EP2173955A1

EP2173955A1 - Motor vehicle door lock

Info

Publication number: EP2173955A1
Application number: EP08784297A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dirk Wilms; Frank Kunst
Original assignee: Kiekert AG
Current assignee: Kiekert AG
Priority date: 2007-07-05
Filing date: 2008-07-03
Publication date: 2010-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-03
Also published as: WO2009003465A1; DE202007009441U1; US8840154B2; ATE503902T1; US20100236300A1; EP2173955B1; DE502008003025D1

Abstract

A motor vehicle door lock having a locking device (4, 5, 6), at least one actuating element (7) and a catch (1, 2), and having a coupling unit (8) between the actuating element (7) and the catch (1, 2), in which the locking device (4, 5, 6) when in the “locked” position can be unlocked by a first traveling movement (unlocking traveling movement) of the actuating element (7) and the catch (1, 2) can be opened by a second traveling movement (opening traveling movement) of the actuating element (7), wherein the locking device (4, 5, 6) has a drive element (4) which acts directly upon the coupling unit (8).

Description

Power vehicle door lock

Description:

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking device, at least one actuating element and a locking mechanism, and with a coupling unit between the actuating element and the locking mechanism, wherein the locking device in the "locked" position unlock by a first stroke (Entriegelungshub) of the actuating element leaves and the locking mechanism is to be opened by a second stroke (opening stroke) of the actuating element.

Such a motor vehicle door lock is presented by way of example in DE 39 08 183 C5. Here, a clutch lever connected to the clutch lever is provided, which is tensioned by the first stroke or Entriegelungshub. The clutch lever can be moved under the influence of the aforementioned clutch lever spring from a disengaged position into a coupling position. As a result, the locking mechanism can be opened by the second or opening stroke of the actuating element. The actuating element in the present case is an internal operating lever. This has proven itself in principle.

In recent times, such motor vehicle door locks are increasingly equipped with supplementary drive means on the one hand to display the Zentralverrie- gelungsfunktion and on the other hand to the realization of anti-theft functions. In connection with the described Doppelhubfunktion result from this special design requirements. In fact, one has previously worked in practice with one or more intermediate levers, which is mechanically complex. This is where the invention starts. The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle door lock in such a way that a structurally simple design is realized with a cost-effective design.

To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle door lock within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the locking device has a drive element acting directly on the coupling unit.

As usual, the locking device ensures that the motor vehicle door lock as a whole assumes at least the positions "locked" and "unlocked". In the "locked" position, the interposed between the actuator and the locking mechanism clutch unit in its disengaged position for idling of the actuating element relative to the locking mechanism. This is the usual functionality in the "locked" position.

If, on the other hand, the coupling unit is in its engaged position, a continuous mechanical connection between the actuating element and the locking mechanism is provided. This means that manipulations on the actuating element cause the coupling unit to work on the locking mechanism and open it. Mostly, the locking mechanism has a catch and pawl, the latter interacting with a release lever. The coupling unit now operates the release lever cooperating with the locking mechanism in this position (engaged position of the coupling unit or "unlocked") in such a way that the locking mechanism is opened. - The actuator may basically be an internal operating lever or an external operating lever.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the drive device or locking device consists essentially of a drive motor and the drive unit. drive element together. The drive element in turn interacts with the coupling unit, directly and without intermediate elements or levers. Most of the drive element and the actuator are coaxially and arranged in parallel planes to each other.

In contrast, the drive device or locking device and the coupling unit are placed level with each other to ensure a simple interaction between the two aforementioned elements. In detail, the drive device has an actuating contour interacting with an actuating pin on the coupling unit.

In most cases, the coupling unit is designed as at least two-armed clutch lever with release lever and Betätigungshebelarm. In this case, the Betätigungshebelarm is preferably equipped with the aforementioned actuating pin, which is acted upon by the actuating contour on the drive device or locking device.

The aforementioned actuating contour is usually found on a drive pulley of the drive device as a drive element. With this drive disc combs advantageous a drive screw, which is driven by a motor. In this way, the drive pulley of the drive device can perform clockwise and counterclockwise rotations.

As a result of these rotations of the drive means, the clutch unit or the realized at this point clutch lever is applied directly. For the existing on the drive pulley actuating contour acts on the actuating pin on Betätigungshebelarm the clutch lever immediately. The actuating contour is advantageously formed in two parts with free surface and actuating surface. If the actuating pin is acted upon by the actuating surface of the actuating contour, this movement corresponds to the fact that the clutch lever is transferred, for example, from the unlocked to the locked position. For this purpose, a clockwise rotation of the drive disc may correspond. In order to transfer the clutch lever or the motor vehicle closure as a whole from the position "locked" into the position "not locked or unlocked", the actuating element is acted on by a first stroke.

