EP1187962B1 - Outer door handle, especially for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

An outer door handle for vehicles has a stationary housing in the vehicle door. The handle has a handle arm and acts on a lock arranged within the door. A pivotable latching member serves as a mass latching mechanism and makes the handle actuatable in a release position. Because of its inertia in a crash situation, the latching member reaches an active support position and blocks the handle. The pivot bearing for the latching member is located on the stationary housing. The movable handle arm has a shoulder. A counter shoulder is provided on the latching member. The folding movement path of the shoulder on the handle arm is intersected by the pivot movement path of the counter shoulder. In a crash situation the shoulder comes to rest against the counter shoulder. In the release position, the shoulder passes the counter shoulder upon handle actuation.

Description

The invention is directed to an outside door handle in the preamble of Claim 1 specified type. There are so-called "mass barriers" provided in the event of a crash as an automatic locking device on folding handles act. The mass barriers are designed as pivotable locking members and make sure that during a side impact of the vehicle the door with her lock remains locked. In a crash occur Acceleration forces on. These forces are from the masses of the locking member used. In the event of a crash, the locking member of these forces in a support position placed opposite a support surface on the case where the movement of the handle is blocked.

In the known outside door handle of this type (DE 196 25 392 A1) is the Swivel bearing for the locking member on the movable handle arm. There it is Locking member freely oscillating stored. In this known outside door handle form with the handle folding movable arm on the one hand and the handle arm pivotally mounted locking member on the other hand, a common in the handle operation movable unit. In this case, the locking member oscillates freely on the movable handle arm With. In this door outside handle, the handle is designed as a so-called "folding handle" where a hinge axis is mounted horizontally in the housing. The invention is however also applicable to outside door handles with differently shaped handles, e.g. at the following "pulling handles". The locking member normally includes its free mass end, which has a toothing, of one at the housing away Gegenzahnung away. In the event of a crash, however, the mass end of the Locking member pivoted by the inertial forces acting and comes with his Toothing with the counter teeth on the housing in engagement. Already at the Proper handle operation can be affected by the mitbewegte locking member result in unwanted blockages. In the support position of the locking member are the Transfer supporting forces via the pivot bearing on the handle arm. The strength this supporting effect depends on the stability of the locking member bearing on the handle from.

Mass barriers are also known for outside door handles (DE 196 10 200 A1) known as the already mentioned "pulling handles" with a vertical pivot axis on one Handle end are equipped. The other end of the handle works with a swivel arm together, in turn, in the housing about a substantially vertical axis is pivotally mounted. The invention is, as I said, even in such External door handles applicable. To the movement of the swivel arm of the To distinguish pivoting movement of the locking member, it is intended in the following Description always used the term "folding movement", even though this term more to the pretreated version of the door handle as a folding handle fits. In the known, designed as a pull handle outside door handle is the Mass lock as a pivoting, spring-loaded lever in a swivel arm rotatably mounted. Also in this case, therefore, the mass lock in a similar way, as in the known folding handle, in a moving part of the pull handle swiveling stored. There are thus the analog disadvantages as in the pretreated Folding handle on.

The invention is based on the object, a cheap, compact To develop outside door handle mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 way, the is reliable and withstands high loads. This is inventively achieved the measures mentioned in the characterizing part of claim 1, which the following special significance.

In the invention, the locking member is not on a movable member pivoted, such as provided in the prior art for this purpose or Swivel arm, but on a stationary component, namely on the stationary housing. This allows the pivot bearing axis outside of the support forces during the blockage be arranged receiving power transmission path. The support position in the event of a crash comes in the invention by the fact that the movable arm with a handle Shoulder at a counter shoulder of the locking member comes to rest, because the Locking member due to the resulting inertia forces in the event of a crash, previously in its support position with respect to the provided here support point on the housing has been pivoted. The folding path of the shoulder intersects with the Schwenkbewegungsweg of it completely separate, namely stored on the housing Locking member. Normally, when the locking member is in its release position, the folding movement path is located on the handle arm or swivel arm Shoulder past the counter-shoulder of the locking member.

Nevertheless, it can, as stated in more detail in claim 3, also normally come a certain deflection movement of the locking member. Already at the usual Handle operation occurs a small pivoting of the locking member, without that Locking member thereby reaches its full support position relative to the housing. By this already normally resulting idling movement of the locking member is ensures its functionality in the event of a crash. A setting of the locking member on his swivel bearing because of prolonged disuse is therefore in the Application of the measures of claim 3 not to be feared.

