Car lock

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, opening levers (3, 4) are provided for actuating the pawl (2) and opening the locking mechanism (1, 2). According to the invention, the opening levers (3, 4) are designed in two parts: a pawl-opening lever (3) acting on the pawl (2) and an actuating-opening lever (4) interacting with, for example, an actuating lever and / or a drive. Both levers (3, 4) are coupled or separated from each other by a linearly displaceable coupling element (6).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to motor vehicle locks, and in particular to motor vehicle door locks, having a locking mechanism substantially consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl, and an opening lever for actuating the pawl and opening the locking mechanism.

[0002]

[0002] Almost all car locks used in practice and described in the literature have an opening lever that can open the locking mechanism. In this context, the term car lock should be understood broadly and refers not only to car door locks, but also to car locks related to the locking of seats, flaps, etc. Such car locks are now increasingly being operated by electric motors. This allows for particularly convenient use and reduces the operating force.

[0003] However, such vehicle locks use an electric opening drive, which can, for example, be at risk of not being reversed, or not being fully reversed, or returning to its original position after the opening process. This can occur, for example, when ice is present. This can lead to the opening lever being at least partially blocked by the electric drive. As a result, following the desired opening process, the subsequent closing process of the associated vehicle door is impossible or blocked, with the rotary latch open. This corresponds to the pawl not being fully swung relative to the rotary latch, so that the rotary latch can be blocked by the pawl after the opening process. In any case, functional failure cannot be completely avoided.

[0004]

[0004] In the general prior art, according to German Patent Application Publication No. DE 4037637, there is already a method of equipping the opening lever with a memory device, which, once set, allows the release position of the opening lever to be stored in memory until the closing action of the vehicle door after opening erases the memory storage. However, this involves a relatively complex memory device and an additional memory function limit switch, which further increases the effort, and which ultimately indicates whether the opening lever is in the retracted position or not.

[0005]

[0005] Apart from the fact that the above-mentioned general prior art corresponds to a structurally complex solution, this approach cannot in practice be combined with an electric opening drive and is therefore not suitable for current applications and requirements, which the present invention as a whole seeks to improve.

[0006]

[0006] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such motor vehicle locks, in particular motor vehicle door locks, in such a way that the design effort is reduced and a functional solution is provided that allows a complete locking process, in particular after opening the locking mechanism.

[0007]

[0007] In order to solve this technical problem, motor vehicle locks in general, and motor vehicle door locks in particular, are characterized within the scope of the present invention in that the opening lever is designed in two parts: a pawl opening lever acting on a pawl and an actuation opening lever interacting with, for example, an actuation lever and / or a drive device, and both levers are connected or separated from each other by a linearly displaceable connecting element.

[0008]

[0008] Therefore, within the scope of the present invention, and based on the prior art referred to above, a two-part release lever is first conceived, which is very important. In fact, the release lever consists of a pawl release lever and a confirmation release lever. The pawl release lever mainly ensures that the pawl can be lifted from its locking engagement with the rotary latch when the locking mechanism is in the closed position, while the actuation release lever usually causes a pivoting movement in the release lever itself. In the basic design of the pawl release lever and the actuation release lever, both levers are designed to be functionally mechanically separate.

[0009]

[0009] Using an additionally provided coupling element, the two levers can be coupled or separated from each other as desired. When the two levers are coupled to each other, a fixed and rotating coupling is created, so that a force applied to the actuation release lever is transmitted to the pawl release lever, which then lifts the pawl from engagement with the rotary latch. As a result, the rotary latch can be opened with the help of a spring, releasing the associated previously restrained clamping bolt. In this example, a door equipped with the vehicle lock can be easily opened.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, both of the aforementioned levers are mounted coaxially with respect to one another around a common axis of rotation. The coupling element is also mounted on the same axis as the two levers. This allows the two levers to pivot together with the coupling element about the common axis of rotation. This is mainly due to the fact that the coupling element is designed to be linearly displaceable and is mounted, for example, on the actuation release lever or on both levers.

[0011] To achieve coupling and decoupling by the coupling element, the coupling element is equipped with at least one pin that selectively couples and decouples the two levers. Typically, two pins are implemented that face each other relative to the common axis of rotation of the two levers comprising the coupling element. Furthermore, the design is such that at least one pin passes through a corresponding recess in the relevant lever. In this regard, it is assumed that the pin not only passes through the recess in question, but also can move or displace within this recess. This is usually achieved by a thrust element, with the help of which the coupling element can be actuated and moved linearly.

