WO2025031532A1 - Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) substantially comprising a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). Additionally, an actuating lever chain (3) which acts on the locking mechanism (1, 2) is provided, and an electromotive drive (4, 5, 6) for the actuating lever chain (3) is provided. Additionally, a child-proof locking element (7) is provided which is mechanically acted upon from outside of the lock housing (9, 10). Furthermore, the child-proof locking element (7) is paired with a sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) which scans the position of the child-proof locking element. According to the invention, the child-proof locking element (7) is designed to be mechanically separate from the actuation lever chain (3), and the electromotive drive (4, 5, 6) is loaded in accordance with signals of the sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) for selectively opening the locking mechanism (1, 2).

Description

Description

motor vehicle lock, especially motor vehicle door lock

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl, furthermore with an actuating lever chain acting on the locking mechanism, furthermore with an electric motor drive for the actuating lever chain, and with a child safety element, wherein the child safety element can be mechanically actuated from outside a lock housing, and wherein the child safety element is assigned a sensor which queries its position.

Child safety locks are known in a wide variety of designs. Typically, such mechanically operated child safety locks are used in practice on the rear side doors of motor vehicles. The child safety locks in question are, for example, an actuating nut that can be swiveled using a door key, a screwdriver, etc. The child safety lock in question can therefore assume the two positions "child-unlocked" and "child-secured".

In the "child-unlocked" position, the operating lever chain is closed so that the rear side door in question can be opened mechanically using an inside handle. If, however, the child safety element is in its "secured or child-proof" position, the operating lever chain in question is interrupted so that mechanical opening from the inside is not possible. An additional operating lever chain, which is usually provided in this context and is responsible for the external operation, remains unaffected by this. This means that in the "unlocked" position of the operating lever chain in question for the The relevant rear side door of the vehicle can also be opened in the “child-proof” position by means of external operation.

In addition to the mechanical child safety solutions that have been used in practice up to now, electrical solutions are increasingly being used. These are characterized by the fact that the electric motor drive for the operating lever chain is used to open the locking mechanism. In this case, the operating lever chain may not have a mechanical connection to an inside door handle. The position of the inside door handle is checked using a sensor.

In this case, the "child-unlocked/child-proof" positions are implemented using a switch on or in the dashboard, for example. In fact, the "child-unlocked" functional position corresponds to the fact that an actuation of the inside door handle and the associated sensor is evaluated by a control unit so that the associated electric motor drive is activated to open the lock. However, if the switch mentioned above in or on the dashboard is in the "child-proof" position, signals from the sensor assigned to the inside door handle for controlling the electric motor drive are ignored.

Such a basic solution is the subject of the generic state of the art according to DE 20 2012 003 171 U1. Not only is the sensor assigned to the child safety lock element, but the electric motor drive for opening the locking mechanism can be activated or deactivated depending on the position of the child safety lock element detected by the sensor. A switch is also provided with which the activated child safety lock element can be deactivated in emergency mode. This means that the locking mechanism can still be opened by the electric drive in the emergency mode in question. Such electrical child safety locks have generally proven their worth. However, in practice they sometimes encounter acceptance problems because the activation and deactivation of the child safety lock using the switch on or in the dashboard is not compatible with the behavior previously practiced by operators with mechanical child safety locks and is perceived as not very intuitive. In addition, such a switch is often no longer physically present, but is part of a submenu of a menu control and is therefore difficult or impossible for operators to find. This results in acceptance problems and even the child safety lock function is simply not used at all. This is not acceptable in terms of the intended protection of children on a back seat and requires improvements.

Accordingly, the present 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 practiced and intuitive operation is also provided when implementing an electrical child safety lock function.

To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, in a generic motor vehicle lock and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, that the child safety element is designed to be mechanically separated from the actuating lever chain and that the electromotor drive is actuated to selectively open the locking mechanism in accordance with signals from the sensor.