Fig. 1,

in Draufsicht, die Rückseite des Gehäuses, das mit einem nicht mitgezeichneten Klappgriff versehen ist,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch den Türaußengriff von Fig. 1 längs der dortigen Schnittlinie II - II in der Ruhelage des Klappgriffs, der hier nur strichpunktiert angedeutet ist und dessen Klappbewegung zusammen mit dem schraffierten Griffarm erfolgt, wobei hier sowohl die Ruhestellung als auch die Arbeitsstellung dieser Bauteile gezeigt sind,

Fig. 3,

in einem der Fig. 2 entsprechenden Schnitt, den gleichen Türaußengriff, wenn sein Klappgriff sich in einer Zwischenposition zwischen den beiden in Fig. 1 gezeigten Stellungen befindet, und

Fig. 4 + 5,

wiederum die Schnitte von Fig. 2, wenn sich ein Crashfall ergibt und zwar in Fig. 4 in der Anfangsphase und in Fig. 5 in der Endphase eines solchen Aufpralls.

Further measures and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the other dependent claims, the following description and the drawings. In the drawings, the invention is shown in one embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1,

in plan view, the back of the housing, which is provided with a not mitgezeichneten folding handle,

Fig. 2

1 along the section line II - II in the rest position of the folding handle, which is indicated here only by dash-dotted lines and its folding movement takes place together with the hatched handle arm, here shown both the rest position and the working position of these components are,

3,

in a section corresponding to FIG. 2, the same outside door handle when its folding handle is in an intermediate position between the two positions shown in Fig. 1, and

4 + 5,

again the sections of Fig. 2, when a crash occurs, namely in Fig. 4 in the initial phase and in Fig. 5 in the final phase of such an impact.

The outside door handle shown in the figures comprises a housing 10, from which in FIG. 1, as already said, the back 12 can be seen. On the opposite the front 11 is the actual, manually too actuated handle 20, the position of which, as already said, dash-dotted lines in Fig. 2 is indicated. It is in the present case to the already beginning explained folding handle, which is arranged around an inclined to the horizontal, dash-dotted in Fig. 1 indicated hinge axis 13 is movable in a folding. Therefore the housing 10 has two spaced-apart bearing lugs 14. On the show side 11 is the housing provided with a recognizable from Fig. 2 concave trough 15, the of the folding handle 20 is at least partially covered and to engage the hand is useful in the grip use.

In this embodiment, a handle arm 21 by not shown in detail Connecting means rotatably connected to the folding handle 20. The two components 20, 21 thus form a jointly movable assembly in the handle operation. While the folding handle 20 is arranged on the display side 11 of the housing 10, is the handle arm 12 on the back. The handle 20 and the handle arm 21 take an angle to each other. They are on the same hinge axis 13, but on separate sections 16, 17 During the Folding handle 20 located on the between the two pairs of lobes 14 Middle section 17 is mounted, the arm 21 engages on one side of the a flap 14 arranged outer portion 16 of the hinge axis 13 at. Because of the inclination position of the hinge axis 13 is also the dash-dotted lines in Fig. 1st plotted plane 23 of the illustrated in Fig. 2 by the arrow 25 Folded movement arranged inclined.

Of course, the hinge axis 13 could also be horizontal, which is why the Folding movement plane 23 would run vertically. The arm 21 is but laterally, as can be seen from Fig. 1, surmounted by a nose 22, at its the Housing 10 facing side has a takeaway effective shoulder 24. These can, when the handle 20 from its rest position in Fig. 2 by one with the arrow 26 clarified in Fig. 2 Griffbetätigung in its working position 20 'has been moved is, enter through an outbreak into the housing 27 interior. In this working position 20 'of the handle is the nose 22 in their recognizable from Fig. 2, also dash-dotted Working position 22 'came. Their folding movement is indicated by an arrow 25 indicated and carried out on the dotted in Fig. 2 shown circular Folding movement path 28.

