WO2021180265A1

WO2021180265A1 - Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock

Info

Publication number: WO2021180265A1
Application number: PCT/DE2021/100132
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Schmitz; Ömer INAN
Original assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2020-03-11
Filing date: 2021-02-10
Publication date: 2021-09-16
Also published as: DE102020106592A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism (3, 4) which is mounted on a lock case (1) and which comprises a rotary latch (3) and at least one pawl (4) as locking mechanism components (3, 4). At least one locking mechanism component (3, 4) is additionally equipped with a support element (5, 6). The support element (5, 6) bears, in the closed state of the locking mechanism (3, 4), against the lock case (12) and/or a reinforcement plate (2) as structural component(s) (1, 2). In accordance with the invention, the structural component (1, 2) is equipped with an integrated counter element (7, 8), which interacts with the support element (5, 6) to introduce force.

Description

description

Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism mounted on a lock case, which comprises a rotary latch and at least one pawl as locking components, at least one locking component being equipped with a support element which in the closed state of the locking mechanism on the lock case and / or a reinforcement plate as a structural component.

Motor vehicle locks and in particular motor vehicle door locks ensure the safety of vehicle occupants, especially in the event of a crash. They therefore not only have a locking function of the motor vehicle door, motor vehicle flap or motor vehicle hood equipped with them or, in principle, even a motor vehicle seat. In particular, in the event of an accident, the motor vehicle lock in question, and in particular the motor vehicle door lock, must ensure that unintentional opening of the component equipped with it is absolutely avoided. Only then can the motor vehicle body as a whole be deformed as intended.

In fact, in such a crash, particularly high accelerations or decelerations occur in comparison to a normal opening process of the motor vehicle door lock, which are usually manifested in the fact that a locking bolt interacting with the locking mechanism exerts corresponding tearing forces on the locking mechanism. As a result, the Crash in the event of deformation of the motor vehicle door lock. Such a deformation is often associated with the fact that, for example, a fastening bolt, with the aid of which the respective locking component is mounted on the lock case, is torn out of a base plate of the lock case.

Such scenarios are particularly observed in the event that a weight-optimized lock case is used at this point. In fact, attempts are increasingly being made nowadays to reduce the material thickness of the lock case for weight reasons and to optimize costs, although the necessary strength should still be provided by, for example, ribs or folds at the particularly neuralgic points.

In addition, there are approaches in the generic prior art according to DE 10 2016 109 281 A1 to the effect of using a fastening bolt for additional support of the locking component in question. In fact, in the known teaching, a fastening bolt fixed on the lock case is implemented. In addition, a locking component has an extension attachment which, when the locking mechanism is closed, rests against said fastening bolt.

In this way, when the locking mechanism is in the closed state, the extension approach ensures that with its help the locking component experiences additional support, in addition to the fastening bolts or bearing bolts supporting the locking component relative to the lock case. As a result, the locking component in question experiences additional stabilization and becomes possible Deformations of the lock case reduced. This has basically proven itself, but requires the additional attachment of the fastening bolt to the lock case.

In fact, the fastening bolt mostly serves to connect a reinforcement plate or generally a reinforcement element to the lock case. In addition, the fastening bolt can be used to accommodate other components of the motor vehicle lock. As a consequence of this, however, an additional assembly and manufacturing process is necessary, so that the actual goal of a weight- and cost-optimized motor vehicle lock is counteracted to a certain extent.

The further prior art according to DE 10 2012 015 854 A1 represents another possibility for additional support of the associated locking component. In fact, a locking unit for a vehicle seat is described here. In the event of a crash, the rotary latch is supported on a first contact point of a latching pawl or the locking pawl. If the rotary latch is deformed in the event of a crash, the rotary latch is supported on a second contact point, the second contact point being provided on the latching pawl or locking pawl. In this case - if you will - the complementary locking component provides support for the other locking component. Of course, this only leads to a functional solution if the locking component that provides support is not also deformed in the event of a crash or its fastening bolt is torn out of the lock case or its base plate. In other words, a comparable double support as in the generic prior art according to DE 10 2016 109 281 A1 is provided, but with one overall limited or at least dubious functionality. 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, a motor vehicle door lock in such a way that a functionally appropriate and weight-optimized solution with a high level of crash safety is provided at the same time.

