Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/54—Electrical circuits
  • E05B81/80—Electrical circuits characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/54—Electrical circuits
  • E05B81/80—Electrical circuits characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation
  • E05B81/82—Electrical circuits characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation using batteries other than the vehicle main battery
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/02—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the type of actuators used
  • E05B81/04—Electrical
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/12—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the function or purpose of the powered actuators
  • E05B81/14—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the function or purpose of the powered actuators operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/12—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the function or purpose of the powered actuators
  • E05B81/14—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the function or purpose of the powered actuators operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
  • E05B81/15—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the function or purpose of the powered actuators operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt with means preventing the detent to return to its latching position before the bolt has moved to the unlatched position
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/54—Electrical circuits
  • E05B81/64—Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors

Definitions

• the invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular an electric lock, with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl, also with an electromotive opening drive for the locking mechanism, and with an energy store for emergency power supply to the opening drive and thus for emergency opening of the locking mechanism in emergency operation.
• Motor vehicle locks and in particular electric locks are characterized in that they offer a special convenience for the user when opening an associated motor vehicle door.
• the motor vehicle door can generally be a motor vehicle side door, but also a motor vehicle tailgate, a motor vehicle tank flap, a motor vehicle loading flap, etc.
• the opening process is usually initiated by a remote control or by the operator actuating a sensor or switch. This can be present, for example, on or in an outside door handle.
• a so-called mechanical redundancy is also implemented in addition to the electromotive opening drive.
• a mechanical coupling for manual lifting of the pawl is possible, for example in the event of a failure of an electrical energy supply, to be able to open the associated motor vehicle door in emergency mode.
• the mechanical redundancy is realized and implemented at this point in such a way that a coupling element is provided, with the actuator realized at this point being able to be connected to said coupling element with the aid of a Bowden cable.
• One can then use the Bowden cable Internal actuation and / or external actuation can be realized in particular in emergency operation.
• the generic prior art according to DE 102019 126570 A1 provides a drive arrangement for a motor vehicle lock, which is equipped with a main drive working on an actuating lever mechanism.
• an auxiliary drive for emergency unlocking or emergency opening of a locking mechanism is implemented.
• the auxiliary drive is designed as a component of an auxiliary module that is mechanically connected to the motor vehicle door lock and is functionally independent.
• the auxiliary module can in turn be equipped with an energy source or auxiliary energy source. This is an accumulator, one or more capacitors or combinations thereof.
• the entire state of the art has basically proven itself when it comes to realizing and implementing emergency operation of the motor vehicle lock for emergency opening of the locking mechanism.
• the prior art relies on the one hand on a mechanical redundancy within the scope of DE 102019 128 296 A1 and on the other hand an auxiliary drive according to the generic DE 10 2019 126 570 A1. In both cases, this requires additional equipment, mechanical connections, etc. As a result of this, the structure is complex and sometimes expansive. This is where the invention aims to remedy the situation overall.
• the invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle lock and in particular an electric lock in such a way that the design effort is reduced and a particularly compact embodiment is observed.
• a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular an electric lock within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the locking mechanism is in emergency operation and during or following an opening process or during or following an emergency opening in its state is kept “open” with the help of the opening drive.
• the invention therefore proceeds in principle in such a way that the emergency operation corresponds to the locking mechanism assuming its open state and maintaining this open state in the event of an emergency opening or following an emergency opening.
• emergency operation this is usually ensured by the energy store for emergency power supply to the opening drive.
• a main energy source used in normal operation to act on the electric motor opening drive is usually failed in the form of a battery in the motor vehicle, for example, or does not provide enough power to move the electric motor opening drive.
• the energy store which is designed to be independent of the main energy source.
• the procedure is usually such that the locking mechanism is kept in the “open” state in emergency operation during or following an initial emergency opening or an initial opening process. This means that as soon as the motor vehicle or an associated control device or control unit switches to emergency operation, a first opening process and thus the first emergency opening results in the opening drive being supplied with emergency power with the help of the energy storage device and thereby moving the locking mechanism into its “open” position . In this "open” state, the locking mechanism is now (permanently) held.
