EP3461974B1 - Adjustable locking mechanism for a door, especially for a vehicle door - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a door, in particular for a vehicle door, comprising at least one locking element for locking the door in a closed position and an actuating device for transferring the locking element on the user side from a locking position to an unlocking position and / or from the unlocking position to the locking position , wherein the locking element and the actuating device are mechanically coupled to one another by means of a push-pull element, the locking mechanism having an adjustable coupling mechanism for adjustable coupling of the push-push element to the locking element and / or the actuating device.

Such locking mechanisms are generally known, in particular from the vehicle sector. They generally have an actuating device attached to a door at a central location and to be actuated from the outside by a user, in the form of a pull handle. On the inside, one or two locking units are arranged at a distance from the actuating device, for example above or below the actuating device. These are each operatively connected to the actuating unit via a generally metallic tension rod, such that their actuation on the user side results in a relative positioning of the tension rods. A change in position of the respective tension rod is transmitted to a locking element of the locking units via a rotatable cam element. As a result, the locking element is moved between a position locking the door and a position unlocking the door.

A locking mechanism of the aforementioned type is for example from the published patent application US 5 713 612 A. known. This publication discloses a locking mechanism for positioning in a first hole in a door. An outer actuator is connected to the locking mechanism to cause it to operate, and an inner actuator is connected to the locking mechanism to cause it to operate. A latch mechanism is mounted in a second hole in the door, the second hole being spaced from the first hole. The The latch mechanism has a latch which is automatically brought into an extended position when a part of the latch mechanism touches a door opener. The locking mechanism comprises a swivel mechanism and there is a spindle in engagement with the swivel mechanism for retracting the bolt. An interconnected arrangement connects the inner actuator and the spindle, whereby movement of the inner actuator both actuates the locking mechanism and moves the latch to a retracted position. The locking element of the locking mechanism and a corresponding actuating device are mechanically coupled to one another by means of a push-pull element, the locking mechanism having an adjustable coupling mechanism for the adjustable coupling of the push-push element to the locking element and / or the actuating device.

In the vehicle sector in particular, such as, for example, in mobile homes, caravans and horse transporters, a robust, light and inexpensive design of the locking mechanism is desired. For this reason, the coupling of the tension rod and the cam element is simply carried out in the form of an opening formed in the cam element, in which the tension rod engages. Such a mechanism works reliably and as intended with a suitable length of the tension rod and a corresponding arrangement of the parts interacting with it. However, if the length of the tension rod is not within a sufficiently small tolerance range or if wear occurs on the cams, which are usually designed as plastic injection-molded parts, changes in position of the locking elements can no longer be guaranteed and malfunctions occur. Even slight deviations in the length of the tension rod or minor wear can reduce the stroke and thus cause problems when opening the door.

In known systems, one way to remedy such problems is to increase or shorten the length of the tension rod by specific bending, for example in the course of assembly or repair. Such is disadvantageously Correction options for concealed systems in which the tension rod is concealed inside a door, for example for aesthetic reasons, are not. Another disadvantage is that the bending of the tension rod, which is usually carried out manually, is of a rather subjective nature and requires a lot of feeling and experience.

