EP3356625B1 - Safety device for bonnets comprising an electric drive and lockable actuator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a safety device for a motor vehicle, which has a front hood with an open position and a closed position and a hood lock with a lock holder.

The document WO 2015/113546 A1 discloses a safety device for a motor vehicle having a front hood with an open position and a closed position and a hood lock with a lock holder, the hood lock having a rotary latch with a main latching position in which the front hood is locked and closed. Furthermore, the device has an electric drive, which causes a partial opening of the front hood.

Another safety device is out of the box DE 198 12 835 A1 known. The safety device described therein has a catch hook actuating arrangement, which is realized by means of a lever construction and in which no rotational components occur. As a result, this safety device is characterized by a very simple structure. The opening of the front hood happens from the vehicle interior. Usually, an opening mechanism with the aid of a Bowden cable is realized for opening from the vehicle interior ago. For example, in the DE 10 2007 061 544 A1 an actuating lever for the unlocking of a hood described which is arranged in the passenger compartment and is connected via a Bowden cable with a hood lock in mechanical connection. Furthermore, the DE 10 2005 044 079 A1 a release of a hood lock on a Bowden cable.

A use of a Bowden cable has the disadvantage that this must be performed starting from the vehicle interior to the front of the front hood to several components in the engine compartment, which requires space in the engine compartment and thus less space for an arrangement of these components in the engine compartment is available. Thus, the prior art safety device restricts possibilities of arranging other components in the engine compartment and is therefore impractical for manufacturing and construction aspects. A use of the Bowden cable to open the front hood is also impractical for an operator, as this one end of the Bowden cable, which is usually found below a dashboard, must search, and only with considerable effort can move the Bowden cable. However, a use of the Bowden cable facilitates compliance with required safety standards for front hoods, which are generally higher than those for tailgates.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a safety device of the type mentioned, which is more practical in comparison with a previously known safety device with a guided through the engine compartment Bowden cable.

This object is achieved by a safety device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention will become apparent from the other claims, the description and the figures.

To provide a safety device, which is more practical in comparison with a previously known safety device, a safety device for a motor vehicle, which has a front hood with an open position and a closed position and a hood lock, is provided, wherein the hood lock a rotary latch with a pre-locking position and a Main load position and has an electric drive. The electric drive causes a switching of the rotary latch from the main latching position to the pre-latching position, wherein in the main latching position the front hood is locked and closed. Furthermore, the lock holder on an actuator, wherein in a first position of the actuator and in the pre-locking position of the catch of the lock holder is engaged with the catch and the front cover is locked. In a second position of the actuator of the lock holder is released from the catch and the front cover unlocked. Furthermore, the front hood is coupled to the actuator in such a way that, in the pre-locking position of the rotary latch, an adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position effects an adjustment of the actuator from the first position to the second position.

The electric drive is preferably via a switch and / or a control unit, which or which is connected to the electric drive via at least one cable, controllable, switched on and / or off and preferably in a first direction rotationally controllable and optionally in a second to first oppositely oriented direction rotatably controllable. In particular, a rotational movement of the electric drive causes a switching of the rotary latch from the main latching position to the pre-latching position. The fact that the electric drive is connected via a cable to the switch and / or the control unit, can be dispensed with a guided through the engine compartment Bowden cable for unlocking the front cover, with an arrangement of other components in the engine compartment is facilitated. Also, a switch with which the electric drive is actuated, be placed anywhere on a dashboard of a motor vehicle, so that the safety device for an operator easier to unlock and thus is more practical.

In the main locking position, the rotary latch is locked in an opening direction of rotation, which is predetermined by a rotation of the rotary latch from the main latching position to the pre-latching position, and surrounds the latch holder such that a release of the latch holder is blocked. The catch has a, preferably fork-shaped, inlet mouth, which is formed by a load arm and a catching arm, wherein in the main latching position the inlet mouth engages around the lock holder. The lock holder can be generally regarded as a releasable connecting element between the rotary latch and the front hood, which cooperates directly with the catch and lockable and unlockable by means of the catch, wherein a lock or unlocking of the lock holder causes a locking or unlocking of the front cover.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the lock holder is arranged on the front hood and the catch on a body-mounted component of a motor vehicle. In a different embodiment, the lock holder may be arranged on a body-mounted component of the motor vehicle and the rotary latch on the front hood. The resulting greater inertia of the front hood, when closing the front hood a rebound effect of the front hood, which preferably counteracted in the pre-locking position of the load arm of the rotary latch, reduce.

In particular, an arrangement of the rotary latch on the front hood is significantly facilitated by the electric drive of the hood lock, since in this embodiment, only a cable instead of a Bowden cable must be performed along the movable front hood. An arrangement of the catch on the front hood can be advantageous from a production point of view that the catch and the electric drive can be mounted better on a single front hood than in an already equipped engine compartment.

Preferably, the hood lock on a rotary latch blocking element, such as a pawl, which locks the catch in the main latching position and / or in the pre-locking position, which means a blocking of the catch in the opening direction. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention that the catch has a Vorrastkontur and a Hauptastraining contour, which can each interact independently of each other with a counter-latching contour of the Drehfallenblockierelementes upon rotation of the rotary latch in the opening direction and in a closed direction of rotation, which is opposite to the opening direction.

With a rotation of the rotary latch in the closing direction of rotation, the pre-locking contour or the main locking contour particularly advantageously passes the counter-latching contour of the locking pawl. The Vorrastkontur or the main catch contour seen in the closing direction of rotation before the counter-locking contour of the pawl, the counter-latching contour, preferably spring loaded snaps into the Vorrastkontur or the main catch contour and blocks rotation of the catch in the opening direction, the catch assumes the Vorraststellung or main latching position , To realize this in detail, a rotary latch spring element acts on the rotary latch in the opening direction of rotation, whereby in the pre-latching position or the main latching position, the pre-latching contour or main latching contour is pressed against the counter-latching contour. The rotary latch spring element can be tensioned in the direction of the closed position during a movement of the front hood, wherein the lock holder touches the rotary latch. A tensioned rotary latch spring element can enable an independently driven switching of the rotary latch from the main latching position to the pre-latching position, wherein such a switchover can be triggered by means of the electric drive, for example by driving the pawl.

