EP3692230B1 - Motor vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism, and with a drive for the locking mechanism, in particular for electrically opening / closing the locking mechanism, the drive being equipped with at least one drive element that works directly or indirectly on the locking mechanism, with a mechanical actuating element for emergency actuation of the drive element. wherein the drive element and the actuating element are each equipped with a toothing.

The drive for the locking mechanism generally ensures that it is opened electrically. For this purpose, the drive works directly or indirectly via the drive element on a pawl as part of the locking mechanism made up of pawl and rotary latch. Since the drive in general and also has an electric motor, one speaks in this context of electric opening of the locking mechanism.

Motor vehicle door locks with such an additional drive for opening or closing a locking mechanism are increasingly used in practice and are extensively described. This is how the generic one deals DE 10 2015 205 951 A1 with such a motor vehicle door lock in which the locking mechanism is opened with the aid of a first electric drive. In addition to the first electric drive for opening, a second electric drive is provided which works as a closing aid and is therefore responsible for closing the locking mechanism.

Electric opening drives are usually implemented in connection with what is known as "keyless entry" access. In this case, after an outside door handle or inside door handle has been actuated, a dialogue takes place between the motor vehicle and, for example, a user-side key or generally a transceiver. Following a positive check of the user's access authorization, the pawl is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch with the aid of the electric opening drive when the lock is closed (cf. only an example DE 10 2007 011 498 A1 ). In the closed state of the locking mechanism, the pawl generally first engages in a preliminary detent and then a main detent of the rotary latch. In order to open the locking mechanism, the pawl must consequently be lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch. The drive or opening drive takes care of this when opening electrically.

The actuation of the locking mechanism with the aid of the drive can take place directly or indirectly. An indirect application provides, for example, that the drive acts on the pawl via an interposed release lever and that the pawl is then lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch. In the event that the locking mechanism is acted upon directly with the aid of the drive, the procedure is generally such that the drive lifts the pawl directly from its engagement with the rotary latch. For this purpose, the drive element set in rotation, for example, can be equipped with an actuating cam which works directly on the pawl and lifts it from its engagement with the rotary latch.

If the drive is not an opening drive, but one for closing the locking mechanism, the procedure is generally such that the drive engages the rotary latch. As soon as the locking mechanism assumes, for example, its pre-latching position with the pawl which has fallen into the pre-latching position of the rotary latch, the drive ensures that the rotary latch is pivoted in the direction of the main latch. In this way, the drive ensures that the locking mechanism is closed.

In the prior art and in practice, for example, in an implemented drive for electrically opening the locking mechanism, situations are conceivable in which the electrical drive does not switch back on after an opening movement returns to his position. Such scenarios are conceivable if, for example, the motor fails, the drive is blocked by mechanical action, etc. In this case, the drive ensures that the pawl is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch and maintains this functional position. The consequence of this is that the associated motor vehicle door lock cannot (no longer) be closed. An associated motor vehicle door also remains permanently open. This is unacceptable for reasons of required theft protection. The invention aims to provide a remedy here.

From the prior art, for example, are from US 2012/061976 A1 and US 2013/015670 A1 Motor vehicle locks with a locking mechanism, a drive with a drive element for actuating the locking mechanism, and a mechanical actuating element for emergency actuation of the drive element are known.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle door lock in such a way that even if the drive fails, for example, the locking mechanism can and can be operated without any changes.

To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle door lock within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the toothing of the actuating element is equipped with a recess so that the two toothings do not mesh during normal operation and only mesh with each other for emergency actuation.

The drive for the locking mechanism can be moved back (again) at least into its basic position with the aid of the mechanical actuating element. This is generally done by manually acting on the actuating element in question. In the event that the drive is one for electrically opening the locking mechanism, the emergency actuation corresponds to the emergency locking of the locking mechanism. In this case, the actuating element is consequently set up for emergency closing of the locking mechanism. This is usually how it is done.

