EP2333208B2 - Motor vehicle lock - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lock having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

The term "vehicle lock" is to be understood comprehensively. It covers not only side door locks and tailgate locks, but also tailgate locks. Incidentally, the term "vehicle lock" means the entire system, the components of which can also be distributed.

The well-known motor vehicle lock FR2778939A1 , from which the invention is based, is equipped with a conventional locking mechanism with rotary bolt and pawl. The rotary latch can be brought into an open position, into a pre-locking position and into a main locking position, while the pawl can be brought into a closed position and into a lifted position. To detect locking states, a circuit arrangement is provided, which is assigned a rotary latch switch and a ratchet switch.

The task of the above circuit arrangement is to monitor the error-free transfer of the rotating bolt into the open position, into the pre-locked position and, above all, into the main locked position. It is important to be able to reliably detect all conceivable error states. An error condition that occasionally occurs is that the rotary latch has reached the main detent position, but that the pawl has not, or not fully, engaged. This is also known as mock closure.

From a cost perspective, it is important to design the above circuit arrangement for reliable detection of the closed states, but to keep the number of switches required and the number of signal outputs of the circuit arrangement to be evaluated as small as possible.

In the known motor vehicle lock, the rotating bolt switch and the pawl switch are each designed as a toggle switch. If the above error state of the false closure is to be detected, at least three signal outputs are to be monitored in the circuit arrangement there. This is complex in terms of control technology.

Furthermore, the detection of the closed states based on the signal outputs of the two changeover switches is not sufficient in some cases. For example, the state in which the rotary bolt is just before the main latching position and the pawl is in the lifted position cannot be distinguished from the state in which the rotary bolt is in the open position and the pawl is in the lifted position.

The DE 198 61 199 B4 and the DE 10 2007 056 251 A1 each show motor vehicle locks whose locking mechanisms are monitored by means of a three-stage query switch.

The invention is based on the problem of optimizing the known motor vehicle lock with regard to the detection of locking states and from the point of view of costs.

The above problem is solved in a motor vehicle lock according to the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

What is important is the consideration of assigning at least three, preferably exactly three, switch positions to the rotary bolt switch. For clarification, this means that the adjustment of the rotating bolt is causal for assuming a first, a second and a third switching position. Together with the at least two-stage, in particular exactly two-stage pawl switch, a total of six locking states can thus be detected—at least theoretically. This means that, in addition to the relevant closed states of open state, pre-latched state and main latched state, various error and intermediate states can be detected, which increases security when detecting closed states.

It follows from the above description that both the rotary bolt switch and the pawl switch can in principle be assigned more than three or more than two switching positions. However, it is preferably the case that three switch positions are assigned to the rotary bolt switch and two switch positions to the pawl switch.

The constellation with a two-stage pawl switch and a three-stage rotary bolt switch allows, with the appropriate wiring, that the three relevant locking states mentioned above and an intermediate state can be displayed via two binary signal outputs. The intermediate state, which in any case includes the state of the above-mentioned sham closure, is of particular importance. It is preferably the case that the intermediate state also includes the constellation in which the rotating bolt is between the pre-locked position and the main locked position and the pawl is in the lifted-out position. Several such constellations can be assigned to the intermediate state.

With the proposed solution, with suitable interconnection, maximum security can be displayed when detecting relevant locking states and error states with only two binary signal outputs. The reduction of the signal outputs to be evaluated to just two binary signal outputs is associated with a reduction in the costs of the switched controller.

The preferred configurations according to claims 7 to 10 relate to a circuit implementation of the proposed solution, which can be implemented using simple means.

The particularly preferred configurations according to claims 13 to 15 relate to a motor vehicle lock which is assigned a closing aid device for motor-driven implementation of a closing aid process. According to claim 14 it has been recognized that the monitoring of the signal of only one of the two signal outputs mentioned above is sufficient to be able to reliably trigger a closing process.

