WO2021043368A1

WO2021043368A1 - Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

Info

Publication number: WO2021043368A1
Application number: PCT/DE2020/100740
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ömer INAN; Holger Schiffer; Peter Szegeny; Michael Scholz
Original assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2019-09-05
Filing date: 2020-08-25
Publication date: 2021-03-11
Also published as: DE102019123825A1; EP4025753A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). In addition, a latching element (3), which is arranged in the engagement region between two locking components (1, 2), is provided, wherein said latching element is primarily pivotably mounted on the rotary latch (1) and/or the pawl (2, 3). According to the invention, the latching element (3) comprises a spring (9).

Description

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, with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of rotary latch and pawl, and with a locking element arranged in the engagement area between two locking components, which is largely pivotably mounted on the rotary latch and / or the pawl in a locking plane .

Motor vehicle locksmiths refer to locks in or on motor vehicles, for example motor vehicle door locks, but also motor vehicle hoods, motor vehicle tailgate locks, motor vehicle fuel locks, locks for seat locks, loading locks, etc. Due to acoustic optimizations in and on motor vehicles, increasing demands are placed on the noise behavior of motor vehicle locksmiths. At the same time, the focus is on improving comfort. The area of engagement between the rotary latch and the pawl, as two locking components, has a decisive influence on the acoustics as well as the feel and the comfort of operation. In principle, however, the engagement area can also be one between two pawls in a multi-pawl ratchet, for example the engagement area between a so-called comfort pawl and a pawl.

For this reason, there are already approaches in the prior art to improve the surface quality of the engagement area between the rotary latch and the pawl or between the two pawls. For this purpose, WO 2016/146110 A1 of the applicant works with a flexible damping element as a component element of a locking component. For this purpose, the casing of the locking component has a pocket to hold a metallic base body and is also the flexible damping element in the sheath inserted. In fact, the flexible damping element can be latched to the casing, for example. In this way, a simple structure and inexpensive manufacture are observed.

The further prior art according to WO 2014/090216 A2 describes a motor vehicle lock in which, when individual locking components are punched, contours for puzzle components are punched out in the engagement area. The puzzle components are inserted into the contours in a secured position with a smooth or low-friction edge surface. This has a positive effect when the rotary latch and pawl are rubbing against each other in the area of engagement. The contours for the puzzle pieces can be arranged in the main catch area of the rotary latch.

In a further motor vehicle lock from the applicant, the procedure is such that the latching element in the engagement area between the rotary latch and the pawl is received in the rotary latch such that it can pivot. Any pivoting movements of the locking element take place largely in the locking plane, consequently the plane spanned by the rotary latch and the pawl. In this way, a structurally simple solution and an inexpensive variant is made available in order to be able to open such a motor vehicle lock easily and at the same time to ensure low-noise operation. That has basically proven its worth.

Due to the generic prior art according to DE 11 2012 002 272 T5, a motor vehicle lock has become known overall which has a primary pawl that is rotatably mounted in an auxiliary rotary latch. A secondary pawl is also implemented. The primary pawl can hold the ratchet in a striker engaging position. In addition, a rotary latch release position is also implemented, in which the primary pawl allows the rotary latch to move out of the locking bolt engagement position. The primary pawl essentially takes on the function of the previously mentioned locking element. However, the state of the art still allows improvements. It is thus possible that after, for example, an opening process of the locking mechanism and an associated rolling or rolling of the pawl on the latching element, the latching element does not or does not assume its original position (again). As a result of this, malfunctions and / or indifferent functional states are possible, which run counter to the primary goal of the latching element to achieve low-noise actuation or to improve comfort. The invention aims to provide a remedy here overall.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle lock and in particular motor vehicle door lock in such a way that the functional reliability is increased and indifferent functional states of the latching element are reliably avoided.

To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular motor vehicle door lock is characterized within the scope of the invention in that the latching element has a spring. The spring for the latching element ensures that the latching element is immobilized after any interaction with, for example, the pawl. As an alternative or in addition, the spring can also ensure a return of the latching element, that is to say it functions as a return spring for the latching element. In any case, the spring ensures that the functional reliability is increased and indifferent functional states, in contrast to the prior art, are not (no longer) observed.

