EP3870785B1 - Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism with a rotary latch, comfort pawl and pawl, the pawl locking the comfort pawl that has fallen into the rotary latch at least in the closed position of the locking mechanism. Such a locking mechanism with a rotary latch, comfort pawl and pawl are also known under the name double ratchet ratchet.

The motor vehicle locks described in the introduction can generally be any type of locks on or in the motor vehicle. These include, for example, seat back locks, flap locks, etc.. Motor vehicle door locks are particularly preferred, which not only include motor vehicle side door locks, but also include motor vehicle front hood and motor vehicle tailgate locks as well as motor vehicle tank flap locks or the like and are expressly intended to be covered.

The double ratchet mechanism with rotary latch, comfort ratchet and pawl realized in this context are characterized by low noise development and a fast reaction time. For this reason, motor vehicle locks with such a double ratchet mechanism are increasingly used and realized in practice, such as the prior art according to EP 2 291 568 B1 documented. A first pawl in the form of a comfort pawl and a further second pawl in the form of the pawl are implemented here, with the aid of which the pivoting of the first pawl or comfort pawl is blocked.

In the lesson after EP 2 291 568 B1 is additionally realized a locking device with a motor-driven actuator for at least one release lever. The release lever is moved in such a way that during its movement it interacts with both pawls one after the other. This has basically worked.

In this state of the art, the procedure is usually such that the locking pawl is lifted by motor or manually from the comfort pawl that has fallen into the rotary latch in order to open the locking mechanism or double pawl locking mechanism. As a result of this, the comfort pawl can be regularly pivoted away and therefore the rotary latch is released. The rotary latch swings open with the help of a spring and releases a previously caught locking bolt. As a result, an associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

In practice, for example when a motor vehicle is parked for a long time or after many years of use, it is possible that the force acting on the comfort pawl is no longer sufficient to be able to open the comfort pawl properly after the pawl has been lifted. This can be attributed, for example, to the fact that after a long period of use or due to unfavorable environmental conditions due to deposits such as dust or dirt, there is or can be an increased self-locking of the comfort pawl. This increased self-locking can be so great that it can no longer be overcome by the force acting on the comfort pawl. Here it creates the generic U.S. 8,235,428 B2 a general remedy by means of an interaction between the pawl and an opening contour on the comfort pawl.

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, in an alternative way, even with increased self-locking forces of the comfort latch, for example as a result of many years of use and/or due to unfavorable environmental conditions, the locking mechanism can still be opened properly . This should be implemented with particularly little effort and with recourse to a structurally simple solution.

To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes in a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock that the pawl to open the comfort pawl acts on the actuating arm with a large transmission ratio, namely at its radially outer end, the pawl in the open state of the locking mechanism in the intermediate space immersed and applied to the actuating arm with a small translation, namely at its radially inner end.

In the context of the invention, the pawl thus assumes at least a dual function. First of all, the pawl ensures, as usual and in general, that the locking mechanism is in the closed position in the rotary latch collapsed comfort pawl is secured or latched. As a result, the comfort pawl cannot swing away from the rotary latch and holds it in the closed position of the locking mechanism.

According to the invention, a second functionality of the pawl is now added. When the locking mechanism is opened, the pawl actively ensures that the comfort pawl is also pushed in the opening direction. While in the prior art the pawl pivots away from the comfort pawl to open the locking mechanism, gives up its securing position and the comfort pawl is then pivoted away from the catch, according to the invention the comfort pawl is actively actuated by the pawl during the opening process. Because the pawl acts on the comfort pawl at least during the opening process of the locking mechanism in the opening direction. This functionality is provided in addition and according to the invention to the retained and known functionality of the pawl, namely to hold and latch or secure the comfort pawl in the closed position of the locking mechanism in its position in which it has fallen into the rotary latch.

As a result of this, it is first of all achieved that the opening process can still be carried out correctly even with increased self-locking forces of the comfort latch as a result of many years of use of the motor vehicle lock and/or caused by unfavorable environmental conditions. This is because the pawl acts on the comfort pawl actively during the opening process by urging the comfort pawl in the opening direction. An additional spring acting on the comfort pawl is therefore generally unnecessary, but can be provided at least as an option if required.