[0012] For example, both levers can each be equipped with a recess arranged on the circumference of a circular area. If two pins are realised that are opposite each other with respect to the axis of rotation, a corresponding circumferential recess is seen with respect to the central axis of rotation.

[0013] When the pin is inside the recess, the two levers are coupled to one another so as to be fixedly rotatable. However, when the pin is removed from the recess, a relative movement between the two levers is possible and conceivable, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures. As a result of this relative movement, any interference with the release lever or other interference, for example by a motor or electric drive or an actuating lever, can be easily overcome. All that is required for this is that the coupling element separates the two levers from one another, so that a relative movement between the two levers is then possible.

[0014] During the opening process, the pawl is typically opened against the force of a pawl spring applied to it, so that following such separation of the two levers, the above-mentioned pawl spring can ensure that the pawl moves into a home position in which the rotary latch is held during the transition of the pawl to its closed position. For this purpose, the pawl spring can not only actuate the pawl accordingly, but also, according to the invention, can move the pawl opening lever relative to the actuation opening lever, for example if the actuation opening lever is obstructed.

[0015] The thrust element acting on the coupling element is preferably a worm wheel. The worm wheel or thrust element typically has an eccentric or arcuate outer periphery for this purpose, by means of which the coupling element is moved from its intended coupling position to its disengaged position. In practice, a spring can act on the coupling element, pretensioning it in the direction of the coupling element's position to couple the two levers. The disengaged state of the coupling element can then be assumed by actuating the thrust element or worm wheel, which moves the coupling element against the force of the spring in question to such an extent that one or both pins leave the associated recesses, allowing the desired relative movement between the pawl release lever and the actuation release lever, in the example described.

[0016] Additionally and finally, it has proven particularly advantageous if the thrust element can rotate about an axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the opening lever, in this way the thrust element can act particularly easily on the stop edge of the coupling element and a compact design is achieved.

[0017] The present invention is based on the knowledge that the coupling element is typically designed to be at the same height as the two levers, and that the two levers are mounted on the same axis. In contrast, the stop edge of the coupling element can be represented by a plane perpendicular to this plane. The axis of the thrust element is usually located in such a plane that rotation of the thrust element about its axis pivots the corresponding arcuate profile, which then moves the coupling element, via the stop edge, from its "coupled" position, which is assumed to be in place, to a "disengaged" position relative to the two levers, i.e., by a linear adjustment process.

[0018]

[0018] Overall, this provides a car lock that is of particularly simple design and is suitable both for manual actuation of a specially designed two-part opening lever and for methods in which an electric drive is used at this time. Of course, combinations are also conceivable in which the special opening lever can be actuated both manually and by an electric motor.

[0019]

[0019] In any case, according to the invention, a collision of the opening lever during its pivoting movement, for example with the housing of the vehicle lock, or obstruction by the electric drive and / or one or more actuating levers, no longer results in the associated vehicle door being unable to be closed or being able to be closed only with difficulty after such an opening process.

[0020]

[0020] More precisely, in such a case, the thrust element actuating the coupling element ensures that the two levers, which are routinely coupled together as components of an opening lever, are separated or decoupled from one another by the coupling element, thereby allowing a relative movement so that the entire pawl, which is always actuated by the locking pawl spring, can return to its initial position, from which point the rotary latch together with the captured clamping bolt is moved to the locked position, where the locking pawl easily drops and engages.

[0021]

[0021] Finally, it is also conceivable to detect such a malfunction by means of a sensor, which may be a fingernail sensor, for example, a so-called fingernail switch being used for this purpose.

[0022]

[0022] If the relevant sensor or pawl switch detects, for example, after an electrically operated opening process using the opening lever according to the invention, that the locking pawl has not reached or has not completely reached its home position for the subsequent closing process of the locking mechanism, the control unit can evaluate this signal in the sense that, with the help of the motor, a thrust element is actuated by the motor to ensure the above-mentioned separation of the two levers. Of course, it is also possible to separate the two levers manually. In this case, the thrust element or worm wheel realized at this point can be connected to an actuating nut or generally an actuating means, for example, via a connecting rod or generally a connecting means, so that the operator can manually ensure the desired separation of the two levers.

[0023] All this results in an overall functional design that allows the relevant vehicle door to be properly closed even after an obstructed power opening process, as well as when the locking mechanism is manually opened and subsequent obstruction of the opening lever or pawl is observed. In all of these cases, the two parts of the opening lever can be separated using a coupling element, so that relative movement between both levers is permitted and the pawl can assume the position required for the subsequent closing process with the help of a pawl spring. These are the main advantages.

