EP0109656A2 - Electric lock - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Lock for a motor vehicle door comprising a locking pin (4) around which engages, rotatable about a spindle (9), a bifurcated latch (6) which, in the closed position, clicks into place on a closure lever (8) which is rotatable about a spindle, characterized in that bifurcated latch (6) and closure lever (8) are driven about their axis of rotation individually by a respective or jointly by a common electric motor (M).

Description

The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle door, with a locking pin which is gripped by a fork latch which engages in the closed position on a locking lever.

From DE-OS 21 44 065 a lock for a motor vehicle door is known, in which the bolt is actuated by an electromagnet. This lock requires numerous mechanical parts in the form of levers and linkages, so that a high manufacturing and assembly costs arise. Furthermore, these mechanical parts are a source of rattling noises due to vibrations of the motor vehicle. This castle also builds large and has a considerable weight. It is also necessary that the door must be slammed to close it. This creates a strong noise.

The task of the invention is to build a castle at the beginning mentioned type to improve such that it requires no or only a minimal mechanical actuation by hand and both the opening and closing of the door is electrically controllable.

This object is achieved in that the fork latch and locking lever are each driven by an electric motor about their axis of rotation.

Such a lock does not require manual operation of handles to open, close and lock the door. It is sufficient to let the door snap into place, after which the door automatically closes. This also eliminates the need to slam the door, so that closing a motor vehicle door does not cause any noise. It is very easy to use.

The lock is small and light in weight and is highly reliable. The lock can be controlled electrically and additionally electronically with little technical effort.

For an independent closing of the door, it is proposed that the fork latch be motor-driven in the closing direction. Safe operation and automatic closing of the door without having to operate an electrical switch is achieved in that the fork latch reaches the first locking position (pre-locking position) by closing the door and the second locking position (main locking position) by the motor drive.

So that the fork latch comes into the position in which it can receive the locking pin when the door is open, it is proposed that the fork latch be spring-loaded in the opening direction of rotation.

In the periods in which the fork latch is not operated by a motor, it can move freely except for the elastic torsional load. For this purpose, it is proposed that the fork latch can be driven in the closing direction by a rotatable cam or eccentric, which is motor-driven. The cam or eccentric only drives the fork latch when the motor is operated to actuate the fork latch. Motor control of the fork latch only in the correct rotational position of the latter is achieved in that the fork latch has an edge region through which an electrical switch can be actuated at least in the first latching position.

It is preferably proposed that the locking lever is motor-driven in a direction of movement in which the fork latch is unlocked. As a result, the door can be opened in the simplest way by means of electrical control. The locking lever can be spring-loaded towards the locking position.

In order to also keep the locking lever free to move while it is not being driven, it is proposed that the locking lever can be driven in the unlocking direction by a rotatable eccentric or cam which is driven by a motor. A switch can be actuated for control by at least one of the cams or eccentrics.

It is preferably proposed that the fork latch and locking lever are driven by the same motor, in particular an electric motor. A single motor leads to a particularly small lock and light weight. This makes a particularly simple electrical control achieved that the fork latch is driven in a first direction of rotation of the motor and the lock lever is driven in the second direction of rotation. Just changing the direction of rotation is enough to get different functions.

It is also proposed that the output shaft of the motor drives the locking lever via a first freewheel and the fork latch via a second freewheel, in particular via cams or eccentrics, the coupling directions of rotation of both freewheels being opposite to each other. Such an arrangement of freewheels leads to a particularly simple gear of high robustness and reliability.

It is also proposed that at least one reduction gear be arranged between the motor output shaft and the freewheels. A step-down gear can also be arranged between the freewheels and the fork latch as well as the locking lever. A small design with high reliability is achieved in that at least one of the gears is a planetary gear. An optimal distribution of forces and a secure closing of the door by the fork latch is achieved in that the reduction ratio of the transmission between the motor and the fork latch is greater than the reduction ratio between the motor and the closing lever.

• Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht des Schlosses;
• Fig. 2 einen Schnitt nach C-D in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 einen Schnitt nach L-M in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 einen Schnitt nach I-K in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 einen Schnitt nach G-H in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 6 einen Schnitt nach A-B in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 7 einen Schnitt nach E-F in Fig. 1; und
• Fig. 8 ein Schaltbild.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

• Figure 1 is a side view of the castle.
• Figure 2 is a section according to CD in Fig. 1.
• 3 shows a section according to LM in Fig. 1.
• 4 shows a section according to IK in FIG. 1;
• Fig. 5 is a section according to GH in Fig. 1;
• 6 shows a section according to AB in Fig. 1.
• 7 shows a section according to EF in FIG. 1; and
• Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram.

