EP3394371B1 - Safety device for a motor vehicle, having a rotary latch and a pre-latching position and a main latching position - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a safety device for a motor vehicle, which has a lock holder, a pawl and a rotary latch, the rotary latch having a load arm, a catch arm, an opening direction of rotation, a closing direction of rotation, a pre-latching position and a main latching position.

Such a safety device is from the DE 10 2007 045 716 A1 known. There is a rotary latch with a load arm and a catch arm and a locking position is described, wherein a pawl engages around the rotary latch in the locking position of the rotary latch on the load arm. Furthermore, a safety device according to the preamble from the DE 20 2008 000 560 U1 known. The hood lock described therein has a rotary latch with a latching position and a main latching position, the pawl being latched onto the catch arm of the rotating latch in the latching position and in the main latching position. The DE 199 29 103 A1 discloses a safety device according to the preamble, wherein in this safety device, the pawl is also engaged both in the pre-locking position and in the main locking position of the rotary latch on the catch arm of the rotary latch. In the DE 199 37 405 B4 describes a safety device according to the preamble, in which, instead of a simple pawl, a pawl which is engaged in the main latching position of the catch on the outer circumference of the catch arm of the catch and in the pre-latched position of the catch is provided on the outer periphery of the catch of the catch.

The disadvantage of the safety devices described above according to the DE 20 2008 000 560 U1 and the DE 199 29 103 A1 consists in providing a first and second latching area on the outer circumference of the catch arm of the rotary latch for latching the pawl into the latching position and the main latching position of the rotary latch at a relatively large distance from the pivot point of the rotary latch at this point. A position of the respective snap-in areas at a relatively large distance from the pivot point of the rotary latch is therefore desirable, so that a load on the pawl in the event of securing against unintentional opening is as low as possible both in the pre-locking position and in the main locking position. However, a comparatively high cost of materials for realizing a latching area for the pre-latching and main latching position of the rotary latch can have a disadvantageous effect on the total weight of the safety device. A realization of a pre-locking position and a main locking position of a rotary latch according to the DE 199 37 405 B4 with a pawl and an additional latch also has the disadvantage of an additional component and thus an increased overall weight of the safety device. An increased total weight of the safety device has a disadvantageous effect on the consumption of a motor vehicle in which the safety device is installed.

From the publication DE 10 2009 037 037 A1 is a safety device for a motor vehicle, comprising a lock holder, a pawl and a rotary latch with a load arm and a catch arm. In the pre-locking position, the pawl is engaged on the catch arm and in the main locking position on the load arm. Similar devices are also from the DE 10 2010 062 700 A1 . US 2014/361554 A1 and DE 199 02 561 A1 known.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a safety device according to the preamble, in which a total weight of the safety device is reduced.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a safety device with the features of patent claim 1 and a method with the features of patent claim 8. Advantageous refinements with expedient developments of the invention result from the remaining claims, the description and the figures.

In order to create a safety device which, in comparison with a previously known safety device, has a comparatively lower overall weight, a safety device for a motor vehicle is proposed which has a lock holder, a pawl, a rotary latch and a rotary latch spring, whereby the catch has a load arm, a catch arm, an opening direction of rotation, a closing direction of rotation, a latching position and a main latching position and the pawl is latched onto the latch arm in the latching position of the latch and in the main latching position on the latch arm.

In the main latching position of the rotary latch, the safety device assumes a locking position, the load arm blocking the rotary latch in the opening direction of rotation. In the main latching position, a stop preferably prevents the rotary latch from over-rotating in the closing direction of rotation, and a slight play can be provided between this stop and the rotary latch in the main latching position of the rotary latch. Starting from the locking position of the safety device, the safety device can preferably only be unlocked from an interior of the motor vehicle or by means of a remote control. In particular, the safety device in the locking position in a region around a front hood, for which the safety device is preferably provided, is manually unsolvable.

In the latching position of the rotary latch, the lock holder is unlocked from the locking position and blocked in an opening movement direction by means of the load arm. In the latching position of the rotary latch, the safety device can preferably be released manually in the area around the front hood, the released safety device releasing a movement of the lock holder in the opening movement direction.

The latching position of the rotary latch serves to intercept the front hood, a door or a flap in an installed state of the safety device if the main latching position of the rotary latch is not reached when the latch is closed. Furthermore, the latching position of the rotary latch serves to provide an intermediate position when the safety device is opened between the locking position of the safety device and an open position of the safety device, in which the lock holder is released in the opening movement direction. Such an intermediate position of the security device increases security to the extent that if the security device is accidentally unlocked, the lock holder still is not released in the opening movement direction, but the blockage of the lock holder must be released by a further manual actuation.