Inside the housing 27 is a locking member arranged in a special way 30, which is automatically effective as a so-called "mass barrier". The locking member 30 is always pivotally mounted on a seated on the housing 10 pin 30. Be Schwenkbewegungsweg 38 is indicated in Fig. 2 also dotted. The Locking member 30 is under the action of a spring force 41 of a leg spring 40 od. Like., Which, as explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 4, at one end to a cam 32 of the locking member and the other end to a stationary stop 18 in the housing 10th supported. By the spring force 41, the locking member 30 in his from Fig. 2nd apparent location. This layer 30 is by the investment of a locking member Provided 30 illustrated in Fig. 4 counter-stop 37 from the locking member on the already mentioned stop 18 in the housing 10 determined. The cam 32 is, As shown in FIG. 4, a counter cam 33 associated with the locking member 30, the one Locking end 39 of the locking member 30 is determined. This blocking end 39 is located in the shown in Fig. 2 position 30 of the locking member 30 at a distance from one on Housing 10 provided support point 19. In the position of Fig. 2 so is the Locking member 30, apart from the mentioned spring force 41, free, which is why this situation hereafter referred to as "release tag".

This changes only when a crash occurs, which is illustrated in Fig. 4 and 5. Then act on the masses of the two projections 32, 33 inertial forces, the Transfer locking member in the apparent from Fig. 4 and 5 position 30 '. The resulting Inertia forces are sufficient to overcome the small spring force 41. In this Position 30 'comes the locking end 39 from the locking member 30 on the housing side Support point 19 for support. Therefore, this situation 30 'below briefly "Support position" of the locking member are called. This support position 30 'occurs in Crash case.

4 shows the initial phase of the crash. The locking member is very quickly gets into his described support position 30 'in the housing 10. The due Of course, the inertia forces arising in the event of a crash also have an effect on the handle 20 and on the jointly movable with him arm 21. Also this unit 20, 21 is under the action of a not shown in detail Return spring, which endeavors the handle in the apparent from Fig. 2 rest position 20 to hold. But this handle spring has a relation to the spring force 41 of the Locking member 30, 30 'greater restoring force. Because of that and because of the structural Conditions act in the event of a crash occurring inertial forces only with a certain delay on this assembly 20, 21 at. The handle arm may be in the event of a crash in the minimal pivoted position 21 "'shown in FIG. 5 offset, but is a more extensive, the lock in the sense of in Fig. 2 described working position releasing Weiterverschwenkung the unit prevented. Namely, the nose located in the position 22 '"of Fig. 5 is supported with its mentioned shoulder 24 at a counter-shoulder 34 of the in support position 30 ' located locking member from. This counter-shoulder 34 is in the present case from the end face of the counter cam 33. The in Fig. 5 with the force arrow 42nd illustrated inertial force is transmitted from the nose 22 '"via the counter cam 33, the locking end 39 and the support point 19 directly on the housing 10th transferred and thus made ineffective. The inertial force 42 ends after the Crash, so the spring 40, the locking member again in his from Fig. 2 apparent Release position 30 back.

As is apparent from Fig. 3, the provided on the counter cam 33 counter-shoulder 34 one flank of a groove whose other groove flank of the corresponding End face of the cam 32 is formed. The resulting groove 43 has to be a clear width that is slightly larger than the width of the nose located on the handle arm 22 is. Therefore, the nose from its already mentioned, pulled out in Fig. 2 drawn rest position 22 on the also mentioned above dotted Folding movement path 28 through the groove 43 in the dash-dotted lines in Fig. 2nd clarified, already described working position 22 'reach, without it to the mentioned collisions between the shoulder 24 from the moving handle arm and the Counter shoulder 34 comes from the locking member. The folding movement path 28, the described Schwenkbewegungsweg 38 and the counter shoulder 34 intersect, as shown in FIG. 2, in an intersection point 29. This leads in the event of a crash to that in FIG. 5 recognizable collision. However, the groove 43 is in places by a from Fig. 3rd conspicuous projection 44 narrows, so it already at the normal Handle actuator 26 of FIG. 2 comes to a small entrainment of the locking member 30, which will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

In the release position 30 of the locking member this projection 44 projects into the through the Arrow 25 in Fig. 2 marked folding movement of the nose 22 into it. These Position is dash-dotted marked in Fig. 3. In this folding movement 25 pushes the nose on the projection 44 and takes the locking member in regions 46 bis to an intermediate position 22 "with. In the further course of the handle operation 26, in which describes the nose the marked in Fig. 2 full angle 45, the Locking member released again. This release time is illustrated in FIG. There, that intermediate position 30 "of the locking member is shown, where just the release the projection through the nose 22 "of the corresponding intermediate position 21" located Griffarms done. In this intermediate position 30 "has the Locking member pivoted by a partial angle 46, which is smaller than the aforementioned Full angle 45 is. In the intermediate position 30 "is the locking member with his Locking 39 still clearly removed from its housing-side support point 19; between the components 19, 39 there is a gap 47 in FIG.

