EP3935245A1

EP3935245A1 - Motor vehicle lock

Info

Publication number: EP3935245A1
Application number: EP20709470.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hendrik Wahmann
Original assignee: Kiekert AG
Current assignee: Kiekert AG
Priority date: 2019-03-06
Filing date: 2020-01-24
Publication date: 2022-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-24
Also published as: US20220186534A1; WO2020177801A1; DE102019105631A1; EP3935245B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch (1) and at least one pawl (2). An actuating lever (3) mounted in a lock case (4) for rotation about an axis (5) is also provided. The pawl (2) is mounted on the actuating lever (3) for rotation about an axis (7). According to the invention, the rotary latch (1) applies a closing moment on the pawl (2) when the locking mechanism (1, 2) is in the closed state, which moment transitions into an opening moment on the pawl (2) when the locking mechanism (1, 2) is opened as a result of the associated movement of the actuating lever (3) and the shifting of the axis (7) for the pawl (2).

Description

description

Motor vehicle lock

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism consisting of at least one rotary latch and at least one pawl, and with a release lever rotatably mounted about an axis, the pawl being rotatably mounted on the release lever about an axis.

The aforementioned motor vehicle lock can be, for example, a motor vehicle door lock. Basically, the term motor vehicle lock also includes tailgate locks, front hood locks, tank flap locks, loading flap locks, to name just a few examples. The locking mechanism used at this point essentially has the rotary latch and the pawl. In principle, however, multi-ratchet locks can also be used in which a rotary latch with two or more ratchets is used, as is described by way of example in the prior art according to DE 10 2009 029 023 A1.

In the above teaching according to DE 10 2009 029 023 A1, an opening moment acts on the locking pawl in the main locking position of the locking mechanism. The pawl comprises a rotatably mounted carrier pawl and a locking pawl connected to it via a joint. In this way, the known motor vehicle lock can be opened with little effort. However, the opening moment acting on the pawl in the main notch position of the locking mechanism can lead to problems such that the pawl moves dynamically, e.g. B. opens inadvertently while driving a motor vehicle. This process is also known as "pawl walkout". In the generic prior art according to DE 102 14 691 B4, the overall aim is to release the pawl from the rotary trap with the help of low release forces. For this purpose, the pawl is pivotably mounted on or on a release lever. In the locking division, the rotary latch rests against a stop surface of the locking pawl due to a spring. In addition, the pawl rests on the rotary latch at a further point or rocker point, the rocker point being between a point of application and the aforementioned stop surface. The release lever engages at the point of application on the pawl to release the rotary latch.

The known teaching according to DE 102 14 691 B4 is equipped with the fundamental disadvantage that the spring acts in a locking pitch between the rotary latch and the lock case and thereby comes into contact with its locking stop on the stop surface of the locking pawl. In addition, an additional spring is also provided, which acts between the rotary latch and the pawl and pulls the pawl against the rotary latch.

The use of several springs in the locking mechanism is in need of improvement in several ways. First of all, springs are relatively expensive, so that the motor vehicle lock designed accordingly has competitive disadvantages. In addition, such springs can decrease in their effect in practical and in particular several years of operation, whereby functional impairments are possible. Finally, springs can corrode, so that, for example, additional forces have to be overcome when they are actuated. The invention aims to provide a remedy here overall.

The invention is based on the technical problem of developing such a motor vehicle lock and in particular motor vehicle door lock so that the opening movements of the locking mechanism are made available with reduced force, taking into account a simultaneously functionally reliable and cost-effective structure. To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes in a generic motor vehicle lock that the rotary latch acts on the pawl in the closed state of the locking mechanism with a closing moment, which when the locking mechanism is opened by the associated movement of the release lever and the displacement of the axis for the Locking pawl passes into an opening moment on the locking pawl.

