WO2016184452A1

WO2016184452A1 - Electrical drive unit

Info

Publication number: WO2016184452A1
Application number: PCT/DE2016/100184
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claus Töpfer; Christian SENTZKE; Tim SONNENSCHEIN
Original assignee: Kiekert Ag
Priority date: 2015-05-20
Filing date: 2016-04-18
Publication date: 2016-11-24
Also published as: DE102015107955A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive unit for opening and/or closing a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock (1), a motor vehicle backrest lock, etc. The drive unit has an electric motor (2) and a transmission element (3 to 7) between the electric motor (2) and the motor vehicle lock. According to the invention, a mechanical actuation element (8) is provided in addition to the electric motor (2). The transmission element (3 to 7) for electrical opening/closing and the actuation element (8) for mechanical opening/closing act on a common connection element (10). In addition, a freewheel is provided between the transmission element (3 to 7) and the actuation element (8) for independent electrical and/or mechanical loading of the connection element (10).

Description

Electric drive unit

The invention relates to an electric drive unit for opening and / or closing a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, a motor vehicle seat back lock, etc., with an electric motor and a transmission element between the electric motor and the motor vehicle lock.

Electric opening drives and, in particular, closing devices for motor vehicle door locks are known from practice and are also described by way of example in the generic document WO 2015/014 343 A1. This is about a motor vehicle door, which is equipped with a motor vehicle door lock and additionally a closing / opening device. The closing / opening device is an independent and retrofittable / convertible unit. The closing / opening device is designed as a closing / opening module arranged between the motor vehicle door lock and a door panel of the motor vehicle door. In this way, a motor vehicle door can be further developed such that the closing opening device in question can not only be retrofitted, but also modifications to the motor vehicle door lock can be avoided.

In another prior art according to EP 1 614 840 B1 a device is described for closing an open flap or door on the body of a vehicle. The closing aid consists of a two-part closing device. One part of the closing device is arranged on the body and another part on the flap or door of the vehicle.

The prior art has proven itself in principle. However, improvements are still possible and necessary. Thus, although the known closing / opening device according to the generic WO 2012/014 343 A1 has a modular design and is designed as an independent and retrofittable / convertible unit. However, in addition to the electrical closing / opening function thus illustrated, it is independent mechanical actuation of the associated motor vehicle door lock still and independently of this. This is expensive.

The invention is based on the technical problem of developing an electric drive unit of the construction described above so that the design complexity is reduced and the opening and closing of the associated motor vehicle lock succeed both electromotively and mechanically. To solve this technical problem, an electric drive unit for opening and / or closing a motor vehicle lock in the invention is characterized in that in addition to the electric motor, a mechanical actuator is provided, wherein the transmission element for electrical opening / closing and the actuator for mechanical opening / Closing attack on a common connection element, and wherein a freewheel between the transmission element and the actuating element for an independent electrical and / or mechanical loading of the connection element is provided. In the context of the invention, first of all, the motor vehicle lock to be opened or closed is subjected to an electric motor as well as mechanically. For the electromotive actuation of the electric motor provides in conjunction with the transmission element. The mechanical loading of the motor vehicle lock, however, takes place with the aid of the mechanical actuating element. Because the electromotive actuation via the electric motor and the transmission element on the one hand and the mechanical actuation by means of the mechanical actuating element on the other hand engage the common connection element, constructive simplifications are observed according to the invention. Because the connection element in question leads the two operating options (electrical and mechanical opening / closing) together. For this purpose, the connection element establishes a mechanical connection with the motor vehicle lock. For this purpose, the connection element may, for example, work indirectly or directly on an external operating lever on a motor vehicle door lock or be connected thereto. For the connection of the connection element with the motor vehicle lock, the transmission element or a part thereof.

In fact, the transmission element is generally composed of a gear, an actuator and a cable. The gear and the actuator are acted upon by the electric motor. The actuator operates upon application of the electric motor to the connection element.

