CN113195854B

CN113195854B - Lock for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN113195854B
Application number: CN201980084404.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: T·弗罗恩; U·奥尔泽
Original assignee: Kiekert AG
Current assignee: Kiekert AG
Priority date: 2018-12-21
Filing date: 2019-12-06
Publication date: 2023-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-06
Also published as: CN113195854A; EP3899174B1; DE102018133301A1; WO2020125858A1; JP7363005B2; JP2022514327A; EP3899174A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock (1), in particular a tailgate lock (1), for a motor vehicle, comprising a locking device (2) which comprises a rotary locking fork (3), at least one locking claw (4), a lock holder (21), a drive element (11) and a pivotable bearing point (7) for the locking claw (4), wherein the lock holder (21) can be engaged with the locking device (2) in at least one locking position, wherein the locking claw (4) can be actuated by means of the drive element (11) by means of at least one connecting rod (10), wherein the connecting rod (10) interacts with the locking claw (4) by means of a coupling piece (8) having a transmission ratio.

Description

Lock for a motor vehicle

Technical Field

The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a tailgate lock, comprising a locking device comprising a rotary locking fork, at least one locking claw, a lock holder, a drive element and a pivotable support point for the locking claw, wherein the lock holder can be engaged with the locking device in at least one locking position, wherein the locking claw can be actuated by means of at least one connecting rod and by means of the drive element.

Background

In order to facilitate the operation of the motor vehicle operators and to influence the noise characteristics, more and more electric auxiliary units are installed in motor vehicles. In order to lock a component that is movably fastened to the motor vehicle, a lock or closing device is therefore used to hold the movable component in a closed position, so that the vehicle can be driven more safely. The closure system is more equipped with an electric drive in order to enable an operator to open, for example, a side door comfortably. However, the closing system is used not only in side doors, but also in sliding doors, tailgates, front hoods and/or roofs, that is to say in any place where it is necessary to keep the movable member in the locked position during operation of the motor vehicle.

In a lock or closing system, a locking device is used, which comprises a rotary lock fork and at least one locking pawl, which together with a lock holder enables the locking of a movable member. If, for example, a side door of a motor vehicle is closed, the rotary latch in the open position engages with the lock holder, wherein the rotary latch is rotated by a relative movement between the lock holder and the rotary latch and is locked in the pre-locking position or the main locking position by means of the locking pawl. The closing of the side door or, for example, of the tailgate is effected against the resistance of the seal, so that the locking device counteracts the sealing pressure.

In order to achieve a safe, tight and noiseless interior of the motor vehicle, these sealing pressures can exert large forces on the lock holder and the locking device. If the locking device is unlocked at this time, that is to say the locking pawl is disengaged from the rotary fork, this results in the locking pawl being disengaged from the engagement area with the rotary fork, which in turn is associated with opening noise. In order to influence the opening noise, different solutions are known from the prior art.

Thus, for example, EP 2 573 B1 describes a closing system in which the locking pawl can follow an opening movement of the rotary latch at least in sections. The locking device can be opened electrically, wherein the locking pawl is connected to the drive element via a link chain. If the drive is actuated to open the locking device, the locking pawl can at least partially follow the movement of the rotary locking fork and thus gently counteract the sealing pressure. The bar chain has a bar of variable length, which enables a deceleration unlocking of the locking device.

From EP 2 573 a 300 A2, a motor vehicle lock is known which has a rotary locking fork which in the closed position surrounds the lock holder and is preloaded in the direction of the open position of the release lock holder, and which further has a locking claw which engages with the rotary locking fork in the engaged position in such a way that the rotary locking fork is prevented from moving in the direction of the open position. Furthermore, the motor vehicle door locking system has a drive element, with which the coupling section of the locking pawl is coupled in a movable manner, wherein the locking pawl can be moved between an engaged position and a release position in which the locking pawl is disengaged from the rotary latch, so that the rotary latch can be moved in the direction of the open position. During the movement from the engagement position in the direction of the release position, the drive element moves the locking pawl in such a way that: during this movement the rotary lock fork, which is still engaged with the locking pawl, moves in the direction of the open position.