All of this is possible while taking into account a construction that is both simple and inexpensive. Because preferably even the spring acting on the comfort pawl can be dispensed with. At the same time, the functionality is improved and the desired opening process of the double pawl locking mechanism can also be realized and implemented over a long period of time. By actively actuating the comfort pawl in the opening direction during an opening process on the part of the pawl, any im Increased self-locking forces of the comfort pawl that build up during operation are safely overcome. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

In order to implement in detail the at least two functionalities of the pawl described above, on the one hand for securing the comfort pawl in the closed position of the locking mechanism and on the other hand for actively opening the comfort pawl during an opening process of the locking mechanism, the comfort pawl has a latching contour and an opening contour. The pawl interacts with the latching contour when the locking mechanism is in the closed position and with the opening contour when the locking mechanism is opened.

When the locking mechanism is opened, the locking pawl acts on the actuating arm with a large translation to open the comfort pawl. The high translation is achieved by the fact that the pawl acts on the actuating arm as part of the fork-shaped opening contour at its radially outer end. As a result, the pawl works, forming a high torque on the comfort pawl to open it. As a result of this, any large self-locking forces of the comfort pawl can also be overcome during the opening process described.

If, on the other hand, the locking mechanism is in the open state, the pawl enters the intermediate space between the actuating arm and the stop arm in this open state of the locking mechanism. As a result, the pawl acts on the actuating arm in this open state with only a small translation, specifically at its radially inner end. This means that when the locking mechanism is in the open state, the pawl acts on the actuating arm as part of the opening contour, but in contrast to the opening process, not at its radially outer end but at its radially inner end. This results in a small translation, because in this case the pawl works on a lever arm of shorter length on the comfort pawl.

When the locking mechanism is open, the pawl can act on the comfort pawl with a smaller transmission ratio compared to the opening process, because in the open state any self-locking forces of the comfort pawl are overcome by static friction and the comfort pawl has switched to sliding friction during the opening process. As a result, high actuation forces are no longer required on the comfort pawl. The invention takes this into account in that, in the open state, the pawl acts on the actuating arm with a small transmission ratio, namely at its radially inner end.

At the same time, this design ensures that the comfort pawl is held in its position by the pawl when the locking mechanism is in the open state. Consequently, this is generally possible without an additional spring, which is unnecessary compared to the prior art. As a result, the design effort is reduced and, of course, there are also lower costs when realizing such a motor vehicle lock. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

The design is further and advantageously made such that the latching contour and the opening contour of the comfort pawl are designed differently from one another in terms of location and function. This ensures that the pawl can properly secure the comfort pawl in the closed position of the locking mechanism. This is because the pawl interacts with the latching contour. If, on the other hand, the pawl is to actively act on the comfort pawl in the opening direction during the opening process of the locking mechanism, this interaction takes place with the opening contour, which is designed to be spatially and functionally separate from the latching contour. As a result, the functionalities can be perfectly separated from one another, especially since they do not overlap in terms of time, or at most slightly.

In detail, for this purpose, the latching contour is arranged radially outwards compared to an axis of rotation of the comfort pawl and the opening contour is arranged radially inwards compared to said axis of rotation. In addition, it has proven itself if the two contours are arranged on a common lever arm of the two-armed comfort pawl. This means that the comfort pawl generally has two lever arms. A lever arm may be designed as a contoured arm because it has the two contours, ie both the locking contour and the opening contour. In contrast, the other lever arm is a stop arm which limits pivoting movements of the comfort latch.

The latching contour is specifically and advantageously designed as a contact surface for a mating surface of the pawl that rests against it when the locking mechanism is in the closed position. For this purpose, the counter surface is usually located on the front of an actuating pin as part of the pawl. That means in In the closed position of the locking mechanism, the counter-surface on the front of the pawl interacts with the contact surface on the comfort pawl on the other hand. In order to open the locking mechanism and consequently the comfort pawl, any self-locking forces, in particular between the contact surface and the counter surface, must be overcome.

Of particular importance for the invention is the fact that the opening contour is advantageously designed in the form of a fork with an actuating arm and a stop arm spaced radially therefrom, defining an intermediate space. This means that the opening contour has a fork shape that is set by the two arms, the actuating arm and the stop arm. Because the actuator arm and stop arm are radially spaced from each other, the gap between the two arms is observed and defined.

Fig. 1

das erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugschloss bzw. Kraftfahrzeugtürschloss mit in Schließposition befindlichem Gesperre in einer Übersicht,

Fig. 2A bis 2D

verschiedene Funktionsstellungen des Kraftfahrzeugschlosses nach Fig. 1 sowie

Fig. 3A

das Kraftfahrzeugschloss nach der Fig. 1 bei einem Öffnungsvorgang des Gesperres und

Fig. 3B

das Kraftfahrzeugschloss nach der Fig. 3A in geöffnetem Zustand.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings that represent a preferred exemplary embodiment. This shows:

1

the motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock according to the invention with the locking mechanism in the closed position in an overview,

Figures 2A to 2D

different functional positions of the motor vehicle lock 1 such as

Figure 3A

the motor vehicle lock after the 1 during an opening process of the locking mechanism and

Figure 3B

the motor vehicle lock after the Figure 3A in open condition.

