EP4077842B1 - Motor vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, with a motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and pawl mounted in a lock case, furthermore with a lock holder interacting with the locking mechanism, and with a release acting on the lock holder during an opening process of an associated motor vehicle door, the release being acted upon by means of a release device which is at least partially integrated into the motor vehicle lock.

As is known, a motor vehicle door lock is made up of the essential structural features of a motor vehicle lock on the one hand and a lock holder on the other. As a rule, the motor vehicle lock is attached to or in the associated motor vehicle door. In contrast, the lock holder is on the body side. However, the reverse procedure can also be used.

Due to aerodynamic requirements, efforts are now being made to make motor vehicle doors particularly tight-closing and at the same time, if possible, without an outside door handle or with a recessed outside door handle. If there is no outside door handle, the design is often such that the motor vehicle lock that locks the motor vehicle door to the motor vehicle body is opened and then, with the help of the release and the associated release device, is opened at least to the extent that an operator can reach into a gap between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body and thus the motor vehicle door swings open. This means that the exhibitor, including the display device, usually ensures that when the motor vehicle door is opened, the gap between the said motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body is usually large enough for an operator to be able to open the associated motor vehicle door manually through this gap. This has basically worked.

Thus, such an exhibitor attacking the motor vehicle door, including an exhibitor device, is made according to the type in the applicant's name DE 10 2015 003 918 A1 described. For this purpose, the well-known exhibitor works on a locking bolt and is subjected to the necessary force by means of an exhibitor. The deployment means can be an electric motor. In addition, the opening device is integrated into the motor vehicle lock. In this way, the motor vehicle door is to be brought into a defined position in order to avoid damage or incorrect operation.

In the further state of the art according to DE 100 04 242 A1 is a locking device for tailgates, which is equipped with a locking part that can be fixed to the body. After the tailgate has reached a gap-open position, the closing part moves into a hidden position and is returned to a catch position before the tailgate is closed. This is intended to provide better operation of the tailgate.

Finally, the utility model specification to be considered as state of the art DE 200 16 292 U1 deals with a motor vehicle door lock in which the rotary latch can be transferred with the aid of a ratchet drive into a lifted position that opens the associated motor vehicle door, with the formation of a gap. For this purpose, the pawl and the rotary latch are coupled to one another with the aid of the pawl drive via a rigid connecting lever and forced guidance is achieved at least in the excavation position. This should ensure a flawless and sufficient gap formation between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body are provided under all circumstances.

For information on the state of the art, please refer to the publication DE 195 30 728 A1 referred.

The state of the art has basically proven itself, but still leaves room for improvement. Because the actuation of the exhibitor with the help of the exhibiting device during an exhibiting process presupposes that the locking mechanism has been opened beforehand. For this purpose, the procedure is usually and in practice such that the pawl is lifted by a motor from its engagement with the rotary latch. A mechanical actuation of the pawl and a corresponding mechanical lifting process are also conceivable. Overall, this leads to a solution that is relatively complex in terms of construction, especially since the actuation of the locking pawl on the one hand and of the exhibitor with the deployment device on the other hand are carried out independently of one another.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle door lock in such a way that the overall design effort is reduced.

To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle door lock within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the opening device has a drive lever that can be acted upon by the actuator and/or a spring, the drive lever being articulated to the release and the pawl being lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch via the drive lever and the release moving against the lock holder by rotating the drive lever.

In the context of the invention, the process of opening the locking mechanism and the issuing process are practically combined and linked with one another. This is ensured by the display device, which not only acts on the issuer attacking the lock holder during a display process of the associated motor vehicle door, but also for lifting the Pawl is set up by the rotary latch. The invention is based on the knowledge that the two specified processes, on the one hand the lifting of the pawl and on the other hand the opening process (must) be carried out consecutively, so that in principle one and the same device, according to the invention the opening device, can be used for this. As a result, a structurally particularly simple and cost-effective approach is pursued and implemented. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

As part of an advantageous embodiment, the deployment device has at least one actuator and/or a spring. In one variant, the procedure can be such that the deployment device is pretensioned in the direction of the lock holder. The prestressing realized at this point can be made available with the help of the spring that is stressed when the motor vehicle door is closed. In order to now implement the raising process, the procedure is generally such that the prestressed raising device is unlocked with the aid of a latch that can be actuated by the actuator.

