Car lock

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automobile lock, particularly an automobile door lock, and the automobile lock comprises a locking mechanism (1, 2) which is generally composed of a rotating latch (1) and a claw portion (2). In addition, a mechanical operating lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9) is provided, and an electric motor drive device (4, 5) is also provided. The locking mechanism (1, 2) can be released by the electric motor drive device (4, 5) and the operating lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9). In addition, the operating lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9) and the electric motor drive device (4, 5) are connected to each other via a coupling element (10). According to the present invention, when the operating lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9) is subjected to action, the coupling element (10) is detached from the drive device (4, 5) at least when the drive device (4, 5) is reversed.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 【0001】The present invention relates to a lock for automobiles, particularly a lock for automobile doors, comprising a lock mechanism generally composed of a rotary latch and a claw portion, further comprising a mechanical operating lever linkage device and an electric drive device. The lock mechanism can be opened by the electric drive device and the operating lever linkage device, and the operating lever linkage device and the drive device are connected to each other via a coupling element. 【0002】 【0002】The automobile lock claimed herein is basically any lock device provided inside and outside an automobile. These include, in particular, not only the aforementioned automobile door lock, but also locks for vehicle rear doors, automobile hood locks, vehicle fuel tank and rear door locks, glove box and seat locks, etc. Today, such vehicle locks are usually opened using an electric motor. For this purpose, an electric motor drive device usually acts on a release lever. 【0003】 【0003】The release lever can be used to lift the claw portion out of engagement with the rotary latch when the lock mechanism is closed. As a result, the rotary latch pivots in the opening direction by spring assistance and releases the previously engaged lock bolt. Thereby, the associated automobile door can be opened. This type of electric drive device for electric opening of vehicle locks is particularly convenient, and the user can operate it with little force. 【0004】 【0004】For example, for this purpose, it is assumed that the user operates an outer door handle equipped with a sensor. By querying the sensor by a control unit, information regarding the operation of the door handle is provided, and then an electric opening operation of the lock mechanism is started. In principle, this electric opening operation can also be automatically started in relation to a challenge-response dialog. In this case, the user has a transponder and is queried by the associated vehicle to determine the presence or absence of the user's access authority. A positive query result activates the electric opening (keyless entry) of the lock mechanism. 【0005】

[0005] The aforementioned electric motor drive system is normally supplied with energy from an energy source within the vehicle, such as the vehicle battery. Therefore, if the vehicle battery fails, the lock cannot be electrically released (or can no longer be released). Such vehicle battery failure can occur, for example, due to aging or after a long period of disuse. The same is true if the vehicle is involved in an accident. 【0006】

[0006] For this reason, such automotive locks are usually provided with so-called mechanical redundancy. This is embodied by a mechanical actuation lever chain. The design is usually such that the mechanical actuation lever chain is generally open when the electric motor drive is energized, so that no additional load is placed on the lock through the mechanical actuation lever chain. Typically, the mechanical actuation lever chain and the electric motor drive share the aforementioned release lever to lift the lock mechanism. 【0007】

[0007] On the one hand, the electric motor drive unit, and on the other hand, for example, a door handle which is part of a mechanical actuation lever chain, are mechanically connected via a coupling element so that the actuation lever chain and the drive unit can at least alternatively act on the release lever to open the locking mechanism. In principle, even if the electric motor drive unit fails, it is possible to reset the electric motor drive unit using the mechanical actuation lever chain. 【0008】

[0008] In the prior art classified as DE 10 2019 133 654 A1, the release lever is operated by at least one manually operable operating lever which is part of an electric motor drive device and an operating lever chain device. A locking unit is also provided to prevent manual unlocking of the locking mechanism. 【0009】

[0009] While the prior art is useful in principle, there is still room for improvement. In practice, a coupling element connecting an electric motor drive unit and an actuation lever chain unit is often used to move the coupling element both when the locking mechanism is electrically released and when the electric motor drive unit returns to its original position. This allows the actuation lever chain unit to be selectively opened and closed, for example, via the coupling element and the connected actuation lever chain unit. When the electric motor drive unit is activated to release the locking mechanism, the actuation lever chain unit usually opens via the coupling element. When the drive unit is reversed, the actuation lever chain unit closes again. 【0010】

