EP1074681A1 - Vehicle door lock or similar - Google Patents

Abstract

The door lock has a lock catch and blocking pawl or integrated latch pawl, a reversible electric drive motor (5), a reduction gear and an actuating lever. The motor normally rotates in only one direction and in the opposite direction in emergency mode and with a considerably greater reduction ratio to act on the pawl via an emergency actuation element. The reduction gear is a planetary gear or includes a planetary gear (13-15).

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock or the like. With the features the preamble of claim 1.

Motor vehicle door locks or the like of the type in question are door locks for side doors, for rear doors, for tailgates etc. on motor vehicles. Therefore, in the following, the more general term motor vehicle lock is always used used. These motor vehicle locks are usually available with a lock latch and pawl, but in some versions also with a single, direct interact with the striker on the body counterpart Latch. Therefore, for the present description, the general Term jack used to cover both variants.

For motor vehicle locks with electric drive motors for lifting the handle, ie with an electric motor opening aid, also "open by called "wire technology, are due to the dimensioning of motor torque, Reduction ratio of the reduction gear and geometry of lock latch and latch, the operating times and the maximum to be applied Opening force (lifting force) on the latch. In normal operation with intact Motor vehicle and full voltage of the electrical system can be used with a single-stage reduction gear of the motor vehicle door lock inside a predetermined time period of 150 ms up to a counterforce of Open approx. 1,000 N at the lock latch. Under special conditions (Icing, accident or the like) can be much higher at the lock latch Forces act, so that the pawl is no longer easily lifted can be. In such a case, too, an electric motor should be used Motor vehicle door lock in a similar characteristic as a purely mechanical acting motor vehicle door lock always comparable forces overcome acceptable operating times. That should also be the case with low voltage the electrical system or low voltage of a reserve battery be feasible.

In the known motor vehicle lock from which the invention is based (DE - A - 197 10 531), the problem has already been solved, the forces required at the To be able to apply the jack without the operating times becoming unacceptable Increase orders of magnitude. There it is provided that the Reversibility of the electric drive motor for a distinction between normal operation and emergency operation. In normal operation the drive works in one direction of rotation with a low reduction ratio on the jack, thus realizing short positioning times. Occurs an elevated Opposing force on the lock latch or the latch on, which as an emergency too is understood, the electric drive motor is reversed and works in the opposite direction of rotation, the emergency direction of rotation. In this works a larger reduction ratio so that the pawl has a longer operating time, but also opened up to a much larger and therefore sufficient force can be.

The electronic control of the motor vehicle lock must of course recognize when the direction of rotation of the electric drive motor is reversed must become. This can be the case, for example, if after a specified time after triggering the opening command, the handle is not lifted has been detected when a too high actuating force is detected (the electrical Drive motor draws higher current than allowed, the speed of the electric Drive motor falls off), if via a known crash sensor an accident situation has been detected when due to voltage drop performance on the vehicle electrical system or due to special environmental conditions of the electric drive motor is too low when on an emergency power supply has been switched.

The known motor vehicle lock already realizes the advantage of short positioning times, which in particular in connection with systems for "passive entry" are important. Another significant advantage is that the electric drive motor can be designed for normal operation, the reduction gear modified accordingly for emergency operation becomes. So it can be an electric drive motor of relatively low power be used. This enables a small and inexpensive electric motor be used. That has another positive effect for one possibly existing emergency energy supply, which then also only the underperforming must drive electric drive motor, which over the larger reduction ratio of the reduction gear in emergency operation works at the expense of the operating times.

The realization of such a motor vehicle lock is also a compact design, which allows installation in limited space and in particular also a symmetrical structure of the motor vehicle lock guaranteed. Here is the motor vehicle lock realized in the prior art still need improvement.

The problem outlined above is with the motor vehicle lock Features of the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterizing Part of claim 1 solved.

