EP3697989B1 - 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 electrical opening / closing, the drive being equipped with at least one drive element which works directly or indirectly on the locking mechanism.

Motor vehicle door locks with an additional drive for opening or closing a locking mechanism are increasingly used in practice and are extensively described in literature. 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. From the EP 2 105 559 A2 and the DE 10 2013 110 201 A1 for example, motor vehicle door locks with an additional drive for opening or closing a locking mechanism and with a drive element.

An electric opening drive usually ensures that the locking pawl is lifted from the rotary latch when the lock is closed after an outside or inside door handle has been actuated or in the case of a "keyless entry" dialog by means of an accompanying sensor signal and when it is triggered. In fact, the locking mechanism is essentially composed of the aforementioned rotary latch and the pawl. In the closed state of the locking mechanism, the pawl falls into a preliminary detent or 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 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.

When the drive is acted upon, it is provided that it lifts the pawl directly from its engagement with the rotary latch.

If the drive is 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-locking position with the pawl which has fallen into the pre-locking position of the rotary latch, the drive ensures that the rotary latch is pivoted in the direction of the main detent. In this way, the drive ensures that the locking mechanism is closed.

In the prior art and in a drive for electrically opening the locking mechanism, for example, situations are conceivable in which the electrical drive does not return to its position, for example after an opening movement. In other words, in this case the drive falsely and permanently ensures that the pawl is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch and remains. The consequence of this is that the associated motor vehicle door lock can no longer be closed and 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 overall.

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

To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle door lock is characterized within the scope of the invention in that a mechanical actuating element is provided for emergency actuation of the drive element.

That is, within the scope of the invention, 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. In the event that the drive is a acts for the electrical opening of 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 set up and provided for emergency opening of the locking mechanism. In this case, the mechanical actuating element again ensures that the drive element blocked or otherwise stopped during the closing process is again mechanically moved back into its basic position. 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 the invention, the mechanical actuating element is designed in two parts and is composed of an actuating lever belonging to the lock and an actuating tool external to the lock. While the lock's own actuating lever is mounted in or on the lock housing of the motor vehicle door lock, the actuating tool external to the lock is designed to be completely independent and self-sufficient in comparison to the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention. According to the invention, in this context the actuating lever is a push or pressure lever. That is, the actuating lever in question can generally be moved back and forth linearly in comparison to the lock housing. In addition, the operating lever is either pushed or pushed applied. The corresponding thrust or pressure is advantageously exerted on the operating lever with the aid of the operating tool.

As a result, the operating lever makes a linear movement. In the course of this linear movement, the actuating lever works on the drive element and, according to the invention, ensures that the drive element, and with it the entire drive, is moved back into the neutral position or basic position. In the example of the emergency closure described, this neutral or basic position corresponds to the fact that the drive does not act on the locking mechanism and, in particular, that the pawl is free from the drive. Consequently, the pawl is not (no longer) lifted off the rotary latch and can easily fall into the preliminary detent or main detent of the rotary latch when the associated motor vehicle door is closed manually, for example. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the actuating tool optionally passes through an opening in the lock housing. Since the emergency closing process is an absolute exception, the opening in the lock housing can be opened once in principle during this process or, for example, a window closing the opening can be destroyed with the aid of the operating tool or otherwise. In principle, however, it is also possible for the opening to be designed to be closable. The invention is based overall on the knowledge that the lock housing to accommodate the locking mechanism, among other things, must be designed to be as tightly closed as possible - except for an area near the inlet mouth - in order to prevent any environmental influences, the ingress of water, etc.

A variant has been found to be particularly preferred in which the opening for reaching through or engaging the actuating tool is arranged in the area of said inlet mouth. The invention is based on the knowledge that when a drive is implemented for electrically opening a locking mechanism and if it fails, the associated motor vehicle door is inevitably open and cannot be closed. With an open The motor vehicle door is directly accessible to the inlet mouth. This is because a lock holder, which is usually provided on the body side, can interact with the locking mechanism arranged in the interior of the lock housing via the inlet mouth on the motor vehicle door or the motor vehicle door lock usually arranged in or on the motor vehicle door. The arrangement of the opening in question in the inlet mouth not only provides an exposed and easily accessible position for inserting the operating tool. Instead, an opening that is present at this point or that inevitably occurs after the actuation tool has engaged, can in principle be damaged because the lock housing is at least partially open in the area of the inlet mouth anyway.

In addition, when reaching through the opening in the area of the inlet mouth, a direct interaction with the drive arranged in the interior of the lock housing and in particular its drive element is possible. That is, the inlet mouth is predestined for the arrangement of the opening for engagement of the operating tool.