A special embodiment provides that the catch with the pre-locking position assumes a position over which the catch is immovable in the opening direction, not even by releasing the pawl. In this embodiment, the catch takes with the pre-locking position an opening end position in which a rotation of the rotary latch in the opening direction of rotation can be blocked with a static blocking element. In a different embodiment, the rotary latch has an opening end position, in which the rotary latch is rotated from the pre-locking position in the opening direction of rotation. In any case, the catch is in the pre-engaged position in engagement with the lock holder.

In the main position of the catch the front hood is closed. Closed means that the front hood, which is movable in a first direction in the open position and in a second, opposite to the first, direction up to the closed position, is in the closed position. In particular, it is provided with the bonnet closed that an elastic element of the safety device, such as a rubber seal, which is adjacent in the closed position on the front cover or disposed on the front hood, is compressed. For the purposes of the invention, a front hood means a hood which is arranged in front of a windshield of a motor vehicle in the vehicle direction.

In the pre-locking position, the rotary latch, preferably blocked by the pawl or the static Drehfallenblockierelement, in the opening direction of rotation. If, in this position of the rotary latch, the actuator is in the first position, the lock holder engages with the rotary latch. The catch blocked by means of this engagement, a movement of the front cover in the open position, which corresponds to a locking of the front cover.

In the second position of the actuator of the lock holder is released from the catch and a blockade of a movement of the front cover in the open position released, which corresponds to unlocking the front cover. The lock holder is preferably receivable or catchable by means of the catching arm of the rotary latch when the front hood closes.

The switching of the rotary latch from the main latching position to the pre-latching position is effected according to the invention by means of the electric drive, which has an output shaft. This can in a special embodiment via a release lever, which be acted upon via the output shaft of the electric drive, be realized, wherein the trigger lever causes a movement of the output shaft unlatching of the catch from the main latching position. For example, the release lever against a spring force acting on the pawl, move the pawl and move the counter-latching contour away from the main catch contour and free from the detent position. Accordingly, according to the invention, effecting the switching of the rotary latch from the main latching position to the pre-latching position also includes triggering this switching.

Furthermore, it is possible that the release lever releases a prestressed force spring upon movement of the output shaft, which unlocks the pawl against its Federaufschlagung. This variant has the advantage that the electric drive can be made smaller, since only the preloaded force spring must be solved by means of the drive. However, in this embodiment, an additional gear for tensioning the power spring by means of the electric drive may be necessary. Advantageously, the force spring in a rotation of the rotary latch in the closing direction of rotation can be tensioned, preferably weight-assisted by a movement of the front hood in the closed position tensioned.

A further embodiment can provide that the output shaft of the electric drive acts directly on the pawl and unlocks the counter-latching contour of the pawl from the main catch contour upon activation of the electric drive. An advantage of this embodiment is that no transmission member, such as a trigger lever between the output shaft and the pawl is necessary.

The electric drive can be activated, for example, from the vehicle interior or by remote control from the vehicle exterior. Preferably, the rotary latch moves when switching from the main latching position in the pre-locking position on the lock holder, the front cover in the direction of the open position of the front cover.

According to the invention, the lock holder on an actuator, wherein in the first position of the actuator and in the pre-locking position of the catch of the lock holder is engaged with the rotary latch and the front cover is locked and in the second position of the actuator of the lock holder released from the catch and the front cover is unlocked. In a particular embodiment, the catch is in the pre-locked position when the actuator occupies the second position. A different embodiment provides that the rotary latch is in a position in which the rotary latch is rotated in the opening direction beyond the pre-locking position, when the actuator occupies the second position.

The actuator is mechanically coupled to the front hood and preferably acts on the other hand, depending on the position of the actuator with a locking element of the lock holder together. The locking element may for example be a bolt, a pin or a pin or an arrangement of such elements, for example an arrangement of two coaxial aligned pin, wherein the catch in the pre-locking position and in the first position of the actuator engages around the locking element.

In a special embodiment, in the first position, the actuator may hold the two coaxially aligned pins spaced from each other against a spring force, the pins each protruding laterally from a body of the lock holder and occupying an active position. In this active position of the pin engages the inlet mouth of the catch the pins, wherein the catch is in the pre-locking position. According to this embodiment, in the second position, the actuator can release a space between the pins and cause spring-driven movement of the pins into this space. If the pins at least partially occupy this space, the pins are in a passive position, in which the pins are released from the inlet mouth and thus the lock holder is no longer in engagement with the rotary latch and is also released. Preferably, the actuator is slidably guided within the body of the lock holder between the first and the second position.

A particular embodiment provides that the actuator is latched and the lock holder has a control contour and a guide element, wherein the guide element cooperates with the control contour such that a latching of the actuator at least in the first and / or second position of the actuator is possible. To realize this, the control contour has at least a first latching contour, in which the guide element, which may be formed, for example, as a pin, can be latched. In the locked position of the actuator, the control contour engages the guide element such that the guide element blocks at least one movement direction of the actuator, for example a rotation of a central axis of the actuator. A special design may also provide a blockage of the actuator in a direction parallel to the central axis by means of the guide element. Furthermore, the lock holder preferably has a lock holder spring, by means of which the first latching contour can be acted upon against the guide element. The guide element is located in the first locking contour, the lock holder spring is stretched and blocked by the guide element a relaxation of the lock holder spring.

