CN115874879A - Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock. The motor vehicle lock is equipped with a locking device (1, 2) which is essentially composed of a rotary catch (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, a control lever system (3, 4) is realized, which has an electric control drive (11, 12) for emergency control of the locking device (1, 2). Furthermore, a locking unit (7, 8) is provided, which has an electric locking drive (11, 12). According to the invention, the actuating drive (11, 12) and the blocking drive (11, 12) are designed as single electric drives (11, 12) and are functionally combined.

Description

Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

Technical Field

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising: the locking device mainly comprises a rotary lock fork and a locking claw; a control lever system having an electric actuating drive for emergency actuation of the locking device; a locking unit having an electric locking drive.

Background

In motor vehicle locks, in particular motor vehicle door locks, with an electrically operated actuating drive, it is common, for example, to unlock the locking device after "keyless entry". However, it is also possible in principle, for example, to activate a sensor or a switch associated with the outside door handle, so that the electric actuating drive then releases the locking device. This so-called "power-on" has proven to be particularly advantageous in practice for reasons of comfort.

In order to still be able to open the locking device even in the event of a possible failure of the battery on the motor vehicle side or of the vehicle electrical system voltage on the motor vehicle side, a control lever system for emergency actuation or emergency opening of the locking device is usually additionally provided. In this way, the associated vehicle door can also be opened if the actual electric drive cannot be opened due to a battery discharge or a fault. This also applies in particular to the case where the supply of electrical energy is interrupted or destroyed as a result of a collision.

For this purpose, the prior art according to DE 10 2017 518 A1 works with an adjusting element which locks the lever system in normal operation and releases it for emergency opening. For this purpose, the actuating element is equipped with an electric actuating drive for emergency actuation of the locking device. Furthermore, a further electric drive is realized, which serves to open the locking device during normal operation. For this purpose, the rotary movement of the respective actuating drive or opening drive is transmitted indirectly or directly to the release lever in normal operation. The release lever itself ensures that the locking pawl is moved out of its locking engagement with the rotary locking fork. The previously captured lock pin disengages. Accordingly, the associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

In the prior art according to US 2003/0178859 A1 of this type, in addition to the opening drive for normal operation, a further electric drive is provided for emergency actuation of the locking device. Accordingly, this relates to an electric actuating drive for the emergency actuation of the locking device, corresponding to the above. Finally, the known teaching also works with a further electric drive, which belongs to the locking unit and is therefore designed as an electric locking drive in the above sense. The lever system can be selectively opened or closed by means of an electrically operated blocking drive.

The prior art has been basically proven, however, it also provides room for improvement. In fact, such a teaching according to US 2003/0178859 A1 works with a total of three electric drives, namely an opening drive for normal operation, an electric actuating drive for emergency actuation and finally an electric blocking drive. This is technically costly, resulting in a projecting structure and increased manufacturing costs. The present invention remedies in its entirety.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to further develop such a motor vehicle door lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, such that the structural and technical costs and thus the production costs are reduced.

In order to solve this problem, the invention proposes for a motor vehicle lock of this type and in particular a motor vehicle door lock that the actuating drive and the blocking drive are functionally combined or functionally identical and are designed as a single drive.

Thus, according to the invention, the function of the electrically operated drive for the emergency operation of the locking device and the function of the electrically operated locking drive as a component of the locking unit are linked and combined with one another. Since only a single drive is used here, the construction costs are thereby reduced. Furthermore, the manufacturing costs are reduced at the same time in this way.

Within the scope of the invention, it is possible to add an electric drive or an opening drive as a further drive for actuating the locking device in normal operation, in the case of the only drive involved, which is used both for emergency actuation of the locking device and as a component of the locking unit. In principle, however, the function of the opening drive in normal operation can also be assumed by a single drive, which in this case serves not only for the emergency actuation of the locking device but in principle also for the actuation of the locking device.