During this first stroke or unlocking stroke of the actuating element, the actuating element ensures that the coupling unit leaves its formerly disengaged position (locking position) in comparison to the locking mechanism and is transferred to the engaged position. For this purpose, the coupling unit advantageously has a driving pin engaging in an actuating recess of the actuating element. The first stroke or Entriegelungshub now corresponds to the driving pin of the coupling unit or the clutch lever abuts an edge of the actuating recess of the actuating element respectively the actuating lever, in such a way that the clutch lever is transferred from its disengaged into the coupled position.

At the same time in this process, the drive or the drive means is moved and resumes its original position, which corresponds to the position "unlocked". Now the coupling unit is (again) in operative connection with the locking mechanism or its trigger lever arm is pivoted so that it strikes against the release lever during the next or second stroke or opening stroke respectively interacts with it in order to open the locking mechanism as a whole. That is, the second or opening stroke ensures that with the help of the coupling unit of the release lever lifts the pawl of the catch, so that this spring takes its open position. In this way, a structurally simple and cost-effective solution is presented because the drive device or locking device works directly on the clutch lever and additional intermediate levers are unnecessary. In fact, the said clutch lever can be actuated both electromechanically with the aid of the drive device and manually in the event of failure of the drive device with the aid of the actuating element. Because the interaction between the actuating element respectively operating lever and the clutch lever is accomplished via the engaging in the actuating recess of the actuating element driving pin of the coupling unit. This is basically independent of an actuation of the coupling unit or of the clutch lever with the aid of the drive device in which the actuating pin on the clutch unit interacts with the actuating contour on the drive pulley or the drive device.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

1 shows the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention in an overview,

FIG. 2 shows the object according to FIG. 1, reduced to the components essential for the invention in the position "locked", FIG.

Fig. 3 shows the object according to Fig. 1 in the position "unlocked or not locked" and

Fig. 4 individual components essential to the invention in detail in non-installed state. In the figures, a motor vehicle door lock is shown, which is equipped with a conventional locking mechanism 1, 2. The ratchet 1, 2 is composed of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2 cooperating therewith. In addition, a release lever 3 is realized, which lifts the pawl 2 to open the locking mechanism 1, 2, so that the catch 1 can open spring-assisted. The rotary latch 1, the pawl 2 and the release lever 3 are each arranged perpendicular to this in comparison to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1, namely rotatable about a common axis A.

In contrast, the other essential components of the motor vehicle door lock, that is, a locking device 4, 5, 6, an actuator 7 and a coupling unit 8 in or parallel to the plane of Figures 1 to 3 are placed. The actuator 7 is in the context of an internal operating lever, although here also an external operating lever or a main operating lever can be used.

The drive device or locking device 4, 5, 6 is composed in detail of a drive motor or electric motor 6, a drive worm 5 and a drive pulley 4 or a drive element 4 together. The drive worm 5 meshes with the drive pulley 4, so that the drive pulley 4 can perform rotational movements in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. In the embodiment and not limiting the drive pulley 4 only rotates clockwise.

The drive pulley 4 and the actuating element 7 and the inner actuating lever 7 are coaxially mounted on a common axis B in a housing part 9, preferably the lock cover. Parallel to the axis B there is a further axis C, which serves for the storage of the coupling unit or the clutch lever 8. One recognizes that the Coupling unit or the clutch lever 8 and the actuating element respectively the inner actuating lever 7 are mounted plane-parallel to the staggered axes C, B.

It is clear from FIG. 4 that the coupling unit 8 or the clutch lever 8 is equipped with at least two arms with release lever arm 8a and actuating lever arm 8b. In addition, the clutch lever 8 still has two more arms, but in the present case are not of interest. The drive pulley 4 or the drive device 4, 5, 6 shown in total in FIG. 4 is equipped with an actuating contour 10. The actuating contour 10 is formed in two parts and has an open space 10a and an actuating surface 10b.

The actuation contour 11 interacts with the actuation surface 10b in the locked position according to FIG. 2, whereas in the unlocked position according to FIG. 3 the actuation journal 11 moves relative to the free surface 10a can perform. The operation is as follows.

Starting from the position "unlocked" or "unlocked" according to FIG. 3, a clockwise rotation of the drive pulley 4 - initiated by the drive worm 5 offset by the electric motor 6 into corresponding rotations and intermeshing with the drive pulley 4 - ensures that the clutch unit 8 counterclockwise about its axis C rotates.

By this pivotal movement of the clutch unit and the clutch lever 8 in the counterclockwise direction of the Auslösehebelarm 8a of the clutch lever 8 is pivoted out of engagement with the release lever 3 in the direction of the interior of the castle. In fact, in the unlocked position of FIG. 3, the clutch lever 8 is capable of being displaced by means of an internal operation. Supply lever 7 initiated opening movement to pivot the release lever 3 about the axis A in the counterclockwise direction with a view from the direction X in Fig. 3, so that the release lever 3, the pawl 2 lifts from the catch 1. As a result, the rotary latch 1 can pivot about the axis A spring-assisted in the open position and release a previously captured locking pin. The locking mechanism 1, 2 is then open.

