EP1325205A1

EP1325205A1 - Ignition lock for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1325205A1
Application number: EP01985734A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ralf Sandvoss; Reinhart Neuman; Thomas Schwarz
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 2000-09-27
Filing date: 2001-09-27
Publication date: 2003-07-09
Also published as: US20040025549A1; DE10147031B4; US6986272B2; DE10147031A1; WO2002027123A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an ignition lock (1), especially for a driver authorisation system which is installed in a motor vehicle and which co-operates by means of a coded operating signal with an electronic key or the like used for authentication. The ignition lock (1) comprises a moving element (2) which can be moved from an initial position to at least one actuating position, and a switching element (3), the moving element (2) acting on the switching element (3) in the actuating position in order to trigger a switch action. The ignition lock (1) also comprises a handle (4) which can be introduced into the moving element (2) for manually moving the same (2), a lock element (5) co-operating with the handle (4) in its inserted state in such a way that the handle (4) cannot be removed from the moving element (2). Said handle (4) comprises an actuating element for releasing the lock element (5) so that the handle (4) can be removed from the moving element (2) once the actuating element has been actuated.

Description

Ignition lock for a motor vehicle

The invention relates to an ignition lock according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

An ignition lock is located in motor vehicles to protect against unauthorized use. The ignition lock and associated control units are components of the ignition lock or driver authorization system in the motor vehicle.

An ignition lock system interacting with an electronic key in a motor vehicle is known from DE 44 34 587 AI. The ignition switch of the

Ignition lock system has a switching element and a rotor. After successful authentication of the key, which takes place by means of a coded operating signal between the key located in the ignition lock and the ignition lock, the rotor can be moved from an initial position by means of the electronic key as a handle into at least one actuation position. In the actuating position, the rotor acts in a switching manner on the switching element, as a result of which certain functions of the motor vehicle, such as switching on the ignition and the like. Like. Be effected.

Such ignition lock systems have also been further developed with a so-called "keyless go" functionality, in which it is sufficient for the user to carry the key, an identity (ID) transmitter, a chip card, a smart card or the like with him. The authentication of the key or the like is then carried out automatically when the user is in the motor vehicle. For the actual starting process, for example, the user moves the rotor manually using a handle attached to the rotor.

In the event of a possible failure of the keyless go functionality, it is conceivable to provide a type of emergency actuation by means of an emergency key which can be inserted into the ignition lock. The emergency operation is difficult because of the handle attached to the ignition lock. Likewise, the handle arranged on the ignition lock can make its operation less comfortable for the user.

The invention has for its object to further develop the ignition lock in such a way that its operation, in particular in the event of a failure of the keyless go functionality, offers greater convenience.

This object is achieved in a generic ignition lock by the characterizing features of claim 1.

The ignition lock according to the invention has a separate handle which can be inserted into the rotor or another movement element of the ignition lock that can be moved in a suitable manner between the starting and actuating positions for the movement thereof. In the inserted state, a lock in the ignition lock interacts with the handle in such a way that the removal of the handle from the rotor or the movement element is blocked. The handle in turn has an actuating element for releasing the lock, so that after actuation of the actuating element the handle can be removed from the rotor or the movement element. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

If the movement element is designed in the manner of a rotor, an elastic force can act on the rotor in the actuation position. Because of this elastic force, which is, for example, a spring force, the rotor then automatically returns to the starting position as soon as the manual action on the handle stops. In an ignition lock designed in this way, starting from the starting position in one direction of rotation, the ignition for the motor of the motor vehicle is first switched on in a first actuation position. The engine is started in a subsequent second actuation position. Starting from the starting position in the other direction of rotation, the ignition for the engine is switched off in a third actuation position.

The handle can expediently be designed in the manner of an ignition key with a beard and a grip part. The movement element can have a receptacle into which the beard used to insert the handle can be inserted. The beard has a contour in which the locking engages. The handle part, however, protrudes from the movement element for manual movement of the beard inserted in the receptacle. Advantageously, the emergency key can be designed here like a conventional electronic ignition key and / or the conventional electronic ignition key can be used for the emergency actuation of the ignition lock.

The lock can consist of a spring-provided slide. In particular, a configuration as a double slide with two slides that can be moved against each other under the force of the spring is advantageous. A nose on the slide engages in the contour of the handle's beard. It is advisable to provide for the contour in the beard a first section which runs essentially horizontally with respect to the beard, an adjoining second section which rises in the manner of an inclined plane, and a third section which in turn follows and is designed in the manner of an undercut. As a result, the slide can be moved substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion when the beard is inserted into the receptacle on the second section under tension of the spring. Then the slide engages with its nose in the third section due to the force of the tensioned spring.