This means that in this case the actuator works as part of the deployment device on the latch and ensures that it is actuated. The pawl keeps the deployment device in your pretensioned state. This prestressed state of the raising device is assumed immediately when the motor vehicle door is closed and in this way ensures the desired prestressing in that the previously mentioned spring is prestressed to act on the raising device. In order to start the opening process, all that is required is that the spring relax and the opening device or the exhibitor acting on the lock holder can be acted upon accordingly. The relaxation of the deployment device is initiated with the aid of the latch that can be actuated by the actuator.

As a rule, the deployment device has at least one actuating lever. This actuating lever is typically mounted in the lock case, so that for this reason alone the deployment device is at least partially integrated into the motor vehicle lock. The actuating lever can now advantageously be set up both for lifting the pawl from the rotary latch and for acting on the exhibitor. As a result, a structurally particularly simple and compact design with cost advantages is realized.

According to the invention, the opening device has a drive lever that can be acted upon by the actuator and/or the spring already mentioned. This means that the drive lever, in conjunction with the associated spring, can ensure that the deployment device is transferred to its prestressed state, in particular when the associated motor vehicle door is closed, as was already explained in the introduction. Alternatively or additionally, the drive lever in question can also be acted upon with the aid of the actuator, in order in this way to act on the aforementioned actuation lever first to lift the pawl from the rotary latch and then to act on the exhibitor. That is to say, the driving lever in turn acts on the said actuating lever and/or the exhibitor. The latter variant corresponds to the fact that the actuating lever is not implemented, but instead the drive lever, which can be acted upon with the aid of the spring and/or the actuator, acts directly on the exhibitor during an opening process. In this case, the drive lever in question may also be set up to previously lift the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch. In principle, this can also be done with the help of the exhibitor before he drives against the lock holder in order to be able to exhibit the associated motor vehicle door.

The issuer as such is usually connected to the drive lever. In principle, however, the exhibitor can also act directly with the actuator as an alternative or in addition. In the latter case, the actuator may engage in a toothing of the exhibitor with a gear on the output side. Since the release is connected to the drive lever, the release force required for this purpose can be transmitted directly to the lock holder via the release in this way during a release process.

If the release is connected to the drive lever and not directly to the actuator, the design is usually made in such a way that the release is driven against the lock holder with the help of the drive. For this purpose, the issuer may have a corresponding contour that engages with the lock holder.

As a result, a motor vehicle door lock is made available, the motor vehicle lock of which is equipped with a release device that is at least partially integrated into the motor vehicle lock. As a rule, the actuating lever—if present—and usually also the drive lever are mounted in or on the lock case for this purpose. In contrast, the actuator that is typically additionally provided, or alternatively the spring mentioned, is usually placed locally separately from the motor vehicle lock. Conventional transmission means can be used to transmit force from the spring or the actuator to the drive lever, such as an actuating rod, a Bowden cable, etc. Direct loading of the drive lever with the aid of the actuator is of course also possible. The invention even opens up the more far-reaching possibility of applying direct pressure to the issuer with the aid of the actuator. Then the issuer is usually connected directly to the lock holder.

In any case, the exhibition facility will not only be used in the course of the Issuing process applied, but is also set up to lift the pawl from the rotary latch. The opening device has a dual function in that it provides for the actual opening process of the motor vehicle door in relation to the motor vehicle body. In addition, the opening device ensures that the pawl has been lifted off the rotary latch beforehand, so that the lock holder caught by the rotary latch when the locking mechanism is in the closed state is released and the exhibitor can grip the lock holder in order to be able to open the motor vehicle door against the motor vehicle body at all.

In order to be able to realize and implement this additional function of the deployment device for lifting the pawl from the rotary latch, there are various possibilities within the scope of the invention. The deployment device can be equipped with the actuating lever, which in turn is acted upon by the actuator directly or via the drive lever. The actuating lever stored in the lock case can now initially lift the pawl from the rotary latch and then serves to act on the exhibitor. This is what is usually done and according to a particularly preferred variant.

