Automotive locks, especially car door locks

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock for motor vehicles, in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door, equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) which in its basic design essentially consists of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, a closing drive (4) and an opening drive (4) for the locking mechanism (1, 2) are implemented. In addition, a driving pawl (5) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2) is implemented. According to the invention, a single combined opening / closing drive (4) is implemented for the driving pawl (5) which acts optionally in an opening direction (O) when acting on the pawl (2) and in a reverse closing direction (Z) when acting on the rotary latch (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular to a lock for a motor vehicle door which essentially comprises a rotary latch and a pawl, and further comprises a closing drive device and an opening drive device for the lock mechanism, and a drive pawl for acting on the rotary latch.

[0002]

[0002] Generally, a lock mechanism essentially consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl is designed as a single-pawl type lock mechanism, i.e., it has one (single) pawl. However, in principle, the present invention also includes a so-called multi-pawl type lock mechanism having two pawls.

[0003]

[0003] In the general prior art according to DE 10 2018 113 270 A1, a closing drive device and an opening drive device are provided for the lock mechanism. The rotary latch can be moved to an overstroke position by the closing drive device. To open the lock mechanism, the rotary latch is held in the overstroke position by the closing drive device. Thereby, when the lock mechanism is open, the opening drive device can release the pawl and the closing drive device can return to its basic position. In this way, the overall noise generated during the opening process of the lock mechanism should be reduced compared to previous designs.

[0004]

[0004] A further prior art according to DE 10 2019 135 464 A1 relates to a lock for a motor vehicle provided with a closing drive device and an opening device. The closing drive device has at least one pivot lever that can be actuated by an electric motor and a closing pawl that acts on the rotary latch. The opening device is equipped with a toggle lever facility, which couples the pivot lever and the closing pawl during the closing operation and separates them for opening.

[0005]

[0005] Known automotive locks, in the end, are generally proven and reliable in themselves, since the opening and closing drives for the locking mechanism are spatially and functionally separated from each other. Further prior art by DE 20 2008 015 789 U1 also relates to embodiments that utilize opening / closing devices. However, at this point, the drive is designed to ensure either the closing or opening movement of the locking mechanism. This has also proven successful.

[0006]

[0006] Looking at the first two embodiments according to the general DE 10 2018 1 13 270 A1 and DE 10 2019 135 464 A1, it becomes clear that the spatial and functional separation of the opening and closing drive units results in a relatively complex structure, which can also be understood as a whole. Otherwise, mutual functional interference may occur. However, for cost-effective production, it is desirable to combine the individual functions. Currently, there is no compelling solution to this in the prior art. [Overview of the project]

[0007]

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such automotive locks, in particular automotive door locks, to be simpler in terms of design and manufacture compared to the prior art.

[0008]

[0008] To solve this technical problem, a general automobile lock, in particular an automobile door lock, is characterized in that, within the scope of the present invention, a single combined open / close drive device is implemented which acts on the drive claw in the open direction to act on the claw and in the opposite closing direction to act on the rotary latch.

[0009]

[0009] In contrast to the comprehensive prior art by DE 10 2018 113 270 A1 or the teachings by DE 10 2019 113 464 A1, the present invention no longer relies on a closing drive and a separate opening drive for the locking mechanism, i.e., two electric drive units. Rather, according to the present invention, a single electric drive unit, i.e., a single combined opening / closing drive unit, is used. With the help of this combined opening / closing drive unit, the opening and closing processes of the desired locking mechanism are realized and implemented.

[0010]

[0010] For this purpose, the single combined open / close drive according to the present invention acts on a drive pawl, which selectively acts on the pawl in the opening direction and on the rotary latch in the opposite closing direction. Such drive devices are commonly described in DE 20 2008 015 789 U1, but only in the sense of a "two-way" relationship, so that either a closing process or an opening process can be realized and implemented.

[0011]

[0011] In contrast, the present invention operates with a single combined open / close drive that acts in the open direction on one hand and in the opposite closed direction on the other. In the open direction, the open / close drive, coupled with the drive claw, ensures that the claw is lifted from its locked engagement with the rotary latch. As a result, the rotary latch can be released in a spring-suspension manner, releasing the previously held lock bolt. An electric open drive is connected to this.

