EP3907358B1 - Motor vehicle lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl, and with a rotary electric motor drive for the locking mechanism, the electric motor drive being a rotatable and actuable in at least one direction of movement and an opposite direction of movement Has drive element, and with the aid of the drive element at least a first securing position and a second securing position can be controlled.

The motor vehicle lock is in particular a motor vehicle door lock. Basically, the term motor vehicle lock also includes motor vehicle bonnet locks, motor vehicle tailgate locks, motor vehicle tank flap locks, motor vehicle seat locks, etc. In the case of motor vehicle door locks and in particular motor vehicle side door locks, the control of different functional states and in particular different locking positions is of particular importance. These locking positions usually correspond to different security positions, for example "locked/unlocked", "anti-theft/anti-theft" and "child-proof/child-unlocked".

As part of the DE 10 2015 116 283 A1 an actuating device for a motor vehicle lock has already been described, which has a multifunction clutch lever. An opening movement of the multifunction clutch lever corresponds to the opening of the locking mechanism. This opening movement can be prevented altogether by an associated anti-theft device, a central locking device and a child safety device.

For this purpose, among other things, an electric drive for the central locking lever, as well as one independent of it and additional intended electric drive provided for the anti-theft lever.

In a comparable embodiment according to the DE 10 2005 052 190 A1 The procedure is also such that a drive motor acting on the locking element and an additional anti-theft or child-proofing motor are realized. Both the locking motor and the anti-theft motor each work on an interposed worm gear, which complicates the overall design and increases costs.

For this reason there is in the generic prior art after EP 1 113 133 A1 Already approaches to use one and the same rotating electric motor drive to realize a child safety function in one direction of movement and in the opposite direction of movement, among other things, a central locking function. In other words, with the help of a rotary electric motor drive, a first safety position in the form of the child safety function and a second safety position in the form of the central locking function are controlled in the generic prior art. This has basically worked.

In the further state of the art according to EP 0 826 855 A2 a lock is also addressed, in particular for vehicle doors or the like, which has a coupling element that can be moved by an actuating device in order to be able to act on the pawl as part of the locking mechanism. The coupling element can be moved into at least three positions by the actuating device, specifically into the anti-theft position, central locking position and child-proof position. However, the actual loading of the pawl is done manually via the coupling link. In addition, the actuating device works on the coupling element via a linearly displaceable actuator. Such a linearly operating actuator requires a relatively large amount of space, which is typically not available inside a motor vehicle lock. This is where the invention aims to remedy the situation overall.

From the EP 2 317 629 A2 discloses a motor vehicle door lock with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl, with a drive for the locking mechanism, with at least a first, second and third securing position being controllable with the aid of the drive.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock in such a way that, taking into account a compact and cost-effective design, the design effort is reduced again compared to previous procedures.

In order to solve this technical problem, the invention proposes in a generic motor vehicle lock that the drive element is additionally set up to control at least one further third security position.

Within the scope of the invention, the rotary electric motor drive with its rotatable drive element that can be acted upon in the direction of movement and in the opposite direction of movement ensures that the first safety position, the second safety position and then at least one further third safety position can be controlled. The first securing position is a locked position or central locking position. The second security position belongs to the anti-theft position, whereas the third security position corresponds to the child-proof functional position. In addition, the (single) drive element in connection with the (single) rotary electric motor drive is also set up within the scope of the invention in that all three safety positions can not only be assumed or controlled, but also - independently of one another - can be used again .