Fig. 1

die wesentlichen Elemente der Schließmechanik eines vorschlagsgemäßen Kraftfahrzeugschlosses,

Fig. 2

eine vorschlagsgemäße Schaltungsanordnung zur Erfassung von Schließzuständen des Kraftfahrzeugschlosses gemäß Fig. 1 in einem schematischen Schaltbild,

Fig. 3

a) eine bevorzugte Umsetzung der Schaltungsanordnung gemäß Fig. 2 in einem ersten Schaltzustand, b) den Schaltverlauf des Sperrklinkenschalters über den Verstellbereich des Drehriegels mit einem Zeiger auf den ersten Schaltzustand, c) den Schaltverlauf des Drehriegelschalters über den Verstellbereich des Drehriegels mit einem Zeiger auf den ersten Schaltzustand, d) den resultierenden Signalverlauf der beiden binären Signalausgänge der Schaltungsanordnung,

Fig. 4-8

die Schaltungsanordnung mit dazugehörigen Schalt- und Signalverläufen gemäß Fig. 3 in fünf weiteren Zuständen.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing that merely shows an exemplary embodiment. In the drawing shows:

1

the essential elements of the locking mechanism of a proposed motor vehicle lock,

2

according to a proposed circuit arrangement for detecting locking states of the motor vehicle lock 1 in a schematic circuit diagram,

3

a) a preferred implementation of the circuit arrangement according to 2 in a first switching state, b) the switching course of the pawl switch over the adjustment range of the rotary bolt with a pointer to the first switching state, c) the switching course of the rotary bolt switch over the adjustment range of the rotary bolt with a pointer to the first switching state, d) the resulting signal curve of the two binary signal outputs of the circuit arrangement,

Figures 4-8

the circuit arrangement with associated switching and signal curves according to 3 in five other states.

The proposed motor vehicle lock is equipped with an in 1 equipped with a locking mechanism shown only as an example, which has a rotating bolt 1 and a pawl 2.

The rotary latch 1 and the pawl 2 are designed here in the usual way as metal stampings. But there are many other variants for the realization of the rotating bolt 1 and the pawl 2 conceivable. For example, the pawl 2 can also be designed as a bendable pawl wire that can be brought into locking engagement with the rotating bolt 1 .

Turnbuckle 1 is in the in 1 shown open position, can be brought into a pre-locked position and in a main locked position. For this purpose, the rotating bolt 1 has a corresponding first catch 3 and a main catch 4 . The pawl 2 is in a drop-in position, in which it holds the rotating bolt 1 in the main locking position in the pre-locking position, and in the in 1 shown lifting position, in which it releases the rotating bolt 1, can be brought. For this purpose the pawl 2 is equipped with a hook-like formation 5 which can be brought into holding engagement with the first catch 3 and the main catch 4 .

The locking mechanism is assigned a circuit arrangement for detecting locking states, from which 1 only one rotary bolt switch 6 for detecting the rotary bolt position and one ratchet switch 7 for detecting the ratchet position are shown. The two above switches 6, 7 are at in 1 illustrated, preferred variant each configured as a microswitch, which further preferably have a linearly movable plunger as a switching element.

A schematic circuit diagram of the above circuit arrangement is in 2 shown. The circuit diagram shows the fact that the rotating bolt switch 6 can be brought into three switching states, while the pawl switch 7 can be brought into two switching states. The three or two switching states are assumed depending on the turning bolt position or the pawl position.

The proposed solution can be applied particularly advantageously to an arrangement in which the pawl 2 interacts with the rotary bolt 1 as follows: The rotary bolt 1 in the open position holds the pawl 2 according to FIG 1 in the withdrawal order. The pawl 2 is regularly in contact with a back piece 8 of the rotating bolt 1, as is the case here. An adjustment of the rotating bolt 1 from the open position to the pre-locking position causes the pawl 2 to drop into the drop-in position. In the illustrated embodiment, the hook-like formation 5 of the pawl 2 comes into engagement with the first catch 3 of the rotary bolt 1. An adjustment of the rotary bolt 1 from the first catch position in the direction of the main catch position again causes the pawl 2 to be lifted into the lifted position. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the pawl 2 slides along a second back piece 9 of the rotating bolt 1 . A further adjustment of the rotating bolt 1 into the main locking position now causes the repeated engagement of the pawl 2 in the engaged position. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the hook-like formation 5 of the pawl 2 comes into holding engagement with the main catch 4 of the rotating bolt 1.