In the context of the invention, therefore, a particularly functionally reliable operation is first made available, which is also characterized by an opening torque that is reduced in comparison to the prior art during an opening process. In fact, the rotary latch initially acts on the pawl with a closing moment when the locking mechanism is in the closed state. In this way, any dynamic and unintentional openings of the pawl, for example while driving a motor vehicle, are almost impossible. This means that even when the rotary latch and pawl move against each other when the locking mechanism is closed, the closing moment exerted by the rotary latch on the pawl ensures that the rotary latch does not open unintentionally or that the pawl cannot release the rotary latch. This is a particularly security-relevant aspect.

At the same time and when the locking mechanism is opened, according to the invention, the opening process is associated with a movement of the release lever in the opening direction. The opening movement of the release lever also means that the axis around which the pawl rotates relative to the release lever is also displaced in the opening direction. The displacement of the axis or axis of rotation of the pawl relative to the release lever in the described opening process now has the result that the rotary latch acts on the pawl with an opening moment when the locking mechanism is opened.

The opening movement is supported by this opening moment during the opening movement of the locking mechanism. This applies both to the case that the motor vehicle lock in question is conventionally opened manually as well as when the opening process is carried out by a motor in the sense of "electrical opening". In principle, of course, both variants can also be implemented together. Either way, the opening moment exerted on the pawl by the rotary latch when the locking mechanism is opened ensures that the opening process is facilitated. In this way, for example, the convenience is increased when opening the lock mechanically and the motor power can be reduced when the lock is opened electrically.

In order to implement this in detail, the design is usually made so that when the locking mechanism is closed, the rotary latch works on the pawl with a force that is inwardly directed in comparison to the axis of the release lever. The release lever is rotatably mounted in the lock case about the axis in question. Because the rotary latch exerts a force on the pawl in the closed state of the locking mechanism, the direction of force or vector of which is directed inwards, the desired closing moment is exerted on the locking pawl in the closed state of the locking mechanism. Because the inward direction of force in relation to the axis of the release lever ensures that the release lever and thus also the pawl mounted on it are acted upon against the opening direction, i.e. in the closing direction. This effectively suppresses accidental openings of the locking mechanism. In the closed position of the locking mechanism, the axis of the pawl rests in an undercut with respect to the direction of force, i.e. the direction of the force is directed in such a way that the force acts on the pawl in the closing direction and thus a closing moment is present.

In contrast, when the locking mechanism is in the opening state, the rotary latch works on the pawl with a force that is directed outwards compared to the axis of the release lever. As soon as the release lever is acted upon manually or mechanically and / or by motor in the opening sense, this rotary movement about its axis defined in the lock case and through the friction between the rotary latch and the pawl, this also causes the axis with which the pawl is mounted on the release lever, in The opening direction of the release lever is shifted. As a result of this displacement of the axis for the pawl, the vector of the force exerted by the rotary latch on the pawl also migrates over the axis that supports the release lever in the lock case and goes into the outward direction compared to the axis of the release lever. At the same time, this is associated with the desired opening moment with which the rotary latch acts on the pawl. The axis of the pawl is then in a preliminary cut in relation to the direction of force. Due to the opening moment, the rotary latch pushes the locking pawl away so that the locking mechanism opens by itself.

In one embodiment of the invention, the release lever is equipped with a stop for limiting the angle of the rotational movement of the pawl relative to the release lever. This stop ensures that, with continued rotation of the release lever, the pawl is taken along and lifted off the rotary latch, even if the friction between the rotary latch and the pawl is too high for the opening moment to be sufficient to lift the pawl off the rotary latch. In this way, the locking mechanism can be reliably triggered, even in cases where, for example, the friction between the rotary latch and the pawl is increased due to the ingress of dirt. The angular movement of the rotational movement of the pawl relative to the release lever and its limitation is implemented in detail so that the pawl is fork-shaped with two fork arms on the stop side, that is, in the direction of the stop on the release lever. The stop on the release lever now dips between the two fork arms. This automatically results in the desired angular limitation of the rotational movement of the pawl relative to the release lever. It has proven useful here if the rotational movement of the pawl relative to the release lever is limited to angles of up to a maximum of 80 ° and in particular up to 50 °. Of course, this only applies as an example and depends on the actual topological conditions. According to a further advantageous embodiment, a spring is also provided between the release lever and the pawl. The spring in question is usually mounted on the release lever and designed as a leg spring. One leg of the spring or leg spring is fixed on the release lever, while the other free leg and thus the spring as a whole generally biases the pawl in the direction of an elongated arrangement compared to the release lever.