This means that the mentioned and at least three securing positions can be controlled in the direction of movement, in the opposite direction of movement or in both directions of movement of the drive element and, if necessary, can be laid out. In this way, it is possible within the scope of the invention that all essential securing positions can be engaged and disengaged again with the aid of the (single) rotary electric motor drive. The electromotive drive is therefore able to represent and approach the functional positions "locked/unlocked" or "centrally locked/centrally unlocked" as well as "theft-proof/anti-theft" and finally "child-proof/ child unlocked". All of this is achieved by taking into account a compact and cost-optimized structure, which has so far remained unparalleled in the state of the art. As a result, not only a particularly compact structure and low production costs are observed, but is also associated with flawless and reliable functioning Because by resorting to a single rotary electric motor drive, this will be used many times over the life of the vehicle, so that functions that are rarely or practically never used can continue to be reliably implemented as before the child safety function, which is often only needed very rarely and is usually only used on the rear side doors of motor vehicles.In any case, the constant use of the single rotating electric motor drive ensures that even such rarely used functional positions work perfectly and reliably for years to come to be approached. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

According to the invention, the drive element interacts with a locking lever and at least one first blocking lever to control the first securing position. According to the invention, the first two-part blocking lever is designed with an unlocking arm and a locking arm. The unlocking arm and the locking arm can each be pivoted and mounted coaxially. In addition, the design is usually such that the locking lever is equipped with one control arm each for acting on the unlocking arm and the locking arm.

This means that the locking lever has a total of two control arms, one control arm interacting with the unlocking arm as part of the first blocking lever, whereas the second control arm interacts with the locking arm as a further part of the first blocking lever.

The drive element is also advantageously set up to control the second security position with an anti-theft lever and at least one second blocking lever. In other words, the drive element interacts with the anti-theft locking lever in question and the at least one second locking position to control the second locking position blocking lever. The second blocking lever in question is typically elastically coupled to the anti-theft lever.

As a result of this, an actuation of the anti-theft lever means that the blocking lever can be taken along via the elastic coupling, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures. The selective engagement and disengagement of the anti-theft lever and consequently the anti-theft function means that the functional position in question can be approached independently of other functional positions. For example, it is not necessary to assume the locking position beforehand.

In addition, the design is then such that the anti-theft lever is usually articulated to at least one anti-theft lever. The anti-theft locking lever can be selectively actuated via the anti-theft locking lever. At this point, it is usually possible to selectively disengage or also selectively engage the anti-theft locking lever. In addition, it has proven useful in this connection if the anti-theft locking lever is in turn designed in two parts, which is also explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures.

Finally, the drive element advantageously interacts with a child safety lever to control the third safety position. In this case, no additional blocking lever is required because the child safety function is usually spring-loaded toward its designed position and the child safety lever only has to be moved against this spring preload to engage the child safety function.

The individual security positions usually correspond to different operating levels. As a result, the securing positions can be approached and laid out again independently of one another. Together with the two directions of movement, there are sufficient degrees of freedom to ensure functionally reliable operation.

Finally, the drive element is advantageously designed as a drive pulley. The drive pulley generally has at least one control contour for interacting with the locking lever, the anti-theft lever and the child safety lever. This means that with the help of this one (single) control contour on the drive pulley, the locking lever, the anti-theft lever and the child safety lever can be inserted, for example. Sometimes it is also possible to lay out the lever in question with the help of the control contour or another additional control contour. All of this is achieved by taking into account a compact, cost-effective and functionally reliable structure. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

• Fig. 1 Das erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeug-Schloss im Zustand "entriegelt" in seiner Grundstellung,
• Fig. 2 das Kraftfahrzeug-Schloss nach der Fig. 1 zu Beginn eines Verriegelungsvorganges,
• Fig. 3 das Kraftfahrzeug-Schloss nach den Figuren 1 und 2 im Zustand "verriegelt",
• Fig. 4 den Rücklauf des Antriebselementes bzw. der Antriebsscheibe ausgehend von der Position in der Fig. 3,
• Fig. 5 das Einlegen der Diebstahlsicherung zu Beginn,
• Fig. 6 und 7 die fortschreitende Bewegung beim Einlegen der Diebstahlsicherung,
• Fig. 8 den Rücklauf des Antriebselementes bzw. der Antriebsscheibe ausgehend von der eingelegten Diebstahlsicherung nach der Fig. 7,
• Figuren 9 und 10 das Auslegen der Diebstahlsicherung ausgehend von der Stellung nach Fig. 8,
• Figuren 11 und 12 das Auslegen der Diebstahlsicherung und gleichzeitiges entriegeln und
• Figuren 13 und 14 das Ein- und Auslegen der Kindersicherung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing that merely represents an exemplary embodiment; show it:

• 1 The motor vehicle lock according to the invention in the "unlocked" state in its basic position,
• 2 the motor vehicle lock after the 1 at the beginning of a locking process,
• 3 the motor vehicle lock after the figures 1 and 2 in the "locked" state,
• 4 the return of the drive element or the drive pulley starting from the position in the 3 ,
• figure 5 inserting the anti-theft device at the beginning,
• 6 and 7 the progressive movement when inserting the anti-theft device,
• 8 the return of the drive element or the drive pulley starting from the inserted anti-theft device after 7 ,
• figures 9 and 10 laying out the anti-theft device starting from the position 8 ,
• figures 11 and 12 laying out the anti-theft device and simultaneously unlocking and
• figures 13 and 14 turning the child safety lock on and off.

In the figures, a motor vehicle lock is shown, which has a not expressly shown locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl. In addition, a rotating (single) electric motor drive 1 is implemented for the locking mechanism, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is reduced to a rotatable drive element 1 that can be acted upon in at least one direction of movement and an opposite direction of movement. According to the exemplary embodiment, the rotatable drive element 1 is a drive disk which can be acted upon about an axis 2 in one direction of movement (counterclockwise) and in an opposite direction of movement (clockwise).

This is ensured only in the 1 indicated electric motor 4, which has a worm 3 on its output shaft, which in turn meshes with an outer toothing of the drive disk 1 in a known manner and in this way ensures that the drive disk 1 rotates in the direction of movement or in the previously described rotations Can perform counterclockwise and in the opposite direction of movement or clockwise.

With the help of the drive element or the drive pulley 1, a first safety position or locking position, a second safety position or anti-theft position and finally a further third safety position or child safety position can now be approached. The first securing position or locked position is in the 4 shown. The second security position or anti-theft position is the subject of 8 . The child safety position, on the other hand, is in the 13 played back. In addition, the positions in question can of course also be interpreted again, as will be explained in detail below.

The securing positions in question can be controlled both in the direction of movement, in the opposite direction of movement or in both directions of movement of the drive element or the drive pulley 1 . The same applies to laying out. This means that the three safety positions mentioned are assumed and canceled solely by the fact that the drive element or the drive pulley 1 is acted upon in the direction of movement or in the opposite direction of movement with the aid of the electric motor 4 .

For this purpose, the drive element 1 interacts with a locking lever 5 and at least one first blocking lever 6, 7 to control the first securing position or locking position. This can be seen in particular from the Figures 1 to 4 . The two arms 6 , 7 are mounted coaxially on a common axis 8 . In addition, a spring is provided which the two arms 6, 7 in their in the 1 exemplified mostly right-angled alignment biases each other. Finally, two control arms 9, 10, which are connected to the locking lever 5, are also relevant in this context.

The control arm 9 ensures that the unlocking arm 6 is acted upon, whereas the control arm 10 is responsible for the actuation of the locking arm 7 as part of the first blocking lever 6 , 7 .

Primarily in the Figures 5 to 8 you can then see an anti-theft lever 11. In addition, a second blocking lever 12 is realized. The drive element or the drive disk 1 interacts with the anti-theft lever 11 and at least the second blocking lever 12 to control the second safety position or anti-theft position. The second blocking lever 12 is elastically coupled to the anti-theft lever 11, with a spring 13 being interposed at this point . In addition, a comparison of the Figures 5 to 8 that the anti-theft lever 11 is articulated to at least one anti-theft lever 14, 15 is coupled.