[0010] However, due to the entanglement of the coupling element accompanying the movement of the electric motor drive, particularly during the reversal movement of the electric motor drive, the coupling element moves backward, so to speak. If the operating lever chain device is also acted upon by the door handle during operation, there is a risk that the coupling element and the operating lever chain device will move in virtually opposite directions. This can cause disconnection or at least make manual operation of the operating lever chain device difficult, resulting in a tactile discomfort (decreased haptics). From the standpoint of comfort, this is detrimental to the operator. The present invention aims to solve this problem as a whole. [Overview of the Initiative] 【0011】

[0011] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such automobile locks, in particular automobile door locks, to achieve complete functionality with a simple design and, in particular, to improve haptics compared to the prior art. 【0012】

[0012] To solve this technical problem, a general-purpose automobile lock within the scope of the present invention is characterized in that the operating lever chain device detaches from the drive unit when it is activated and at least when the drive unit is reversed, and in particular rotates away from it. 【0013】

[0013] The present invention is primarily based on the recognition that a coupling element is generally rotatably mounted within an associated lock housing. The coupling element interacts with an electric motor drive on the one hand and with an actuating lever chain on the other. For this reason, the coupling element is generally equipped with a control arm that interacts with, or is capable of interacting with, a control element which is part of the electric motor drive. For this reason, the electric motor drive generally has an electric motor and the aforementioned control element. The control element may advantageously be a worm wheel. 【0014】

[0014] In addition, the coupling element is usually equipped with an actuating arm that is mechanically connected to the actuating lever chain device. Therefore, when the control element performs a motion initiated by an electric motor, these movements not only result in the electrical release of the locking mechanism according to the present invention, but also generally involve a pivoting motion of the coupling element, which is transmitted to the actuating lever chain device via the actuating arm. This allows the actuating lever chain device to be moved to various functional positions, for example, from an open state to a closed state or vice versa, in the electrical release process of the locking mechanism described. For this reason, the coupling element generally acts on a coupling lever that is part of the actuating lever chain device, and the coupling lever is engaged or disengaged accordingly. 【0015】

[0015] When the coupling lever is "engaged," the actuating lever chain is simultaneously mechanically closed. In contrast, the "disengaged" state of the coupling element corresponds to the actuating lever chain being mechanically open. As previously described, these different functional positions can be achieved simultaneously with the electrical release of the locking mechanism according to the present invention, or can be reached when the electric drive is reversed. 【0016】

[0016] In order to prevent collision with the actuating lever chain device when the electric drive device is reversed, i.e., to prevent the actuating lever chain device and the reversing electric drive device from acting in opposite directions relative to the coupling element, the actuating lever chain device ensures that when actuated, the coupling element detaches from the drive device or pivots away from it. This allows the control element, i.e., the worm wheel, which is a component of the electric motor drive device, to freewheel relative to the actuating lever chain device. 【0017】

[0017] This prevents collision between the coupling element and the actuation lever chain device. On the other hand, when the electric drive unit reverses, the coupling element pivots away from the control element that is reversing, allowing for additional operation of the actuation lever chain device. In this case, the coupling element is actuated "solely by the actuation lever chain device" and not by the control element which is part of the electric drive unit, thus improving haptics. This further enhances the overall haptics. 【0018】

[0018] At the same time, the present invention ensures that the coupling element can interact with the electric motor drive again after the actuation lever chain device has ceased to operate. That is, the actuation lever chain device first ensures that the control element is freewheeled as a component of the electric motor drive device. However, when the actuation lever chain device is no longer actuated, the freewheeling also ends, and the coupling element can interact with the electric motor drive device again, or is able to interact with it again. This is particularly advantageous when a specific functional position of the actuation lever chain device can be simultaneously realized and implemented when the electric motor drive device is actuated to electrically release the locking mechanism. In contrast, such a functional sequence in the actuation lever chain device is often unnecessary when the electric drive device is reversed. 【0019】

[0019] In any case, the control element initiated by the operating lever chain device or door handle, particularly the temporary freewheeling of the worm wheel, ensures that malfunctions are avoided on the one hand and haptics are improved on the other. This is because, within the scope of the present invention, conflicting braking movements are clearly avoided. These are the main advantages. 【0020】

[0020] In a more advantageous embodiment, the actuation lever chain device also includes a coupling lever in addition to the release lever, actuation lever and the aforementioned door handle. According to the present invention, the coupling lever is equipped with a shape designed to interact with an opposing shape on the coupling element. The interaction between the shape and the opposing shape ensures that when the actuation lever chain device, and therefore the coupling lever, is actuated, a desired freewheel is achieved, or the shape on the coupling lever moves toward the corresponding shape on the coupling element, in this embodiment ensuring that the coupling element pivots away from engagement with the control element as a component of an electric drive device. 【0021】