[0024]

[0024] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of drawings which show exemplary embodiments only. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 shows in schematic detail the function of a vehicle lock and coupling element according to the invention in place; [Figure 2] 2 shows the subject matter according to FIG. 1 during the power opening process. [Figure 3] 3 shows the subject matter according to FIG. 2 upon actuation of a thrust element for separating both levers of the two-part opening lever after the opening process according to FIG. 2. [Figure 4]4 shows the car lock according to FIG. 3 during the reset operation in the separated state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026]

[0025] The figure shows a motor vehicle lock designed as a car door lock. For this purpose, the motor vehicle lock or car door lock has a locking mechanism essentially consisting of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. The rotary latch 1 is only partially and diagrammatically shown in Figure 1. To open the locking mechanism 1, 2, the pawl 2 must perform a pivoting movement in the counterclockwise direction around its axis, as shown in Figure 1. As a result, the rotary latch 1 also pivots in the counterclockwise direction shown in Figure 1, for example under the application of a spring force, and releases a clamping bolt (not shown) in the fully open state. The associated motor vehicle door can then be opened.

[0027] In this case, the further basic design also includes opening levers 3, 4 designed in two parts according to an exemplary embodiment, as will be explained in more detail below. The locking pawl 2 can be actuated by means of the opening levers 3, 4. Specifically, for the aforementioned opening process of the locking mechanisms 1, 2 and the necessary counterclockwise pivoting movement of the pawl 2 shown in FIG. 1, the opening levers 3, 4 must perform a clockwise pivoting movement about their axes or rotation axes 5, also shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the pawl opening lever 3, as a component of the two-part opening levers 3, 4, moves relative to the upright arm of the pawl 2, pivoting the pawl 2 in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the locking mechanisms 1, 2 are opened as described above.

[0028] According to the invention, of particular importance is the fact that the opening levers 3, 4 are designed in two parts. In fact, the two-part opening lever 3, 4 consists firstly of the aforementioned pawl opening lever 3 acting on the pawl 2 and, in addition, of an actuation opening lever 4. The actuation opening lever 4 can also interact with an actuation lever (not explicitly shown), an electric drive, or both. In principle, said actuation lever and / or the electric drive can also act on the pawl opening lever 3 in order to pivot the two-part opening lever 3, 4 as a whole about a rotation axis 5 in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1 during opening of the locking mechanisms 1, 2.

[0029]

[0028] Also of essential importance for the present invention is the fact that both levers, i.e., the pawl-opening lever 3 and the actuation-opening lever 4, are connected together or separated from each other by a connecting element 6. For this purpose, the connecting element 6 can be designed to move linearly, i.e., to be linearly displaceable. The connecting element 6 is arranged and attached to the two levers 3, 4 on the same axis and at the same level, either at the top or bottom (not shown) of the two levers 3, 4. This means that the main extension of the connecting element 6 coincides with the plane E spanned by the two levers 3, 4 in the region of the rotation axis 5. The same applies to the rotational movement of the connecting element 6, which also occurs around the rotation axis 5 common to the two levers 3, 4.

[0030] The coupling element 6 further comprises essentially at least one pin 7 for selectively coupling and separating the two levers 3, 4. According to an exemplary embodiment, two pins 7 are realised which are opposite to each other with respect to the axis of rotation 5, i.e. diametrically opposed, as can be seen from the detailed view of Figure 1. The two pins 7 engage in recesses 8 associated with the associated levers 3, 4.

[0031] 1 with the perspective view, it can be seen that the two pins 7, like the recesses 8, extend in the axial direction of the axis of rotation 5, i.e. perpendicular to the plane E in which the coupling element 6 and the two levers 3, 4 essentially extend. Consequently, by means of a thrust movement (linear sliding process) indicated by the arrow in the detail view according to FIG. 1, the pin 7 is moved out of the associated recess 8 due to this thrust movement, i.e. radially with respect to the axis of rotation 5. As a result, the two levers 3, 4 are coupled to one another when the associated pin 7 is in a retracted state in the recess 8, while in an extended state the two levers 3, 4 are in a separated state.

[0032] To implement and realize this linear thrust movement already shown in FIG. 1, an additional thrust element 9 is provided, by means of which the coupling element 6 can be actuated. This becomes particularly clear when comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, where the linear thrust movement can be seen, additionally indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2. During this thrust movement by means of the thrust element 9, the coupling element 6 with its two opposing pins 7 moves radially relative to the axis of rotation 5 and transversely relative to the recess 8. The thrust element 9 according to the exemplary embodiment is therefore designed as a worm wheel 9. For this purpose, the thrust element or worm wheel 9 acts on a stop edge 6a of the coupling element 6.