To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle lock is characterized within the scope of the invention in that the structural component, d. H. the lock case or the reinforcement plate is equipped with an integrated counter-element which interacts with the support element for introducing force.

In contrast to the generic state of the art according to DE 10 2016 109 281 A1, the invention therefore initially relies on an integrated counter-element of the structural component. This means that an additional fastening bolt, which has to be manufactured and installed separately, is expressly unnecessary. Rather, the counter-element is typically integrated into the manufacturing process of the structural component. This can be done by conventional manufacturing steps such as deep drawing, stamping, etc., and can consequently be implemented particularly inexpensively and without problems

Embed the manufacturing process of the structural component.

In addition, in this way the counter-element integrated into the structural component has the same strength or even increased strength in the case of, for example, a multi-layer structure, as is the case from the outset applies to the structural component as such. High-strength steel is usually used here. The support element and the counter element are preferably designed in such a way that the greatest support effect is achieved in the direction of a bearing bolt for the rotary latch and / or pawl. As a result, the greatest possible relief of the bearing pin (s) can be achieved. Another possible embodiment of the invention is to coordinate the geometry between the support element and the counter-element in such a way that an interaction between the support element and the counter-element does not occur until the motor vehicle lock is deformed. In this way, further deformation of the motor vehicle lock can be avoided or at least reduced.

In most cases, the counter element is integrated into the lock case. In this case, the additional reinforcement plate can be dispensed with. In principle, a reinforcement plate can of course also be equipped with the integrated counter element. Such a reinforcement plate is typically attached above the locking mechanism and serves to additionally stiffen the respective bearing bolts of the rotary latch on the one hand and the pawl on the other hand in addition to the lock case. Like the lock case, the reinforcement plate is also regularly made of high-strength steel, which is for example equipped with a material thickness of at least 1.5 mm. In any case, when the locking mechanism is closed and in the event of a crash, the support element ensures that any deformation forces acting on the relevant locking element are introduced into the counter element via the support element. Since the counter element is designed integrally with the structural component, ie the reinforcement plate or the lock case is, it comes in this way to a particularly effective additional support of the locking component.

As a result, the locking component in question is not only secured with its bearing pin against the lock case and supported with regard to deformations, but according to the invention the support element in conjunction with the counter element provides an additional supplementary and second support. All of this succeeds taking into account a cost-optimized and functionally reliable structure with weight advantages at the same time. This is where the essential advantages of the invention can be seen.

In the context of a first variant, the support element can be an extension attachment. This extension approach can particularly advantageously be molded onto the locking component in question and equipped with it. In principle, a differently designed connection of the extension attachment to the locking component is of course also possible and is encompassed by the invention. In addition, the extension approach may also have a support bolt.

As a result, not only in the event of a crash, the support bolt can ensure that the deformation forces acting on the locking component are introduced into the counter element and thus the structural component via the extension attachment and the support bolt. The support bolt can also be used to provide additional guidance for the locking component. In this case, the counter-element may be a recess in the lock case or the reinforcement plate, which is adapted, for example, to the pivoting movements of the locking component during normal operation. In general, the extension approach can also interact with a contour on the structural component as a counter-element. The contour was, by way of example and advantageously, a slot contour. Of course, other configurations in the sense of, for example, a material backing as a counter-element are also conceivable and are encompassed by the invention.

Instead of or in addition to the support bolt, the extension attachment can also be bent in the direction of the structural element. As a result, any distance between the extension attachment and the counter element is bridged. In principle, however, the counter-element can also be designed, for example by deep-drawing, in such a way that it leads to a backing of material in the lock case or the reinforcement plate, so that the described bending of the extension attachment is unnecessary in such a case.

In addition to the possibility of designing the support element as an extension, the invention opens up the additional or alternative possibility that the support element is designed as an engagement recess. In this case, the support element is not designed as an extension or extension on the locking component equipped with it, but is an additional recess on the locking component, into which the counter-element can engage, which is why we are talking about an engagement recess.