[0021] Alternatively, in addition to this exemplary form on the coupling lever, an auxiliary freewheel lever may be implemented as a component of the actuating lever chain. This freewheel lever is configured to interact with the coupling element to ensure that when the actuating lever chain is actuated, and at least when the electric motor drive is reversed, the control element can perform the desired freewheel as a component of the electric motor drive. For this purpose, the freewheel lever acts on the coupling element and generally pivots it away from engagement with the control element or worm wheel. 【0022】

[0022] Furthermore, the design may be such that the coupling element has a coupling element (11). The coupling element (11) is typically preloaded by a spring in the direction of the drive unit, specifically in the direction of the control element or worm wheel as a component of an electric motor drive unit. The spring can be connected to the coupling element (10). 【0023】

[0023] In the first modification, the coupling element (11) is mounted on the coupling element (10) so as to be linearly movable. As soon as the operating lever chain device, or a door handle which is part thereof, is actuated and the electric motor drive device is reversed at the same time, the linearly displaceable coupling element (11) is pushed back by the control element or worm wheel against the spring force. As soon as the reversal movement is complete, the linearly displaceable coupling element (11) can again interact with the control element or worm wheel. 【0024】 [0024 As an additional or alternative option, a coupling element (11) may be rotatably mounted on a coupling element (10). In this case, the coupling element (10) is advantageously equipped with an actuation pin, which is usually on the head side of the coupling element (10) and located on a control arm. The coupling element (10) can interact with a control element or a worm wheel via the actuation pin. For this purpose, the worm wheel may be equipped with a corresponding external shape. 【0025】

[0025] Simultaneously, the aforementioned freewheel can be achieved via this actuation pin. This is because the actuation pin can be moved from the engagement position with the control element or worm wheel to the freewheel position relative to the electric motor drive using a coupling element (11) rotatably mounted on the coupling element (10). This can again be done against spring force so that when the rotatable coupling element (11) is no longer actuated, the actuation pin automatically moves to the engagement position with the control element or worm wheel. 【0026】 That is, the electric motor drive device is advantageously equipped with an electric motor and a control element, particularly a worm wheel. Subsequently, the coupling element is capable of interacting with the control element or the worm wheel. For this purpose, the worm wheel has at least one outer profile portion, and this outer profile portion acts on the coupling element. 【0027】 【0027】As a result, an automobile lock with high functional reliability and improved haptics compared to the prior art is obtained. This is because, on the one hand, the electric motor drive device for electrically releasing one lock and, on the other hand, the operating lever linkage device do not collide with each other during the operation of the locking mechanism. Rather, such a collision is prevented by the free wheel of the electric motor drive device with respect to the mechanical operating lever linkage device. These are the main advantages. 【Brief Description of the Drawings】 【0028】 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings showing only an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing an automobile lock according to the present invention in the form of a lock for an automobile door. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an individual view of different modifications of the vehicle door lock according to FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an individual view of different modifications of the vehicle door lock according to FIG. 1. 【0029】 Detailed Description of the Invention 【0030】

[0029] The drawings show an automobile lock, i.e., an automobile door lock. In its basic design, the lock has locking mechanisms 1 and 2 shown only in Figure 1, which are generally composed of a rotating latch 1 and a claw portion 2. In this case, the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 extend in a plane perpendicular to the illustrated plane. A release lever 3 is provided to release the locking mechanism, and as shown in Figure 1, the release lever 3 rotates counterclockwise around its axis. As a result, the release lever 3 moves in contact with the pin of the claw portion 2, lifting the claw portion 2 from engagement with the rotating latch 1 when the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 are closed. As a result, a lock bolt (not shown) is released, and the associated vehicle door can be opened. 【0031】

[0030] Electric motor drive devices 4 and 5 are provided to initiate the rotational movement of the release lever 3 for electrically releasing the locking mechanisms 1 and 2. These consist of an electric motor 4 and a control element 5. According to one embodiment, the control element 5 is a worm wheel, and is equipped with an operating cam on its rear side (not shown in Figure 1). When the control element or the worm wheel 5 rotates in the counterclockwise direction shown, it causes the release lever 3 to rotate around its axis in the counterclockwise direction shown in Figure 1. 【0032】