In principle, however, the mechanical actuating element can also be provided for emergency opening of the locking mechanism. In this case, the mechanical actuation element again ensures that the drive element blocked or otherwise stopped during the closing process is again mechanically moved back into its basic position after a manual application. This means that permanent closure can be lifted in the course of an emergency opening.

As a rule, however, the drive for the locking mechanism is, in particular, a drive for electrically opening the locking mechanism, so that the mechanical actuating element is provided and set up for emergency closing of the drive element. This means that an electric drive blocked in the "open" position for opening the locking mechanism is reversed mechanically into its basic position with the aid of the mechanical actuating element. Since the basic position corresponds to the fact that the drive generally does not act on the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism can then be closed mechanically without any problems. The same applies to the associated vehicle door.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the actuating element is designed as a lock. A lock's own actuating element denotes one which is designed as a component of the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention, and that already during manufacture. For example, the actuating element in question may be mounted in or on the associated lock housing. This is the procedure throughout the present invention.

It has proven useful if the actuating element acts radially on the drive element to rotate it. The invention is based on the knowledge that the drive element, as a component of the drive, is set in rotation with the aid of an electric motor as a further component of the drive. Rotations of the drive element lead in normal operation to that the lock is opened electrically. For this purpose, the drive element is typically equipped with an actuating cam which works directly or indirectly on the pawl of the locking mechanism.

If the locking mechanism is closed and is to be opened electrically, a corresponding rotation of the drive element with the aid of the electric motor causes the actuating cam to lift the pawl directly or indirectly from its engagement with the rotary latch. As a result, the rotary latch is released from the pawl and a previously caught locking bolt is also released. The associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

In order to also implement an emergency actuation or emergency closing with the aid of the mechanical actuation element in the example, the drive element and the actuation element are advantageously each equipped with a toothing. Most of the time, the drive element has circumferential teeth and is consequently designed as a worm wheel. The electric motor, for its part, has an output worm on its output shaft, which meshes with the circumferential toothing of the drive element or worm wheel. In this way, the drive element or worm wheel can be set in rotation for electrical opening and lift the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch, as described. This is how it is done in normal operation.

In this normal operation, however, the two gears on the drive element on the one hand and the mechanical actuating element for emergency actuation on the other hand do not mesh with one another. That is, in normal operation, the mechanical actuating element for emergency actuation and advantageously for emergency closing cannot interact with the drive element. Only when emergency actuation or emergency closure is required do the two gears mesh with one another.

In order to achieve and implement this in detail, the toothing of the actuating element is equipped according to the invention with a recess. In addition, the design in this case is preferably made such that the recess in the toothing of the actuating element is opposite the toothing of the actuating element in normal operation. Since the recess of the actuating element and the associated toothing of the drive element consequently do not mesh with one another, the drive element can perform pivoting movements in normal operation, regardless of the actuating element.

Only when emergency operation or emergency actuation is required does manual actuation of the mechanical actuating element ensure that the toothing on the actuating element in question is brought into engagement with the toothing of the drive element. An operator ensures this by manually applying the mechanical actuating element as already described.

The design is generally made such that the recess in the toothing of the actuating element is designed as a largely circular segment. Consequently, the toothing of the actuating element also sweeps over a segment of a circle. The overall design is such that the circular segment of the toothing of the actuating element is designed to be larger overall, typically twice as large as the circular segment belonging to the recess of the toothing. This means that an actuating worm, which is usually implemented in this context, is subdivided in a ratio of one third to two thirds, with one third of the circumference belonging to the recess and two thirds to the toothing.

In this way, normal operation of the drive element is made available, which in normal operation cannot interact with the actuation element or the actuation worm addressed. Only in emergency operation and with an emergency operation or for emergency closing of the Drive element engages the circular segment of the actuating worm, which is equipped with corresponding worm windings, in the drive element. A two-thirds of a circle rotation is generally sufficient to act on the drive element manually with the aid of the actuating element or the actuating worm at least to such an extent that the pawl is no longer held in its lifted position compared to the rotary latch. As a consequence of this, the pawl can easily fall into the locking mechanism or the rotary latch during a subsequent mechanical locking process, namely first into the preliminary detent and then into the main detent. The rotary latch is - as usual - moved into its closed position by a locking bolt moving into the inlet mouth of the rotary latch.

