EP3697988B1 - Vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and pawl, and with a reversible drive, the drive opening the locking mechanism in a first direction and transferring it to a different functional position, in particular a locking position, in a second direction that differs from this.

The drive in the aforementioned motor vehicle door lock is designed to be reversible, which means that it can be controlled and moved in the two different directions, the first direction for opening the locking mechanism and the second direction for transferring the motor vehicle door lock into the different functional position. The functional position deviating from the opening of the locking mechanism is generally a safety position. This means that the reversible drive, which is generally designed as an electric motor drive, opens the locking mechanism in the first direction and transfers the locking mechanism to the secured position in the second direction, which differs from this. This can be a locking position, anti-theft position, child safety position, central locking position, etc. As a result, the motor vehicle door lock has a combined reversible drive, which not only ensures electrical opening as in the case of an electric lock, but also takes on at least one additional function. This consists in realizing the different functional position or safety position of the motor vehicle door lock.

As soon as the motor vehicle door lock has assumed such a secure position, this generally results in the locking mechanism being pressed working actuating lever system or an actuating lever chain is "secured" in the example. From this it follows that a mechanical loading of the actuating lever mechanism in question generally has no effect and consequently the locking mechanism cannot be opened. If, on the other hand, the motor vehicle door lock and with it the actuating lever system is in the "unlocked" position, mechanical loading of the actuating lever system regularly results in the locking mechanism being able to be opened. - In this way, the actuating lever system can be used redundantly for opening the locking mechanism.

In the generic state of the art according to DE 10 2012 003 743 A1 an electric drive and a locking lever are implemented. In normal operation, the electric drive acts on the locking mechanism for electric opening. In addition, the electric drive also ensures mechanical opening of the locking mechanism, at least in emergency operation. As part of this emergency operation, an emergency opening is possible, for example, in the event that the electric drive has failed. In emergency operation, a mechanical connection is established between a handle and the locking mechanism.

In detail, this is done as part of the teaching according to the DE 10 2012 003 743 A1 proceeded in such a way that the locking lever maintains its "locked" position throughout normal operation - even when opening electrically. In this way, the functional reliability should be increased compared to previous solutions. This is achieved in such a way that the handle is not mechanically connected to the locking mechanism during normal operation.

Looking at the teaching after the EP 1 074 681 B1 , A motor vehicle door lock is described herein, in which the electric drive motor in normal operation in only one direction of rotation, the so-called Normal direction of rotation, works. In emergency operation, the electric drive motor works in the opposite direction of rotation, the emergency direction of rotation. In addition, different reduction ratios are realized. For this purpose, a step-down gear designed as a planetary gear is provided, which leads to an overall complicated and costly structure.

The state of the art has basically proven itself when it comes to additionally realizing emergency operation in a so-called electric lock, ie a motor vehicle door lock with an electric motor drive for electrically opening the locking mechanism. Emergency operation is shown with the help of the mechanically acting actuating lever chain, which acts on the locking mechanism for this purpose if the motor drive fails. This is in the generic teaching after the DE 10 2012 003 743 A1 provided that the locking lever maintains its "locked" position throughout normal operation, so that in this case the mechanical actuating lever chain is interrupted.

Problems can arise from such an interpretation. Because the actuating lever chain is only closed when changing from normal operation to emergency operation. This means that the actuating lever chain remains mostly at rest and is practically not acted upon. This can lead to functional impairments, corrosion, etc., especially over long periods of time. This is where the invention aims to remedy the situation overall.

In a generic motor vehicle door lock, a temporarily acting stop for the drive is provided, which limits the movement at least when it is acted upon in the first direction to cancel the functional position and thereby prevents electrical opening.

The reversible drive is equipped with an electric motor and an output element that can be acted upon by it. The output element is an output disk that can be rotated on an axis. The driven pulley can consequently perform a counterclockwise rotation corresponding to the first direction. On the other hand, the clockwise rotation belongs to the second direction.

In any case, in this way the design is such that the reversible drive opens the locking mechanism in the first direction or in the case of a counterclockwise rotation about the axis of the output element or the output disk. This may include a so-called normal operation. In normal operation, the functional position or safety position is expressly not assumed within the scope of the present invention. This means that the actuating lever chain that is additionally provided is not secured or "unsecured" in the described normal operation, and can therefore also be used to act on the locking mechanism.