In the context of a first variant, the control contour can be arranged on the actuator and the pin on the body of the lock holder. A different variant provides that the control contour is arranged on the fuselage and the pin on the actuator. Advantageously, the control contour on two opposite mostly parallel boundaries, which form a guideway for the guide element. The control contour preferably extends in the circumferential direction in a zigzag manner around the actuator and preferably has a plurality of latching contours in which the guide element can engage. Below is to be simplified, but not limiting, assume that the control contour has a first and a second locking contour and between the two locking contours has a descending portion and an ascending portion. The first latching contour is arranged below in relation to a cross section perpendicular to a central axis of the actuator below the second latching contour.

Preferably, the control contour leads in a descending with respect to the body of the lock holder movement of the actuator, the guide element from the first detent contour on the ascending section to the second detent contour and a subsequent ascending movement of the actuator, the guide element from the second detent contour on the descending section to the first detent contour , According to the invention, the front hood is coupled to the actuator such that in the pre-locking position of the rotary latch, an adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position effects an adjustment of the actuator from the first position to the second position. An adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position is triggered, for example, by a pressure actuation from the outside to an upwardly directed surface of the front hood, which means upwardly directed by the catch to an outer surface of the front hood direction. Alternatively, in the pre-locking position of the rotary latch, the front hood can also be adjusted electrically by means of a further electric drive in the direction of the closed position, wherein the front hood can be actuated separately from the electric drive described above. According to an advantageous embodiment, an adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position causes a movement of the actuator down, which means at the bottom of a running from the outer surface of the bonnet to the rotary latch direction. Advantageously, the hood lock is equipped with a lever which transmits a comparatively large movement of the front hood in a small movement of the actuator. The lever may in this case have a lever ratio of about 2 to 20.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the actuator, starting from the first position in which the guide element is engaged in the first detent contour, by means of a movement of the front hood in the direction of the closed position such that the guide element from the first detent contour is pushed and a tensioning the lock holder spring is enabled. In the case of a movement of the guide element from the first and second locking contour is supported by means of each offset staggered boundaries of the control contour. Upon tensioning of the lock holder spring, an adjustment of the actuator is effected in the direction of the second position of the actuator, wherein the guide member slides along the rising portion of the control contour. The lock holder spring is preferably dimensioned such that it forms a spring force in the tensioned state, which is significantly greater than the weight of the front hood. In the second position of the actuator, the guide element is spring-loaded held in the second detent contour, wherein abuts on the second detent contour of the ascending portion of the descending portion of the control contour.

In a particularly preferred variant, the front hood is manually adjustable in the pre-locking position of the rotary latch in the direction of the closed position. Manually adjustable means in particular exclusively mechanically, i. de-energized and without electrical aids. For example, the front hood for an operator of the safety device by means of pressure actuation on an outer surface of the front cover in the closed position be adjustable, wherein an adjustment of the actuator causes from the first position to the second position, in particular can be triggered. In other words, the front hood in the pre-locking position of the catch is mechanically unlocked by an operator. This has the advantage that in the case of a Fehlbestromung the electric drive, the front cover is not unlocked, but is secured by the catch on the lock holder.

A further embodiment provides that in the pre-locking position of the catch an adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position causes an adjustment of the actuator from the second position to the first position. For example, the adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position can cause a relaxation of the lock retainer spring and move the guide element along the descending section into the first detent contour. If the guide element is in the first detent contour, the actuator assumes the first position. In this embodiment, the lock holder spring in the first position of the actuator is more relaxed than in the second position of the actuator, but applied in both positions of the actuator, the actuator with a rectified force, in particular a compressive force, which is preferably greater than the weight of the front cover to to allow a holding of the guide element in the first and second latching contour.

Characterized in that according to the invention, the front hood is locked in the first position of the actuator and the pre-locking position of the rotary latch, starting from a closed state of the front hood a double operation of the safety device is provided for unlocking the front cover. On the one hand, an activation of the electric drive for switching the catch from the main latching position to the pre-latching position and, second, an adjustment of the Front hood in the direction of the closed position, for example by pressing down the front hood. This redundancy gives the safety device according to the invention a higher security compared to a safety device without an adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position or without an operation of an electric drive. This is especially true when the front hood in the pre-locking position of the rotary latch and in the first position of the actuator is exclusively manually unlocked, which is provided in the embodiment described above.

A further embodiment provides that an adjustment of the actuator from the first position to the second position causes a release of the pawl of the rotary latch. Particularly advantageously, the actuator cooperates with an adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position with the pawl and happens at an adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the open position, the pawl without this to be released from the catch.

In the context of a particularly preferred variant, the safety device has a mechanical operative connection between the electric drive and the rotary latch during the switching over of the rotary latch from the main latching position into the pre-latching position. Advantageously, the safety device in each intermediate position of the rotary latch between the main latching position and the pre-latching position provides a force-transmitting active connecting chain starting from the electric drive via the rotary latch to the lock holder.

For example, the mechanical operative connection by an output gear, which is positively connected to the output shaft of the electric drive, and a drive gear, which is positively connected to the rotary latch, may be formed, wherein the output gear meshes with the drive gear. Driving the rotary latch by means of the electric drive when switching from the main latching position to the pre-latching position allows a smaller dimensioning of the rotary latch spring element, whereby space can be saved in the immediate vicinity of the rotary latch. A special embodiment of the safety device can even provide no rotary latch spring element. Preferably, the electric drive in the generator mode is operable to a mechanical when collecting the front hood Resistance of the rotary latch against a movement of the front cover in the direction of the closed position form.

In a further embodiment, the mechanical operative connection can be formed by a worm, which is positively connected to the output shaft of the electric drive, and a worm wheel, which is positively connected to the rotary latch, wherein the worm engages in the worm wheel. In any event, a mechanical engagement means that movement of the output shaft directly causes movement of the rotary latch, i. the output shaft is mechanically coupled to the rotary latch.