[0031] In addition, mechanical actuation lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are implemented. The mechanical actuation lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 have, in addition to the aforementioned release lever 3 which interacts with the electric motor drive devices 4 and 5, a door handle or actuation lever 6, i.e., an internal actuation lever 6, a coupling lever 7, a deflection lever 8, one or two transmission levers 9, and an actuation lever 13. With the help of the transmission lever 9, when the actuation lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are actuated via the door handle or internal actuation lever 6, the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 can be released instead of the electric motor drive devices 4 and 5. A coupling element 10 is also provided to prevent mutual interference or collision when the common release lever 3 is actuated. According to the embodiment, the coupling element 10 is designed as a reversing lever. 【0033】

[0032] In practice, the coupling element 10, which is acted upon by the electric drive units 4, 5 or their worm wheel 5, ensures that the mechanical actuation lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13 are generally in an open state when the locking mechanisms 1, 2 are electrically released by the electric drive units 4, 5. As a result, the coupling lever 7 is disengaged. However, in a basic position not shown herein, the coupling lever 7 is engaged and the actuation lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13 are in a closed state. In any case, the actuation lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13 and the electromechanical drive units 4, 5 are connected to each other via the coupling element 10. 【0034】

[0033] In order to avoid any malfunctions when the electric motor drive units 4 and 5 are reversed after the electric release of the locking mechanisms 1 and 2, and the door handle 6 is operated at the same time, and in order to eliminate any opposite rotational movement, the operating lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 ensure that the coupling element 10 disengages from the electric motor drive units 4 and 5 when operated, especially with the help of the door handle 6, at least when the electric motor drive units 4 and 5 are reversed. For this purpose, the present invention proposes two basic modifications shown in Figures 2 and 3. 【0035】

[0034] In fact, in both Figures 2 and 3, control elements or worm wheels 5, coupling elements 10, and parts of the actuating lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are generally visible as components of the electric drive devices 4 and 5. In this section, only the coupling lever 7 and deflection lever 8 are shown. In this regard, the coupling lever 7 in particular has been modified compared to the illustration in Figure 1. 【0036】

[0035] The modified example shown in Figure 2 is designed such that the coupling lever 7 is equipped with an outer shape or lever arm 7a, the outer shape 7a being configured to interact with an opposing outer shape 11 on the coupling element 10. In the shown design embodiment, the opposing outer shape 11 is provided on or coincides with the coupling element 11. For this purpose, the coupling element 11 is mounted on or within the coupling element 10 so as to be linearly displaceable. Figure 2 also shows a spring 12 acting on the coupling element 11 in the direction of the control element 5. 【0037】

[0036] When the operator pulls the door handle 6, the operating lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are activated, which generally corresponds to the downward movement of the coupling lever 7, indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. This downward movement of the coupling lever 7 causes the outer shape 7a to act on the coupling element 11, that is, the coupling element 11 also moves "downward" against the force of the spring 12. As a result, the coupling element 11 cannot (or can no longer) interact with the control element or the worm wheel 5. This is because the operating outer shape 5a provided on the worm wheel 5 passes over the coupling element 11 in this case, and cannot rotate the coupling element 10 counterclockwise around its axis as in the normal case. 【0038】

[0037] On the other hand, when the actuating lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are no longer actuated, the coupling lever 7 moves upward, and the coupling element 11 can again interact with the control element or worm wheel 5. In this case, the outer shape 5a on the control element or worm wheel acts on the coupling element 10 via the coupling element 11, and according to the embodiment, the coupling element 10 can be rotated counterclockwise about its axis. Such counterclockwise rotation of the coupling element 10 generally results in the actuating lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 being in a closed state. Thus, the coupling lever 7 is "engaged". 【0039】

[0038] According to the exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that the spring 12 acting on the coupling element 11 is connected to the coupling element 10. In fact, the spring 12 is a bipedal spring, with one leg firmly connected to the coupling element 10 and the other free leg acting on the coupling element 11 in the direction of the control element or worm wheel 5. 【0040】

[0039] In another modified example shown in Figure 3, the coupling element 11 is mounted on the coupling element 10 in a rotatable manner rather than in a linearly displaceable manner. In this case, the rotatable coupling element 11 and the coupling element 10 are mounted on the same axis, using a common axis or axis of rotation. 【0041】

[0040] In this case, the coupling element 10 is equipped with an actuation pin 10c. The actuation pin 10c is located on the head side of the control arm 10a of the coupling element 10. In addition to the control arm 10a, the coupling element 10 is also equipped with an actuation arm 10b, which provides a mechanical connection to the actuation lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, and in particular the deflection lever 8 therein. 【0042】