However, there is also the possibility that the exhibitor or the drive lever itself first lift the pawl from the rotary latch and only then initiate the deployment process. A further advantageous variant provides that the latching pawl, which can be actuated by the actuator, first lifts the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch and only then releases the opening device, which is pretensioned in this case, so that the previously tensioned spring can relax and thereby push the exhibitor against the lock holder to open the motor vehicle door. Either way, a particularly compact embodiment with synergetic advantages is made available, resulting in additional cost advantages. Herein are the main advantages too see.

Fig. 1

den erfindungsgemäßen Kraftfahrzeug-Türverschluss in einer ersten und besonders bevorzugten Variante,

Fig. 2

eine abgewandelte zweite Ausführungsform,

Fig. 3

eine weitere dritte Ausführungsvariante,

Fig. 4

eine nicht durch die beanspruchte Erfindung abgedeckte vierte Ausgestaltung und

Fig. 5

den Schlosshalter im Detail.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a variant that merely represents an exemplary embodiment.

1

the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention in a first and particularly preferred variant,

2

a modified second embodiment,

3

another third variant,

4

a fourth aspect not covered by the claimed invention, and

figure 5

the lock holder in detail.

In the figures, a motor vehicle door lock is shown, which is composed of the essential structural features motor vehicle lock 1 on the one hand and lock holder 2 on the other hand. The motor vehicle lock 1 can be mounted in or on a motor vehicle door, not shown in detail. In contrast, according to the exemplary embodiment, the lock holder 2 is located on the body side. A reverse arrangement of the lock holder 2 on the motor vehicle door and of the motor vehicle lock 1 on the body side is also conceivable, but not shown.

The motor vehicle lock 1 is equipped with a locking mechanism 4 , 5 of rotary latch 4 and pawl 5 mounted in a lock case 3 . Other components of the motor vehicle lock 1 that are also mostly mandatory, such as an actuating and locking lever system, are not shown for reasons of clarity.

The locking mechanism 4, 5 interacts with the previously mentioned lock holder 2. In fact, in the four different embodiments according to the Figures 1 to 4 the motor vehicle lock 1 is shown in its closed state, which corresponds to the lock holder 2 being caught by the locking mechanism 4, 5.

The basic structure then also includes a display 6 and a display device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The display device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 is at least partially integrated into the motor vehicle lock 1 according to the exemplary embodiment. This is explained in more detail below. With the aid of the opening device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, the exhibitor 6 acting on the lock holder 2 during an opening process of the motor vehicle door (not shown) is acted upon. According to the invention, the deployment device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 is set up in addition to lifting the pawl 5 from the rotary latch 4 (in the closed state of the locking mechanism 4, 5 with the lock holder 2 caught).

In detail, the deployment device 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 is initially equipped with an actuator 10 . The actuator 10 works according to the embodiment in the 1 , 2 and 4 on a drive lever 8 ( 1 and 2 ) or the issuer 6 directly (cf. 4 ). In the embodiment according to the 3 the actuator 10, on the other hand, ensures that a latch 9 is acted upon. In this case, the drive lever 8, which is also implemented there, is not acted upon with the aid of the actuator 10, but rather by a spring 11.

In addition, the deployment device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 has an actuating lever 7, as in the particularly preferred embodiment according to 1 is provided. The actuating lever 7 is mounted in the lock case 3 and is rotatably connected at one end to the exhibitor 6 or the drive lever 8 . That is, the Opening device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 comprises the actuating lever 7, the drive lever 8, the latch 9, the actuator 10 and finally the spring 11, with individual selected or all components being used depending on the exemplary embodiment, as will be explained in more detail below. The overall design is such that the opening device 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 acts on the exhibitor 6 during an opening process of the motor vehicle door equipped with the motor vehicle lock 1 . In addition, the opening device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 ensures according to the invention that, before the opening process, the pawl 5 is first lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 4, so that, starting from the closed state shown in each case, the lock holder 2 is released and the motor vehicle door can consequently be opened at all.