The solutions known from the prior art are partly structurally complex and lead to large space demands in motor vehicle locks which are not present in all cases. The present invention has been proposed for this purpose.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved motor vehicle lock and in particular a tailgate lock. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to achieve a low-noise unlocking, wherein a simple, space-saving and cost-effective design is to be considered.

The object is achieved by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims. It is pointed out that the embodiments described below are not limiting, but rather that any variant of the features described in the description and the dependent claims is possible.

The object of the invention is achieved by providing a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a tailgate lock, comprising a locking device, which comprises a rotary locking fork, at least one locking claw, a lock holder, a drive element and a pivotable bearing point for the locking claw, wherein the lock holder can be engaged with the locking device in at least one locking position, wherein the locking claw can be actuated by means of the drive element by means of at least one connecting rod, wherein the connecting rod interacts with the locking claw by means of a coupling piece having a transmission ratio. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to the invention now offers the possibility of achieving a low-noise unlocking and a continuous opening process of the locking device. In particular, a structurally configured locking position is possible, which permits a reliable closing of the locking device with as little space requirement as possible. In particular, the use of a coupling that introduces a gear ratio condition in the drive chain achieves that the high closing forces that occur when the locking device is opened are overcome and subsequently the rotary lock fork is guided into the open position. The coupling element interacts with the locking pawl in such a way that the locking pawl is continuously disengaged from the rotary latch by the connecting rod. By means of a continuous opening process, the original opening noise between the rotary lock fork and the locking pawl can be eliminated or at least minimized.

If a motor vehicle lock is mentioned in the sense of the present invention, a lock is included here which is used in a tailgate, but also in a side door or a cover plate or, for example, in the backrest of a motor vehicle. Thus, the lock may be used where a swingably supported or movably supported member is fixed in position.

The motor vehicle lock comprises a locking device with a rotary locking fork and at least one locking claw. The locking device interacts with a lock holder, which is arranged in a fixed manner on the motor vehicle, wherein the rotary lock fork is locked in at least one locking position by a rotary movement of the rotary lock fork as a result of a relative movement between the locking device and the lock holder. A locking device equipped with a pre-locking portion and a main locking portion, or a locking device having only one main locking position is known. The locking means may have one or two locking pawls that co-act with each other. The first locking claw locks the rotary locking fork in the locking position, wherein the second locking claw locks the first locking claw in the locking position. Such locking devices with two locking claws are mostly used in the main locking position when an opening moment occurs in the locking device.

The motor vehicle lock according to the invention is an electrically actuable motor vehicle lock, wherein a drive element is provided, with which the locking device can be unlocked from the locking position. The drive element may be a bowden cable, which is to be operated manually, or it may be composed of at least one electric motor and a transmission element connected downstream of the electric motor, wherein the transmission element interacts with the locking pawl in such a way that the locking pawl can be moved from the locking position into the open position. The locking pawl is moved by the drive element in such a way that the locking pawl can pivot about the bearing point. The invention relates to a lock in which a locking pawl is received in a pivotable support and in which the locking pawl can be actuated by means of a connecting rod and by means of a drive element. The pivotable support point here means that the support point itself for the locking pawl is received in the motor vehicle lock in a movable manner. Preferably, the bearing point for the locking pawl is located on a fixed radius and is received in the motor vehicle lock by means of the coupling element. The coupling element forms a further transmission element with which a transmission in the locking device can be achieved. As a result of the geared reception, the pivotable bearing point enables, in particular, on the one hand, a low-noise unlocking of the locking device and, on the other hand, a pivoting of the locking pawl beyond the dead center of the coupling element, so that a closing torque occurs in the locking device. The closing torque is referred to here as a torque which prevents or prevents the locking device from opening automatically by rotating the locking fork on the locking pawl.