For example, it is conceivable that the reversible drive used to open the locking mechanism is used according to the invention (exclusively) for external actuation of an associated motor vehicle door equipped with the motor vehicle door lock in question. In contrast, the actuating lever chain may work on the locking mechanism when it is actuated from the inside. Since the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention consistently assumes the functional position "unlocked" and is only transferred to the different functional position "secured" when the reversible drive is acted upon in the second direction or when rotated clockwise, the actuating lever chain is permanently in use and malfunctions can also be identified prevent long timescales.

This also applies in the event that the operating lever chain is used redundantly as part of an external operation. In this case, the operating lever chain is also "unlocked" throughout, so it can be used as an alternative to "electrical opening" for opening the locking mechanism. If both types of opening are carried out, i.e. electrical opening as well as manual opening, problems are not to be feared because the electrical opening process is typically much faster than manual opening, so that in general the manual opening process leads to a movement of the actuating lever chain, but this does not (anymore) open the locking mechanism because it is already open. At the same time, the actuating lever chain is acted upon and retains its ability to function over long periods of time. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

It is known in the prior art to use pivotable blocking elements such as levers to block the movement of a drive pulley. The invention is based on the technical problem of providing an alternative embodiment of such a motor vehicle door lock, with which a particularly compact design can be achieved in particular. According to the invention, the stop in question, which acts temporarily, is a pin that can be moved radially with respect to the rotatable output element. According to the invention, the pin is moved according to a signal transmitted by at least one sensor to a control unit. In general, two sensors can advantageously be provided at this point. A sensor acts to query the functional position in the sense of "secured" or "unlocked". Another sensor can be used to query the position of the driven element or the driven pulley.

In addition, both sensors are advantageously connected to the control unit, which derives corresponding information for acting on the temporarily effective stop from the sensor signals. If, for example, the first or only sensor reports that the "unlocked" functional position has been reached, the control unit can control the temporarily acting stop or an actuator for the pin that can be moved radially with respect to the rotatable output element. With the help of this actuating drive, the pin is moved against the toothing of the rotatable output element provided on the outer circumference and consequently ensures the blockage of the output element. As a result, the driven element cannot be moved any further in the associated first direction of the drive and, according to the invention, the movement of the drive is limited. In addition, electrical opening is prevented as desired.

The output element or the output disk is generally equipped on one surface with an opening contour for electrical opening and on its opposite other surface with a securing contour. Advantageously and not restrictively, the security contour can be an anti-theft contour. With the help of the safety contour, the different functional position or safety position can be implemented according to the invention, namely when the reversible drive is acted upon in the second direction. The motor vehicle door lock is then transferred overall from the previously assumed “unlocked” position to the actual functional position or locking position “secured”.

In addition, a return spring is advantageously assigned to the driven element. The return spring is usually a so-called middle/zero spring, ie such a restoring spring which moves the output element back into a neutral position, the zero position, after a respective loading, specifically both in the first and in the second direction. In this zero position, the deviating functional position or safety position is not assumed, but the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention is unchanged in the "unlocked" position associated with normal operation.

In addition, the procedure is generally such that an opening movement for the locking mechanism and a securing movement for reaching the functional position correspond to different path lengths. In most cases, the path length of the opening movement for the locking mechanism is designed to be greater than that of the securing movement. In fact, the path length for the opening movement of the locking mechanism can be designed to be approximately twice as long as the securing movement to reach the functional position or, advantageously, the securing position.

With this design, the temporarily acting stop can ensure overall that when the functional position is canceled the electromotive or reversible drive does not unintentionally cause the locking mechanism to open electrically. In fact, taking the different functional position or the safety position corresponds to the fact that the locking mechanism and consequently the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention as a whole is transferred from the previously assumed "unlocked" position to the "secured" position by the drive applied in the second direction. If the "secured" position is to be canceled again, the drive must be acted upon in the opposite direction, that is, in its first direction. The first direction of the reversible drive normally leads to the locking mechanism being opened.

However, since the length of the opening movement is greater than that of the securing movement, the reversible drive can be acted upon in this first direction in order to transfer the locking mechanism or the motor vehicle door lock as a whole from the "secured" position to the "unsecured" position, specifically without the hereby connected and completed safety movement also leading to an opening of the locking mechanism. This is prevented by the temporary stop for the drive.

The pin in question can interact with the outer circumference of the driven element to temporarily block it.

Since the output element is generally driven with the aid of an electric motor or a worm arranged on its output shaft, it usually has teeth provided on the outer circumference. Not only does the previously mentioned worm engage in this gearing, but the pin in question can also move to temporarily block the output element or the output disk.