Usually another spring is provided. This spring ensures that the release lever is acted upon against its opening direction. In this way, the spring ensures that the release lever is not unintentionally acted upon in the opening direction by vibrations or other forces acting on it when the vehicle is driving, but rather, like the locking mechanism, maintains its basic position or basic position associated with the closed position.

The result is a motor vehicle lock which is structurally simple and in particular dispenses with additional springs between the rotary latch and the pawl as in the prior art according to DE 102 14 691 B4. Rather, both the closed position of the locking mechanism and an opening process are implemented through a corresponding geometric and structural design of the locking mechanism. This results in cost advantages and improved functionality, also and especially on long time scales. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to drawings that illustrate a preferred embodiment; show it:

1 shows a first variant of the motor vehicle according to the invention

Lock in the closed state or with the lock in the closed state, 2 shows an opening process of the locking mechanism,

Fig. 3 shows the lock in the fully open position, and

4A-C further variants of the motor vehicle lock according to the invention.

In the figures, a motor vehicle lock is shown which is not restrictively a motor vehicle door lock, that is to say one which is typically attached in or on a motor vehicle door (not shown). The basic structure of the motor vehicle lock has a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. In alternative configurations, the locking mechanism can also comprise several pawls 2 and, for example, be designed as a two-pawl ratchet, or even comprise several rotary latches. The basic structure then also includes a release lever 3. To open the locking mechanism, the release lever 3 is acted upon manually and / or by a motor, which is indicated by an arrow P in FIG. 2 and results in a force being applied to the release lever 3 in the direction of the arrow P. corresponds.

The release lever 3 is rotatably mounted in a lock case 4. A bolt, which defines an axis 5 for the release lever 3, is anchored in the lock case 4. To distinguish it from the other axes to be described in greater detail below, the axis 5 of the release lever 3 is referred to below as the release lever axis 5 with respect to the lock case 4.

The rotary latch 1 is also mounted in the lock case 4, in which case a rotary latch axis 6 is defined in a manner comparable to that of the release lever 3. The pawl 2 is mounted on the release lever 3. Another axis 7, the pawl axis 7, is defined. According to the execution example, the pawl 2 is in plan view of the motor vehicle lock below of the release lever 3, but can also be arranged above the release lever 3. In principle, mixed forms are also conceivable.

In Fig. 1, the lock is shown in the closed state. Here, the pawl 2 interacts with a main detent 1 a of the rotary latch 1, which can be seen in addition to a also provided preliminary detent 1 b. In contrast to the usual locking mechanisms, the pawl 2 rests on the inside of the rotary latch 1 instead of on the outside. Since the rotary latch 1 is pretensioned in the opening direction with respect to its rotary latch axis 6 with the aid of a spring, which corresponds to a clockwise movement of the rotary latch 1 about its rotary latch axis 6, as indicated in FIG. 1, the rotary latch 1 exerts a force when the locking mechanism is closed F on the pawl 2. This force F acts on a contact surface of the rotary latch / pawl 8 on the pawl 2. The force F remains largely the same in terms of amount (that is, with regard to the respective length of the arrow) in the other functional positions to be treated later, but changes its direction, as can be seen when comparing the force F shown in the figures. Because of the frictional forces between the pawl 2 and the rotary latch 1, the force F in question originates largely from the contact surface of the rotary latch / pawl 8.

