EP4038252B1 - Vehicle lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, with an actuating lever system for releasing a locking mechanism, and also with a drive arrangement having a main drive working on the actuating lever mechanism with an electromotive main motor and, if necessary, a main gear connected downstream, for example for unlocking/opening the locking mechanism, and with a likewise on the actuating lever mechanism working auxiliary drive with electromotive auxiliary motor and downstream auxiliary gear, for example for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism.

The motor vehicle lock is regularly a motor vehicle door lock, ie a lock arranged on or in a motor vehicle door. In principle, this also includes tailgate locks, locks for front hoods, seat locks, tank flaps, loading flaps, loading space flaps, sliding doors, etc. The electrical actuation or unlocking/locking and also the opening of such motor vehicle locks and in particular motor vehicle door locks has long been described in literature and implemented in practice . Problems can occur such that, for example due to low voltage, the electromotive main motor or the main drive is not (or no longer) able, for example, to unlock or even open the actuating lever system. Similar problems can arise in the event of an accident or a crash if a connecting line to the battery in the motor vehicle or a main energy source is interrupted.

In the state of the art according to DE 10 2006 002 119 A1 a locking system is described for this purpose, in which an energy transfer from a electronic key to the motor vehicle lock to activate the lock in an emergency is possible. The energy can be transmitted inter alia inductively via coils. In addition, an additional signal communication between the electronic key and the motor vehicle lock is addressed.

A comparable emergency control device for a locking system of a moving part of a vehicle is in DE 10 2017 125 719 A1 addressed to the applicant. In this case, an actuating element that can be reached outside of a vehicle is provided, with the aid of which the locking system can be switched into a so-called emergency actuating mode by a user. In the emergency actuation mode, a communication unit can be brought into signal connection with an ID transmitter or an electronic key. This allows an authentication signal to be transmitted. If the authentication is positive, an electronic unit transfers the associated motor vehicle lock from a locked position to an unlocked position and vice versa. This is intended to enable locking and/or unlocking of the movable part or a door or hatch of the vehicle with the aid of the emergency actuation device, even when the vehicle or the vehicle electronics are essentially de-energized.

In the generic state of the art according to EP 2 857 616 B1 is a drive arrangement for a motor vehicle lock, the motor vehicle lock having a main motor for normal operation and a downstream planetary gear. In addition, the known drive arrangement has an additional auxiliary motor for emergency operation, which is used in particular in the event of a crash. The auxiliary motor is coupled to the planetary gear via a second gear element. This provides a high level of operational safety, particularly in the event of a crash. In addition, reduced installation space requirements are observed and a particularly compact embodiment is implemented.

The state of the art has basically proven itself. However, the integration of the auxiliary drive, including the auxiliary motor and the downstream auxiliary gear and possibly electronics and an auxiliary energy source, requires extensive adaptation of the known motor vehicle lock and an associated housing to such a configuration. This means that each individual motor vehicle lock type must be redesigned and revised for additional emergency operation or for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism. This leads to a considerable complication of the construction, to additional storage and logistics costs and also makes the assembly particularly complex. This is where the invention aims to remedy the situation overall.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a drive arrangement for a motor vehicle lock in such a way that the design and assembly costs are reduced and a particularly flexible solution is made available which can also be easily adapted to existing motor vehicle locks.

To solve this technical problem, a generic drive arrangement for a motor vehicle lock within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the auxiliary drive is designed as part of an auxiliary module that is mechanically connected to the motor vehicle lock and is functionally independent and is locally separated from the motor vehicle lock, with the aid of the functionally independent auxiliary module and of the auxiliary drive as part of the auxiliary module in emergency operation, the actuating lever mechanism of the motor vehicle lock can be unlocked/opened in an emergency, independently of the main drive.

