EP4399383A1

EP4399383A1 - Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

Info

Publication number: EP4399383A1
Application number: EP22761390.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Szegeny
Original assignee: Kiekert AG
Current assignee: Kiekert AG
Priority date: 2021-09-09
Filing date: 2022-08-19
Publication date: 2024-07-17
Also published as: KR20240052972A; JP2024531632A; CN117957356A; DE102021123329A1; WO2023036364A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, preferably an electric lock, which is equipped with an electromotive drive (3, 4, 5) and a locking mechanism (1, 2) that can be loaded by the drive (3, 4, 5) and consists essentially of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). The drive (3, 4, 5) is provided with at least one Evoloid gear stage (4a, 5a). According to the invention, a latching element (11), which is mounted on the rotary latch (1) and/or the pawl (2, 3) so as to be pivotable primarily in a locking mechanism plane, is arranged in the engagement region (10) between the rotary latch (1) and the pawl (2).

Description

Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock and preferably an electric lock, with an electric motor drive and with a locking mechanism that can be acted upon by the drive and essentially consists of a rotary latch and a pawl, the drive being equipped with at least one evoloid gear stage .

Motor vehicle locks and in particular motor vehicle door locks and preferably electric locks are characterized by particularly convenient operation. Because the locking mechanism consisting of rotary latch and pawl in such motor vehicle locks is not (or no longer) opened mechanically, but rather by an electric motor, not only is comfort increased and the actuating forces reduced, but overall particularly quiet operation is also observed. The opening process can be initiated, for example, by a sensor in the area of an outside door handle or in the course of "keyless entry".

This offers the further advantage that aerodynamically optimized exterior motor vehicle doors can be used in this context, because ultimately a mechanically operated exterior door handle is unnecessary. For this reason, such electric locks or motor vehicle locks with an electric motor drive for the locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl are increasingly being used. DE 101 00 008 A1 shows an example of such an electric lock.

In fact, with such electric locks it is important to have a to ensure proper power transmission from the electric motor drive to the locking mechanism. As a rule, the electric motor drive ensures that the pawl is lifted from its engagement with the catch. This requires more or less large opening forces. For this reason, the previously mentioned state of the art according to DE 101 00 008 A1 not only works with a pawl lever that is operatively connected to the pawl, but also with a reduction gear as part of the electric motor drive. Because the electric motors used at this point as components of the electric motor drive are limited in their performance for reasons of space and cost.

In the generic prior art according to DE 10 2019 126 570 A1, there are already approaches to the effect that, in connection with a drive arrangement for a motor vehicle lock with an actuating lever mechanism for triggering a locking mechanism and a main drive working on the actuating lever mechanism, an additional auxiliary drive for emergency unlocking/emergency opening of the locking mechanism to realize. For this purpose, the auxiliary drive is equipped with a gearbox that provides a high transmission ratio. At least one gear stage of the transmission is designed as an evoloid stage.

Such Evoloid gear stages are characterized not only by their compact design, but also by a large ratio spread. In fact, this means that not only can a compact design be achieved, but also a large transmission ratio.

At this point, however, there is still a need for improvement, because there is an unchanged tendency to reduce the size and weight of the electric motor, and thus also the costs. This requires further optimized electromotive drives in this context. This is where the invention aims to remedy the situation. 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 a further optimization with regard to the actuating forces is observed overall, so that additional cost and weight advantages can be claimed as a result.

To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes in a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular motor vehicle door lock that a locking element is arranged in the engagement area between the rotary latch and the pawl, which is pivotally mounted on the rotary latch and / or the pawl largely in a locking plane.

The invention thus works first of all with an electric motor drive that has already been optimized in terms of compactness and achievable transmission ratio, which is equipped with at least one evoloid gear stage. In addition to this, the engagement area between the rotary latch and the pawl is now also being optimized with a view to the required opening forces, especially when opening electrically. The contact area between the rotary latch and the pawl is optimized with regard to the opening forces required to open the locking mechanism due to the latching element present in the engagement area between the rotary latch and the pawl and its pivotable mounting on the rotary latch and/or the pawl for the most part in the locking mechanism level. In fact, at this point and in contrast to the previous state of the art, according to the invention there is no (no longer) a rubbing movement of the pawl and rotary latch against one another in the course of the opening process. Such a frictional movement is associated with large frictional forces because the catch and the pawl are usually stamped components made of high-strength steel.