In one embodiment variant of the invention, the coupling element is received in a pivotable manner in the housing of the motor vehicle lock. The coupling is designed as a disk-shaped element and preferably as a stamping. The coupling is preferably made of steel. The coupling element itself can be pivoted in the lock housing and/or the lock case of the motor vehicle lock and is in particular received on a bearing shaft made of steel and is preferably fixed by means of riveting. The locking pawl is in turn mounted in the coupling element in a pivotable manner and can be pivoted or moved on the circular path by means of the coupling element about a bearing axis of the coupling element. In addition to the locking pawl, the coupling element has a further receiving point, in particular a bearing point for the connecting rod. The coupling piece thus serves as a means for transmitting the torque introduced into the coupling piece by the connecting rod, wherein the torque can be transmitted to the bearing point of the locking pawl. Depending on the design variant of the lock and the corresponding requirements, different gear ratio conditions can be set with the arrangement of the bearing points on the coupling. Preferably, the bearing points of the locking pawl and of the connecting rod are arranged on the coupling piece around the bearing points of the coupling piece on different radii. Preferably, the radial distance between the bearing point of the locking pawl and the central axis of the bearing point of the coupling is smaller than the radial distance between the bearing point of the connecting rod and the center of the bearing point of the coupling. In other words, the bearing point of the connecting rod is farther from the center of the bearing point of the coupling than the bearing point of the locking pawl.

Another embodiment variant of the invention is obtained if the coupling has an ejector for the locking pawl. The coupling member is driven by the link to move the pawl such that the rotary latch fork moves toward the open position. By displacing the locking pawl radially about the bearing point of the coupling element, the rotary locking fork is continuously displaced out of the locking position, whereby a reduction of the sealing pressure acting on the rotary locking fork can be achieved. If the locking pawl is moved until no pressure or only very little pressure acts on the locking pawl by means of the rotary locking fork, the ejector arranged on the coupling element can cause the locking pawl to swing out or move out of the region of engagement with the rotary locking fork. For this purpose, the coupling piece has a ejection face which can engage with the locking pawl. In the now open or unlocked position of the locking device, the locking pawl can now be held out of engagement with the rotary lock fork and/or by means of the retaining lever, whereby a complete movement of the rotary lock fork into the open position can be achieved.

A further embodiment variant of the invention is obtained if the locking device can be brought into the closed position, in particular the primary locking closed position, by means of the coupling element. The coupling element is received in the motor vehicle lock in a pivotable manner, wherein the coupling element can be moved by means of a connecting rod. As the coupling element can disengage the locking pawl from the rotary latch, it is thus also possible, after the locking device has been opened and the rotary latch has been rotated into the open position, for the locking pawl to pivot the bearing point of the locking pawl into the initial position in which the locking pawl can be brought back into engagement with the rotary latch. For this purpose, the coupling element swings the bearing point of the locking pawl after opening into an initial position in which a closing torque can preferably occur in the locking device.

In one embodiment variant, the drive element has an eccentric receptacle for the connecting rod. In a preferred embodiment, the drive element comprises an electric drive, preferably a direct current motor, on whose output shaft a worm can be mounted, for example. The worm interacts with the worm wheel, whereby a gear stage for unlocking the locking device and in particular for driving the connecting rod can be realized. The connecting rod is preferably arranged eccentrically on the gear wheel of the transmission, so that the best possible torque can be introduced into the connecting rod and thus into the coupling. The connecting rod may be arranged directly on the gear wheel or on the control and drive element. The control and drive element can be fastened directly to the gear wheel, so that the bearing shaft for the connecting rod can be supported, for example, by means of the gear wheel and/or the control and drive element. The gear wheel or worm wheel may also be formed integrally with the control and drive element. Although a worm gear is preferably shown here as an embodiment of the invention, it is of course likewise conceivable to use other meshing geometries and gears as the drive for the connecting rod.