The catch arm and the load arm form a fork-shaped inlet mouth of the rotary latch, which receives the lock holder when the rotary latch is closed. The catch arm and the load arm each have a head region, the two head regions advantageously being the regions of the rotary latch that are furthest away from an axis of rotation of the rotary latch. The two head areas form an opening of the inlet mouth into which the lock holder enters during the closing process of the rotary latch. The head regions can preferably each extend up to a fifth of the length of the catch arm or the load arm from the respective end of the catch arm or the load arm to the axis of rotation of the catch.

The load arm and the catch arm are preferably at least partially arcuate in order to enable the lock holder to be guided within the inlet mouth when the rotary latch closes.

According to the invention, it is provided that the rotary latch spring has a leg with at least one section, the section having an almost horizontal orientation in the main latching position and abutting the lock holder. The alignment is predetermined by a connecting line between a beginning and an end of the section, the section extending along the leg.

The almost horizontal orientation of the section of the leg in the main latching position relates in particular to a state of the safety device in which it is installed in a motor vehicle. In the installed state, an exactly horizontal line runs parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. Almost horizontally means that the connecting line includes an angle of at least less than 20 degrees, preferably less than 15 degrees, with the vehicle's longitudinal axis. The horizontal section of the leg particularly advantageously borders on one turn of the Torsion trap spring. The almost horizontal orientation of the section of the leg in the main latching position can have the effect that, when the leg is initially rotated, a normal force, which acts on the lock holder from the leg, is oriented almost vertically, in particular perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and almost the entire normal force acts against a weight transmitted via the lock holder. This can enable the rotary latch spring to be of smaller dimensions for driving the rotary latch in the opening direction of rotation and preferably for ejecting the lock holder.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the head region of the catch arm has an offset with a snap-in surface in the direction of the opening direction of rotation. A latching lug of the pawl rests on the latching surface in the pre-latched position of the rotary latch and engages around the bent arm of the catch arm, the pawl being acted upon in a blocking direction of rotation by means of a pawl spring of the safety device and assuming a blocking position. In addition, and especially in combination with this embodiment, a further embodiment can provide that the head region of the load arm has an offset with a latching surface in the direction of the opening direction of rotation. In the main latching position of the rotary latch, the latch of the pawl rests on the latching surface, the latching nose encompassing the cranking of the load arm and the pawl assuming the blocking position.

In particular, the combination of these two configurations enables the pawl to be latched directly in the area of the opening of the inlet mouth both in the pre-latching position and in the main latching position of the rotary latch and to secure the rotary latch against rotation in the opening direction of rotation. A rotary latch spring of the safety device acts on the rotary latch in the opening direction of rotation and presses the respective snap-in surfaces in the opening direction of rotation against the catch of the pawl. The torsion spring is preferably designed as a leg spring. The rotary latch is turned from the pre-locking position by rotating the pawl against the locking direction and detachable from the main rest position. As soon as the catch can be passed in the opening direction of rotation on the latch of the pawl, the pawl is in a release position. In the release position, the rotary latch spring can drive the rotary latch in the opening direction and / or eject the lock holder from the rotary latch.

The fact that the respective head areas of the tentacle and the load arm represent the areas of the latch which are furthest away from an axis of rotation of the catch and that the pawl is engaged in the pre-locking position on the crank of the catch arm or in the main latching position on the crank of the load arm, is the largest possible Torque effect of the pawl against an opening torque of the rotary latch, for example in the event of an accident, is provided in the pre-locking position or in the main locking position.

Compared to the safety devices described in the prior art, in which the pawl is not latched directly in the area of an opening of the inlet mouth both in the pre-locking position and in the main locking position of the rotary latch, this has the advantage that the rotary latch does not move in areas of the opening of the inlet mouth must extend in order to form a latching surface for receiving the latching lug of the pawl. An outer contour of the catch arm can thus run essentially parallel to an inner contour of the inlet mouth, this being a further preferred embodiment of the safety device. This reduces the weight of the rotary latch and thus the total weight of the safety device, whereby consumption of a motor vehicle in which the safety device can be installed can be reduced.

The pawl spring and the rotary latch spring each have a spring stiffness, wherein in a particularly advantageous embodiment the spring stiffness of the pawl spring is adapted to the spring stiffness of the rotary latch spring in such a way that when the rotary latch is released from the main detent position, the rotary latch is locked into the pre-latched position. The spring stiffness of the pawl spring is particularly preferred Spring stiffness of the rotary latch spring, the mass moment of inertia of the pawl about an axis of rotation of the pawl, the mass moment of inertia of the rotary latch about the axis of rotation of the rotary latch and to a weight force acting on the rotary latch of the front latch via the lock holder in such a way that when the rotary latch is unlocked from the main detent position, the pawl has a higher rotational acceleration than the rotary latch and a latching of the rotary latch into the pre-latching position is ensured. Such an adjustment of the spring stiffness of the pawl spring enables the pawl to reach the locking position faster after unlocking the rotary latch from the main latching position than the rotary latch reaches the latching position, so that when the latch is unlocked from the main latching position, a latching into the latching position is ensured.