The projection 36 is facing in the direction of the folding movement 25 Bevel 49 provided. The size of this the intermediate position 30 " the characteristic partial angle 26 depends inter alia on the height of the projection 44 off. In the limiting case of Fig. 3, the projection 44 is supported on the one there Marked hinge axis 13 facing narrow side of the nose 22 'from. At the further completion of the folding movement 25, the shoulder 22 "moves away from the Projection 44 of the locking member 30 "when it in connection with FIG. 2 already explained folding movement path 28 to its working position 22 'follows. The released locking member 30 "is then again because of the force 41 of the Return spring 40 is returned to its release position 30 of FIG. The locking member performs only a small pendulum movement in the extent of the handle actuator 26 in the extent of mentioned partial angle 46.

The projection 44 is, as shown in FIG. 4, on the inner surface 35 of the Cam 32. In the intermediate position 30 "of the locking member, the arm has in the already mentioned intermediate position 21 "moves and that to that of Fig. 3rd apparent angle 48. The projection 44 is opposite the front end of the groove 43 limiting, local cam 32 reset. In the release position 2, the nose 22 is aligned with the Nuteingang and the groove 43 forms, apart from the above-described pendulum movement 46 at the start of operation, a passage for the nose 22 from the handle 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

casing

11

Front of 10

12

Back of 10

13

Hinge axis at 10

14

Bearings for 13 to 10

15

Mulde from 10 to 11

16

Exterior section of 13 for 21

17

Midsection of 13 for 20

18

Stop for 40 in 10

19

Support point at 10 for 39 of 30 '

20

Folding handle (rest position)

20 '

Working position of 20

21

Handle arm at 20 (rest position)

21 "

Intermediate position of 21 (FIG. 3)

21 ''

minimally pivoted position of 21 (Fig. 5)

22

Nose to 21 (rest position)

22 '

Intermediate position of 22 (Fig. 3)

22 "

Intermediate position of 22 (Fig. 3)

22 " '

minimally pivoted position of 22 (Figure 5)

23

Plane of the folding movement of FIG. 21 (FIG. 1)

24

Shoulder at 21

25

Folding movement arrow (Fig. 2)

26

Arrow of manual handle operation

27

Case inside of 10

28

Folding movement path from 22 to 22 '

29

Intersection of 28 and 38 (Figure 2)

30

Locking member (working position)

30 '

Supporting layer of 30 (FIGS. 4, 5)

30 "

Intermediate position of 30

31

Pivot bearing pin for 30 to 10

32

Cam on 30

33

Counter cams at 30

34

Face of 33, counter shoulder for 24

35

Inner surface of 32

37

Counter stop at 30 for 18

38

Pivot travel of 30 (Figure 2)

39

Locking end of 30 (FIGS. 4, 5)

40

Return spring for 30, leg spring

41

Spring force of 40

42

Inertia force (Fig. 5)

43

Groove between 32, 33

44

Lead in 43

45

Full angle between 22, 22 '(Fig. 2)

46

Partial angle between 30, 30 ", pendulum movement (Fig. 3)

47

Gap between 19, 39

48

Angular amount between 22, 22 "(Fig. 3)

49

Ramp of 44 for 22, 22 "

Claims (15)