From the explanation of the interaction between the pawl 2 and the rotating bolt 1, it becomes clear that the pawl 2 can in principle be assigned two different engagement positions, namely an engagement position for the first catch 3 and a engagement position for the main catch 4. The same applies to the lifting position. In the present case, all the different collapsed and lifted positions of the pawl 2 are summarized under the terms "collapsed position" and "lifted position", since the exact determination of the degree of collapse or lifting of the pawl 2 is not important for the proposed solution.

In the exemplary embodiment shown and in this respect preferred, the rotary bolt 1 , which can be pivoted about a rotary bolt axis 10 , has a contour 12 associated with the rotary bolt switch 6 . The contour 12 is in engagement with a movable switching element of the rotary bolt switch 6 and, depending on the position of the rotary bolt 1, ensures that the switching element is deflected accordingly. The contour 12 is here and preferably configured in the manner of a web which protrudes from the rotating bolt 1 in the direction of the rotating bolt axis 10 .

The aspect of equipping a rotary bolt 1 of a motor vehicle lock with a contour 12 above, which interacts with a three-stage rotary bolt switch 6 in order to convert the rotary bolt switch 6 into three different switch positions depending on the position of the rotary bolt 1, leads to a particularly high level of compactness and should can also be claimed on its own.

The pawl 2, which is pivotable about a pawl axis 11, is equipped with a contour 7a, which is correspondingly engaged with the pawl switch 7 or can be brought into engagement.

The Figures 3 to 8 now show the course of the adjustment of the rotating bolt 1 from the open position to the main locking position in a total of six stations. The structure of the representation in the Figures 3 to 8 is identical, using the example of 3 explained.

Figure 3a ) shows the circuit arrangement for detecting the locking states with the rotary bolt switch 6 and the pawl switch 7, which according to the circuit in 2 is constructed. The two switches 6, 7 are connected to a switching strip 13, via which the circuit arrangement can be connected to a higher-level controller. The safety edge 13 has an input E to which ground potential is preferably applied. The safety edge 13 also has two signal outputs A, B. Additionally is in Figure 3a ) each of the section of the rotating bolt 1 and the pawl 2 shown, which are assigned to the respective rotating bolt switch 6 or pawl switch 7. Furthermore shows Figure 3a ) the internal switching position within the two switches 6, 7 for the respective closed state.

The Figure 3b ) and c) each show the switching curves of the pawl switch 7 and the rotary bolt switch 6 over the adjustment range of the rotary bolt 1. The switching curves of the pawl switch 7 are labeled "SK", the switch curves of the rotary bolt switch 6 are labeled "DR".

In the representations in the Figure 3b ) and c) it should be noted that these relate to the switching operations of the two switches 6, 7 taken individually. As part of these separate representations, it is assumed that the center contact M, which is still to be explained, is always connected to ground potential and the switching contacts O, S, which are still to be explained, are each connected to a pull-up resistor.

3d ) shows the resulting signal curve at the signal outputs A and B. A vertical pointer 14 extends over the drawings 3b), c) and d) to show which position of the rotating bolt 1 the in Figure 3a ) corresponds to the switching state shown.

It can be shown in 3c ) Infer that the rotary bolt switch 6 has two switching points 15, 16, which are on the one hand near the pre-locked position VR and on the other hand near the main lock position HR. It is preferably the case that the adjustment range of rotary bolt 1 with regard to the switching positions of rotary bolt switch 6 here and preferably immediately next to one another has an open adjustment range 17, an intermediate adjustment range 18 and a main locking adjustment range 19, in which rotary bolt switch 6 correspondingly an open switch position ( 3 , 4 ), an intermediate switching position ( figure 5 , 6 ) and a main position ( 7 , 8th ) occupies.