In the context of a further embodiment or in combination with the previous embodiment, it is provided that the safety device has a delay mechanism for delaying the rotary latch. When the rotary latch is turned in the opening direction of rotation starting from the main latching position, the delay mechanism ensures that the latch is locked in the preliminary latching position. In this embodiment, a longer period of time is available within which the pawl can reach the locking position before the rotary latch assumes the pre-locking position. The advantage of this variant is that there is no need to adapt the spring stiffness of the pawl spring to the spring stiffness of the rotary latch spring, and nevertheless, when the rotary latch rotates in the opening direction of rotation, starting from the main catch position, the catch can be locked in the pre-catch position. Thus, in particular, a pawl spring can be dimensioned smaller, which additionally reduces the overall weight of the safety device. The deceleration mechanism can be designed, for example, in the form of a friction surface which brakes the rotary latch before the pre-locking position is reached.

In the context of a preferred variant, the deceleration mechanism has a stop surface for stopping the rotary latch. The stop surface can For example, be arranged on an arm of the pawl and cooperate with the offset of the tentacle. Likewise, the stop surface can be arranged on the catch arm, preferably on the offset of the catch arm, and can interact with the arm of the pawl. It is crucial in this embodiment that in the release position of the pawl a trajectory of a point of the catch arm which is the most distant from the axis of rotation of the catch, the boom intersects the catch arm when the catch is rotated from the main catch position to the pre-catch position in an intermediate position between the main catch position and the catch catch position blocked. Is the rotary latch in the intermediate position, a movement of the pawl driven by the pawl spring from the release position to reaching the locking position is made possible before the catch arm can pass the latch of the pawl.

An advantageous embodiment of the safety device provides that the pawl has a first active surface and the catch arm has a counter surface and the first active surface interacts with the counter surface of the catch arm when the rotary catch rotates in the closing direction of rotation before reaching the pre-locking position. The counter surface of the catch arm preferably strikes the active surface during the rotation of the catch in the closing direction of rotation and pushes the pawl in the direction of the release position.

It can also be advantageously provided that the load arm has a counter surface and the first active surface interacts with the counter surface of the load arm when the rotary latch closes before the main catch position is reached. The counter surface of the load arm preferably strikes the active surface during the rotation of the rotary latch in the closing direction of rotation and pushes the pawl in the direction of the release position.

In principle, the pawl can have a second active surface which interacts with the counter surface of the load arm when the rotary latch is closed before the main catch position is reached. An incline of the first active surface is preferably different from an incline of the second active surface, wherein when the counter surface of the catch arm slides on the first active surface, a different relative speed of the catch arm in relation to the pawl is caused compared to a relative speed of the load arm in relation to the pawl when the counter surface of the load arm slides on the second active surface.

An advantageous development provides that the rotary latch spring is designed as a spiral spring. In particular, this can enable a narrower design of the safety device compared to a safety device in which the rotary latch spring is designed as a leg spring. The design of the rotary latch spring as a spiral spring can in particular simplify a common mounting of the rotary latch and the rotary latch spring on a common axis of rotation, this common mounting being a further possible embodiment of the safety device. Here, the narrower design of the rotary latch spring as a spiral spring is particularly advantageous compared to a leg spring, because bearings of a bearing pair for the common axis of rotation can be arranged closer to one another and as a result the axis of rotation can be shorter and a higher load capacity of the axis of rotation is made possible by more than one component to store.

Furthermore, a method for opening the safety device is proposed, the method having the following steps. In a first step, the pawl is deflected out of the locked position. The deflection takes place until the pawl has reached the release position. The pawl can be deflected, for example, by means of an electric motor. In a second step, the rotary latch is rotated in the opening direction of rotation from the main catch position, this being supported by the rotary latch spring. In a third step, the catch is delayed. This can be done by braking the rotary latch in the closing direction of rotation and / or advantageously by stopping the rotary latch on the stop surface of the cantilever of the pawl. After the pawl has been deflected, the pawl is moved in a fourth step in the direction of the locking position. The pawl is preferably driven by the pawl spring. In a fifth step, a click into place Rotary latch provided in the pre-locked position. This is made possible in particular by the fact that the pawl reaches the locking position before the catch takes the pre-locking position. The order of the individual steps of the method listed here is a preferred order. It is also possible that the catch is decelerated after an initial movement of the pawl in the direction of the locking position.

In a parallel patent application with file number PCT / DE2016 / 100554 The same applicant, entitled "Safety device for a motor vehicle with a rotary latch and an ejection spring", describes a safety device with a change in the contact of a leg of an ejection spring. The technical features described in the parallel patent application, which enable the leg to be changed from the lock holder to the catch, an increase in the relative stroke of the lock holder and a reduction in the relative stroke of the lock holder are also used in this application. This applies in particular to the configuration of the rotary latch spring as an ejection spring and the geometric configuration of the leg of the ejection spring.