[0012]

[0012] Simultaneously, according to the present invention, a single combined open / close drive unit can close the rotary latch in the closing direction opposite to the opening direction via a drive pawl. In this case, the drive pawl ensures that the rotary latch moves further by the drive pawl towards the main lock position, for example, starting from a pre-lock position. For this purpose, a single combined open / close drive unit is moved in the closing direction.

[0013]

[0013] Thus, within the scope of the present invention, an automotive lock is provided that eliminates the need for two separate electric drive units, one for electric opening and the other for electric closing, and maps both functions to a single combined opening / closing drive unit including a drive claw. This saves both manufacturing and assembly costs. It also allows for weight reduction. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention are characterized in particular by a compact design, and therefore require significantly less installation space compared to the prior art. These are the main advantages.

[0014]

[0014] According to another advantageous embodiment, the drive pawl is equipped with teeth for engaging with the gear wheel of the combined open / close drive. The drive pawl is typically a toothed segment wheel designed to rotate about its axis. The toothed segment wheel is characterized in that the teeth are mounted only on the toothed segment, which is one peripheral segment that the gear wheel of the open / close drive meshes with to drive the drive pawl.

[0015]

[0015] In order to act on the claw or the rotary latch, the drive claw has an extension arm that can act on either the claw or the rotary latch. In most cases, this procedure still involves the toothed segment and extension arm of the drive claw being positioned at an angular distance from each other.

[0016]

[0016] The angular distance between the toothed segment and the drive pawl prevents any functional failure when the drive pawl is actuated by the combined open / close drive mechanism. This is also aided by the fact that the drive pawl is typically pot-shaped in cross-section, having a central axis of rotation, a peripheral toothed segment, and an extension arm.

[0017]

[0017] The pot shape design in the cross-section of the drive claw takes into account the fact that the drive claw typically further comprises a contour for interaction with a sensor that queries the angular position of the drive claw. This contour is typically found on a truncated cylinder that can be connected to the drive claw (in a manner fixed in the rotational direction) or designed as a single piece together with the drive claw. The truncated cylinder not only defines the central axis of rotation of the drive claw but also equips the necessary contour on its outer circumference, which can be queryed using a sensor to determine the angular position of the drive claw. As a result of the pot shape in the cross-section of the drive claw, the drive claw can overlap the truncated cylinder in question, and as a result both the peripheral toothed segment and the extension arm are displaced in the relevant plane extended by the locking mechanism.

[0018]

[0018] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the extension arm of the drive claw is positioned within a holding area that does not act on the claw or the rotating latch when there is no load. The holding area can be detected using a sensor.

[0019]

[0019] In this way, additional stoppers, rubber buffers, etc. for the drive claw are clearly unnecessary. Rather, the interaction between the outer shape on the truncated cylinder on the one hand and the sensor that queries the outer shape on the other hand ensures that the drive claw occupies the restraining area in question in its unloaded state. This is the range of position of the drive claw in its unloaded state, deliberately taking into account any external influences.

[0020]

[0020] The base position of the drive claw in an unloaded state due to the combined open / close drive mechanism depends on factors such as the voltage acting on the open / close drive mechanism, temperature, and the direction in which the drive claw is loaded, i.e., whether its base position comes from the open direction or the closed direction. In any case, the retaining area is explicitly permitted and detected using a sensor in accordance with the present invention. This corresponds to the position range of the drive claw and therefore to the angular range that the drive claw can take in its base position. This eliminates the need for additional stops, stoppers, etc., and also helps to reduce weight, manufacturing costs, and price.

[0021]

[0021] This is also aided by the fact that the drive claw can be advantageously designed as a metal molded part or a plastic molded part. The same applies to the truncated cylinder. One drive claw and the other truncated cylinder can be designed as two parts, however, in principle they are integrally molded plastic or metal molded parts. Both metal and plastic molded parts can be designed as injection molded parts.

[0022]

[0022] As a result, an automotive lock, in particular an automotive door lock, is provided that can provide both electric opening and closing operations of the locking mechanism in a structurally very simple manner. This is thought to be due to the fact that a single combined opening / closing drive unit plays a role for both operations. In relation to a specially designed drive pawl, different rotation directions of the combined opening / closing drive unit are used to actuate the drive pawl in the opening device on the one hand and in the opposite closing device on the other hand. These are the main advantages. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0023]

[0023] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to drawings showing only one embodiment. [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an automotive lock according to the present invention in a different diagram. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an automobile lock according to the present invention in a different diagram. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the automotive lock according to the present invention in different views.