The procedure here is generally such that the actuating element as a whole engages a pin of the drive element. Such an embodiment can be implemented particularly advantageously in the event that the drive element is designed as a worm wheel meshing with an electric motor. Because if the lock's own actuating lever performs the linear movement already described above, the drive element designed as a worm wheel can easily be pivoted via the actuating lever engaging the pin. A pushing or pushing movement to act on the actuating lever therefore leads directly to a rotary movement of the worm wheel and, overall, to the fact that the worm wheel is mechanically reversed back into its basic position or neutral position with the aid of the actuating element or the actuating tool engaging the actuating lever.

Since the electric motor meshes with the worm wheel as a further component of the drive, the Electric motor can be taken along without any problems, especially since low frictional forces are typically observed at this point. That is, within the scope of the invention, with the aid of the actuating element, the drive for the locking mechanism, in particular for electrical opening, can be mechanically moved back into its basic position or starting position without any problems, including and especially in the event that the drive is in any way "hanging" during the opening process stayed ". In this way, emergency closing of the drive element and consequently of the drive as a whole can be implemented without any problems with the aid of the mechanical confirmation element. The emergency closing and, in general, the emergency actuation of the drive element correspond to the fact that the drive element (again) assumes its starting position or neutral position or basic position. As a result, the locking mechanism can then be closed mechanically without any problems. The same applies to an associated motor vehicle door. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

Fig. 1

das erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugtürschloss in einer schematischen Ansicht mit stehen gebliebenem Antrieb und

Fig. 2

das Kraftfahrzeugtürschloss nach der Fig. 1 im Zuge einer Notbetätigung bzw. Notschließung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

Fig. 1

the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention in a schematic view with stopped drive and

Fig. 2

the motor vehicle door lock according to the Fig. 1 in the course of an emergency operation or emergency closure.

A motor vehicle door lock is shown in the figures. The motor vehicle door lock generally has a lock housing 1, which is only indicated. A locking mechanism 2, 3 is mounted in the lock housing 1, which is only indicated and is shown in the drawings in partial section or in side view. The locking mechanism 2, 3 is composed, as usual, of a pawl 2 and a rotary latch 3.

Another basic structure includes a drive 4, 5, 6, 7 for the locking mechanism 2, 3. In the exemplary embodiment, the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 is composed of an electric motor 4 and a drive element 5, which is the case here is a worm wheel 5 meshing with the electric motor 4.

Actually, the electric motor 4 engages with its output-side shaft or a worm arranged there in a peripheral toothing of the drive element or worm wheel 5, so that the worm wheel 5 can perform clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movements about its axis A, as is the case with the Fig. 1 indicates.

The worm wheel 5 has an actuating contour 6 on at least one surface. With the aid of the actuating contour 6, a release lever 7 can be pivoted, specifically about its axis B.

To open the locking mechanism 2, 3, the electric motor 4 acts on the drive element or worm wheel 5 in such a way that it executes a clockwise movement about its axis A. As a result of this clockwise movement of the worm wheel 5, the actuating contour 6 comes to rest on the release lever 7. This has the consequence that the release lever 7 moves counterclockwise about its axis B, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 is indicated.

The counterclockwise movement of the release lever 7 about its axis B ensures that in the closed position of the locking mechanism 2, 3 the pawl 2 is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 3. In this way, the locking mechanism 2, 3 can be opened electrically as a whole.

In fact, for electrical opening it is only necessary that the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 receive a corresponding opening command. For this purpose, the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 or the electric motor 4 is connected to a control unit 8, which in turn evaluates a signal from an outside door handle or inside door handle 9 or from a sensor there. The sensor can usually be a switch. The switch actuation and its registration with the aid of the control unit 8 ensures that the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 - as described - is acted upon to open the locking mechanism 2, 3.

If during the described opening process it happens that the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 for the locking mechanism 2, 3 is not permanently energized or mechanically blocked, scenarios are conceivable in such a way that the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 is in the position after the Fig. 1 stop. Usually the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 moves according to the in the Fig. 1 shown opening process for the locking mechanism 2, 3 back to its basic position or neutral position, as you can see in the Fig. 2 is shown. This corresponds to a counterclockwise movement of the worm wheel 5 about its axis A. At the same time, the actuating contour 6 moves away from the release lever 7, which in this case is no longer acted upon or can no longer interact with the locking mechanism 2, 3.

