EP0066044B1 - Device for locking and unlocking doors - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for unlocking and locking doors, in particular motor vehicle doors, in which door locking mechanisms with pneumatic actuators and centrally a pneumatic pump with an electrical control unit are provided on individual doors, the device being provided by at least one door switch which ent - And allows a locked position, controlled by a main door key and the electrical control unit of the pump is such that it alternately supplies the actuators with overpressure or underpressure with each start. Such a device is the subject of DE-A-2 805 004.

In the known device, the actuators of the individual door locking mechanisms are connected by means of an automatically controlled by the system pressure 3/2-way valve with each start of the pump alternately with the vacuum outlet or the overpressure outlet of the pump. At the same time, a changeover switch, also operated by the system pressure, ensures that the pump is switched off after the unlocking or locking process has been completed. The pump is started by a door switch.

An alternative to the embodiment according to DE-A-2 805 004 is the device which is described in US-A-3105127. Instead of a piston pump, a vane pump is provided in this embodiment, the direction of rotation of which changes with each start-up, so that vacuum or overpressure alternately arises at its outlet. The purpose of this pump control, just like that according to the mentioned DE-A-2 805 004, is to be able to move the actuator of each door locking mechanism in two directions, that is to say in the locked position or open position, via only a single line to each door locking mechanism.

Furthermore, from FR-A 1-2452 563 a device for unlocking and locking motor vehicle doors is known, in which door locking mechanisms with actuators are provided on the individual doors. These actuators are driven by an electric motor and are controlled centrally by means of a key actuating a door switch. The device has three switch positions and allows the doors to be locked either against opening from the outside or against opening from the inside and outside.

Motor vehicles with locked doors are often broken open by breaking a window and then opening the door on the door lever from the inside.

Thieves often open motor vehicle doors from the inside, without even breaking a window, by using loops or rods through the window seal to get past the window to the door lever. There is therefore a need to additionally secure the doors of motor vehicles so that they cannot be opened from the outside or from the inside without a key. When driving, however, all doors should be openable from the inside for safety reasons, so that in the event of an accident the occupants can leave the vehicle without wasting time. A third requirement for motor vehicle doors is to enable the vehicle user to lock themselves in so that the doors do not, e.g. B. at traffic lights or level crossings, can be opened from the outside for the purpose of a robbery.

However, for safety reasons, this self-locking must not be carried out with the device that prevents the doors from opening and closing both from the inside and the outside, because then the passengers would only be able to get out if the driver's door had been mechanically locked from the outside beforehand unlocked and thus the other locking points would be unlocked pneumatically.

The invention has for its object to develop a device of the type mentioned for unlocking and locking doors, in particular motor vehicle doors, which makes it possible in a particularly simple and therefore cheap and reliable manner, the doors either only against opening from the outside or lock against opening from inside and outside.

This object is achieved by the measures specified in claim 1.

The advantages of the invention are numerous. First of all, one has the same possibilities in a motor vehicle provided with such a device as in a motor vehicle with conventional door locks. You can lock them so that the doors cannot be opened from the outside, but can always be opened from the inside. This type of locking is useful when driving through lonely areas or unsafe districts at night. Thanks to the invention there is a further possibility of locking the door locks. The door locks can be locked from the outside in such a way that the doors cannot be opened from the inside or the outside. This locking position is useful if you want to leave the vehicle unattended for a long time.

It makes sense to use a different key to switch the locking device into this third locking position than for normal door locking and unlocking. The driver of such a vehicle normally never has to give this key out of his hands, since a key for unlocking and locking the doors is sufficient for the car workshop or for the front passenger. This counteracts the risk that others who are temporarily in possession of a key, such as B. the staff in auto repair shops or petrol stations are given the opportunity to make a key copy.

Because, according to the invention, a 3/2-way valve is provided on the pump output side, which supplies the pressure from the pump to either the door locking mechanism or the locking device, the normal rhythm of negative pressure and positive pressure that the pump can use to lock and unlock the door locking mechanism delivers.

Another advantage is that no electrical devices such as. B. limit switches or actuators must be provided so that the device according to the invention does not require any electrical lines to the individual door locks.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in claim 2. Due to the measures identified there, the device according to the invention will be simple in terms of circuitry and therefore inexpensive to manufacture. A closed electrical circuit is only required for switching in one direction, while the vacuum built up in the system is always used for switching in the other direction of the 3/2-way valve.

The embodiment of the device according to the invention specified in claim 3 was tested in practice. This has proven to be particularly easy to manufacture and work reliably.