Here and preferably it is also the case that the open position and the pre-locked position in the open adjustment range 17 ( 3 , 4 ) are located and that the main locking position is in the main locking adjustment range 19 ( 7 , 8th ) is located. What is interesting here is the fact that the switching points 15, 16 are arranged at a distance from the pre-locking position VR on the one hand and the main locking position HR on the other hand. This allows a switching behavior that is particularly insensitive to tolerances to be implemented. The geometric tolerances that occur in the motor vehicle lock in question are explained further below.

The representation in Figure 3b ) The switching points 20, 21, 22 of the pawl 2 can also be seen. The lifted position of the pawl 2 corresponds to a lifted switching position and the engaged position of the pawl 2 corresponds to an engaged switching position of the pawl switch 7. The switching point 20 corresponds to the engagement of the pawl 2 in the first position 3, while the switching point 21 corresponds to the repeated lifting of the pawl 2 corresponds to the adjustment of the rotating bolt 1 in the direction of the main detent position. The switching point 22 goes back to the engagement of the pawl 2 in the main position 4.

A synopsis of Figures 3 to 8 shows that the two switches 6, 7 are interconnected in such a way that the circuit arrangement provides a first binary signal output A and a second binary signal output B, specifically to indicate an open state ( 3 ), in which the rotating bolt 1 is in the open position and the pawl 2 is in the lifted position, a pre-locking state ( 4 ), in which the rotating bolt 1 is in the pre-locked position and the pawl 2 is in the closed position and a main locking state ( 8 ) in which the rotating bolt 1 is in the main locking position and the pawl 2 is in the closed position.

An intermediate state can also be displayed, which here and preferably includes various constellations ( 6 , 7 ). A constellation associated with the intermediate state is that the rotating bolt 1 is in any case in the area of the main locking position, in particular in the main locking position, and the pawl 2 is in the lifted position (apparent locking). this is in 7 shown for the state in which the rotary latch 1 has not yet fully reached the main detent position. Here, and preferably, the intermediate position also includes the constellation in which the Turnbuckle 1 is in the middle area between the pre-locked position and the main locked position and the pawl 2 is in the lifted position ( 6 ). A combination of these two states in the intermediate state is appropriate, since both constellations are not the constellations to be primarily recorded. Thus, if an intermediate state is detected when the open state, the pre-latched state or the main latched state is expected, then the result of the intermediate state is a fault state has been detected.

It can be summarized from the Figures 3 to 8 also refer to the fact that the circuit arrangement provides an input E which is connected to an input potential for switching through to the two signal outputs A, B. The input potential is the ground potential in the exemplary embodiment that is shown and is preferred in this respect. The signal outputs A, B are regularly connected to a pull-up resistor, so that these signal outputs have a high potential if they are not connected to ground potential via the switches 6, 7.

Numerous possibilities for the realization of the rotating bolt switch 6 and the pawl switch 7 are conceivable. One variant is that optical or capacitive switches are used. Hall or MR sensors can also be advantageously used to implement these switch functions. The above switches are electronic switches in which the switching process is not based on physical contact but essentially on a measuring process.

The Figures 2 to 8 show, however, an embodiment with electromechanically contacting switches, which are characterized by high robustness and low cost. Here, the two switches 6, 7 are designed as changeover switches and each have a central contact M and two switch contacts that can be brought into contact with the central contact M, depending on the switching position. For this purpose, the middle contact M is assigned to the movable switching element of the respective changeover switch 6, 7 and is regularly referred to as the "common" contact.

A special feature here is that the rotary bolt switch 6 is designed as a center-zero switch. This means that the rotary bolt switch 6 is not only assigned two switch positions in order to connect the switch contacts Ö and S to the center contact M, but also a center-zero switch position, which lies in particular between the two other switch positions and which here and preferably the Intermediate switching position is ( figure 5 , 6 ). The center-zero switch position of the rotary latch switch 6 is in the figure 5 , 6 , indicated by the reference character "N".