So if the drive 4, 5, 6, 7, for example, in the "open" position after the Fig. 1 "gets stuck", the locking mechanism 2, 3 can no longer be closed. This is because the release lever 7 permanently acts on the pawl 2 in such a way that it is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 3 and remains. In order to still be able to close the motor vehicle door lock and the locking mechanism 2, 3 and consequently a motor vehicle door equipped therewith, it is possible according to the invention to perform an emergency closure with the aid of a mechanical actuating element 10, 11. This means that the mechanical actuation element 10, 11 generally serves for the emergency actuation of the drive element 5 and consequently the entire drive 4, 5, 6, 7, specifically and in the illustrated example for the emergency closure of the relevant drive element 5.

In the exemplary embodiment, the actuating element 10, 11 is designed in two parts with an actuating lever 10 belonging to the lock and an actuating tool 11 external to the lock. In the present case, the actuating lever 10 is mounted in the lock housing 1 so as to be linearly displaceable. In the present case, the actuating lever 10 is actually a push or pressure lever. In addition to the actuating lever 10, the actuating element 10, 11 also has an actuating tool 11 that is not part of the lock. The actuating tool 11, which is not part of the lock, can be a rod or a comparable pushing element, with the aid of which the actuating lever 10, starting from its neutral position, corresponds to Fig. 1 in the example is linearly shifted to the left with respect to the lock housing 1, as shown in the illustration according to the Fig. 2 is reproduced. For this purpose, the actuating tool 11 optionally passes through an opening 12 in the lock housing 1.

The opening 12 can be designed to be closable. However, it is also possible that the opening 12 is equipped with a window which is destroyed, for example, with the aid of the actuating tool 11, in order to enable the lock housing 1 to be reached through with the aid of the actuating tool 11. It can be seen that the opening 12 in question for the actuating tool 11 to reach through is arranged in the region of an inlet mouth 13.

As is known, the inlet mouth 13 is typically a recess in the lock housing 1 with a corresponding opening in the lock housing 1. A body-side lock holder can move into this recess or the inlet mouth 13 and, in a known manner, with the locking mechanism 2, 3 or the Rotary latch 3 interact. According to the invention, the opening 12 for the actuating tool 11 to reach through is now provided and implemented in the area of this inlet mouth 13.

So that the actuating element 10, 11, starting from the position of the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 for emergency locking of the locking mechanism 2, 3, can engage the drive 4, 5, 6, 7 or the drive element or worm wheel 5, a pin 14 is provided provided on the drive element or worm wheel 5. The actuating element 10, 11 engages the relevant pin 14 of the drive element 5. In fact, the already described pushing movement of the actuating lever 10 with the aid of the actuating tool 11, reaching through the opening 12 in the lock housing 1, corresponds to the actuating lever 10, designed as a linearly movable push or pressure lever, acting on the pin 14 in question. As a result, the worm wheel 5 starting from the position in the Fig. 1 pivoted counterclockwise about its axis A, until the position as shown in the Fig. 2 is achieved.

That is, in the course of the emergency closure described, the drive element or worm wheel 5 is reversely transferred into its basic position or neutral position with the aid of the actuating element 10, 11.

As a result, the release lever 7 can no longer interact with the locking mechanism 2, 3. The pawl 2 is consequently free from the release lever 7. If the motor vehicle door is now closed mechanically, the lock holder entering the inlet mouth 13 can pivot the rotary latch 3, for example, into the main notch and the pawl 2 can fall into the rotary latch 3 without any problems because the release lever 7 is no longer in the pawl 2 in their open position. As a result, the motor vehicle door lock described can be emergency closed with the aid of the mechanical actuating element 10, 11.

Claims (7)

1. Motor vehicle door latch, comprising a locking mechanism (2, 3), and comprising a drive (4, 5, 6, 7) for the locking mechanism (2, 3), in particular for electrical opening/closing, the drive (4, 5, 6, 7) being equipped with at least one drive element (5) which acts directly or indirectly on the locking mechanism (2, 3), a mechanical operating element (10, 11) being provided for emergency operation of the drive element (5), the operating element (10, 11) being designed in two parts with an operating lever (10) that is part of the latch and an operating tool (11) that is not part of the latch, characterized in that the operating lever (10) is a push or pressure lever.
2. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating tool (11) optionally passes through an opening (12) in the latch housing (1).
3. Motor vehicle door latch according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening (12) is closable.
4. Motor vehicle door latch according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the opening (12) is provided in the region of an inlet mouth (13).
5. Motor vehicle door latch according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating element (10, 11) engages a pin (14) of the drive element (5).
6. Motor vehicle door latch according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the operating element (10, 11) is designed for emergency closing of the locking mechanism (2, 3).
7. Motor vehicle door latch according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive element (5) is designed as a worm wheel (5) which meshes with an electric motor (4).

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