In another parallel patent application with file number PCT / DE2016 / 100556 The same applicant, entitled "Safety device for a motor vehicle with a rotary latch and a protective layer", describes a safety device with a blocking element for blocking a rotary latch in a closing direction of rotation. The technical features described in the parallel patent application, which increase the safety of the safety device, are also used in this application. This applies in particular to the design of the blocking element and the interaction of the blocking element with the pawl and the catch.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of at least one preferred one Embodiment, to which the invention is not limited, however, and with reference to the figures.

• Fig. 1a bis 1f und Fig. 2a eine Schnittansicht einer Sicherheitsvorrichtung bei einem Öffnungsvorgang;
• Fig. 2a bis 2e eine Schnittansicht der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1a bei einem Schließvorgang;
• Fig. 3 die Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1a mit einer an einem Schlosshalter angeordneten Fronthaube;
• Fig. 4 eine Schnittansicht einer weiteren Sicherheitsvorrichtung;
• Fig. 5 eine Schnittansicht einer weiteren Sicherheitsvorrichtung;
• Fig. 6 eine Draufsicht der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 5.

These show in:

• 1a to 1f and Fig. 2a a sectional view of a safety device during an opening operation;
• 2a to 2e a sectional view of the security device after Fig. 1a during a closing process;
• Fig. 3 the safety device after Fig. 1a with a front hood arranged on a lock holder;
• Fig. 4 a sectional view of another security device;
• Fig. 5 a sectional view of another security device;
• Fig. 6 a plan view of the safety device according to Fig. 5 .

1a to 1f and Fig. 2a show a safety device 1 for a motor vehicle during an opening process. Fig. 1a shows a security device 1 with a lock holder 2, a pawl 3 and a rotary latch 4. The rotary latch 4 has a load arm 5, a catch arm 6, an opening direction of rotation 7, a closing direction of rotation 8, a pre-latching position and a main latching position, the latch 4 in Fig. 1a occupies the main resting position. The safety device 1 also has a rotary latch spring 9 which is tensioned in the closing direction 8 of the rotary latch and acts on the rotary latch 4 in the opening direction of rotation 7. The rotary latch spring 9 has a fixed end 36, which is supported on a stationary support 37 of the safety device 1. The fixed end 36 advantageously extends up to a bearing bush 38 and preferably surrounds the bearing bush 38 such that the fixed end 36 is immovable in relation to the axis of rotation 34 of the rotary latch spring 9. The rotary latch spring 9 has a leg which in the Fig. 1a Main locking position shown has an almost horizontally aligned section which abuts the lock holder. The horizontal section of the leg particularly advantageously adjoins a turn of the rotary latch spring 9. Fig. 1a shows further that the section of the leg in the main click position is at an angle of approximately 12 degrees with a horizontal line in the image plane of Fig. 1a includes, that is aligned almost horizontally. The pawl 3 has a pawl spring 10 which acts on the pawl 3 in a locking direction 11. Furthermore, the pawl 3 has a locking lug 12, which the rotary latch 4 in the in Fig. 1a Main catch position shown of the rotary latch 4 secures against rotation in the opening direction 7.

The catch arm 6 and the load arm 5 form a fork-shaped inlet mouth 13 of the rotary latch 4, which receives the lock holder 2. The load arm 5 and the catch arm 6 are at least partially curved in order to enable the lock holder 2 to be guided within the inlet mouth 13 during a closing movement and an opening movement of the rotary latch 4.

The catch arm 6 has a head region 14 with a bend 15 in the direction of the opening direction of rotation 7 of the rotary latch 4, the bend 15 forming a preliminary catch 16. In the in Fig. 1e The latching position of the rotary latch 4 shown here engages around the pawl 12, the latching mechanism 12, the latching lug 12 securing the rotary latch 4 against rotation in the opening direction of rotation 7. Furthermore, the load arm 5 has a head region 17 with a bend 18 in the direction of the opening direction 7 of the rotary latch 4, the bend 18 forming a main catch 19. In the in Fig. 1a The main latching position of the rotary latch 4 shown here engages around the pawl 12 in the main latch 19. Furthermore, in the main latching position of the rotary latch 4, the rotary latch spring 9 acts on the rotary latch 4 via the lock holder 2 in the direction of the opening direction of rotation 7, the main latch 19 pressing against the latching lug 12 of the pawl 3 and thereby generating a pressure on a contact surface of the locking lug 12 which, in addition to the force acting via the pawl spring 10, locks the pawl in one in Fig. 1a shown locking position holds.