[0033] It can be seen that the stop edge 6a of the coupling element 6 extends mainly perpendicular to the plane E. In this perpendicular plane, the thrust element or worm wheel 9 is also equipped with a correspondingly designed arcuate profile 10 in order to generate the desired thrust movement and to move the coupling element 6 linearly. For this purpose, the thrust element or worm wheel 9 as a whole is mounted rotatably about an axis 11, which extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation 5 of the opening levers 3, 4.

[0034]

[0033] The operating mode is as follows: In Fig. 1 the car lock is shown in a fixed position. In the transition to Fig. 2 the release levers 3, 4 are actuated for the opening process. This corresponds to the fact that the release levers 3, 4 are actuated in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1 about the axis of rotation 5. At the end of the opening process according to the view of Fig. 2 the stop edge 6a of the coupling element 6 faces the thrust element or worm wheel 9. Both the pawl release lever 3 and the actuation release lever 4 are coupled to each other by the coupling element 6 so as to be fixedly rotatable.

[0035]

[0034] If the opening levers 3, 4 are obstructed during this opening process, the coupling element or coupling slide 6 can be moved linearly during the transition from Figure 2 to Figure 3 by means of the thrust element or worm wheel 9, which was previously in a position to mechanically couple the two levers 3, 4 to each other. This allows both levers 3, 4 to pivot synchronously about a common axis 5 during the opening process of the opening levers 3, 4.

[0036] In this situation, if the opening levers 3, 4 are obstructed, as only diagrammatically indicated by an "X" in Figure 3, the pawl spring (not shown) cannot be used to move the pawl 2 into its home position, which can be detected by a sensor or pawl switch (not explicitly shown) as already mentioned above.

[0037]

[0036] The control unit, interrogating the sensor or pawl switch in question, can then ensure that the thrust element 9 is actuated, i.e. that in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 2 the coupling element 6 is actuated to move "to the right", as indicated by the arrow in the figure. In this way, the two opposing pins 7 then move away from their associated recesses 8, such that the two levers 3, 4 are separated from one another, according to the functional diagram of Figure 3. This can result in a relative movement between the two levers 3, 4, as can be seen by comparing Figures 2 and 3.

[0038] As a result, in the illustrated example, during the transition from FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, the pawl opening lever 3 pivots (slightly) counterclockwise about the axis of rotation 5, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3. This is ensured by a pawl spring (not explicitly shown) attached to the pawl 2. In any case, after the separation of the two levers 3, 4, the pawl 2 assumes its home position, which is equivalent to the position in FIG. 1. The actuation opening lever 4 can then also follow the pivoting movement of the pawl opening lever 3, as can be seen from the transition from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4. Furthermore, the coupling element 6 can be returned to its initial position according to the diagram in FIG. 1. This can be ensured by a spring (not explicitly shown) pretensioning the coupling element 6 in the direction of this home position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Rotary Latch 2 claws 1, 2 Locking mechanism 3 Claw release lever 4 Operation release lever 3 Release lever 5 Rotation axis 6. Bonding Elements 6a Stop edge 7-pin 8 recess 9 Thrust element or worm wheel 10 Arc Contour 11 axis

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), and an opening lever (3, 4) for actuating the pawl (2) and opening the locking mechanism (1, 2), The opening levers (3, 4) are designed in two parts: a pawl opening lever (3) acting on the pawl (2) and an actuation opening lever (4) which interacts with, for example, an actuation lever and / or a drive, and both levers (3, 4) are connected or separated from each other by a linearly displaceable connecting element (6). A car lock characterized by:

2. 2. A vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that both levers (3, 4) are mounted coaxially with respect to one another around a common axis of rotation (5).

3. 3. A vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling element (6) is also mounted coaxially with the two levers (3, 4) and is pivoted together with the two levers (3, 4) about the common axis of rotation (5).

4. 4. A vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coupling element (6) is equipped with at least one pin (7) for selectively coupling and separating the two levers (3, 4).

5. 5. A vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that two pins (7) are provided opposite each other with respect to the axis of rotation (5).

6. 6. A vehicle lock according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said at least one pin (7) engages in a recess (8) associated with said associated lever (3, 4).

7. A vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coupling element (6) can be actuated by a sliding element (9).

8. 8. The vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the thrust element (9) is designed as a worm wheel (9).

9. 9. A vehicle lock according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the thrust element (9) acts on a stop edge (6a) of the coupling element (6).

10. 10. The vehicle lock according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the thrust element (9) is rotatable about an axis (11) extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation (5) of the opening lever (3, 4).

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