WO2009068017A2

WO2009068017A2 - Motor vehicle door lock

Info

Publication number: WO2009068017A2
Application number: PCT/DE2008/001976
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Scholz; Holger Schiffer; Stefan Armbruster; Michael Herrmann
Original assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2007-11-28
Filing date: 2008-11-26
Publication date: 2009-06-04
Also published as: DE202007016719U1; EP2670932B8; WO2009068017A3; EP2670932B1; EP2670932A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) and a pulling/opening device (3 to 8) that works with said locking mechanism (1, 2) once it reaches a determined functional position. Said pulling/opening device (3 to 8) interacts with the locking mechanism (2, 3) only after a predetermined time delay (Z).

Description

Motor vehicle door lock Description:

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism and with a closing / opening device which operates on the locking mechanism, as soon as this reaches a certain functional position.

Such motor vehicle door locks are widely known from practice and are described for example in EP 1 319 780 A1. With the help of such a closing / opening device, the locking mechanism is transferred to its end position after reaching the specific functional position. In most cases, the functional position corresponds to the start of the closing / opening device for pre-ratchet division, so that the closing / opening device, which is designed, for example, as a closing aid, transfers the locking mechanism into the main closing position by motor means.

In addition, there are also so-called opening aids, which ensure that the locking mechanism is opened by motor. An example of such an opening aid is described in DE 10 2004 052 599. In the context of the present invention, however, the focus is primarily on closing aids and correspondingly designed closing / opening devices.

In such Zuziehhilfen there is a problem when, for example, during the closing process or even before the fingers of an operator in a gap between the door and body are present. Because injuries can occur. For this reason, the aforementioned European application has already created a solution that should provide remedies at this point. However, the solution presented corresponds to a mechanically extremely complex and logically costly structure. This is no longer acceptable in the course of today's enormous cost pressure in the production. The invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle door lock so that an effective protection against, in particular, injuries from the closing / opening device is provided with the simplest structural means.

To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, in a generic motor vehicle door lock, that the closing device only acts upon the locking mechanism after a predetermined time delay. - The time delay corresponds to a practically preselected and adjustable period of time. At this point, it has proven useful if the time delay corresponds to a time span of more than one second. In order not to affect the comfort too much and to prevent possible theft, of course, an upper limit for the time delay must be specified.

Here, values of about 10 seconds have proved favorable. In particular, it is advantageous if the time delay belongs to a time period in the range between approximately one second and three seconds. Because within this period, it is easily possible for an operator, for example, to remove a finger or a hand placed in the door gap. It may be flanking advantageous if the achievement of the functional position of the locking mechanism and consequently the start of the time delay flanked with an acoustic and / or optical signal to warn the operator.

This optical or acoustic signal can also be linked to the fact that there is anything at all in the door gap, which could disturb or disturb the movement of the closing / opening device. This can be determined, for example, with the help of a sensor. This sensor may be associated with a door rubber seal or integrated into it. As soon as the If the sensor thus registers a possible obstacle in the door gap, the start of the time delay can be flanked by the optical and / or acoustic signal already mentioned, in order to make the operator aware of this and to cause the operator to provide appropriate countermeasures.

So that the motor vehicle door lock or its locking mechanism can be opened without problems during the adjustable time delay, the invention additionally proposes that a locking of the locking mechanism be suppressed during this time period or within the time delay. This means in the context of the invention that, for example, a central locking device is not acted upon within the time delay. That is, within the time period predetermined by the time delay, the motor vehicle door lock in question can be opened without difficulty, both from the inside, that is to say via an internal handle, and from the outside, for example via an outside door handle.

In addition, the invention proposes that in the locked state, an actuation of the closing / opening device is suppressed. This can be done in detail so that, for example, in motor vehicle door locks with internal locking lever and hereby cooperating Innenverriegelungs- button a corresponding operation in the sense of "lock" the closing / opening device switches ineffective. For this purpose, the respective locking state or unlocking state may be sensed. In the simplest case, this can be done by interrogating the associated locking lever or its position with a switch.

If an internal locking via an internal locking button or the like is not possible, the lock is made by an electric motor, for example in the sense of a central locking. In this case, too For example, a sensor may cause the respective positions of the associated (central) locking lever to be interrogated in the sense of "locked" or "unlocked".