In fact, two anti-theft levers 14, 15 are realized at this point. The anti-theft lever 15 is mounted on the anti-theft lever 14 . The anti-theft locking lever 14 in turn engages in a joint mount 16 on the anti-theft locking lever 11 which ensures the articulated coupling of the anti-theft locking lever 11 to the two anti-theft locking levers 14 , 15 .

Finally, the drive element or the drive pulley 1 interacts to control the third safety position with a child safety lever 17, which can be used in particular in the figures 13 and 14 can recognize. The child safety lever 17 is rotatably mounted with respect to an axis 18 in a lock housing, not shown, in which the drive pulley 1 and the anti-theft lever 11 and also the other levers 12, 14, 15 are stored. At this point, a spring (not shown) ensures that the child safety lever 17 is prestressed in the direction of its deployed position, as will be explained in more detail below.

Finally, you can still see a control contour 19 on the drive pulley 1. There is also another one, primarily in the 10 and 11 illustrated control contour 20 is provided, which is referred to below in the description of the mode of operation. Two contours 21 which each extend radially on both sides of the control contour 19 are then of further importance.

How it works is as follows. In the 1 the motor vehicle lock is shown in the "unlocked" state. The basic position corresponds to this. In this functional position, the locking mechanism, not shown, consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl can be opened. This can be done manually or with the help of a further electric motor drive or even by resorting to the electric motor drive shown or the drive pulley 1, which is not shown in detail.

Starting from the functional position "unlocked" in the figure 1 the motor vehicle lock can now be "locked" in the first securing position or the functional state, as it is ultimately in the 4 is reproduced below. For this purpose, the electromotive Drive 1 or the drive pulley 1 in the direction of movement, that is, moved counterclockwise. You can see that in the transition from 1 about the 2 to the 3 . Then the control contour 19 moves against the locking lever 5. That has the transition from the 1 to the 2 and up to 3 result in the locking lever 5 being pivoted clockwise about its axis 8 . At the same time, during this process, the locking lever 5 with its control arm 9 ensures that the unlocking arm 6 as part of the first blocking lever 6, 7 follows the clockwise movement. As a result, the unlocking arm 6 is pivoted to overlap with the drive pulley 1 .

In fact, the design within the scope of the exemplary embodiment is chosen such that the locking lever 5 and the blocking lever 6, 7 or both arms 6, 7 of the blocking lever 6, 7 are mounted coaxially in relation to the common axis 8. In any case, the unlocking arm 6 follows the actuation of the locking lever 5 and is pivoted clockwise about the axis 8 .

As a result of this, the spring holding the two arms 6, 7 in their predominantly perpendicular position relative to one another is tensioned. This is possible because in the functional position after the 3 the contour 21 provided to the left of the control cam 19 interacts with a counter-contour on the locking arm 7, which is consequently held in place during this process. At the same time, the first blocking lever 6, 7 fulfills its original function, namely ensures that the control cam 19 is blocked in the representation according to FIG 3 . The locking lever 5 is now in the first securing position "locked".

When transitioning from 3 to the 4 the drive pulley 1 is reset after its previous blockage in the opposite direction of movement, ie clockwise. This is ensured by a spring acting on the drive pulley 1, which is or can be a center-zero spring. In this process of return of the drive pulley 1 in the basic position comparable to the 1 the left contour 21 moves away from the locking arm 7 as part of the blocking lever 6, 7 compared to the control contour 19. Accordingly, the locking arm 7 pivots during the transition from the 3 to the 4 up, so that subsequently the control contour 19 does not (anymore) drive against the locking arm 7, but rather is free of it.