Due to the favorable embodiment of the invention specified in claim 4, the switching operation of the 3/2-way valve takes place suddenly, in a position in which the blocking device is connected to the pump and pressurized. This eliminates the possibility that the slide of the 3/2-way valve can get caught in an intermediate position.

The electrical circuit of the device according to the invention is particularly simple by the measures specified in claim 5.

Claim 6 shows that the basic principle of the invention can also be used in a device which has a pump which can be switched in the direction of rotation and which, depending on the direction of rotation, generates overpressure or underpressure at its outlet.

From claim 7 it follows that the switching of the 3/2-way valve in one direction can be done instead of in an electromagnetic manner by spring force and a motorized detachable locking device. This type of switching is much faster than if the 3/2-way valve were switched directly by an electric servomotor.

• Fig. 1 eine erfindungsgemäß gestaltete Einrichtung zum Ent- und Verriegeln von Türen in einer solchen Stellung, in der die Türen entriegelt sind;
• Fig. 2 die Einrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 in verriegeltem Zustand;
• Fig. 3 die Einrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 in gesperrtem Zustand;
• Fig. 4 eine zweite Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung;
• Fig. 5 eine geänderte Ausführungsform des 3/2-Wegeventils der erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung.

The invention allows numerous design options. One of them is shown schematically in the drawing and is described below. It shows

• 1 shows a device designed according to the invention for unlocking and locking doors in such a position in which the doors are unlocked;
• FIG. 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in the locked state;
• 3 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in the locked state;
• 4 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;
• Fig. 5 shows a modified embodiment of the 3/2-way valve of the device according to the invention.

The device shown consists essentially of three different units, which are each illustrated in the drawing by dashed outline. It is a main door lock 1, a central control unit 2 and secondary locks 3.

The main door lock 1 has a door switch 4, which enables three switch positions through contacts 5, 6, 7. The door switch 4 can be actuated by means of a master key 8 so that all three switch positions are possible. The main door lock 1 is designed in such a way that only two switching positions can be achieved by means of a secondary key (not shown). Depending on the position of the door switch 4, electrical energy comes from one pole of the vehicle battery via a connecting terminal 9 and a switching element 10 of the door switch 4 to one of the contacts 5, 6 or 7, depending on the position of this switching element 10. Electrical lines 11 run from these contacts, 12, 13 to contacts 14, 15, 16 in the central control unit 2.

The contacts 14, 15, 16 are part of a system pressure-dependent changeover switch 17. This changeover switch 17 has a pneumatic actuating device 18. Via a switching element 19 of the changeover switch 17, a motor 20 is capable of a pump 21 _' either from the connecting terminal 9 via the switching element 10, the contact 5, the line 11, the contact 14 and the switching element 19 or else from the terminal 9 via the switching element 10, the contact 6, the line 12, the contact 15 and the switching element 19 to receive current.

Not shown is a 3/2-way valve which is controlled automatically by the pressure behind the pump 21 and which ensures that each time the pump 21 starts up, an overpressure or underpressure is built up alternately in a pressure line 22. Such a pump with a 3/2-way valve is described in DE-OS 2 805 004.

A pressure line 23 branches off from the pressure line 22 and leads to the pneumatic actuating device 18 of the system pressure-dependent changeover switch 17. The result of this is that the switching element 19 of the changeover switch 17 switches suddenly from the position shown in FIG. 1 by a mechanism, not shown, when the system reaches a certain negative pressure and then connects the contact 14 to the contact 19. Likewise, the changeover switch 17 jumps back to the position shown in FIG. 1 at a certain overpressure in the system.

The system pressure-dependent changeover switch 17 has in addition to the switching element 19 a disconnector 24 through which the contact 16 with a con Clock 25 is connectable, when the switching element 19 supplies the motor 20 with current via the contact 14. An electrical transverse line 26 with a diode 27 enables current to flow from line 13 to line 11, but not in the opposite direction. However, this diode 27 can also be omitted if the door switch 4 is designed differently.

An electrical line 28 leads from the contact 25 to an electrical actuating device 29 of a 3/2-way valve 30 of the central control unit 2. This 3/2-way valve 30 controls a pressure medium connection from the pressure line 22 either to a pressure line 32 or to by means of a slide 31 a pressure line 33. The pressure line 32 leads directly into a pressure chamber 34 of an actuator 35 of the side door lock 3. The pressure line 33 leads into a pressure chamber 36 of a pneumatic actuating device 37 of the 3/2-way valve 30. By means of a locking device 38, this is 3 / 2- Directional control valve 30 is held in the position shown, in which the pressure line 22 has a connection to the pressure line 32.

A pressure line 39 branches off from the pressure line 33 and leads into a pressure chamber 40 of a locking device 41. The locking device 41 has a bolt 42, which can snap into a detent 43 of the actuator 35 and then block it.

