on the actuating outer profile. As a result, the release lever is pivoted about its axis of rotation so that it can lift the claw out of the latching engagement with the catch using its lug. In contrast, the contact outer profile is typically used to ensure that the actuating cam presses against the contact outer profile in its basic position, so that the contact outer profile functions both as a stop and as a receptacle for the actuating cam.

[0014] The outer contour of the problem is generally provided at the trailing edge of a recess that extends mainly in the radial direction compared to the axis of rotation. In addition, the recess usually also has a front stop edge for the actuating cam, which is usually required for manual operation. Thus, when the release lever is manually actuated with the aid of the handle and the connected connecting means, the associated pivoting movement of the release lever about its axis of rotation is restricted by the fact that the actuating cam moves against the front stop edge at the end of the actuating path, and as a result, the manual actuation process of the release lever is restricted.

[0015] The connecting means are generally designed to be flexible. For example, particularly advantageously, this is a Bowden cable. In the simplest case, the Bowden cable is connected on the one hand to the handle and on the other hand to the release lever. For this purpose, the core of the Bowden cable can be hooked to both the handle and the release lever. In this case, it has been found to be particularly preferred within the scope of the present invention that the Bowden cable is hooked in the recesses on the front side and the head side of the release lever. This simplifies the assembly of the Bowden cable and at the same time enables and implements the connection between the connecting means and the release lever as seen from the outside in the radial direction.

[0016] As a result, there is provided a latch for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle door, which is particularly compact on the one hand and requires only low operating forces on the other hand. This can essentially be traced back to a release lever that is designed in a particularly expandable manner, which covers the electric release drive when viewed from the front, and as a result, simultaneously ensures a compact structure.

[0017] The electric release drive engages with the release lever radially inside with respect to the rotating shaft, and the connecting means engages with the release lever radially outside with respect to the rotating shaft. As a result, the release drive acts on the actuating cam via an intermediate gear that may exist in some cases. This actuating cam interacts with the actuating outer profile within the recess of the release lever, so that the electric release drive can receive a low actuating force. At the same time, the manual actuation of the release lever engages the handle radially outside with respect to the rotating shaft of the release lever protruding through the connecting means. As a result, a high torque is provided at this point, so that it is successful especially with a small force. Here lies the essential advantage.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings showing only one exemplary embodiment.

Figure 1

[0019] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0020] The drawings show an automotive latch, particularly a latch for an automotive door. In its basic structure, the latch essentially has locking mechanisms 1, 2 consisting of a catch part 1 and a claw part 2. In principle, a plurality of claw parts can also be realized at this point, similar to the case of the general state of the art mentioned above. The release lever 3 interacts with the locking mechanisms 1, 2 and is mounted in the latch case 5 so as to be rotatable about the rotating shaft 4.

[0021] In practice, the latch case 5 is formed of a plastic material. The same applies to the pivot pin 4 that defines the rotation axis 4 of the release lever 3. The release lever 3 is also typically made of a plastic material and is an injection-molded part made of a plastic material. The release lever 3 according to this embodiment has a claw portion 3a and is generally designed in a trapezoidal shape composed of a lower edge portion 3b, an upper edge portion 3c, and two side edge portions 3d, 3e that extend obliquely. It can be seen that the two side edge portions 3d, 3e extend substantially radially with respect to the rotation axis 4.

[0022] A spring 6 is assigned to the rotation axis 4, and this spring 6 surrounds the pivot pin 4 realized in the form of a helical spring at this time, and generally ensures that the release lever 3 comes into contact with the stop portion 7 and takes the basic position shown in FIG. 1. When the release lever 3 pivots counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1 about its rotation axis 4, the lug 3a drives against the claw portion 2 and pivots the claw portion 2. As a result, the latch of the (closed) lock mechanisms 1, 2 is lifted, and the catch portion 1 swings and is released with the help of a spring, and a previously captured lock pin (not explicitly shown) can be released. The associated automobile door can be opened.

[0023] The electric release drive devices 8, 9 are also part of the further basic structure of the automobile latch. From the electric release drive devices 8, 9, a driven pulley 8 that is rotationally driven by an electric motor (not shown) can be recognized. An actuating cam 9 is coupled to the driven pulley 8 in a rotatably fixed state, and the actuating cam 9 can pivot the release lever 3 counterclockwise around the rotation axis 4 by pivoting clockwise around the axis shown in FIG. 1, enabling the lock mechanisms 1, 2 to be opened.

[0024] In addition to the above-described electric release drive devices 8, 9, it is also possible, alternatively or additionally, to manually release the locking mechanisms 1, 2. For this purpose, the illustrated automotive latch, in particular the automotive door latch, has a handle 10 and connecting means 11 connected to the handle 10. In the present embodiment, the connecting means 11 is designed to be flexible. In practice, it is a Bowden cable 11 which, together with its core, is hooked on the one hand in the recess 3f of the release lever 3 and on the other hand in a recess of the handle 10 (not explicitly shown). The recess 3f is provided on the front side and the head side of the release lever 3. As soon as the handle 10 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 is subjected to the pull (to the left) shown there, this again has the effect that the release lever 3 is pivoted counterclockwise about its axis of rotation 4, so that the release lever 3, together with its lug 3a, can release the locking mechanisms 1, 2 as described above.

[0025] In order to release the locking mechanisms 1, 2, the electric release drive devices 8, 9 and the handle 10 connected to the connecting means 11 can act on the release lever 3 by means of a motor and / or manually. This can be done simultaneously or alternatively. Also, as explained at the beginning, it is also conceivable to manually operate the release lever 3 within the scope of the present embodiment within the scope of an emergency operation.