Independently of this, the mechanical actuating element can act directly or indirectly on the connecting element. Both approaches correspond to the fact that the connecting element performs an actuating movement, which acts on the motor vehicle lock in the sense of opening and / or closing. In most cases, the design is such that the connecting element acts as a component of the transmission element on the cable pull the motor vehicle lock in question and in particular the already mentioned external operating lever on a motor vehicle door lock, and indeed regularly to open the vehicle door lock in question. It goes without saying that closing movements of the motor vehicle lock can in principle also be realized with the electric drive unit according to the invention. In this case, the connecting element may, for example, work indirectly or directly on a rotary latch in the interior of the motor vehicle door lock in the pulling-in sense.

According to the invention already agreed freewheel between the transmission element and the actuating element is provided. This allows the Electric motor, the connecting element and act on it with the transmission element to realize the required positioning movements. Regardless of or in addition, the connecting element can also be subjected to the action of the mechanical actuating element due to the freewheel. Both is possible and results in the result that the transmission element is used in whole or in part both for the electrical opening / closing and for the mechanical opening / closing, which is why special design advantages exist. In fact, typically, the transmission element is equipped with the freewheel, and indeed regularly the already mentioned actuator relative to the cable as a further part of the transmission element. Moreover, since the connection element is connected to the cable in question, the cable can be electromotive act on the electric motor, the transmission and the actuator on the one hand and on the other hand mechanically by means of the connection element directly or indirectly attacking actuator. Since the transmission element is equipped with the freewheel, the electric motor including the gear and actuator on the one hand and the mechanical actuator on the other hand can be used independently and act on such that the relevant connection element undergoes the required admission.

Since the connecting element is coupled to the cable and the cable is also designed independently of the electric motor, the associated gear and the actuator and the mechanical actuator, the loading described also succeeds independently. Of course, the electromotive actuation of the motor vehicle lock and the mechanical loading can be combined. Here are the main benefits.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the transmission element has the already mentioned cable pull as well as the actuating element, which typically way is designed to be movable relative to the cable. The actuator is acted upon by the electric motor. For this purpose, the electric motor operates on the actuator driven by the electric motor gear. The adjusting element is preferably a spindle and in particular a linear adjusting spindle. That is, the spindle typically performs linear movements, with respect to the cable.

As a rule, the adjusting element or the spindle provided here advantageously and in particular the linear adjusting spindle are guided in a housing of the drive unit. As a result, the linear actuator spindle perform the described linear movements relative to the cable. Since the cable is designed to extend predominantly linear, automatically results in the already described and predominantly linear movement of the actuating element or the spindle.

To act on the actuator in detail, the actuator meshes with a driven by the electric motor gear. The gear is typically part of a transmission. In addition to the gear for driving the actuating element is usually still a pinion or a worm provided on the output shaft of the electric motor. The pinion or the worm regularly engages in an external toothing of the gear or the associated worm wheel. In contrast, the actuator or used at this point regularly used spindle meshes with its external teeth with an associated internal toothing of the gear.

That is, the gear or worm usually has a central hollow bore with an internal toothing. This internal toothing is in engagement with the external toothing on the spindle. Consequently, as soon as the toothed wheel rotates, the spindle moves linearly and perpendicularly to the plane spanned by the toothed wheel. Rotations of the gear are now in turn generated by means of the pinion or the screw on the output shaft of the electric motor. For this purpose, the respective pinion or the worm engages in the external toothing of the toothed wheel and consequently of the worm wheel. The thus formed gear from the pinion and the worm and the gear respectively the worm wheel is designed as a spur gear or worm gear. That is, in the pinion may be as well as the gear to each other engaged with each other spur gears respectively worm wheels. Perpendicular to the spur gear plane realized in this way, the adjusting element or the spindle extends, which passes through the hollow bore in the toothed wheel and performs the already described linear adjusting movement by the intermeshing toothings.

The actuator or the spindle is designed to be hollow usually. As a result, the adjusting element or the spindle can be relatively moved relative to the contrast centrally guided cable back and forth, namely linear and the longitudinal extent of the cable following. For the actual guidance of the actuating element, the housing of the drive unit or the worm wheel. In addition, the assembly is facilitated by this design. Because the electric motor, the gear or helical gear, the actuator and the cable can be mounted in total in a matching direction, which coincides with the direction of the cable.

