EP3445933B1 - Closing aid for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a closing aid for a motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a rotary latch and at least one pawl. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle lock with a closing aid. The catch of such a lock can be locked in a preliminary catch position and a main catch position by means of a pawl. Such a lock is in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door.

A rotary latch of a motor vehicle lock has a fork-shaped inlet slot into which a locking bolt of a vehicle door or a vehicle flap enters when the vehicle door or vehicle flap is closed. The locking bolt then rotates the rotary latch from an open position to a closed position. Once the rotary latch has reached a closed position, the locking bolt can no longer leave the inlet slot of the rotary latch. In the closed position, a pawl locks the rotary latch so that it can no longer be turned back into the open position.

In a lock for a motor vehicle, there are regularly two locking positions that can be taken one after the other by the rotary latch while it is being closed, namely the so-called pre-locking position and the so-called main locking position. It is possible that there is only one pawl which is able to lock the rotary latch in the pre-locking position as well as in the main locking position. However, two pawls can also be provided, one first pawl being able to lock the rotary latch in the pre-latching position and the other, second pawl being able to latch the rotary latch in the main latching position. A lock with a pawl for the main ratchet, a ratchet for the preliminary ratchet and a blocking lever for the main ratchet - the pawl is from the publication DE 10 2007 003 948 A1 known.

From the pamphlet WO 2010/142280 A1 a closing aid for a lock of the type mentioned is known. The closing aid includes a drive with which the Rotary latch can be moved by motor power from the pre-latching position to the main latching position, in order to completely close an associated door or flap. The drive comprises a closing pawl that can be moved by the motor, which is called a bracket. During the closing, the closing pawl rests on a bolt of the rotary latch, so that the rotary latch can be rotated from the preliminary catch position to the main catch position by motorized movement of the closing pawl. The closing pawl is then moved back into its starting position. When the closing pawl has reached its starting position, the lock can be opened again.

Moving the closing pawl back to its starting position takes time. The lock cannot be opened during this time.

Closing aids are also from the publications DE 10 2008 048 773 A1 and DE 10 2008 048 772 A1 known.

The US 2011/084504 A1 shows a motor vehicle lock with a rotary latch that can be locked in a pre-latching position and in a main latching position by a pawl, and with a closing aid to be able to move the rotary latch from the pre-latching to the main latching position by motor power, the closing aid being a movable closing pawl for a closing by motor power, which is moved for the closing from a starting position to an end position along a first path and is moved along another second path when moving back from the end position to the starting position.

It is the object of the invention to provide a closing aid for a motor vehicle lock which enables quick opening.

The object of the invention is achieved by the subject matter having the features of the first claim. Advantageous refinements result from the dependent claims.

To solve the problem, a closing aid for a lock with a rotary latch is created. The rotary latch can be locked in a pre-locking position and in a main locking position by at least one pawl. The closing aid comprises a motor, by means of which the rotary latch can be moved directly or indirectly from the pre-latching position and the main latching position by motor power in order to be able to close an associated door or flap of a motor vehicle. The closing aid has a movable closing pawl for closing by the motor. By moving the closing pawl with the aid of the motor from an initial position to an end position along a first path, the rotary latch is brought from the pre-locking position into the main locking position. The closing pawl is moved back from the end position to the starting position along a different second path. The second way of the closing pawl is chosen so that the closing pawl is disengaged early, in particular early before reaching the starting position. The closing pawl is guided at least along a path by two control contours. According to the invention, one of the two control contours, which together guide the closing pawl along a path, is immobile. Moving back can be done, for example, by motor power and / or by the force of a pretensioned spring.

The first way of the closing pawl is now chosen in such a way that the rotary latch is brought from the preliminary catch into the main catch. The second way of the closing pawl is chosen so that the closing pawl is disengaged early and in particular early before reaching the starting position. As soon as the closing pawl is disengaged, the lock can be opened. It is therefore not necessary to wait until the closing pawl has reached its starting position again in order to be able to open the lock.

In particular, pivoting movements of the closing pawl are controlled by at least one control contour in order to be able to disengage the closing pawl particularly quickly as soon as the rotary latch has been moved into the main locking position by the closing aid.

