EP2245248B1 - Motor vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, with at least one lever, in particular safety lever, and with a spring associated with the lever.

The lever or safety lever is usually a locking lever, an anti-theft lever, a child safety lever or the like. In fact, such levers are usually characterized by having to occupy at least two (stable) end position positions or generally at least two reproducible positions. In the case of a locking lever, these are the positions "unlocked" and "locked". For an anti-theft lever, the items "Anti-theft on" and "Anti-theft off" must be displayed. The parental control lever finally corresponds to the positions "Parental lock on" and "Parental lock off".

In the generic state of the art according to the DE 32 20 705 C2 an intermediate lever is realized, which is associated with a release lever for a locking mechanism. The release lever is constantly loaded by the restoring force of a spring.

As part of the DE 40 42 678 C1 a storage lever is assigned to a release lever, which rests in the closed position of a motor vehicle door under the influence of a spring on the release lever. The spring is a leg spring.

The state of the art can not convince in all respects. Thus, the known leg springs ultimately ensure that the associated lever is acted upon but can not prevent, for example, an additional one unwanted axial force is initiated and / or the moments in the end positions are insufficiently adjusted, making these solutions are very susceptible to tolerance. This is where the invention starts.

EP 1881234 A discloses a generic motor vehicle door lock.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle door lock so that the functional positions described above are perfectly maintained and displayed.

To solve this technical problem is provided in a generic motor vehicle door lock, that the contour (4) consists of two spaced and convex bulged protrusions (4a) and one between the two formations (4a) arranged contact area (4b) composed.

The invention thus relies on a special position assurance unit, which is composed of the spring and an associated contour. In this case, the spring can be arranged in a lock case or a lock housing or be supported. The contour is usually arranged on the associated lever. But it can also be reversed. Then the contour is found in the lock case or on the lock housing, whereas the lever is equipped with the spring. In any case, the position assurance unit is designed bistable, i. H. able to represent at least two positions of the lever can. In other words, the position assurance unit ensures that the lever retains the two positions once they have been taken. They are only left by a special force on the lever again.

In the event that the lever is a locking lever, the two positions correspond to the positions "unlocked" and "Locked". In the case of an anti-theft lever, the two stable positions belong to the anti-theft and anti-theft positions. The same applies to a child safety lever, which occupies the functional positions "child safety on" and "child safety off".

In detail, it has proven useful if the spring is designed as a leg spring with two spring legs. In fact, such a leg spring usually has not only the two spring legs but also at least one spring coil, with the help of the leg spring is arranged either in or on the lock case or lock housing or on or on the lever and is supported thereon. In most cases, a spring coil penetrating pin for fixing the leg spring is realized.

Overall, the interpretation can be made so that the two spring legs of the leg spring interact with the contour together. But it is also possible that the one spring leg interacts with the contour and the other spring leg with another lever and this applied for example resiliently.

It has proven useful if the contour is equipped with at least one shaping, which biases the spring applied thereto. In addition to this mostly convex bulging shape, the contour has one or more adjacent abutment areas, which act on the spring with a comparatively lower bias voltage. In most cases, two spaced-apart formations or convex bulges are provided on the contour, between which there is a contact area. Each of the two spaced-apart formations is reserved for one spring leg of the leg spring.

In fact, the two spring legs usually in both bistable end positions of the lever consistently at their respective associated shape. D. h., The spring leg and the associated formation form an interaction pair.

In general, the lever is rotatably supported about at least one axis. In contrast, the contour is found on the lever. In this way, with the aid of the contour in conjunction with the spring or the position securing unit according to the invention, a force can be exerted on the lever which corresponds to a torque which usually causes either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the lever about the axis.

In this context, it is regularly provided that the spring is arranged stationary relative to the contour, which moves together with the lever. In principle, however, it is also possible-as already described-to work in the sense of a kinematic reversal, namely that the contour is stationary, whereas the spring moves together with the lever. In any case, the spring together with the contour or the bistable position assurance unit according to the invention produces a total of a resultant force component, which acts in a counterclockwise direction in its one end position and clockwise in its other end position. So that these two end positions are safely taken and maintained, the lever is usually connected to a drive element. The drive element ensures that the movements of the lever clockwise or counterclockwise predetermined and / or limited.