• the emergency operation can occur, for example, when a motor vehicle has been parked for a long time and the voltage of the vehicle-side main energy source has dropped so far that it is not (or no longer) able to energize the electromotive opening drive for the locking mechanism.
• a switch is made to emergency operation with the aid of the previously mentioned control unit. This means that when the vehicle is parked, the locking mechanism still retains its closed state and remains unchanged. Only when a user wants to open a motor vehicle door belonging to the motor vehicle lock in emergency operation, for example by actuating a sensor or a remote control, is the emergency opening initiated.
• the sensor in question and an optimal transmitter/receiver unit are usually powered with the help of the energy storage device or additionally by the main energy source in order to be able to detect the operator's opening request in emergency operation.
• a first emergency opening or a first opening process (after initiating emergency operation) following the operator's opening request now results in the opening drive being supplied with emergency power using the energy store.
• the opening drive is able to switch the locking mechanism to its "open” state. This usually corresponds to the electromotive opening drive acting on the pawl and spacing it from the catch. This means that the "open" state of the locking mechanism corresponds overall to the release of the rotary latch using the opening drive, which is supplied with emergency power by the energy storage device in emergency operation.
• a mechanical reset means that the ratchet is mechanically - again - in its closed state is transferred or in the specific example, the pawl is applied to the rotary latch again.
• the associated motor vehicle door can subsequently be closed without any problems, because then, for example, a body-side locking bolt can be caught by the rotary latch and secured using the pawl that is then free (from the opening drive) by latching in on the rotary latch.
• an electronic reset is usually used to cancel the “open” state of the locking mechanism and specifically to apply the opening drive in the opposite direction so that it no longer holds the pawl in its spaced position compared to the rotary latch.
• the pawl can then easily fall back into the rotary latch as soon as it has caught the locking bolt. That is, when reset, the locking mechanism resumes its closed basic position.
• the electronic reset is usually done by querying at least one sensor.
• the actuation of two sensors corresponds particularly advantageously to the reset in order to prevent operating errors or manipulations.
• the reset is performed with a predetermined sequence of actuation of the two sensors mentioned.
• the energy store only has to ensure at least the first and a second emergency opening. Because at least the second emergency opening is regularly required in order to be able to subsequently open the motor vehicle for repair purposes.
• a relatively compact energy store can be used, and the motor vehicle lock described also works according to the invention if the energy store itself (for example due to its age) should have a low charge level.
• capacitors or so-called supercapacitors can be used advantageously as energy storage devices, because usually only a limited number of operations or emergency operations (at least two emergency operations) required are.
• the energy store can also be designed as a battery or a combination of a capacitor or supercapacitor with a battery as a plurality of capacitors, a plurality of batteries, etc.
• the already mentioned sensor for the implementation of the electronic reset is usually a door actuation switch.
• the sequence of actuation that is usually implemented in this context corresponds, for example, to the fact that an inside door handle and an outside door handle must be actuated simultaneously in order to implement the electronic reset and to control the electromotive opening drive in such a way that, in the example, the pawl is no longer at a distance from the catch in the "open" position of the locking mechanism.
• other activation sequences or activation patterns are also conceivable.
• a specific sequence of actuations can be implemented in the event that only one sensor or door actuation switch is used. Either way, this is only used in emergency operation, so that any operating errors in normal operation are excluded.
• emergency operation it is also necessary for the operator or user who wants to access the vehicle to authorize himself or herself, for example by having a question/answer dialogue with the vehicle or by the user simply using the (remote control) key that ensures access has.
• a motor vehicle lock and in particular an electric lock is made available which, for the first time and quite fundamentally, opens up the possibility of being able to do without mechanical redundancy or an auxiliary drive in principle. All of this works without compromising security in any way. Rather, emergency operation is directly linked to the fact that the user or operator is intuitively informed of this. This applies both to the case that the associated motor vehicle in the locked or closed state from normal operation switches to emergency mode.
• the problem-free emergency opening is also possible in the event that the motor vehicle switches to emergency operation when the motor vehicle door is already open or even during the opening process.
• the invention ensures that the locking mechanism is held in its “open” state by the opening drive in emergency operation using the electromotive opening drive until it is reset. This is where the main advantages can be seen.
• FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle lock according to the invention in its essential features for the invention.