A further embodiment variant provides that the drive element interacts with the locking pawl such that the locking pawl can be moved into the unlocked position by actuating the drive element in the only actuating direction. Preferably, the drive device and in particular the motor can be actuated in only one drive direction, so that a cost-effective and simple control of the drive element can be achieved. In particular, the use of end position switches and/or stops in motor vehicle locks can be dispensed with. As a result, a structural and thus cost-effective advantage is achieved by a single actuation direction of the drive element.

Advantageously, the coupling can swivel the pendulum by means of a drive element. The coupling is mounted in a pivotable manner in the motor vehicle lock, wherein the continuous rotary movement of the drive element generates a rotary pendulum movement of the coupling by means of the arrangement of the connecting rod and the bearing point of the connecting rod relative to the coupling. The coupling performs a back and forth movement/reciprocation, wherein the movement of disengaging the locking pawl from the rotary lock fork may be referred to as an advancing movement. The movement of the locking pawl back into the initial position, which allows the rotary locking fork to be brought back into engagement with the locking pawl, is referred to herein as a retraction movement, i.e., a return movement of the coupling element. Thus, by means of the structural design, a continuous movement of the drive element can be converted into a pendulum movement of the coupling.

A further embodiment variant of the invention results if a locking lever is provided and can be engaged with the locking pawl when the locking pawl is in the unlocking position. The holding element or the locking lever serves here to hold the locking pawl, which is moved into the unlocking position, for example by means of the ejector, in this open, i.e. unlocked position. The holding lever is called a stopper lever since the position of the locking pawl is held. This may be advantageous, for example, when: a load, for example a snow load, acts on the tailgate, so that the rotary lock fork cannot be moved unimpeded into the open position. In this incompletely opened position of the rotary latch, it may occur that the locking pawl falls back into the pre-locking section of the rotary latch, for example. The locking pawl is prevented from falling into the rotary lock fork again and accidentally by means of a stop lever or a retaining lever. The locking lever is advantageously arranged pivotably in the motor vehicle lock and is preferably mounted in the lock housing and/or in the lock box of the motor vehicle lock. The retaining element or the stop lever is preferably made of plastic.

If the coupling has a first bearing point for the connecting rod and a second bearing point for the locking pawl, a design variant is achieved which advantageously effects an influence on the gear ratio conditions. In this way, the transmission can be adjusted in the coupling, with which a predefinable, i.e. definable, torque for unlocking the locking device can be adjusted. In this way, on the one hand a space-saving construction can be achieved which at the same time provides a low-noise but sufficiently powerful unlocking of the locking device.

Drawings

The invention is described in detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following principle applies: the examples do not limit the invention but only show one embodiment. The features shown may be implemented alone or in combination with other features of the description, alone or in combination with the claims.

The figure shows:

fig. 1 shows a top view of an open tailgate lock in a main locking position, wherein only the lock components essential for explaining the invention are shown,

fig. 2 shows a top view of the tailgate lock according to fig. 1, wherein the locking pawl is moved at least partially out of the main locking position by means of the drive element, the connecting rod and the pivotable support point,

fig. 3 shows a further opening process of the locking device with a movement of the pivotable support point of the locking claw, wherein the pivotable support point engages with the locking claw,

FIG. 4 shows the pawl and rotary latch in an open position moving out of engagement with the rotary latch, and

fig. 5 shows the return process of the opened locking device and the locking pawl into the initial position.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle lock 1 constructed according to the invention in a partially open view in a top view of a locking device 2. The locking device 2 shown is in a main locking position, wherein the rotary locking fork 3 is held in the main locking position by means of the locking pawl 4, so that a not shown lock holder can hold the tailgate in a closed position, for example. The rotary lock fork 3 is received in a pivotally mounted manner in the lock housing 6 and/or in a pivotally mounted manner in the lock box in the bearing point 5. Instead, the locking pawl 4 is received in a pivotable support 7, wherein the support 7 is in turn supported in the coupling piece 8. The coupling element 8 is mounted in the lock housing 6 and/or the lock box in a pivotable manner as is the rotary lock fork 3.

