KR20180092866A - Mortor vehicle door latch - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a vehicle door latch with locking mechanisms 1, 2 consisting predominantly of catch 1 and pawl 2. At least in the closed position of the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 the pawls 2 are brought into contact with the stop surface 7 on the arcuate contact surface 8 of the catch 1. The stop surface 7 slides while completing the contact path from the fulcrum A to the release point L on the contact surface 8 during the opening procedure of the locking mechanism. According to the invention, the contact surface 8 of the catch 1 from the fulcrum A to the release point L has at least an initially slightly curved partial surface 8a joined together and a largely curved partial surface 8b .

Description

Vehicle door latch {MORTOR VEHICLE DOOR LATCH}

The invention relates generally to a vehicle latch with a locking mechanism comprising a catch and a pawl, wherein the pawl is at least in the closed position of the locking mechanism an arcuate contact surface of the catch, With the stop surface being in contact with the slide surface on the contact surface with the completion of the contact path from the bearing point to the relief point during the opening movement of the locking mechanism, do.

Vehicle latches of the construction described in the opening paragraph are known from various application examples of the designs and are described specifically in DE 10 2009 029 031 A1. The overall design here is that the closing moment changes to the opening moment during the opening of the locking mechanism. For this purpose, the stop surface of the pole and the contact surface implemented on the catch are selected such that the pole initially has a closing moment. This closing moment changes into an opening moment during the opening of the vehicle door latch. Thus providing a relatively quiet opening of the locking mechanism.

In fact, a so-called "opening plop" which is undesirable at the state of the art is observed, resulting from the contact between the pawl and the catch, pulled abruptly during the opening procedure of the locking mechanism. To improve noise comfort, the state of the art provides an excellent approach according to DE 10 2009 029 031 A1. But there is still room for improvement.

Thus, as a component of a locking mechanism that essentially includes a catch and a pawl, the pawl is typically lifted from its ratchet position or its engagement with the catch with the aid of an external actuation lever or internal actuation lever. This ratchet position is generally the main ratchet position, but may also be a pre-ratchet position. However, the opening of the locking mechanism from its closed position (pre-ratchet position or main ratchet position) corresponds to an inner door actuation lever or an outer door actuation lever, by which an opening force typically needs to be actuated.

For this purpose, the associated door actuation lever can be connected to the vehicle door latch by a cable pull, thus actuating a triggering lever provided in the internal actuation lever or external actuation lever or vehicle latch, Which in turn lifts the pawl from the catch and consequently closes the closed position of the locking mechanism as desired. For this purpose, the operator applies a corresponding opening force to the associated door actuation lever. As soon as the pole is released from the catch at the release point, the operator can reduce the opening force applied to the handle, or the handle is returned to the starting position by the appropriate spring force.

In the state of the art, the return of the handle is usually abrupt, because the opening force required to lift the pawl from the catch decreases over a short path along the contact path between the support point and the release point. This process is increasingly uncomfortable to operators and is perceived as "offensive". The simultaneous result of this is that the operator sees the vehicle door latch and, potentially, the entire vehicle as a lack of comfort and in particular no value. Therefore, a high-end vehicle operates as an electrically open drive. But these open drives are structurally sophisticated, expensive, and formerly the domain of premium cars.

The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a vehicle door latch such that the opening process of the locking mechanism proceeds more conveniently than the state of the art, especially with mechanical impingement.

In order to solve this technical problem, a specific vehicle door latch within the scope of the present invention has at least an initial slightly curved partial surface joined together and then a largely curved partial surface Which is characterized by the contact surface of the catch between the support point and the release point.

Catches and pawls are both generally made from a two-dimensional metal sheet by stamping as detailed in the Applicant's DE 10 2014 114 441 A1. As a result, the contact surface on the catch surface and the stop surface on the pole top are respectively rectangular surfaces in a plan view, and the surface width thereof corresponds to the thickness of the metal sheet in its manufacturing process. The longitudinal edges or the overlapping longitudinal edges of each of these rectangular surfaces essentially specify their shape. Thus, if the arcuate contact surface of the catch is subsequently referred to, this means that the corresponding longitudinal edges of the associated contact surface are arcuate. As a result, the support point and the release point are also set between the stop surface on the pole and the contact surface on the catch

