EP1426531B1 - Combined drive unit for a window lifter and a door lock in a vehicle door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a combined drive unit for at least one unit and a door lock in a motor vehicle door, with a switching device for selectively acting on the unit or the door lock of a common engine. - The unit is usually a window lifting device, although of course other devices in a motor vehicle door can be acted upon by the common engine. The switching device may be designed as a switching clutch, that is integrated in the drive train optionally switchable coupling. However, this is not mandatory, because the switching device also includes switching elements that are not necessarily part of the drive train or must be.

Such a combined drive unit is in the context of DE 197 55 942 A1 described. Here, a vehicle door is disclosed that has a common electric drive motor for a window lift mechanism and a door pull mechanism. A switching clutch provides for optional coupling of the drive motor in the drive train of the window lifting mechanism or the drive train of Türzugziehmechanismus. The window motor is spatially separated from the window lift mechanism, wherein drive motor and switching clutch form a structural unit. For the transmission of forces, respective cables provide on the one hand for transmitting the driving force to the window lifting mechanism on the other hand for transmitting the driving force to the Türzuziehmechanismus.

This is expensive. In addition, the known drive unit builds relatively bulky.

In addition one knows a door closing device, as in the context of the EP 1 149 969 A1 is described. A local drive has at least one first and one second position and can be moved between them. As a result, different functional positions can be displayed.

The state of the art can not convince in all points. So not only falls on a relatively complicated structure, but requires the known drive unit after the DE 197 55 942 A1 the control of the switching clutch by means of an electronic control unit. This happens according to the corresponding priority settings and consequently with a time delay following corresponding operating commands. How these are introduced in detail remains open.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing a combined drive unit of the design described at the beginning in such a way that, with a compact construction, an immediate application of the switching device succeeds.

To solve this technical problem, a combined drive unit for an aggregate and a door lock in a motor vehicle door according to the invention is characterized in that the switching device is controlled by a door operating lever.

The unit is usually the already mentioned window lifting device. The switching device may be designed as a switching clutch. The door operating lever may be an outside door handle or an inside door handle. Likewise, the door operating lever may be configured as the main operating lever when the outer door handle and the inner door handle work together on such an operating main lever. In principle, a door operating lever in the context of the invention means any mechanical lever which initiates functional positions of the door lock. These include, by way of example only, a lever which is in communication with an inner locking button and, for example, triggers the locking function of the door lock. Likewise, the door operating lever may be a mechanical element operating on the optional central locking device of the door lock. Even the central locking lever as such falls under the term door operating lever.

Preferably, in the deflected position of the door operating lever, the motor acts on the door lock via the switching device or switching clutch. In contrast, the door operating lever coupled in its stationary position, the switching device or switching clutch and thus the common motor with the window lifting device. In this case, so the window lifting device is effective. This applies to most operating conditions, as long as not the door operating lever is transferred from its stationary position to the deflected position. It can be seen that when opening and closing of motor vehicle doors There is usually no need to operate the window lifting device.

Only then does the common motor ensure that the door lock assumes the functional position desired by the door operating lever. This may be an electrical opening, so the motorized lifting the pawl, as for example in the DE 195 30 726 A1 is described. The closing function can also be represented directly via the door operating lever in the context of the invention, for example as is the case with the DE 199 42 360 A1 describes.

Among the possible functional positions, which can be realized with the help of the common engine, is also the insertion of the lock functions anti-theft device and / or child safety. It is also conceivable to use the common motor for the central locking. It is understood that the door lock is equipped in the motor vehicle door with conventional mechanical components such as a locking mechanism of a catch and a pawl and at least one actuating lever and a locking lever. The locking lever is preferably a central locking lever. Reference is made by way of example to the DE 297 23 462 U1 which describes a door lock, as it can be used in the combined drive unit according to the invention.

A particularly compact construction can then be realized if the relevant common motor for the window lifting device and the door lock is disposed on a housing of the door lock. In the context of the present invention, housing means the envelope or casing surrounding the lock mechanism as a whole. This can be carried out in one or two parts. Also multi-part configurations are conceivable.

To distinguish from the lock housing is the so-called lock plate, which receives the locking mechanism of the catch and pawl. The lock plate is sometimes referred to as a lock plate, lock case or closing element shell. The lock housing is followed by the lock housing and a housing cover or lock cover covering the lock housing.