The procedure here is advantageously such that the engagement recess on the locking component interacts with, for example, a projection as a counter-element on the structural component. This projection can be made available on the structural component, for example, by deep drawing. Another It is possible that the projection is designed as a passage, that is to say as an opening with a surrounding wall and in particular an annular wall produced by the machining process. In this case, too, the counter-element is of course integrated into the structural component.

Finally, in this context, the procedure is advantageously such that the engagement recess or, in general, the support element on the locking component in question is provided off-axis in order to provide the largest possible lever arm in the event of any tilting movements caused by the crash relative to the bearing pin defining the axis. If the rotary latch is equipped with such an off-axis engagement recess, it has proven useful if, in this case, a support leg of the rotary latch is equipped with the relevant engagement recess, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures.

As a result, a motor vehicle lock and, in particular, a motor vehicle door lock is made available which provides high resistance to deformation, particularly in the event of a crash. In essence, this can be traced back to the fact that in such a crash, not only is the bearing pin supporting the relevant locking component typically used to transmit power to the structural component, but, according to the invention, the support element in conjunction with the counter-element integrated into the structural component also ensures this.

All of this can be implemented in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner because the counter-element is integrated into the structural component in question, and consequently can be defined directly during the manufacturing process of the structural component. at the structural component in question is usually the lock case or a base plate of the lock case. If a reinforcement plate or generally a reinforcement element is also implemented, this can alternatively or additionally also take on the function of providing the integrated counter-element for the support element on the locking component. 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 A motor vehicle lock according to the invention in a first variant and

2 shows a modified second variant.

In the figures, a motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock is shown. This first of all has a lock case 1, of which one recognizes in the figures mainly a base plate oriented parallel to the plane of the drawing. In addition to the lock case 1, a further structural component in the form of a reinforcement plate 2 may be implemented, which is only indicated in FIG. 1 by dash-dotted lines. A locking mechanism 3, 4 is mounted in the lock case 1 and is essentially composed of a rotary latch 3 and a pawl 4 interacting with it in the usual manner. The rotary latch 3 and the pawl 4 are locking components 3, 4. Of course, instead of the single locking mechanism shown by way of example in the figures with a single pawl 4, a multiple locking mechanism with, for example, two locking pawls, ie a comfort pawl and a blocking pawl, can be implemented as locking components. However, this is not shown.

It can be seen that at least one locking component 3, 4 is equipped with a support element 5, 6. The support element 5, 6 in the variant according to FIG. 1 was an engagement recess 5. In contrast, the support element 5, 6 in the variant according to FIG. 2 is designed as an extension attachment 6, as will be explained in more detail below .

In both cases, the support element 5, 6 ensures that the support element 5, 6 in question on the lock case 1 or the reinforcement plate 2 as structural components 1, 2 is present. In the context of the exemplary embodiment, only one structural component 1, 2 in the form of the lock case or the base plate of the lock case 1 is realized. Of course, this is not restrictive. That is, in addition, the reinforcement plate 2 can also assume the function of the structural component 1, 2, or both the lock case 1 and the reinforcement plate 2 function as structural components 1, 2.

According to the invention, the structural component 1, 2 in question, ie the lock case 1 in the example, is now equipped with an integrated counter-element 7, 8. The counter element 7, 8 interacts with the support element 5, 6, as will be explained in more detail below. In addition, the counter element 7, 8 is integrated into the structural component 1, 2 in question. This is part of the According to the invention, the counter-element 7, 8 in the context of the exemplary embodiment is formed from the structural component 1, 2 in question by a mechanical molding process.

It can be seen that in the variant according to FIG. 1, the counter element 7, 8 is a projection 7. In detail, the projection 7 is designed as a passage 7, that is to say represents an opening with a wall surrounding the opening, which was defined when the opening was made in the lock case 1. In contrast, the counter element 7, 8 in the variant according to FIG. 2 is designed as a contour 8 on the structural component 1, 2 or the lock case 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the contour 8 is a slot contour 8.