In this case, the actuation of the locking device and the emergency actuation of the locking device generally correspond to the opening process and the emergency opening process, respectively. At least according to an advantageous embodiment. In principle, however, the actuation or emergency actuation of the locking device can also belong to other functional sequences. In any case, it is possible within the scope of the invention to combine the emergency actuating function or the emergency opening function and the locking function in particular electrically, i.e. by means of a single drive. The single drive can then in principle also be used to open or actuate the locking device in normal operation.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the single drive is usually equipped with an electric motor and an output wheel. A motor is typically used to rotate the output wheel. For this purpose, the electric motor can be engaged into a toothing on the outer circumference of the output wheel by means of a worm arranged on its output shaft. Here, the worm gear may be used, or the helical gear mechanism or the straight gear mechanism may be used to operate separately. It is particularly advantageous if the worm on the output shaft of the electric motor and the external toothing of the output wheel each have helical toothing. Since such a toothing is characterized by low friction, the output wheel can be easily switched back into its initial position by means of a spring assigned to the output wheel when the operation is initiated by the electric machine.

In order to now implement and implement not only an emergency actuation or emergency opening of the locking device, but also a blocking function, according to the invention, by means of a single drive, the output wheel is generally equipped with a blocking profile and an emergency actuation profile. The two profiling sections are usually arranged opposite one another with respect to their oppositely centered output wheel. Furthermore, it is generally provided that, starting from the basic position of the single electric drive, an emergency actuation or emergency opening of the locking device is effected in the direction of the output wheel, while the second, further direction of the output wheel corresponds to the fact that the locking function is effected and executed.

For this purpose, it is often provided that the locking profile on the output wheel acts on a locking lever which is part of the locking unit. In addition to the locking lever, the locking unit is generally and additionally equipped with a coupling lever. The coupling lever itself serves, in turn, to selectively open/close the lever train to load the locking device. In fact, the "disengaged" functional position of the coupling lever corresponds to the lever train being opened. The locking unit is thus in its "locked" state. Whereas the "engaged" state of the coupling rod is the case if the blocking unit occupies its "unlocked" functional position.

In this case, the locking unit can generally be switched into the "unlocked" or "locked" functional position by means of an electric locking drive. But here frequently and additionally also safety elements are implemented. The locking lever can be moved into the "unlocked" or "locked" position by means of a securing element, independently of the electric drive. In this case, the fuse element is generally designed as an internal fuse element. In this case, the securing element can be an "unlocking/locking button" in the simplest case.

The emergency actuation profile additionally provided on the output wheel in turn acts on the emergency actuation lever. If the coupling rod is "engaged" or the blocking unit assumes its "unlocked" state, the locking device can be opened by means of the emergency operating lever. In this case, the unlocking process is generally first carried out (in the locked state of the locking device) and then the emergency actuation or emergency opening of the locking device is carried out.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the motor vehicle lock is additionally equipped with a control unit and an energy source for emergency operation or an emergency energy source. In this case, the respective energy source or emergency energy source can also be used to supply a plurality of motor vehicle locks of a motor vehicle with energy. For this purpose, the energy source or the emergency energy source can be arranged centrally and for example for two motor vehicle locks, for example on the driver side on the one hand and on the co-driver side on the other hand. The same concept can be used for a control unit which can also be used jointly by a plurality of motor vehicle locks of a motor vehicle.

In any case, the emergency actuation or emergency opening according to the invention offers the possibility that in principle mechanically redundant linkages can be dispensed with. Since the motor vehicle lock according to the invention can be opened or emergency opened by means of the energy source or emergency energy source even in the event of failure of the main energy source or failure of the onboard power supply system inside the motor vehicle. All this is achieved with a particularly simple and compact and therefore cost-effective design in mind, since in this context generally only a single electric drive is used both for emergency actuation of the locking device and for locking thereof. This is a major advantage of the present invention.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below on the basis of the figures which show only one embodiment; the figures show that:

figure 1 shows a motor vehicle lock according to the invention in a perspective overview,

fig. 2 shows the motor vehicle lock according to fig. 1 in the installed state in an associated motor vehicle.