In the main latching position of the rotary latch 4, starting from the pawl 3 via the latching lug 12 and the main latch 19, a holding force acts on the load arm 5, which counteracts a torque of the tensioned rotary latch spring 9, with a distance between the main latch 19 and an axis of rotation 20 of the rotary latch 4 forms a lever arm of the holding force. In the same way, a lever arm is one Holding force, which acts on the catch arm 6 from the pawl 3 in the preliminary latching position of the rotary latch 4, is formed over a distance between the preliminary latch 16 and the axis of rotation 20.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the head region 17 of the load arm 5 and the head region 14 of the catch arm 6 represent the regions of the rotary latch 4 that are furthest away from the axis of rotation 20 of the rotary latch 4, so that in each case the largest possible lever arms for the holding forces in the main rest position or the latching position of the rotary latch 4 can be provided. As a result, additional material on an outer circumference of the rotary latch 4, in particular in the region of the catch arm 6, to form a preliminary catch or main catch at a comparatively similar distance to the rotational axis 20, as the preliminary catch 16 and the main catch 19 have to the rotational axis 20, can be dispensed with .

The rotary latch 4 can be released by rotating the pawl 3 counter to the locking direction of rotation 11 towards a release position from the main latching position and from the pre-latching position. If the load arm 5 or the catch arm 6 of the catch 4 can be passed in the opening direction 7 on the latch 12 of the pawl 3, the pawl 3 is in the release position.

In the main latching position of the rotary latch 4, a movement of the pawl 3 from the locking position towards the release position can be triggered particularly advantageously by means of an electric drive. Fig. 1b shows the pawl 3 in the release position, in which the indentation 18 of the load arm 5 on the locking lug 12 can be passed. In the release position of the pawl 3, the rotary latch spring 9 accelerates the lock holder 2 upwards, the lock holder 2 being in direct contact with the load arm 5 of the rotary latch 4 and rotating the rotary latch 4 in the opening direction of rotation 7 due to its upward movement. A special embodiment can provide that the electric drive moves the pawl 3 briefly out of the locking position and immediately after reaching the release position of the pawl 3, an effect of the electric drive on the pawl 3 is canceled.

It is within the scope of the possibility that a spring stiffness of the pawl spring 10 is adapted to a spring stiffness of the rotary latch spring 9 in such a way that when the rotary latch 4 is unlocked from the main latching position, a latching into the preliminary latching position is ensured. Such an adjustment of the spring stiffness of the pawl spring 10 provides in particular that the pawl spring 10 exerts at least such a rotational acceleration on the pawl that the pawl 3 moves back in time from the release position into the locking position before the catch arm 6 can pass through the latching lug 12.

In addition or as an alternative to this adaptation of the spring stiffness of the pawl spring 10, the safety device 1 can have a delay mechanism 21. The delay mechanism 21 is in Fig. 1c shown and formed in the form of a stop surface 22 at one end of a boom 23 of the pawl 3 and a wedge-shaped end 24 of the offset 15 of the catch arm 6.

The delay mechanism 21 is designed such that in the release position of the pawl 3 and when the catch 4 rotates, starting from the main latching position in the opening direction of rotation 7, a path curve 35 of a tip of the wedge-shaped end 24 intersects the stop surface 22 of the arm 23. When the wedge-shaped end 24 hits the stop surface 22, the rotation of the catch 4 in the opening direction 7 is stopped. By stopping the rotary latch 4, it is possible for the pawl spring 10 to move the pawl 3 into the locking position before the offset 15 of the catch arm 6 can pass through the latching lug 12. In comparison to a variant in which the catch 4 is not stopped by the delay mechanism 21, the pawl spring 10 can be dimensioned smaller, since more time is available to move the catch 3 from the release position into the locked position by stopping the catch 4 .

Fig. 1d shows the catch 4 in an intermediate position between the main locking position and the pre-locking position, in which the leg of the Torsion spring 9 rests both on the lock holder 2 and on a mandrel 25 which is arranged on the catch arm 6. After this intermediate position of the rotary latch 4 has been reached, the rotary latch spring 9 acts on the rotary latch 4 directly via the mandrel 25 in the opening direction 7.

Fig. 1e shows the catch 4 in the pre-locking position, in which the locking lug 12 engages around the offset 15 of the head region 14 of the catch arm 6. In the pre-locking position, rotation of the catch 4 in the opening direction 7 is blocked by means of the pawl 3. The rotary latch 4 can be released from the pre-locking position by rotating the locking pawl 3 from the locking position into the release position, which is shown in Fig. 1f is shown. Starting from the in Fig. 1f shown position of the rotary latch 4, the rotary latch spring 9 moves the rotary latch 4 further in the opening direction 7 to an open position of the rotary latch 4, the lock holder 2 being raised further. The open position of the catch 4 is in Fig. 2a shown. After the in 1a to 1f and 2a shown opening process of the safety device 1, the pawl spring 10 moves the pawl 3 back into the locking position.

The 2a to 2f show a closing process of the safety device 1. Starting from the in Fig. 2a Open position of the rotary latch 4 shown, the lock holder 2 moves the rotary latch 4 via the catch arm 6 in the closing direction of rotation 8. When the rotary latch 4 moves from the open position in the direction of the latching position, the offset 15 of the head region 14 of the catch arm 6 meets a first active surface 41 of the Pawl 3. The first active surface 41 extends along a back of the locking lug 12 to a tip of the locking lug 12. After the bend 15 strikes the first active surface 41, the catch arm 6 pushes the locking pawl 3 starting from the locking position in the direction of the release position , wherein the tentacle 6 can pass through the locking lug 12.