The drawing shows only one side door lock 3. Of course, any number of side door locks 3 can be provided, which are completely identical to the door lock 3 and can be supplied with overpressure or underpressure via branch lines 44, 45 of the pressure lines 32, 39.

The device described works as follows. In the unlocking position shown in Fig. 1, all units are de-energized. Is switched with the master key 8 or a minor key of the door switch 4 so that there is a power connection from the terminal 9 via the switching element 10 to the contact 6, then the motor 20 receives power from the terminal 9 via the switching element 10, the contact 6, the Line 12, the contact 15 and the switching element 19. The pump 21 then starts and generates vacuum in the pressure line 22. Controlled by the slide 31, this reaches the pressure chamber 34 via the pressure line 32 and pulls the actuator 35 of the secondary door lock 3 back into a locking position, which is shown in FIG. 2.

The negative pressure in the pressure line 22 also reaches the pneumatic actuating device 18 via the pressure line 23. As a result, after the actuator 35 is withdrawn, the system pressure-dependent changeover switch 17 is switched over, so that the switching element 19 lies on the contact 14. This in turn means that the motor 20 no longer receives current from the contact 15 and switches off. Another consequence is that the pressure in the entire system can decrease.

If the locking position shown in FIG. 2 is switched back to the unlocking position shown in FIG. 1, the motor 20 receives from the connecting terminal 9 via the switching element 10, the contact 5, the line 11, the contact 14 and the switching element 19 electrical energy and starts, so that 22 pressure is fed into the pressure line. The actuator 35 moves up again. Then the changeover switch 17 again switches to the position shown in FIG. 1. The 3/2-way valve 30 of the central control unit has not been activated during the locking and unlocking.

The process of locking is now explained. For this purpose, the main door lock 1 must be brought into its third switching position, so that the switching element 10 establishes an electrical connection from the connecting terminal 9 to the contact 7. This should only be possible with the master key 8, but not with secondary keys. The path to the third switching position inevitably leads via the second switching position, in which the actuator 35 and the changeover switch 17 assume the position shown in FIG. 2 due to negative pressure. It should be noted that a motor control, not shown, always ensures that each command issued by the door switch is carried out to the end, even if the command is immediately switched on after the command has been issued and a new command is thus issued.

If the door switch 4 is now brought further into the third switching position shown in FIG. 3, the motor 20 receives current from the connecting terminal 9 via the switching element 10, the contact 7, the line 13, the cross line 26, the diode 27, the contact 14 and the switching element 19 so that the pump 21 starts up and generates excess pressure. By switching the door switch 4 to the third position, the electrical actuating device 29 immediately receives electrical energy from the connecting terminal 9 via the switching element 10, the contact 7, the line 13, the isolating switch 24 and the electrical line 28, so that the slide 31st reaches the upper position shown in FIG. 3. Overpressure from the pump 21 therefore passes from the pressure line 22 into the pressure line 33 and from there via the pressure line 39 into the pressure chamber 40. As a result, the latch 42 is pushed into the catch 43 so that the actuator 35 is mechanically blocked. However, overpressure also passes from the pressure line 39 into the pressure chamber 36. However, this has no effect, since the slide 31 is in its upper setting, as seen in the drawing, anyway.

Furthermore, overpressure reaches the pneumatic actuating device 18 via the pressure line 23, so that the system pressure-dependent changeover switch 17 switches over and reaches the position shown in FIG. 1. The engine 20 is thus switched off and the system can become depressurized.

If the device is to be unlocked, then the door switch 4 is switched so that it connects, at least temporarily, from the connecting terminal 9 to the contact 6 manufactures and thus the motor 20 can start again, so that the pump 21 generates negative pressure. The latch 42 is then withdrawn. Furthermore, the changeover switch 17 is switched over. Negative pressure reaches the pressure chamber 36 via the pressure line 33, so that the slide 31 again reaches the position shown in FIG. 1.

If the door switch 4 is switched further to the open position, the pump 21 again generates excess pressure and all units assume the position shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows that the basic principle of the invention can also be used if a pump is used which, depending on the direction of rotation, generates overpressure or underpressure at its outlet. 4, components which correspond to those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are provided with the same position numbers.

The device shown in Fig. 4, just like the previously described, has as its most important components a door switch 4, a system pressure-dependent changeover switch 17, a motor 20 with a pump 21, a 3/2-way valve (not shown) with an electrical actuating device 29 and a pneumatic actuator, also not shown. For simplification, the pressure lines and the side door lock with the actuator and the locking element are also omitted in FIG. 4.