At this point, the invention is based on the fact that the motor vehicle lock is equipped with the operating lever chain, which can be used in principle and as an alternative to the electric motor drive for the mechanical opening of the locking mechanism, which essentially consists of a rotary latch and a pawl. To do this, the operating lever chain works on the pawl and ensures that the pawl can be lifted out mechanically. This applies at least if redundancy for electrical opening is to be implemented and required.

In principle, the operating lever chain can also be reduced to, for example, a (single) lever, the release lever. In this case, the electric motor drive ensures that the release lever lifts the pawl from its locking engagement with the rotary latch and in this way opens the locking mechanism. An additional mechanical connection to the inside door handle is not observed in this case. There is also the further possibility that the release lever can be a component of the pawl, for example designed as an arm of the pawl.

Because the child safety element is mechanically separated from the described actuating lever chain, the child safety element can still be actuated in a similar way to the prior art according to DE 20 2012 003 171 U1. However, according to the invention and in contrast to the aforementioned generic prior art, this actuation corresponds to the fact that the actuating lever chain is not opened or closed via an actuated clutch lever. Rather, according to the invention, the actuation of the child safety element is checked solely with the aid of the sensor. According to signals from the sensor, the electric motor drive is then actuated to selectively open the locking mechanism.

If the signal generated by the sensor means that the child safety lock element corresponds to the “child unlocked” position, an additional and again sensor-queried actuation of the inside door handle in this case leads to this being logically interpreted by the control unit evaluating the two signals as meaning that, for example, the rear side door of the vehicle equipped with this device can be opened. This means that the electric motor drive ensures for the electrical opening of the locking mechanism. If, however, the sensor signal corresponds to the "child-proof" position, the control unit ensures that the electric motor drive is not activated to open the locking mechanism in this case, even if there is an additional signal from the inside door handle to open the locking mechanism.

This means that the signals from the sensor assigned to the child safety lock element are evaluated by the control unit. The control unit also usually takes into account signals from the inside door handle. Depending on this, the lock can either be opened via the electric motor drive or the electric motor drive cannot be activated.

In all of this, the child safety lock element can be placed in a similar place as before with a purely mechanical solution, for example on the front panel of the rear side door of the vehicle. In addition, the child safety lock element can be operated and implemented intuitively in the same way as is familiar to users of purely mechanical solutions. As a result, additional switches in or on the dashboard to implement the child safety lock functions or corresponding menu settings on a screen are no longer necessary. This increases acceptance and the mechanically operating child safety lock element can be easily combined with an electric child safety lock. As a result, increased use can be expected, which also increases the safety of children in the back seat. In effect, this results in mechanical operation of an electric child safety lock. This is where the main advantages lie.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the sensor assigned to the child safety element is connected to the control unit already described and discussed above, which evaluates its signals. The control unit then ensures that, depending on the signals from the sensor, the electric motor drive is controlled.

A particularly cost-effective and compact embodiment is characterized in that the sensor is arranged on an electrical component carrier or is a component thereof. The invention takes advantage of the fact that motor vehicle locks today are typically equipped with such electrical component carriers, which generally carry and electrically contact all electrical and electronic components inside the associated lock housing. According to the invention, the sensor that queries the child safety element is now added to these electrical or electronic components on the electrical component carrier. Such a design is advantageously possible because the child safety element is mechanically actuated from outside the lock housing and is generally rotatably mounted in the lock housing for this purpose.

The sensor can work either contactlessly or tactilely. A contactless embodiment is conceivable, for example, in which the sensor is a Hall sensor or an electro-optical sensor. As a rule, however, a tactile sensor is used. A sensor designed as a switch has proven to be particularly advantageous.