List of reference numerals:

locking device 1, 2 motor vehicle door lock K

Spring F of rotary lock fork 1

Locking pawl 2

Operating lever systems 3, 4

Bent rod 3

Bent lever 4

Control lever 4

Shaft 5

Lock box 6

Locking unit 7, 8

Locking lever 7

Projection 7a

Coupling rod 8

Shaft 9

Shaft 10

Actuating drive 11, 12

Locking drive 11, 12

Motor 11

Output wheel 12

Locking forming part 13

Molded parts 13, 13'

Inner operating lever 14

Emergency operation molding portion 13'

Shaft 15

Emergency operating lever 16

Motor vehicle 17

Emergency energy source 18

Control unit 19

Housing 20

Detailed Description

In the figures, a motor vehicle lock K is shown, which is a motor vehicle door lock. As is clear from a comparison of fig. 1 and 2, the respective motor vehicle door lock K can be used in a motor vehicle side door. In the illustration according to fig. 2, it can be seen that the motor vehicle 17 equipped with the motor vehicle door lock has a total of four such motor vehicle door locks K, namely in the driver door, the co-driver door and in the two rear side doors. This is of course merely exemplary and not mandatory.

The basic structure of a motor vehicle lock K or a motor vehicle door lock according to the invention is now shown in perspective view in fig. 1. First of all, the locking device 1, 2 is seen here, which essentially comprises a rotary catch 1 and a pawl 2. Furthermore, a lever system 3, 4 is realized. For this purpose, the actuating lever arrangement 3, 4 has a knee lever 3 which is mounted in a lock case 6 about an axis 5 and is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner in the axis 5 to a further knee lever 4. Thus, the rotational movement of the knee lever 3 in the clockwise direction about the axis 5 shown in fig. 1 corresponds to a corresponding clockwise rotation of the other knee lever 4.

In addition, locking units 7, 8 can also be seen in fig. 1. The locking units 7, 8 are equipped on the one hand with a locking lever 7 and on the other hand with a coupling lever 8. The locking lever 7 is likewise mounted in the lock case 6 so as to be rotatable about an axis 9. The coupling lever 8 can also be pivoted about a shaft 10, which in turn is rotatably supported on the locking pawl 2.

Additionally, electric actuating drives 11, 12 for the emergency actuation of the locking devices 1, 2 can also be seen in the figures. Furthermore, electric locking drives 11, 12 are realized, which interact with the locking units 7, 8. According to the invention, the actuating drives 11, 12 and the blocking drives 11, 12 are functionally combined and are therefore designed as single electric drives 11, 12.

For this purpose, the single electric drive 11, 12 has an electric motor 11 and an output wheel 12. The output wheel 12 is equipped on the one hand with a blocking profile 13 and on the other hand with a handling or emergency handling profile 13'. The two profiles 13, 13' are in this case opposite the output wheel 12, which is centered opposite it.

The overall design is such that the locking profile 13 acts on the locking lever 7, which is a component of the locking unit 7, 8. In fact, the clockwise movement of the output wheel 12, which is illustrated in fig. 1, corresponds to the blocking lever 7 and thus the blocking units 7, 8 assuming their "blocked" state. Since in the described clockwise movement of the output wheel 12, the blocking profile 13 ensures that the blocking lever 7 is pivoted about its shaft 9 in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, the end-side projection 7a of the locking lever 7 moves against the end of the coupling lever 8. As a result, the coupling rod 8 pivots about its axis 10 in the clockwise direction and therefore cannot (again) interact with the actuating lever 4, but is spaced apart from the actuating lever 4. Corresponding to this is the "disengaged" functional position of the coupling lever 8.

If, in the functional position in which the coupling lever 8 is "disengaged" and thus in the functional position in which the locking unit 7, 8 is "locked", the inner actuating lever 14 is loaded about its axis 15 in the counterclockwise direction, the connected actuating lever arrangement 3, 4 is free-wheeling/inactive for the corresponding and thus triggered movement of the locking device 1, 2. As a result of the counterclockwise movement of the inner actuating lever 14, the two actuating levers 3, 4 are pivoted about their common axis 5 in the clockwise direction. However, since the coupling rod 8 is spaced apart from it, this pivoting movement of the two levers 3, 4 cannot be used to move the locking pawl 2 out of its locking engagement with the rotary catch 1. The locking device 1, 2 is thus held in its locked or latched position.