In the context of the invention, the auxiliary drive is initially designed as a component of the auxiliary module. The auxiliary module is designed functionally independently of the motor vehicle lock and is also locally separated from it. As usual, the auxiliary module refers to an exchangeable, complex element within an overall system, namely the motor vehicle lock. The auxiliary module itself defines a functionally independent and closed functional unit. The functionally independent design of the auxiliary module is expressed in the fact that the auxiliary module is only mechanically connected to the motor vehicle lock or can work on the actuating lever system of the motor vehicle lock via the mechanical connection. Otherwise, the auxiliary module is designed to be largely self-sufficient, for example it may have its own controller and an auxiliary power source.

With the help of the functionally independent auxiliary module and the auxiliary drive as part of the auxiliary module, the actuating lever system of the motor vehicle lock can now be unlocked/opened in an emergency, independently of the main drive. The same applies to the locking mechanism acted upon with the aid of the operating lever system. For this purpose, the auxiliary module can not only have the auxiliary drive, but the auxiliary module is advantageously equipped with the additional auxiliary energy source in addition to the auxiliary drive. The auxiliary energy source can be an energy source that is independent of the battery in the motor vehicle or the main energy source, for example a separate battery, capacitors, etc. In addition to the auxiliary drive, the auxiliary module is also advantageously equipped with the controller for the auxiliary drive.

In addition, the auxiliary module may also have a data interface for wireless communication with an electronic key. In this way, the invention ensures that only the owner of the electronic key is authorized and able to unlock or open the locking mechanism in an emergency. For this purpose, an authentication check may first take place between the data interface and the electronic key. Only after a positive authentication check is the auxiliary drive for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism activated.

In addition, the design is usually such that the auxiliary gear downstream of the auxiliary motor has a high gear ratio. In the context of the present invention, a high gear ratio means a gear ratio of at least 1:100 or even more. In fact, two or three stages of the auxiliary gear are usually used at this point, so that overall significantly higher transmission ratios of up to 1:1000 and even more can be achieved. As a result, the auxiliary engine can be equipped with a particularly small design and low engine torque compared to the main engine.

As a result of this, only a low supply voltage of the optional auxiliary energy source is typically required. Supply voltages that are well below those of the main motor, for example less than 6 V, preferably less than 5 V, are usually sufficient here. A voltage of just 3 V is often sufficient. Nevertheless, due to the high translation provided by the auxiliary gear downstream of the auxiliary motor, a significant force can be exerted by the auxiliary drive on the actuating lever system for its emergency release/emergency opening, which is several tens of N. As a result, the auxiliary drive is able to act on the actuating lever system for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism if the main drive fails. All this is possible with a significantly longer travel time compared to normal unlocking/opening of the locking mechanism, taking into account a compared to the prior art according to EP 2 857 616 B1 further reduced energy consumption.

For the design of the auxiliary gear, the invention recommends, for example, a worm stage and, in addition, an evoloid stage. This will be explained in more detail with reference to the description of the figures. In addition, the design is usually such that the motor vehicle lock has a housing that accommodates the main drive, the locking mechanism and the actuating lever system, which additionally has an interface for the mechanical connection of a connecting means coupling the auxiliary module to the motor vehicle lock. This interface can be a locking cylinder interface.

This means that the auxiliary module is connected to the lock cylinder interface of the housing of the motor vehicle lock, which is typically implemented anyway, with the aid of the mechanical connecting means. As a result, modifications to the actual motor vehicle lock are not required. Rather, the auxiliary drive or the auxiliary module containing the auxiliary drive replaces the lock cylinder that is often used in practice and is set up at least for emergency unlocking of the motor vehicle lock if the vehicle battery fails. With the help of the auxiliary module, the function of the lock cylinder for emergency unlocking can now be implemented and replaced, taking into account an electromotive solution, so that the key with key bit required to operate the lock cylinder can be omitted.