Alternatively or additionally, the sensor can also be designed as a pair of conductor tracks that can be bridged by a sliding contact. In this context, the conductor tracks of the pair of conductor tracks are usually of different lengths. This means that the sliding contact connected to the child safety element can optionally connect or separate the two conductor tracks depending on the position of the child safety element. This will be explained in more detail with reference to the example. In any case, this solution with the conductor tracks of the conductor track pair as a sensor of the child safety element is equipped with the additional advantage that the conductor tracks can easily be realized and implemented as components of the electrical component carrier. This is because such electrical component carriers are typically equipped with several conductor tracks that serve to contact the electrical/electronic components. In the context of the invention, only one conductor track pair is added and the child safety element with the sliding contact arranged on it ensures, depending on its position, that the positions "child-unlocked" and "child-proof" can be realized and implemented. This is particularly simple and cost-effective and at the same time robust and durable.

The child safety lock element is generally designed as an actuating nut that can be rotated around an axis. The actuating nut can in turn be provided with an actuating slot. A screwdriver or a key from the motor vehicle can be inserted into the actuating slot in order to initiate its pivoting movement relative to the bearing lock housing.

For this purpose, the actuating nut can generally be mounted in a lock case or a lock cover as part of the lock housing. This means that the lock housing is made up of the lock cover, which is typically designed as a plastic injection-molded part, on the one hand, and the metal lock case on the other. Both structural elements of the lock housing can be used for the usually rotatable mounting of the actuating nut.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the actuating nut is arranged in the entry area of the locking mechanism. This means that the actuating nut is both protected and easy to reach. In any case, the actuating nut in question or the child safety element can generally be operated from outside the lock housing. mechanically. This is usually achieved when the (rear) side door of the vehicle is open.

Consequently, the application of the child safety lock element or the actuating nut within the scope of the invention does not differ from the procedure that operators have known for decades with purely mechanical motor vehicle locks. This intuitively used operating option is now combined with an electric child safety lock because, according to the invention, the child safety lock element is designed to be mechanically separated from the actuating lever chain and consequently also from the electric motor drive. It all depends on the signals from the sensor assigned to the child safety lock element, which are evaluated by the control unit together with signals from the inside door handle. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an embodiment; in the drawings:

Fig. 1 the motor vehicle lock according to the invention in a basic overview in the position “child safety lock on or childproof”,

Fig. 2 the essential components of the motor vehicle lock according to Fig.

1 in the position “child safety lock off” or child safety unlocked”,

Fig. 3 a corresponding installation situation with shown lock housing,

Fig. 4 another alternative embodiment with a child safety element arranged in the inlet mouth in the “child-proof” position,

Fig. 5 the object according to Fig. 4 in the “child-proof” position and Fig. 6 the corresponding installation situation with the lock housing shown.

The figures show a motor vehicle lock, which according to the exemplary embodiment is a motor vehicle door lock. This has a locking mechanism 1, 2, which is only indicated in Fig. 1 and essentially consists of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. In addition, an actuating lever chain 3 is also provided which acts on the locking mechanism 1, 2. According to the exemplary embodiment and not in a restrictive manner, the actuating lever chain 3 is reduced to a release lever 3, which also represents a component of the pawl 2, namely is designed as an arm 3 of the pawl 2.

In addition, an electric motor drive 4, 5, 6 for the actuating lever chain 3 can be seen. The electric motor drive 4, 5, 6 consists of an electric motor 4 and an output shaft with an output worm 5 extending from it, which in turn drives an output disk 6 with cams or pins. A clockwise movement of the output disk 6, indicated in Fig. 1, results in the pawl 2 being pivoted counterclockwise about its axis via the pin arranged on it.

To do this, the pin in question or the driven disk 6 works on the release lever 3 as a component of the pawl 2. In any case, the pawl 2 is pivoted about its axis in the anti-clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 1. As a result, the pawl 2 is lifted from its locking engagement with the rotary latch 1. The rotary latch 1 can then pivot open in the clockwise direction indicated there and release a previously caught locking bolt (not expressly shown). The associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

In addition, the basic structure includes a Child safety element 7. For this purpose and not restrictively, the child safety element 7 is designed as an actuating nut 7, which is mounted in a lock housing 9, 10 so as to be rotatable about a central axis of rotation 8 and is thus mechanically actuable or can be acted upon from outside the lock housing 9, 10.