At the front of a motor vehicle door, not shown, an outer lock is attached, the housing 1 has a horizontal slot 3 in the vertical outer housing wall 2, which receives a locking pin 4 when the door is closed, which can be attached to the spar of a motor vehicle. When the door is closed, the pin 4 penetrates into the slot 5 of a fork latch 6 which is rotatably mounted about an axis 7 parallel to the horizontal pin. The fork latch 6 is brought by the pin 4 into a first pre-locking position (not shown), in which a locking lever 8 arranged above the fork latch engages behind a tooth-shaped projection V of the fork latch. The effective area of this tooth-shaped projection V is formed by a side wall of the slot 5.

As soon as the fork latch 6 has reached the pre-locking position, the fork latch is rotated further by a cam D ₂ until the locking lever 8 engages behind a tooth-shaped projection H. This rotary movement of the fork latch 6 against the pressure of a torsion spring 9 from the pre-locking position V to the main locking position H is not normally caused by the Pin 4, but generated by rotation of the cam D ₂ , which rotates in the pre-locking position in a recess 9 of the plate-shaped fork latch 6 until the cam reaches a radial surface 10 of the recess which protrudes so far that during further rotation the cam D ₂ the fork latch 6 is rotated in the opposite direction to the cam against the force of the torsion spring 11 until the main click position is reached. The fork latch is even rotated a little further to ensure that the locking lever 8 engages securely with H. Cams D 2 and recess 9 with surface 10 thus work like a wheel with a single projection or tooth which engages in a single recess of a second wheel or engages on a single projection of a second wheel.

In the same way, the closing lever 8 is actuated, in which an eccentric d ₂ rotates in a motor-driven manner, in order to actuate a projection 12 on the closing lever and thus to raise the closing lever. As a result, the hold of the fork latch in the main latching position or in the pre-latching position is released and the door can be opened or opens.

Both eccentrics or cams D ₂ and d ₂ are driven by gears from the same electric motor M. The reduction ratio from the motor to the cam D ₂ is more than twice the reduction ratio from the motor to the cam d _{2 '} since actuation of the cam D ₂ , and thus the fork latch 6, causes the door to contract from the pre-locking position to the main locking position and this locking aid requires a greater torque than the actuation of the locking lever 8, which must be moved with its nose 8a out of the area of the fork latch 6.

The axes of all rotating parts in the housing 1 of the _A outer lock, as well as the axes of the parts located in the inner lock, are arranged parallel to each other and to the locking pin 4 and horizontally in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. For a first translation of the rotary movement of the motor, a first planetary gear 13 is fastened to it (FIG. 4), the output shaft 14 of which carries a first freewheel 15 which drives the cam d ₂ via a plurality of reduction gears b, c ₁ , c ₂₁ d ₁ . Rotation of the output shaft 14 in the direction of arrow P leads to rotation of the cam in the direction P ₁ . In this direction of rotation P, the first freewheel 15 engages, so that the cam d _{2 is} actuated. In contrast, a second freewheel 16 is disengaged by this direction of rotation, so that the cam D2 stands still.

If the output shaft 14 is rotated by the motor M in the opposite direction of the arrow P, the first freewheel 15 is disengaged and the second output gear 14 is actuated by the output shaft 14. This has an inner sun gear A and three planet gears B-which mesh with the internal toothing of a surrounding ring gear C and are mounted on a cage D which carries the second freewheel 16 on an axial projection in which the output shaft 14 runs freely. whose coupling direction of rotation is opposite to the coupling direction of rotation of the first freewheel 15.

On the second freewheel 16 there is a pinion 18 which drives the cam D ₂ through the gear D ₁ . If the output shaft 14 is rotated counter to the arrow direction P by the motor via the planetary gear 13, the cam D ₂ rotates in the direction of the arrow P ₂ .

The motor can therefore be driven in both directions, where when the shaft 14 is rotated in the direction of the arrow P, the first freewheel is engaged and thus the cam d _{2 is} rotated in the direction P _{1 in} order to raise the locking lever 8 in the region of the nose 8a in order to thereby release the fork latch 6. This direction of rotation thus creates an opening of the door. Here, the second freewheel 16 remains disengaged so that the cam D _{2 stands} still.

In the reverse rotational direction of the output shaft 14 of the first freewheel 15 disengages and the second freewheel 16 a, so that the cam D ₂ rotates in the direction of the arrow P ₂ and the forked latch 6 in the direction of arrow P actuated ₃ to the latch bolt 4 pull into the slot 3 or pull the outer lock on the pin 4 and thus close the door.