The actuating element can be designed in the manner of a sliding element, the sliding element having a bevel facing the nose. The sliding element is movably mounted in the handle and on a guide on the beard. As a result, the sliding element can be inserted into the third section of the contour in such a way that that the sliding element engages by means of the bevel in the manner of an ejector on the nose of the slide. The nose together with the slide is then moved out of the third section of the contour against the force of the spring with unlocking release.

A pushbutton for actuating the sliding element is preferably attached to the sliding element in the handle part. The pushbutton together with the sliding element can be actuated manually against the force of a compression spring which is supported, for example, on the beard. In order to prevent accidental actuation of the push button during the usual movement of the handle, it is advisable to arrange the push button on the front of the handle part opposite the beard. The pushbutton is expediently designed to be essentially flush with the front of the handle part. The area on the part of the push button assigned to the front side lends itself to the attachment of a symbol, for which purpose the symbol can be configured, for example, in the manner of an insert. In particular, the company logo of the motor vehicle manufacturer, the company logo of the manufacturer for the ignition lock or the like can be attached to the surface mentioned.

The advantages achieved by the invention consist in particular in that the handle is securely and captively locked in the ignition lock and can nevertheless be removed from the ignition lock. During normal operation of the motor vehicle, the handle thus remains in the ignition lock and does not have to be removed when leaving the motor vehicle. Nevertheless, the handle can be loosened and removed from the ignition lock without additional aids if necessary. Such a need may arise if the keyless go functionality fails, for example if there is a disturbance in the authentication of the electronic key required for starting the motor vehicle in the interior of the motor vehicle. Then emergency operation is possible in a convenient and simple manner by inserting the electronic key into the ignition lock instead of the handle, which then causes the immobilizer deactivated and the motor vehicle can be put into operation. Changes to the ignition lock itself are not necessary despite this additional functionality.

As a rule, the electronic key has a transponder for transmitting a code. In order not to disturb the transponder transmission, the housing of the electronic key is generally made of plastic. However, such restrictions in the design advantageously do not apply to the handle. In particular, the handle can be made of metal, which can be more advantageous for its use.

An embodiment of the invention with various developments and refinements is shown in the drawings and is described in more detail below. Show it

1 shows a section through an ignition lock with the handle inserted,

2 the handle in a perspective view,

3 the handle in an exploded view,

4 the handle with the handle part open,

5 shows the beard of the handle in a perspective view,

6 schematically shows the handle in the locked state,

7 schematically shows the handle when unlocking,

Fig. 8 shows schematically the handle in the unlocked state and Fig. 9 is the view of the ignition lock in the direction of insertion of the handle, the handle being removed from the ignition lock.

In Fig. 1 is an ignition lock 1 for interacting with an electronic key, an identification (ID) transmitter, a chip card, a smart card or the like

To see driving authorization and / or ignition lock system in a motor vehicle, for the sake of simplicity only with keys and

Driving authorization system called. The key is in the possession of the authorized user, which means that the user is authorized to drive the motor vehicle. If the user is with the key in the interior of the motor vehicle, authentication is carried out according to a so-called keyless go functionality by means of a coded operating signal between the key and the

Carried out authorization system, after successful completion of which the user can put the motor vehicle into operation.

For the commissioning that takes place after authentication, the ignition lock 1 contains a movement element 2 that can be moved from an initial position into at least one actuation position. The movement element 2 can be displaceable, rotatable or can be moved in some other suitable manner. However, a movement element 2 which is designed to be rotatable in the manner of a rotor and which is considered in more detail below without limitation is particularly preferred. The ignition lock 1 also contains at least one switching element 3, the rotor 2 having a switching effect on the switching element 3 in the actuating position. Finally, the ignition lock 1 has a handle 4 which can be inserted into the rotor 2 for the manual movement of the rotor 2 by turning.

For safety reasons, a lock 5 interacts with the handle 4 in the inserted state in such a way that the removal of the handle 4 from the rotor 2 is blocked. The ignition lock 1 enables emergency operation without keyless go functionality, in that an emergency ignition key or the electronic key itself can be inserted into the rotor 2 instead of the handle 4. For this purpose, the handle 4 from the rotor 2 be subtracted, for which the lock 5 is to be released. For this purpose, the handle 4 now has an actuating element 6, shown schematically in FIG. 2, for releasing the lock 5, so that after actuating the actuating element 6, the handle 4 can be removed from the rotor 2.