For opening the locking device 2, the coupling element 8 is moved about the bearing point 9, wherein a pivoting movement about the bearing point 9 is performed, as will be described in more detail below. The coupling 8 itself is driven by means of a connecting rod 10 and an electric drive element 11. The electric drive element 11 comprises a motor 12, on the output shaft 13 of which a worm 14 is mounted. The worm 14 is meshed with a worm wheel 15. The connecting rod 10 is actuated by means of a worm wheel and a control and drive element 16 which cooperates with the worm wheel. The connecting rod 10 is unilaterally driven by means of a control and drive element 16.

Fig. 2 now shows the start of the opening process, i.e. the unlocking process of the locking device 2. The connecting rod 10 is driven by means of the electric drive element 11, wherein the worm wheel 15 moves in the clockwise direction in the direction of arrow P1. For this purpose, the connecting rod 10 is pivotally received in the bearing point 18. The connecting rod 10 actuates the coupling element 8 via the bearing point 19, wherein the coupling element 8 swings or pivots about the bearing point 9 in the direction of arrow P2. By the movement of the coupling 8, the rotary lock fork 3 descends due to the locking pawl 4 and the coupling 8. Thus, fig. 2 shows the start of the unlocking process of the locking device 2.

A further opening process is shown in fig. 3. The coupling 8 continues to oscillate in the direction of arrow P2, whereby the rotary lock fork 3 can continue to rotate in the opening direction, i.e. clockwise. In this case, an external force F acts on the rotary latch 3, which is preferably applied to the rotary latch 3 via the latch holder 21. A helical torsion spring, not shown, is arranged on the rotary lock fork 3, which helical torsion spring also spring-loads the rotary lock fork 3 in the opening direction, i.e. clockwise, if the rotary lock fork 3 is not engaged with the lock holder 21. The pivotable support 7 has the effect of achieving a continuous opening process. The continuous opening process is characterized in that the force F from the lock holder 21 is continuously reduced. In the main locking position according to fig. 1, the highest load acts on the locking device 2. By means of a continuous opening process, the maximum force is slowly, i.e. continuously, reduced, so that a low-noise unlocking of the locking device can be achieved. So-called off-ringing may be prevented or eliminated.

As can also be seen from fig. 3, the coupling element 8 comes into abutment with the ejector 22 or with the stop surface of the coupling element 8. The maximum pressure acting on the motor vehicle lock 1 in the main locking position of the locking device 2 is continuously reduced by the displacement of the bearing point 7 of the locking pawl. In this decompressed or at least largely decompressed position of the locking device 2, then, a low-noise or noise-minimized opening of the locking device 2 can be achieved.

Fig. 4 shows the locking device 2 fully opened, whereby the lock holder 21 is released. In this open position, the rotary lock fork 3 abuts against a stop 23, which is preferably a rubber-elastic damping element. The rotary lock fork 3 is held in this open position by means of a rotary lock fork spring. As can be seen clearly in fig. 1, the ejector 22 is used to move the locking pawl 4 away from the engagement region with the rotary latch 3, so that unimpeded movement of the rotary latch in the direction of the open position can be achieved. In order to prevent the locking pawl 4 from unintentionally falling into the rotary lock fork 3, a locking lever 24 is pivotally received in the motor vehicle lock 1, wherein the locking lever 24 holds the locking pawl 4 in the unlocked position shown in fig. 4. The stop lever 24 is also called a snow load lever, since the snow load acting on the rear deck lid will result in a force being obtained that is opposite to the force F, which force may prevent the complete opening of the locking device 2, i.e. may prevent the movement of the rotary lock fork 3 to the open position. If the rotary lock fork 3 is not moved completely into the open position, the locking pawl 4 can again engage the rotary lock fork 3 in the absence of the stop lever 24, so that an accidental locking and/or falling into, for example, a pre-locking position of the locking device 2 can occur. The locking lever 24 is received in the motor vehicle lock 1 in a pivotable manner about a bearing point 25.