By means of the mechanical operative connection between the electric drive and the rotary latch, it is possible and within the scope of the invention that a movement of the front hood in the open position during the switching of the rotary latch from the main latching position is controlled in the Vorraststellung, i. in that both an initial acceleration of the front hood and a deceleration acceleration can be controlled shortly before reaching the pre-locking position of the rotary latch, wherein the initial acceleration and the deceleration acceleration advantageously have a parabolic course over time. For example, the deceleration acceleration as the catch approaches the pre-lock position may be reduced, thereby allowing post-swing of the front cover to be minimized after the catch has reached the pre-lock position. As a result, the front hood is easier to detect and it can be a more comfortable opening the bonnet provided, especially if an operator is located directly in front of the front hood and activates the electric drive using a remote control.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the safety device has a mechanical operative connection between the electric drive and the rotary latch during the switching of the rotary latch from the pre-latching position to the main latching position. In this case, the mechanical operative connection can be formed as described above, ie for example by means of output gear and drive gear or by means of worm and worm wheel.

The mechanical operative connection between the electric drive and the rotary latch during the switching over of the rotary latch from the pre-locking position into the main latching position results in a more powerful and, in particular, controllable locking of the rotary latch into the main latching position in comparison with the prior art. A more powerful and in particular a controllable engagement of the rotary latch allows a realization of a smaller gap between the front hood in the closed state and another adjacent to the front hood body part. Advantageously, a power transmission is provided by the electric drive to the rotary latch, which increases as the rotary latch approaches the main latching position. As a result, the elastic element, which bears against the front hood when the bonnet is closed, can be compressed by the electric drive.

Particularly advantageously, by means of the mechanical operative connection between the electric drive and the rotary latch during the switching of the rotary latch from the pre-locking position to the main detent position, the rotary latch can be held in a position in which the main latching contour is located immediately before the counter-latching contour of the detent pawl during a latching operation in the closing direction of rotation , Holding the rotary latch in this position, for example for 10 to 100 milliseconds, allows the latching action of the counter-latching contour to be arbitrarily retarded into the main latching contour. In contrast, in the safety devices according to the prior art, a pawl spring which moves the counter-latching contour via the pawl in the main catch contour, so that they within a possible engagement period, which upon rotation of the rotary latch in the closing direction with the passing of the main catch contour on the Counter-locking contour begins and ends with a passing of the main locking contour on the counter-latching contour upon rotation of the rotary latch in the opening direction, the pawl moves so fast that the counter-latching contour engages the main latching contour within the possible latching period. This requires a corresponding spring force, which must be greater the shorter the engagement period. In the prior art, one way to increase the lock-in period is to increase a clearance between the bonnet in the closed state and another body part, for example a headlamp, as this increases the distance traversing the main stop contour within the engagement period becomes. A manual hold of the Front hood would be in a position in which the main locking contour is in a locking operation in the closing direction immediately before the counter-locking contour of the pawl and the elastic element is compressed, almost impossible with a small gap.

By means of the mechanical operative connection between the electric drive and the rotary latch during the switching of the rotary latch from the pre-locking position to the main locking position, the duration of the locking period can be arbitrarily increased, since the rotary latch can be held in any position for any length of time by means of the electric drive. Thus, a smaller dimensioning of the pawl spring is possible, which saves weight and material costs. Also, the gap between the front hood and the other body part can be significantly reduced, since the Einrastzeitraum no longer depends on the gap. Such a safety device is therefore more practical from a manufacturing and design point of view than one according to the prior art.

A gap between the closed front hood and at least one further body element, for example a front headlight, is particularly advantageous by means of the mechanical operative connection between the electric drive and the rotary latch during the switching of the rotary latch from the pre-locking position to the main latching position and a sealing element controllably compressible therewith. wherein it is possible to compensate for manufacturing tolerances which influence a gap between the front hood and the further body element. This represents a production-related simplification. In detail, this can be realized with a main catch contour of the catch which can be adjusted along the opening or closing direction of rotation. For example, the main locking contour can be arranged independently of the Vorrastkontur on a disc, which is detectable in the opening direction of rotation or in the closing direction of rotation of the catch by means of locking elements. In detail, the locking elements can be determined by tightening, for example by means of a screw in adjustable locking positions.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of at least one preferred embodiment, to which the invention is not limited, and with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1

eine Schnittansicht einer Sicherheitsvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Schnittansicht eines Ausschnittes der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit einer Drehfalle in einer Vorraststellung und einem Stellglied in einer ersten Position;

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht eines Ausschnittes der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit einer Drehfalle in einer Vorraststellung und dem Stellglied in einer zweiten Position;

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht eines Schlosshalters der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit dem Stellglied in der ersten Position und einem in einer ersten Rastkontur eingerasteten Führungselement;

Fig. 5

eine Schnittansicht eines Schlosshalters der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit dem Stellglied in der zweiten Position und einem in einer zweiten Rastkontur eingerasteten Führungselement;

Fig. 6

eine Schnittansicht eines Schlosshalters der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit dem Stellglied in der ersten Position und einem in einer dritten Rastkontur eingerasteten Führungselement;

Fig. 7

eine Schnittansicht eines Schlosshalters der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit dem Stellglied in der zweiten Position und einem in einer vierten Rastkontur eingerasteten Führungselement;

Fig. 8

eine Schnittansicht eines Ausschnittes der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Stellgliedes in einer ersten Position;

Fig. 9

eine Schnittansicht eines Ausschnittes der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit dem Stellglied nach Fig. 8 in einer Zwischenposition;

Fig. 10

eine Schnittansicht eines Ausschnittes der Sicherheitsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit dem Stellglied nach Fig. 8 in einer zweiten Position.

