Lock for automotive door

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic door lock equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, an electric drive (3, 4) for the locking mechanism (1, 2) is provided. Furthermore, an operating lever chain (5, 6, 7) is realized between the electric drive (3, 4) and the locking mechanism (1, 2), and a coupling element (7) of the operating lever chain (5, 6, 7) can be at least decoupled with the aid of an emergency operating element (9, 10) that can be manually actuated. According to the invention, the emergency operating element (9, 10) acts on the coupling element (7) primarily linearly relative to the link (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock for an automobile door, which essentially comprises a lock mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and a claw portion, an electric or electric drive device for the lock mechanism, and an operating lever chain realized between the electric drive device and the lock mechanism. The coupling element of the operating lever chain can be at least decoupled with the help of an emergency operating element that can act manually.

[0002] As usual, a lock for an automobile door, or its lock mechanism, interacts with a lock bolt on the automobile body as soon as a related automobile door that houses the lock for the automobile door, a rear door of the automobile, etc. is closed. For this purpose, the lock for the automobile door is usually arranged inside or on the automobile door. In contrast, the lock bolt is placed on the body, such as a B-pillar or a C-pillar.

[0003] The locking of an automobile door by an electric drive device or an electric drive device for a lock mechanism is actually known in various designs. The electric drive device usually plays the role of opening the lock mechanism. In addition, the lock mechanism can basically also be opened mechanically for reasons of redundancy. This can be done, for example, via an internal operating lever. In contrast, a sensor actuated by an external door handle usually ensures that the electric drive device is activated.

[0004] In the case of an electric drive device, especially an opening drive device for a lock mechanism having an operating lever chain between the electric drive device in question and the lock mechanism, in practice, for example, after an electric opening process, there may be a problem that the drive device cannot be put back to its normal position or can no longer be put back. This may be due to a complete or partial failure of the power supply of the electric drive device. However, alternatively or additionally, it is also extremely simply possible that the operating lever chain is mechanically blocked by mistake.

[0005] In both cases, this means that the pawl, as part of the locking mechanism, remains lifted from the rotary latch and the pawl and can no longer enter the rotary latch in a locking or latching manner. As a result, the rotary latch also remains open, and in this case, the locking mechanism cannot be closed (can no longer be closed). This is because the pawl cannot fall into the rotary latch during closure due to its lifted position.

[0006] In the general state of the art according to DE 10 2017 124 531 A1, for this purpose, it is generally provided that an emergency actuating element is arranged on the locking side within an accessible area, such as an inlet mouth. As a result, considering a structurally simple design in conjunction with manual operation, the emergency lock can be realized with little effort in a simple way. In the process of this manual emergency lock, according to the state of the art according to DE 10 2017 124 531 A1, it is specifically verified that the emergency actuating element is such that the coupling lever, as part of the actuating lever chain, is moved to its "uncoupled" position. As a result, the actuating lever chain is mechanically interrupted and the pawl is no longer held in the position where it is lifted from the rotary latch, but can snap into latching without being hindered by the rotary latch for the aforementioned emergency lock when the associated vehicle door is closed. This has been proven in principle.

[0007] However, the general solution according to DE 10 2017 124 531 A1 uses a special emergency actuating element with an eccentric for this purpose. Such an embodiment requires additional separate production and assembly, which provides potential cost savings.

[0008] In a further state of the art according to U.S. Patent No. 5,445,326, a solution is presented in which the locking pawl can act directly or indirectly by cable tension. However, such a solution cannot be transferred to a lock for a vehicle door by an electric drive or an opening drive.

[0009] In another general teaching corresponding to US Patent No. 2019 / 0106914 A1, this procedure is such that an additional emergency actuating handle can act on the release lever. This solution is structurally complex.

[0010] This also applies to a lock for a motor vehicle door, as known from DE 10 2017 123 262 A1. A mechanical actuating element is provided here for the emergency actuation of the drive element, and for this purpose it acts radially on the drive element of the electric drive device to effect its rotation. For this purpose, the drive element and the actuating element each have a gear. In normal operation, the two gears do not mesh with each other and are only engaged with each other for emergency actuation.