For this purpose, according to an advantageous embodiment, the design is such that the spring is connected with its one end to the latching element and with its other end to the locking component supporting the latching element. The invention is based on the knowledge that the latching element can typically be pivoted in or on a rotary latch in the locking plane is stored. In any case, this is the procedure for so-called single locks, i.e. locks with a rotary latch and a pawl.

In addition, the invention naturally also includes so-called multiple ratchets or multi-ratchet ratchets, which usually have an additional pre-locking pawl or a comfort pawl in addition to the pawl. In this case, the locking element can again be mounted in or on the rotary latch. The latching pawl interacts, for example, with a latching bolt provided on the rotary latch.

The interaction between the pawl and the locking element then typically takes place on the basis of the main locking position of the locking mechanism. The pawl can roll on the locking element pivotably mounted on the rotary latch, so that an opening process of the locking mechanism can be carried out with particularly little force and noise. If, on the other hand, the multiple lock or multiple ratchet lock has a comfort pawl, it is alternatively also conceivable that the latching element is mounted in or on the comfort pawl.

In this case, the comfort pawl is secured with the aid of the locking pawl. The comfort latch in turn interacts with the rotary latch. The locking element is interposed between the comfort pawl and the locking pawl and again ensures, especially when the locking mechanism is opened, that the locking pawl can roll on the locking element, so that the opening process takes place with particularly little force and noise.

The spring assigned to the latching element according to the invention now ensures in all of these cases that the latching element is either immobilized or reset or both after it has been acted upon by the locking pawl. As a consequence of this, the locking element is set back into a defined original position, from which a further one starts The opening process takes place or can take place in a comparable manner. Any indifferent functional states are not observed.

In order to realize this in detail, the spring is generally connected with its one end to the locking element and with its other end to the locking component supporting the locking element. The locking component in question, which supports the locking element, can be the rotary latch or the comfort pawl (or both in the case of two locking elements) - as described. In addition, the design is usually made so that the locking element-side end of the spring engages a protruding edge of the locking element.

The protruding edge of the locking element denotes the edge of the locking element which, when the locking mechanism is opened, is deployed or pivoted away from the locking element supporting the locking element. Because the spring engages this raised edge of the latching element, after any forces acting on the latching element cease to exist on the part of the pawl, the latching element assumes its original position or a defined basic position with pinpoint accuracy.

Another factor contributing to this is the fact that the end of the spring on the latching element side is generally connected to the opening edge approximately in the middle of the latter. As a result, the latching element can be reset particularly effectively. This is because the latching element is generally designed in three parts with a bearing foot, a load contact and the opening edge. The bearing foot and the load contact mainly define one leg of a right angle, while the opening edge describes the other leg of the right angle. As a result, the spring engaging approximately in the middle of the opening edge can reset the locking element particularly effectively for rotation about the bearing foot into the original position or basic position after the pawl has lost any forces acting on the locking element. The spring can be a separate component. However, it is also possible for the spring to be connected in one piece to the latching element. In this case, the spring may be formed on a casing of the latching element. This sheathing is typically a plastic sheathing of the locking element. The sheathing can take on multiple functions.

First of all, the sheathing or plastic sheathing of the latching element ensures, as usual, that any noise during the movement of the latching element is suppressed or attenuated. In addition, the casing can define an extension attached to the latching element. This extension may act in conjunction with the pawl as a stop or end stop of the locking element. There is also the possibility of realizing an opening lever for the latching element via the extension on the latching element, with the aid of which the latching element - in addition to the pawl - is acted upon with an opening force. Finally, the spring can be formed on the casing, for example by designing the spring as a resilient extension of the casing. Because the sheathing is made of plastic, the extension realized in this way originally has the required spring-elastic properties.

The locking element is typically stored in a recess of the associated locking component that defines a bearing point. The locking component supporting the locking element can - as already described - be the rotary latch and / or the comfort pawl. In addition, the locking element is advantageously stored in a pocket of a casing of the locking component in question. In addition to this pocket, the bearing design on the locking component in question also ensures the desired pivoting mounting of the locking element in the locking level. As a result, the locking element experiences perfect guidance and storage. As a result, a motor vehicle lock is made available which is particularly reliable and works over the long term. This is primarily ensured by the spring assigned to the locking element. Because with the help of the spring, the locking element is returned to a rest position. Alternatively, the locking element can also be immobilized with the aid of the spring. Both approaches in combination are also conceivable and are included.