[0041] The actuating lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are again actuated via the door handle 6, causing the coupling lever 7 to perform the "downward" movement shown in Figure 3. As a result, the coupling element 11 pivots counterclockwise around a common axis with the coupling element 10 via the corresponding outer shape 7a, moving while enveloping the rotatable coupling element 11. Consequently, the rotatable coupling element 11 ensures that the coupling element 10 also pivots counterclockwise around the same axis, substantially in phase with the coupling element 11, via the actuating pin 10c on the coupling element 10. 【0043】

[0042] This prevents the actuation pin 10c from interacting with the control element or worm wheel 5 as a component of the electric motor drive units 4 and 5. In other words, in this case, the coupling element 10 or its actuation pin 10c ensures that the coupling element 10 moves from the engaged position to the electric motor drive units 4 and 5 to the freewheel position. In the freewheel position, the control element or worm wheel 5 can rotate freely, and in particular, it is possible to reverse it to the home position through the electrical release process of the locking mechanisms 1 and 2. 【0044】

[0043] In both modifications, the coupling element 10 is characterized in that it can interact with the control element 5 or the worm wheel as a component of the electric motor drive units 4 and 5. In addition, the particular design ensures that when the actuating lever chains 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are actuated and the electric motor drive units 4 and 5 are reversed, the control element or the worm wheel 5 is released from the coupling element 10, in particular, as long as the mechanical actuating lever chains 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are actuated. 【0045】

[0044] When the actuating lever chain devices 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 are no longer actuated, the coupling element 10 can again interact with the electric motor drive devices 4 and 5. This is because, according to the two embodiments of Figures 2 and 3, the coupling element 11 is reset with the help of the spring 12, and as a result, the control element or the outer shape 5a on the worm wheel 5 acts on the coupling element 10, causing it to rotate counterclockwise via the electric motor drive devices 4 and 5. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0046】 1... Rotary latch, 2… Nail area 3...Release lever, 4… Electric motor, 5... Control elements, 6…Internal operating lever, 7... Coupling lever, 8... Deflection lever, 9...Transmission lever, 10... Coupling elements, 10a... Control arm, 10b... Actuating arm, 10c...Actuating pin, 11... Opposed external part, 12... Spring, 13...Operating lever.

Claims

[Claim 1] Automotive locks, especially locks for car doors, An automobile lock comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) generally composed of a rotating latch (1) and a claw portion (2), further comprising a mechanical operating lever chain (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) and an electric drive device (4, 5), wherein the locking mechanism (1, 2) can be released by the electric drive device (4, 5) and the operating lever chain (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13), the operating lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) and the drive device (4, 5) are connected to each other via a coupling element (10), and the operating lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) disengages the coupling element (10) from the drive device (4, 5) when it is operated, and at least when the drive device (4, 5) is reversed. [Claim 2] The automobile lock according to claim 1, characterized in that after the operation of the actuation lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) is completed, the coupling element (10) can interact with the electric motor drive device (4, 5) again. [Claim 3] The automotive lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the operating lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) is equipped with a release lever (3) and an operating lever (6), in particular an internal operating lever (6), as well as a coupling lever (7) having an outer shape (7a) designed to interact with an opposing outer shape (11) on the coupling element (10). [Claim 4] The automobile lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuation lever chain device (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13) has a freewheel lever for interaction with the coupling element (10). [Claim 5] The automotive lock according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the coupling element (10) has a coupling element (11) as an opposing outer shape portion (11), and advantageously, the coupling element (11) is preloaded within the drive device (4, 5) by a spring (12). [Claim 6] The automobile lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring (12) is connected to the coupling element (10). [Claim 7] The automotive lock according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the coupling element (11) is mounted on the coupling element (10) so as to be linearly displaceable and / or rotatable. [Claim 8] The automotive lock according to claim 7, wherein the coupling element (10) comprises an operating pin (10c), and the operating pin (10c) is movable with the help of the coupling element (11) from an engaged position to a freewheel position relative to the electric motor drive devices (4, 5). [Claim 9] The electric drive device (4, 5) is characterized by having an electric motor (4) and a control element (5), in particular a worm wheel (5), as described in any one of claims 1 to 8. [Claim 10] The automotive lock according to claim 9, characterized in that the coupling element (10) interacts with the control element (5).

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