The auxiliary module is usually equipped with its own module housing that is independent of the housing of the motor vehicle lock. The separate module housing supports the functionally independent design of the auxiliary module compared to the motor vehicle lock. In this context, the mechanical connecting means ensures that the actuating lever system inside the motor vehicle lock can be unlocked/opened in an emergency as desired using the auxiliary drive as part of the auxiliary module in emergency operation and independently of the main drive.

There is also the possibility that the connecting means is designed to be rigid. Here, connecting means such as a connecting rod, an adjusting rod, a rotating rod, etc. have proven to be particularly favorable. In principle, however, the connecting means can also be designed to be flexible.

In this case, the connecting means is designed as a rope, Bowden cable, etc., for example.

In the case of a rigid design of the connecting means, the interface on or in the housing of the motor vehicle lock can be designed as a slotted nut, for example, into which a rotating rod for transmitting a rotary movement of the auxiliary drive of the auxiliary module engages. An example of such a slotted nut is, inter alia, in DE 10 2009 001 851 A1 described by the applicant. This is an emergency locking device using a lock cylinder. For this purpose, among other things, an emergency locking switch nut is implemented, which is acted upon by a safety lever if a central locking device fails. If the connecting means is designed as a cable or Bowden cable, it can be hooked into or connected to a lever that is guided outside the housing of the motor vehicle door lock.

As a result, a drive arrangement for a motor vehicle lock is made available which is constructed and works in a structurally simple and flexible manner. Because of the design of the auxiliary drive as a component of an auxiliary module that is mechanically connected to the motor vehicle and is functionally independent, it is possible to retain the motor vehicle lock structurally and only upgrade it with the auxiliary module that is additionally provided. This applies in particular to a motor vehicle lock on a driver's door, which was previously and typically equipped with an additional lock cylinder in order to accomplish at least mechanical emergency unlocking via the lock cylinder. As a result, such a motor vehicle lock typically has a mechanical interface on or in the housing, via which the previously used lock cylinder was coupled to the actuating lever system inside the motor vehicle lock or its housing.

After eliminating the lock cylinder, according to the invention the auxiliary module with the associated auxiliary drive now assumes the function of the lock cylinder and for this purpose can be mechanically connected to the motor vehicle lock by the mechanical connecting means via the interface or lock cylinder interface already mentioned.

All of this is particularly easy to do because there is no longer a locking cylinder, so an additional key is no longer required. Rather, the emergency unlocking or emergency opening of the locking mechanism can take place with the aid of an electronic key, possibly following a previously performed authentication check. For this purpose, the auxiliary module is typically equipped with the auxiliary energy source and additional data interface. By resorting to a separate low-power electromotive auxiliary module with a downstream, high-ratio auxiliary gear, the desired emergency unlocking or emergency opening of the actuating lever system and thus of the locking mechanism can still be implemented and implemented. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

• Fig. 1 die erfindungsgemäße Antriebsanordnung in einer schematischen Übersicht,
• Fig. 2 eine Einbausituation der Antriebsanordnung nach der Fig. 1 und
• Fig. 3 das Hilfsmodul nach der Fig. 1.

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

• 1 the drive arrangement according to the invention in a schematic overview,
• 2 an installation situation of the drive arrangement according to the 1 and
• 3 the auxiliary module after the 1 .

In the 1 an overview of a drive arrangement for a motor vehicle lock 1 is shown, which is a motor vehicle door lock 1 in the context of the illustration. The motor vehicle door lock 1 is to inside one in the 2 partially opened motor vehicle door arranged, in which, according to the exemplary embodiment and not restrictively, is a motor vehicle side door and here specifically a motor vehicle driver's door.