Starting from the state "locked" or the first backup position according to the 4 the approach of the second backup position or the functional position "anti-theft" will now be described as it is in its final position in the 8 is shown. For this purpose, the drive element or the drive pulley 1 moves from the functional position “locked” according to FIG 4 in the direction of movement, that is counterclockwise until the control contour 19 comes to rest on the anti-theft lever 11, as is the figure 5 represents. With the further movement of the drive pulley 1 in the direction of movement, the control contour 19 driving against the anti-theft lever 11 now ensures that when the drive disc 1 moves into the anti-theft position according to the reproduction in FIG 8 the anti-theft lever 11 is pivoted clockwise about its axis 22. As a result of this, the anti-theft locking lever 11 ensures, via the articulated connection or the joint mount 16 , that the anti-theft locking lever 14 , 15 is activated, namely essentially rotates counterclockwise about its axis 23 . In addition, the movement of the locking lever 11 clockwise about its axis 22 as a result of being acted upon by the control contour 19 has the further effect that the second blocking lever 12 or the spring 13 between the anti-theft lever 11 and the second blocking lever 12 is tensioned. As a result, the blocking lever 12 rests against the drive pulley 1 as a whole.

In the further counterclockwise rotation of the drive pulley 1 in the direction of movement at the transition from 6 to the 7 the control cam 19 finally moves against a stop 24 fixed to the housing. As a result, the drive or the electric motor 4 is stopped and the drive disk 1 moves, starting from the functional position to the 7 and again acted upon by the previously mentioned center-zero spring in a clockwise direction towards the basic position back, as can be seen in the sequence of figures figures 7 and 8th can recognize. During this process, the second blocking lever 12 rests on the worm wheel or on the contour 21 . As soon as the contour 21 has passed the second blocking lever 12, it can overlap with the drive pulley 1, as shown in FIG 8 clearly becomes. The control contour 19 assumes its basic position and the anti-theft lever 11 is engaged. Consequently, the motor vehicle lock is "theft-proof" in its second security position.

Starting from this position "anti-theft" after the 8 the anti-theft device is now interpreted selectively, ie only the anti-theft device lever 11 in such a way that the drive pulley 1 is acted upon in the direction of movement, so that the control contour 19 can act on the anti-theft device lever 14, 15. At the same time, the contour 21 ensures that the second blocking lever 12 is held in the collapsed position. That's in the 9 shown.

When transitioning from 9 to the 10 and with a further movement of the control contour 19 in the direction of movement, the control contour 19 now ensures that the anti-theft lever 14, 15 is pivoted about its axis 23 in the clockwise direction. As a result of this, the anti-theft lever 11 is pivoted counterclockwise about its axis 22 by the articulated connection with the anti-theft adjusting lever 14, 15. As a result, the anti-theft lever 11 also ensures that the spring 13 between the anti-theft lever 11 and the blocking lever 12 is tensioned.

With further progressive movement of the control contour 19, the anti-theft lever 11 is now completely disengaged via the anti-theft locking lever 14, 15, specifically selectively, that is, considered in isolation. That's in the 10 shown.

It can be seen that the control contour 19 first moves against the second blocking lever 12 . As a result of this, the electric motor 4 is switched off and the control contour 19 or the worm wheel 11 can move back into its basic position in the opposite direction of movement. Now the basic position is again "locked" and shown with the anti-theft device designed, as already the subject of 4 was.

Starting from the position "anti-theft" as shown in the 8 is now laying out the anti-theft device and the simultaneous Unlock in the figures 11 and 12 reproduced and explained. It works 11 ultimately from the functional position to the 8 and ensures that the drive pulley 1 is acted upon in the opposite direction of movement, i.e. clockwise, so that the control contour 19 acts on the locking lever 5 in such a way that the locking lever 5 pivots counterclockwise about its axis 8. The anti-theft lever 11 acts on the anti-theft lever 14, 15, which pivots clockwise about its axis 23. In addition, the anti-theft lever 11 ensures that the second actuating lever 12 is pivoted out in relation to the drive pulley 1 with the aid of the spring 13 . Furthermore, in the functional position 11 the drive pulley 1 has been pivoted clockwise, as a result of which the anti-theft lever 11 is pivoted counterclockwise by means of a control contour 20 provided on the back of the drive pulley 1.