In view of the prior art described above, the object of the invention is to reduce or avoid the disadvantages mentioned, in particular to provide a locking mechanism with an easy, inexpensive and robust possibility for setting and / or adjusting.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a locking mechanism according to claim 1, i.e. by a locking mechanism for a door, in particular for a vehicle door, for example a motor home, a car trailer, a caravan or a horse transporter, having at least one locking element for locking the Door in a closed position and an actuating device for transferring the locking element on the user side from a locking position into an unlocking position and / or from the unlocking position into the locking position, the locking element and the actuating device being mechanically coupled to one another by means of a push-pull element, the locking mechanism has an adjustable coupling mechanism for the adjustable coupling of the tension-compression element with the locking element and / or the actuating device. The invention is characterized in that the coupling mechanism has a first cam element coupled to the tension-compression element and a second cam element coupled to the locking element. The first cam element or the second cam element can be coupled to the pull-push element or the locking element in a plurality of different relative positions. In this embodiment, the adjustability of the locking mechanism is brought about by a relative positioning of the respective cam element to the part of the mechanism coupled therewith, ie the push-pull element or the locking element. According to the invention the first cam element and the second cam element can be coupled to one another in a plurality of different relative positions to one another. In this embodiment, the adjustability of the locking mechanism is brought about by a relative positioning of the two cam elements to one another. The tension-compression element is preferably a rod, in particular a metal rod. For the purposes of the invention, it is suitable and determined to transmit tensile and / or compressive forces between the actuating unit and the respective locking unit and its locking element. In the case of a pre-tensioned locking bolt with a bevel, it only has to be able to transmit forces in one direction.

A door in the sense of the invention comprises, in addition to doors in the narrower sense for entering or leaving a room locked by the door, also in a broader sense similar locking elements that can be positioned between a closed position and an open position, such as windows, flaps, loading flaps, hatches, etc. The coupling mechanism is preferably easily accessible even in the assembled state and advantageously enables a defined, reliable and, above all, reproducible way to adjust the locking mechanism during its assembly and also to readjust it in the event of wear. This eliminates the need to adjust by manually bending the tension rod so that it is not weakened as a result of deformation and, moreover, no misalignments or canting are introduced into the mechanism. A particular advantage is that concealed locking mechanisms installed inside the door can also be adjusted or adjusted.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are claimed in the subclaims and are explained in more detail below.

The locking mechanism can in particular have two or more locking units operatively connected to the actuating device, which are arranged at different positions on the door from one another and at a distance from the actuating device, in order in this way for to lock the door with a door frame, frame or door lock in different places. Each locking unit each comprises at least one locking element.

According to one embodiment, the coupling mechanism can have a coupling geometry. A coupling geometry in this sense is to be understood as a part or section of the coupling mechanism which engages with correspondingly designed counter-contours on the side of the pull-push element or the locking element and can be positioned in different functional positions / engagement positions with respect to the counter-contour. Such a coupling geometry can in particular be designed in the form of a toothing or a polygon or have such. In particular, the first cam element and the second cam element can be coupled to one another via the coupling geometry.

An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the coupling mechanism has a pivot. On the one hand, this can be coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to one of the cam elements and, on the other hand, can be coupled to the other cam element via the coupling geometry. In an embodiment in which the first cam element and the second cam element are arranged on opposite sides of the locking element, the pivot pin can pass through the locking element. In this way, the locking mechanism according to the invention and in particular the coupling mechanism are easy to assemble and maintain. A particularly easy-to-assemble option consists in the fact that the pivot pin has an opening provided with an internal thread and is fixed in position on it by a screw penetrating one of the cam elements.

The locking unit of the locking mechanism according to the invention can in particular have a base plate with a linear guide for the linearly positionable guidance of the locking element. Alternatively or additionally, the base plate with a bearing structure can be rotatably positioned Storage of at least one of the coupling elements and / or the pivot pin may be provided. The base plate is preferably designed as an injection molded component made of plastic, which is advantageous in terms of cost and weight.

It is particularly advantageous if the second cam element has an eccentric entrainment which engages with the locking element. Alternatively or additionally, the first cam element can have an eccentric entrainment which engages with the tension-compression element. Such eccentric entrainments can be used to convert a linear displacement of the tension / compression element into a rotary movement of the first cam element and a rotary movement of the second cam element into a linear displacement of the locking element in a particularly simple manner.

It should be expressly pointed out that the invention can be used both with snap locks in which the locking element has to be actuated by the actuating unit only in one direction, and with such locking systems in which the locking element is not designed as a snap, but instead it must be operated in both directions.