The movement of the closing pawl along the first path is preferably such that the closing pawl rests against a first control contour during the course of the movement and / or the movement of the closing pawl along the second path is such that the closing pawl rests against a second control contour during the course of the movement . The first control contour acts as a guide for the closing pawl in such a way that the closing pawl is moved along the first path from the starting position into the end position. The second control contour acts as a guide for the closing pawl in such a way that the closing pawl is moved along the second path from the end position into the starting position. With two different control contours, different paths for the closing pawl can be implemented in a technically simple manner with little installation space, in order to get from the starting position to the end position on the first path and from the end position back to the starting position on the other, second path.

The two control contours are preferably movably mounted. This makes it easy to achieve that the closing pawl is guided on the way from the starting position to the end position by a first control contour and on the way back from the end position back to the starting position is guided by a second other control contour by moving the two appropriately Control contours.

A suitable movement of the two control contours is achieved in particular by attaching the two control contours to a pivotably mounted lever. If the lever is pivoted, the two control contours are moved.

In one embodiment, the two movable control contours and / or the closing pawl are pretensioned by a spring in the direction of a third control contour in order to enable safe operation. The movable control contours and / or the closing pawl can be moved in the direction of the third control contour by means of one or more pretensioned springs. The third control contour also controls a movement of the closing pawl, in particular along the first path. The third control contour is basically immovably mounted, so it is firmly attached.

In one embodiment, the pivotable lever is pivoted when the closing pawl is moved from the starting position into the end position. This contributes to the fact that the closing pawl is guided along the first path through a first control contour in a technically simple manner. Alternatively or in addition, however, it is also possible for the pivotable lever to be pivoted during the movement along the second path in order to control movement sequences in a suitable manner.

In one embodiment, the pivotable lever is pivoted in a second direction of rotation when the closing pawl is moved from the end position into the starting position. This pivoting in the second direction of rotation can take place before and / or during the movement of the closing pawl from the starting position into the end position. This contributes to the fact that the closing pawl is guided along the first path through a first control contour in a technically simple manner. This second direction of rotation is the opposite of the aforementioned first direction of rotation.

In particular, both contours have an arc shape, the ends of the arc shapes merging into one another in such a way that an ellipse-like shape is present, for example an oval. At least approximately there are acute-angled ends, which can easily contribute to the fact that the closing pawl is guided through the first control contour on the way there and through the second control contour on the way back.

In an advantageous embodiment, the closing pawl has a protruding bolt which rests against the corresponding aforementioned control contour during the movement of the closing pawl. The control contours can therefore guide the bolt and thus the closing pawl in the course of the movement of the closing pawl. In a further improved manner, this can contribute in a simple manner to the fact that the closing pawl is guided through the first control contour on the way there and through the second control contour on the way back.

In an advantageous embodiment, the bolt has a circular or teardrop-shaped cross-section, which further improves the fact that the closing pawl is guided through the first control contour on the way there and through the second control contour on the way back.

In one embodiment, the closing pawl is rotatably supported by an axis. Moving the closing pawl along the first path and / or the second path includes a rotary movement about the axis and a displacement (that is, displacement) of this axis. The closing aid can thus be moved along different paths using simple technical means.

The invention also relates to a lock with such a closing aid. In one embodiment, the closing pawl rests directly on the rotary latch during the closing in order to keep the number of components and thus also the installation space small. However, at least one further component can also be provided between the closing pawl and the rotary latch, by means of which a movement of the closing pawl is transmitted to the rotary latch for a closing.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment.

Show it

Figure 1:

Closing aid with a closing pawl in its starting position;

Figure 2:

Closing aid with closing pawl during its movement along a first path in the direction of the end position;

Figure 3:

Closing aid with closing pawl in its end position;

Figure 4:

Closing aid with closing pawl during its movement along a second path in the direction of the starting position;

Figure 5:

Lock with closing aid.