In any case, the invention excludes that in the functional state "locked" of the locking mechanism, the closing / opening device can become active or the associated motor vehicle door is able to act on it. In other words, the lock state of the lock and the active state of the closing / opening device are mutually exclusive. As a result, an enormous gain in security is achieved because in particular a closing aid is not active and also can not be active when the locking mechanism and thus the motor vehicle door lock as a whole is in its locked state. This rules out that, for example, with a pinched finger or the like, the associated motor vehicle door can not be opened (because the locking mechanism is locked).

In addition, it has been proven that the application of the closing / opening device is not only linked to the specific functional state of the locking mechanism. Instead, it is also advisable to couple the questionable admission to a specific functional state of another unit, for example a child safety device. In the functional state of the lock in question to start the closing / opening device or the upstream time delay is - as already explained - usually to the Vorraststeilung the Gesperres. With the help of usually designed as a Zuziehhilfe Zuzieh- / opening device, the locking mechanism is transferred from the Vorraststeilung in the main locking position.

If now the described loading of the closing / opening device respectively the closing aid in the example case additionally to one (or more)

Functional positions of another unit, such as a child safety device is coupled, the safety can be increased again. Because in the presence of a child safety device, it is usually not sufficient to interrogate only the functional position "pre-rest" of the locking mechanism and possibly even that of the (central) locking lever in the sense of "unlocked". For it must be ensured, for example, with inserted parental control, that is in the functional position "child safety on" in addition, that in the example, a rear side door still open from the inside, even if a finger or a hand are trapped. The invention takes account of the fact that, for example, in the functional position "child safety lock on" the closing / opening device is again ineffective (as in the functional position "locked" of the locking mechanism) or can not work or work. Only when the child safety device is in the "off" position, in the example case, the closing function is permitted and the closing aid can be applied.

In this way, even in the case of realization of a child safety device, it is ensured in each case that the closing / opening device is only acted upon and is active when the associated motor vehicle door can be opened both from the outside and from the inside. This is not the case in the "Child safety on" functional position, because this position regularly corresponds to the fact that an associated motor vehicle door can only be opened from the outside (but not from the inside). - In principle, however, a combination with the parental control in the sense is conceivable that with inserted child safety, that is in the functional position "child safety on" and only then the time delay for the application of the closing / opening device is effective.

In detail, the closing / opening device essentially consists of a motor and a transmission device operating on the locking mechanism. The engine is usually an electric motor. The transmission device regularly has a pawl, respectively Zuziehklinke, which engages in a contour on the catch of the locking mechanism in order to transfer these from the Vorraststeilung in the main locking position.

In order to start the time delay in the specific functional position or pre-locking position, a signal of a sensor located at the locking is interrogated. In general, the catch has an associated sensor, which determines their position in the Vorrast and forwards. That is, the specific functional position for the start of the closing / opening device or the time delay coincides with the Vorraststellung the Gesperres. Of course this is not mandatory.

As a result, a motor vehicle door lock is provided, which provides a functionally reliable effect of the closing / opening device without complex mechanical measures as in the prior art and in particular prevents the pinching of fingers, a hand of the operator, etc. Because the closing / opening device or closing aid works with a time delay, which allows the operator to remove the hand or a finger from the gap between the vehicle door and body.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the closing / opening device is also only applied when the locking mechanism and with it the motor vehicle door lock as a whole in its state "unlocked" is. As a result, the invention ensures that with a pinched finger or a clamped hand, the motor vehicle door can nevertheless be opened without difficulty. That is, the lock function is only effective and transferred the locking mechanism and with it the vehicle door closure as a whole in the state "locked" when the closing process has been completed easily. To this end, it is additionally added that, according to an advantageous embodiment, the gap between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body is provided with a sensor can be monitored, which detects any blockages in this area. Here are the main benefits.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 1 shows the motor vehicle door lock in a perspective view according to the invention and

Fig. 2 several timing diagrams to illustrate the Zuziehvorganges.

In the figures, a motor vehicle door lock is shown, which is equipped as usual with a locking mechanism 1, 2. The ratchet 1, 2 consists of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2 interacting therewith. The pawl 2 can enter into a pre-rest V and a main catch H of the catch 1. In the context of the illustration of FIG. 1 with latching pawl 2 engaged in pre-restraint V, the motor vehicle door lock is accordingly in the pre-ratchet division. Both the pre-detent division and the main detent position can be interrogated, for example, by sensors mounted on the circumference of the rotary latch 1, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 2 by corresponding switching pulses.