As already explained, the embodiment according to the 1 the actuating lever 7, which is mounted in the lock case 3. The drive lever 8, which is used in the first three exemplary embodiments, is also mounted in or on the lock case. The actuator 10 works on the drive lever 8 in the context of the variant 1 and 2 . This can happen directly or indirectly. If the actuator 10 acts on the drive lever 8 indirectly, a transmission means that is not expressly shown may be interposed, which is designed, for example, as a rod or Bowden cable. In the variant not covered by the claimed invention according to the 4 On the other hand, the drive lever 8 is unnecessary because in this case the actuator 10 has a pinion on the output side, which in this case engages in a toothing on the exhibitor 6 for the deployment process. The issuer 6 is connected to the lock holder 2 in this case. As a result, a rotational movement of the output shaft of the actuator 10 with the pinion provided there can be converted directly into a linear movement of the lock holder 2, so that the desired opening process is carried out as a result.

If in the embodiment after 1 the actuator 10 ensures through the pulling movement shown there that the drive lever 8 is pivoted counterclockwise about its axis mounted in the lock case 3, this first of all ensures that the V-shaped and two-armed actuating lever 7 moves with its pawl arm 7a against a pin 5a on the pawl 5. As a result, the pawl 5 is pivoted counterclockwise about its axis and releases the catch 4 and thus the lock holder 2 . For this purpose, the actuating lever 7 is connected with its connection arm 7b in a pivoting manner to the drive lever 8 or the extension 6, which is also coupled in an articulated manner to the drive lever 8. The further counter-clockwise rotation of the drive lever 8 with the aid of the actuator 10 now causes the release 6 to move against the lock holder 2 and this results in a relative movement between the motor vehicle lock 1 and the lock holder 2 . The consequence of this is that the motor vehicle door carrying the motor vehicle lock 1 is opened as desired in relation to the lock holder 2 connected to the body. For this purpose, the exhibitor 6 has a front contour 6a, which is adapted to a bracket of the lock holder 2.

The embodiment after 2 corresponds to that of 1 essentially, except for the missing actuating lever 7. In fact, in this case, the drive lever 8 or the release 6 in the opening process shown initially ensures that the pawl 5 is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 4. For this purpose, the drive lever 8 is again acted upon in a counterclockwise direction with the aid of the actuator 10 . The anti-clockwise rotation of the drive lever 8 again and again leads to the locking pawl 5 being lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 4 via the drive lever 8 or the release 6 . Only then does the issuer 6 work in a manner comparable to that in the embodiment according to FIG 1 on the then released lock holder 2, so that the motor vehicle door opens out as desired relative to the motor vehicle body.

In the 3 a variant is shown in which the drive lever 8 is not acted upon by the electromotive actuator 10, but rather by the spring 11. In principle, of course, in the previously discussed embodiments according to the 1 and 2 instead of the actuator 10, the mentioned spring 11 can be used to act on the drive lever 8, but this is not shown. The actuator 10 interacts in the embodiment according to 3 i.e. not with the drive lever 8, but rather with the latch 9. The latch 9, like the drive lever 8 and also the actuating lever 7, is again mounted in the lock case 3, so that the at least partial integration of the deployment device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 in the motor vehicle lock 1 is explained.

In this case (the 3 ) the design is such that the opening device 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 is prestressed in the direction of the lock holder 2. The spring 11 provides the pretension. In fact, the design is such that when the locking mechanism 4, 5 is closing and the lock holder 2 is correspondingly moving into the locking mechanism 4, 5, the spring 11 in question is tensioned. The spring 11 retains its tension during this closing process and afterwards as long as the locking mechanism 4, 5 is in the 3 shown closed state maintained. This is ensured by the latch 9, which holds the drive lever 8 in the position shown with the tensioned spring 11. The deployment device 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 pretensioned in this way can now be released with the aid of the latch 9 which can be actuated by the actuator 10 . All that is required for this is that the actuator 10 is in the in 3 indicated direction of the arrow, the latch 9 is applied, so that the latch 9 performs a counterclockwise movement. As a result of this counterclockwise movement of the latch 9 comes the drive lever 8 is free and can in turn pivot in an anti-clockwise direction in order in this way to act on the opener 6, which is pivotally connected to the drive lever 8, with the help of the spring 11, which as a result moves with its front-side contour 6a against the lock holder 2 and ensures the desired opening process.

