EP3039211B1 - Electric motor vehicle lock having a spring accumulator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a lock, in particular for a motor vehicle with a lock mechanism and with an electric drive for an electric opening of the lock. A lock mechanism for a door or flap of a motor vehicle has a locking mechanism, which comprises a rotary latch and a pawl for locking the rotary latch. The lock comprises a device which, especially in an emergency or incident, ensures that the lock can be opened mechanically, ie without an electric drive DE 198 49 674 A1 Such a castle is known.

An aforementioned lock is used for temporary closing of openings in motor vehicles or buildings by means of doors or flaps. In the closed state of such a lock, the rotary latch engages around a particular bow-shaped locking bolt, which is usually attached to the body in the case of a motor vehicle. Reached the catch by a caused by means of the locking pin pivoting starting from an open position one. Closed position, the catch is finally locked by means of the pawl. A blocking surface of the Sperrklif'1fce then abuts a locking surface of the rotary latch, thereby preventing that the rotary latch can be rotated back in the open position. The locking bolt can not leave the locking mechanism in the Schließstelluhg.

It's for opening. required to move the pawl out of its locked position. If the pawl has been moved out of its detent position, the rotary latch rotates in the direction of the open position. In the open position of the catch and thus in the open position of the locking mechanism can the locking bolt leave the lock. The door or flap can be opened again.

There are locks with two different locking positions of the catch. The rotary latch can then be locked first in the so-called pre-locking position and finally by further rotation in the closing direction in the so-called Hauptrastposifion. Although in the pre-locking position, a locking bolt can no longer leave the locking mechanism. A corresponding door or flap is not yet completely closed. Such a door or flap is fully closed only when the catch is rotated to the main catch position and locked here. For a latching in the pre-locking position, a second pawl may be provided.

The lock may include a blocking lever that is capable of blocking a pawl when the pawl locks the catch. To open such a locking mechanism, the blocking lever must first be moved out of its blocking position.

In order to be able to open a lock particularly easily, the rotary latch can initiate an opening moment in the pawl in the rusted state. The opening moment may cause the pawl to be moved out of its detent position. In such a lock unwanted moving out is prevented by a blocking lever. If the blocking lever is moved out of its blocking position, the lock then opens automatically. Such a prior art is from the document DE 10 2007 003 948 A1 known.

To open a lock, there is an actuator. When the actuating device is actuated, the locking mechanism opens. A handle of a door or flap may be part of the actuator. This handle is usually connected via a linkage or a Bowden cable with an actuating lever of the castle. If the handle is actuated, the actuating lever of the lock is pivoted by means of the linkage or Bowden cable so that the lock opens. A motor vehicle usually has an outside handle, which can be reached from the outside, and / or an inside handle, which can be reached from the inside.

According to the document DE 100 48 709 A1 In normal operation, the lock known therefrom can not be opened by operating an external handle, because in normal operation, a connection between an actuating lever and the locking mechanism, which is necessary for this purpose, is missing. The lock can be opened from the outside in normal operation only with the help of an electric drive. In an emergency or accident, however, the mechanical connection between the handle and the locking mechanism is made by the electric drive, in order to then be able to open the lock mechanically in an emergency by operating the outer handle. An emergency is for example in the case of an accident: ago. If a sensor signals the presence of an emergency, the electric drive establishes the mechanical connection within a few 10 ms. Today's such locks are able to change a lock within 20 ms so that this can then be opened mechanically.

The sensor can be the sensor of an airbag. If the sensor of an airbag signals an accident, electrical energy is still available for a few milliseconds (ms) following the signal, so that the mechanical connection can pass through the electric drive can be made. After that, the electrical power supply may fail.

Another censor can monitor the state of charge of a vehicle battery. If the state of charge of the battery falls below a certain threshold value, this case can be signaled by the sensor in order then to ensure that the electric drive establishes the mechanical connection, in order subsequently to enable a mechanical opening.

It is an object of the invention to further develop a lock of the type mentioned. In particular, with the present invention, the aim is to be able to change over a lock from normal operation to emergency or accident operation within a particularly short time and / or with the least possible expenditure of electrical energy

To solve the task, a lock includes the. Features of the first claim. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

To solve lock is provided in particular for a motor vehicle with a lock mechanism and with an electric drive with which the lock can be opened electrically in normal operation. The lock has Ober another operating condition, which is referred to below Störbetrieb. In fault mode, a mechanical opening of the lock is possible, which in the Normal operation is not possible. The lock comprises a mechanical energy store for a changeover of the lock from normal operation to fault operation. This is to be understood as meaning an energy store whose mechanically stored energy can be used to convert the lock from normal operation to fault operation.

