EP1420135B1 - Locking device for a vehicle hood - Google Patents

Description

In the invention, it is assumed that a lock device for a hood of a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the US 5,618,069 A a lock device of the aforementioned type is known, which can be used for a hood of a motor vehicle. The lock device has a lock housing and a latch mechanism which is arranged on the lock housing. The latch mechanism includes a movable latch that cooperates with a closure member on the hood. The bolt forms a so-called main catch. A preliminary catch for the closing element is formed by a catch hook, which is detachably attached to the lock housing in a modular manner.

A generic lock device for a hood of a motor vehicle is the GB 22 82 408 A refer to. This comprises a lock housing in which a locking mechanism is arranged, which has a movable latch. The bolt cooperates with a closing element attached to the hood, which is designed as a striker. By the movable latch, the closing element can be released, so that the hood can be brought into a partially open position, from which it is completely open by hand. In the closed position of the hood, the latch acts as a so-called main catch. Furthermore, the lock device comprises a catch hook which forms a so-called. Vorrast, by which the hood is held in the above-mentioned partial opening position. A manual pivoting of the catch hook then releases the closing element completely.

The object of the invention is to provide a lock device of the type mentioned, which is simple in construction and versatile.

This object is achieved with a lock device comprising the features mentioned in claim 1. Further, the invention ausgestaltende features are given in the dependent claims.

The advantages achieved by the invention can be seen in the fact that the catch hook can optionally be attached to the lock device, whereby one and the same lock device can be used for both bonnet and boot lid, wherein when used on a boot lid, the catch hook module is not used. By releasably securing the catch hook module to the lock device can - when the lock device is used for the front cover - the catch hook module are attached to the lock housing, the catch hook module having a support plate which is detachably attachable to the lock housing. On the support plate of the fishing hook is attached, which can be attached to the lock housing in a simple manner, without having to make changes to the lock housing.

In an exemplary embodiment specified in claim 2, the catch hook is pivotally mounted on the support plate, so that pivoting of the catch hook completely releases the hood or the closing element attached thereto. It would also be conceivable, however, to mount the closing element on the hood such that it can be brought out of engagement with the catch hook in the partially open position of the hood.

Due to the pivotable configuration of the catch hook this - can be moved back to its normal position with a return spring - because of the pivoting of the fishing hook from the basic position out the spring is tensioned - according to claim.

According to a development of the invention with the features mentioned in claim 4 is advantageous that a fixed, correct position assignment of the fishing hook is set relative to the arranged in the lock housing movable latch. Adjustments are not necessary.

According to a specified in claim 5 further development of the invention, the lock housing is almost completely closed. The locking mechanism arranged therein is protected against contamination.

In a preferred embodiment, which is specified in claim 6, the engagement elements are as sleeves and the wall forming the receptacle for the sleeves as Pipe jacket formed. For example, two sleeves and two receptacles are provided on the lock housing, so that the correct position assignment of the catch hook is given to the movable latch. In addition, the outer diameter of the sleeve and the inner diameter of the tube shell can be coordinated with each other without much play.

In a preferred embodiment (claim 9) of the fishing hook is spaced by spacer means to the support plate, so that it does not meet in its pivoting movement with the provided on one of the sleeve collar.

According to a development of the invention is - according to claim 10 - formed on the catch hook module Drehbegrenzungseinrichtung for the fishing hook, which allows a correspondingly large tilt angle of the fishing hook to allow complete release of the closing element from the Vorrast.

Fig.1 und 2

eine Schlossvorrichtung mit einem Fanghakenmodul in unterschiedlichen perspektivischen Ansichten und

Fig. 3

in einer weiteren Perspektive ein an dem Schlossgehäuse der Schlossvorrichtung befestigtes Fanghakenmodul.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig.1 and 2

a lock device with a catch hook module in different perspective views and

Fig. 3

in a further perspective attached to the lock housing of the lock device Fanghakenmodul.

Based on Fig. 1 and 2 a lock device 1 for an openable and closable hood or flap of a motor vehicle which can not be seen here will be described below. The lock device 1 has an example closed on all sides lock housing 2, which only has an opening 3, from which a main catch forming latch 4 protrudes, which is part of a locking mechanism not otherwise shown here. The latch 4 is movably mounted in the lock housing 2. In a position of movement, he embraces a main post in Fig. 2 illustrated Closing element 5, which is realized for example as a striker and attached to the hood, not shown. In another movement position, the latch 4 releases this closing element 5, so that the hood can be opened. The bolt is manually controllable, for example, manually or via a drive device AE.

The lock device 1 further has a catch hook module 6, which has a catch hook 7, which forms a so-called. Vorrast and the closing element 5 holds partially encompassing in the partial opening position of the hood when the closing element 5 is already released from the main catch (latch 4). The catch hook 7 is in basic or pre-latching position VP. In the illustrated embodiment, the catch hook 7 is manually actuated and can be brought from the pre-latching position VP in the release position for the closing element 5, that the hood can be fully opened by hand.

The catch hook module 6 comprises a substantially planar support plate 8 on which the catch hook 7 is connected to the support plate 8 in an optionally insoluble pivotal axis 9 realized, for example, as a rivet. A return spring 10 for the fishing hook 7 engages with its one end 11 on the support plate 8 and with its other end 12 on the fishing hook 7, whereby this in his in Fig. 1 shown Vorrastposition VP is held or pivoted back there. For the attachment of the return spring 10 7 protruding mounting tabs 13 are provided on both the support plate 8 and on the catch hook on which the return spring is mounted with their ends 11 and 12. For the operation of the fishing hook 7 this is approximately fork - or U - realized realized, wherein at one end of the hook 14 and at the other end of an operating handle 15 is designed for manual operation. At its base of the fork-shaped fishing hook 7 is connected via the pivot axis 9 with the support plate 8.