The actuating element generally has the actuating worm arranged tangentially on the drive element. In this way, the actuating worm can interact with the circumferential toothing of the drive element in a manner comparable to that of the output worm on the output shaft of the electric motor. As a rule, the actuating element is equipped in two parts with the actuating worm in question and, in addition, a manipulation element that can be actuated manually.

It has proven useful if the manipulation element and the actuating worm are arranged at an angle to one another. This is essentially explained by the fact that the actuating worm, as part of the actuating element, is arranged tangentially in comparison to the drive element. The manipulation element advantageously has an actuating nut. The actuation nut can for example be stored in the lock housing and / or lock case. As a result, the actuating nut is easily accessible from the outside.

In addition, in this context it is advisable to arrange the manipulation element or the actuating nut in the inlet mouth of the associated motor vehicle door lock. Here, the invention is based on Recognition that the inlet mouth is directly accessible in the event of an emergency closure. Because the emergency closure requires that the lock is permanently open and cannot be closed. The motor vehicle door and in particular the inlet mouth are consequently also accessible. An operator can now act on the actuating nut via the accessible inlet mouth in such a way that the drive element and with it the entire drive experience the emergency closure described. As a result, the pawl is no longer lifted off the rotary latch.

If the associated motor vehicle door is then mechanically closed by the operator, the locking bolt entering the inlet mouth and then interacting with the rotary latch ensures that the rotary latch is moved into its closed position, as usual. Since the pawl has left its lifted position, it can initially fall into the preliminary catch and then the main catch of the rotary latch as desired and the associated motor vehicle door is emergency-closed as required. This effectively prevents any theft of the motor vehicle. At the same time, the motor vehicle door can generally then - again - open, for example via a lock cylinder provided, if the electrical opening drive is still defective. Other emergency opening measures are also conceivable.

As a result, a motor vehicle door lock is made available which is equipped with a particularly simply constructed actuating element, in particular for emergency locking. This is because the mechanical actuating element used at this point for emergency actuation of the drive element does not require any modifications to the otherwise retained electrical drive. Rather, it is sufficient if the actuating worm, as part of the two-part actuating element, is arranged tangentially in comparison to the drive element. An additional manipulation element ensures that the actuating worm is acted upon accordingly. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

Fig.1

das erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugtürschloss in einer schematischen Übersicht mit stehengebliebenem elektrischen Antrieb,

Fig. 2

den Gegenstand nach Fig. 1 aus einer Blickrichtung entlang des Pfeiles X in der Fig. 1 und

Fig. 3

ein Detail aus der Fig. 1 im Bereich des Antriebselementes perspektivisch.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to drawings which merely represent a preferred exemplary embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention in a schematic overview with stopped electric drive,

Fig. 2

the subject Fig. 1 from a viewing direction along the arrow X in the Fig. 1 and

Fig. 3

a detail from the Fig. 1 in the area of the drive element in perspective.

A motor vehicle door lock is shown in the figures. The motor vehicle door lock generally has a lock housing 1, 2. The lock housing 1, 2 is composed of a solid lock case 1 made of metal (steel) on the one hand and a lock cover 2 (made of plastic) on the other. In the lock case 1, a locking mechanism 3, 4 is stored, which is particularly in the Fig. 1 to some extent recognizes. The locking mechanism 3, 4 is composed of a rotary latch 4 and a pawl 3 of the usual functionality.

Another basic structure also includes an electric drive 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The electric drive 5 to 9 is used in the present case to open the locking mechanism 3, 4. For this purpose, the drive 5 to 9 consists of an electric motor 5 and an output worm 6 on an output shaft of the electric motor 5 together.