Various further developments and expedient refinements of the ignition lock 1 according to the invention are to be explained in more detail below.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, the rotor 2 can of course also have a plurality of actuation positions, each actuation position being assigned at least one switching element 3. The rotor 2 can first be rotated into a first actuating position 22 by means of the handle 4, starting from the starting position 21 in the one direction of rotation, which runs clockwise. In the first actuation position 22, the ignition for the engine of the motor vehicle is switched on. The engine of the motor vehicle is started in a subsequent second actuation position 23, into which the rotor 2 can be rotated further. If, starting from the starting position 21, the rotor 2 is rotated in the other direction of rotation, namely counterclockwise, into a third actuating position 24, the ignition for the motor of the motor vehicle is switched off. In such an embodiment, it is appropriate that an elastic force acts on the rotor 2 in the actuating position 22, 23, 24. Because of this force, the rotor 2 automatically returns to the starting position 21 when the manual action on the handle 4 ceases, so that the rotor 2 can be operated from the starting position 21. The elastic force can be a spring force.

The handle 4 is preferably designed in the manner of an ignition key with a beard 7 and a grip part 8, as can be seen in more detail from FIG. 2. The rotor 2 has a receptacle 20 visible in FIG. 9, into which the beard 7 serving to insert the handle 4 into the rotor 2 can be inserted. The beard 7 has a contour 9, in which the locking 5 engages in a blocking manner. The grip part 8 projects into the receptacle 20 inserted beard 7 out of the rotor 2 for the manual movement of the same, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

The lock 5 can consist of a slide 10 provided with a spring 11, wherein the spring 11 can only be seen schematically in the slide 10 shown partially broken in FIG. 1. In particular, this is a double slide with two slides 10, 10 'which can be moved relative to one another under the force of the spring 11. A nose 12 on the slide 10, 10 'engages in the contour 9 in the beard of the handle 4. The contour 9 in the beard 7 expediently has a first section 9a which runs essentially horizontally with respect to the beard 7, a second section 9b which adjoins it and rises in the manner of an inclined plane, and a third section 9c which is in turn connected to it and in the manner of an undercut on what is shown in Fig. 4 or 5. As a result, the slide 10, 10 'can be moved substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion when the beard 7 is inserted into the receptacle 20 on the second section 9b under tension of the spring 11. Subsequently, the slide 10, 10 'latches with its nose 12 due to the force of the tensioned spring 11 in the third section 9c.

As can be seen in more detail from FIG. 3, the actuating element 6 can be designed in the manner of a sliding element 13. The sliding element 13 has a bevel 14 facing the nose 12. Furthermore, the sliding element 13 is movably mounted in the grip part 8 and on a guide 15 on the beard 7. As a result, the sliding element 13 can be inserted into the third section 9c of the contour 9 such that the sliding element 13 engages with its bevel 14 in the manner of an ejector on the nose 12 of the slide 10, 10 ', which can be seen in FIG. 5. The nose 12 together with the slide 10, 10 'is moved against the force of the spring 11 with unlocking release from the third section 9c of the contour 9. This sequence of movements is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6 to 8. In FIG. 6, the bevel 14 of the sliding element 13 engages the nose 12 which is engaged in the third section 9c and is in the locked state. 7, the sliding element 13 now has a detenting effect on the nose 12 and moves the nose 12 out of the third section 9c. Finally, in FIG. 8 the lug 12 is moved from the third section 9c into the second section 9b, the lug 12 being released and in the unlocked state, so that the handle 4 can be removed from the ignition lock 1.

As can further be seen from FIG. 4, a pushbutton 16 is attached to the sliding element 13 in the grip part 8, so that the user can manually actuate the sliding element 13 via the pushbutton 16. The actuation takes place against the force of a compression spring 17, which is supported in the grip part 8 on the beard 7. It may be appropriate to arrange the pushbutton 16 on the front 18 of the handle part 8 opposite the beard 7, thus preventing the actuating element 6 from being actuated inadvertently by the user during the manual movement of the handle 4. The pushbutton 16 is expediently arranged essentially flush with the front side 18 of the handle part 8, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 2. A symbol 19, in particular shown in FIG. 2, such as the company logo of the motor vehicle manufacturer or the like, can be attached to the part of the pushbutton 16 assigned to the front side 18. It may be advisable to arrange the symbol 19 on the push button 16 in the manner of an insert part shown in FIG. 3. The insert part and the beard 7 can be made of metal, while the push button 16 and the handle part 8 can be made of plastic.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment described and illustrated. Rather, it also includes all professional training within the scope of the inventive concept. Thus, the invention can be used not only on ignition locks for any vehicle, but also on other locks, for example those which are arranged on work machines, machine tools or the like.