This not only reduces the number of required components, but also facilitates assembly. Because both the electric motor for the electrical opening / closing and the mechanical actuator for the mechanical opening / closing work - by the freewheel - independently of each other on the common cable. The cable is in turn a part of the transmission element between the electric motor and the motor vehicle lock. On the cable, the connection element is attached or fixed. For this purpose, it is in the connection element usually a sleeve which is pressed onto the cable. The mechanical actuating element is typically designed as an actuating handle for the motor vehicle lock. If it is at this point to a motor vehicle door lock, the operating handle may be designed as an exterior door handle or internal door handle. An actuation of the actuation handle in question is now transmitted via the connection element to the cable, which is mechanically connected to the connection element.

Since the cable can be acted upon independently of an electric opening / closing operation with the help of the mechanical operating handle, this leads to an actuating movement of the cable, which at its end opposite the operating handle on an external operating lever, an internal operating lever or a comparable element of the motor vehicle lock and in particular motor vehicle lock works to open or close this. An electromotive actuation of the connection element takes place in such a way that with the aid of the electric motor and the subsequent transmission, the actuating element is caused to linear positioning movements. This linear adjusting movement of the adjusting element corresponds again to the fact that the actuating element acts on the connecting element and adjusted linearly. As a result, the cable is also adjusted linearly and again leads to the opposite end of the operating handle on the handle with this coupled Außenbestätigungshebel or Innenbetätigungshebel in the example to open / close the associated motor vehicle lock and in particular the motor vehicle door lock is acted upon.

Since the cable is virtually passed through the gear and the actuator and only connected to the cable connected to the jack connecting element is firmly connected to the cable, the freewheel already described is realized and implemented. All this is possible with structurally simple means and at the same time simple installation, because the essential components of the electric drive unit in the same direction as the cable can be mounted on a housing of the drive unit in question. 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; 1 shows the mechanical drive of the motor vehicle door lock with the actuating handle, the object according to FIG. 1 with an electromotive actuation of the motor vehicle door lock. FIG , the electric drive unit schematically during assembly and

Fig. 5 shows the electric motor including gear and actuator in one

Perspective.

In the figures, a drive unit for opening a motor vehicle door lock 1 is shown. In principle, the motor vehicle door lock 1 in question can also be closed with the aid of the drive unit. However, this is not shown and will not be described in detail below. Instead of the motor vehicle door lock 1, the drive unit to be described in detail below can also work, for example, on a motor vehicle seat lock or another motor vehicle lock, that is, a lock in the interior or on a motor vehicle. The drive unit consists in its basic structure of an electric motor 2 and a transmission element 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 together. The transmission element 3 to 7 is between the electric motor 2 and the Motor vehicle door lock 1 provided and interposed. In addition to the electric motor 2, a mechanical actuator 8 is still realized. The actuating element 8 in the exemplary embodiment, and not by way of limitation, is an actuating handle 8, in the exemplary embodiment an outer door handle 8 for the motor vehicle door lock 1. The transmission element 3 to 7 is mechanically coupled to an actuating lever 9 of the motor vehicle door lock 1, which is an external operating lever 9 in the context of the illustration. The transmission element 3 to 7 is used for electrically opening the motor vehicle door lock 1, as will be explained in more detail below. In contrast, the mechanical actuating element 8 or the outer door handle 8 ensures a mechanical opening of the motor vehicle door lock 1 in question. For this purpose, the transmission element 3 to 7 and the actuating element 8 are connected to a common connection element 10 or act on this common connection element 10. In addition, a freewheel between the transmission element 3 to 7 and the actuating element 8 is provided. As a result of the freewheel, the connection element 10 can be acted upon independently electrically by means of the electric motor 2 in conjunction with the transmission element 3 to 7 or mechanically by means of the actuating element 8.

The transmission element 3 to 7 is in detail and evidenced in FIGS. 4 and 5 of a pinion 3 and a gear 4 together, which is equipped on its outer periphery with an external toothing, with which the pinion 3 meshes. The pinion 3 is located on an output shaft of the electric motor 2, so that an application of the electric motor 2 and consequently rotation of the output shaft in question in a rotational movement of the pinion 3 is converted, which in turn is translated into a rotational movement of the gear 4. As a result, define the pinion 3 and the gear 4 taken together a gear 3, 4, which is formed in the embodiment and shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as a spur gear. Because both in the Pinion 3 and the gear 4 are each intermeshing or meshing with each other spur gears. Just both the pinion 3 can be designed as a worm, which then interacts with the worm wheel 4.