When comparing Figures 3 and 6, it can be seen that the child safety element 7 in question or the actuating nut 7 that can rotate about its axis 8 can be mounted in a lock cover 9 as part of the lock housing 9, 10, as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, it can also be mounted in the lock case 10, for example in the area of an inlet opening, as shown in the variant in Figure 6. The lock cover 9 made of plastic and the metal lock case 10 together define the lock housing 9, 10.

From Fig. 1, 2 and 4, 5 it can be seen that the child safety element 7 is equipped with a sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 which queries its position. Signals from the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 are evaluated by a control unit 15 which is only shown in Fig. 1. In addition, the control unit evaluates

15 also outputs signals from a further sensor, not expressly shown, which is associated with an inside door handle 16 indicated in Fig. 1. As soon as the inside door handle 16 is actuated to open the locking mechanism 1, 2 and thus the associated motor vehicle door, the sensor in question and associated with the inside door handle 16 emits a corresponding signal 15 to the control unit 15.

If the control unit 15 in this case and with the inside door handle

16 simultaneously determines via the query of the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 assigned to the child safety element 7 that the functional position “child unlocked” is assumed, the control unit 15 sends a signal to the electric motor drive 4, 5, 6 for the electrical opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2. If, however, the query of the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 associated with the child safety element 7 results in the functional position "child-proof" corresponding to this, the control unit 15 does not implement the signal to open the door emitted by the inside door handle 16 or its associated sensor. The locking mechanism 1, 2 remains closed in this case.

It can be seen from the figures that, according to the invention, the child safety element 7 is designed to be mechanically separate from the actuating lever chain 3. Furthermore, the child safety element 7 is designed to be electrically independent of the electric motor drive 4, 5, 6. In addition, the design is such that, in accordance with signals from the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 assigned to the child safety element 7, the electric motor drive 4, 5, 6 is actuated to selectively open the locking mechanism 1, 2 as described. If the child safety element 7 reflects the functional position “child unlocked”, the electric motor drive 4, 5, 6 is actuated to open the locking mechanism 1, 2. If, however, the child safety element 7 assumes the “child-proof” position, the control unit 15 does not actuate the electric motor drive 4, 5, 6 and thus does not open the locking mechanism 1, 2.

The sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 associated with the child safety element 7 is consequently connected to the control unit 15 which evaluates its signals and which in turn controls the electric motor drive 4, 5, 6 - as described - depending on signals from the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14. The sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 in question can in turn be arranged on an electrical component carrier 17, indicated in the figures and present inside the lock housing 9, 10. It is also possible for the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 itself to be a component of the electrical component carrier 17 in question. In the simplest case, the electrical component carrier 17 is a circuit board equipped with conductor tracks, which may also be molded with plastic to protect it from moisture and corrosion. With the help of the In general, all electrical and electronic components inside the lock housing 9, 10 are mechanically held and electrically contacted by the electrical component carrier 17.

The sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 can basically work without contact, although this is not shown in the exemplary embodiment. Instead, the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 is designed to be tactile. In principle, two different exemplary embodiments are pursued. It can be seen from the exemplary embodiment in Figures 4 to 6 that the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 can specifically be a switch and in particular a microswitch 11.

Alternatively, the sensor 11; 12, 13, 14 can also be designed as a conductor track pair 12, 13 made up of two conductor tracks 12, 13 that can be bridged by a sliding contact 14. The two conductor tracks 12, 13 are designed with different lengths, as can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2. In this way, the sliding contact 14 connected to the child safety element 7 ensures, depending on the position of the child safety element 7, that the two conductor tracks 12, 13 are either electrically connected to one another or separated.