The motor vehicle door lock 1 has a total of a housing 2. Inside the housing 2 you can see an actuating lever system 3, which is reduced to a release lever 3 according to the exemplary embodiment, which is used to release a locking mechanism 4, 5 consisting of a rotary latch 4 and a pawl 5. In addition, one can also see a main drive 6 working on the actuating lever system 3, which is equipped with an electric motor main motor (not shown in detail) and a main gearbox that may be connected downstream and is also not shown in detail and works on the actuating lever system 3 or the release lever 3. In this way, the actuating lever mechanism 3 can be acted upon to unlock/open the locking mechanism 4, 5.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the main drive 6 inside the housing 2 of the motor vehicle door lock 1 ensures that the actuating lever mechanism 3 is moved to its “unlocked” or “locked” position. In the "unlocked" position of the actuating lever mechanism 2, the locking mechanism 4, 5 can be opened via a mechanical handle or another electric motor drive or the main drive 6. In contrast, the "locked" state of the actuating lever system 3 corresponds to the fact that the locking mechanism 4, 5 is in the 1 shown closed position maintained because the actuating lever mechanism 3 is mechanically interrupted.

In addition to the main drive 6, which works on the actuating lever system 3, an auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9, which also works on the actuating lever system 3, is additionally implemented. The auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9 has its own motor, which is completely independent of the main motor Auxiliary drive 7 and a downstream auxiliary gear 8 for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism 4, 5. According to the invention, the auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9 is designed as part of an auxiliary module 10 that is mechanically connected to the motor vehicle lock 1 and is functionally independent. The auxiliary module 10 has its own module housing 11, which is designed locally and functionally independently of the housing 2 of the motor vehicle lock 1. While the housing 2 of the motor vehicle lock 1 essentially accommodates the locking mechanism 4, 5, the actuating lever system 3 and the main drive 6, the module housing 11 of the auxiliary module 10 encloses the auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9 or the electromotive auxiliary motor 7 including the downstream one Auxiliary gear 8 and additionally a pivoting lever 9 acted upon by the auxiliary gear 8.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the mechanical connection between the auxiliary module 10 and the motor vehicle lock 1 is established via a mechanical connecting means 12 , which in the exemplary embodiment is a connecting rod or adjusting rod 12 . The actuating rod 12 is evident from the 3 connected to the pivot lever 9, which in the 3 indicated pivoting movements about its axis, so that as a result of this, the actuating rod 12 which is also in the 3 indicated actuating movements in the direction of the double arrow, which are transferred to the actuating lever mechanism 3 for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism 4, 5. It can be seen that the transmission 8 following the auxiliary motor 7 is designed in three stages and in this way provides a high transmission ratio. In fact, transmission ratios of up to 1:1000 are observed on the output side of the transmission 8 at this point. As a result, the electromotive auxiliary motor 7 can be designed to be small and compact with a low energy requirement, as has already been described in the introduction. In addition, a total of one gear stage of the Gear 8 be designed as a worm stage and another gear stage as an evoloid stage.

In addition to the auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9, the auxiliary module 10 also has an auxiliary energy source 13, which can be an accumulator, one or more capacitors or combinations. In addition, the auxiliary module 10 is additionally equipped with a controller 14 for the auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9 and optionally a data interface. According to the exemplary embodiment, the controller 14 and the data interface are combined. With the help of the data interface, overall wireless communication can take place with an electronic key that is not shown in detail. This ensures that before the emergency unlocking or emergency opening with the help of the auxiliary module 10, the authorization of a user is first determined and his authentication check is carried out. The auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9 is then only actuated if the authorization check is positive, in order to actuate the actuating lever system 3 of the motor vehicle lock 1 via the connecting rod or actuating rod 12 in such a way that the locking mechanism 4, 5 is unlocked or opened in an emergency.

The housing 2 of the motor vehicle lock 1 can be equipped with an interface 15 overall. This interface 15 may be a nut or the like that is mounted in or on the housing 2 . According to the exemplary embodiment, the actuating rod 12 or a connecting rod 12' to an outside door handle is inserted into the socket or interface 15 in question in order in this way to carry out the desired actuating movements on the actuating lever system 3 located inside the housing 2 for emergency unlocking or emergency opening of the locking mechanism 4 , 5 to be able to transfer.