Summary of the Invention

[0011] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a lock for a motor vehicle door so that a structurally simple, functionally reliable and cost-effective solution is available.

[0012] To solve this technical problem, within the scope of the present invention, a general lock for a motor vehicle door is characterized in that the emergency actuating element mainly acts linearly on the coupling element with respect to the link.

[0013] A further advantageous procedure here is that, by pulling or pressing, the emergency actuating element moves the coupling element from its consistently taken "coupled" position to a "decoupled" state. Furthermore, this design is usually such that the emergency actuating element selectively engages with a pin of the coupling element guided within the link. The link itself is usually provided on the release lever.

[0014] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, two release levers are generally realized, and these two release levers are mechanically connected to each other by a coupling element in the coupled state and are decoupled from each other in the decoupled state. The two release levers are on the same axis throughout, i.e., they can be mounted on an associated lock housing, which basically has a lock cover and a lock case for mounting the locking mechanism.

[0015] The emergency actuating element can be formed particularly simply and inexpensively with respect to its part by this special design. This is because the coupling element takes mostly its "coupled" basic position. In this "coupled" position, the coupling element ensures that the two release levers are mechanically connected to each other. As a result, when the electric drive acts on the actuating lever chain, the lock mechanism can be opened as desired by this mechanically closed actuating lever chain. For this purpose, the actuating lever chain in question generally acts on a claw and lifts it out of engagement with the rotary latch, so that the rotary latch can open with the help of a spring and release the aforementioned lock bolt. Thereby, the door of the motor vehicle can be opened immediately.

[0016] However, in the case of an emergency actuation or emergency lock, this corresponds to the fact that the electric drive has not been moved to its normal position after such an opening process in normal operation, or the actuating lever chain has a mechanical closure. In either case, with the help of the emergency actuating element, the coupling element can consistently shift from the coupled state it has taken to the decoupled state. As a result, the two release levers are separated from each other, and the claw is no longer held in the lifted position. As a result, the lock bolt moves into the rotary latch and rotates the rotary latch, so that the lock for the motor vehicle door can be closed without problems by engaging the claw that slides along the rotary latch with the rotary latch.

[0017] By acting mainly linearly on the coupling element with the help of the emergency activation element, an advantageous possibility of designing the emergency activation element as an external tool is opened up. For this purpose, this external tool can pass through a separable opening in the locking housing for interaction with the coupling element and, in particular, can act on the coupling element for the linear movement of the emergency activation element. In this context, it has proven to be particularly useful when the emergency activation element is designed as a component of a vehicle. The separable opening can be designed as a plastic film with a thinner material thickness compared to a locking housing made of plastic material.

[0018] Therefore, in such cases and in the case of an emergency activation element designed as a vehicle component, no additional external tools such as those shown by experience to be unavailable in an emergency or unknown to the vehicle operator are required. In contrast, the components of a motor vehicle are immediately available as an emergency activation element and can be used intuitively by the operator for emergency activation, especially emergency locking. Such components of a motor vehicle can be an automobile key or its key bit, a screwdriver as part of an on-board tool kit, a rod as part of an on-board tool kit, etc. However, theoretically, emergency activation or emergency locking can also be carried out in this case using, for example, a pin, such as a ball pin, or a pair of pliers as required. In any case, there are various possibilities for emergency operations for the operator to advantageously implement an emergency lock in order to lock the associated motor vehicle door and thus the entire motor vehicle. Otherwise, there is a risk that the unlocked motor vehicle will be stolen.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment, the emergency actuating element can be designed as a closure device that covers the opening of the lock housing and has a connected flexible actuating element. In this context, it has proven useful when the closure device and the actuating element are integrally designed, for example, as plastic molded parts. The closure device may be a closure plug for the opening of the lock housing. The connected flexible actuating element can be designed as a plastic cable molded onto the closure plug.