When the rotary bolt switch 6 is in the center-zero switching position, the center contact M is usually connected neither to the two switching contacts Ö, S, nor to any other contact, which, in combination with a pull-up resistor mentioned above, leads to a particularly simple structure . However, it would be conceivable to assign a further contact to the center-zero switching position, which would be in connection with the center contact M in the center-zero switching position and could be connected accordingly.

The two switching contacts Ö, S of the rotary latch switch 6 are each bridged with a different switching contact Ö, S of the pawl switch 7, with one of the two bridges 23 providing the first signal output A of the circuit arrangement. This can be shown in the illustration 2 and 3 to 8 remove well.

Furthermore, it is preferably the case that the center contact M of the rotary latch switch 6 provides the second signal output B of the circuit arrangement and that the center contact M of the pawl switch 7 provides the input E of the circuit arrangement, to which the input potential is applied.

In principle, it would also be conceivable for the center contact M of the pawl switch 7 to provide the second signal output B of the circuit arrangement and for the center contact M of the other switch, in this case the rotary latch switch 6, to provide the input of the circuit arrangement, to which the input potential is applied.

In the following, a closing process, in which the rotating bolt 1 is moved from the open position to the main detent position, based on the Figures 3 to 8 explained.

The transition from 3 on 4 corresponds to the engagement of the pawl 2 in the first position 3, while the rotary bolt switch 6 is in the open switch position. The transition from 4 on figure 5 shows the further adjustment of the rotary bolt 1, in which the rotary bolt switch 6 reaches the intermediate switching position without the pawl 2 changing its position. The transition from figure 5 on 6 shows the further adjustment of the rotary bolt 1 with the rotary bolt switch 6 remaining in the intermediate switching position, while the pawl 2 is lifted repeatedly. The transition from 6 on 7 shows the transfer of the rotary bolt switch 6 from the intermediate switching position to the main locking switching position with an unchanged pawl position. The transition from 7 on 8 finally shows the engagement of the pawl 2 in the main position 4 with the rotary bolt switch 6 still in the main position.

From the above illustration it is clear that the signal outputs A, B clearly indicate that the open position ( 3 ), the pre-locking position ( 4 ) and the main detent position ( 8 ) show. It is interesting to note that the intermediate state ( 6 , 7 ) is achieved, among other things, when there is an apparent closure, i.e. the turning bolt 1 is in the main locking position and the pawl 2 is in the lifted position. This can easily be shown by starting from the constellation outlined below 8 the pawl 2 from the dropped position is transferred to the withdrawal order. The resulting constellation corresponds exactly to that in 7 shown constellation, i.e. the intermediate state.

The circuit arrangement according to the proposal is particularly robust against geometric and electrical tolerances, which lead to a shifting of the respective switching points 15, 16, 20, 21, 22. The switching points 15, 16, 21 associated geometric tolerances are in the Figures 3 to 8 shown hatched (the geometric tolerances associated with switching points 20 and 22 are negligibly small). This representation shows the fact that, in relation to the rotary bolt position, the respective positions of the switching points 15, 16 of the rotary bolt switch 6, here between the open switching position and the intermediate switching position and between the intermediate switching position and the main locking switching position, have geometric tolerances are subject to corresponding tolerance ranges. What is striking here is the fact that within these tolerance ranges, a change in the switching position of the rotary latch switch 6 has no effect on the signal outputs A, B of the circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement is correspondingly robust against such tolerances.

Of particular importance is also the consideration of the pawl switch 7 associated geometric tolerances. It is the case that the respective positions of the switching points 20, 21, 22 of the pawl switch 7, here only the position of the switching point 21 to a significant extent, are or is subject to geometric tolerances with corresponding tolerance ranges in relation to the rotary bolt position. It is now essential that the tolerance range associated with the locking pawl 2 is at a distance from the tolerance ranges associated with the rotary bolt switch 6 in relation to the position of the rotary bolt. If these tolerance ranges overlapped, an unambiguous determination of the closed state in certain constellations would not be possible with certainty. This boundary condition, which affects the extension of the tolerance ranges, can easily be implemented by a suitable mechanical design of the overall arrangement.