In fact, the two points correspond rigidly to the support line or release line extending perpendicularly to the plane of the locking mechanism on which the catch and pawl span. Since only point contact is observed between the pole and catch in the top view of the locking mechanism, the associated fulcrum and release points are referred to below as the starting and ending points of the contact path. However, the arched contact surface of the catch, initially starting from the support point of the contact path, includes a slightly curved partial surface followed by a largely curved partial surface. In an advantageous embodiment, both partial surfaces are joined together in a continuous manner. This means that no 'edge' or 'peak' is observed in the transition area from the slightly bent partial surface to the largely bent partial surface. Thus, the stop surface of the pawl can move with substantially uniform friction along the arcuate contact surface of the catch, thereby completing the described contact path from the support point to the release point.

The fulcrum corresponds to the closing position of the locking mechanism, where the stop surface of the pawl contacts the contact surface of the catch at the fulcrum. In the opening process of the locking mechanism, the stop surface of the pole moves along the contact surface of the catch, thereby completing the contact path. The contact path terminates at the release point, i. E. When the pole or its stop surface is lifted up and away from the contact surface of the catch.

Within the scope of the present invention, the detailed design is that the slightly curved partial surface is installed at a radius that is at least twice as large as the radius of the curved partial surface. Strictly speaking, according to the appended embodiments, it is not the radius of the partial surface, but the radius of the longitudinal edges coexisting with it. However, for simplicity, the reference will be made to the radius of each partial surface in the following in that it is immediately visible to the observer in the plan view of the locking mechanism. However, the slightly curved surface has a radius that is at least twice the radius of the curved surface. The appropriate radius of the slightly curved partial surface may typically be at least three times, preferably four times, the radius of the curved partial surface.

By the stated ratio of radii, the design can also be such that the support points and release points have a particular horizontal distance, such as the starting and ending points of the contact path. A slightly curved surface starts at the fulcrum and fills about 60% to 80% of this horizontal distance. Thus, the largely curved surface occupies about 20% to 40% of this horizontal distance.

Other designs also allow the support points and release points to have a specified vertical distance, which roughly corresponds to the radius of the largely curved partial surface of the contact surface of the catch. In fact, some typically operate radially between 4 mm and 8 mm on a largely curved partial plane. As a configuration of the contact surface of the catch, a slightly curved partial surface is provided with a radius between 0.8 mm and 1 mm in contrast.

The contact surface on the catch is generally placed on the tooth of the catch. This tooth is generally engaged in the recess of the pawl in the closed position of the locking mechanism such that the stop surface of the pawl is in contact with the contact surface of the catch as described.

The contact surface of the catch can be designed as a whole as a mathematical function of the horizontal distance between supports as origin. It has been proven that the so-called spline function is advantageous as mathematical functions suitable for this. This is for example a third order, a fourth order or even a seventh order polynomial. These spline polynomials are continuously differentiable so that an overall "smooth" course is observed and a constant frictional relationship in the opening process of the locking mechanism can be expected between the pole-shaped stop surface and the contact surface on the catch . In theory, other mathematical functions such as traverses or two arcs which are fairly simple connected to each other may of course also be implemented here with the properties described above.

Even when relying on the spline function described for the description of the contact surface which depends on the horizontal distance to the support point as the origin, the radius ratio of the slightly curved partial surface and the largely curved partial surface described previously can be maintained and set accordingly. Since the spline function can be easily performed in terms of structure and manufacturing techniques, such as CNC control machining or in terms of manufacturing techniques with appropriately controlled lasers, the contact surface on the catch implemented in accordance with the present invention is substantially the same as the cost of the state of the art It can be made easily by the manufacturing cost.

Nonetheless, an opening procedure of a locking mechanism specifically optimized in accordance with the present invention is observed. This optimized opening procedure is reflected in particular by the opening force acting on the operating lever (the inner operating lever or the outer operating lever) and consequently also on the door operating lever returning over a greater distance than before. As a result of the handles returning to their starting positions generally more smoothly, consequently, the 'unpleasant' return of the handles often observed in the state of the art is prevented by the present invention.

This means that the contact path between the stop surface on the pole and the specially configured contact surface on the catch extends from the support point to the release point as a whole compared to the state of the art and on the one hand the 'open noise' On the one hand, and on the other hand, the opening force required for the handle is gently reduced during the return stroke. Thus, the vehicle door latch still works mechanically and actually operates at a constant manufacturing cost, but still gives the impression that the operator is particularly valuable in its entirety. This is where there is a fundamental advantage.