These show in:

Fig. 1

a sectional view of a safety device;

Fig. 2

a sectional view of a section of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with a catch in a pre-engaged position and an actuator in a first position;

Fig. 3

a sectional view of a section of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with a catch in a pre-engaged position and the actuator in a second position;

Fig. 4

a sectional view of a lock holder of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with the actuator in the first position and a locked in a first detent contour guide element;

Fig. 5

a sectional view of a lock holder of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with the actuator in the second position and a locked in a second detent contour guide element;

Fig. 6

a sectional view of a lock holder of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with the actuator in the first position and a locked in a third detent contour guide element;

Fig. 7

a sectional view of a lock holder of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with the actuator in the second position and a locked in a fourth locking contour guide member;

Fig. 8

a sectional view of a section of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with a further embodiment of an actuator in a first position;

Fig. 9

a sectional view of a section of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with the actuator after Fig. 8 in an intermediate position;

Fig. 10

a sectional view of a section of the safety device according to Fig. 1 with the actuator after Fig. 8 in a second position.

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a safety device 1 with a front cover 2 and a hood lock 3. The hood lock 3 has a rotary latch 4 and an electric drive 5, which comprises a first electric motor 6 and a second electric motor 7. The front hood 2 is in the in Fig. 1 closed position shown by solid lines, ie it is in a closed position. In the closed position, an elastic element 8, such as a rubber seal, which is arranged in the closed position between a body-mounted component 9 of the safety device 1 and the front hood 2, compressed. The open position of the front hood 2 is in Fig. 1 shown in dashed lines. Furthermore, the safety device 1 has a lock holder 10, which is arranged on the front hood 2. The rotary latch 4 and a pawl 12 of the hood lock 3 are each rotatably mounted on a body-mounted component, not shown.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a section of the safety device 1. The rotary latch 4 has a pivot point 23, an opening direction of rotation 21 and an oppositely oriented closing direction of rotation 22. Furthermore, the rotary latch 4 has a Vorrastkontur 24 and a main catch contour 25, each in the form of a projection, and an inlet mouth 27, which is formed by a tentacle 28 and a load arm 29. The pre-locking contour 24 and the main locking contour 25 can each cooperate with a counter-latching contour 26 of the pawl 12.

The rotary latch 4 is in Fig. 2 shown in a pre-locked position. In the pre-locking position, the pawl 12 is held counterclockwise against the rotary catch 4 by means of a pawl spring element 31, such as a tension, compression or spiral spring. Advantageously, the rotary latch 4 is in the pre-locking position by means of a rotary latch spring element 32, such as a tension, compression or coil spring, spring-loaded in the opening direction of rotation 21, whereby the Vorrastkontur 24 is press-positioned against the counter-latching contour 26 in the pre-locking position. The front hood 2 is located in the Fig. 2 shown position in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position and is locked.

In the in Fig. 1 shown position, the rotary latch 4 is in a main position. The main locking position is achieved by the catch 4 of the Pre-lock position accordingly Fig. 2 is rotated further in the closing direction 22. This can be effected in one embodiment by depressing the front hood 2 and in another embodiment by driving the rotary latch 4 by means of the first electric motor 6. Thus, for example, via a driven gear 34 of the first electric motor 6, a torque to a drive gear 35 of the rotary latch 4 are transmitted, wherein the torque is oriented in the closing direction of rotation 22.

Also, a movement of the rotary latch 4 in the direction of the main latching position can be effected by means of a combination of a manual depression and an electric drive of the first electric motor 6. For example, the first electric motor 6 for driving the rotary latch in the closing direction of rotation can be activated as soon as a manually triggered movement of the rotary latch 4 in the closing direction of rotation is detected, for example by means of a sensor which can be designed as a helical potentiometer. Detecting the movement of the rotary latch 4 in the closing direction of rotation can furthermore be made possible by operating the first electric motor 6 in the generator mode, wherein rotation of the rotary latch 4 in the closing direction of rotation generates a current flow in the first electric motor 6.

During the rotation of the rotary latch 4 in the closing direction of rotation 22 to at least beyond the main latching position of the rotary latch 4, the main latching contour 25 passes the counter-latching contour 26 and the main latching contour 25 is located in the closed direction of rotation 22 in front of the counter-latching contour 26, whereby the counter-latching contour 26 can latch into the main latching contour 24 and then the catch 4 occupies the main position. Fig.1 further shows a circular body-mounted brake block for braking the rotary latch 4 in the closing rotational direction, wherein in the main latching position a clearance between the rotary latch 4 and the brake block is present to allow engagement of the rotary latch in the main latching position.

In the main locking position, the inlet mouth 27 engages around the lock holder 10 and the pawl 12 blocks rotation of the rotary latch 4 in the opening direction of rotation 21, whereby the front hood 2 is locked, closed and blocked in the open position. Preferably, the load arm 29 is arcuate. This can in a frontal impact, in which the catch 4 relative to the front cover 2 against the Moving direction is shifted, an increased pulling the front cover 2 in the direction of the rotary latch 4 and thus a firmer pressing the front cover 2 to another body element, for example, the body-mounted component 9, and thus reduce the risk of accidental Entriegelns the front cover 2 and a more compact and thus provide crash-proof unit of front hood 2 and the other body element. This advantage is given on the one hand by an arcuately designed load arm 29 of the rotary latch 4 and on the other hand by the rotary latch 4 as such as part of the safety device 1.

After the counter-latching contour 26 is engaged in the main catch contour 24, the first electric motor 6, if it has been activated to switch from the pre-latching position to the main latching position, is deactivated. The first electric motor 6 can be operated for a short time in a generator mode for detection of the rotary latch position, preferably operated intermittently between motor mode and generator mode, wherein a current signal different from zero is generated in the generator mode, if the rotary latch has not yet reached the main latch position. After the catch has assumed the main latch position, the catch rests and the current signal in the generator mode reaches a zero value. Such an operating mode of the first electric motor 6 makes it possible to dispense with a sensor for detecting the rotary latch position or to a precise tuning of the first electric motor 6 to the geometry of the rotary latch 4.