The advantages of the proposed circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle lock is particularly evident when the motor vehicle lock is assigned a non-illustrated closing aid device for motorized execution of a closing process. During the motorized closing process, the door, flap or the like assigned to the motor vehicle lock is moved from a pre-closed position to a main closed position against the counteracting force of seals, springs, friction or the like. The closing process is the last section of the closing process of the door, hatch or the like. In such arrangements, the closing process usually begins with a gap between the door, hatch or the like and the motor vehicle body of about 6 mm.

The closing aid can be based on different functional principles.

In a first constructive variant, the closing aid device makes it possible, as part of the closing aid process, to transfer the rotating bolt 1 by motor from the pre-locked position to the main locked position, which is accompanied by the motorized transfer of the door, flap or the like from the above pre-locked position to the main locked position.

A second constructive variant for the design of the closing aid consists in that a locking wedge, which normally is arranged on the motor vehicle body and which comes into engagement with the rotating bolt 1 during the locking process, can be adjusted by a motor between a pre-locking position and a main locking position. Then the arrangement is preferably made such that a corresponding adjustment of the locking wedge or the like when the rotary bolt 1 is in the main locking position is accompanied by an adjustment of the flap, door or the like from the pre-closed position to the main closed position. The two above constructive variants for the design of the closing aid are in the DE 20 2008 007 719 and the DE 10 2004 016 867 A1 U1 explained, which go back to the applicant and the contents of which are made the subject of the present application.

In the first design variant, the trigger event for starting the closing process is usually when rotary bolt 1 reaches the pre-locked position. This means that the user only has to manually close the door, flap or the like until rotary bolt 1 reaches the pre-locked position has reached. The closing auxiliary device then takes over the further closing.

In the second design variant, reaching the main latching position by the rotating bolt 1 represents the trigger event for starting the closing process. The locking wedge or the like is in its pre-locked position, so that the user does not have to counteract seal pressures or the like during the manual part of the locking operation .

In the first constructive variant, the closing process is stopped when the rotary latch 1 has reached its main detent position. The trigger event for stopping the closing process is therefore preferably when the rotary latch 1 reaches the main latching position. In the second design variant, which provides for motorized adjustment of the striker or the like, the closing process is preferably triggered by the expiry of a predetermined closing time or by the Tripping of a limit switch stopped. In particular, monitoring of the expiry of a predetermined closing time can advantageously be provided in both cases in order to intercept endless actuation of the closing auxiliary device in the event of a fault.

In the case of the first-mentioned design variant, the closing aid device can be an integral part of the motor vehicle lock as a whole. But it is also conceivable that the closing aid device is a part of the motor vehicle lock, which is realized separately from the motor vehicle lock.

Of course, this generally applies to the second structural variant of the closing aid.

Regardless of its structural design, the closing aid is assigned a closing control, which can be part of the higher-level control mentioned above or which can be designed as a separate closing control. In the simplest case, the closing control is an electronic circuit with few components, which is preferably spatially assigned to the closing auxiliary device.

The closing control monitors the signal or the signals of at least one signal output B of the two signal outputs A, B and triggers a corresponding closing process depending on the signal or the signals at the at least one monitored signal output A, B. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the closing control monitors exactly one signal output of the two signal outputs A, B, here and preferably signal output B, and, as indicated above, triggers a corresponding closing process depending on the signal from the one monitored signal output A, B.

Specifically, it is here and preferably so that the closing assist control monitors the signal at the monitored signal output B, namely the signal at the center contact M of the rotary latch switch 6, for the occurrence of a positive signal edge here, with a corresponding closing process being triggered when the positive signal edge occurs becomes. Correspondingly, the existence of the first structural variant for the closing aid device is assumed here. The same can of course be implemented advantageously for the occurrence of a negative signal edge if the closing aid device is implemented according to the second structural variant.

