EP2347071B1 - Lock unit having a multi-pawl locking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lock unit comprising at least one rotary latch, a first pawl with a pawl rotation axis and a blocking lever, wherein the rotary latch in a locked state of the lock unit initiates a pivoting moment on the first pawl and the first pawl is fixed by means of the blocking lever. Such lock units are used in motor vehicles in particular for locking doors, flaps or the like.

In the lock units described here, the relative position between the rotary latch and pawl is not regularly formed so that the force exerted by the catch force passes through the pawl rotation axis and thus an independent fixation of the catch is made possible by means of the pawl. Rather, here, in particular for providing a particularly quiet operation lock unit, the pawl is formed or arranged so that the force exerted by the catch force itself causes a torque on the pawl, which favors the release of the catch. In that regard, causes (only) the catch an opening moment with respect to the first pawl, so that it can be easily moved to the open position due to the spring bias of the catch and / or acting on the catch (indirectly) door sealing force.

In order to equally ensure a locked state permanently, a blocking lever is provided which fixes the first pawl in the locking position (closed position), so that in particular positional shifts with respect to the locking mechanism (eg by compressing the door seals), the driving operation and the like, no (unintentional) opening of the lock unit or cause no release of the contact of pawl and rotary latch. This blocks the "self-opening mechanism" of the locking mechanism.

Such a lock unit is for example from the WO 2008/061491 A1 out. There is described a lock unit, which also has a second pawl, which is mounted on the pawl rotational axis of the first pawl and engageable with the blocking lever and the catch. In particular, it is also explained in connection with the figures how the contact force vectors of the mutually acting locking components are formed in the respective locking positions or movements. This lock unit has already proven itself very well. Nonetheless, there is also a desire here to achieve further improvements.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to safely operate the complex sequence of movements in all operating situations of the lock unit, at the same time to meet the high demands on the small footprint and also to achieve a still quieter and comfortable operation of the lock unit.

These objects are achieved with a lock unit according to the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the lock unit or its preferred application are apparent from the dependent formulated claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims in any technologically meaningful way, can be combined with each other and show other embodiments of the invention. In addition, the description, in particular in connection with the figures, further advantages and preferred embodiments of the invention.

The lock unit according to the invention comprises at least one rotary latch, a first pawl with a pawl rotation axis and a blocking lever, wherein in a locked state of the lock unit, the rotary latch initiates a pivoting moment in the first pawl and the first pawl is fixed by means of the blocking lever. A second pawl is also provided, which is mounted on the pawl pivot axis and engageable with the blocking lever and the catch. Further, the first pawl has a curved first locking surface for a main catch of the rotary latch.

The lock unit is in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door, wherein the lock unit can in principle also be provided on other doors, flaps, etc. The function of the so-called locking mechanism of rotary latch and pawl in motor vehicle locks is basically known, so that it should only be mentioned that by means of the (spring-loaded) catch a lock holder (also called locking pin) added and locked in a locked state (or closed position) becomes. To lock the rotary motion of the rotary latch, it has on its outer periphery a so-called main catch into which the first pawl engages. For this purpose, the first pawl performs a rotational movement and finally forms with the catch a contact area, in the catch and pawl abut each other. The first pawl and the second pawl are arranged pivotably on a common pawl rotation axis. Since these pawls regularly cooperate at different times with the catch, a relative movement of the two pawls is mutually possible. For these pivoting movements of the pawls come next to so-called release levers and spring elements, dampers, Baudenzüge, electric motor drives and the like into consideration. The pivoting movement of the pawls is regularly by end stops (in particular, for example, on a pawl and / or the blocking lever) and / or other components of the lock unit limited, wherein advantageously the pivoting range is kept small.