Based on the representation in the 2 one recognizes that the auxiliary module 10 is arranged on the housing 2 of the motor vehicle lock 1 and in this context which uses the interface 15 that is present in the housing 2 of the motor vehicle lock 1 anyway, via which a lock cylinder, which is not required in this case, is normally connected to the housing 2 of the motor vehicle lock 1 . The mechanical connection between the auxiliary module 10 and the motor vehicle lock 1 is again effected via the connecting means 12 or the actuating rod 12 .

If, for example, in the event of a crash or if the main energy source in the motor vehicle is undervoltage, the main drive 6 of the motor vehicle door lock 1 fails or the actuating lever system 3 cannot be acted upon to unlock/open the locking mechanism 4, 5, the function of the main drive 6 takes over according to the invention Auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9, which is designed for this purpose as part of the motor vehicle lock 1 functionally independent auxiliary module 10, which is mechanically connected to the motor vehicle lock 1. Via this mechanical connection, the auxiliary drive 7, 8, 9 of the auxiliary module 10 can work on the actuating lever system 3 of the motor vehicle door lock 1 and ensure that the actuating lever system 3 for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism 4, 5 is acted upon.

Reference list:

1

Motor vehicle door lock, motor vehicle lock

2

Housing

3

Operating lever system, release lever

4

rotary latch

5

pawl

6

main drive

7, 8, 9

auxiliary drive

10

auxiliary module

11

module housing

12

adjusting rod, lanyard

13

auxiliary power source

14

steering

15

nut, interface

Claims (10)

1. Motor vehicle door latch (1) comprising an actuating lever unit (3) for triggering a locking mechanism (4, 5), further comprising a drive arrangement having a main drive (6), which operates on the actuating lever unit (3) and has an electromotive main motor, and optionally a downstream main gear, for example for unlocking/opening the locking mechanism (4, 5), and comprising an auxiliary drive (7, 8, 9), which also operates on the actuating lever unit (3) and has an auxiliary motor (7), and a downstream auxiliary gear (8), for example for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism (4, 5), characterized in that the auxiliary drive (7, 8, 9) is designed as a component of a functionally independent auxiliary module (10) which is mechanically connected to the motor vehicle door latch (1), and is spatially separated from the motor vehicle latch (1), emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the actuating lever unit (3) of the motor vehicle latch (1) in emergency operation being possible, independently of the main drive (6), by means of the functionally independent auxiliary module (10) and the auxiliary drive (7, 8, 9) as a component of the auxiliary module (10).
2. Motor vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor vehicle latch (1) has a housing (2) which accommodates the main drive (6), the locking mechanism (4, 5) and the actuating lever unit (3).
3. Motor vehicle door latch (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the auxiliary module (10) is equipped with a separate module housing (11) which is independent of the housing (2).
4. Motor vehicle door latch (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the housing (2) of the motor vehicle latch (1) has an interface (15) for mechanically connecting a connecting means (12) which couples the auxiliary module (1) to the motor vehicle latch (1).
5. Motor vehicle latch (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the interface (15) is designed as a locking-cylinder interface.
6. Motor vehicle door latch (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting means (12) is rigid, for example designed as a connecting rod, adjusting rod (12), rotary rod, etc.
7. Motor vehicle door latch (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting means (12) is flexible, for example designed as a cable, Bowden cable, etc.
8. Motor vehicle latch (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that the auxiliary module (10) has, in addition to the auxiliary drive (7, 8, 9), an auxiliary energy source (13).
9. Motor vehicle door latch (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the auxiliary module (10) has a controller (14) for the auxiliary drive (7, 8, 9) and optionally a data interface for wireless communication with an electronic key.
10. Motor vehicle door latch (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the auxiliary gear (8) downstream of the auxiliary motor (7) is designed to have a high ratio.

Images