The claimed lock makes it possible to use mechanically stored energy in an accident or emergency to mechanically open the lock following the release of the mechanically stored energy, which is not possible in normal operation. Following a mechanical actuation, for example actuation of an outer handle of a door or flap, this door or flap can be opened in faulty operation without the need for electrical energy. The need for electrical energy for such a transition from normal operation to interference operation is particularly low.

An example of a mechanical energy storage is a compressed air storage. If the lock is to be converted from normal operation to fault mode, the compressed air storage tank is opened. The pressure exiting gas is then used to, for example, an actuating lever with a pawl in the of the document DE 100 48 709 A1 to couple known manner. The escaping compressed air is then used to the from the publication DE 100 48 709 A1 bring known intermediate lever from a non-coupling position in a coupling position. For example, a fixed piston can be released, which is then moved due to the pressure in the compressed air reservoir. The movement of the piston can be used directly or indirectly to allow a mechanical actuation of the lock, so on Change over to faulty operation. Moving the from the pamphlet DE 100 48 709 A1 known intermediate lever in its coupling position requires relatively much time and energy compared to the case of opening a compressed air reservoir, so for example release a fixed piston of the compressed air reservoir. By using a mechanical energy storage, therefore, time and energy can be reduced, which are spent to bring a lock from normal operation in a jamming operation.

It is possible to use a flywheel in order to be able to provide mechanically stored energy in order to switch from normal operation to Sför operation.

In one embodiment, the lock comprises an electrical control which is able to control the release of the energy stored in the mechanical energy store. This embodiment makes it possible, with the help of an electrical or electronic sensor to detect the occurrence of an accident within a very short time and initiate the switch to Sförbetrieb. For the actual switching then no more electrical energy is needed. It is then no longer important whether electrical energy is available for electrical switching.

In one embodiment, the electrical control comprises an electromagnet that magnetically holds a coupling component in its non-coupling position. If there is no or no longer sufficient electrical energy available, so eliminates the magnetic force that is able to hold the coupling component in its non-coupling position. For example, with a preloaded spring, for example with a preloaded coil spring, then the coupling component is in their coupling Position moves, which makes it possible to open the lock mechanically. In this embodiment, electrical energy does not have to be available for a few milliseconds in order to mechanically open a door or flap in the event of a failure that results in a loss of electrical power.

In a technically simple embodiment of the invention is used as a mechanical memory, a spring, such as a coil spring. This is preloaded to store mechanical energy. A mechanical energy storage can be provided in a technically simple manner with little space, which is particularly insensitive to interference.

In a technically simple embodiment, a leg spring is used as a spring, moved by the example, a spring leg during the closing of the door and thus moved into a storage position.

In order to store the energy of the spring, a pin is used according to the invention, which releases a prestressed leg of the spring for conversion to Stötbetrieb, so that by means of energy stored in the spring the possibility is created that the lock can operate mechanically. However, such a movable pin can also fix, for example, a piston of a compressed air reservoir in normal operation. By moving the pin, the piston is released to switch to jamming operation.

In one embodiment, the pin is linearly moved or rotated to release the mechanically stored energy.

Advantageously, a rotational movement of the pin around its longitudinal axis is sufficient to release the mechanically stored energy. In this way, time and energy can be further reduced in order to release the mechanical energy stored in the mechanical energy store for switching from normal operation to fault operation.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pin has a slope or step for releasing the mechanically stored energy. Depending on the position of the slope or step mechanically stored energy is released. A long end of the slope fixes a preloaded leg of a spring, so that after turning the cylinder pin the: short side of the cylinder pin releases the spring. In contrast to known systems, the rotation of the pin can be done in very short periods of time, so that the energy of the spring is immediately available. It is thus possible that less than 5 ms electrical energy must be provided in order then to bring the lock with the help of the mechanically stored energy in a state that allows a mechanical actuation.

Preferably, the electric drive, with which the lock can be actuated, be controlled by the controller so that the electric drive is able to release the mechanically stored energy. The electric drive is thus normally used to electrically actuate the lock so that subsequently the door or flap can be opened. In addition, the electric drive is used to set the lock in a state that allows a mechanical actuation, for example, in one embodiment, the electric drive moves the aforementioned pin to release the stored mechanical energy by the movement of the pin.

In one embodiment, the electric drive is controlled by an electric control system in order to achieve the set object, so that it is able to release the mechanically stored energy in the event of a malfunction.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mechanical energy storage can be charged by closing a door or flap. In the case of a spring so a spring is biased by closing a door or flap. In the case of a compressed air reservoir, for example, a piston is moved so that thereby a gas pressure is built up. This embodiment, which allows recharging a mechanical energy storage by closing a door or flap, ensures that a mechanical energy store can be reliably recharged, at least when the mechanical energy store for some reason previously released mechanically stored energy has been so emptied.