In addition, it is provided that the first pawl has a curved first locking surface for a main catch of the rotary latch. This is to be expressed in particular that the first locking surface has such a curved contour that the rotary latch, which regularly has a substantially flat locking surface, an approximately band-shaped or even linear contact with the first locking surface of the first pawl forms. For this purpose, the first blocking surface may be formed in particular convex. The reduction of the contact area between the first pawl and the first locking surface (main catch) of the rotary latch leads to a quieter contact, for example, by a variation of the curvature of the first locking surface targeted retardation of the relative movement of the two components can be achieved during engagement.

Furthermore, it may be advantageous for the blocking lever to have at least one first actuating limb for the first locking pawl, a second actuating limb for the second locking pawl and one articulation arm for at least one restoring element. The multi-pawl locking mechanism now interacts in particular in the respective latching positions of the rotary latch and / or in subsequent movement sequences with the blocking lever. This is also embodied here as a complex component which has spatially separated actuating arms for interaction with the pawls arranged one above the other, wherein these are formed, in particular, by spatially spaced-apart contact areas towards the first pawl and second pawl. Optionally, these contact areas are also arranged in different planes perpendicular to the pawl rotation axis. The provision of separate actuating legs for the first pawl and the second pawl allows the stop surfaces the pawls can be arranged further apart. As a result, in particular small pivot angle of the pawls and / or the blocking lever and low actuation forces can be realized. Thus, the pawls themselves can be made relatively small, so that here, if necessary, very slim components can be used. In addition to these two actuating legs of the blocking lever has an additional arm for at least one return element. The restoring element regularly exerts a pivoting moment and / or a force on the articulation arm, so that a secure abutment of the blocking lever on the first pawl, the second pawl and / or another lock component is realized. Consequently, this externally acting restoring element serves to maintain a stable position even during the fast-running sequence of movements within the lock unit during the opening operation and / or during the closing operation, in particular impact noises due to vibrations etc. are avoided. The provision of the separate Anlenkarms supports the space-saving arrangement of the return element and optionally a simple installation of the return element in the event of wear. In addition, the restoring element can be made smaller due to the large distance to the block lever pivot axis, whereby also space can be saved or spatially removed.

In this context, it is also advantageous that the blocking lever has a blocking lever pivot axis and the articulation arm is arranged in this respect opposite to the first actuating leg and the second actuating arm. In other words, that means that the two actuating limbs are arranged on one side of the blocking lever pivot axis and the pivot arm is arranged on the other side of the blocking lever pivot axis. It is quite preferable that the first actuating limb for the first pawl and the articulation arm are arranged such that an imaginary connecting line runs approximately through the blocking lever pivot axis. The second actuating leg is in this Case z. B. in the manner of a lateral, emanating from the first actuating leg offshoot. This also has the particular advantage that, for the closed position of the lock unit, in which the first actuating limb is in contact with the first pawl, the contact force of the first pawl in the direction of Blockadehebeldrehrehachse and due to the large distance towards the contact area with the second Actuating leg towards the second pawl low release forces for the relative movement of the first actuating arm of the blocking lever and the first pawl are introduced. As a result, the operating comfort and the noise can be significantly improved.

In addition, it can also be realized that the blocking lever only temporarily contacts the restoring element with the articulation arm. This means in particular that the restoring element is stationarily positioned in the pivoting region of the blocking lever or its actuating limb and / or its articulation arm. Then, the return element interacts with the blocking lever, for example, only in specific positions, such as the closed position of the lock unit and / or the pre-locking position and / or the open position. For such restoring elements, for example, spring elements, damping elements, etc. come into consideration. In principle, it is also possible that the blocking lever contacted with several reset elements during its entire pivoting range (one after the other), whereby also a reset element can act permanently and another only temporarily. The restoring elements may also be of different nature (springy, dampening).

Although the combination of the curved first locking surface with the above-mentioned, more complex structure of the blocking lever in terms of comfortable, low-noise operation is advantageous, the embodiment described here of the blocking lever is optionally also independent of the aspect the curved locking surface in lock units with multiple pawls and a self-opening mechanism advantageous. These could therefore be realized and used independently.