[0026] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it can be seen that the release lever 3 according to the present embodiment is particularly configured to be extensible. As a result, in any case, with respect to the axis of rotation 4, the electric release drive devices 8, 9 can engage radially inwardly with the release lever 3 and the connecting means 11 can engage radially outwardly with the release lever 3. As a result, the handle 10 or the connecting means 11 acted on by the handle 10 acts on the release lever 3 with a relatively large lever arm with respect to the axis of rotation 4, so that only a low operating force is required for the handle 10 in order to be able to manually act on the release lever 3 to release the locking mechanisms 1, 2.

[0027] As already explained, the electric opening drive devices 8, 9 have an actuating cam 9. The actuating cam 9 engages in the recess 12 of the release lever 3. In fact, the actuating cam 9 interacts with the outer profile parts 12c, 12b of the two parts of the recess 12. The outer profile part 12c is an actuating outer profile that interacts with the actuating cam 9. In addition, a contact outer profile part 12b for the actuating cam 9 is provided. The outer profile part 12a ensures that a clearance is maintained for the cam 9 in the idle state across all build variations.

[0028] The outer profile parts 12c, 12b are provided at the trailing edge of the recess 12 that extends radially R-offset compared to the rotation axis 4. In this context, the leading edge 12d of the recess 12 functions as a clearance for the manual shift of the lever 3. This leading clearance edge 12d in the recess 12 ensures that the associated actuating movement of the release lever 3 about its axis 4 can be achieved regardless of the position of the actuating cam 9 when manually actuating the release lever 3 with the aid of the handle 10. In this way, manual release is ensured regardless of any failure of the electric opening drive device.

[0029] The operating mode is as follows. Starting from the basic position in FIG. 1, the locking mechanisms 1, 2 can basically be released by the release lever 3 being actuated counterclockwise about its rotation axis 4 as shown there. This is done against the force of the spring 6. Thereby, the claw part 3a of the release lever 3 moves upward relative to the claw part 2 and lifts it out of the engaged state with the catch part 1. Next, the catch part 1 can swing open with the help of a spring (not shown) and / or the sealing force of the door rubber and release a previously captured locking pin (not shown). As a result, the corresponding motor vehicle door can be opened.

[0030] The opening movement of the release lever 3 can be brought about on the one hand by the electric opening drive devices 8, 9 and on the other hand by the manual actuation of the handle 10. When the release lever 3 is opened electrically, the actuating cam 9 moves counterclockwise.

[0031] During the counterclockwise movement of the actuating cam 9, its end ensures that the actuating cam 9 moves relative to the actuating outer profile 12c, whereby the release lever 3 pivots counterclockwise about the axis of rotation 4. The outer profile 12b imparts additional lift and speed to the release lever 3 near the end of the transition. This additional movement and speed provides a comfortable clearance between the claw 2 and the catch 1, where less effort is required to rotate the claw 2. In contrast, in the idle state, the outer profile 12a provides a comfortable clearance at the full travel end of the actuating cam 9 when it is stationary relative to the contact outer profile 12b. The outer profile 12b provides a raised portion between the outer profiles 12a, 12c. Further, the outer profiles 12c, 12b provide different operating speeds of the lever 3.

[0032] On the other hand, when the release lever 3 is manually actuated, a tensile force is applied to the connecting means, i.e., the Bowden cable 11, which is in the direction of the arrow to the left in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the release lever 3 pivots counterclockwise again about its axis of rotation 4. This pivoting movement is not restricted by any position of the actuating cam 9 for the front clearance edge.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0033] Catch portion 1, Claw portion 2, Lock mechanism 1, 2, Upper edge portion 2, Release lever 3, Lug 3a, Lower edge portion 3b, Upper edge portion 3c, Side edge portions 3d, 3e, Recess 3f, Axis of rotation 4, Pivot pin 4, Latch case 5, Spring 6, Stop portion 7, Driven pulley 8, Actuating cam 9, Release drive 8, 9, Handle 10, Connection means 11, Recessed portion 12, Outer shape portions 12a, 12c, Protruding portions 12b, Edge portions 12d, Radial direction R.

Claims

1. An automotive latch, particularly for an automotive door, comprises a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a catch part (1) and a claw part (2), and further comprises a release lever (3) rotatable about a rotation axis (4) for the locking mechanism (1, 2), and comprises a handle (10) connected to an electric release drive device (8, 9) and a connection means (11). To release the locking mechanism (1, 2), the release drive device (8, 9) acts on the release lever (3) by a motor, and / or the handle (10) including the connection means (11) manually acts on the release lever. The release drive device (8, 9) engages with the release lever (3) radially inside with respect to the rotation axis (4), the connection means (11) engages with the release lever (3) radially outside with respect to the rotation axis, the release drive device (8, 9) has an operating cam (9), the operating cam (9) engages with a recess (12) on the release lever (3), and the operating cam (9) interacts with outer profile parts (12c, 12b) inside the recess (12). An automotive latch is characterized by this.

2. The outer profile parts (12c, 12b) have an operating outer profile part (12c) interacting with the operating cam (9) and a contact outer profile part (12c) with respect to the operating cam (9). The automotive latch according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

3. The two outer profile parts (12c, 12b) provide different operating speeds of the lever 3. The automotive latch according to claim 2 is characterized by this.

4. The outer profile parts (12c, 12b) are provided at a trailing edge of the recess (12) that continues offset radially (R) from the rotation axis (4). The automotive latch according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is characterized by this.

5. The recess (12) has a front clearance edge (12d) for the operating cam (9) during manual operation. The automotive latch according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is characterized by this.

6. The connection means (11) is designed to be flexible, such as a Bowden cable (11) for example. The automotive latch according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is characterized by this.

7. The Bowden cable (11) is hooked to recesses (3f) on the front side and the head side of the release lever (3). The automotive latch according to claim 6 is characterized by this.

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