EP1713993A1

EP1713993A1 - Motor vehicle door lock

Info

Publication number: EP1713993A1
Application number: EP05714932A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reinhard Chilla
Original assignee: Kiekert AG
Current assignee: Kiekert AG
Priority date: 2004-02-06
Filing date: 2005-02-04
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Also published as: WO2005075768A1; DE202004001850U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting of, essentially, a rotary door latch (1) and a ratchet (2), and a closing device (5, 6, 7, 8) with a closing ratchet (5) which engages with a closing contour (11) of the rotary door latch (1). The ratchet (2) co-operates with a ratchet contour (12, 13) on the rotary door latch (1) and the closing ratchet (5) impinges at least partially upon the rotary door latch (1) in an overlapping manner. The closing ratchet (5) with the closing contour (11) and the ratchet (2) with the ratchet contour (12, 13) form two pairs of elements (5, 11, 2, 12, 13) which are respectively adapted to each other and which do not co-operate with each other.

Description

Motor vehicle door lock

Description:

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and pawl, and with a closing device with a closing pawl which acts on a closing contour of the rotary latch, the pawl interacting with a pawl contour on the rotary latch and the closing latch acting at least partially overlapping on the rotary latch ,

Pulling devices generally serve to move a lock or motor vehicle door lock equipped therewith from the pre-locking position into the main locking position and possibly beyond. Such devices are mainly used for large-volume and consequently heavy-weight motor vehicle doors and flaps etc. or simply provide a comfort improvement. Because an operator no longer has to overcome any restoring forces that are built up, for example, by door rubber seals, when the door or flap in question is closed.

Rather, it is sufficient to manually transfer the door or flap to a certain predetermined pre-closing position (pre-latching division), from which the final closing position (main latching position) is assumed by motor with the aid of the closing device. Most developments achieve this in such a way that the relevant closing device engages the rotary latch and transfers it to the main latching position or final closing position by means of a motor. A sensor regularly ensures that the motor for the closing device detects that the pre-locking position or pre-latching position has been reached and, as a result, the closing device is acted upon and transfers the catch to the main catch with the locking bolt already in the intake mouth. The door is brought into its final closed position. In the prior art from which the invention is based, the closing pawl and the pawl have already been arranged at least partially overlapping one another for reasons of space. This means that the pawl can at least partially fall into the closing contour. Functional impairments cannot be ruled out as a result (cf. EP 1 319 780 A1).

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing a motor vehicle door lock with a closing device corresponding to the genus in such a way that the pawl and the closing pawl engage the catch in the same area in order to ensure a compact structure, but this does not impair the functional reliability.

To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle door lock is characterized according to the invention in that the closing pawl together with the closing contour and the pawl together with the pawl contour form two mutually coordinated and non-interacting element pairs.

As already described in the context of the prior art according to EP 1 319 780 A1, the pawl and the closing pawl act at least partially overlapping the catch. This means that, based on the topological and mechanical conditions, the pawl can basically fall into the closing contour or interact with it. The same may also apply vice versa for the closing pawl, which can work on the pawl contour. This is expressed by the concept of partial overlap, although of course only one aspect may also be realized (in most cases the pawl can engage in the closing contour, but the closing pawl cannot work on the pawl contour). However, so that neither the closing pawl via the pawl contour nor the pawl via the closing contour can act on the catch, according to the invention the closing pawl and the closing contour and independently of this the pawl and the pawl contour each match coordinated and incompatible or interacting element pairs. This means nothing else than that the closing pawl can only and only interact with the closing contour and the locking pawl can only and only interact with the locking pawl contour. Functional positions according to EP 1 319 780 A1, in which the pawl at least partially falls into the closing contour, are therefore expressly suppressed within the scope of the invention. In principle, this can be done electronically or by means of a sensor, in that the closing pawl is prevented, by means of appropriately loaded retaining devices, from falling into the pawl contour, for example, by spring force. The same may apply to the pawl, which glides past the closing contour without interaction.

However, a variant is particularly preferred in which the described incompatibility is mechanically ensured. For this purpose, it has proven useful to design the closing contour as an open-sided design in the rotary latch, which is also equipped with a depth which is only adapted to the material thickness of the closing latch and which is designed with a lower material thickness than the rotary latch. The depth of this recess may be approximately half the material thickness of the catch.

In contrast, the pawl contour will not be designed as a shape in the rotary latch, but rather as at least one recess on the edge. The pawl, which is essentially the same strength as the rotary latch, can fall into this recess. Because the pawl has approximately the same material thickness as the rotary latch, it cannot interact with the closing contour or shape. This prevents the lower depth of this shape compared to the strength of the pawl and the fact that the catch and pawl with parallel axes of rotation are largely arranged on the same level.