The output worm 6 meshes with a drive element 7 as a further component of the electric drive 5 to 9. In the exemplary embodiment, the drive element 7 is a worm wheel 7, which is also included an outer circumferential toothing 14 is equipped. The output worm 6 on the output shaft of the electric motor 5 engages with its individual worm turns in the outer circumferential toothing 14 of the worm wheel 7 and in this way can set the worm wheel 7 in rotation. In the exemplary embodiment, an opening of the locking mechanism 3, 4 corresponds to a rotation of the worm wheel 7 in the indicated clockwise direction, namely until an actuating cam 8 arranged on the worm wheel 7 can operate on a release lever 9.

As soon as the actuating cam 8, the release lever 9 as in the Fig. 1 acted upon, this leads to the fact that the release lever 9 about its axis is also in the Fig. 1 indicated counterclockwise movement, so that the release lever 9 with its actuating arm opposite the actuating cam 8 lifts the pawl 3 from its engagement with the rotary latch 4.

The described electric or electromotive drive 5 to 9 now remains in the open position of the locking mechanism 3, 4 as shown in FIG Fig. 1 stand because, for example, the electrical power supply to the electric motor 5 is interrupted, fails or otherwise blocked as the electric drive 5 to 9, the motor vehicle door equipped with the corresponding motor vehicle door lock can no longer be closed. In the illustrated example, the electric drive 5 to 9 or its drive element 7 works indirectly on the locking mechanism 3, 4, namely via the release lever 9 Engagement with the rotary latch 4 is lifted.

If the electric drive 5 to 9 falls in the functional position after the Fig. 1 "open" with reference to the locking mechanism 3, 4 for the reasons outlined above, the locking mechanism 3, 4 can, according to the invention, be emergency actuated or closed. A mechanical actuating element 10, 11, 12 is implemented for this purpose.

With the help of this mechanical actuating element 10, 11, 12, the drive element 7 is acted upon for emergency actuation or emergency closing.

Based on the overview drawing after the Fig. 1 it can be seen that the actuating element 10, 11, 12 is essentially equipped in two parts with an actuating worm 10 and a manipulation element 11, 12. The actuating element 10, 11, 12 or its actuating worm 10 engages the drive element 7 radially. For this purpose, the actuating worm 10 is arranged overall tangentially in comparison to the drive element 7. The actuating worm 10 has - like the output worm 6 - comparable worm flights or worm windings 13 of the same or at least similar pitch, which can be brought into engagement with the outer circumferential toothing 14 of the drive element or worm wheel 7. This can be seen in particular from the Fig. 3 . This illustration also makes it clear that the outer circumferential toothing 14 of the worm wheel 7 and the worm threads 13 of the actuating worm 10 in FIG Fig. 3 normal operation shown do not interlock. The actuating worm 10 is rotated only when emergency operation and an associated emergency closure occurs or is to occur, specifically in the example in FIG Fig. 3 clockwise shown.

As a result, a recess 15 in the toothing or the worm threads 13 of the actuating worm 10 is moved away from its orientation in normal operation opposite the toothing 14 of the drive element or worm wheel 7. Rather, in this case of emergency actuation or emergency closing, the two toothings 13, 14 mesh and can mesh with one another. This is because, in emergency operation, the worm threads 13 of the actuating worm 10 engage the toothing 14 of the worm wheel 7 on the outer circumference. Overall, this engagement leads to the drive element or worm wheel 7 moving in a counterclockwise direction in the illustration of FIG Fig. 1 performs, so that the actuating cam 8 on the drive element 7 does not (any longer) the release lever 9 applied. As a consequence of this, the pawl 3 is also no longer lifted off from the rotary latch 4. Rather, the locking mechanism 3, 4 can then easily be closed mechanically by inserting a locking bolt, not shown, into a Fig. 2 to be recognized inlet mouth 16 in the lock case 1 retracts.