The support plate 8 is substantially rectangular and has a downwardly directed extension 16 (FIG. Fig. 3 ), which carries the pivot axis 9. In the rectangular support plate 8 is - the extension 16 opposite - approximately centrally a cut 17 introduced, which is adapted to the U - shaped opening 3 in the lock housing, so that the closing element 5 can cooperate with the latch 4. Moreover, engaging elements 18 are formed on the carrier plate 8, which are spaced apart from one another and are arranged, for example, in the corners of the rectangular carrier plate 8. The engagement elements 18 are realized as sleeves 19 and equipped with an end-mounted collar 20 which lies on the side 21 of the support plate 8, which side 21 faces away from the lock housing 2. The other side 22 of the support plate 8 thus abuts against the lock housing 2, when the catching hook module 6 is attached to the lock housing 2, as is apparent from Fig. 3 evident. In this case, provided on the support plate 8 engaging elements 18 are inserted into provided on the lock housing 2 receptacles 23, which pass through the lock housing 2 parallel to the pivot axis 9. The receptacles 23 may each be bounded by a circumferential wall 24, which form a housing portion of the lock housing 2, so that the lock housing 2 is closed. Both the sleeves 19 and engagement elements 18 and the receptacles 23 preferably have a circular cross-section, wherein the outer diameter of the sleeves 19 is less than the inner diameter of the cylindrical receptacles 23. The wall 24 thus forms a pipe jacket as a housing wall portion of the lock housing second

For the attachment of the catch hook module 6 on the lock housing 2 are of the in Fig. 3 not visible lock housing side fasteners, such as screws, used in the receptacles 23 and fixed to the projecting into the receptacles 23 engaging elements 18. The sleeves 19 may therefore have an internal thread. The support plate 8 can thus be firmly but detachably connected to the lock housing 2 with the catch hook 7 hinged thereto, depending on whether the lock device 1 is to be used for rear or front hoods.

Thus, the fishing hook 7 when pivoting about its axis 9 does not meet the collar 20 adjacent the pivoting angle range α lying sleeve 19, the pivot axis 9 between fishing hooks 7 and support plate 8 is surrounded by a spacer 25, for example, as a ring member or by several ring segments and possibly made in one piece with the carrier plate 8. The thickness of the spacer 25 is greater than or equal to the height HE of the collar 20.

For limiting the pivot angle α of the fishing hook 7 a Schwenkwinkelbegrenzungseinrichtung 26 is arranged on the catch hook module 6, which has a bent Schwenkwinkelbegrenzungsanschlag 26 'on the fishing hook 7 and a control track 27 which may be formed by an opening in the support plate 8. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the pivoting angle limit of the fishing hook 7 is realized by the adjacent to the fishing hook 7 collar 20 of the sleeve 19 or lying on the support plate 8 projection. Possibly. could then be dispensed with the spacer 25 between fishing hook 7 and support plate 8.

Due to the releasable attachment of the catching hook module 6 to the lock housing 2, the lock device 1 can be used both for motor vehicle hoods that require a catch hook 7 or where it can be dispensed with. When attached to the lock housing 2 Fanghakenmodul 6 this is aligned by the engagement elements 18 and the associated receptacles 23 in the correct position with respect to the latch 4, so that can be dispensed with adjustments.

Claims (10)

1. Lock apparatus (1) for a bonnet of a motor vehicle, having a lock housing (2) and a bolt mechanism which is arranged in the lock housing and has a movable bolt (4) which interacts with a locking element (5) which can be fastened to the bonnet, the said bolt forming a main catch, and having a catch hook (7) which forms a preliminary catch, it being possible for a catch hook module (6) to be detachably fastened to the lock housing (2) and to have the catch hook (7) as a preliminary catch, characterized in that the catch hook module (6) has a support plate (8) to which the catch hook (7) is fastened, and in that the support plate (8) can be detachably fastened to the lock housing (2).
2. Lock apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the catch hook (7) is mounted on the support plate (8) about a pivot pin (9).
3. Lock apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that a restoring spring (10) acts on the support plate (8) by way of its one end (11) and on the pivotably mounted catch hook (7) by way of its other end (12).
4. Lock apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that engagement elements (18) are formed on the support plate (8), it being possible for the engagement elements to be inserted into corresponding receptacles (23) in the lock housing (2).
5. Lock apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the receptacles (23) in the lock housing (2) are each surrounded by a peripheral wall (24), these walls forming a housing wall section of the lock housing (2).
6. Lock apparatus according to Claims 4 and 5,
   characterized in that the engagement elements (18) are in the form of sleeves (19) and the wall (24) in each receptacle (23) is in the form of a tubular casing.
7. Lock apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sleeves (19) each have a collar (20) which rests on the support plate (8) and is arranged on that side (21) of the support plate (8) which is averted from the lock housing (2).
8. Lock apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the support plate (8) can be detachably connected to the lock housing (2) by means of fastening elements which pass through the receptacles (23), the said fastening elements acting on the engagement elements (18).
9. Lock apparatus according to Claims 1, 2 and 7, characterized in that a spacer (25), which at least has a thickness which equals the height (HE) of the collar (20), is arranged between the catch hook (7) and the support plate (8) so as to surround the pivot pin (9).
10. Lock apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the catch hook module (6) has a pivot angle limiting device (26) for the catch hook (7).

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