It emerges from a synopsis of the Figures 4 to 8 that the monitoring of the signal at signal output B for the occurrence of a positive edge is sufficient to ensure reliable starting of a closing process. The occurrence of this positive signal edge normally means nothing other than that the rotary latch 1 has been transferred from the open position to the pre-locked position. As explained above, this usually forms the trigger event for the closing process. More preferably, it is the case that the closing assist control ends the closing process when a correspondingly negative signal edge occurs. This in turn means that the rotary latch 1 has reached the main latching position, which, as also explained above, usually represents the trigger event for ending the closing process.

The above actuation of the closing auxiliary device based solely on the signal output B is not only easy to implement in terms of control technology, but also ensures a high level of operational safety even in emergency operation, for example after a failure of the on-board voltage. The failure of the on-board voltage represents a potential source of error for the closing control, in particular because switching on the on-board voltage again regularly generates signal edges which, with the system proposed above, lead to the start of a closing process, even if the rotating bolt 1 and/or the pawl 2 is not in one of them intended position. In the present case it is conceivable, for example, for the closing process to be started when the rotary latch 1 is in an intermediate position between the pre-locked position and the main locked position or in the main locked position. However, these positions are in the range of movement of the closing aid provided for the rotary latch 1 in any case, so that no mechanical problems are to be expected if the design is suitable.

In detail, with the monitoring of the signal output B proposed above, switching on the on-board voltage again can generate a positive signal edge at the signal output B, which correspondingly leads to the start of a closing process. This is the case for all constellations in which the signal output B carries a high signal after the on-board voltage is switched on again. Such constellations only include the above-mentioned positions of the rotary latch 1 between the first catch and the main catch, with the pawl 2 being raised or dropped in depending on the constellation (the pawl can be fixed in its raised position when implementing a so-called snow load function, depending on the previous actuation history ). Since these positions of the rotary latch 1, as explained above, are in any case within the range of movement of the rotary latch 1 during a normal closing process, even a closing process that was incorrectly started by switching on the on-board voltage again is not mechanically critical. The case in which reaching the main detent position does not lead to a negative signal edge at signal output B (e.g. because the pawl 2 is still fixed in its lifted position by the snow load function) is intercepted by the closing auxiliary device being switched off after the above closing time has been exceeded.

Claims (15)