The locking bolt moving into the inlet mouth 16 interacts with the rotary latch 4, which is transferred into its closed position. Since the pawl 3 is no longer lifted off, it can first fall into the preliminary catch and then the main catch of the rotary latch 4. The locking mechanism 3, 4 can be closed mechanically in the normal way. Based on Fig. 3 it can be seen that the recess 15 on the one hand and the toothing or the worm threads 13 of the actuating worm 10 on the other hand cover and occupy different circular segments of a full circle. The division may be such that the recess 15 is approximately one third of the full circle, whereas the worm threads 13 occupy approximately two thirds of the full circle. Of course, this only applies as an example. In any case, the two-thirds occupancy of the full circle on the part of the worm flights 13 is sufficient to by the described rotating loading of the actuating worm 10 in the Fig. 3 indicated clockwise the drive element 7 so far counterclockwise in the Fig. 1 to pivot so that the actuating cam 8 no longer acts on the release lever 9. As a result, the release lever 9 releases the pawl 3 and the locking mechanism 3, 4 and with it the motor vehicle door lock and consequently the motor vehicle door as a whole can be mechanically closed.

The previously mentioned manipulation element 11, 12 provides for the manual actuation of the two-part actuating element 10, 11, 12 Fig. 1 it can be seen that the manipulation element 11, 12 and the actuating worm 10 are arranged at an angle to one another. The manipulation element 11, 12 has an actuating nut 12 mounted, for example, in the lock housing 1, 2 Actuating nut 12 according to the embodiment is stored in lock case 1, namely there in the inlet mouth 16 already described above. The inlet mouth 16 is accessible from the outside when the vehicle door is open and the emergency locking is therefore required, so that an operator can pivot the actuating socket 12 in question without any problems. A connecting member or connecting rod 11 and consequently the actuating worm 10 are rotated via the pivoting movement of the actuating nut 12 and, through the engagement of the worm threads 13 in the outer circumferential toothing 14 of the worm wheel 7, ensures that the actuating cam 8 no longer acts on the release lever 9 .

As already explained, the manipulation element 11, 12 on the one hand and the actuating worm 10 on the other hand are arranged at an angle to one another. In addition, the manipulation element 11, 12 and the worm actuation 10 are rotationally fixed to one another, so that the rotary movements described and introduced into the manipulation element 11, 12 via the actuation nut 12 are also transmitted to the worm actuation 10 as rotary movements. As a result of the angled arrangement between the manipulation element 11, 12 and the actuating worm 10, an elastic connection, for example, is used at this point. The actuating worm 10 and the manipulation element 11, 12 can, however, also be coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner via a bevel gear toothing.

Claims (7)

1. Motor vehicle door latch, comprising a locking mechanism (3, 4), and comprising a drive (5 to 9) for the locking mechanism (3, 4), in particular for electrical opening/closing, the drive (5 to 9) being provided with at least one drive element (7) which acts directly or indirectly on the locking mechanism (3, 4), and comprising a mechanical operating element (10, 11, 12) which is provided for emergency operation of the drive element (7), the drive element (7) and the operating element (10, 11, 12) each being provided with a toothing (13, 14), characterized in that the toothing (13) of the operating element (10, 11, 12) is provided with a recess (15) so that the two toothings (13, 14) do not engage with one another during normal operation and only mesh with one another for emergency operation.
2. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating element (10, 11, 12) acts radially on the drive element (7) in order to rotate it.
3. Motor vehicle door latch according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the recess (15) in the toothing (13) of the operating element (10, 11, 12) lies opposite the toothing (14) of the drive element (7) during normal operation.
4. Motor vehicle door latch according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the operating element (10, 11, 12) has an operating worm (10) arranged tangentially on the drive element (7).
5. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 4, characterized in that the operating element (10, 11, 12) is provided in two parts, with the operating worm (10) and a manipulation element (10, 11) that can be acted upon manually.
6. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 5, characterized in that the manipulation element (10, 11) and the operating worm (10) are arranged at an angle to one another.
7. Motor vehicle door latch according to either claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the manipulation element (10, 11) has an operating nut (12) mounted, for example, in the latch housing (1, 2).

Images