The present invention is described below based on the drawings, which constitute an exemplary embodiment only.
1 is a vehicle door latch according to the present invention having crucial configurations for the present invention.
2 is a detailed view of the catch according to the state of the art in the area of so-called " tos ".
Figure 3 is a catch according to the invention with an altered geometry of the contact surface as compared to Figure 2;
Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the opening force measured at the outer operating lever and relative to the handle in comparison with the solid line and the dotted line operating path for the course of the one-dot chain line according to the state of the art and the two variants according to the invention It is a diagram.

A vehicle door latch is depicted in Fig. This essentially comprises a locking mechanism 1, 2 comprising a catch 1 and a pawl 2. With the aid of the catch 1, the locking bolts 3 depicted in Figure 1 are caught in the closed position of the locking mechanisms 1, 2 depicted therein. The catch 1 is pivotally received about the axis 4 and the pawl 2 is received pivotably about the axis 5 of the latch case 6,

It is necessary to lift the pawl 2 from the catch 1 in order to open the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 and thus release the locking bolts 3 starting from the closed position depicted in figure 1 . For this purpose, a triggering lever, not shown in more detail, acts on the pawl 2 in such a way that it pivots about its axis 5 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the corresponding arrows in Fig. To act on a triggering lever, not shown, a handle is provided, which in this example is an external actuation handle or an external door actuation lever. The opening force F acting on the associated external operating lever in the opening procedure of this handle or of the illustrated locking mechanisms 1, 2 is schematically depicted in Fig. 4 for the associated open path s. Thus, the associated opening force F and the open path s of the associated external operating lever are also reproduced in FIG. 1 in combination with the arrow in the counterclockwise direction depicting the open motion.

As soon as the pawl 2 is lifted from the catch 1, the catch 1 rotates in the clockwise direction shown in Fig. Thus, the previously held locking bolts 3 are released and the associated vehicle doors can be opened by the movement of the locking bolts 3, also described in detail in the state of the art and as generally known in Fig.

In the closed position of the locking mechanism 1, 2 shown in Fig. 1, the pawl 2 lies against the stop surface 7 on the arcuate contact surface 8 of the catch 1. The stop surface 7 of the pawl 2 slides along the contact surface 8 of the catch 1 during the opening procedure of the locking mechanisms 1, During this movement along the contact surface 8 of the stop surface 7, a contact path is reached which reaches from the fulcrum A, which is obvious in Figs. 2 and 3, to the release point L. [ The contact path continues or corresponds to the contact surface 8.

In both the diagram of the state of the art according to Fig. 2 and the reproduction of Fig. 3 according to the invention, the fulcrum A corresponds to the locking mechanism 1, 2 which is located in the closed position of Fig. Starting from this closed position according to the view of figure 1, the stop surface 7 of the pawl 2 is moved along the contact surface 8 of the catch 1, starting from the fulcrum A and reaching the release point L Move until. At the release point L, the pawl 2 is disengaged from the catch 1 and the catch 1 is assisted by the spring as shown in Fig. 1 to open in a clockwise direction.

2, the contact surface 8 is formed between the fulcrum A and the release point L and is formed in a generally arcuate manner with a constant radius R ₁ drawn in Fig. Lt; / RTI > In contrast, in the design of the contact surface 8 according to the invention, within the scope of Figure 3, the contact surface 8 has a radius R _{2 on the} one hand and a radius R ₃ on the other hand, It is clear that it includes two partial faces 8a, 8b.

In fact, the design within the scope of the present invention and the design according to the drawings in FIG. 3 are such that the contact surface 8 of the catch 1 has at least an initial radius R ₂ between the support point A and the release point L ) And a laterally curved partial surface (8b) with a subsequent disengaged radius (R ₃ ) behind it. The two partial surfaces 8a, 8b are all merged in a continuous manner. Surface slightly curved part (8a) is has at least four times the diameter (R ₃₎ of the surface according to greatly bend portion in the illustrative embodiment (8b) larger in diameter (R _2).

As a result of this special design, on the contact surface 8 according to the invention, within the scope of the drawing according to figure 3, the fulcrum A and the release point L are schematically drawn and have a specified horizontal distance B from each other have. In the state of the art, the horizontal distance C between the fulcrum A and the release point L is lower than this as a further illustrated horizontal distance B in Fig. 2, and the comparison is directly obvious.