So that the closing pawl does not fall into the pawl contour or the associated edge recess in the rotary latch, which would be possible in principle, the closing pawl is additionally limited in its (circular-arc) movements by means of a guide contour. The fact that this guide contour has a finite length means that the closing pawl cannot reach the area of the pawl contour. In addition, the guide contour ensures that the closing pawl is largely guided into contact with the rotary latch.

In addition, the guide contour may ensure that the closing pawl is removed from the closing contour (and consequently the rotary latch as a whole) at least when the pawl is in the main catch and after the closing process has ended. As a result, the motor vehicle door lock described achieves the same functionality as a motor vehicle door lock without a closing device when the pawl is in the main detent. The locking mechanism can therefore be operated manually and / or by motor without any problems.

In order to make the rotary latch and the motor vehicle door lock soundproof overall, the rotary latch may have a casing. The closing contour can be entirely or partially defined on and / or in this casing. In addition, it has proven useful to rotatably mount the closing pawl on a motor-driven transmission lever. This transmission lever ensures that the rotary latch is moved in the closing direction when the closing pawl has fallen into the closing contour. Finally, the closing pawl preferably has a closing hook which is curved counter to the opening direction of the rotary latch and which engages in the correspondingly shaped shape of the rotary latch with mutual overlap of the closing latch and the shaped part. This means that the shape is curved in accordance with the pulling hook, so that the pulling hook can engage in the shape with a mutual overlap in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner in order to adjust the rotary latch about its axis of rotation during the closing process.

As a result, a motor vehicle door lock is made available, which is initially characterized by simple and inexpensive manufacture. Because both the closing device and the locking mechanism can be implemented inexpensively and without complex additional devices. The fact that the closing pawl cannot fall into the locking pawl contour and the locking pawl cannot interact with the closing pawl contour means that functional reliability is significantly increased compared to previous embodiments. This applies to both the locking function and the closing function. As a result of the overlapping arrangement of the pawl on the one hand and the closing pawl or transmission lever on the other hand, a particularly compact construction is finally achieved. In addition, a low level of noise can be assumed, the casing for the rotary latch also having a positive effect. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a drawing illustrating only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

1 and 2, the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention in different views in a functional position which becomes clear that the pawl cannot interact with the closing contour,

3 shows the rotary latch with the pawl in pre-engagement,

Fig. 4 shows the object of FIG. 3 after the closing process and with the pawl in the main position and

Fig. 5 shows the catch in detail.

In the figures, a motor vehicle door lock is shown, which has a locking mechanism 1, 2 consisting of a rotary latch 1 and pawl 2. The rotary latch 1 is rotatably mounted about an axis 3 and is equipped with a spring, not expressly shown, which acts on it in the opening direction (cf. arrow direction in FIG. 2). The pawl 2 is rotatably supported about an axis 4, the two axes 3, 4 running essentially parallel to one another and the catch 1 and the pawl 4 being arranged approximately at the same level as one another. In addition, the catch 1 and the pawl 4 have essentially a matching (material) thickness S.

In the figures, one can also see a closing device 5, 6, 7, 8. This closing device 5, 6, 7, 8 includes a closing pawl 5, a transmission lever 6, a guide lever 7 and a motor 8, in particular an electric motor 8 Electric motor 8 works on the transmission lever 6 and is able to pivot the transmission lever 6 from the position according to FIG. 3 into the position according to FIG. 4 and back. This happens about the axis 3, because the transmission lever 6 is mounted on the axis 3 concerned in the same axis as the catch 1. The closing pawl 5 is connected in an articulated manner via an axis 9 to the transmission lever 6, which can be pivoted with the aid of the motor 8, and is biased into contact with the rotary latch 1 by a spring (not expressly shown), as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2. In addition, the closing pawl 5 has a guide pin F which is guided in a guide contour 10 of a predetermined length L in the guide lever 7.

The closing pawl 5 engages a closing contour 11 of the rotary latch 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. In fact, this closing contour 11 is a molding 11 in the rotary latch 1 which is open on the edge. On the basis of FIG. 5, it can be seen that the molding 11 has a depth T which is less than the thickness S or material thickness of the rotary latch 1 is formed. In fact, the depth T of the formation 11 in the context of the exemplary embodiment is approximately half the material thickness or thickness S of the rotary latch 1. The following therefore applies:

T »1/2 S.

This forms a guide contour K, which prevents the pawl 2 from falling into the closing contour 11 or formation 11.

In addition to this shape or closing contour 11, a pawl contour 12, 13 is also realized, which is composed of two cutouts 12, 13 which are open at the edge. The recess 12 corresponds to the forward catch of the rotary latch 1 corresponding to the position of the rotary catch 1 according to FIG. 3, while the recess 13 represents the main catch of the rotary catch 1 according to FIG. 4.