In contrast to this, the invention sees an im in this context Engagement area between the rotary latch and pawl provided locking element that is also pivotally mounted on the rotary latch or the pawl largely in the locking plane. As a result, during the opening process of the locking mechanism and the associated lifting of the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch, there is a rolling movement instead of a frictional movement between the pawl and the rotary latch. This is because during this process the locking element provided in the engagement area is pivoted, so that as a result the pawl can be lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch with a force that is significantly reduced compared to the prior art. As a result, a friction-optimized opening process of the locking mechanism is observed.

The friction-optimized opening process of the locking mechanism, in conjunction with the specifically designed electric motor drive with the at least one evoloid gear stage, means that the electric motor can be further reduced compared to previous embodiments in terms of the electrical power provided. As a result of this, the design can be realized even more compactly and with less weight as well as reduced costs compared to the previous procedures.

In fact, the procedure is usually such that the electric motor drive has exactly one evoloid gear stage. Because for this purpose the electric motor drive is typically equipped with an electric motor and a driven pulley, the evoloid gear stage being implemented between a worm on an output shaft of the electric motor and the driven pulley. That is, at this point only a single evoloid gear stage is advantageously used, namely between the worm on the output shaft of the electric motor on the one hand and an evoloid toothing on the outer circumference of the output disk on the other.

With the help of such an evoloid gear stage Realize reduction ratios of 10 : 1 or even more without any problems. That is, 10 revolutions or even more of the electric motor or the worm arranged on its output shaft are converted into just one revolution of the output disk. In most cases, even larger reduction ratios of 20:1, 30:1 or even more can be realized without any problems. As a result, a relatively high torque can be made available at the pawl for opening the locking mechanism, even when working with a small, compact and low-power electric motor with a low weight.

In this context, the output disk is usually equipped on the outer circumference with evoloid teeth that are inclined relative to its axis of rotation. In addition, the driven pulley generally has an actuating contour for the relevant actuating lever on its end face facing an actuating lever. That is, the driven pulley performs clockwise or counterclockwise rotary movements about its axis of rotation, which are transmitted to the actuating lever via the actuating contour. Since the actuating lever usually slides along with a cam on the actuating contour of the driven pulley, the actuating lever can be subjected to a pivoting movement as a result. In this context, the actuating contour is advantageously designed in a helical manner with a helical axis. It has proven useful if the helix axis of the actuating contour coincides with the axis of rotation of the output disk.

In this way, the helix axis of the actuating contour and the axis of rotation of the output disk coincide at the end face of the output disk facing the actuating lever. As a result, the design is such that the helical actuating contour describes a three-dimensional helix around the axis of rotation of the output disk. Since the cam on the front of the actuating lever is on the actuating contour applied, the operating lever is increasingly pivoted when the cam travels along the three-dimensional helix previously described.

Since the actuating lever usually interacts with a release lever that acts on the pawl, the pivoting movement of the actuating lever caused in this way can be transferred to the release lever, which as a result then in turn lifts the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch. Since, in this context, the pivotable latching element is provided in the engagement area between the rotary latch and the pawl, the opening process described succeeds with particularly little friction.

In this context, it has proven useful if the actuating lever and the release lever are mounted on the same axis. In principle, the actuating lever and the release lever can also coincide and define a lever. This supports the overall compact design. The fact that the worm on the output shaft of the electric motor usually has several evoloid teeth also contributes to this. The evoloid teeth are beveled in such a way that at least one evoloid tooth of the output shaft always engages in the evoloid toothing on the outer peripheral side of the output disk. At this point, it has proven useful if the worm on the output shaft has a maximum of three evoloid teeth. Of course, this only applies as an example.