The Figures 1 to 4 show excerpts of a closing aid 1 for a motor vehicle lock in order to be able to move the rotary latch by motor power, preferably indirectly or directly, from the pre-locking position and the main locking position by means of an electric drive. The closing aid comprises a movable closing pawl 2, the closing pawl 2 for the closing of one in the Figure 1 starting position shown in a in the Figure 3 end position shown can be moved along a first path. The Figure 3 shows the closing pawl 2 on its first path to get from the starting position to the end position. The closing pawl 2 is moved back from the end position to the starting position along a different second path. The Figure 4 shows the closing pawl 2 on its second way to get from its end position back to the starting position. The second route runs differently than the first route, so that two different routes are shown for the purposes of the present invention.

The movement of the closing pawl 2 along the first and second path is controlled by several control contours 3, 4 and 5.

A first control contour 4 and a second control contour 3 are attached to a pivotably mounted lever 6. The lever 6 can be pivoted about its axis 7 become. The first control contour 4 and the second control contour 3 are movably supported on account of their attachment to the pivotable lever 6.

The movement of the closing pawl 2 along the first path takes place in such a way that the closing pawl 2 rests against the first movable control contour 4 and the third immovable control contour 5 in the course of the movement, as shown in particular by the Figure 2 is made clear. The movement of the closing pawl 2 along the second path takes place in such a way that the closing pawl 2 rests against the second control contour 3 in the course of the movement, as shown in FIG Figure 4 will be shown.

The first and the second movable control contour 4, 3 and the closing pawl 2 can be moved in the direction of the fixed and therefore immovable control contour 5 by the force of pretensioned springs (not shown). The two springs ensure, among other things, that as in the Figure 2 shown that in cross-section drop-shaped bolt 8 of the closing pawl 2 rests on the immovable control contour 5 and the first control contour 4 rests on the other side of the bolt 8. It will be like in Figure 4 shown ensures that the first control contour 4 rests on the control contour 5 and the bolt 8 of the closing pawl 2 rests on the second control contour 3. As a result, it is thus reliably ensured overall that the closing pawl 2 is moved in the desired manner along the first and the second path and reaches its end position or starting position in the intended manner.

The pivotable lever 6 is first pivoted counterclockwise in a first direction of rotation when the closing pawl 2 is moved from the starting position into the end position along the first path. When the closing pawl 2 has covered the first distance sufficiently, the pivotable lever 6 is pivoted back again, that is to say in a clockwise direction. When the closing pawl 2 has reached its end position, the pivotable lever 6 has been pivoted back completely. The first control contour 4 is then on the immovable control contour 5, which is ensured by the force of one of the pretensioned springs mentioned.

The two movable control contours form an oval or at least oval-like shape. This shape, in conjunction with the bolt 8 of the closing pawl 2, which is teardrop-shaped in cross section, ensures that the closing pawl 2 is moved along a first path for closing and for a movement back into the starting position along a second path that differs from the first path.

The immovable control contour 5 runs at an angle. A leg of this angular shape serves as a stop for the bolt 8 when the closing pawl 2 is moved back into its starting position. The Figure 1 shows that the one leg of the control contour 5 prevents the closing pawl 8 from being able to be moved further to the right. In this respect, this leg of the control contour 5 forms a stop for the closing pawl 2. The other leg of this angular shape controls the movement along the first path, like the one Figure 2 shows that the bolt 8 of the closing pawl 2 then rests against this second leg of the control contour 5.

Along the first path, the bolt 8 and thus the closing pawl 2 are guided by two control contours, namely by the first movable control contour 4 and the immovable control contour 5.

The closing pawl 2 is in the Figure 5 axis 9 shown rotatably mounted. In the Figure 5 the closing pawl 2 is compared to the Figures 1 to 4 shown from the opposite side. Moving the closing pawl 2 along the first path and the second path includes a rotary movement of the closing pawl 2 about its axis 9. In addition, the axis 9 is shifted, that is to say the position of the axis 9 is changed. The axis 9 is like in the Figure 5 shown attached to one end of the lever arm 10 of a lever which is rotatably supported by a shaft 11. Another lever arm 12 of this lever can use a Bowden cable 13 and a The electric motor not shown can be pivoted about the axis 11 in order to move the axis 9 of the closing pawl 2, that is to say to displace it. The axis 9 of the closing pawl 2 is displaced by motor power. The pivoting of the closing pawl 2 about its axis 9 is controlled by the control contours and is therefore not brought about directly by the motor power. An electric motor is generally used as the motor.