As already explained, the "unlocked" functional position is retained in normal operation and when the locking mechanism is opened electrically by applying pressure to the reversible drive in the first direction. Only when the reversible drive is acted upon in the second direction is the actuating lever chain transferred to the "secured" functional position. In order to cancel the "secured" position in question, the drive is acted upon again in the first direction. As soon as the "unlocked" functional position is reached, this is reported to the control unit by the at least one sensor. As a result, the control unit acts on the actuator so that the pin connected to the actuator temporarily blocks the Output element interacts with the outer circumference. This means that the pen is moved according to the signal transmitted by at least one sensor to the control unit.

As a result, a motor vehicle door lock is made available which has a particularly functionally reliable structure. In addition, the design is particularly compact and inexpensive. A motor drive, which is designed to be reversible, provides for the electrical opening, which is often obligatory nowadays at least in the context of external actuation.

If this drive is acted upon in a direction opposite to the electrical opening, then the safety position of an additional operating lever system can typically be reached and adjusted. This means that only when the reversible drive is moved in the associated second direction within the scope of the invention does the actuating lever mechanism in question assume its “secured” functional position. Otherwise the actuating lever system is in the "unlocked" position and can consequently be used throughout to act on the locking mechanism.

The safety position or deviating functional position and the "secured" position thus assumed by the actuating lever mechanism generally belongs to the "anti-theft device on" or "locked" position. Of course, this only applies as an example. In this case, the actuating lever chain is interrupted and any actions applied to a handle do not occur.

In this way, a so-called temporary crash redundancy (TCR) can be implemented overall in addition to the compact design. Because during the entire normal operation and during "electrical opening", emergency operation can be ensured without any problems in order to ensure that the door is opened mechanically in any case to enable locking. This can be attributed to the fact that the actuating lever chain assumes its "unlocked" functional position in normal operation, and is consequently closed and can work on the locking mechanism.

If the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention or the actuating lever chain and thus the locking mechanism are in the "secured" functional position, emergency operation can still be implemented and mapped, since after a crash the drive can still be moved at least in the first direction without any problems. to reach the functional position "unlocked". At the same time, the driven element can be blocked with the help of the temporarily acting stop for the drive, so that the motor vehicle door lock is not unintentionally opened. Taking the functional position "unlocked" is only possible by spring force with the help of the return spring.

In any case, it can be ensured even in a crash situation that the actuating lever chain is closed and can then be used by rescue personnel for the subsequent emergency operation. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

Fig. 1

das erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugtürschloss schematisch und in einer Übersicht,

Fig. 2

den zugehörigen reversierbaren Antrieb inklusive Gesperre in einer Frontansicht und

Fig. 3

den Gegenstand nach der Fig. 2 in einer Rückansicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing that merely represents an exemplary embodiment.

1

the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention schematically and in an overview,

2

the associated reversible drive including the locking mechanism in a front view and

3

the item after the 2 in a rear view.

The figures first of all show a motor vehicle door lock which, as usual, has a locking mechanism 1 , 2 consisting essentially of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2 . In addition to the locking mechanism 1, 2, an actuating lever system or an actuating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6 is basically also realized, which is primarily in the 3 recognizes. According to the exemplary embodiment, the actuating lever chain 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 is composed of a safety lever 3 , a clutch lever 4 , an internal actuating lever 5 and finally a release lever 6 . The safety lever 3 is designed as an anti-theft lever 3 in the illustrated example and not restrictively.

In addition, the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention has a reversible drive 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, which is primarily in the 2 is shown. The drive 7-11 has an electric motor 7, to whose output shaft a worm 8 is connected. The worm 8 meshes with a toothing of a driven element 9 or a driven pulley 9 on the outer circumference 2 shown surface. This includes a front view.

in the in 3 In the rear view of the electromotive drive 7 - 11 shown, one can also see a securing contour 11 provided on the other opposite surface of the driven element or the driven pulley 9, which in the exemplary embodiment and not restrictively is designed as an anti-theft contour 11 and in the present case can interact with the securing lever or anti-theft lever 3 , as will be explained below. The electric motor drive 7 - 11 is then another Assigned return spring 12, which is designed in the embodiment as a center / zero spring. The return spring 12 in question is only in the 1 indicated schematically and ensures that the electric motor drive 7 - 11 and its driven pulley 9 without being acted upon by the electric motor 7 assumes a so-called basic position or zero position 13, as only in the 1 and the schematic overview there.