As a result, a motor vehicle door lock is provided which is equipped with a special bistable position assurance unit. These Bistable position assurance unit ensures that the lever equipped with it is able to stably assume at least two end positions. For example, these end positions may belong to the "lock on" and "lock off" positions, as long as the lever is a lock lever.

In most cases, the additional connection of the lever to the drive element ensures that on the one hand, the lever occupies the two described end positions and on the other hand also retains them.

As a result, an overall easy to install bistable position assurance unit is provided, which can be realized inexpensively. The bistable position assurance unit generally ensures that a respective end position or intermediate layer is taken reliably and permanently and thus defined. Any tolerances when taking the end position can be easily absorbed.

In addition, depending on the design of the contour or the one or the two formations and the one or more investment areas acting as it were on the lever bias respectively the forces exerted by the spring legs forces can be adjusted individually. In fact, these forces exerted by the spring legs can be adjusted approximately independently of each other by any adjustments to the geometry of the contour and thus the interaction pairs. As a result, the lever is acted upon in the two end positions with a respective resultant force, on the one hand causes a counterclockwise torque and on the other hand in a clockwise direction and in conjunction with possibly the rotational movement limiting drive element for the safe receipt of the end position. Here are the main benefits.

Fig. 1

einen erfindungsgemäßen Kraftfahrzeugtürverschluss mit einem Verriegelungshebel in der Stellung "entriegelt" und

Fig. 2

den Gegenstand nach Fig. 1 in der Position "verriegelt".

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 lock according to the invention with a locking lever in the "unlocked" position and

Fig. 2

the object after Fig. 1 in the position "locked".

In the figures, a motor vehicle door lock is shown, which is reduced to the essential elements for the invention. In fact, one recognizes a lever 1, which is designed in the present case as a general safety lever and in the example represents a locking lever 1. This lever 1 is assigned a spring 2. The spring 2 in the exemplary embodiment is a leg spring which is composed of two spring legs 2a and a spring winding 2b connecting the two spring legs 2a.

A pin 3 passes through the spring coil 2b and ensures the support and storage of the spring respectively leg spring 2. For this purpose, the pin in question 3 is arranged in the example and not restrictive to a lock case or a lock housing.

The spring 2 is associated with a contour 4, which in the present case is connected to the lever 1. The spring 2 and the contour 4 make up a bistable position assurance unit 2, 4. For this purpose, both spring legs 2a interact with the contour 4 in question. However, it is also possible that only one spring leg 2a with the contour 4 and the other spring leg 2a interacts with another lever. This is not shown.

It can be seen that the contour 4 is composed in detail of two spaced and convex bulges 4a and an abutment region 4b arranged between the two formations 4a. In this case, the respective contour 4a and the spring leg 2a of the leg spring 2 adjoining it interact in a continuous manner and form an interaction pair 2a, 4a. D. h., The spring leg 2a is in both below to be described in more detail bistable, end positions of the lever 1 continuously to the respectively associated shape 4a. This is immediately apparent in a comparative analysis of the Fig. 1 and 2 ,

In the exemplary embodiment, the lever 1 is a substantially triangular lever 1, which of course is not to be understood as limiting. In this case, the lever 1 is rotatably mounted about an axis A and that against the already mentioned lock case respectively lock housing. For this purpose may pass through an opening provided at this point a mounted in the lock case or lock housing pin.

At the off-axis end of the lever 1 is the already mentioned contour 4. The axis A forms together with a hinge B a base of the total triangular lever 1, at the top of the contour 4 is provided and a connection point C is found, for example, with a may be connected, not shown, clutch lever. By adjusting the lever 1, this clutch lever can be engaged and disengaged and thus allows in the engaged position, an opening of the associated locking mechanism via an internal operating lever or external actuating lever and interrupts the described chain of effects in the disengaged position, so that corresponding strokes or pulling movements on the internal operating lever or external operating lever empty walk. The first position corresponds to the position "unlocked" of the lever or locking lever 1, whereas the latter position reflects its functional position "locked".

The spring respectively leg spring 2 is arranged in a stationary position relative to the contour 4. Because each of the two spring legs 2a the associated shaping 4a applied with a force F ₁ and F ₂ , a total resulting total force F _R , whose direction is designed differently depending on the position of the lever 1. In the context of the position "unlocked" after Fig. 1 the two forces F ₁ and F ₂ built up by the spring legs 2a add in such a way that the resultant force F _R generates a torque with respect to the axis A of the lever 1 which corresponds to a clockwise rotation about the axis A, as it does an arrow in Fig. 1 suggests. As a result, the lever 1 is rotated clockwise or acted upon in the end position of a connected to the lever 1 via the rotary joint B drive element 5 accordingly.