It can be seen that the pawl 2 interacting with the pawl contour 12, 13 on the catch 1 and the closing pawl 5 act at least partially overlapping the catch 1. This overlap is in particular 2 shown, where the pawl 2 could basically fall into the closing contour or formation 11. However, since the pawl 2 has the (material) thickness S and, in contrast, the formation 11 only has a depth T that is approximately half as great, the pawl 2 cannot interact with the formation or closing contour 11 and slides along the guide contour K. The function of the rotary latch 1 is therefore not disturbed by this. Rather, the pawl 2 (spring-assisted) moves along the catch 1 until it reaches the recesses 12, 13.

Even the closing pawl 5 cannot interact with the pawl contour 12, 13. This is ensured by the guide contour 10 of length L in conjunction with the guide pin F. This is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Because when the rotary latch 1 reaches its latching position according to FIG. 3 during the manual closing operation, the pawl 2 can accordingly engage in the latching 12, the guide pin F in question is located at the front end of the guide contour 10 and at the same time the closing latch 5 falls into the formation 11 or Close contour 11. As a result, the rotary latch 1 can then be closed, as is clear when the transition from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4 is made. This is achieved by the motor 8 pivoting the transmission lever 6 clockwise around the axis 3 during the transition from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4, namely until the catch 2 can fall into the main catch 13 according to FIG. 4. Then the guide pin F has essentially reached its other end position in relation to the guide contour 10 and has covered the path L.

Not shown is the possibility that the motor 8 additionally removes the closing pawl 5 from the closing contour 11 in the position according to FIG. 4, that is to say with the pawl 2 located in the main catch 13. As a result, the locking mechanism 1, 2 is presented as if no closing device 5, 6, 7, 8 were realized at all. Finally, it can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 5 that the closing pawl 5 has a closing hook 14 which is curved counter to the opening direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. This curved configuration of the closing hook 14 is followed by the closing contour or shape 11, which is designed correspondingly. As a result, the closing pawl 5 enters into the closing contour 11 a non-positive and / or positive connection with the closing contour or formation 11 in the closed state. This is achieved largely silently, because a casing 15 of the rotary latch defines the closing contour 11 in whole or in part.

It should finally be emphasized that the previously outlined ratios of the thickness or material thickness of the pawl 2 on the one hand and the closing pawl 5 on the other hand are ultimately limited to the region of the closing contour or recess 11 and the pawl contour 12, 13. It is, of course, also within the scope of the invention if the pawl 2 protrudes at least on one side in the preliminary catch 12 or the main catch 13 from the rotary latch 1. This protrusion will regularly be permitted to the front in the view according to FIG. 2, as long as it is ensured that the pawl 2 cannot fall into the formation or closing contour 11 as a result of the guide contour K. In this context, it is also conceivable that the pawl 2 and the closing pawl 5 are dimensioned such that they can be guided past one another. Nevertheless, the design can be made such that the pawl 2 only and exclusively engages in the pawl contour 12, 13, while the closing pawl 5 interacts only and exclusively with the closing contour 11. Such a variant is distinguished by a particularly compact construction and in this aspect makes use of the advantages of EP 1 319 780 A1 already mentioned at the beginning.

Claims

Protection claims:

1. Motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (1) and pawl (2), and with a closing device (5, 6, 7, 8) with a closing pawl (5) which is connected to a closing contour (11 ) of the rotary latch (1), wherein the pawl (2) interacting with a pawl contour (12, 13) on the rotary latch (1) and the closing pawl (5) act at least partially overlapping the rotary latch (1), characterized in that the closing pawl (5) together with the closing contour (11) and the pawl (2) together with the pawl contour (12, 13) form two mutually coordinated and non-interacting element pairs (5, 11; 2, 12, 13).

2. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the closing contour (11) is designed as an open-sided formation (11) in the rotary latch (1).

3. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closing contour (11) has a depth (T) which is only adapted to the material thickness of the closing latch and which is less than the thickness (S) of the rotary latch (1).

4. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the depth (T) of the closing contour (11) is approximately half the thickness (S) of the rotary latch (1).

5. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pawl contour (12, 13) is formed as an edge-side recess (12, 13) in the catch (1), in which the compared to the catch (1) in The pawl (2) is of substantially the same strength.

6. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the closing contour (11) is wholly or partly defined on and / or in a casing (15) for the rotary latch (1).

7. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the closing pawl (5) is rotatably connected to a motor-driven transmission lever (6).

8. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the closing pawl (5) is guided into contact with the rotary latch (1) by means of a guide contour (10).

9. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the closing pawl (5) at least in the main catch (13) located pawl (2) and after the closing process of the closing contour (11) is removed.

10. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closing pawl (5) has a closing hook (14) which is curved counter to the opening direction of the catch (1) and which engages in the correspondingly shaped closing contour (11) with mutual overlap.