The basic structure also includes a temporarily acting stop 14 for the drive 7 to 11 . In the exemplary embodiment, the stop 14 is designed as a pin 14 that can be moved radially with respect to the rotatable output element or the output disk 9 . An associated actuator 15, which is designed as a linear actuator in the exemplary embodiment, ensures that the pin 14 can be moved radially. The actuator 15 is acted upon with the aid of a control unit 16 . In addition, a sensor 17 is connected to the control unit 16, which queries the position of the driven pulley 9 or is set up for this purpose. In particular, the adoption of the basic position or zero position 13 can be queried and determined with the aid of the sensor 17 .

How it works is as follows. The electromotive and reversible drive 7 - 11 can open the locking mechanism 1 , 2 in a first direction 18 . A counterclockwise rotation of the driven pulley 9 starting from the zero position or basic position 13 corresponds to said first direction 18, as shown in the diagram according to FIG 1 is represented by an arrow 18. In this counterclockwise rotation or first direction 18 of the driven pulley 9, the opening contour 10 moves on in the 2 shown front against the L-shaped in the embodiment pawl 2 and ensures that the pawl 2 is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 1. As a result, the rotary latch 1 opens with spring support in a clockwise direction, as is also the case in FIG 2 is indicated by an arrow. a before trapped locking bolt is released. The associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

After completion of the application of the driven pulley 9 by means of the electric motor 7 and consequently after completing an associated opening movement for the locking mechanism 1, 2, which to a in the 1 indicated path length W ₁ , the electric motor drive 7-11 is first switched off and then reset. This is ensured by the restoring spring 12 acting on the output disk 9. Since this is a center/zero spring, the output disk 9 and consequently the electromotive drive 7 - 11 as a whole are (again) transferred to its zero position or basic position 13 .

The process described above may belong to an external actuation of the motor vehicle door lock shown. This means that the associated motor vehicle door is generally designed without an outside door handle or if such an outside door handle is present, it only ensures via a sensor (not shown) that is activated when it is acted upon that the electromotive drive 7 - 11 is acted upon and consequently energized . An associated mechanically operating external actuating lever chain is not implemented.

This means that the operating lever chain 3 - 6 provided in the illustration is not restrictively an internal operating lever chain. The internal actuating lever chain or generally the actuating lever chain 3 - 6 is in the basic position or neutral position 13 in its "unlocked" functional position. That is, a loading of the inside operating lever 5 using a handle, which is presently designed as an inside handle with an inside door handle, not shown, means that on the closed actuating lever chain 3 - 6 as an alternative to the electrical opening process described above, the locking mechanism 1, 2 can be opened and the pawl 2 can be lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 1. That's in the 3 only indicated and belongs to the solid position of the safety lever 3.

As already explained, the electric motor drive 7-11 in the first direction 18 or when the driven pulley 9 rotates counterclockwise ensures that the locking mechanism 1, 2 is opened as described. In a different second direction 19, which consequently corresponds to a clockwise rotation of the driven pulley 9, the motor vehicle door lock is transferred overall to a different functional position or safety position. Both directions 18 , 19 each start from the basic position or zero position 13 . Assuming the safety position or the different functional position corresponds to the fact that the motor vehicle door lock or the associated actuating lever chain 3 - 6 is transferred from its "unlocked" functional position in the basic position or zero position 13 to a "secured" position. This is ensured by an application of the electric motor drive 7 - 11 in the second direction 19 or a clockwise rotation of the driven pulley 9, such as that 3 shows in detail.

The representation there shows that when the driven pulley 9 is actuated in the second direction 19 starting from the basic position or zero position 13, the safety contour or anti-theft device contour 11 there initially holds the safety lever 3 or anti-theft device lever in the “anti-theft device off” position ( reproduced in solid lines) and after reaching the end position in the second direction 19 assumes the position "anti-theft device on" (shown in broken lines). As soon as the anti-theft lever 3 is released from the anti-theft contour 11, the anti-theft device lever 3 is pivoted clockwise about its axis indicated there by spring support and goes into the “anti-theft device off” position.