However, if the clutch lever 8 and with it the motor vehicle door lock altogether passes through the counterclockwise movement of the clutch lever 8 at the transition from Fig. 3 to Fig. 2 in the "locked" position, there is no mechanical connection from the operating lever 7 via the clutch lever 8 to Locking 1, 2. Because "locked" in this position, the Betätigungshebelarm 8a out of engagement with the release lever 3 is pivoted and can not apply this to lift the pawl 2. Corresponding movements of the actuating lever or inner actuating lever 7 consequently go blank or ensure that the coupling unit or the clutch lever 8 is transferred to the "unlocked" position by a first stroke of the actuating element or inner actuating lever 7.

Consequently, this first stroke is also called unlocking stroke. In detail, the coupling unit or the clutch lever 8 is equipped for this purpose with a driving pin 12. The driving pin 12 engages in an actuating recess 13 in the actuating element or the inner actuating lever 7, which is arranged above the coupling lever 8 on the common axis B. By the driver pin 12 of the clutch lever 8 is pivoted starting from the position "locked" in FIG. 2 clockwise, it ensures in conjunction with a stop edge 13a in the actuation recess 13 of the inner operating lever 7 that in this process the clutch lever. 8 from the "locked" position according to FIG. 2 in the "unlocked" position according to FIG. 3 is pivoted. The corresponding movement Supply of the internal operating lever 7 takes place in that a Bowden cable acts on a connection point 14 of the inner actuating lever 7 and acts on it in a pulling action (compare the arrow illustration in FIG.

After the described first stroke or Entriegelungshub the actuating element respectively the inner actuating lever 7, the clutch lever 8 is in its "unlocked" position as shown in Fig. 3. The same applies to the motor vehicle door lock as a whole. In this process, at the same time the drive pulley 4 has been pivoted counterclockwise about its axis B. This can be seen in a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3.

This movement in the counterclockwise direction of the drive pulley 4 is accomplished by a lever or override lever 15 interacting with an associated contour 16. In fact, the said lever 15 is mounted in or on the drive pulley 4 and is at the same time carried along by the actuating element 7. As a result, a pulling movement - starting from the "locked" position according to FIG. 2 - of the actuating element or inner actuating lever 7 at the connecting point 14 causes the lever or override lever 15 to act on the associated contour 16 in such a way that the drive disk 4 is in contact with it Transition from Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 moves in the counterclockwise direction.

Now, the motor vehicle door lock is in the "unlocked" position according to FIG. 3. If now again pulled on the actuating element or the inner operating lever 7 in the illustrated arrow direction, so provides a second second stroke that the locking mechanism 1, 2 is opened. Consequently, this second stroke is called the opening stroke. Because now in position "unlocked" located clutch lever 8 can now pivot with its Betätigungshebelarm 8a the release lever 3 with a view from the direction X about the axis A in the counterclockwise direction, whereby the pawl 2 dug is and the catch 1 spring assisted to the opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 is released.

Claims

claims:

A motor vehicle door lock, with a locking device (4, 5, 6), at least one actuating element (7) and a locking mechanism (1, 2), and with a coupling unit (8) between the actuating element (7) and the locking mechanism (1, 2 ), wherein in the position "locked" located locking device (4, 5, 6) by a first stroke (Entriegelungshub) of the actuating element (7) can unlock and the locking mechanism (1, 2) by a second stroke (opening stroke) of the actuating element (7), characterized in that the locking device (4, 5, 6) has a drive element (4) acting directly on the coupling unit (8).

2. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking device (4, 5, 6) consists essentially of a drive motor (6) and the drive element (4), which interacts with the coupling unit (8).

3. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking device (4, 5, 6) and the coupling unit

(8) are arranged equal to each other.

4. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking device (4, 5, 6) with an actuating pin (11) on the coupling unit (8) interacting actuating contour (10).

5. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the coupling unit (8) with a in an actuating recess (13) of the actuating element (7) engaging driving pin (12) is equipped.

6. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, character- ized in that the coupling unit (8) and the actuating element (7) are mounted plane parallel to mutually offset axes (C, B).

7. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coupling unit (8) with the locking mechanism (1, 2) cooperating release lever (3) actuated.

8. Motor vehicle door lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the coupling unit (8) as at least two-armed clutch lever (8) with Auslösehebelarm (8a) and Betätigungshebelarm (8b) is executed.

9. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the Betätigungshebelarm (8b) is equipped with the actuating pin (11) which is acted upon by the actuating contour (10) of the locking device (4, 5, 6).

10. Motor vehicle door lock according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuating contour (10) in two parts with free surface (10 a) and actuating surface (10 b) is formed.