Fig. 1

eine Außenseite einer Tür mit einem bekannten Riegelmechanismus,

Fig. 2

eine Innenseite einer Tür mit einem bekannten Riegelmechanismus,

Fig. 3

eine Detailansicht auf einen Teil eines bekannten Riegelmechanismus in einer Schließstellung,

Fig. 4

eine Detailansicht auf einen Teil eines bekannten Riegelmechanismus in einer Offenstellung,

Fig. 5

eine Außenseite einer Tür mit einem Riegelmechanismus nach der Erfindung,

Fig. 6

eine Innenseite einer Tür mit einem Riegelmechanismus nach der Erfindung,

Fig. 7

ein Riegelelement eines Riegelmechanismus nach der Erfindung in einer perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 8

eine Riegeleinheit eines Riegelmechanismus nach der Erfindung in einer perspektivischen Darstellung in der Schließstellung,

Fig. 9

die Rückseite der Riegeleinheit der Fig. 8 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Detailansicht auf ein Koppelelement eines Riegelmechanismus nach der Erfindung während einer Justierung oder Einstellung des Mechanismus und

Fig. 11

eine teilgeschnittene Ansicht auf ein Koppelelement eines Riegelmechanismus nach der Erfindung zur Verdeutlichung der Funktionsweise einer Koppelgeometrie.

Further features and advantages of the present invention result from the following exemplary and non-limiting description of the invention with reference to figures. These are only schematic in nature and only serve to understand the invention. Show:

Fig. 1

an outside of a door with a known locking mechanism,

Fig. 2

an inside of a door with a known locking mechanism,

Fig. 3

2 shows a detailed view of part of a known locking mechanism in a closed position,

Fig. 4

2 shows a detailed view of part of a known locking mechanism in an open position,

Fig. 5

an outside of a door with a locking mechanism according to the invention,

Fig. 6

an inside of a door with a locking mechanism according to the invention,

Fig. 7

a locking element of a locking mechanism according to the invention in a perspective exploded view,

Fig. 8

a locking unit of a locking mechanism according to the invention in a perspective view in the closed position,

Fig. 9

the back of the latch unit of the Fig. 8 in a perspective view,

Fig. 10

a detailed perspective view of a coupling element of a locking mechanism according to the invention during an adjustment or adjustment of the mechanism and

Fig. 11

a partially sectioned view of a coupling element of a locking mechanism according to the invention to illustrate the operation of a coupling geometry.

The Figures 1 to 4 show an example of a known locking mechanism 1 for a vehicle door 2. The mechanism 1 comprises an actuating device 3, which is attached to the door 2 in a central location and can be operated from the outside by a user, with a pull handle 4. On the inside are spaced apart from the actuating device 3 above and below the locking device 3 each have a locking unit 5, 6 arranged. These are each technically connected to the actuating unit 3 via a metallic tension rod 7, which acts as a tension-compression element 7 and forms one. In this way, a relative positioning of the two tension rods 7 is effected when the pull handle 4 is actuated by the user. The change in position of the respective tension rod 7 is transmitted to a locking element 9 of the locking units 5, 6 via a cam element 8 which is rotatably arranged on the locking unit 5, 6. As a result, the locking element 9 is between a position locking the door 2 (see Figure 3 ) and a position unlocking door 2 (see Figure 4 ) postponed.

The Figures 5 to 11 show embodiments of the invention. A locking mechanism 1 according to the invention comprises an actuating device 3, which is attached to a door 2 at a central location and can be actuated by a user from the outside or inside (depending on the installation location of the locking mechanism), with a pull handle 4. On the inside are spaced apart from the actuating device 3 above and below the actuating device 3 each a locking unit 5, 6 arranged. These are each technically connected to the actuating unit 3 via a metallic tension rod 7, which acts as a tension-compression element 7 and forms one. Both tension rods 7 are coupled on the one hand to the pull handle 4 of the actuation unit 3. As a result of actuation of the pull handle 4 on the user side, the two pull rods 7 are positioned relative to one another. The two locking units 5, 6 are attached to the edge of the door 2 and each have an edge projecting beyond the door 2 (see in particular in FIG Figure 5 ) Locking element 9, which interacts with a frame structure, not shown in the figures, surrounding the door 2 and locks the door 2 in its closed position. On the side opposite the actuating unit 3 each of the two tension rods 7 is coupled via an adjustable coupling mechanism 10 to each of the two locking units 5, 6 and to the respective locking element 9.