1. Outer door handle, especially for vehicles, comprising a housing (10) stationarily arranged in the door,
   comprising a bearing (14) for a manually actuatable handle (20) on the housing (10), especially for a folding handle (20) foldable (25) about a hinge axis (13) horizontally arranged or arranged in a sloping position relative to the horizontal,
   wherein the handle (20) has a handle arm (21) and upon handle actuation (26) acts on a lock arranged within the door,
   and comprising a pivotable (38) latching member (30) serving as a mass latching mechanism, which is normally in an ineffective release position (30) relative to a support surface (19) provided on the housing (11) and, in this position, makes the handle (20) actuatable (26), but which, in the event of a crash, as a result of the inertia of its masses, moves into an active support position (30') on this support location (19) and thus blocks the handle (20),
   characterised in that the pivot bearing (31) for the latching member (30) is located on the stationary housing (11),
   that the movable arm (21) has a shoulder (24) and that associated with shoulder (24) is a counter shoulder (34) on the latching member (30),
   that the path (28) of the folding movement of the shoulder (24) arranged on the handle arm (21) is intersected (29) by the path (38) of the pivot movement of the counter shoulder (34) on the latching member (30) and in the event of a crash the shoulder (24) comes to rest against the counter shoulder (34),
   but normally, in the release position (30) of the latching member, the shoulder (24) on the handle arm moves past the counter shoulder (34) of the latching member (30) upon handle actuation (26).
2. Outer door handle according to claim 1,
   characterised in that the latching member (30) is springloaded (41) in the direction counter to the pivot movement which occurs in the event of a crash, and in that the release position (30) of the latching member is determined by a stop (18) on the housing (11) against which the locking member (30) normally rests as a result of its spring bias (41).
3. Outer door handle according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that the latching member (30) has a projection (44) which even in the release position (30) of the latching member projects into the path (28) of the folding movement of the handle arm (21), and in that at the beginning of actuation (26) of the handle (20) of latching member is entrained by means of its projection (44) by the handle at least partially (46),
   but as the handle actuation (26) continues, before the latching member (30') reaches its support position (30'), the handle arm (21) releases the projection (44) again.
4. Outer door handle according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the shoulder (24) is formed by a nose (22) provided on the handle arm (21), in that the counter shoulder (34) on the latching member (30) forms one flank (33) of a pair of flanks (22, 33) which delimit a groove (43) positioned therebetween in the latching member (30),
   in that the inner width of the groove (43) - aside from a projection (44) which may be provided in parts - is smaller than/identical to the width of the nose (22) present on the handle arm (21),
   and in that in the release position (30) of the latching member the nose (22) is aligned with the entrance of the groove (43) and in that the groove (43) upon actuation (26) of the handle (20) normally forms a passage for the nose (22).
5. Outer door handle according to claim 4,
   characterised in that the nose (22) projects laterally from the plane (23) of the folding movement of the handle (20).
6. Outer door handle according to one or more of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the projection (44) serving to entrain the latching member (30) is located on one of the flanks (32) of the groove (43).
7. Outer door handle according to claim 6,
   characterised in that a cam (32) on the latching member (30) provides one of the groove-limiting flanks and in that the inner surface (35) of the came (32) facing the groove (43) supports the projection (36).
8. Outer door handle according to claim 7,
   characterised in that the other flank of the groove (43) opposite the cam (32) is formed by a counter cam located on the latching member (30),
   and in that the end face of the counter cam (33) forms the counter shoulder (34) for the nose (22) of the handle arm (21).
9. Outer door handle according to claim 7,
   characterised in that the projection (36) is recessed relative to the end face of the cam (32) limiting the groove (43).
10. Outer door handle according to one or more of claims 3 to 9, characterised in that the projection (36) has an approach gradient (49) for the nose (22) provided on the handle arm (21).
11. Outer door handle according to one or more of claims 3 to 10, characterised in that the projection (36) has a projection height,
    which is left behind by the handle arm (21) after passing through only a partial angle (48) of the full angle (45) required for the full completion of the folding movement (25) and, in this way, the latching member (30) is released by the handle arm,
    wherein in this borderline position (30") the latching member itself has only completed a part (46) of its pivot movement path (38) between its release position (39) and support position (30').
12. Outer door handle according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, wherein the handle (20) is arranged on the visible side (11) of the housing (10),
    characterised in that the handle arm (21) is arranged on the back side (12) of the housing (10) and on actuation (26) of the handle the handle arm (21) moves with its shoulder (24) from behind into the interior (27) of the housing.
13. Outer door handle according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the handle (20) and the handle arm (21) consist of two separately manufactured components,
    but that these components (20, 21) are fixedly connected to one another for common rotation and form a commonly foldable modular unit.
14. Outer door handle according to claim 13,
    characterised in that the handle (20) and its handle arm (21) enclose an angle between them in the modular unit and are preferably supported on different sections (17, 16) of a common hinge axis (13).
15. Outer door handle according to one or more of claims 1 to 14, wherein the handle is a pulling handle, whose engaging end is mounted in the housing,
    while on actuation of the handle its other handle end moves a pivot arm, the latter which is in turn mounted in the housing, and acts on the door lock,
    characterised in that the pivot arm embodies the handle arm (21) provided with the shoulder (24).

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