• Bei geschlossener Tür wird zunächst der Mikroschalter IV (Wechsler) mittels Betätigungselements (Handhabe) an der Türaußen- oder -innenseite betätigt. Dadurch wird der Stromkreis zum Motor dergestalt geschlossen, daß eine Drehrichtung zum Antrieb des Nockens d₂ erzielt wird. Nach Erreichen der Entriegelungsstellung des Schließhebels 8 erfolgt über den Nocken d₂ ein Unterbrechen des Stromkreises durch Betätigung des Mikroschalters III. Nach dem Loslassen der Handhabe wird der Stromkreis über den Schalter IV wieder geschlossen, und der Motor betätigt den Nocken d₂ bis zur Ausgangslage. In dieser Stellung wird der Schalter III wieder betätigt und der Stromfluß zum Motor unterbrochen. Wird nach Entriegelung des Schließhebels 8 die Tür geöffnet, schaltet der Mikroschalter I um und gibt kurzzeitig Strom auf den Motor (Polumkehrung entgegen Türöffnungsfunktion ergibt eine Drehsinn- änderung). Nach geringfügiger Drehung des Nockens D₂ wird der Mikroschalter II betätigt und der Stromkreis wieder unterbrochen. Bei anschließendem Türschließen in Vorraststellung erfolgt durch Verdrehen der Gabelfalle 6 ein Umschalten des Mikroschalters I. Der Stromkreis ist geschlossen. Der Motor dreht den Nocken D₂ und zieht damit die Gabelfalle in Hauptraststellung. Sobald der Nocken D₂ den Mikroschalter II betätigt, ist der Stromkreis wieder unterbrochen. Ein bistabiles Relais - z.B. über Türlichtkontakt angesteuert - verhindert eine Fehlschaltung der Stromkreise. Nicht dargestellte-Dioden sind als Schutz vor Fehlbetätigungen in der Schaltung vorgesehen.

In certain positions of the cams or eccentrics D ₂ , d ₂ and the fork latch 6, microswitches I, II and III are actuated, which are arranged in an electrical circuit for driving the motor in both directions of rotation. This circuit is shown in FIG. 8 and has the following mode of operation:

• When the door is closed, the microswitch IV (change-over contact) is first actuated by means of an actuating element (handle) on the outside or inside of the door. As a result, the circuit to the motor is closed such that a direction of rotation for driving the cam d _{2 is} achieved. After the unlocking position of the locking lever 8 has been reached, the circuit is interrupted via the cam d ₂ by actuating the microswitch III. After releasing the handle, the circuit is closed again via switch IV and the motor actuates cam d ₂ until the starting position. In this position, switch III is operated again and the Current flow to the motor interrupted. If the door is opened after unlocking the locking lever 8, the microswitch I switches over and briefly applies current to the motor (pole reversal contrary to the door opening function results in a change in the direction of rotation). After slight rotation of the cam D ₂ , the microswitch II is actuated and the circuit is interrupted again. When the door is subsequently closed in the pre-locking position, the microswitch I is switched over by turning the fork latch 6. The circuit is closed. The motor turns the cam D ₂ and pulls the fork latch into the main detent position. As soon as the cam D ₂ actuates the microswitch II, the circuit is interrupted again. A bistable relay - eg controlled via door light contact - prevents the circuits from switching incorrectly. Diodes, not shown, are provided as protection against incorrect operation in the circuit.

Claims (17)

1. Lock for a motor vehicle door, with a locking pin which is gripped by a fork latch which engages in the closed position on a locking lever, characterized in that the fork latch (6) and locking lever (8) about their axis of rotation each by an electric motor (M ) are driven. 2. Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the fork latch (6) is motor-driven in the closing direction. 3. Lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fork latch (6) reaches the first locking position (pre-locking position) (V) by closing the door and the second locking position (main locking position) (H) by the motor drive. 4. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fork latch (6) is spring-loaded in the opening direction of rotation. 5. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fork latch (6) in Closing direction can be driven by a rotatable cam (D ₂ ) or eccentric, which is motor-driven. 6. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fork latch (6) has an edge region through which an electrical switch can be actuated at least in the first latching position. 7. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking lever (8) is motor-driven in a direction of movement in which the fork latch (6) is unlocked. 8. Lock according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking lever (8) is spring-loaded towards the locking position. 9. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the locking lever (8) can be driven in the unlocking direction by a rotatable eccentric or cam (d ₂ ) which is motor-driven. 10. Lock according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that a switch (II, III) can be actuated by at least one of the cams (D ₂ , d ₂ ) or eccentric. 11. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the fork latch (6) and locking lever (8) are driven by the same motor (M), in particular an electric motor. 12. Lock according to claim 11, characterized in that the fork latch (6) and in the second direction of rotation of the locking lever (8) is driven in a first direction of rotation of the motor ( _M ). 13. Lock according to claim 12, characterized in that the output shaft of the motor via a first freewheel (15) the locking lever (8) and via a second freewheel (16) the fork latch (6) in particular via cams (D ₂ , d ₂ ) or drives eccentric, the coupling directions of rotation of both freewheels (15, 16) being opposite to each other. 14. Lock according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one reduction gear is arranged between the motor output shaft and the freewheels (15, 16). 15-. Lock according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a step-down gear is arranged between the freewheels (15, 16) and the fork latch (6) and also the locking lever (8). 16. Lock according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that at least one of the gears is a planetary gear. 17. Lock according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the reduction ratio of the transmission between the motor (M) and fork latch (6) is greater than the reduction ratio between the motor and locking lever (8).

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