In the figures, a motor vehicle lock is shown, which is designed, not restrictively, as a motor vehicle door lock. The motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock is limited to the elements and components essential to the invention. The motor vehicle lock has a locking mechanism with a rotary latch 1, a comfort pawl 2 and a pawl 3, which is designed as a double pawl locking mechanism. In addition, respective axes of rotation 4, 5, 6 are provided, with the help of which the catch 1, the comfort pawl 2 and the pawl 3 in each case only in the figure 1 indicated lock case 7 are stored.

The basic structure also includes two stops or stop dampers 8, 9, on the one hand a stop 8 for the comfort pawl 2, which can be rotated about the axis of rotation 5, and on the other hand another stop 9 for the pawl 3, which can be pivoted about its associated axis of rotation 6. The rotary latch 1 in turn ensures that a locking bolt 10 in the closed position of the double-pawl locking mechanism still 1 has been caught. Finally, the basic structure includes a release lever or, in general, an actuating element 11, with the help of which the pawl 6 can be acted upon in the opening direction, ie one in the 1 only indicated clockwise movement about its axis of rotation 6 performs. This removes the pawl 6 from its stop 9, on which it is in the closed position of the locking mechanism after 1 applied. The actuating element 11 or the release lever can generally be acted upon manually and/or by a motor, but this is not shown in detail.

The detailed design of the individual elements is now based on the Figures 3A and 3B explained. the Figure 3A shows an opening process of the double pawl locking mechanism starting from the closed position in the 1 . It can be seen that for this purpose the pawl 3 has been acted upon with the aid of the actuating element 11 and has carried out the clockwise movement already described above about its axis of rotation 6 and has moved away from the associated stop 9 .

In fact, the comfort pawl 2 is initially designed with two arms overall. At this point there is on the one hand a stop arm 2a resting against the stop 8 in the closed position of the comfort pawl 2 and on the other hand a contour arm 2b realized. The stop 8 may be composed of two elements, but this is irrelevant for the following considerations. According to the exemplary embodiment, the stop arm 2a and the contoured arm 2b of the comfort pawl 2 enclose an obtuse angle, with the axis of rotation 5 of the comfort pawl 2 being arranged in the area or near the apex of this obtuse angle.

The contour arm 2b has two contours 12; 13a, 13b, 13c, on. The two contours 12; 13a, 13b, 13c are designed on the one hand as a latching contour 12 and on the other hand as an opening contour 13a, 13b, 13c. The latching contour 12 and the opening contour 13a, 13b, 13c of the comfort pawl 2 are designed to be different from one another in terms of location and function. In fact, the latching contour 12 is located radially outwards compared to the axis of rotation 5 of the comfort latch 2, while the opening contour 13a, 13b, 13c is arranged radially inwards compared to the axis of rotation 5 in question, as can be seen in a comparative consideration of the Figures 3A and 3B recognizes.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the latching contour 12 is designed as a contact surface 12 for a mating surface 14 of the pawl 3 that rests against it in the closed position of the locking mechanism, cf. 1 . At in the Figure 3A shown opening process of the locking mechanism, the two surfaces, i.e. the contact surface 12 on the comfort pawl 2 and the counter surface 14 on the pawl 3, are spaced apart and removed, whereas the two surfaces 12, 14 in the closed position correspond to the 1 rest against each other and ensure that the pawl 3 latches the comfort pawl 2 in its collapsed state into the rotary latch 1 .

The mating surface 14 on the pawl 3 is located on the front side of an actuating pin 3a of the pawl 3. In the open state, the actuating pin 3a in question of the pawl 3 can dip into an intermediate space 13c, which occurs on the contoured arm 2b of the comfort pawl 2 in that the opening contour 13a, 13b, 13c is fork-shaped overall. In fact, the opening contour 13a, 13b, 13c has an actuating arm 13a and a stop arm 13b spaced radially therefrom. Due to the radial spacing of both arms 13a, 13b is between between the two arms 13a, 13b the space 13c already mentioned. This shows in particular the one showing the open state Figure 3B .