Both locking units 5, 6 are of identical design and are described below by referring only to those in FIGS Figures 7 to 11 locking unit 5 illustrated. Due to the identity of both locking units 5, 6, these explanations also apply to locking unit 6.

The locking unit 5 has a base plate 11 designed as a plastic injection molded part, which is screwed to the door 2 by means of through openings 12 formed therein and not shown in the figures. In addition, the base plate 11 comprises a linear guide 13 for the locking element 9, so that this in the in Figure 7 with the arrow 14 direction between a locking position and an unlocking position is linearly positionable. The locking element 9 is held in the guide 13 in a linearly positionable manner by means of a screw connection 15. Finally, the base plate 11 has a through opening 16, which in Figure 7 is shown and serves to accommodate the adjustable coupling mechanism 10.

The locking unit 5 is designed as a snap unit in that the locking element 9 is provided with a run-in bevel 17 and by means of a compression spring which cannot be seen in the figures and which biases the locking element 9 with respect to the base plate 11 into the in Figure 7 locking position shown is biased. To open the door 2, the locking element 9 is to be moved from the locking position into an unlocking position by the user actuating the pull handle 4. When the door 2 is closed, the locking element 9 slides against the force of the prestressing spring by engaging the entry slope 17 with the frame from the unlocking position into the locking position and snaps back into the locking position due to the spring preload when the locking element is in position 9 is located on the other side of the frame or a lock structure attached to it, which interacts with the locking element 9.

The adjustable coupling mechanism 10 is in Figure 7 shown in a perspective exploded view. It comprises a first cam element 18 arranged and coupled with it in the power flow on the side of the pull rod 7 and a second cam element 19 arranged and coupled with it in the power flow on the side of the locking element 9. The first cam element 18 has a rotary bearing structure 20 with which it can be rotated in a fixed position is mounted on the base plate 11. Furthermore, a through opening 21 is formed in the first cam element 18 as a drive or coupling structure for the tension rod 7 and is placed eccentrically to the pivot bearing structure 20. An inner square receptacle 22 is formed in this again. The second cam element 19 has a rotary bearing structure, not shown in the figures, with which it is mounted in a fixed position but rotatable in a rotary bearing structure 31 of the base plate 11. Furthermore, the second cam element 19 has a driver 32 or coupling structure 32, for example in the form of a pin 32, for which the locking element 9 is positioned eccentrically to the pivot bearing structure 20.

A pivot pin 23 is arranged on the side of the base plate 11 opposite the first cam element 18. This has a pin section 24 passing through the through opening 16 of the base plate 11 and a head section 25 formed thereon on the side of the second cam element 19. The pin section 24 is provided on its side opposite the head section 25 with a coupling geometry in the form of an outer square 26 matching the inner square 22 of the first cam element 18. In the assembled state, the inner square 22 and the outer square 26 are in engagement with one another, so that the pivot pin 23 and the first cam element 18 are coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner. The pivot 23 is secured in position with a screw 27 on the first cam element 18.

The head section 25 of the pivot pin 23 is provided with a coupling geometry in the form of external teeth 28. As in the partially sectioned view of the Figure 11 is shown, the first cam element 18 has an internal toothing 29 matching the external toothing 28 as a coupling geometry. The external toothing 28 has five individual teeth 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e evenly distributed in the circumferential direction. The internal toothing 29 has five toothing segments 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction. Each toothed segment 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e comprises seven tooth gaps, so that the first cam element 18 can be arranged in seven different functional positions with respect to the pivot pin: in a nominal position, in which the corresponding individual tooth 28 engages in the middle tooth gap, and three adjustment positions located on either side of the nominal position, in which the corresponding single tooth 28 engages in one of the eccentric tooth gaps. The distances between the tooth gaps are such that each tooth gap corresponds to a length compensation of 1 mm with respect to the tension rod. In the assembled state, the external toothing 28 and the internal toothing 29 engage with one another, so that the pivot pin 23 and the first cam element 18 are coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner. The pivot pin 23 is secured in position with a screw 30 on the second cam element 19.