In addition, it is also considered advantageous that the first pawl has a first locking surface for a main catch of the rotary latch and a stop surface for the blocking lever, wherein the first locking surface and the stop surface are arranged differently far away from the pawl rotation axis. Thus, the invention solves in particular the widespread view that the blockage is realized opposite to the main branch. Rather, it is proposed here that the contact region of the main catch and the first blocking surface is arranged closer to the pawl rotational axis than the contact region of the stop surface and the blocking lever. It is particularly preferred that the contact region between stop surface and blocking lever, starting from the pawl rotation axis, at least 10 mm, possibly even at least 25 mm, is arranged further radially outward.

According to a development of the lock unit, the first pawl adjacent to a stop surface for the blocking lever forms a recess for the first actuating leg. The recess may in particular also be formed as an undercut, into which the actuating limb, for example with the aid of the return element, dips. In particular, the system can be guided on the first pawl. This also prevents the blocking lever from striking the environment during operation of the lock unit and / or in the locked position during operation of the motor vehicle and thus producing noise.

The invention finds particular application in a motor vehicle which has at least one lock unit designed according to the invention.

Fig. 1:

eine erste Ausführungsvariante einer Schlosseinheit in der Position "of fen",

Fig. 2:

die Schlosseinheit aus Fig. 1 in der Position "Vorrast",

Fig. 3:

die Schlosseinheit aus den Fig. 1 und 2 in der Position geschlossen (Hauptrast),

Fig. 4:

die Schlosseinheit wie in Fig. 3 in einer rückwärtigen Ansicht,

Fig. 5:

eine weitere Ausführungsvariante einer Schlosseinheit in der Position "offen",

Fig. 6:

die Schlosseinheit aus Fig. 5 in der Position "Vorrast", und

Fig. 7:

die Schlosseinheit aus Fig. 5 und 6 in der Position "geschlossen" (Hauptrast).

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, but this is not limited thereto. They show schematically:

Fig. 1:

a first embodiment of a lock unit in the "open" position,

Fig. 2:

the lock unit off Fig. 1 in the position "Vorrast",

3:

the lock unit from the Fig. 1 and 2 closed in position (main stop),

4:

the lock unit as in Fig. 3 in a rear view,

Fig. 5:

a further embodiment variant of a lock unit in the "open" position,

Fig. 6:

the lock unit off Fig. 5 in the position "Vorrast", and

Fig. 7:

the lock unit off FIGS. 5 and 6 in the position "closed" (main stop).

The Fig. 1 shows a schematic and perspective view of a multi-part locking a lock unit 1. A central component of the lock unit 1 is the rotary latch 2, which is rotatably mounted about the rotary shaft rotation axis 18 (spring-biased). In the left area of the inlet mouth 19 is shown for the lock holder. The catch 2 also has in the lower area in different levels perpendicular to the rotary latch axis 18 a the Einlaufinaul 19 adjacent main catch 13 and a slightly distant Vorrast 14.

At the periphery of the rotary latch 2 are the pawls 3, 6 during the open position of the lock unit 1 at. The arrangement of the first pawl 3 and the second pawl 6 in superimposed planes corresponds to the arrangements of the main catch 13 and pre-catch 14 of the catch 2 in different levels. The first pawl 3 and the second pawl 6 extend between the rotary latch 2 and the blocking lever 5 therethrough.

The blocking lever 5 is here also rotatably or pivotally mounted, in which case the first actuating leg 7 of the blocking lever 5 abuts laterally adjacent to the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3 in a recess 16, so that the first pawl 3 free in the direction of the rotary latch 3 and in some degree (especially against the force of a return element) can also be pivoted freely in the opposite direction.

The second pawl 6 and the blocking lever 5 are also configured or arranged so that a damper 20 is provided between them or in the pivoting region, whose operation will be explained later in more detail.