[0020] In the case of the problem closure plug, since the operator can easily remove it from the lock housing in the event of an emergency actuation or emergency lock, during this process, the coupling element actuated by the flexible actuating element is automatically moved from the taken "coupled" position to the "uncoupled" state at the same time. However, as an alternative, for example, in the case of an emergency operation by a spring, it is also possible to cause the closure device or the closure plug to be automatically pushed out of the opening. Therefore, in this case, the operator does not need to separately remove the closure device from the opening.

[0021] In any case, a particularly simple and inexpensive emergency actuating element is available, thereby eliminating the need for additional production and installation of an eccentric as described therein, in contrast to the general state of the art according to DE 10,2017124,531 A1. At the same time, since the desired functional reliability is provided, a considerable cost advantage can be expected overall. Here lies the essential advantage.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

[0023] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings showing only one exemplary embodiment.

[0024] The single figure shows, in its basic structure, a lock for an automotive door having locking mechanisms 1, 2 consisting essentially of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. The locking mechanisms 1, 2 are shown only in the figure. The same applies to the electric drive devices 3, 4 of the locking mechanisms 1, 2, and only the output gear 3 having a cam 4 is shown in the figure. The gear 3 having a cam 4 is driven by an electric motor (not shown).

[0025] The electric drive devices 3, 4 operate to release the locking mechanisms 1, 2 on two release levers 5, 6, which are coaxially mounted with respect to each other within a locking housing G made of a plastic material (not shown). Furthermore, a coupling element 7 is realized, which mechanically connects and separates the two release levers 5, 6 such that a pin engaging the link 8 of the second release lever 6 can be substantially seen.

[0026] When the coupling element 7 is in the "coupled" position, the two release levers 5, 6, i.e., the first release lever 5 and the second release lever 6, are mechanically connected to each other. This corresponds to normal operation. In this case, by acting on the drive devices 3, 4, the first release lever 5 is typically pivoted in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 1, and in this case, the second coupling lever 6, which is mechanically connected via the coupling element 7, is also carried along. The counterclockwise movement of the two release levers 5, 6 coupled to each other results in lifting the pawl 2 engaging the rotary latch 1 in a latching manner in the closed state of the locking mechanism 1, 2 from its latching engagement. As a result, the rotary latch 1 can be released with the aid of a spring and can, usually with the aid of a spring (not shown in detail and described at the beginning of the description), release the lock bolt. Further details of this are disclosed in the general DE 10 2017 124 531 A1 having a similar locking structure.

[0027] If the electric drive units 3, 4 do not move according to the above-described release process or do not move completely to the basic or normal position shown in FIG. 1, this keeps the actuating lever chain 5, 6, 7 formed by the two release levers 5, 6 and the coupling lever 7 closed. In such a case, when the normal operation is interrupted, the closed actuating lever chain 5, 6, 7 between the electric drive units 3, 4 and the locking mechanisms 1, 2 ensures that the pawl 2 is at least partially held against the rotary latch 1 or remains held in its lifted position. As a result, in the subsequent closing process, the locking bolt can actually move into the inlet mouth of the rotary latch 1, but in this case, the pawl 2 cannot interact with the rotary latch 1 in a latching manner. In this case, the locking mechanisms 1, 2 remain open and the associated motor vehicle door cannot be (manually) locked.

[0028] Nevertheless, according to an exemplary embodiment, manually operable emergency actuating elements 9, 10 are realized in order to provide an emergency lock or emergency actuation of one of the locking mechanisms 1, 2 or the actuating lever chain 5, 6, 7. According to the invention, with the aid of the emergency actuating elements 9, 10, the coupling element 7 can act mainly linearly on the link 8. In contrast, for example, in the general teaching according to DE 10 2017 124 531 A1, the emergency actuating element is subjected to a rotational action which acts on the coupling element there via an eccentric.