Fig. 2c shows the catch 4 in the pre-locking position after the catch arm 6 has passed the locking lug 12 and the pawl 3 has been moved into the locking position by means of the pawl spring 10. This position can be assumed, for example, when a front hood on which the lock holder 2 in an installed state of the safety device 1 is fastened, has not been depressed with sufficient force and the catch 4 has not reached the main latching position. A latching of the rotary latch 4 in the pre-latching position when the safety device 1 closes prevents the rotary latch 4 from reaching the open position again and the front cover being released again from the rotary latch 4.

If, starting from the pre-locking position of the rotary latch 4 shown in FIG. 2c, the lock holder 2 is depressed again, the offset 18 of the head region 17 of the load arm 5 hits the first active surface 41 and turns the pawl 3 into the Fig. 2d shown release position, in which the load arm 5 can pass the locking lug 12. After the load arm 5 has passed the locking lug 12, the pawl spring 10 moves the pawl 3 into the locking position, in which the locking lug 12 engages around the bent portion 18 of the head region 17 of the load arm 5 and the rotary latch 4 assumes the main locking position, as in FIG Fig. 2e is shown.

In the in the Figures 1a to 1f and 2a to 2e In the embodiment of the safety device 1 shown, the rotary latch spring 9 has an axis of rotation 34 which is offset from an axis of rotation 20 of the rotary latch 4. A lever arm, which extends between the center of the lock holder 2 and the axis of rotation 34 of the rotary latch spring 9, is enlarged by the offset axes of rotation 34 and 20 compared to a safety device in which the rotary latch spring 9 and the rotary latch 4 have a common axis of rotation . In a different embodiment, the rotary latch 4 and the rotary latch spring 9 can have a common axis of rotation. This has the advantage of a more compact design and a weight saving.

Fig. 3 shows a front hood 66 arranged on the lock holder 2, as can be provided, for example, in the case of the safety device 1 which is installed in a motor vehicle. The safety device 1 is preferably arranged in a front region of the front hood 66. Alternatively, the safety device 1 can be arranged in a rear area of the front hood 66.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of a security device 101 with a lock holder 102, a pawl 103 and a rotary latch 104, the rotary latch 104 being a catch arm 106 with a preliminary catch 112, a load arm 105 with a main catch 113, an opening direction of rotation 107, a direction of closing direction 108, has a locking position and a main locking position and in Fig. 4 is in the main rest position. Except for the lock holder 102, almost all parts of the security device 101 are preferably arranged on a lock case 67, the lock case 67 being installed in a fixed position in a motor vehicle in an installed state of the security device 101. This preferably also applies to the safety device 1. The safety device 101 also has a rotary latch spring 109 with a leg 127 for ejecting the lock holder 102, which acts on the rotary latch 104 in the opening direction 107. The pawl 103 has a pawl spring 110 which acts on the pawl 103 in a locking direction 111. In the pre-latched position of the rotary latch 104, the pawl 103 engages around the pre-latch 112 and is therefore locked onto the catch arm 106. In the main latching position of the rotary latch 104, the pawl 103 engages around the main latch 113 and is therefore engaged on the load arm 105.

In contrast to that in the Figures 1a to 1f , 2a to 2f and Fig. 3 In the embodiment of the safety device 1 shown, the lock holder 102 is arranged in the main latching position of the rotary latch 104 between an axis of rotation 134 of the rotary latch spring 109 and an axis of rotation 120 of the rotary latch 104. This has the advantage of a simpler embodiment compared to that in FIG Fig. 1a shown configuration. In the Fig. 4 The embodiment shown furthermore provides, in a preferred variant, for the rotary latch spring to act upon the lock holder 102 immediately when the rotary latch 104 moves from the main latching position in the opening direction 107 to an open position in which the lock holder 102 is released from the rotary latch 104.

The safety device 101 also has a blocking element 161, which has a blocking position and a release position. In the blocked position of the blocking element 161, the catch 104 is in the Closing direction of rotation 108 blocked. In the release position of the blocking element 161, the rotary latch 104 is released by the blocking element 161 in the closing direction of rotation 108 and the lock holder 102 can be lowered. A movement of the blocking element 161 from the release position into the blocking position is controlled by means of the pawl 103. The safety device 101 also has a blocking spring element 163, wherein the blocking spring element 163 can be, for example, a torsion spring or an elastic connecting element between the pawl 103 and the blocking element 161 and enables the blocking element 161 to be driven indirectly by means of the pawl 103. Furthermore, the safety device 101 has a driver 164, by means of which the blocking element 161 can be driven directly by means of the pawl 103 against the blocking direction of rotation 111.