If the front hood 2 is to be unlocked starting from the main latching position, the rotary latch 4 is first transferred from the main latching position into the pre-latching position. This will be in the in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 embodiment shown causes the second electric motor 7, via a pawl output gear 36 and a pawl drive gear 33, the pawl 12 in the in Fig. 2 shown dashed release position moves in which the rotary latch 4 is released in the opening direction.

Advantageously, the first electric motor 6 causes a switching of the rotary latch 4 of the in Fig. 1 shown main lock position in the in Fig. 2 shown pre-locking position, wherein the safety device 1 during this switching a mechanical Having active compound. The mechanical operative connection is formed by the driven gear 34, which is positively connected to the output shaft of the first electric motor 6, and the drive gear 35, which is positively connected to the rotary latch 4, wherein the driven gear 34 meshes with the drive gear 35. In this switching of the rotary latch 4 driven by the first electric motor 6 as described above, an intermittent operation of the first electric motor 6 is possible, which alternates between a motor mode and a generator mode, wherein it is detectable when the rotary latch 4 has reached the pre-locking position.

In a different embodiment, the rotary latch 4 is spring-biased by means of the rotary latch spring element 32 from the main latching position to the pre-latching position after the pawl 12 has reached the release position. Another embodiment may provide cooperative driving of the rotary latch 4 by means of the electric motor 6 and the rotary latch spring element 32. The teaching of the invention does not necessarily provide for an electrical driving of the rotary latch 4 when switching the rotary latch 4 from the main latching position to the pre-latching position. Accordingly, an embodiment of the teaching according to the invention is also possible without the first electric motor 6. The switching of the rotary latch 4 from the main latching position to the pre-latching position is effected in this case by the second electric motor 7 as described above.

In the in Fig. 2 shown position of the safety device 1, the front cover 2 is locked, wherein the load arm 29 in the pre-locking position of the rotary latch 4 engages around the lock holder 10. Starting from this position, the front hood 2 can be unlocked by means of an adjustment of the front hood 2 in the direction of the closed position of the front hood 2. The lock holder 10 has for this purpose an actuator 41 which is coupled to the front hood 2 such that in the pre-locking position of the rotary latch 4, the adjustment of the front hood 2 in the direction of the closed position of the front cover 2 an adjustment of the actuator 41 from a first position, as they in Fig. 2 is shown to a second position, as in Fig. 3 shown causes. The actuator 41 is slidably guided for such an adjustment in a fuselage 42 of the lock holder 10. The first and second positions of the actuator 41 are relative positions relative to the hull 42 of the lock holder 10 to understand. In the in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 As shown, the rotary latch 4 is in the pre-locked position when the actuator 41 occupies the first and the second position.

In the pre-locking position of the rotary latch 4, the actuator 41 is movable relative to the fuselage 42, a blocking element 43 of the rotary latch 4 releasing a space between a pin 44 fixedly arranged on the actuator 41 and a counter-pin 45 fixedly arranged on the fuselage 42. In the in Fig. 1 shown main locking position blocks the blocking element 43 a relative movement of the pin 44 to the counter-pin 45 and thus a relative movement between the actuator 41 and the fuselage 42. The rotary latch 4 assumes in this embodiment a two-stage locking function. In a first stage, the rotary latch 4 in the main latching position blocks movement of the fuselage 42 of the latch holder 10 and relative movement of the fuselage 42 relative to the actuator 41. In a second stage, the latch 4 blocks movement of the fuselage 42 in the pre-latching position, provided the actuator 41 occupies the first position, and releases the relative movement of the body 42 relative to the actuator 41.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the lock holder 10 with the actuator 41 in the first position and the rotary latch 4 in the pre-locked position. The lock holder 10 has a control contour 51, a punch 52, a tension spring 54 and a locking element in the form of two coaxially mounted in the fuselage 42 round pin 53. In the first position of the actuator 41, the plunger 52 keeps the pins 53 spaced apart from each other against a tensile force of the tension spring 54, so that the pins 53 protrude laterally from the fuselage 42 and are encompassed by the load arm 29 of the rotary catch 4. In this position, the pin 53 is the lock holder 10 with the catch 4 in engagement and the front cover 2 is locked.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the lock holder 10 with the actuator 41 in the second position and the rotary latch 4 in the pre-locked position. In the second position, the actuator 41 is displaced relative to the fuselage 42 in the direction of the rotary latch 4, in contrast to the first position. Furthermore, in the second position, the punch 52 releases a space 55 between the pins 53, in which the in the first position of the Actuator 41 tensioned tension spring 54 pulls the pin 53. In the contracted state of the pins 53, the pins 53 are received in the hull 42 and assume a passive position in which the pins 53 are released from the load arm 29 and thus the lock holder 10 of the rotary latch 4 and the front cover 2 is unlocked.

The control contour 51 arranged on the actuator 41 interacts with a guide element 57 in the form of a pin fixedly arranged on the fuselage 42 so that the actuator 41 moves around the central axis when the actuator 41 moves from the first position to the second position and vice versa 56 of the actuator 41 rotates and a locking of the actuator in the first and the second position is possible. In order to provide a rotatable mounting of the actuator 41 about the central axis 56, the lock holder 10 has a pivot 66 and a coupling element 67, wherein the coupling element 67 is fixedly connected to the front hood 2 and the pivot joint 67 rotatably connects the actuator 41 with the coupling element 67 , The swivel joint 67 may be formed, for example, as a ball bearing or in the form of a circumferential groove around the coupling element 67 and a projection corresponding to the central axis 56 protruding on the actuator 41.