The invention also relates to the use of a latching element in the area of engagement between the catch and the pawl in a motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, as described in claim 10 .

As a result, a motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle Door lock made available and realized with opening ratios that are again optimized compared to the state of the art. In fact, the electric motor drive works with at least one Evoloid gear stage and the pivoting latching element is also implemented in the engagement area between the rotary latch and the pawl. This not only provides an electric motor drive with a high reduction ratio, but also a friction-optimized engagement area between the catch and the pawl.

At this point, the fact that the worm on the output shaft of the electric motor, the output disk as a whole and the actuating lever and the release lever are generally made of plastic has an additional and advantageous effect. This is because a "plastic-plastic" friction is then observed between the head-side cam of the actuating lever and the actuating contour. Likewise between the evoloid teeth of the worm on the output shaft and the evoloid teeth on the outer circumference of the output disk, so that a further optimization of friction can be observed as a result. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

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

Show it:

1 shows the motor vehicle lock according to the invention in a perspective overview and

2 shows the locking mechanism in a detailed view.

In the figures, a motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock is shown, which is a so-called electric lock is, so one in which an associated locking mechanism 1, 2 from rotary latch

1 and pawl 2 is opened electrically. For this purpose, an electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 is implemented. The electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 works on an actuating lever mechanism 6, 7 in order to disengage the pawl 2 from its in

1 illustrated latching engagement with the rotary latch 1, as will be explained in more detail below.

For this purpose, the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 is equipped with at least one evoloid gear stage 4a, 5a. A single evoloid gear stage 4a, 5a is implemented as part of the exemplary embodiment. This is located between a worm 4 on an output shaft of an electric motor 3 as part of the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 on the one hand and a driven pulley 5 as another part of the electric motor drive 3, 4, 5 on the other. In fact, both the said worm 4 and the driven pulley 5 are each equipped with evoloid teeth 4a, 5a which together define the single evoloid gear stage 4a, 5a within the framework of the embodiment.

For this purpose, the evoloid teeth 4a are located along the entire outer circumference and over the entire length of the worm 4 on the output shaft of the electric motor 3. In contrast, the evoloid teeth 5a are provided and arranged on the outer circumference of the output disk 5, compared to an axis of rotation 8 of the driven pulley 5 inclined. The driven pulley 5 is also equipped with an actuating contour 5b, specifically on its end face facing an actuating lever mechanism 6, 7. The actuating contour 5b is of a helical nature and has an associated helical axis 8 which, according to the exemplary embodiment, coincides with the axis of rotation 8 of the output disk 5 . In fact, the design is such that the helical actuating contour 5b describes a three-dimensional helix overall in relation to the helical axis or axis of rotation 8 of the output disk 5 .

The actuating lever mechanism 6, 7 is composed essentially of an actuating lever 6 and a release lever 7 interacting with the pawl 2 and acting on it. The operating lever 6 is equipped with a front cam 6a, which slides along the helical actuating contour 5b or is acted upon using the helical actuating contour 5b. As a result of this and with a clockwise movement of the output disk 5 around the axis of rotation 8, as indicated in FIG. Since the actuating lever 6 and the release lever 7 are mounted on the same axis as one another and in relation to the common axis 9, the release lever 7 follows the clockwise movement of the actuating lever 6 and overall ensures that the pawl 2 is also pivoted in the clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1 . This is because the trigger lever 7 is coupled to the actuating lever 6 in a rotationally fixed manner.

As a result of this, the pawl 2 is lifted off the rotary latch 1 from its latching engagement shown in FIG. 1 in the closed state of the locking mechanism 1, 2. The pawl 2 moves about the common axis 9 together with the release lever 7 and the actuating lever 6. The rotary latch 1 then opens with the aid of a spring and releases a previously caught locking bolt which is not expressly shown. The associated motor vehicle door is open.