In the prior art, the reduction gear is a combination of Worm gear and cam gear realized, being in cam gear Different lever arms of the operating lever for normal operation and emergency operation will be realized. This conception leads to a comparative space-consuming construction. That is why it is already in the state of the art have been proposed to implement a gear transmission with two gear stages, the second gear stage then being activated in emergency operation is switched off in normal operation, for example via a freewheel is. As an alternative, switching between is also possible for the two gear stages two gear stages when the gear stage that is not being used is running intended. This construction with two gear stages too and gear transmission is comparatively space-consuming.

The realization of a planetary gear according to the invention as a reduction gear or in the reduction gear provides a remedy here. First builds a planetary gear essentially with a given reduction ratio more compact than any other form of gear. For example, one can achieve a reduction ratio of 6: 1 with a size in which a Gear transmission would only reach approx. 2: 1 as a reduction ratio. In addition, a planetary gear is just for a symmetrical structure of the motor vehicle lock of great importance because it is level with the Arrangement of ring gear, planet carrier with planet gears and sun gear is built up in a way "disk-like" and by both Flat sides as can be coupled from the circumference.

Preferred refinements and developments of the invention Motor vehicle lock are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kraftfahrzeugschlosses von der Seite des Normal-Betätigungselementes her gesehen,

Fig. 2

in einer Fig. 1 entsprechenden Ansicht, jedoch in einer anderen Ebene, das Planetengetriebe des Kraftfahrzeugschlosses aus Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch die Darstellung in Fig. 2 entlang der Schnittlinie A-A,

Fig. 4

in einer Fig. 1 entsprechenden Darstellung das Kraftfahrzeugschloß dargestellt in der Ebene, in der das Notfall-Betätigungselement liegt,

Fig. 5

in einer Fig. 1 entsprechenden Darstellung die Position des Normal-Betätigungselementes bei reversierender Drehung und Ausheben der Klinke mittels des Notfall-Betätigungselementes aus Fig. 4.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment of a motor vehicle lock according to the invention seen from the side of the normal actuating element,

Fig. 2

1, but in a different plane, the planetary gear of the motor vehicle lock from FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

3 shows a section through the illustration in FIG. 2 along the section line AA,

Fig. 4

1 corresponding representation of the motor vehicle lock shown in the plane in which the emergency actuating element is located,

Fig. 5

in a representation corresponding to FIG. 1, the position of the normal actuating element with reversing rotation and lifting of the pawl by means of the emergency actuating element from FIG. 4.

In FIG. 1, a lock latch 1 designed as a rotary latch is first shown schematically shown, which is mounted on an axis 2 on the housing, not shown is. Furthermore, the lock latch 1 is in the closed position with the main catch and Locking pawl 3 is provided which latches on a locking pawl axis 4 is stored. This is supposed to give a basic understanding of the structure of the motor vehicle lock serve that as explained as a side door lock, rear door lock, Tailgate lock etc. can be used.

The combination of lock latch 1 and pawl 3 is shown. Already It has been explained above that you can also work with an integrated latch could that directly with the striker on the opposite body part comes into engagement. Such constructions are also occasional still in use.

First of all, there is a reversible one that runs in both directions of rotation electric drive motor 5 with an associated electronic control, the door lock-specific or higher-level, in any case is not shown here. The electric drive motor 5 is a reduction gear 6 downstream, with which the high speed of the electrical Drive motor 5 reduced to a much lower drive speed becomes. The reduction gear 6 drives one with the pawl 3 coupled actuating lever 7. In the exemplary embodiment shown this coupling by means of the recognizable square pin.

The position of the actuating lever shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 7 denotes the position with the latch 3, which is shown in dash-dot lines Location, with the jack raised 3. Without further ado, the operating lever 7 remain in the position with the jack 3 raised, provided that Pawl 3 in the open position of the latch 1 Position would be held. That is in itself with the construction shown also unproblematic. However, an additional measure is provided here namely in the form of a rocker arm 9 assigned to the pawl 3. With this, the operating lever 7 can already return to its rest position, even if the pawl 3 still remains in the raised position. The is achieved in that the actuating lever 7 on the square pin 8th firmly coupled with the rocker arm, with pawl 3 only via the rocker arm 9 coupled entraining in one direction, otherwise against spring force deflectably connected.