In Fig. 2 Now, the catch 2 was moved counterclockwise until the second pawl 6, which is biased counterclockwise, is pressed in front of the pre-rest 14. In this phase, the second pawl 6 moves relative to the first pawl 3 in such a way that it is pivoted toward the rotary latch 2. If now the closing process can not be stopped, However, the catch 2 is safely secured by the system of the second pawl before Vorrast 14 against unintentional opening in the clockwise direction. In order to prevent inadvertent lifting of the second pawl 6 of the catch 2, is in this phase, the second pawl 6 to the damper 20 at. The blocking lever 5, as well as the first pawl 3, maintains the position unchanged.

Fig. 3 now shows the closed position with the lock unit 1. Until reaching this position, the position of the second pawl 6 is substantially unchanged. The rotary latch 2 has turned further counterclockwise, so that the second pawl 6 is guided on the circumference 22 of the rotary latch 2. This is also done with respect to the first pawl 3, wherein this (also biased counterclockwise) in front of the main catch 13 is incident, in particular until the rotational angle stop 30 of the first pawl 3 rests against the rotary latch 2. The blocking lever 5 is thereby equally pivoted on the return element 10 and positioned with its first actuating leg 7 in front of the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3. In this position, the articulation arm 9 also comes to rest on the damper 20, so that in the closed position the second Pawl 6 and the blocking lever 5 in contact with the damper 20 are.

To trigger the opening mechanism, ie for lifting the first pawl 3 of the catch 2, now the second pawl 6 is pivoted about the below fork-shaped end portion indicated in the clockwise direction, so that the second actuating leg 8 of the blocking lever 5, in the plane of the second Pawl 6 protrudes, contacted and thus the first actuating leg 7 away from the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3 again.

How good Fig. 4 can be seen presses in the event that the first actuating leg 7 is removed from the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3, the rotary latch 2 with its main catch on the curved first locking surface 12, so that the first pawl 3 is pushed away. The recorded in the inlet jaw lock holder 24 now presses on the catch 2 that this further in its open position (here due to the rear view in the counterclockwise direction) swings open.

The Fig. 4 also shows the release lever 23, which is also pivotally actuated and acting on the second pawl 6. In addition, it can be seen that the lock unit is arranged in a housing 28 on a door 29 of a motor vehicle 17.

Another embodiment of a lock unit 1 goes out of the Fig. 5 to 7 out. Fig. 5 In this case, the opening position at which the inlet mouth 19 of the rotary catch 2 is ready to receive a lock holder is initially illustrated again. The first pawl 3 and the second pawl 6 rest against the outer circumference of the rotary latch 2. The main catch 13 of the rotary latch 2 is in this case arranged on the circumference, while the pre-catch 14 is arranged in the manner of a pin on one side 25 of the rotary latch 2. Both pawls 3, 6 are in turn positioned on a common pawl rotation axis 4. The pawls 3, 6 are also designed and arranged so that they extend between the rotary latch 2 and the blocking lever 5 therethrough. Again, the first actuating leg 7 of the blocking lever 5 is located laterally next to the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3, so that it can be pivoted within certain limits.

The blocking lever 5 is in this case again designed with a first actuating limb 7 for the first pawl 3, a second actuating limb 8 for the second pawl 6 and an articulation arm 9 for a return element 10. The articulation arm 9 is arranged opposite to the first actuating limb 7 with respect to the blocking lever pivot axis 11. In this case, the first actuating limb 7 and the articulation arm are designed in one plane, it being possible for an extension to be provided for the engagement of the restoring element 10 on the articulation arm 9.

Fig. 6 now shows the pre-locking position, in which the second pawl 6 is engaged with the pre-catch 14. For this purpose, the second pawl 6 radially outwardly on a recess 26, on the frontally the pin-like pre-catch 14 is brought to bear after the second pawl 6 was pivoted in the direction of the catch 2. Also in this position, the blocking lever 5 is located laterally adjacent to the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3, without that its position has changed significantly since the open position.