In a one-piece embodiment of the lock housing, the lock cover is part of the lock housing. This lock housing can according to the DE 199 20 278 A1 be formed completely closed or have more or less large openings. The common motor may now be arranged on the lock housing. In a one-piece housing design, it is usually found on the housing surface opposite the lock plate or lock case. In the case of a two-part lock housing configuration, this surface is formed by the separate lock cover which, in conjunction with the lock housing, represents the enclosure or cover surrounding the lock mechanism as a whole.

The door operating lever is articulated by means of a spring to an intermediate lever adjusting the switching clutch.

In addition, a further spring is provided, which transfers the intermediate lever in the stationary position of the door operating lever in a window lifting device with the motor coupling and holding in this position position. This spring thus ensures that the door operating lever is transferred without being acted upon in its resting position and is provided here by means of the intermediate lever for coupling the motor with the window lifting device via the switching clutch. As a rule, the door operating lever only assumes the deflected position when it is acted upon mechanically, for example with the help of the hand of an operator.

The intermediate lever for acting on the switching clutch is usually designed as a two-armed lever with coupling arm and switching arm. In this case, the coupling arm of the intermediate lever engages in a recess of the switching clutch, while the switching arm actuates a switch upon application of the intermediate lever by means of the door operating lever. This switch or a corresponding switching device is only triggered when the door operating lever is transferred to its deflected position. As a result, it can be ensured that the common motor starts directly during this actuation of the door operating lever and, for example, an electrical opening of the door lock is carried out at short notice. Even when relieving or releasing the door operating lever, the acting on the intermediate lever spring ensures that the switching directly (re) binds the common motor to the window lifting device. At the same time the aforementioned switch is opened, so that the electric opening is terminated.

This sequence of functions is unproblematic because during the phase of the electrical opening of the door lock there is no need for the operation of the window lifting device. The shared use of the common motor for the lock function described thus does not constitute a comfort restriction.

The changeover clutch may be a torsion ring frictionally connected to an output shaft of the engine. This rotary ring can be moved axially on the output shaft. The window lifting device and the door lock are preferably each connected via a worm wheel to each one rotatably mounted on the output shaft pinion. Each pinion is alternatively in frictional engagement with the switching clutch, so that when working on the respective pinion switching clutch of the common motor via the output shaft to the hereby rotating switching clutch operates, which in turn takes the respectively engaged with the switching clutch pinion and consequently via the worm wheel either the window lifter or the door lock drives.

In detail, a key inserted in the output shaft is provided for this purpose, which ensures the connection of the rotary ring with the output shaft. This feather extends in the axial direction of the output shaft, so that the switching clutch can easily follow the rotational movements of the output shaft, but still experiences the desired axial displacement by means of the intermediate lever on the door operating lever, on the one hand, the switching clutch with the pinion for the window lifting device and on the other hand with the To be able to engage pinions for the door lock.

As a result, a combined drive unit is provided in which normally the common motor operates on the window lifting device. Because the door operating lever is usually in its resting position. Only when an operator provides for the actuation of the door operating lever in the deflected position, an intermediate lever is deflected, which removes the switching clutch from its engagement with the pinion for the window lifting device and moves axially on the output shaft.

After sweeping a predetermined Axialweges the switching or the axially displaceable rotary ring, the switching clutch is a frictional engagement with the pinion for the door lock, so that the drive motor can work directly on the door lock. Since an operator expresses with his deflection of the door operating lever an immediate function request of the door lock, the intermediate lever ensures with its switching arm, which the Switch operated, that not only the changeover clutch is brought into engagement with the pinion for the door lock, but at the same time starts the common engine and initiated via the now rotating worm wheel the desired functional position in the door lock. This is usually the process of so-called electrical opening, that is, the pawl is dug in the door lock, so that immediately afterwards the catch comes free. This process requires only a brief application of the common motor, so that even after the immediate release of the door operating lever by the operator and the concomitant shutdown of the engine (because the switching arm of the intermediate lever now no longer actuates the switch) the corresponding opening operation is completed. It is understood that optionally a control device ensures that the motor is applied at least until the desired functional position has been reached safely.