During its movement along the first path, and thus during the closing, the closing pawl 2 rests against a rotary latch 14 in such a way that the rotary latch 14 is pivoted from the pre-latching position into its main latching position. However, this concern is from the Figure 5 not visible, since the view is obscured by a lock housing 15. The rotary latch and the pawl of the locking mechanism are attached to a lock case 16 so as to be pivotable. If the closing pawl 2 is reached after reaching its end position (see Figure 3 ) is moved back, the closing pawl 2 is as in the Figure 4 shown early by pivoting about its axis 9 lifted from the control contour 5 and thus also from the rotary latch and thus disengaged. As soon as the closing pawl 2 has been lifted off the rotary latch and thus disengaged, the lock can be opened.

This results in an advantage of the invention, namely that when the locking mechanism is opened immediately after it is closed, the locking mechanism can be opened again. It is not necessary for the closing unit to return to its starting position, since the closing pawl has been moved out of the engagement area of the rotary latch. The rotary latch is consequently released immediately after closing, the locking mechanism can be unlocked or the lock can be opened without having to wait for the closing device to be reset.

List of reference symbols

• 1: Closing aid
• 2: Closing latch
• 3: movable control contour
• 4: movable control contour
• 5: control contour
• 6: pivoted lever
• 7: Axis for the pivoted lever
• 8: Bolt of the closing pawl
• 9: Axis for the rotatable mounting of the closing pawl
• 10: lever arm
• 11: axis
• 12: lever arm
• 13: Bowden cable
• 14: rotary latch

Claims (13)

1. Closing aid (1) for a motor vehicle latch comprising a catch (14) which can be ratcheted in a pre-ratchet position and in a main ratchet position by at least one pawl in order for it to be possible to move the catch (14) from the pre-ratchet position and the main ratchet position by motor force, the closing aid comprising a movable closing pawl (2) for closure by motor force, the closing pawl (2) being movable for the closure from a starting position to an end position along a first path, the return movement of the closing pawl (2) from the end position to the starting position occurring along a different, second path, the closing pawl (2) being guided at least along one path by two control contours (4, 5), the second path of the closing pawl (2) being selected such that the closing pawl (2) is disengaged at an early stage, in particular at an early stage before reaching the starting position, characterized in that one of the two control contours (4, 5), which together guide the closing pawl (2) along a path, is immovable.
2. Closing aid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that pivoting movements of the closing pawl (2) are controlled by at least one control contour (3).
3. Closing aid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closing pawl (2) is moved along the first path in such a way that the closing pawl (2) abuts a first and/or third control contour (4, 5) during the movement and/or the closing pawl (2) is moved along the second path in such a way that the closing pawl (2) abuts a second control contour (3) during the movement.
4. Closing aid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and the second control contour (3, 4) are mounted so as to be movable, in particular rotatable about a pin (7).
5. Closing aid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the two movable control contours (3, 4) are attached to a pivotably mounted lever (6).
6. Closing aid according to either of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the first movable control contour (4), the second movable control contour (3) and/or the closing pawl (2) can be moved toward a third control contour (5) by the force of a pretensioned spring.
7. Closing aid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the pivotable lever (6) is pivoted only when the closing pawl (2) is moved from the starting position to the end position.
8. Closing aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by an oval or oval-like shape of two control contours (3, 4).
9. Closing aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing pawl (2) is rotatably mounted by a pin (9), and movement of the closing pawl (2) along the first path and/or the second path involves a rotational movement about the pin (9) and movement of said pin (9).
10. Closing aid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the pin (9) of the closing pawl (2) is moved by motor force.
11. Closing aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing pawl (2) has a protruding bolt (8) having a preferably circular or drop-shaped cross section, and the control contours (3, 4, 5) are able to guide the bolt (8).
12. Latch comprising a closing aid according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a catch (14) which can be ratcheted in a pre-ratchet position and in a main ratchet position by at least one pawl, wherein the closing aid (1) can move the catch (14) from the pre-ratchet position and the main ratchet position by motor force.
13. Latch according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closing pawl (2) abuts the catch (14) during closing.

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