In addition, the transmission element 3 to 7 in addition to the transmission 3, 4, an adjusting element 5, which is driven by means of the transmission 3, 4. In the exemplary embodiment, the adjusting element 5 is a spindle or a linear adjusting spindle 5. The adjusting element or the spindle 5 is equipped on the outside with an external thread. The adjusting element or the spindle 5 engages in an embodiment in the central hollow bore of the gear 4, which is equipped with a corresponding internal thread, as the Fig. 5 indicates. Consequently, the above-mentioned rotational movements of the toothed wheel 4 correspond to the fact that the adjusting element or the spindle 5 performs linear positioning movements, as a corresponding double arrow in FIG. 5 indicates.

It can also be seen from FIG. 5 that the adjusting element 5 is equipped on the front, on the one hand, with a stop 5a and, on the other hand, a guide pin 5b. It is also clear from the representation in FIG. 5 that the adjusting element 5 has a bore and in particular a hollow bore, through which a cable pull 6 is passed as a further component of the transmission element 3 to 7. The cable 6 is equipped according to the embodiment in FIG. 1 with a surrounding sheath 7. Accordingly, the cable 6 in the context of the embodiment is a Bowden cable 6, 7 with the soul or the cable 6 and the surrounding sheath 7. The guide pin 5b of the adjusting element 5 can engage in the shell 7 in its fully extended position. The adjusting movement of the adjusting element 5 is limited by the stop 5a, which against a housing 1 1 or against a cover in the housing 1 1 of the drive moves. However, this is not shown in detail.

Alternatively or in addition to such a mechanical stop for the adjusting movement of the adjusting element 5, it is also possible and within the scope of the invention conceivable that the adjusting movement of the adjusting element 5 is interrogated by means of a sensor, such as a switch. The sensor or switch may be acted upon by the stop 5a. Signals of the sensor or switch are then evaluated to the effect that the electric motor 2 is stopped, so that the adjusting movement of the adjusting element 5 ends as desired and, as it is sensory limited.

To the cable 6 and the soul 6 of the Bowden cable 6, 7, the connecting element 10 is connected. In fact, it is in the connection element 10 to a cable or the soul 6 of the Bowden cable 6, 7 mechanically coupled socket 10. It can be seen from a comparative consideration of Fig. 1 to 3, that the cable or the soul 6 of the Bowden cable 6, 7, the gear 3, 4 and the gear 4 also passes through as the meshing with the internal teeth in the hollow bore of the gear 4 adjusting element. 5

As a result, the cable 6 or the soul 6 of the Bowden cable 6, 7 extends from the actuating element or the operating handle 8 at one end to the external operating lever 9 on the motor vehicle door lock 1 at its other end. Folgerichtung the pull cable 6 and the soul 6 in question also passes through the housing 1 1, which largely encloses the drive unit shown.

In the housing 1 1, the electric motor 2 is also recorded, as the gearbox 3, 4. With reference to FIG. 4 it can be seen that the gear 4 is rotatably received in question in the housing 1 1 by means of a bearing 12, which has an extension 13th the hollow bore with the adjusting element received therein element 5 surrounds. The extension 13 is directed in the direction of the housing interior or in the direction of the electric motor 2. As a result, the pinion 3 on the one hand and the gear 4 on the other hand define the spur gears described and consequently the gear 3, 4 designed as a spur gear.

Consequently, the cable 6 or the core 6 of the Bowden cable 6, 7 can be moved back and forth in the linear direction shown by a double arrow in FIG. 1, with only the connection element 10 mechanically coupled to the cable 6 in question acting as a stop. As a result, the freewheel between the transmission element 3 to 7 and the actuating element 8 is realized or has the transmission element 3 to 7 over the freewheel in question.

For an actuation of the mechanical actuating element or actuating handle 8, starting from the rest position for mechanical opening of the motor vehicle door lock 1 shown in FIG. 1, corresponds to the fact that the connecting element 10 is acted upon in the arrow direction according to FIG. 2 with the aid of the actuating handle 8 , As a result, the external operating lever 9 on the motor vehicle door lock 1 likewise experiences a pulling action, so that the motor vehicle door lock 1 is opened. This happens independently of a motor actuation of the actuating element 5. In fact, the actuator 5 is quasi retracted in the interior of the housing 1 1 sunk arranged in the rest position and remains in this rest position in the described mechanical opening sequence.