To adjust the locking mechanism 1 according to the invention, the screw 30 must be loosened. The first cam element 18 is then to be pulled off the head section 25 of the pivot pin 23, the internal toothing 29 and the external toothing 28 disengaging. Then the relative orientation of the first cam element 18 and the pivot pin 23 is changed in accordance with the adjustment or readjustment to be carried out, the first cam element 18 is pushed back onto the head section 25 in the changed position, the external toothing 28 and the internal toothing 29 coming into engagement again and the first Cam element 18 is secured in position with the screw connection 30 on the pivot pin 23.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 101

locking mechanism

2, 102

door

3, 103

Actuator, actuator

4, 104

Pull

5, 105

locking unit

6, 106

locking unit

7, 107

Tension rod, tension-compression element

8, 108

cam member

9, 109

locking element

10

adjustable coupling mechanism

11

baseplate

12

Through opening

13

linear guide

14

Direction of movement of the locking element 9

15

screw

16

Through opening

17

run-in slope

18

first cam element

19

second cam element

20

Pivot bearing structure

21

Through opening, take away

22

Internal square, coupling geometry

23

pivot

24

journal section

25

header

26

Outside square, coupling geometry

27

screw

28

External teeth, coupling geometry

29

Internal teeth, coupling geometry

30

screw

31

Pivot bearing structure

32

Cones, take away

Claims (9)

1. Locking mechanism (1) for a door (2), comprising at least one locking element (9) for locking the door (2) in a closed position and an actuating means (3) for transferring the locking element (9) from a locked position into an unlocked position and/or from the unlocked position into the locked position at the user side, wherein the locking element (9) and the actuating means (3) are mechanically coupled to each other by means of a pull-push element (7), wherein the locking mechanism (1) comprises an adjustable coupling mechanism (10) for adjustably coupling the pull-push element (7) with the locking element (9) and/or the actuating means (3);

   characterized in that

   the coupling mechanism (10) comprises a first cam element (18) coupled with the pull-push element (7) and a second cam element (19) coupled with the locking element (9), wherein the first cam element (18) and the second cam element (19) can be coupled to one another in a plurality of different relative positions to each other.
2. Locking mechanism (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling mechanism (10) has a coupling geometry (22, 26, 28, 29) in particular in the form of a toothing (28, 29) or a polygon (22, 26), by means of which the first cam element (18) and the second cam element (19) can be coupled to one another.
3. Locking mechanism (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling mechanism (10) comprises a pivot pin (23) which on the one hand is coupled non-rotatably to one of the cam elements (18, 19) and on the other hand is coupled to the other cam element (18, 19) via the coupling geometry (22, 26, 28, 29).
4. Locking mechanism (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivot pin (23) passes through the locking element (9) and the first cam element (18) and the second cam element (19) are disposed on opposite sides of the locking element (9).
5. Locking mechanism (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pivot pin (23) comprises an opening provided with an internal thread and is fixed in position thereon by means of screw (27, 30) extending through one of the cam elements (18, 19).
6. Locking mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a base plate (11) which includes a linear guide (13) for linearly positionable guiding the locking element (9) and/or includes a bearing structure (20) for rotatably positionable bearing at least one of the coupling elements (18, 19) and/or the pivot (23).
7. Locking mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first cam element (18) comprises an eccentric driver (32) engaging with the locking element (9).
8. Locking mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second cam element (19) comprises an eccentric driver (21) engaging with the pull-push element (7).
9. Locking mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the push-pull element (7) is a rod (7).

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