For this purpose, the design within the scope of the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 is initially carried out in such a way that the two conductor tracks 12, 13 shown represent a component of the electrical component carrier 17. This means that the two conductor tracks 12, 13 represent a further component of the conductor tracks that are already present on or at the electrical component carrier 17 and are not expressly shown. Since the child safety element 7 according to the embodiment is designed as an actuating nut 7 that can be pivoted about the axis 8 and the actuating nut 7 carries the sliding contact 14 for the two conductor tracks 12, 13 on an arm, these are curved in comparison to the common center point defined by the axis 8 for the actuating nut 7. The The different lengths of the two conductor tracks 12, 13 mean that in the functional position according to Fig. 1 "child-proof", both conductor tracks 12, 13 are electrically connected to one another via the sliding contact 14. This can be queried accordingly by the control unit 15 because both conductor tracks 12, 13 are connected to the control unit 15.

If, on the other hand, the child safety element 7 or the actuating nut 7 implemented at this point assumes the “child-proof” functional position shown in Fig. 2, there is no electrical connection via the two conductor tracks 12, 13. In this case, the sliding contact 14 is located in an area that only contacts the conductor track 13, whereas the additional conductor track 12 is not connected to the sliding contact 14, so that in this case the control unit 15 does not register a continuous current flow from the two supply lines via the conductor tracks 12, 13 and the sliding contact 14.

Alternatively, in the embodiment according to Figs. 4 and 5, the switch 11 ensures that the switch 11 is activated in the “child-proof” functional position according to Fig. 4, which is again interrogated by the control unit 15 via the supply lines to the control unit 15 indicated there and interpreted accordingly. However, if the switch 11 is not actuated in the functional position according to Fig. 5, the control unit 15 interprets this to mean that the “child-proof” functional position corresponds to this. Of course, the procedure can also be reversed in principle at this point in the two embodiment variants according to Figs. 1 and 2 or 4 and 5. list of reference symbols

locking mechanism 1, 2

rotary latch 1

pawl 2

release lever 2

Arm 3

operating lever chain 3

electric motor 4

output screw 5

drive 4, 5, 6

driven pulley 6

child safety element 7

actuating nut 7

axis of rotation 8

lock housing 9, 10

lock cover 9

lock case 10

switch 11

conductor tracks 12, 13

Sensor 11; 12, 13, 14

sliding contact 14

Signal 15

control unit 15

inside door handle 16

electrical component carrier 17

Claims

patent claims 1. Motor vehicle lock, in particular motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), furthermore with an operating lever chain (3) which acts on the locking mechanism (1, 2), furthermore with an electric motor drive (4, 5, 6) for the operating lever chain (3), and with a child safety element (7), wherein the child safety element (7) can be mechanically actuated from outside a lock housing (9, 10), and wherein the child safety element (7) is assigned a sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) which queries its position, characterized in that the child safety element (7) is designed to be mechanically separate from the operating lever chain (3) and is activated in accordance with signals from the sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) the electric motor drive (4, 5, 6) is actuated for the selective opening of the locking mechanism (1, 2). 2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) assigned to the child safety element (7) is connected to a control unit (15) which evaluates its signals and controls the electric motor drive (4, 5, 6) as a function thereof. 3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) is arranged on an electrical component carrier (17) or represents a component thereof. 4. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) operates contactless or tactile. 5. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) is designed as a switch (11). 6. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sensor (11; 12, 13, 14) is designed as a sliding contact (14) bridgeable conductor track pair (12, 13) is formed. 7. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, characterized in that the conductor tracks (12, 13) of the conductor track pair (12, 13) are of different lengths, so that the sliding contact (14) connected to the child safety element (7) selectively connects or separates the two conductor tracks (12, 13) depending on its position. 8. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the child safety element (7) is designed as an actuating nut (7) rotatable about an axis (8). 9. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the actuating nut (7) is mounted in a lock case (10) or a lock cover (9) as a component of the lock housing (9, 10). 10. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuating nut (7) is arranged in the inlet area of the locking mechanism (1, 2).