• the motor vehicle lock shown has a locking mechanism 1, 2 consisting essentially of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2.
• an electromotive opening drive 3 is provided for the locking mechanism 1, 2.
• the Flaupt energy source 6 is located inside a motor vehicle body and is designed as an accumulator.
• control unit 5 which is usually also provided on the vehicle side, detects a drop in the electrical voltage provided by the Flaupt energy source 6, for example, in such a way that the electromotive opening drive 3 using the main energy source 6 in normal operation (no longer) can be acted upon, the control unit 5 switches to emergency operation.
• the opening drive 3 is supplied with emergency power using the energy store 4 for the emergency opening of the locking mechanism 1 , 2 .
• the energy store 4 can advantageously be one or more capacitors, so-called supercapacitors. These can typically be placed in a space-saving manner inside a lock housing 7 that accommodates the locking mechanism 1 , 2 and the electromotive opening drive 3 and is only indicated. If emergency operation now occurs, the energy store 4 for emergency power supply to the opening drive 3 and thus for emergency opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 in emergency operation ensures that the locking mechanism 1, 2 is kept in its “open” state. This applies at least following an opening process initiated by an operator.
• the procedure is usually such that the operator presses on a door actuation switch 8, 9.
• two door operating switches 8, 9 are implemented, namely an inner door operating switch 8 and an outer door operating switch 9.
• the opening process is regularly initiated in such a way that the operator operates the outer door operating switch 9. This applies to both normal and emergency operation.
• the actuation of the outer door actuation switch 9 is detected using the control unit 5 and results in the control unit 5 issuing a command to the electromotive opening drive 3 so that it opens the locking mechanism 1 , 2 .
• the opening drive 3 acts on the pawl 2, which can be pivoted about an axis 2a, at its end remote from the rotary latch via an output-side and clockwise worm with actuating pin, so that the pawl 2 starts from the illustration of FIG. 1 pivoted counterclockwise and is thereby spaced from the rotary latch 1.
• the process indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1 for lifting the pawl 2 with the aid of the opening drive 3 ensures that the rotary latch 1 is released.
• Flierzu corresponds to a clockwise movement of the rotary latch 1 about its axis 1a, so that a locking bolt 10 previously caught using the locking mechanism 1, 2 is released and the associated motor vehicle door can be opened.
• the opening drive 3 powered by the energy store 4 now ensures that the locking mechanism 1, 2 not only assumes its “open” state, but is kept in this “open” state with the aid of the opening drive 3. until it comes to a reset.
• the control unit 5 which detects emergency operation and actuates the opening drive 3 accordingly.
• an electronic reset is implemented. With this reset, the locking mechanism 1, 2 resumes its closed basic position.
• the opening drive 3 is energized with the aid of the control unit 5 and with supply from the energy store 4 in such a way that the pawl 2 is no longer held in a spaced-apart position from the rotary latch 1 .
• the opening drive 3 releases the pawl 2 so that it can pivot, for example with spring support, into its position shown in FIG.
• the locking pawl 2 can then fall back into its latching position, as shown in Fig. 1 is shown.
• the electronic reset and the release of the pawl 2 is initiated according to the invention by querying at least one sensor 8, 9.
• the sensor 8, 9 is the two door operating switches 8, 9. That is, the activation of these two sensors 8, 9 or the door activation switch 8, 9 corresponds to the electronic reset. This is initiated when a predetermined sequence of actuation of the two sensors 8, 9 or the door actuation switch 8, 9 is observed.
• this operating sequence corresponds to both the inner door operating switch 8 and the outer door operating switch 9 being acted upon at the same time.
• the control unit 5 sends a signal to the electromotive opening drive 3, so that it releases the pawl 2, so that the pawl 2 can return from its lifted position to the closed position as shown in FIG. 1, spring-assisted.
• the motor vehicle door equipped with the motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock shown can now be closed again.
• the opening process In order to open the motor vehicle door in question, the opening process must in turn be initiated by the operator, so that the described emergency opening then occurs in emergency operation. A new electronic reset is then required. This means that in emergency operation, every door opening requires a subsequent electronic reset. Through this, the operator is immediately made aware of the emergency operation, because he can only close the motor vehicle door in question with the associated motor vehicle lock again when the operating sequence described has been carried out.

Landscapes

• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=81648295

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2021
  • 2021-05-06 DE DE102021111853.0A patent/DE102021111853A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2022
  • 2022-05-05 DE DE112022002445.3T patent/DE112022002445A5/de active Pending
  • 2022-05-05 WO PCT/DE2022/100341 patent/WO2022233366A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2022-05-05 KR KR1020237042121A patent/KR20240005882A/ko unknown
  • 2022-05-05 JP JP2023567996A patent/JP2024518383A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-05-05 US US18/556,920 patent/US20240209661A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-05-05 CN CN202280033109.8A patent/CN117280106A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-05-05 EP EP22723022.4A patent/EP4334555A1/de active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events