All this is possible with a particularly compact design, because the common motor is usually connected to the housing of the door lock. In this way, the engine can not only realize the described electric opening function within the door lock, but also exists the possibility (by means of an intermediate gear) to drive a window pane of the window lifting device directly via an edge-engaging pinion. This may be done as in the DE 197 03 720 A1 or DE 199 09 088 A1 described becomes. Here are the main benefits.

Fig. 1

eine Kraftfahrzeugtür mit der eingebauten erfindungsgemäßen Antriebseinheit,

Fig. 2

die Antriebseinheit im Detail,

Fig. 3

den Motor der Antriebseinheit in Verbindung mit dem Türschloss und

Fig. 4

einen schematischen Schnitt durch den Motor mit Umschaltkupplung sowie zugehörigen Ritzeln.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

Fig. 1

a motor vehicle door with the built-in drive unit according to the invention,

Fig. 2

the drive unit in detail,

Fig. 3

the motor of the drive unit in conjunction with the door lock and

Fig. 4

a schematic section through the engine with switching clutch and associated pinions.

In the Fig. 1 is a motor vehicle door 1 shown, with a view from the vehicle interior ago. In the case of the motor vehicle door 1, the exemplary embodiment is a motor vehicle side door. One recognizes a unit 2 designed as a window lifting device 2 and a drive unit 3 which operates both on the window lifting device 2 and also on a door lock 4.

In fact, the drive unit 3 for this purpose has a common motor 5, which is particularly in Fig. 4 is shown. To the motor 5 includes a switching device 6, which in the context of the embodiment as a switching clutch. 6 is trained. The switching clutch 6 acts on the window lifting device 2 or the door lock 4 selectively. For this purpose, respective worm wheels 7, 8 are provided which transmit the rotational movements of the motor 5 on the one hand to the window lifting device 2 and on the other hand the door lock 4. This is done by means of rotatably mounted on an output shaft 9 of the motor 5 pinions 10, 11. The pinion 10 works together with the worm wheel 7 on the window lifting device 2, when the switching clutch 6 is in its illustrated left position. In contrast, the motor 5 acts on the door lock 4, when the switching clutch 6 is moved axially to the right and is in frictional engagement with the pinion 11 and the worm wheel 8.

The switching clutch 6 is a rotary ring 6 which is frictionally connected to the output shaft 9 and has two coupling surfaces 6a, 6b with a recess 6c therebetween. On average, the two coupling surfaces 6a and 6b form a U-profile, which receives the recess 6c between them.

For the connection of the switching clutch or the rotary ring 6 with the output shaft 9 provides a feather key 12 which is received in an axial recess 13 of the output shaft 9 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the output shaft 9. The feather key 12 engages in a corresponding longitudinal groove 14 of the switching clutch 6, so that the switching clutch 6 follows the rotational movements of the output shaft 9, but can be displaced axially in the intermediate space Z between the two pinions 10, 11. That happens with Help an intermediate lever 15, which in turn is deflected by a door operating lever 16.

The respective coupling surfaces 6a, 6b cooperate with corresponding coupling surfaces 10a and 11b on the one hand on the pinion 10 and on the other hand on the pinion 11. As soon as the respective clutch surfaces 6a, 10a or 6b, 11b come into engagement with each other, a frictional connection formed thereby ensures that the changeover clutch 6 rotatably driven by the engine 5 via the output shaft 9 transmits its rotational movements to the frictionally engaged pinion 10 and 11, respectively , In this way, the corresponding worm wheels meshing therewith 7 and 8 are set in rotary motion. As a result, on the one hand experiences the window lifting device 2 and on the other hand, the door lock 4, the application described in more detail below, and that alternatively.

In order now to adjust the switching clutch 6 between the two pinions 10, 11, an operator needs the door operating lever 16 of his in Fig. 4 shown resting position in its deflected position, which is indicated by an arrow on the door operating lever 16. Characterized in that the intermediate lever 15 is articulated by means of a spring 17 to the door operating lever 16, and the intermediate lever 15 follows this movement and rotates clockwise about its axis 18th

As a result of this clockwise movement, a clutch arm 15a of the intermediate lever 15, which engages in the recess 6c of the switching clutch 6, shifts the switching clutch 6 from left to right in the Fig. 4 as indicated by an arrow. Consequently, a switching arm 15b of the intermediate lever 15 performs a counter-movement, whereby a switch 19 or a corresponding switching device is actuated.