How it works is as follows. In the closed state of the locking mechanism as shown in the 1 the pawl 3 ensures that the comfort pawl 2 that has fallen into the rotary latch 1 is locked in the closed position of the locking mechanism. This is implemented in detail in such a way that the mating surface 14 on the front of the pawl 3 interacts with the latching contour or contact surface 12 of the comfort pawl 2 . At the same time, the contour arm 2b of the comfort pawl 2 and therefore the comfort pawl 2 interacts overall with a main catch 15 of the rotary latch 1, as in addition to 1 the 2D makes clear. In the closed position of the locking mechanism, the pawl 3 rests against its stop 9 . Since the rotary latch 1 moves with its main catch 15 against the comfort pawl 2 or its contoured arm 2b with spring support, the rotary latch 1 cannot be opened and the locking bolt 10 is caught (cf. 1 and 2D ).

To now open the locking mechanism, the pawl 3 according to the invention takes on an additional function, in addition to the security function of the comfort pawl 2, as previously in the 1 is shown. This additional function is based on the Figure 3A clear and described below. Because when the locking mechanism is opened, the pawl 3 also ensures that the comfort pawl 2 is acted upon in the opening direction during this opening process. That makes them Figure 3A clear.

In fact, the opening process shown here corresponds first of all to the fact that the pawl 3 starting from the closed position of the locking mechanism in the 1 using the actuator 11 in the 1 shown clockwise is applied to a rotation about its axis of rotation 6 and the associated stop 9 leaves. As a result, the pawl 3 or its pin 3a moves against the actuating arm 13a as part of the opening contour 13a, 13b, 13c on the comfort pawl 2.

In fact, during this process, the pawl 3 acts on the actuating arm 13a with a large translation in order to open the comfort pawl 2, specifically at its radially outer end. Do the appropriate and in the Figure 3A indicated by double arrows lever arms clearly. A lever arm H ₁ , which is set between a contact surface of the pawl 3 and the radially outer end of the actuating arm 13 a at a distance from the axis of rotation 5 of the comfort pawl 2 , is decisive at this point. Said lever arm H ₁ ensures that the comfort pawl 2 is applied with a large torque during the opening process to overcome any self-locking forces or static friction on the part of the pawl 3 and can also be applied.

In fact, the pawl 3 works according to the opening process Figure 3A on the long or large lever arm H ₁ of the comfort pawl 2, which is set in that the pawl 3 acts on the comfort pawl 2 at the radially outer end of the actuating arm 13a. As a result of this, relatively large self-locking forces or static friction of the comfort pawl 2 can also be overcome during this opening process.

In any case, the pawl 3 acts on the comfort pawl 2 in the opening direction when the locking mechanism is opened. Since the pawl 3 in the opening process in the 1 clockwise shown is acted upon about its axis of rotation 6, this clockwise rotation of the pawl 3 during the opening process in the Figure 3A to the fact that the comfort pawl 2 pivots about its axis of rotation 5 counterclockwise. Since during this process the locking pawl 3 acts on the actuating arm 13a with a large translation to open the comfort pawl 2, the comfort pawl 2 can be swung open directly from its engagement with the rotary latch 1, in principle without additional spring force.

The fact that the comfort pawl 2 during the opening process in the Figure 3A pivots in the counterclockwise direction indicated there about its axis of rotation 5, the contour arm 2b of the comfort latch 2 also leaves the main catch 15 of the rotary latch 1. As a result, the rotary latch 1 is about its axis of rotation 4 in the Figure 3A indicated counterclockwise pivoted and releases the locking bolt 10, as in the transition to the Figure 3B recognizes and understands the open state shown. During the opening process of the locking mechanism described, the pawl 3 not only acts on the actuating arm 13a of the comfort pawl 2 or the opening contour 13a, 13b, 13c at its radially outer end. But this opening process also means that the pawl 3 with its actuating pin 3a and the mating surface 14 arranged on the front side of the actuating pin 3a increasingly dips into the intermediate space 13c between the actuating arm 13a and the stop arm 13b of the opening contour 13a, 13b, 13c.

At the end of this opening movement, the pawl 3 is completely immersed with its actuating pin 3a in the gap 13c in question, as the Figure 3B removes the open state of the motor vehicle lock following the in the Figure 3A reproduced opening process shows. In addition, the pawl 3 acts on the actuating arm 13a of the comfort pawl 2 in this open and in the Figure 3B State shown only with a small translation, namely at its radially inner end. This corresponds to a in the Figure 3B illustrated lever arm H ₂ , which has a shorter length than the lever arm H ₁ during the opening process in the Figure 3A has. This can be attributed to the fact that in the open state after the Figure 3B the comfort pawl 2 has already overcome any static friction and has switched to sliding friction, so that only lower forces are required to keep the comfort pawl 2 in this open state. This is ensured by the pawl 3, which acts on the comfort pawl 2 in the open state, taking into account the shorter lever arm H ₂ .