In the closed state of the locking mechanism, the rotary latch 1 acts on the pawl 2 with a closing moment. This closing moment results from the fact that the force F in question and exerted by the rotary latch 1 on the pawl 2 and acting on the contact surface of the rotary latch / pawl 8 on the pawl 2 is directed inwards compared to the release lever axis 5. That is, starting from the contact surface rotary latch / pawl 8, the direction of the force F in the closed state of the locking mechanism is directed in the direction of a closing movement of the pawl 2 about its pawl axis 7, that is, inward. In the same way, the release lever 3 is also acted upon by the force F in relation to its release lever axis 5 against its opening direction. However, if there is a manual and / or motorized opening of the locking mechanism and the associated and already described actuation of the release lever 3 in the direction of arrow P, such an opening process causes the release lever 3 to move around its release lever axis 5, starting from its basic position according to FIG 1 slightly pivoted clockwise. This clockwise pivoting movement of the release lever 3 has the consequence that the pawl shaft 7 is also pivoted clockwise. Since at the same time the pawl 2 remains on the Flauptrast 1a of the rotary latch 1 during this process due to the friction existing between the rotary latch 1 and the pawl 2, this leads to a pivoting movement of the pawl 2 relative to the release lever 3, in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the pawl axis 7 .

While the release lever 3 and the pawl 2 mounted thereon have a rectified or collinear arrangement in the closed position of the locking mechanism according to the illustration in FIG. 1, such that the pawl 2 is practically oriented as an extension of the release lever 3, it now comes at the described opening process so that the release lever 3 and the pawl 2 enclose an angle a indicated in FIG. 2 between them. In the context of the invention, the design is such that the rotational movement of the pawl 2 with respect to the release lever 3 is limited to angle a up to a maximum of 75 °. In order to implement this angle limitation in detail, the pawl 2 is fork-shaped with two fork arms 2a, 2b on the stop side, that is, in the direction of a stop not expressly shown and provided on the underside of the release lever 3.

The stop protruding from the release lever 3 on the underside dips between the two fork arms 2a, 2b of the pawl 2. As a result, on the one hand, the rotational movement of the pawl 2 relative to the release lever 3 is limited, taking into account the angle a. On the other hand, the design ensures that the pawl 2 is held in the closed state of the locking mechanism 1, 2 as an extension of the release lever 3, as shown in FIG. is. This is because the fork arm 2b on the right in the illustration strikes the stop on the underside of the release lever 3. If, on the other hand, it comes to the opening process according to the functional position in FIG. 2, the left fork arm 2a of the pawl 2 interacts with the said stop and limits the rotary movement 2 to the described angle a.

FIGS. 4A to 4C now show further variants of the motor vehicle lock according to the invention, in which the locking mechanism has alternative means for limiting the rotational movement of the pawl 2 with respect to the release lever 3. Comparable limitations of the angle of rotation or angle a are achieved as before, although an express drawing in FIGS. 4A to 4C has been omitted for reasons of clarity. The only exception here is the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4A, which at this point shows angle α up to almost 90 °. That is to say, the additional exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 4A to 4C make it clear that the rotational movement of the pawl 2 with respect to the release lever 3 is limited to angle α up to a maximum of 90 °.

In fact, it can be seen in FIG. 4A that the pawl 2 has an L-shape or has an L-projection 11 for this purpose. This L-projection 11 interacts with the previously described stop protruding from the release lever 3 in order to limit the rotational movement of the pawl 2 with respect to the release lever 3. This can be seen from the different functional positions in FIG. 4A.

In the variant according to FIG. 4B, on the other hand, the pawl 2 has an annular shape. In fact, an annular recess 12 is implemented in this context, into which a pin 13 dips and ensures the desired limitation of the rotational movement of the pawl 2 with respect to the release lever 3. The pin 13 is the previously mentioned stop protruding from the release lever 3. The variant according to FIG. 4C finally works in such a way that the release lever 3 is equipped with a fork contour 14. The fork contour 14 for its part now interacts with a stop protruding from the pawl 2. This again results in the desired limitation of the rotational movement of the pawl 2 with respect to the release lever 3.

The opening state of the locking mechanism already described and shown in FIG. 2 leads overall to the fact that the rotary latch 1 continues to work with the force F on the pawl 2. The displacement of the pawl axis 7 and the associated angular arrangement of the pawl 2 with respect to the release lever 3 now has the consequence, however, that the force F exerted by the rotary latch 1 on the pawl 2 compared to the axis 5 of the release lever 3 or the release lever axis 5 is directed outwards. That is, the force F, with its direction now working on the pawl 2, ensures that the pawl 2 is opened by the outward orientation of the force F. The same applies to the release lever 3. That is, the opening process is supported, as was already described in the introduction.