The not covered by the claimed invention embodiment according to 4 is characterized in that in this case neither the drive lever 8 nor the actuating lever 7 are realized. Rather, in the present case the actuator 10 is practically integrated into the motor vehicle lock 1 , namely it engages directly with a pinion mounted on its output shaft in a toothing on the underside of the release 6 , which in turn is firmly connected to the lock holder 2 . Rotational movements of the pinion of the actuator 10 on the output side now in turn lead to the desired deployment process.

All of the exemplary embodiments make it clear that the deployment device 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 has a drive lever 8 that can be acted upon by the actuator 10 and/or the spring 11 . The drive lever 8 in turn works on the operating lever 7 in the variant according to 1 and/or directly to the issuer 6 in the exemplary embodiments 2 and 3 . In this case, the issuer 6 is either connected to the drive lever 8, like the variant according to the Figures 1 to 3 make clear or can also interact directly with the actuator 10, like the embodiment of the 4 shows. Either way, the exhibitor 6 is driven against the lock holder 2 with the aid of the exhibitor device 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 . The actuator 10 or the spring 11 or both can ensure this.

As part of the figure 5 it finally becomes clear that the lock holder 2 is composed of a base plate 2a and two stepped mandrels 2b connected to the base plate 2a. The stepped mandrels 2b are with connected to one another by a head-side plate 2c, the two stepped mandrels 2b and the plate 2c being coupled to one another via a riveting process. Of course, this only applies as an example, because at this point it is also possible to work with a lock holder 2 bent overall from a wire.

Reference sign

1

motor vehicle lock

2

lock hold

2a

base plate

2 B

step mandrels

2c

head plate

3

lock box

4

rotary latch

5

pawl

5a

cones

6

Exhibitor

6a

front contour

7

operating lever

7a

pawl arm

7b

connection arm

8th

drive lever

9

latch

10

actuator

11

Feather

Claims (9)

1. Motor vehicle door lock, comprising a motor vehicle latch (1) having a locking mechanism (4, 5) which is mounted in a latch case (3) and which substantially consists of a catch (4) and a pawl (5), further comprising a latch striker (2) that interacts with the locking mechanism (4, 5), and an opener (6) that engages the latch striker (2) during an opening process of an associated motor vehicle door, the opener (6) being acted upon by means of an opening device (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) which is at least partially integrated in the motor vehicle latch (1), the opening device (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) additionally being designed to lift the pawl (5) from the catch (4), characterized in that the opening device (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) has a drive lever (8) which can be acted upon by the actuator (10) and/or by a spring (11), the drive lever (8) being hingedly coupled to the opener (6), and the pawl (5) being lifted from its engagement with the catch (4) by means of the drive lever (8), and the opener (6) being moved against the latch striker (2) by a rotation of the drive lever (8).
2. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening device (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) comprises at least one actuator (10) and/or a spring (11).
3. Motor vehicle door lock according to either claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that the opening device (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is preloaded toward the latch striker (2).
4. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the preloaded opening device (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is unlocked by means of a pawl (9) that is operable by means of the actuator (10).
5. Motor vehicle door lock according to any of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that the opening device (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) comprises at least one operating lever (7).
6. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the operating lever (7) is mounted in the latch case (3).
7. Motor vehicle door lock according to either claim 5 or claim 6,
   characterized in that the operating lever (7) is designed both to lift the pawl (5) from the catch (4) and to act on the opener (6).
8. Motor vehicle door lock according to any of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that the drive lever (8) in turn acts on the operating lever (7) and/or the opener (6).
9. Motor vehicle door lock according to any of claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that the opener (6) is connected to the drive lever (8) and/or interacts directly with the actuator (10) and/or the spring (11).

Images