[0024] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0025]

[0024] The figure shows an automotive lock, particularly a lock for an automotive door. In its basic structure, the lock essentially has lock mechanisms 1 and 2 composed of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. This can mainly be seen from FIG. 1. For this purpose, the lock mechanisms 1 and 2 are mounted within a lock housing 3 which is mostly made of plastic or may be made of plastic. Additionally, the basic structure includes a closing drive device 4 and an opening drive device 4 for the aforementioned lock mechanisms 1 and 2, and according to this embodiment and the present invention, a single combined opening / closing drive device 4 is implemented.

[0026]

[0025] In addition, a drive pawl 5 is provided, and through this drive pawl 5, the rotary latch 1 or the lock mechanisms 1 and 2 can be actuated. According to the present invention, the drive pawl 5 can be arbitrarily controlled in the opening direction O to act on the pawl 2 and in the opposite closing direction Z with respect to the rotary latch 1. This can be best seen in FIG. 1, where both the opening direction O and the closing direction Z are shown.

[0027]

[0026] In this embodiment, the opening direction corresponds to a counterclockwise pivoting movement around the axis 6 of the drive pawl 5, and the closing direction Z of the drive pawl 5 corresponds to a clockwise rotation around the axis 6 of the drive pawl 5.

[0028]

[0027] It can be seen that the drive pawl 5 has teeth 5a. According to this embodiment, the tooth portion 5a serves to engage with the gear wheel 4 of the combined single opening / closing drive device 4. According to this embodiment, the gear wheel 4 and the opening / closing drive device 4 are designed to match. However, it should be noted that the opening / closing drive device 4 may have an electric motor and an intermediate wheel in addition to the gear wheel 4.

[0029]

[0028] The drive claw portion 5 is a toothed segment wheel that can rotate around the shaft 6. This can be attributed to the fact that the teeth 5a associated with the circular drive claw portion 5 are mounted and provided only on the peripheral segments of the drive claw portion 5. As a result, the toothed segment 5a is observed. The drive claw portion 5 further has an extension arm 5b that can optionally act on the claw portion 2 or the rotating latch 1.

[0030]

[0029] It can be seen that the toothed segment 5a of the drive claw portion 5 and the extension arm 5b are positioned at an angular distance from each other. In this embodiment, an angular distance α of approximately 90° with respect to the common rotation axis 6 is observed between the toothed segment 5a and the extension arm 5b, but this is just one embodiment and not limited to any particular case. In any case, one edge of the toothed segment 5a and the extension arm 5b are spaced apart from each other. In this way, mutual functional interference is eliminated.

[0031]

[0030] In particular, comparing Figure 1 and Figure 2, it can be seen that the drive claw portion 5, together with the rotational central axis 6, the peripheral toothed segment 5a and the extension arm 5b, has a pot-shaped cross-section. For this purpose, the detailed design is such that the drive claw portion 5 leans against the truncated cylinder 7, which can be seen in most of Figure 2, or is coupled to this truncated cylinder 7 in a manner that is rotatably fixed to it, in the common definition of the rotational axis 6. The truncated cylinder 7 has an outer shape 8 on its outer circumference that is designed to interact with the sensor 9.

[0032]

[0031] According to this embodiment, the sensor 9 is a switch, and more particularly, a microswitch. In this way, the angular position of the drive claw portion 5 can be determined using the sensor or the microswitch 9. This allows the extension arm 5b, which is a component of the drive claw portion 5, to be placed in the unloaded holding area P schematically shown in Figure 3.

[0033]

[0032] This retained area P is a part of the possible angular position or angular range that the extension arm 5b of the drive claw 5 can cover without the claw 2 or the rotary latch 1 being acted upon in the basic state shown in Figure 3. Here, the retained area P takes into account the assumed variation of the basic position by the extension arm 5b. Such variation is thought to be due to fluctuations in the voltage acting on the open / close drive device 4, temperature differences, or the point of approaching the basic position from the open direction O or the closed direction Z, as shown in Figure 3.