A possible variant of the in Fig. 4 The embodiment shown can provide that the leg 127 in the same way as the leg of the rotary latch spring 9 of the in FIG Fig. 1a The embodiment shown has a curved section, a curvature of the section preferably varying along the leg, in particular being alternately concave and convex to the axis of rotation 134 of the rotary latch spring 109.

Furthermore, the safety device 101 has a release lever 68 which interacts with an arm of the pawl 103. A rotation of the release lever 68 in the blocking direction of rotation 111 causes a rotation of the pawl 103 opposite to the blocking direction of rotation 111 in the direction of the release position of the pawl 103. The triggering lever 68 can preferably be actuated electrically for releasing the catch 104 from the main latching position, for example via an electric motor, and on the other hand manually operable to release the catch 104 from the pre-locking position.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of a safety device 201 with a lock holder 202, a pawl 203 and a rotary latch 204, the rotary latch 204 being a catch arm 206 with a preliminary catch 212, a load arm 205 with a main catch 213, an opening direction of rotation 207, a closing direction of rotation 208, a pre-locking position and has a main rest position and is in the main rest position. Except for the lock holder 202, almost all parts of the security device 201 are preferably arranged on a lock case 167, the lock case 167 being installed in a fixed position in a motor vehicle in an installed state of the security device 201. The safety device 201 also has a rotary latch spring 209 with a leg 227 for ejecting the lock holder 202, which acts on the rotary latch 204 in the opening direction 207. In a special embodiment, a pawl spring can act on the pawl 203 in a locking direction of rotation 211. In the pre-latched position of the rotary latch 204, the pawl 203 engages around the pre-latch 112 and is therefore engaged on the catch arm 206. In the main latching position of the rotary latch 204, the pawl 203 engages around the main latch 113 and is therefore engaged on the load arm 205.

In contrast to that in the Figures 1a to 1f , 2a to 2f and Fig. 3 In the embodiment of the safety device 1 shown, the lock holder 202 is arranged in the main latching position of the rotary latch 204 between an axis of rotation 234 of the rotary latch spring 209 and an axis of rotation 220 of the rotary latch 204. This has the advantage of a simpler embodiment compared to that in FIG Fig. 1a shown configuration. In the Fig. 5 The embodiment shown furthermore provides in a variant that the rotary latch spring 209 acts on the lock holder 202 directly when the rotary latch 204 moves from the main latching position in the opening direction of rotation 207 to an open position in which the lock holder 202 is released from the rotary latch 204.

The safety device 201 also has a blocking element 261, which has a blocking position and a release position. When the blocking element 261 is in the blocked position, the rotary latch 204 is blocked in the closing direction of rotation 208. In the release position of the blocking element 261, the rotary latch 204 is released by the blocking element 261 in the closing direction of rotation 208 and a lowering of the lock holder 202 is made possible. A movement of the blocking element 261 from the release position into the blocking position is controlled by means of the pawl 203. The safety device 201 also has a blocking spring element 263, wherein the blocking spring element 263 can be, for example, a torsion spring or an elastic connecting element between the pawl 203 and the blocking element 261 and enables the blocking element 261 to be driven indirectly by means of the pawl 203.

A possible variant of the in Fig. 5 The embodiment shown can provide that the leg 227 in the same manner as the leg of the rotary latch spring 9 of the in FIG Fig. 1a The embodiment shown has a curved section, a curvature of the section preferably varying along the leg, in particular being alternately concave and convex to the axis of rotation 234 of the rotary latch spring 209.

In contrast to that in Fig. 4 embodiment shown in the in Fig. 5 Shown embodiment shown, the pawl 203, the rotary latch spring 209 and the blocking element 261 about a common axis of rotation 234, which a more compact design of the safety device 201 and a saving in Fig. 4 shown axis of rotation 134 of the rotary latch spring 109 and thus a weight saving. Furthermore, the in Fig. 5 The safety device 201 shown, in contrast to the safety device 1 and the safety device 101, is equipped with a spiral spring as a rotary latch spring 209, which can enable a narrower design of the safety device 201 compared to the safety devices 1 and 101, in which the rotary latch springs 9 and 109 are each designed as leg springs .

Fig. 6 shows a top view of the safety device 201 of FIG Fig. 5 . In Fig. 6 it can be seen that the rotary latch spring 209 takes up approximately a width, as the pawl 203 and the blocking element 261 together take up width. The design of the rotary latch spring 209 as a spiral spring can in particular simplify a common mounting of the pawl 203, the rotary latch spring 209 and the blocking element 261 on the common axis of rotation 234. Here, the narrower design of the rotary latch spring 209 as a spiral spring is particularly advantageous compared to a leg spring because bearings of a bearing pair for the common axis of rotation 234 are arranged closer to one another and the axis of rotation 234 can thereby be made shorter and a higher load capacity of the axis of rotation 234 is made possible in order to store several components.