In fig. 4, the coupling 8 reaches its bottom dead center position T based on the force acting on the connecting rod 10. The coupling element 8 is again moved back into the initial position a by continued rotation of the worm wheel 15 in the direction of arrow P1. Here, the worm wheel 15 moves in the direction of the arrow P1, that is, the worm wheel moves only clockwise in the direction of the arrow P1. The coupling element 8 is then moved clockwise in the direction of arrow P2 until the locking device 2 is fully opened, after which the coupling element 8 is moved back in the direction of arrow P3, so that it can be said that the coupling element 8 is moved back and forth or is pivoted. The coupling member 8 moves back into its initial position a, wherein the top dead center position TO is passed on the basis of the force acting on the locking pawl. As the top dead center position TO is exceeded, the locking pawl 4 with its bearing point 7 is aligned with the bearing point 9 of the coupling piece 8, which generates a closing moment in the locking device 2. In other words, the locking device 2 is pressed into the closed position in the initial position, whereby maximum safety with respect to the closed position of the motor vehicle lock can be achieved.

The stop lever 24 is disengaged from the locking pawl 4 by fully opening the rotary lock fork 3, whereby the locking pawl 4 abuts against the rotary lock fork 3. The lock holder 21 can be used to lock the motor vehicle lock 1 again. The design of the motor vehicle lock 1 according to the invention provides the possibility of providing an improved motor vehicle lock 1 which meets the highest demands on noise characteristics and position requirements.

List of reference numerals:

1. lock for motor vehicle

2. Locking device

3. Rotary lock fork

4. Locking claw

5. 6, 9, 18, 19, 25 bearing locations

6. Lock shell

8. Coupling piece

10. Connecting rod

11. Electrically driven element

12. Motor with a motor housing

13. Output shaft

14. Worm screw

15. Worm wheel

16. Control and drive element

17. Control profile

20. Main locking part

21. Lock holder

22 ejector part and ejector surface

23. Stop block

24. Stop lever

Arrows P1, P2, P3

Force F

T, TO dead point position

A initial position

Claims

1. A lock (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a locking device (2) comprising a rotary locking fork (3), at least one locking pawl (4), a lock holder (21), a drive element (11) and a pivotable bearing point (7) for the locking pawl (4), wherein the lock holder (21) can be engaged with the locking device (2) in at least one locking position, wherein the locking pawl (4) can be actuated by means of the drive element (11) by means of at least one connecting rod (10), wherein the connecting rod (10) interacts with the locking pawl (4) by means of a coupling piece (8) having a transmission ratio,

the coupling element (8) is received in a pivotable manner in a housing (6) and/or a lock box of the motor vehicle lock (1), wherein the coupling element (8) has a first bearing point (19) for the connecting rod (10) and a second bearing point (7) for the locking pawl, and wherein the second bearing point (7) for the locking pawl (4) and the first bearing point (19) for the connecting rod (10) are arranged on the coupling element (8) around the bearing point (9) of the coupling element (8) at different radii.

2. Lock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling (8) has an ejector (22) for the locking pawl (4).

3. Lock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (2) can be brought into the closed position (a) by means of the coupling (8).

4. A lock (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive element (11) has an eccentric receiver for the connecting rod (10).

5. A lock (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive element (11) interacts with the locking pawl (4) such that the locking pawl (4) can be moved into the unlocked position by means of actuation of the drive element (11) in a single actuation direction (P1).

6. A lock (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coupling (8) can be swung back and forth by means of a drive element (11).

7. A lock (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a stop lever (24) is provided, the stop lever (24) being engageable with the locking pawl (4) when the locking pawl (4) is in the unlocked position.

8. A lock (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking pawl (4) can be transferred by means of the coupling piece (8) into a main locking position in which a closing moment acts in the locking device (2).

9. Lock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lock (1) is a rear hatch lock (1).

10. A lock (1) according to claim 3, wherein the closed position (a) is a primary locking closed position.