Preferably, the lock is such that an associated door or flap can be mechanically opened from the outside only in faulty operation. In one embodiment, the door or flap can be mechanically opened from the inside. In another embodiment, the door or flap can be mechanically opened from the inside only in faulty operation,

In one embodiment, the lock can be supplemented by an electric drive from normal operation to faulty operation in addition, such as in the document DE 100 48 709 A1 known way. Is sufficient in an emergency or accident sufficient amount and sufficiently long electrical energy Available, so the switching from normal operation can be made directly from an interference operation by an electric drive. The mechanical energy storage then complements the switching would be. but not mandatory for the conversion.

The invention makes it possible in particular during the closing of a side door or flap to bias a spring which is released in the event of a correspondingly high voltage drop of the battery of the motor vehicle or in the event of an accident, so that the mechanically stored energy is available to the lock In this way, the reaction times can be significantly reduced while at the same time minimizing the risk that an adequate power supply is not available. The known 20 milliseconds can be reduced to times less than 5 milliseconds,

Figur 1:

mechanischer Energiespeicher im aufgeladenen Zustand;

figur 2:

mechanischer Energiespeicher während der Abgabe der mechanisch gespeicherten Energie;

Figur 3:

Schnitt durch einen Stift mit stufenförmigem Ende.

Show it

FIG. 1:

mechanical energy storage in the charged state;

figure 2:

mechanical energy storage during the delivery of the mechanically stored energy;

FIG. 3:

Section through a pin with a stepped end.

The FIG. 1 shows a mechanical energy storage of a lock with which the lock can be switched from normal operation to faulty operation. The mechanical energy storage comprises a prestressed Schenketfeder 1 with two legs 2 and 3. The one leg 2 is biased to a bolt 4 at. The other leg 3 is biased to a pin 5. In addition, the spring 1 is held by an axis 6. The pin 5 has a stepped end with a higher level 7 and a deeper level 8 on. In the charged state of the mechanical energy storage of the leg 3 of the spring 1 is at the higher level 7 at.

The FIG. 1 also shows a lever 9, which can be rotated about its axis 10. One end of the lever 9 has a protruding pin 11 which bears against the leg 3 of the spring 1. The pin 5 can be around his, in the FIG. 3 shown in section longitudinal axis 12 are rotated.

Will the pin 5 of the in the FIG. 1 shown position rotated about its longitudinal axis so that it in the FIG. 2 shown position, so the leg 3 of the spring 1 is no longer at the higher level 7 at. The leg 3 now moves across the lower stage 8 away arrow direction 13. As a result, the lever 9 is rotated according to the direction of arrow 14 about its axis 10. This movement of the lever causes the associated lock to then be mechanically opened, in a manner previously not possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1:

Leg spring

2:

Thighs of thigh feather

3:

Thighs of thigh feather

4:

bolt

5:

rotatable pin

6:

axis

7:

higher level

8th:

deeper level

9:

rotatably mounted lever

10:

Axle of the rotatably mounted lever

11:

from the lever protruding bolt

12:

Longitudinal axis of the pin

13:

arrow

14:

arrow

Claims (11)

1. Latch, especially for a motor vehicle with a latch mechanism, whereby the latch comprises two different operating states, i.e. normal operation, in which the latch can be electrically opened, and breakdown operation, in which the latch can be mechanically opened, characterized in that the latch comprises a mechanical energy storage device (1, 5), with which the latch can be shifted from normal operation to breakdown operation, characterized in that a movable pin (5) is present which is capable of releasing the energy stored in the mechanical energy storage device (1, 5) by means of movement.
2. Latch according to claim 1, characterized in that the latch comprises an electrical control which can control the release of the energy stored in the mechanical energy storage device (1, 5).
3. Latch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mechanical energy storage device comprises a spring, in particular a leg spring (1).
4. Latch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the pin (5) is capable of releasing the energy stored in the mechanical energy storage device (1, 5) by means of rotation around its longitudinal axis (12).
5. Latch according to the previous claim, characterized in that one end of the pin (5) comprises a step (7, 8) or a bevel for the release of the energy stored in the mechanical energy storage device (1, 5).
6. Latch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that an electrical drive, with which the latch can be electrically opened in normal operation, is capable of moving the pin (5) for a shift from normal operation to breakdown operation.
7. Latch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that an electrical drive can be controlled by an electrical control in such a way that it is capable of releasing the energy stored in the mechanical energy storage device.
8. Latch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the latch can be shifted from normal operation to breakdown operation by the activation lever of the latch being coupled with the locking mechanism of the latch.
9. Latch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that an intermediate lever is present for coupling of the activation lever with the locking mechanism, which can be moved from a non-coupling position into a coupling position due to the mechanically stored energy.
10. Latch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the mechanical energy storage device can be charged up by closing a door or flap.
11. Latch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that a door or flap can only be mechanically opened from outside in breakdown operation.

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