In order to transfer the motor vehicle door lock from the pre-locking position or the catch 1 from the pre-rest V to the main-lock position or main-stop H, a closing / opening device 3 to 8 configured as a closing aid 3 to 8 is realized in the exemplary embodiment. The closing / opening device 3 to 8 operates on the ratchet 1, 2. This happens as soon as the ratchet 1, 2 has reached a certain functional position, in the exemplary embodiment, the pawl 2 has fallen into the pre-catch V of the rotary latch 1. This process (pawl 2 is in Vorrast V of the locking mechanism 1, 2 incident) is in the art usually the admission of a motor 3 of the closing / opening device or closing aid 3 to 8 in motion. In the context of the invention, however, a time delay Z is initially started, which is indicated in the lower part of FIG. This time delay Z corresponds to a time in the range of about one to three seconds. Thus, after the not explicitly shown sensor or switch has registered on the rotary latch 1, that the pawl 2 has fallen into the pre-V, the time delay begins Z and with her the time span of one to three seconds to run. Only then is the motor 3 of the closing aid 3 to 8 acted upon, as can be seen in FIG. This happens until the catch 1 is in its main latching position, or the pawl 2 has fallen into the main catch H. Again, this is detected by means of a sensor. As a result, the engine 3 is stopped.

The beginning of the time delay Z is usually linked to a logical query. In fact, the time delay Z starts to run only when the locking 1, 2 in the state "unlocked" is. On the other hand, if the lock 1, 2 assumes its locked state, the actuation of the closing / opening device 3 to 8 is suppressed altogether or the time delay Z does not start to run, as shown in FIG. 2 by a corresponding query is indicated. In addition, the loading of the closing / opening device 3 to 8 may also be coupled to a functional position or a functional state of a child safety device which has not been expressly realized, as has already been described in the introduction.

In detail, the closing / opening device or closing aid 3 to 8 is essentially composed of the already mentioned motor 3 or electric motor which operates on a driven wheel 4, which in turn acts on a crank mechanism 5, 6 composed of two crank arms 5, 6. The second crank arm 6 of this crank mechanism 5, 6 operates on a transmission lever 7, which is hingedly connected to a pawl or closing pawl 8. The components 4 to 8 of the closing / opening device 3 to 8 form a transmission device 3 to 8.

Actuation of the motor or electric motor 3 now corresponds to the latch or closing pawl 8 transferring the catch 1 from its pre-engaged position into the main latching position. This process is part of the fact that the rotary latch 1 in the illustration of FIG. 1 performs a clockwise movement, as indicated by an arrow. Not shown is the ability to detect a finger or a hand in the gap between the vehicle door and motor vehicle body sensory and display by an audible signal within or at the beginning of the time delay Z.

Claims

Protection claims:

1. Motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2), and with a closing / opening means (3 to 8), which on the locking mechanism (1, 2) works, as soon as this reaches a certain functional position, dadurchgeken nz eichnet that the Zuzieh- / opening device (3 to 8) the locking mechanism (2, 3) only after a predetermined time delay (Z) acted upon.

2. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the time delay (Z) defines a period of time of more than one second to about ten seconds, in particular a period of one to three seconds.

3. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized marked, that the start of the time delay (Z) with an optical / acoustic

Signal is flanked.

4. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that during the time delay (Z) a locking of the locking mechanism (1, 2) is suppressed.

5. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when befindlichem in the locked state locking (1, 2) an actuation of the closing / opening device (3 to 8) is suppressed.

6. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the application of the ZuziefWÖffnungseinrichtung (3 to 8) not only to the specific functional position of the locking mechanism (1, 2) but also to a certain functional position of another unit, for example a child safety device is coupled.

7. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the closing / opening device (3 to 8) essentially of a motor (3) and on the locking mechanism (1, 2) working transmission device (4 to 8 ).

8. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the specific functional position for the start of the time delay (Z) to the signal of a locking mechanism (1, 2) located sensor corresponds.

9. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the specific functional position for the start of the closing / opening device (3 to 8) coincides with the pre-locking position of the locking mechanism (1, 2).