In order to be able to open the locking devices 1, 2, the electric drives 11, 12 therefore have to be moved into their starting positions shown in fig. 1. The locking lever 7 thus assumes the "unlocked" position shown there, when it is loaded by the spring F. The coupling rod 8 is then "engaged" and the locking device 1, 2 can be opened by means of the inner operating lever 14.

Furthermore, an emergency actuation or opening of the locking device 1, 2 can also be realized according to the invention. For this purpose, the single electric drive 11, 12 is loaded in such a way that the output wheel 12 is now loaded in the counterclockwise direction by means of the electric motor 11, contrary to the locking process described above. As a result, the actuating or emergency actuating cam 13' provided on the rear side in the region of the illustration according to fig. 1 acts on the emergency actuating lever 16. The emergency actuation lever 16 is mounted so as to be rotatable coaxially with respect to the common shaft 15 relative to the inner actuation lever 14. The loading of the single electric drive 11, 12 for emergency actuation or emergency opening then causes the emergency actuating lever 16 to pivot about the shaft 15 in the counterclockwise direction. The emergency actuation lever 16 can thus act on both actuation levers 3, 4 and pivot them about their common axis 5 in the clockwise direction.

Since in this process the locking unit 7, 8 assumes its "unlocked" position and therefore the coupling lever 8 assumes its "engaged" functional state relative to the lever arrangement 3, 4, a pivoting movement of the two levers 3, 4 about their common axis 5 in the clockwise direction results in the locking pawl 2 being moved out of its locking engagement with the rotary catch 1. The rotary latch fork 1 is thus spring-loaded to open and release the previously gripped locking bolt.

Emergency operation or the described emergency opening is usually carried out if the main energy source present in the interior of the motor vehicle 17 shown in fig. 2 fails or the vehicle electrical system voltage drops to a level at which normal operation for electrically opening the locking devices 1, 2 is no longer possible. In this case, the single electric drive 11, 12 is supplied by means of the energy source 18 or the emergency energy source. The energy source or emergency energy source 18 is one or more capacitors or supercapacitors. Furthermore, a control unit 19 can also be seen here. The control unit 19 and the energy source or emergency energy source 18 can be accommodated on a common circuit board and combined to form a unit.

The module consisting of the control unit 19 and the energy source 18 can be realized centrally in the interior of the motor vehicle 17. According to this embodiment, the modules 18, 19 are each assigned to one side of the vehicle, according to this embodiment not only to the driver side but also to the passenger side. The modules 18, 19 can be arranged in the interior of a housing 20 which receives the motor vehicle lock according to fig. 1 and provides an outer shell for the motor vehicle lock, or can be arranged in a separate housing and be separated from the motor vehicle lock K. Both of which are shown in fig. 2. That is to say, the energy source 18 or the emergency energy source serves to supply a plurality of motor vehicle locks K of the motor vehicle 17 with energy. This solution is obviously only a preferred solution and should not be understood as limiting.

Claims (10)

1. Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, having: the locking device (1, 2) mainly comprises a rotary lock fork (1) and a locking claw (2); a control lever system (3, 4) having an electric control drive (11, 12) for emergency control of the locking device (1, 2); a locking unit (7, 8) having an electric locking drive (11, 12),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the actuating drive (11, 12) and the locking drive (11, 12) are functionally combined and designed as a single electric drive (11, 12).

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive means (11, 12) have an electric motor (11) and an output wheel (12).

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that the output wheel (12) is equipped with a blocking profile (13) and an emergency handling profile (13').

4. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the two profiles (13, 13') are opposite with respect to the central output wheel (12).

5. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the blocking profile (13) acts on a blocking lever (7) which is an integral part of the blocking unit (7, 8).

6. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking unit (7, 8) has a coupling rod (8) in addition to the locking rod (7).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, characterized in that the coupling lever (8) selectively opens or closes the lever train (3, 4) for the load lock (1, 2).

8. Motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the emergency actuation profile (13') acts on the emergency actuation lever (16).

9. Motor vehicle lock according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a control unit (19) and an energy source (18) for emergency operation are provided.

10. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 9, characterized in that the energy source (18) is adapted to supply a plurality of motor vehicle locks of a motor vehicle (17) with energy.

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