The worm 4 on the output shaft of the electric motor 3 has a plurality of evoloid teeth 4a on its outer periphery and along its length. The evoloid teeth 4a are beveled in such a way that at least one of these evoloid teeth 4a engages in the evoloid teeth on the outer circumference of the output disk 5 or the evoloid teeth 5a there. According to the exemplary embodiment, the worm 4 on the output shaft of the electric motor 3 has a maximum of three evoloid teeth 4a. Of course, this only applies as an example. The reduction achieved at this point can generally have values of more than 10:1, in particular even 20:1 or even preferably 30:1 and more.

According to the invention, the design is such that, as shown in FIG. According to the exemplary embodiment, the latching element 11 is pivotably mounted on the rotary latch 1 , to be precise largely in a locking plane spanned by the rotary latch 1 and the pawl 2 . From the illustration in FIG. 2 it can be seen that the latching element 11 dips into a recess 1a of the rotary latch 1 for this purpose with a pivot bearing head 11a and can thereby carry out the corresponding pivoting movements. Consequently, if the pawl 2 is lifted from its latching engagement with the rotary latch 1, this means that the latching element 11 performs the pivoting movement indicated in Fig. 1 or 2, so that the pawl 2 is particularly low-friction from its engagement with the rotary latch 1 can be withdrawn.

For this purpose, the latching element 11 may have a guide extension 11b that projects in relation to the locking plane and provides additional axial and/or radial guidance of the latching element 11 . The guide extension 11b in question can be designed as an embossing, for example. In addition, a casing or a component of the rotary latch 1 may ensure that the pivotable latching element 11 is secured axially, but this is not shown in detail.

Reference List

lock 1, 2

rotary latch 1

recess 1a

pawl 2

Drive 3, 4, 5

electric motor 3

snail 4

driven pulley 5

Evoloid gear stage 4a, 5a

actuating contour 5b

operating lever system 6, 7,

operating lever 6

Cam 6a

release lever 7

Axis of rotation 8

axis 9

Intervention area 10

locking element 11

Pivot bearing head 11 a

Guide extension 11 b

Claims

patent claims

1. Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, preferably an electric lock, with an electric motor drive (3, 4, 5) and with a locking mechanism (1, 2) that can be acted upon by the drive (3, 4, 5) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and pawl (2), wherein the drive (3, 4, 5) is equipped with at least one evoloid gear stage (4a, 5a), d a r c h e n n z e i c h n e t that in the engagement area (10) between the rotary latch (1) and pawl (2) a locking element (11) is arranged, which is pivotally mounted on the rotary latch (1) and/or the pawl (2) largely in a locking plane.

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric motor drive (3, 4, 5) has an electric motor (3) and a driven pulley (5), wherein the evoloid gear stage (4a, 5a) between a Worm (4) is realized on an output shaft of the electric motor (3) and the driven pulley (5).

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the driven pulley (5) is equipped on the outer peripheral side with the axis of rotation (8) of the driven pulley (5) inclined evoloid teeth (5a).

4. Motor vehicle lock according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the driven pulley (5) is equipped on its end face facing an actuating lever (6) with an actuating contour (5b) for the actuating lever (6).

5. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that the Actuating contour (5b) is helically formed with a helical axis (8).

6. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the helix axis (8) of the actuating contour (5b) coincides with the axis of rotation (8) of the driven pulley (5).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the worm (4) on the output shaft of the electric motor (3) has a plurality of evoloid teeth (4a) which are beveled so that in each case at least one evoloid Tooth (4a) engages in the evoloid toothing of the driven pulley (5) on the outer circumference.

8. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that with the actuating lever (6) interacting and the pawl (2) acting on the release lever (7) is provided.

9. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the actuating lever (6) and the release lever (7) are mounted coaxially on a common axis (9).

10. Use of a locking element (11) in the engagement area (10) between the rotary latch (1) and pawl (2) in a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, preferably an electric lock, with an electric motor drive (3, 4, 5), and with a locking mechanism (1, 2) that can be acted upon by the drive (3, 4, 5) essentially consisting of the rotary latch (1) and the pawl (2), the drive (3, 4, 5) having at least one evoloid gear -Stage (4a, 5a) is equipped, and wherein the locking element (11) on the rotary latch (1) and / or the pawl (2) is largely pivoted in a locking plane.