[0029] Specifically, according to the invention, the emergency actuating elements 9, 10 ensure that the coupling element 7 is acted upon so as to be pulled. In this case, the coupling element 7 transitions from the consistently adopted "coupled" position to the "uncoupled" state. Furthermore, this design is such that the emergency actuating elements 9, 10 optionally engage with the aforementioned pins guided in the link 8 as an essential part of the coupling element 7. The link 8 is provided on the release levers 5, 6, specifically the second release lever 6.

[0030] The possibility of designing the emergency actuating elements 9, 10 as external tools is not shown. With the help of this external tool, the operator can pierce a separable opening in the locking housing for interacting with the coupling element 7. In an exemplary embodiment, a variant is shown in which the emergency actuating elements 9, 10 are designed as a closure device 9, which covers the opening of the locking housing G and has an attached flexible actuating element 10. In fact, according to an exemplary embodiment, the closure device 9 and the actuating element 10 are integrally designed as plastic molded parts. That is, the closure device 9 and the actuating element 10 can be produced and realized jointly and particularly inexpensively in a plastic injection molding process. The flexible actuating element 10 may be a cable molded onto the closure device 9.

[0031] In the case of an emergency actuation, as soon as the closure device 9 covering the opening is removed from the opening by the operator, the operator can act on the coupling element 7 or its pin (by pulling) via the flexible actuating element 10 connected to the closure device 9. For this purpose, the flexible actuating element 10 can be further guided via a deflection 11 in the locking housing G, but this is of course not essential.

[0032] Description of the reference

[0033] 1, 2... locking mechanism, 1... rotary latch, 2... locking mechanism, 3, 4... electric drive, 3... gear, 4... cam, 5, 6, 7... actuating lever chain, 5, 6... release lever, 5... first release lever, 7... coupling element, 8... link, 9, 10... emergency actuating element, 9... closure device, 10... actuating element, 11... deflector, G... locking housing.

Claims

1. An automobile door lock comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a claw part (2), an electric drive device (3, 4) of the locking mechanism (1, 2), and an operating lever chain (5, 6, 7) realized between the electric drive device (3, 4) and the locking mechanism (1, 2), The operating lever chain (5, 6, 7) includes a release lever (5, 6) including a first release lever (5) and a second release lever (6) for releasing the locking mechanism (1, 2) by the electric drive device (3, 4), and a coupling element (7) for mechanically connecting the first release lever (5) and the second release lever (6) to release the connection between them, and is provided with, The coupling element (7) can release the connection of at least the first release lever (5) and the second release lever (6) with the help of an emergency operating element (9, 10) that can be manually operated, The emergency operating element (9, 10) acts on the coupling element (7) mainly linearly with respect to the link (8), The emergency operating element (9, 10) engages with a pin of the coupling element (7) guided by the link (8), and the link (8) is provided on the release lever (6). An automobile door lock characterized by this.

2. By pulling or pushing, the emergency operating element (9, 10) causes the coupling element (7) to shift from its consistently taken "coupled" position to the "coupling release" position. The automobile door lock according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The first release lever (5) and the second release lever (6) are mechanically connected to each other by the coupling element (7) in the coupled position and are released from each other in the coupling release position. The automobile door lock according to Claim 2, characterized by this.

4. The first release lever (5) and the second release lever (6) are coaxially mounted, and the first release lever (5) is connected to the second release lever (6) via the coupling element (7), and the link (8) is provided on the second release lever (6). The lock for an automobile door according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The emergency actuating elements (9, 10) pass through an opening in the lock housing of the lock for an automobile door in order to interact with the coupling element (7). The lock for an automobile door according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The emergency actuating elements (9, 10) are designed as components of the vehicle. The lock for an automobile door according to claim 5.

7. The emergency actuating elements (9, 10) include a closure device (9) covering an opening of the lock housing to which the flexible actuating element (10) is attached. The lock for an automobile door according to claim 6.

8. The closure device (9) and the flexible actuating element (10) are integrally designed as plastic molded parts. The lock for an automobile door according to claim 7.

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