As a result of this switch operation, the common motor 5 is immediately applied and rotates, so that not only the switching clutch 6 is brought into engagement with the pinion 11 in the described process, but at the same time the pinion 11 is driven by the motor 5 rotatably. As a result, the worm wheel 8 works on the in Fig. 3 only rudimentary to recognize pawl of a locking mechanism 20 of the door lock 4, in the sense of an opening of the locking mechanism 20. Following this, the door lock 4 immediately assumes its open position.

As soon as an operator no longer acts on the door operating lever 16, it returns to the position Fig. 4 back, so that the intermediate lever 15 - loaded by another spring 21 - also the position after Fig. 4 (Re) occupies and thus brings the switching clutch 6 back into engagement with the pinion 10 for the window lifter 2. As a rule, the motor 5 thus works on the window lifting device 2, because the spring 21, the intermediate lever 15 with released or unencumbered door operating lever 16 directly transferred to a position which brings the switching clutch 6 with the pinion 10 in engagement. This position is maintained until the door operating lever 16 overcomes corresponding forces of the spring 21 during a deflection, so that the Intermediate lever 15 learns the described pivoting (clockwise).

In the context of the embodiment, the motor 5 operates on the window lifting device 2 after the Fig. 3 Such that the motor 5 via an indicated gear 22 with an end-side gear directly to a marginal toothing of an indicated window F works, as exemplified in the DE 197 03 720 A1 or DE 199 09 088 A1 is described.

It has proved to be particularly advantageous if the motor 5 is connected to a housing 23, 24 of the door lock 4. This housing 23, 24 of the door lock is composed of a mechanical components of the door lock 4 bearing lock case 23 and a sealing lock cover 24 together. In the context of the embodiment, the motor 5 is connected to the outwardly facing surface of the lock cover 24, for example, it is received in a recess 25 of the lock cover 24 latching, which is not mandatory.

As a result, the motor 5 without the interposition of Bowden cables or the like on the one hand directly on the window lifting device 2 and on the other hand, the door lock 4 work. It is only the interposition of the transmission 22 and a corresponding lever mechanism required for the electrical opening.

Claims (13)

1. Combined drive unit for at least one assembly (2) and a door lock (4) in a motor vehicle door (1) comprising a switchover device (6) for alternative driving of the assembly (2) or of the door lock (4) by a common motor (5), characterized in that the drive unit comprises a door activation lever, in which the switchover device (6) is controlled by the door activation lever (16).
2. Drive unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the switchover unit (6) is a switchover coupling (6).
3. Drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the assembly (2) is a window lifting device (2).
4. Drive unit according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the motor (5) with the door activation lever (16) in a moved out position acts upon the door lock (4) via the switchover device (6), whilst the switchover device (6) couples the assembly (2) to the motor (5) in the static position of the door activation lever (16).
5. Drive unit according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the door activation lever (16) is coupled to an intermediate lever (15) adjusting the switchover device (6) via a spring (17).
6. Drive unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the intermediate lever (15) in the static position of the door activation lever (16) is moved by a spring (21) into a position coupling the assembly (2) with the motor (5) and is held in this position.
7. Drive unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the intermediate lever (15) is a two-arm lever comprising a coupling arm (15a) and a switching arm (15b).
8. Drive unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the coupling arm (15a) of the intermediate lever (15) engages into a recess (6c) of the switchover coupling (6).
9. Drive unit according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the switching arm (15b) of the intermediate lever (15) activates a switch (19) when the intermediate lever (15) is activated upon by the door activation lever (16).
10. Drive unit according to claim 1 to 9, characterized in that the switchover device (6) is an axially displaceable rotating ring (6) connected to a drive shaft (9) of the motor (5).
11. Drive unit according to claim 1 to 10, characterized in that the assembly (2) and the door lock (4) are each connected to a pinion (10, 11) rotatably arranged on the drive shaft (9) of the motor and each via a worm gear (7, 8).
12. Drive unit according to claim 1 to 11, characterized in that the switchover device (6) is connected to the drive shaft (9) of the motor by means of a feather key (12).
13. Drive unit according to claim 1 to 12, characterized in that the motor (5) is arranged on a housing (23, 24) of the door lock (4).

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