Fig. 5 further shows that an inner end 228 of the rotary latch spring 209 engages and is supported against a connecting element 263. In an advantageous embodiment, the connecting element 263 connects the inner end 228 to the pawl 203 and the blocking element 261. A positive connection is preferably provided between the inner end 228 and the pawl 203. The pawl 203 and the rotary latch spring 209 are preferably mutually supported via the connection between the inner end 228 and the pawl 203, additional components for supporting the pawl 203 and the rotary latch spring 209 and preferably also the pawl spring being able to be saved, with one weight and a necessary installation space of the safety device 201 can be saved. A further embodiment, which is possible in combination with the last-mentioned embodiment, can provide that the connecting element 263 is supported on the lock case 167.

The connecting element 263 preferably connects the blocking element 261 to the rotary latch spring 209 or to the pawl 203 in a force-locking and elastic manner. In this embodiment, the connecting element 263 can also take over the function of the blocking spring element 163 of the safety device 101. Thus, on the one hand, the connecting element 263 can support the pawl 203 against the rotary latch spring 209 and, on the other hand, is designed as a blocking spring element. For example, the connecting element 263 can receive the pawl 203 and the rotary latch spring 209 at a first end and the blocking element 261 at a second end and can be designed to be elastic between the two ends.

Furthermore, the safety device 201 has a release lever 168 which interacts with an arm of the pawl 203. A rotation of the release lever 168 in the blocking direction of rotation 211 causes a rotation of the pawl 203 opposite to the blocking direction of rotation 211 in the direction of Release position of the pawl 203. The release lever 168 can preferably be actuated electrically on the one hand to release the rotary latch 204 from the main latching position, for example via an electric motor, and on the other hand manually to release the rotary latch 204 from the preliminary latching position.

Claims (8)

1. Safety device (1; 101; 201) for a motor vehicle, which device has a latch holder (2; 102; 202), a pawl (3; 103; 203) and a catch (4; 104; 204), the catch (4; 104; 204) having a load arm (5; 105; 205), a catch arm (6; 106; 206), an opening direction of rotation (7; 107; 207), a closing direction of rotation (8; 108; 208), a pre-ratchet position and a main ratchet position, the pawl (3; 103; 203) being engaged on the catch arm (6; 106; 206) in the pre-ratchet position and engaged on the load arm (5; 105; 205) in the main ratchet position, the safety device (1; 101; 201) having a catch spring which has a spring stiffness which acts on the catch (4; 104; 204) in the opening direction of rotation (7; 107; 207), characterized in that the catch spring has a leg having at least one portion, the portion having an almost horizontal orientation in an installed state in the main ratchet position and abutting the latch holder (2; 102; 202).
2. Safety device (1; 101; 201) according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device (1; 101; 201) has a pawl spring (10; 110) having a spring stiffness, the pawl spring (10; 110) acting on the pawl (3; 103; 203) in a locking direction of rotation (11; 111; 211), and a spring stiffness of the pawl spring (10; 110) being adapted to a spring stiffness of the catch spring (9; 109; 209) such that it is ensured that the catch (4; 104; 204) engages into the pre-ratchet position when the catch (4; 104; 204) is disengaged from the main ratchet position.
3. Safety device (1; 101; 201) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the safety device (1; 101; 201) has a delay mechanism (21) for delaying the catch (4; 104; 204), the delay mechanism (21) ensuring that the catch (4; 104; 204) latches in the pre-ratchet position when the catch (4; 104; 204) rotates in the opening direction of rotation (7; 107; 207) starting from the main ratchet position.
4. Safety device (1; 101; 201) according to claim 3, characterized in that the delay mechanism (21) has a stop surface (22) for stopping the catch (4; 104; 204).
5. Safety device (1; 101; 201) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pawl (3; 103; 203) has a first active surface (41) and the catch arm (6; 106; 206) has a counter surface and the first active surface (41) interacts with the counter surface of the catch arm (6; 106; 206) when the catch (4; 104; 204) rotates in the closing direction of rotation (8; 108; 208) before reaching the pre-ratchet position.
6. Safety device (1; 101; 201) according to claim 5, characterized in that the load arm (5; 105; 205) has a counter surface and the first active surface (41) interacts with the counter surface of the load arm (5; 105; 205) when the catch (4; 104; 204) closes before reaching the main ratchet position.
7. Safety device (1; 101; 201) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the catch spring (9; 109; 209) is designed as a spiral spring.
8. Method for opening a safety device (1; 101; 201) according to claim 1 comprising the following steps:

   - deflecting the pawl (3; 103; 203) out of a locking position;

   - rotating the catch (4; 104; 204) in the opening direction of rotation (7; 107; 207) starting from the main ratchet position;

   - delaying the catch (4; 104; 204);

   - moving the pawl (3; 103; 203) in the direction of the locking position;

   - engaging the catch (4; 104; 204) in the pre-ratchet position.

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