The main difference between the embodiment according to FIG. 4 and the one described above is that the changeover switch 17 has no isolating switch. For this purpose, the electrical actuating device 29 is placed parallel to the motor 20 via a diode 46 and a switch 47 in such a way that the actuating device 29 is energized only when the switch 47 is closed and the pump 21 is under pressure.

The mode of operation of this embodiment arises analogously from that previously explained. The pneumatic locking device is brought into the locking position by the switching element 10 establishing a connection between the contact 7 and the connecting terminal 9 and by the switch 47 being closed.

5, a modified embodiment of the 3/2-way valve 30 is shown very schematically. This 3/2-way valve has a control element 48 which can be moved in a sudden manner in each of its two switching positions by a tension spring 49. The tension spring 49 is articulated in an actuator 50 which can be moved in one direction by the pneumatic actuating device 37, but in the other direction by a tension spring 51. As a result of this displacement of the actuator 50, the tension spring 49 is displaced in such a way that the control element 48 switches over accordingly.

In the position shown, the actuator 50 is prevented from moving to its other position by a pawl 52 which is designed as an angle lever and which engages positively in one direction in a catch 53 of the actuator 50. The pawl 52 can, however, disengage if it is pivoted counterclockwise by a cam 54 of a disk 55 driven by an electric motor 56. The actuator 50 then snaps into the other end position due to the force of the tension spring 51, the actuator 48 switching over.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for the locking and unlocking of doors, especially motor vehicle doors, wherein door locking mechanisms with pneumatic positioning elements (35) are provided at individual doors, and centrally a pneumatic pump (21) with an electrical control unit are provided, and the apparatus is actuatable by means of a main door key (8) through at least one door switch (4) which allows an unlocking position and a locking position, and the electrical control unit (2) of the pump (21) is such that each time it starts it supplies the positioning elements (35) with positive pressure or negative pressure alternately, characterised in that the positioning elements (35) have a pneumatically operatable movement-blocking device (41), and the door switch (4) has a third switch position for actuating the pump (21), which position can be operated only with a special key, that there is also provided a mechanical door lock locking arragement which is operated in the third key position, and that at the pump outlet side there is arranged a 3/2-way valve (29) whereby in the third switch position of the door switch (4) the movement-blocking device (41) is connected for pressure transmission with the pump outlet.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the 3/2-way valve (30) has an electric or electromagnetic positioning device (29) for moving into one control position, but for movement into the other control position it has a pneumatic positioning device (37) which is movable by the negative pressure in the system and whose operating pressure is always greater than the operating pressure of the movement-blocking device (41), but is always to be less than the operating pressure of the pneumatic positioning device (18) of the change-over switch (17).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the following claims, characterised in that the 3/2-way valve (30) is a slide valve whose slide (31) is connected mechanically to a diaphragm of the pneumatic positioning device (37), and at that side of the diaphragm which is remote from the slide (31) a pressure chamber (36) is provided which is in constant pressure medium communication with the pressure chamber (40) of the movement-blocking device (41), and that the slide (31) and the valve unions are so arranged that a pressure conduit (22) coming from the pump communicates selectively with a pressure conduit (32) leading to the positioning element (35) of the door locking mechanism or with a pressure medium conduit (33, 39) leading to the movement-blocking device (41) and at the same time to the pressure chamber (36) of the pneumatic positioning device (37) of the 3/2-way valve (30).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the following claims, characterised in that the 3/2-way valve (30) has a self-releasing latching arrangement (38) in that position in which the pump (21) is connected with the pressure chamber (40) of the movement-blocking device (41).

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the following claims, wherein an electric change-over switch (17) controlled by the system pressure is provided in the control arrangement of the pump (21), characterised in that the change-over switch (17) is coupled with an isolating switch (24) by means of which a current path is established from that contact (7) of the door switch (4) which is associated with the locking position to the electric or electromagnetic positioning device (29) of the 3/2-way valve (30).

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the following claims, wherein a pneumatic pump (21) is provided which produces positive pressure or negative pressure depending on the direction of rotation, and which has a rotation direction change-over switch (17) controlled by system pressure, characterised in that the electric positioning device (29) of the 3/2-way valve is connected via a diode (46) and an additional switch (47) in parallel in such a manner with the motor (20) of the pump (21) that the positioning device (29) is energised only when the switch (47) is closed and the pump (21) produces positive pressure.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the following claims, characterised in that the 3/2-way valve (30) has the pneumatic positioning device (37) for moving into one control position, but for moving into the other control position is preloaded by spring means (tension spring 51), and that the 3/2-way valve also comprises a catch (53) and a pawl (52) for arresting in one end position, this being disengageable by means of an electric motor (56).

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