1. Motor-vehicle lock having a locking mechanism with a rotary catch (1) and with a pawl (2), wherein the rotary catch (1) is able to be brought into an open position, into a preliminary latching position and into a main latching position, wherein the pawl (2) is able to be brought into an engagement position, in which it holds the rotary catch (1) in the main latching position and in the preliminary latching position, and into a disengagement position, in which it frees the rotary catch (1), wherein provision is made of a circuit arrangement for detecting locking states, with a rotary-catch switch (6) for detecting the rotary-catch position and a pawl switch (7) for detecting the pawl position,
   characterized
   in that the rotary-catch switch (6) is able to be brought into three switching positions in a manner dependent on the rotary-catch position, in that the pawl switch (7) is able to be brought into two switching positions in a manner dependent on the pawl position, in that the two switches (6, 7) are connected in such a way that the circuit arrangement provides a first binary signal output (A) and a second binary signal output (B) for indicating an open state, in which the rotary catch (1) is in the open position and the pawl (2) is in the disengagement position, a preliminary latching state, in which the rotary catch (1) is in the preliminary latching position and the pawl (2) is in the engagement position, a main latching state, in which the rotary catch (1) is in the main latching position and the pawl (2) is in the engagement position, and an intermediate state, in which at least the rotary catch (1) is in the main latching position and the pawl (2) is in the disengagement position.
2. Motor-vehicle lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pawl (2) interacts with the rotary catch (1) in such a way that the rotary catch (1), in the open position, holds the pawl (2) in the disengagement position, in that an adjustment of the rotary catch (1) from the open position into the preliminary latching position cause the pawl (1) to drop into the engagement position, in that an adjustment of the rotary catch (1) from the preliminary latching position in the direction of the main latching position causes the pawl (2) to be lifted out into the disengagement position again, and in that a further adjustment of the rotary catch (1) into the main latching position causes the pawl (2) to drop into the engagement position.
3. Motor-vehicle lock according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjustment range of the rotary catch (1), with respect to the switching positions of the rotary-catch switch (6), has, in particular directly next to one another, an open adjustment range (17), an intermediate adjustment range (18) and a main-latching adjustment range (19), in which the rotary-catch switch (6) correspondingly assumes an open switching position, an intermediate switching position and a main-latching switching position, more preferably in that the open position and the preliminary latching position are situated in the open adjustment range (17), and in that the main latching position is situated in the main-latching adjustment range (19).
4. Motor-vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the disengagement position of the pawl (2) is assigned to a disengagement switching position and the engagement position of the pawl (2) is assigned to an engagement switching position of the pawl switch (7).
5. Motor-vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate state also comprises the setup in which the rotary catch (1) is between the preliminary latching position and the main latching position and the pawl (22) is in the disengagement position.
6. Motor-vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit arrangement provides an input (E) which is wired up with an input potential for switching through to the two signal outputs (A, B).
7. Motor-vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary-catch switch (6) and the pawl switch (7) are each in the form of a changeover switch and each have a middle contact (M) and two switching contacts (Ö, S) able to be brought into contact with the middle contact (M) according to switching position.
8. Motor-vehicle lock according to Claim 7, characterized in that the rotary-catch switch (6) is in the form of a centre-zero switch, more preferably in that the centre-zero switching position (N) of the rotary-catch switch (6) is the intermediate switching position.
9. Motor-vehicle lock according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the two switching contacts (Ö, S) of the rotary-catch switch (6) are in each case bridged with a different switching contact (Ö, S) of the pawl switch (7), and in that one of the two bridges provides the first signal output (A) of the circuit arrangement.
10. Motor-vehicle lock according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the middle contact (M) of the rotary-catch switch (6) or of the pawl switch (7) provides the second signal output (B) of the circuit arrangement, in that the middle contact (M) of the in each case other switch provides the input (E) of the circuit arrangement which, in particular, has the input potential applied to it.
11. Motor-vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in relation to the rotary-catch position, the respective locations of the switching points (15, 16) of the rotary-catch switch (6), in particular between the open switching position and the intermediate switching position and also the intermediate switching position and the main-latching switching position, are subject to geometrical tolerances with corresponding tolerance ranges, preferably in that, within said tolerance ranges, a change of the switching position of the rotary-catch switch (6) has no effect on the signal outputs (A, B) of the circuit arrangement.
12. Motor-vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in relation to the rotary-catch position, the respective locations of the switching points (20, 21, 22) of the pawl switch (7), in particular the location of the switching point (21) in the intermediate adjustment range, are subject to geometrical tolerances with corresponding tolerance ranges, preferably in that, in relation to the rotary-catch position, the tolerance ranges assigned to the pawl (2) are spaced apart from the tolerance ranges assigned to the rotary-catch switch (6).
13. Motor-vehicle lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that provision is made of a closure auxiliary device for carrying out a closing operation by motor, in that the closure auxiliary device is assigned a closure controller which monitors the signal (s) of at least one signal output (B) of the two signal outputs (A, B) and which triggers a closing operation in a manner dependent on the signal(s) at the at least one monitored signal output (B).
14. Motor-vehicle lock according to Claim 13, characterized in that the closure controller monitors a signal output (B) of the two signal outputs (A, B), in particular the middle contact (M) of the rotary-catch switch (6), and triggers a closing operation in a manner dependent on the signal of the monitored signal output (A, B).
15. Motor-vehicle lock according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the closure auxiliary controller monitors the signal at the monitored signal output (B) for the occurrence of a positive or negative signal edge and starts a closing operation with the occurrence of a positive or negative signal edge, preferably in that the closure auxiliary controller ends the closing operation with the occurrence of a negative or positive signal edge.

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