The difference between the horizontal distance C in the state of the art according to FIG. 2 and the horizontal distance B according to the invention is also reflected in the force / path diagram according to FIG. The path s ₁ completed by the external operating lever as a whole in the state of the art is shorter than the path s ₂ completed by the corresponding external operating lever according to the invention. The path of the external actuating lever is resumed at the closed position of the locking mechanism 1, 2 according to the view of figure 1 and is terminated when the stop face 7 of the pawl 2 has reached the associated release point L . On the other hand, since the difference between the horizontal distance C in the state of the art and the horizontal distance B in accordance with the present invention with B > C on the other hand corresponds to this, Different lengths are also described in the state of the art as s ₁ < s ₂ in accordance with the invention.

In fact, in the view according to FIG. 3, within the scope of the design of the contact surface 8 of the catch 1 according to the invention, a slightly curved partial surface 8a is formed on the fulcrum A starting from the radius R ₂ , It is observed that the horizontal distance B is filled from about 60% to 80%. The partial distance B ₁ corresponds to this. As a result, the partial surface 8b largely curved with a radius R ₃ fills the entire horizontal distance B from about 20% to 40%. The following equation applies.

B ₁ ? 0.6 to 0.8 B and

B ₂ ? 0.2 to 0.4 B

3, the fulcrum A and the release point L according to the present invention also have a specified vertical distance V with comparable size in the associated drawing of Fig. 2 according to the state of the art This is obvious. According to the invention, this design is such that the associated vertical distance V roughly corresponds to the radius R ₃ of the curved region. The following applies:

V? R ₃

In particular, the slightly curved partial surface 8a has a radius R ₂ found in a range between 4 mm and 8 mm. In contrast, the radius R ₃ of the largely curved partial surface 8b is in the range between 0.8 mm and 1 mm.

It is clear that the contact surface 8 on the catch 1 is formed in the region of the tooth 9 on the catch 1. [ The teeth 9 on the catch 1 engage the recesses 10 on the pawl 2 in the closed position of the locking mechanisms 1,2. The contact surface 8 according to the present invention on the tooth 9 of the catch 1 shown in detail in Fig. 3 can be designed as a mathematical function of the horizontal distance B starting from the fulcrum A as an origin. In particular, the so-called spline function has been proven to be advantageous, which can be easily performed in terms of structure and fabrication techniques, as previously described.

Claims (10)

(2) comprising a catch (1) and a pawl (2), wherein the pawl (2) has at least an arcuate contact surface of the catch (1) at the closed position of the locking mechanism And the stop surface 7 completes the contact path along the release point L from the fulcrum A on the contact surface 8 during the opening procedure of the locking mechanisms 1 and 2 In sliding vehicle door latches, the contact surface 8 of the catch 1 between the fulcrum A and the release point L has at least an initial slightly curved partial surface 8a, (8b). &Lt; / RTI &gt; 2. Vehicle door latch according to claim 1, characterized in that the two partial surfaces (8a, 8b) are joined in a continuous manner. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the slightly curved partial surface (8a) is at least two times, preferably three times, and preferably at least four times greater than the diameter (R ₃ ) of the substantially curved partial surface (8b) And a radius (R ₂ ). 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fulcrum (A) and the release point (L) have a horizontal distance (B) specified from each other and the slightly curved partial surface (8a) Of the entire horizontal distance (B), and the largely curved partial surface (8b) fills about 20% to 40% of the total horizontal distance (B). 5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fulcrum point (A) and the release point (L) are defined by a specified vertical distance (V) roughly corresponding to a radius (R ₃ ) of the curved partial surface (8b) Of the vehicle door latch. 6. A vehicle door latch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the slightly curved partial surface (8a) has a radius (R ₂ ) between 4 mm and 8 mm. Any one of claims 1 to 6 according to any one of items, large curved part surfaces (8b) is a vehicle door latch comprising: a radius (R ₃₎ of between 0.8mm and 1mm. 8. A vehicle door latch according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the contact surface (8) is arranged on the toothing (9) of the catch (1). 9. A vehicle door latch according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the contact surface (8) is formed as a mathematical function of the horizontal distance (B) from the fulcrum (A) as the origin. 10. The vehicle door latch of claim 9, wherein the mathematical function is a spline function.

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