As soon as the anti-theft lever 3 has assumed the “anti-theft device on” position, the actuating lever chain 3-6 is interrupted, so that the inner handle and consequently the inner actuating lever 5 are not acted upon against the locking mechanism 1, 2. Because in this position the clutch lever 4 is in the 3 removed and disconnects a connection between the levers 5, 6. The anti-theft lever 3 takes the dashed position. This means that the locking mechanism 1, 2 cannot (any longer) be opened from the inside in the “anti-theft device on” position. This is the normal and desired functionality. The electromotive drive 7 - 11 returns to the basic position or zero position 13 at the end of its movement in the second direction 19 after completing the associated securing movement and a distance W ₂ associated therewith. This ensures again the return spring 12, as in the schematic overview after 1 is shown in detail.

In order to be able to disengage the anti-theft device again starting from the basic position or zero position 13 , the electromotive drive 7 - 11 must be acted upon in the first direction 18 . This happens again starting from the basic position or zero position 13 . Various measures are provided according to the invention so that an “electrical opening” does not occur unintentionally during this process.

First of all, the opening movement for the locking mechanism 1, 2 and the securing movement to reach the functional position correspond to different path lengths W ₁ , W ₂ , as can be seen from the schematic drawing in FIG the 1 recognizes. In fact, in the exemplary embodiment, the path length W ₁ of the opening movement for the locking mechanism 1, 2 is designed to be significantly greater than the path length W ₂ of the securing movement. This can be seen in particular when one looks at the first direction 18 with the path length W ₁ there and the path length W ₂ drawn in the same direction. In this way, the invention ensures that during the transition from the "anti-theft device on" position to the "anti-theft device off" position in the first direction 18, the electric motor drive 7 - 11 is not moved so far that the pawl 2 is finally lifted off the rotary latch 1 becomes. Rather, a further sensor 20 can be used to determine whether the position "anti-theft device off" has been reached. The signal emitted by sensor 20 is transmitted to control unit 16 . This corresponds to the 3 position of the anti-theft lever 3 shown in solid lines and consequently the "engaged" position of the clutch lever 4.

As a result of this, the stop 14 or the pin 14 realized at this point is moved with the aid of the actuating drive 15 in relation to the rotatable output element or the output disk 9 . In fact, the pin 14 in question interacts with its outer periphery to temporarily lock the driven pulley 9 . As a result, the electric motor drive 9-11 is then also temporarily blocked, namely with the aid of the pin 14. An unintentional opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 can hereby be ruled out.

This is because the pin 14 is moved in accordance with the at least one sensor 17, 20 and its signals transmitted to the control unit 16. As soon as the "anti-theft device off" position is reached, the electromotive drive 7 - 11 is again moved back to the basic position or zero position 13 with the aid of the return spring 12, which - as in the cases already described - is determined in each case with the aid of the associated sensor 17 can be. As a result of this the motor vehicle door lock shown is again in its initial position or basic position 13, from where electrical opening can again take place, as has already been described.

Claims (6)

1. A motor vehicle door latch, comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting substantially of a catch (1) and pawl (2), and comprising a reversible drive (7-11) which has an electric motor (7) and an output element (9) which can be acted upon by said motor, the drive (7-11) opening the locking mechanism (1, 2) in a first direction (18) and transferring said locking mechanism, in a second direction (19) different from the first, into a different functional position, in particular a securing position, a temporarily acting stop (14) being provided for the drive (7-11), which stop delimits the movement at least when acted upon in the first direction (18) in order to override the functional position and thus prevents the locking mechanism (1, 2) from electrically opening, the output element (9) being designed as a driven pulley (9) which can be rotated about an axis (A), the counter-clockwise rotation of the driven pulley corresponding to the first direction (18) and the clockwise rotation thereof corresponding to the second direction (19), the stop (14) being designed as a pin (14) which can be moved radially relative to the rotatable output element (9), characterized in that the pin (14) is moved in accordance with signals transmitted by at least one sensor (17, 20) to a control unit (16).
2. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, characterized in that the output element (9) is provided, on its one surface, with an opening contour (10) for electrical opening and, on its opposite other surface, with a securing contour (11), in particular an anti-theft securing contour (11).
3. The motor vehicle door latch according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a restoring spring (12), in particular a center/zero spring, is associated with the output element (9).
4. The motor vehicle door latch according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an opening movement for the locking mechanism (1, 2) and a securing movement for reaching the functional position and in particular securing position correspond to different path lengths (W₁, W₂).
5. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 4, characterized in that the path length (W₁) of the opening movement for the locking mechanism (1, 2) is greater than the path length (W₂) of the securing movement.
6. The motor vehicle door latch according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pin (14), in order to temporarily block the output element (9), interacts with the outer circumference thereof.

Images