In fact, the drive element 5 is a worm wheel 5, which can be rotated by means of a worm 6 about an axis D in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This is achieved in that the drive element or worm wheel 5 is correspondingly acted upon by means of the worm 6, which is located on an output shaft 7 of a drive motor 8.

In order to transfer the lever 1 to its "unlocked" position, the drive element 5 is mechanically acted upon via the inner or outer locking or alternatively with the aid of the drive motor 8 with the interposition of the worm 6 so that the drive element or worm wheel 5 in Turn counterclockwise until it reaches its final position, taking lever 1 with it until the in Fig. 1 shown position is reached. So that position is permanently maintained in the sense of a Endlagensicherung ensure the spring or leg spring 2 and the contour 4 as a composite bistable position assurance unit 2, 4 for the fact that the lever 1 is acted upon in relation to its axis A with a corresponding to a clockwise rotation torque.

To change lever 1 to its "locked" position Fig. 2 the drive element or worm wheel 5 is acted upon by means of the drive motor 8 in a clockwise direction, so that the lever 1, starting from the position to Fig. 1 Turn counterclockwise about the axis A until the second end position corresponds to the Fig. 1 has been achieved. The previously mentioned torque must be overcome.

In this case ( Fig. 2 ) act on the two spring legs 2a again the two associated formations 4a of the contour 4 such that the forces F ₁ and F ₂ add. In this case, however, the rotation of the lever 1 following the associated force vectors have changed in direction, so that now the resultant force F _R generates a torque about the axis A, which corresponds to a counterclockwise rotation of the lever 1. D. h., The inventive bistable position assurance unit 2, 4 generates a resultant force F _R , which generates a torque in the respective end position such that it acts in the same direction as before the drive motor 8 and the drive member 5 have worked.

As a result, the respective end position is reliably taken and maintained and, for example, the lever 1 not automatically or by a malfunction the assumed position "unlocked" or "locked" leave in the example. For this purpose, a torque would have to be applied to it, which overcomes that of the position assurance unit 2, 4 and possibly also of the drive motor 8 including the screw 6 and the Drive element 5 built-up static friction forces. This increases the security with at the same time simple constructive and assembly technical construction. In addition, tolerances in the design of the spring 2 and the contour 4 can be mastered easily.

Claims (9)

1. Motor vehicle door latch with at least one lever (1), in particular a securing lever and with a spring (2) assigned to the lever (1), whereby the spring (2) interacts with a pertaining contour (4) for the composite formation of a bistable position securing unit (2, 4) and that the spring (2) is formed as a leg spring (2) with two spring legs (2a), whereby the contour (4) is equipped with at least one molding (4a) for pre-tensioning of the adjacent spring (2), so that, the spring (2) adjacent to the molding (4a) can be pre-tensioned and characterized in that the contour (4) comprises two distanced and convexly arched molds (4a) and a contact area (4a) which is concave and arranged between the two molds (4b).
2. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring (2) is arranged in a latch case or a latch housing and the contour (4) is arranged on the lever or vice versa.
3. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 2, characterized in that both spring legs (2a) jointly interact with the contour (4).
4. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 3, characterized in that one spring leg (2a) interacts with the contour and the other spring leg (2a) with a further lever.
5. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 4, characterized in that the contour (4) demonstrates two distanced molds (4a) for each spring leg (2a) of the leg spring (2).
6. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring leg (2a) is adjacent in both bistable end positions of the lever 1 continuously on its respectively pertaining mold (4a) and form an interaction pair (2a; 4a).
7. Motor vehicle door latch according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lever (1) is pivotably accommodated around at least one axis (A) and is equipped with the contour (4).
8. Motor vehicle door latch according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the spring (2) is statically arranged opposite the contour (4) and produces a resulting force component (F_R) together with the contour (4) which acts on the lever (1) in its end position in an anti-clockwise direction and in its other end position in a clockwise direction in relation to its axis (A).
9. Motor vehicle door latch according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lever (1) is connected to a drive element (5), which specifies its movements in a clockwise direction and an anti-clockwise direction around the axis (A) and limits these if necessary.

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