Claims

claims

1. Ignition lock, in particular for by means of a coded operating signal with an electronic key, a chip card, an identity (ID) transmitter or the like

5 authentication-cooperating driving authorization system in a motor vehicle, with a switching element (3), with a movement element (2) which can be moved from an initial position (21) into at least one actuation position (22, 23, 24), the movement element (2) in the actuation position ( 22, 23, 24) has a switching effect on the switching element (3) and can be inserted into the movement element (2)

10 handle (4) for manual movement of the movement element (2), characterized in that a lock (5) with the handle (4) cooperates in the inserted state such that the removal of the handle (4) from the movement element (2) blocks is, and that the handle (4) has an actuating element (6) for releasing the lock (5), so that after actuation of the actuating element (6)

15 handle (4) from the movement element (2) can be removed.

2. Ignition lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement element (2) is designed in the manner of a rotor, such that the rotor (2) by means of the handle (4) from the starting position (21) into the actuating position (22,

20 23, 24) such that an elastic force, in particular a spring force, acts on the rotor (2) in the actuating position (22, 23, 24) such that the rotor (2) automatically moves into the starting position (21) returns when the manual action on the handle (4) stops, and that further preferably starting from the starting position (21) in one direction of rotation initially in a first

25 actuation position (22) the ignition for the engine is switched on, the engine is started in a subsequent second actuation position (23) and, starting from the starting position (21) in the other direction of rotation in a third actuation position (24), the ignition for the engine is switched off becomes.

3. Ignition lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the handle (4) is designed in the manner of an ignition key with a beard (7) and a handle part (8), that preferably the movement element (2) has a receptacle (20) has, into which the beard (7) serving to insert the handle (4) can be inserted, that the beard (7) preferably has a contour (9) into which the lock (5) engages in a blocking manner, and that even more preferably the handle part (8) with the beard (7) inserted into the receptacle (20) protrudes from the movement element (2) for the manual movement thereof.

4. Ignition lock according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the

Locking (5) consists of a slide (10) provided with a spring (11), in particular a double slide with two slides (10, 10 ') which can be moved relative to one another under the force of the spring (11), a nose (12) on Slider (10) engages in the contour (9) in the beard (7) of the handle (4), and that the contour (9) in the beard (7) preferably has a first section (9a.) Which runs essentially horizontally with respect to the beard (7) ), has an adjoining second section (9b) rising in the manner of an inclined plane and an adjoining third section (9c) designed in the manner of an undercut, such that the slide (10, 10 ') is substantially vertical to the direction of insertion when inserting the beard (7) into the receptacle (20) on the second section (9b) under tension of the spring (11) and can then be locked in the third section (9c) due to the force of the tensioned spring (11).

5. Ignition lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuating element (6) in the manner of a sliding element (13), in particular with a nose (12) facing bevel (14), is formed, that preferably the sliding element (13) is movably mounted in the handle part (8) and optionally on a guide (15) on the beard (7), and that the sliding element (13) can further preferably be inserted into the third section (9c) of the contour (9), that the sliding element (13), in particular its bevel (14), in the manner of an ejector on the nose (12) of the slide (10, 10 "), the nose (12) together with the slide (10, 10 ') against the force of the spring (11) with unlocking release from the third section (9c) of the contour (9 ) is moved.

6. Ignition lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in the handle part (8) on the sliding element (13) a push button (16) for actuating the sliding element (13) is attached, and that preferably the push button (16) together with the Sliding element (13) against the force of a compression spring (17), which is particularly supported on the beard (7), can be operated manually.

7. Ignition lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the push button (16) on the beard (7) opposite front (18) of the handle part (8) is arranged.

8. Ignition lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the push button (16) is arranged substantially flush with the front (18) of the handle part (8), and that preferably on the part of the front (18) assigned Pushbutton (16) has a symbol (19) such as the company logo of the motor vehicle manufacturer or the like, for example in the form of an insert.