The control contour 51 extends around a circumference of the cylindrically shaped actuator 41 and has a first latching contour 58, a second latching contour 61, a third latching contour 68 and a fourth latching contour 69. In the first position of the actuator 41, the guide member 57 is engaged in the first detent contour 58 or the third detent contour 68 and in the second position of the actuator 41 in the second detent contour 61 or the fourth detent contour 69 and thus engages the actuator 41 accordingly. The first and the second position of the actuator 41 is defined only by the distance of the actuator 41 to the rotary latch 4, or more precisely to the pivot point 23 of the rotary latch 4, ie the actuator 41 can assume the first position when the guide member 57 in the first latching contour 58 or engaged in the third latching contour 68 and occupy the second position when the guide member 57 is engaged in the second latching contour 61 or in the fourth latching contour 69.

Preferably, the lock holder 10 has a lock holder spring 59, which is tensioned in the first and in the second position of the actuator 41 and holds the actuator 41 pressed against the guide element 57 via the control contour 51.

The control contour 51 has an upper and a lower boundary, wherein in an environment of the latching contours 58, 61, 68 and 69 tips of the upper boundary opposite notches of the lower boundary are offset from each other and thus at least a first offset 62 and a second offset 63 is formed. The first offset 62 and the second offset 63 cause the actuator 41 to rotate about the central axis 56 in an adjustment from the first to the second and from the second to the first position in the direction represented by the arrows 64 and 65.

Is the actuator 41, as in Fig. 4 shown, in the first position, causes an adjustment of the front cover 2 in the direction of the closed position of the front cover 2, a movement of the actuator 41 down and the control contour 51 moves along the guide member 57 until the guide member 57 engages in the second detent contour 61. The guide member 57 slides along an ascending portion of the control contour 51. A third offset on the first detent contour 58, which is formed like the second offset 63, causes the guide member 57 abuts on an inclined surface to the central axis 56 of the upper boundary and the Actuator 41 moves in the direction shown by the arrow 64. Just before the guide member 57 engages in the second detent contour 61, the control contour 51 abuts with the upper limit of the guide member 57 and the movement of the front hood 2 is stopped via the coupling of the front hood 2 with the actuator 41. As a result, a setback is preferably triggered, which causes a latching of the guide element 57 in the second latching contour 61.

Starting from the in Fig. 5 shown second position of the actuator 41 causes an adjustment of the front cover 2 in the direction of the closed position of the front cover 2, a movement of the actuator 41 down and thus unlatching of the guide member 57 from the second locking contour 61. The first offset 62 ensures that during a movement of the actuator 41 down the guide element 57 on a plane inclined to the central axis 56 surface of the upper boundary and on the one hand moves the actuator 41 in the direction shown by the arrow 64 and 65 direction and on the other the front hood 2 decelerates, whereby a haptic signal for an operator of the security device 1 is generated , When the bonnet 2 is released following deceleration, the lock retainer spring 59 accelerates the bonnet 2 upwardly causing upward movement of the actuator 41, the control contour 51 traveling along the guide member 57 until the guide member 57 engages the third detent contour 68 clicks into place as it is in Fig. 6 is shown. The guide member 57 slides along a descending portion of the control contour 51. If the guide member 57 is engaged in the third detent contour 68, the actuator 41 is in the first position.

Thus, in the pre-locking position of the rotary latch, an adjustment of the front hood in the direction of the closed position effects an adjustment of the actuator from the second position to the first position. A subsequent adjustment of the actuator 41 from the first to the second position is similar to the above-described adjustment, in which the guide member 57 is transferred from the first detent contour 58 in the second detent contour 61, except that the guide member 57 of the third detent contour 68 in the fourth latching contour 69 is transferred. Fig. 7 shows the actuator 41 in the second position, wherein the guide member 57 is engaged in the fourth locking contour 69. A subsequent adjustment of the actuator 41 from the second to the first position is similar to the above-described adjustment, in which the guide member 57 is transferred from the second detent contour 61 in the third detent contour 68, except that the guide member 57 of the fourth detent contour 69 in the first locking contour 58 is transferred. Fig. 7 shows the actuator 41 in the first position, wherein the guide member 57 is engaged in the first locking contour 58.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show a further embodiment, wherein the construction of in Fig. 8 to Fig. 10 illustrated safety device largely in the Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 illustrated safety device 1 corresponds and is provided with the corresponding reference numerals. Also, the rotary latch 4, the locking element 43, the pin 44, the counter-pin 45, the electric drive 5 with the first electric motor 6 and the second electric motor 7 and the pawl 12 cooperate in the same way as it is for the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 is described. Unlike the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 is according to the embodiment Fig. 8 to Fig. 10 the lock holder 10 executed differently.

Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of the safety device 1 with a further embodiment of a lock holder 71 of the hood lock 3. As in Fig. 2 is the catch 4 in the in Fig. 8 shown position in the pre-locked position. At the in Fig. 8 In the embodiment shown, the lock holder 71 has an actuating element 72 directed toward the pawl 12, which can interact with a laterally projecting pin 73 of the pawl 12 when the front hood 2 is pressed down. The actuator 72 is located in the in Fig. 8 shown position in a first position in which the lock holder 71 is engaged with the rotary latch 4 and the front cover 2 is locked and the actuator 72 with respect to the bolt 73 has a distance 76. Furthermore, the lock holder 71 has a cylinder 77 and a body 78, wherein the cylinder 77 is slidably guided in the hull 78. A lock holder spring 74 of the lock holder 71 acts on the cylinder 78 with a spring force which is greater than the weight of the front hood 2, and thus keeps the front hood 2 in the pre-locked position of the rotary latch 4 in a raised position.