However, if the connecting element 10 is acted upon in the sense of an electrical opening, the adjusting element 5 is moved relative to the cable 6. For this purpose, the adjusting element or the spindle 5 is adjusted by means of the transmission 3, 4 acted upon by the electric motor 2. For this purpose, the gear 3, 4 and the gear 4, starting from the rest position shown in FIG. 1 in the transition to Fig. 3 so rotated that the previously located in the immersed state actuator 5 from the actuator 5 receiving Hollow bore in the gear 4 appears. Since the connection element 10 rests against the control element 5 in the rest state according to FIG. 1, the electromotive actuating movement of the control element 5 according to the arrow direction according to FIG. 3 again leads to the connection element 10 starting from its rest position according to FIG is moved.

This has the consequence that the external operating lever 9 is again pulled pulling on the motor vehicle door lock 1, so that the motor vehicle door lock 1 learns the desired opening.

It can be seen that the adjusting element 5 relative to the cable or the core 6 of the Bowden cable 6, 7 and is moved relative thereto and learns the desired leadership within the housing 1 1. In addition, it becomes clear, in particular in a comparative examination of FIGS. 1 to 3, that the electric motor 2 and the transmission element 3 to 7 altogether define an independent structural unit, a so-called opening module, which in the exemplary embodiment for the opening drive of the external operating lever 9 on the motor vehicle door lock 1 provides. Finally, it is clear that the connecting element 10 is arranged between the adjusting element 5 and the mechanical operating lever or operating handle 8. As a result, the connecting element 10 can be acted upon on the one hand with the aid of the actuating handle 8 for mechanical opening and independently thereof with the aid of the actuating element 5 acting in the same direction for electromotive opening. In both cases, the connecting element 10 works with the interposition of the cable 6 - ie a part of the transmission element 3 to 7 - on the motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock. 1

4, it is clear that the essential components of the drive unit, namely the electric motor 2, the gear 3, 4, the actuator 5 and the cable 6 can be mounted in the same direction, as in FIG. 4 by Arrows is indicated. The same applies to the warehouse 12. Following this first assembly step, only one coupling member 14 is connected to the cable or the core 6 in a subsequent assembly step, which produces the required mechanical connection to the actuating handle or outer door handle 8 as shown in FIG. As a result, the assembly is significantly easier compared to previous approaches and special cost advantages are observed.

Claims

claims:

1 . Drive unit for opening and / or closing a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock (1), a motor vehicle seat back lock, etc., with an electric motor (2), and with a transmission element (3 to 7) between the electric motor ( 2) and the motor vehicle lock, d ad urchge ke nnzeichnet that in addition to the electric motor (2), a mechanical actuator (8) is provided, wherein the transmission element (3 to 7) for electrically opening / closing and the actuating element (8) for mechanical opening / closing on a common connection element (10) attack, and wherein a freewheel between the transmission element (3 to 7) and the actuating element (8) for an independent electrical and / or mechanical loading of the connecting element (10) is provided.

2. Drive unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission element (3 to 7) is equipped with the freewheel.

3. Drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transmission element (3 to 7) has a cable (6) and a relation to the

Cable (6) movable actuator (5).

4. Drive unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting element (5) by means of a by the electric motor (2) driven transmission (3, 4), in particular spur gear (3, 4), is acted upon.

5. Drive unit according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the adjusting element (5) as a spindle (5), in particular linear adjusting spindle (5) is formed.

6. Drive unit according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the adjusting element (5) on the cable (6) is guided.

7. Drive unit according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the adjusting element (5) with a by the electric motor (2) driven gear (4) meshes as part of the transmission (3, 4).

8. Drive unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the mechanical actuating element (8) is designed as an actuating handle (8) for the motor vehicle lock.

9. Drive unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the connecting element (10) between the actuating element (5) and the

Actuator (8) is arranged.

10. Drive unit according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the connecting element (10) as to the cable (6) connected to the socket (10) is formed.