Fig. 7 now shows the situation when the catch 2 has the lock holder (not shown here) safely recorded. At this time, the first pawl 3 is moved with the curved locking surface 12 in front of the main catch 13 of the rotary latch 2 and secured by the first actuating leg 7 in front of the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3. It can be clearly seen that the contact region of the first blocking surface 12 towards the main catch 13 is closer to the common pawl rotation axis 4 than the radially outward contact region between the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3 with the first actuating leg 7 of the blocking lever 5.

In this embodiment of the lock unit 1, the opening operation now takes place via the driver 27 of the second pawl 6, which extends into the plane of the blocking lever 5. A corresponding actuation of the second pawl 6 via a release lever or release mechanism thus initiates the lifting of the blocking lever 5 from the stop surface 15 via a contact with the after Type of lateral arm 21 designed second actuating leg 8, so that the rotary latch 2 now with the help of their spring and the lock holder, the first pawl 3 can push away independently.

With the embodiment variants shown in the figures, a quiet closing / opening with respect to the contact first pawl / rotary latch is achieved. The small contact surface due to the curved configuration of the first blocking surface contributes significantly to this. In addition, the operating forces over conventional locking systems, z. B. with only one pawl, significantly reduce (as above, for example, by about 40%). Another reduction is here z. B. possible if the stop surface 15 of the first pawl 3 and / or the first actuating leg 7 of the blocking lever 5 forms a curved blocking surface. In addition, the rotational or pivoting angle of the blocking lever can be further reduced, such. B. to less than 40 °, in particular even less from 20 °.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

lock unit

2

catch

3

first pawl

4

Pawl axis of rotation

5

blocking lever

6

second pawl

7

first actuating leg

8th

second actuating leg

9

link arm

10

Return element

11

Blocking lever axis of rotation

12

first blocking area

13

primary position

14

first position

15

stop surface

16

recess

17

motor vehicle

18

Rotary latch axis of rotation

19

inlet opening

20

damper

21

boom

22

scope

23

sear

24

Castle holder

25

page

26

return

27

takeaway

28

casing

29

door

30

Rotation angle stop

Claims (7)

1. Lock unit (1) containing at least one rotary latch (2), a first pawl (3) with a rotational pawl axis (4) and a blocking lever (5) in which in a locked state of the lock unit (1) the rotary latch (2) applies a pivoting moment on the first pawl (3) and in which the first pawl (3) is fixed by means of the blocking lever (5) and in which a second pawl (6) is provided on which the rotational pawl axis (4) is mounted and the blocking lever (5) and the rotary latch (2) are engagable, characterized in that the first pawl (3) contains a curved first blocking face (12) for a main catch (13) of the rotary latch (2).
2. Lock unit (1) according to claim 1, in which the blocking lever (5) contains at least a first actuating leg (7) for the first pawl (3), a second actuating leg (8) for the second pawl (6) and an articulated arm (9) for at least one return member (10).
3. Lock unit (1) according to claim 2, in which the blocking lever (5) contains a blocking lever rotation axis (11) and in which for this purpose, the articulated arm (9) is arranged opposite the first actuating leg (7) and the second actuating leg (8).
4. Lock unit (1) according to claims 2 or 3, in which the blocking lever (5) with the articulated arm (9) is only intermittently in contact with the return member (10).
5. Lock unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first pawl (3) has a first blocking face (12) for a main catch (13) of the rotary latch (2) and a stop face (15) for the blocking lever (5), in which the first blocking face (12) and the stop face (15) are arranged at a different distance from the rotational pawl axis (4).
6. Lock unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first pawl (3) next to a stop face (15) for the blocking lever (5) forms a recess (16) for the first actuating leg (7).
7. Motor vehicle (17) containing at least one lock unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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