[0034]

[0033] In any case, by providing a holding area P on a part of the extension arm 5b of the drive claw 5, it is possible to completely eliminate the need for stopping the drive claw 5 or a stop buffer. This reduces design effort and manufacturing costs. Therefore, within the holding area P, the sensor 9 or microswitch consistently emits the same holding signal or sensor signal to the control unit (not explicitly shown) in order to evaluate the driving motion of the open / close drive device 4.

[0035]

[0034] The operating modes are as follows. Starting from the retained position, i.e., the basic position, of the drive claw unit shown in Figure 1, the movement of the drive claw unit 5 in the closing direction Z in a clockwise direction around the rotation axis 6 by the single combined open / close drive device 4 ensures that the extension arm 5b of the drive claw unit 5 moves toward the pin indicated by the rotation latch 1 connected to it. The clockwise movement of the extension arm 5b causes the rotation latch 1 in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 to pivot counterclockwise around its axis. For example, the rotation latch 1 shown in Figure 1 is in the pre-lock position and is moved to the main lock position by the extension arm 5b of the drive claw unit 5 through the above-described movement. In principle, the rotation latch 1 can also pivot to the overstroke position with the help of the drive claw unit 5 to facilitate engagement of the claw unit 2. Then, the drive claw unit 5 returns to the basic position, i.e., the retained area P. This corresponds to the counterclockwise movement of the drive claw unit 5.

[0036]

[0035] Starting from the basic position, i.e., the retaining area P, the extension arm 5b is rotated counterclockwise by acting in the opening direction O on it. In this process, the extension arm 5b moves against the stopping outer shape of the claw portion 2, ensuring that in this embodiment the claw portion 2 rotates clockwise around its axis. As the claw portion 2 moves clockwise relative to the rotary latch 1, the claw portion 2 moves away from the locked position relative to the rotary latch 1. As a result, the rotary latch 1 moves to its open position, allowing the previously held lock bolt (not shown) to be released. This opens the locking mechanisms 1 and 2. The same applies to the relevant automobile doors. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1, 2... Locking mechanism, 1... Rotary latch, 2... Nail area, 3…Housing for locking, 4... Closing drive mechanism or opening drive mechanism, gear wheel, 5... Drive claw section, teeth section, extension arm, 6...axis, 7...Cutting cylinder, 8...Outline part, 9... Sensor or switch, microswitch, O...opening direction, P...Reservation area, Z...Closing direction.

Claims

1. Automotive locks, particularly locks for automobile doors, Essentially, it has a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting of a rotating latch (1) and a claw portion (2), Furthermore, it is equipped with a closing drive device (4) and an opening drive device (4) for the locking mechanism (1, 2), A drive claw portion (5) for acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2), comprising a drive claw portion (5) having a pot-shaped cross-section, The drive claw portion (5) is further provided with a truncated cylinder (7) that defines the axis of rotation (6), An automobile lock characterized in that a single combined open / close drive device (4) is mounted on the drive claw portion (5) which acts arbitrarily on the drive claw portion (5) in the open direction (O) to act on the claw portion (2) and in the opposite closing direction (Z) to act on the rotating latch (1).

2. The automobile lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive claw portion (5) has teeth (5a) for engaging with the gear wheel (4) of the combined open / close drive device (4).

3. The automobile lock according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive claw portion (5) is designed as a toothed segment wheel that can rotate around the shaft (6).

4. The automobile lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive claw portion (5) has an extension arm (5b) that acts selectively on the claw portion (2) or the rotating latch (1).

5. The automobile lock according to claim 4, characterized in that the toothed segment portion (5a) of the drive claw portion (5) and the extension arm (5b) are arranged at an angular distance (α) from each other.

6. The drive claw portion (5) is characterized in that the cross-sectional shape of the shaft (6), the outer toothed segment (5a), and the extension arm (5b) is pot-shaped, as described in claim 5.

7. The automotive lock according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive claw portion (5) has an outer shape portion (8) for interacting with a sensor (9) that queries the angular position of the drive claw portion (5).

8. The automobile lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the extension arm (5b) of the drive claw portion (5) is positioned in a retaining area (P) that does not act on either the claw portion (2) or the rotating latch (1) when no load is applied.

9. The automobile lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the sensor (9) detects the holding area (P).

10. The automobile lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the drive claw portion (5) is designed as a metal and / or plastic molded part.

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