By depressing the front cover 2, the front cover 2 can be converted into a lowered position, as in Fig. 9 is shown, wherein the front hood 2 moves in the direction of the closed position of the front hood 2. This adjustment of the front hood 2 in the direction of the closed position causes an adjustment of the actuator 72 from the first position into an in Fig. 9 shown intermediate position of the actuator 72, wherein a sliding surface 75 of the actuator 72 slides along the bolt 73 and pushes away from the rotary latch 4 and the pawl 12 freed from the Vorrastkontur 24.

The force which acts in the released position of the rotary latch 4, starting from the rotary latch spring element 32 on the front hood 2, is preferably significantly higher than the force which acts on the front hood 2 starting from the lock holder spring 74. Thus, this force can be twice or four times the weight of the front hood 2. This causes an operator of the security device 1 in a desired unlocking the front cover 2 is not accidentally the catch 4 in the Main switch position transferred. Furthermore, a relatively high counterforce is thereby generated when unlocking upwards, which may be twice as high as the weight of the front hood 2, for example, with which a haptic signal to an operator of the front hood 2 can be generated.

Starting from the in Fig. 9 shown pre-locking position of the rotary latch 4 is by means of the rotary latch spring element 32, the rotary latch 4 in an in Fig. 10 shown opening end position rotated and transferred the front cover 2 in a raised position. In the raised position of the bonnet 2, the lock retainer spring 74 is relaxed and the actuator 72 is spaced from the bolt 73 and occupies a second position. In this second position of the actuator 72 of the lock holder 71 is released from the rotary latch 4 and the front cover 2 unlocked. The first and the second position of the actuator 72 are to be understood as relative positions to the bolt 73 or to the pivot point of the pawl 12.

The rotary latch 4 is starting from the in Fig. 10 shown opening end position by depressing the front cover 2 in the pre-locked position can be transferred. In this case, the rotary latch 4 rotates in the closing direction of rotation 22 beyond the pre-locking position to a turning point position, which is reached at the end of the depression. During this movement of the rotary latch 4, the actuator 72 passes through the bolt 73. In an advantageous embodiment, the lock holder spring 74 urges the front hood 2 in the turning point position of the rotary latch 4 with a significantly higher force than the rotary latch spring element 32 via the rotary latch 4 and the lock holder 71 2 applied. This causes the actuator 72 a distance, preferably the distance 76, holds the bolt 73 when the catch 4 is in a movement from the inflection point position in opening direction 21 in a position which it occupies in the pre-locked position, so that the pawl 12th can snap into the Vorrastkontur.

A different embodiment provides that the bolt 73 strikes an inclined contact surface of the actuator 72 during an upward movement of the actuator 72 and the actuator 72 laterally bends and the actuator 72 on the bolt can slip past and the pawl 12 is not pushed away from the catch 4. For this purpose, the actuator 72 is designed elastically deformable.

Claims (10)

1. Safety device (1) for a motor vehicle, which has a front hood (2) with an open position and a Locked position and a hood latch (3) with a latch holder (10; 71).
   characterized in that
   the hood latch (3) has a catch (4) with a pre-ratchet position and a main ratchet position in which the front hood (2) is bolted and closed and an electrical drive (5), which causes switchover of the catch (4) from the main ratchet position into the pre-ratchet position and the latch holder (10; 71) has an actuator (41, 72), whereby in a first position of the actuator (41; 72) and in the pre-ratchet position of the catch (4) the latch holder (10; 71) engages with the catch (4) and the front hood (2) is bolted and in a second position of the actuator (41; 72) the latch holder (10; 71) is released from the catch (4) and the front hood (2) is unbolted, and the front hood (2) is coupled with the actuator (41; 72) such that in the pre-ratchet position of the catch (4), displacement of the front hood (2) in the direction of the Locked position of the front hood (2) causes displacement of the actuator (41; 72) from the first position to the second position.
2. Safety device (1) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the front hood can be adjusted manually in the direction of the locked position in the pre-ratchet position of the catch.
3. Safety device (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the actuator (41; 72) is ratchetable and the latch holder (10; 71) has a control contour (51) and a guide element (57), whereby the guide element (57) interacts with the control contour (51) such that a ratcheting of the actuator (41; 72) is enabled at least in the first position and/or the second position of the actuator (41; 72).
4. Safety device (1) according to one of the previous claims,
   characterized in that
   the front hood (2) is coupled with the actuator (41, 72) such that in the pre-ratchet position of the catch (4) a displacement of the front hood (2) in the direction of the locked position causes a displacement of the actuator (41, 72) from the second position to the first position.
5. Safety device (1) according to one of the previous claims,
   characterized in that
   the latch holder (10; 71) has at least a bolting element (53) and the catch (4) encompasses the bolting element (53) in the pre-ratchet position and in the first position of the actuator (41; 72).
6. Safety device (1) according to one of the previous claims,
   characterized in that
   the catch (4) assumes an opening end position with the pre-ratchet position in which the catch (4) is immobile in the opening rotational direction.
7. Safety device (1) according to one of the previous claims,
   characterized in that
   the catch (4) has an opening end position in addition to the pre-ratchet position and the main ratchet position in which the catch (4) is rotated into an opening rotational direction in respect of the pre-ratchet position.
8. Safety device (1) according to one of the previous claims,
   characterized in that
   the hood latch (3) has a pawl (12) to lock the catch (4) and a displacement of the actuator (41; 72) from the first position to the second position causes detachment of the pawl (12) from the catch (4).
9. Safety device (1) according to one of the previous claims,
   characterized in that
   the hood latch (3) has a direct mechanical operative connection between the electrical drive (5) and the catch (4) during switchover of the catch (4) from the main ratchet position into the pre-ratchet position.
10. Safety device (1) according to one of the previous claims,
    characterized in that
    the hood latch (3) has a direct mechanical operative connection between the electrical drive (5) and the catch (4) during switchover of the catch (4) from the pre-ratchet position into the main ratchet position.

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