Either way, the latching element assumes the desired basic or rest position after it has been actuated with the aid of the pawl, so that, based on this, (renewed) actuation of the motor vehicle lock or its locking mechanism does not correspond to any malfunctions. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

Fig. 1 The motor vehicle lock according to the invention in a first embodiment in the closed state,

FIG. 2 shows the object according to FIG. 1 during an opening process,

FIG. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the object according to FIG. 1,

4 shows a further embodiment variant and

5 shows a supplementary variation taking into account additional damping measures.

In the figures, a lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, is shown. According to the exemplary embodiment, this has a single locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch 1 and one with the rotary latch 1 in the usual way Way of interacting pawl 2. In principle, a multiple locking mechanism could also be implemented at this point, that is, one in which two pawls 2, namely a comfort pawl and a pawl, are implemented. However, this is not shown in detail.

It can be seen that a latching element 3 is arranged in the engagement area between two locking components 1, 2. The two engaging locking parts 1, 2 in the exemplary embodiment are the rotary latch 1 on the one hand and the pawl 2 on the other. In principle, a comfort pawl interacting with the rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2 securing the comfort pawl could also be in engagement with one another. In this case, the locking element 3 would be mounted on the comfort pawl, not shown.

On the basis of the exemplary embodiment, however, it can be seen that the locking element 3 is mounted on the rotary latch 1. In this case, the locking element 3 with respect to the rotary latch 1 is able to perform pivoting movements in a locking level E which coincides with the plane of the drawing according to FIGS. 1 and 2. In fact, this locking level E is spanned by the two locking components 1, 2.

According to the exemplary embodiment and following the transition from FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, when the locking mechanism 1, 2 is opened, the latching element 3 can essentially perform a pivoting movement in a clockwise direction, as an arrow in FIG. 1 makes clear. For this purpose, the latching element 3 according to the exemplary embodiment is designed in a total of three parts with a bearing foot 3a, a load contact 3b and a deployment edge 3c.

It can be seen that the bearing foot 3a and the load contact 3b as a whole describe a leg of a right angle together with the raised edge 3c defining the other leg. As a result, the latching element 3 overall has an inverted L-shaped shape, so that the long L-leg that describes the deployment edge 3c at the end with its contact surface 4 on one corresponding mating contact surface 5 of the pawl 2 rests in the closed state. The two contact surfaces 4, 5 can be equipped with a reinforcement in the area of the mutual contact surface 4 or the opposing contact surface 5. This reinforcement may be a welded-on sheet metal or a plate made of steel, for example.

The bearing foot 3 a of the latching element 3 engages overall in a recess 6 in the rotary latch 1 that forms a bearing. In addition, the rotary latch 1 is equipped with a casing 7 which encloses the latching element 3 in the shape of a pocket. The casing 7 is designed as a plastic casing, in particular a plastic encapsulation. As a result, the locking element 3 experiences a predominantly at the same time radial as well as axial guidance with respect to the locking element 1, 2 supporting the locking element 3, after

Exemplary embodiment compared to rotary latch 1. A guide extension 8 protruding from the locking element 3 and the locking plane E, which supports the axial and / or radial guidance of the locking element 3 and is indicated as a guide extension 8 in FIGS. 1 and 2, can also contribute to this.

According to the invention, the locking element 3 is equipped with a spring 9. The spring 9 is connected with its one end 9a to the locking element 3 and with its other end 9b to the locking element 1, 2, specifically the rotary latch 1, which supports the locking element 3. The end 9a of the spring 9 on the latching element side engages the above-described protruding edge 3c of the latching element 3. In fact, the end 9a of the spring 9 on the latching element side is connected approximately in the middle to the raised edge 3c of the latching element 3.