1, the support element 5, 6 is designed as an engagement recess 5 and interacts with the projection 7 or the passage 7 as a counter element 7, 8 on the structural component 1, 2 or the lock case 1 the engagement recess 5 is formed off-axis in or on the rotary latch 3 in the example shown. In fact, it can be seen that the rotary latch 3 is designed with a support leg 3a and a stop leg 3b. The engagement recess 5 is now located in the stop leg 3b, away from the axis compared to a bearing bolt 9 which supports the rotary latch 3 opposite the lock case 1 will. In this way, a tearing force F acting and indicated on the locking mechanism 3, 4 leads to the fact that not only is the bearing pin 9 loaded, but also the tearing force F is also absorbed by the interaction of the engagement recess 5 with the projection 7 in the same and indicated direction of force action is intercepted. In fact, the engagement recess 5 ensures that the rotary latch 3 encompasses the projection 7 in this area, so that in this way the tearing forces F acting on the rotary latch 3 are additionally transmitted to the lock case 1. As a result, the bearing pin 9 of the rotary latch 3 is relieved at the same time. In order to achieve the greatest possible relief of the bearing pin 9, the engagement recess 5 and the projection 7 are designed in such a way that a maximum support effect in the direction of the force acting on the bearing pin 9 is achieved.

Comparable force relationships are also observed in the variant according to FIG. 2. At this point, the extension attachment 6 is not only molded onto the rotary latch 3, but does not have an additional support bolt 6a as a restriction. In addition, the extension attachment 6 can be bent in the direction of the structural element 1, 2, specifically the lock case 1 or its base plate. In the event of a crash, the extension attachment 6 interacts with the contour 8 on the structural component 1, 2 or the lock case 1 as a counter element 7, 8. For this purpose, the contour 8 is designed as a slot contour 8. In this way, the support bolt 6a on the extension attachment 6 ensures that the rotary latch 3 is additionally guided through this during normal operation and during a pivoting movement about its bearing bolt 9. If a crash occurs, then in the example shown in FIG. 2 the support bolt 6a is supported on the base of the contour 8 or the slot contour 8. As a result, the tearing forces F acting on the rotary latch 3 are again introduced into the lock case 1 (in addition to the bearing pin 9) from the extension attachment 6 via the counter element 8. As in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the load on the bearing pin 9 of the rotary latch 3 is relieved. In addition, as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, it is ensured that the extension attachment 6 or the support bolt 6a is arranged at a distance from the axis compared to the bearing bolt 9 of the rotary latch 3 that defines the axis.

Instead of the rotary latch 3 in the example, the pawl 4 can of course also be equipped with the relevant support element 5, 6. If several pawls 4 are implemented, each individual pawl can also be equipped with the relevant support element 5, 6, which in the event of a crash introduces forces acting on it via the counter-element 7, 8 and in particular tearing forces into the structural component 1, 2.

List of reference symbols

Lock case 1 structural components 1, 2 reinforcement plate 2 rotary latch 3 support leg 3a stop leg 3b locking mechanism 3, 4 locking mechanism components 3, 4 locking pawl 4 support element 5, 6 support bolt 6a extension shoulder 6 engagement recess 5 counter element 7, 8 projection 7 passage 7 contour, slot contour 8 bearing bolt 9 tear force F

Claims

1 . Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (3, 4) mounted on a lock case (1) and comprising a rotary latch (3) and at least one pawl (4) as locking components (3, 4), at least one Locking component (3, 4) is equipped with a support element (5, 6) which, in the closed state of the locking mechanism (3, 4) on the lock case (1) and / or a reinforcement plate (2) as structural component (s) (1, 2 ), characterized in that the structural component (1, 2) is equipped with an integrated counter-element (7, 8) which interacts with the support element (5, 6) to introduce force.

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (5, 6) is designed as an extension shoulder (6).

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized in that the extension shoulder (6) has a support bolt (6a).

4. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the extension shoulder (6) is bent in the direction of the structural element (1, 2).

5. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the extension shoulder (6) interacts with a contour (8) on the structural component (1, 2) as a counter-element (7, 8).

6. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the contour (8) is designed as a slot contour (8).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support element (5, 6) is designed as an engagement recess (5).

8. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the engagement recess (5) interacts with a projection (7) as a counter element (7, 8) on the structural component (1, 2).

9. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the projection (7) is designed as a passage (7).

10. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the support element (5, 6) is arranged off-axis compared to the axis of the locking component (3, 4).