In the Figures 2A to 2D is the reverse process starting from the open state after the Figure 3B up to the closed state according to the 1 shown. That is, the open state according to the Figure 3B corresponds to the representation in the Figure 2A , whereas the closed state of the ratchet after the 1 for display in the 2D corresponds.

It can be seen that starting from the open state in the Figure 2A during a closing process and in the transition to Figure 2B the comfort pawl 2 first interacts with a first catch 16 on the rotary latch 1. Because in the transition from the open state in the Figure 2A for pre-locking after Figure 2B ensures that the locking bolt 10 retracting into the locking mechanism ensures that the rotary latch 1 in the Figure 2A shown is pivoted clockwise. As a result, the comfort pawl 2 engages with the first catch 16 of the rotary latch 1.

During the transition from the pre-locked position to the Figure 2B to the overtravel position according to the Figure 2C the rotary latch 1 has moved away from the comfort pawl 2 overall with its main catch 15 . This may be accomplished by an additional pull-close drive that acts on the locking mechanism 1, 2, 3 and is not explicitly shown. The closing operation ensures that the rotary latch 1 starting from the pre-locked position Figure 2B clockwise is further applied by a motor and thereby in the overstroke position after Figure 2C reached. After the elimination of a corresponding closing force, the locking mechanism moves from the overtravel position as shown in FIG Figure 2C into the main detent position after the 2D above.

In the main detent after the 2D the rotary latch 1 rests with its main catch 15 on the comfort pawl 2 or the contoured arm 2b of the comfort pawl 2, as has already been described above.

Reference List

1, 2, 3

Ratchet / double pawl ratchet

1

rotary latch

2

comfort latch

2a

stop arm

2 B

low profile

2c

operating arm

3

pawl

4, 5, 6

axes of rotation

7

lock box

8, 9

Stops / stop dampers

10

locking bolt

11

actuator / release lever

12, 13

contour

12

Locking contour / contact surface

13a, 13b, 13c

opening contour

13a

operating arm

13b

stop arm

13c

space

14

counter surface

15

main rest

H1

longer lever arm

H2

shorter lever arm

Claims (6)

1. Motor vehicle latch, in particular motor vehicle door latch, comprising a locking mechanism having a catch (1), a comfort pawl (2), and a pawl (3), the pawl (3), at least when the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) in the closed position, locking the comfort pawl (2) when the comfort pawl is engaged in the catch (1), the pawl (3) additionally acting on the comfort pawl (2) in the opening direction during at least one opening process of the locking mechanism, the comfort pawl (2) having a ratchet contour (12) and an opening contour (13a, 13b, 13c), the pawl (3) interacting with the ratchet contour (12) when the locking mechanism is in the closed position and interacting with the opening contour (13a, 13b, 13c) to open the locking mechanism, and the opening contour (13a, 13b, 13c) being fork-shaped and having an operating arm (13a) and a stop arm (13b) which is spaced radially therefrom so as to define a gap (13c), characterized in that the pawl (3) acts on the operating arm (13a) with a high degree of leverage, specifically at the radially outer end of said arm, in order to open the comfort pawl (2), the pawl (3) entering in the gap (13c) and acting on the operating arm (13a) with a low degree of leverage, specifically at the radially inner end of said arm, when the locking mechanism is in the open state.
2. Motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratchet contour (12) and the opening contour (13a, 13b, 13c) of the comfort pawl (2) are designed to differ from one another in terms of location and function.
3. Motor vehicle latch according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the ratchet contour (12) is arranged radially outward with respect to an axis of rotation (5) of the comfort pawl (2) and the opening contour (13a, 13b, 13c) is arranged radially inward with respect to the axis of rotation (5).
4. Motor vehicle latch according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two contours (12; 13a, 13b, 13c) are arranged on a common lever arm (2b) of the two-armed comfort pawl (2).
5. Motor vehicle latch according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ratchet contour (12) is designed as an abutment surface (12) for a mating surface (14) of the pawl (3), which mating surface abuts said abutment surface when the locking mechanism is in the closed position.
6. Motor vehicle latch according to claim 5, characterized in that the mating surface (14) of the pawl (3) is arranged on the front of an operating pin (3a).

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