The contour 21 holds the unlocking arm 6 firmly. This allows the transition from the 11 to the 12 follow the locking arm 7 and swing in. In addition, the locking lever 5 is completely pivoted out about its axis 8 in this position and is in its functional position “unlocked”. The control contour 19 moves against the unlocking arm 6 so that the end position is reached as a result. Subsequently, the drive pulley 1 reverses counterclockwise and the blocking lever 6, 7 swings out. Now the basic position "unlocked" is reached, as already related to 1 has been illustrated and described.

In the figures 13 and 14 Finally, the insertion of the child safety lever 17 and the control of the third safety position as well as its design is described. In fact, the functional position "childproof" or the third backup position as shown in the 13 starting from the basic position "unlocked" after the 1 be approached in such a way that the drive element or the drive pulley 1 is acted upon in the opposite direction of movement, ie clockwise. As a result, the control contour 19 moves against the child safety lever 17. The further movement of the control contour 19 now has the result that the child safety lever 17 is pivoted about its axis 18 using the control contour 19, in the sense that the Child safety lever 17 performs a counterclockwise movement about its axis 18. Now the position is "childproof" as shown in the 13 or reached the third belay position.

In order to design the child safety device, it is only necessary for the drive element or the drive disk 1 to be acted upon in the direction of movement, ie counterclockwise. As a result, the control contour 19 is increasingly removed from the child safety lever 17, which is pivoted as a result of this clockwise by spring force about its axis 18 and thereby ultimately (again) the basic position "unlocked" after 1 reached.

reference list

1

drive pulley

2

axis

3

Snail

4

electric motor

5

locking lever

6

unlocking arm

7

locking arm

8th

axis

9, 10

control arms

11

anti-theft lever

12

blocking lever

13

Feather

14:15

anti-theft lever

16

joint mount

17

child safety lever

18

axis

19, 20

control contour

21

contours

22.23

axis

Claims (8)

1. Motor vehicle latch, in particular a motor vehicle door latch, comprising a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a catch and pawl, and comprising a rotationally operating electromotive drive (1) for the locking mechanism, the electromotive drive (1) having a rotatable drive element (1) which can be acted upon in at least one direction of movement and an opposite direction of movement, and at least one first securing position, which corresponds to the central locked position, and a second securing position, which corresponds to the anti-theft position, being actuatable with the aid of the drive element (1),
   the drive element (1) being additionally designed to actuate at least one further third securing position corresponding to the child-proof functional position, the drive element (1) interacting with a locking lever (5) and at least one first blocking lever (6, 7) in order to actuate the first securing position,
   characterized in that the first blocking lever (6, 7) is designed to be in two parts so as to have an unlocking arm (6) and a locking arm (7).
2. Motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, characterized in that the three securing positions can be actuated and optionally disengaged in the direction of movement, in the opposite direction of movement or in both directions of movement of the drive element (1).
3. Motor vehicle latch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking lever (5) is equipped in each case with a control arm (9, 10) for acting upon the unlocking arm (6) and the locking arm (7).
4. Motor vehicle latch according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive element (1) interacts with an anti-theft lever (11) and at least one second blocking lever (12) in order to actuate the second securing position.
5. Motor vehicle latch according to claim 4, characterized in that the second blocking lever (12) is resiliently coupled to the anti-theft lever (11).
6. Motor vehicle latch according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the anti-theft lever (11) is hingedly coupled to at least one anti-theft control lever (14, 15).
7. Motor vehicle latch according to any of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that the drive element (1) interacts with a child-proofing lever (17) in order to actuate the third securing position.
8. Motor vehicle latch according to any of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that the drive element (1) is designed as a drive disk (1) which has at least one control contour (19, 20) in order to interact with the locking lever (5), the anti-theft lever (11) and the child-proofing lever (17).

Images