Due to the opening moment exerted on the pawl 2 by the rotary latch 1 during the opening process, the pawl 2 finally releases the rotary latch 1 during the transition from FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, which is then supported by its spring around the rotary latch axis 6 pivoted in the indicated clockwise direction and releases a previously caught and not expressly shown locking bolt. As a result, the associated motor vehicle door can be opened. In this case, the opening forces used are lower overall than before, because the rotary latch 1 exerts the described opening moment on the pawl 2 in the opening state of the locking mechanism.

In the figures, a spring 9 can finally be seen which is provided between the release lever 3 and the pawl 2. According to the exemplary embodiment from the spring 9 is equipped as a leg spring with two leg arms 9a, 9b. The spring or leg spring 9 is on the release lever 3 stored. One leg arm 9a is fixed to the release lever 3, while the other free leg arm 9b and thus the spring 9 as a whole biases the locking pawl 2 in the direction of an extended arrangement compared to the release lever 3. This extended arrangement is shown in FIG. 1 and, according to the exemplary embodiment, corresponds to the fact that the right fork arm 2b of the pawl 2 rests against the stop of the release lever 3.

In addition to the spring 9 already described, a further spring 10 mounted in the lock case 4 is also implemented. The spring 10 is also a leg spring. One leg 10 a of the spring 10 is fixed in or on the lock case 4. In contrast, the free leg 10b of the spring 10 acts on the release lever 3, against its opening direction, that is, with a force which acts opposite to the direction of the arrow P of the manual and / or motorized application. In this way, the release lever 3 is held in its basic position according to FIG. 1 and can only be acted upon manually and / or by motor in the direction of arrow P against the force of the spring 10.

List of reference symbols

1 rotary latch

1 a main ratchet

1 b first stop

2 pawl

2a left fork arm

2b right fork arm

3 release levers

4 lock case

5 axis / release lever axis

6 rotary latch axis

7 axle / ratchet axle

8 Contact surface of rotary latch / pawl

9 spring / leg spring

9a thigh arm

9b free thigh arm

10 spring / leg spring

10a leg

10b free leg

1 1 L projection

12 annular recess

13 tenons

14 fork contour

F force

P arrow / arrow direction

a angle

Claims

1. Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism consisting of at least one rotary latch (1) and at least one pawl (2), and with a release lever (3) rotatably mounted about an axis (5), the pawl (2 ) is rotatably mounted on the release lever (3) about an axis (7), characterized in that the rotary latch (1) acts on the pawl (2) in the closed state of the locking mechanism with a closing moment, which when the locking mechanism is opened by the associated Movement of the release lever (3) and the displacement of the axis (7) for the pawl (2) merges into an opening moment on the pawl (2).

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary latch (1) in the closed state of the locking mechanism (1, 2) works on the pawl (2) with a force (F) that is greater than the axis (5) of the release lever (3) is directed inwards.

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotary latch (1) in the opening state of the locking mechanism (1, 2) on the pawl (2) works with a force (F) that is greater than the axis (5) of the release lever (3) is directed outwards.

4. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the release lever (3) is equipped with a stop for limiting the angle of the rotational movement of the pawl (2) relative to the release lever (3).

5. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that the pawl (2) on the stop side is fork-shaped with two fork arms (2a, 2b), the stop on the release lever (3) between the two fork arms (2a, 2b) dives.

6. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the rotational movement of the pawl (2) relative to the release lever (3) is limited to angle (a) up to a maximum of 80 °, in particular to a maximum of 50 °.

7. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a spring (9) is provided between the release lever (3) and the pawl (2).

8. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the spring (9) biases the pawl (2) in the direction of an elongated arrangement compared to the release lever (3).

9. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a spring (10) is provided which acts on the release lever (3) against its opening direction.

10. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the release lever (3) for opening the locking mechanism (1, 2) is acted upon manually and / or by a motor.