Based on the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3, it can be seen that the spring 9 is designed as a separate component. In fact, the spring 9 in the variant according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is a leaf spring which is free of force in the curved course shown in FIG. 1. In contrast, the spring 9 in the variant according to FIG. 3 is a leg spring with a coiled spring section and two legs defining the two ends 9a, 9b. In contrast, in the further variant according to FIG. 4, the spring 9 is not designed as a separate component, but is connected in one piece to the latching element 3. In fact, the spring 9 in the variant according to FIG. 4 is a resilient extension of a casing 10 of the latching element 3. The resilient extension of the casing 10 of the latching element 3 is supported in a recess in the casing 7 of the rotary latch 1 in order to be able to transmit the necessary spring forces to the locking element 3 in this way. In an alternative embodiment, the spring 9 could also be designed as a separate component and mounted on the rotary latch 1 or connected in one piece to the rotary latch 1, for example in that the spring 9 is designed as an extension of a casing of the rotary latch 1. Likewise, in an alternative embodiment, the spring 9 can be mounted on a housing instead of on the latching element 3 or on the rotary latch 1, and its ends continue to act on the latching element 3 and the rotary latch 1.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, it can finally be seen that the load contact 3b of the latching element 3 is designed in such a way that a metallic contact between on the one hand the metallic latching element 3 and on the other hand a metallic core of the rotary latch 1 in the interior of the latch element 3 is formed only when there is an increased load Sheath 7 is observed. Otherwise, the locking element 3 is completely guided within the pocket in the casing 7 of the rotary latch 1 and received in a noise-damped manner. A spring pocket 11 formed in the casing 7 of the rotary latch 1, which interacts with the latching element 3 in the basic position of the latching element 3 with respect to the rotary latch 1, also provides additional noise damping. In conjunction with the spring 9, the spring pocket 11 ensures, on the one hand, a backlash-free mounting of the latching element 3 and, on the other hand, that the latching element 3 is immobilized after it has been acted upon by the pawl 2. In addition, the spring pocket 11 provides a low-noise end stop for the latching element 3. When the motor vehicle lock or its locking mechanism 1, 2 is opened, taking into account a sequence of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the functional positions shown there, the pawl 2 is initially acted upon in the opening sense. There is also a counterclockwise pivoting movement of the pawl 2, starting from the closed position according to FIG. 1, as can be seen in the transition from FIG. 1 to FIG.

The counterclockwise pivoting movement of the pawl 2 to open the locking mechanism 1, 2 now has the consequence that the pawl 2, when it rotates counterclockwise about its axis, simultaneously swivels the locking element 3, namely at the transition from FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 in there indicated clockwise. This pivoting movement of the locking element 3 is brought about and made available by its mounting in the bearing recess 6 with the aid of the bearing foot 3a there.

As a result of this, the catch 1 is released from the pawl 2 because the pawl 2 and the locking element 3 pivotably mounted on the catch 1 roll against each other, taking into account the corresponding contact surfaces 4, 5 , 2 particularly low-friction and low-noise.

List of reference symbols

1 rotary latch ratchet- 2 pawl / comfort pawl components

3 locking element 3a bearing foot 3b load contact 3c opening edge

4 contact surface system

5 counter contact surfaces

6 bearing-forming recess

7 pocket of sheath

8 guide extension 9 spring

9a a locking element-side end 9b another locking element-side end

10 resilient extensions of the sheath

11 pencil case

E Lock level

Claims

1. Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of rotary latch (1) and pawl (2), and with a locking element (3) arranged in the engagement area between two locking components (1, 2) , which is pivotably mounted on the rotary latch (1) and / or the pawl (2), characterized in that the latching element (3) has a spring (9).

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring (9) with its one end (9a) on the locking element (3) and with its other end (9b) on the locking element (3) overlying locking component (1 ) connected.

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking element-side end of the spring (9a) engages on a raised edge (3c) of the locking element (3).

4. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking element-side end (9a) of the spring (9) is connected to the opening edge (3c) approximately in the center thereof.

5. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spring (9) is designed as a separate component.

6. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spring (9) is integrally connected to the latching element (3).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spring (9) is formed on a casing (10), in particular a plastic casing, of the latching element (3).

8. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the locking element (3) is mounted in a pocket of a casing (7) and a recess (6) on the locking component (1, 2).

9. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the locking element (3) is designed in three parts with a bearing foot (3a), a load contact (3b) and the opening edge (3c).

10. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the latching element (3) is arranged on the rotary latch (1) and / or a comfort pawl (2).