As already explained, it is now the case that the electric drive motor 5 in Normal operation only works in one direction of rotation, the normal direction of rotation and with a low reduction ratio via a normal actuator 10 acts on the jack 3. The electric drive motor works in emergency mode 5, however, in the opposite direction of rotation, the emergency direction of rotation, and acts with a significantly larger reduction ratio Emergency actuator 11 on the pawl 3. The direction of rotation for the Normal operation is indicated in Fig. 1 with an arrow.

The normal actuator 10 is in the illustrated embodiment designed as a stepped cam that starts on the actuating lever 7.

Fig. 4 shows the emergency actuator 11, which also with the Actuating lever 7 cooperates and in the illustrated embodiment is also designed as a cam. Fig. 4 shows the rest position of the emergency actuating element 11 in solid lines, the lifting position in dash-dotted lines.

While Fig. 1 could give the impression that the reduction gear 6 a combination in a manner known per se from the prior art from worm gear and cam gear, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 that the reduction gear 6 further includes a planetary gear with sun gear 12, planet gears 13, summarized in 2 schematically indicated planet gear carrier 14 and ring gear 15. Fig. 3 shows a corresponding section. The use of a planetary gear at this point has considerable space advantages and is drive technology and very inexpensive.

The illustrated and preferred embodiment now shows that the reduction gear 6 as a combination of worm gear, Planetary gear and cam gear is executed. The worm gear shows the worm 16 and the worm wheel 17, the planetary gear shows the previously explained components and the cam mechanism is by the Actuators 10, 11 on the one hand and the actuating lever 7 on the other formed, being a normal cam gear or an emergency cam gear takes effect, depending on the direction of rotation of the drive motor 5.

As is known, you can operate a planetary gear in different ways. In the illustrated embodiment, which is particularly apparent from Fig. 2 and 3 well developed, and according to preferred teaching it is provided that Worm gear 17 of the worm gear with the sun gear 12 of the planetary gear and the normal actuating element 10 is rigidly coupled, the planet gear carrier 14 is rigidly coupled to the emergency actuating element 11 and the ring gear 15 in the housing 18, which is indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is fixed. A fixing device 19 serves for the latter.

This coupling technology ensures that in normal operation Worm gear is driven counterclockwise (arrow in Fig. 1) and the normal actuating element 10 located directly on the worm wheel takes effect. The actuating speed of the normal actuator 10 is therefore the initially desired high actuating speed, that of the high one Speed of the sun gear 12 of the planetary gear corresponds.

In the opposite direction of rotation of the electric drive motor 5, counter the. Arrow in Fig. 1, the normal actuator 10 does not take effect, but the emergency actuating element 11 recognizable in FIG. 4. Since this is rigidly coupled to the planet carrier 14 while the ring gear 15 is fixed it rotates in the same direction as the normal actuator 10 (assuming identical direction of rotation of the drive motor), however with a reduction in the reduction ratio of the planetary gear Rotation speed.

The higher positioning time that this implies must be accepted because for emergency operation, the higher actuating forces due to the larger one Reduction ratio should be used.

In principle, similar relationships can also be achieved if you in an alternative, which is not shown here, the worm wheel 17 of the Worm gear with the ring gear 15 of the planetary gear and Normal actuator 10 rigidly couples the planet carrier 14 with the emergency actuator 11 rigidly couples and the sun gear 12 of the Planetary gear fixed. Another alternative is the worm wheel 17 of the worm gear with the sun gear 12 of the planetary gear and to couple the normal actuator 10, the ring gear 15th to couple the planetary gear with the emergency actuator 11 and to fix the planet carrier 14 of the planetary gear. In the latter Case, however, there is an opposite direction of rotation of the two Actuators 10 and 11, which then has a different structure of the operating lever 7 requires. That shown, in the first place explained embodiment, however, is characterized in that the greatest reduction, namely the reduction of 6: 1 is reached.

The illustrated embodiment is further characterized by that the normal actuator 10 and the emergency actuator 11 arranged on opposite sides of the planetary gear are. This can be seen particularly well in FIG. 3. This is an optimal one Housing on the two flat sides of the planetary gear realized, a particular advantage of the compact planetary gear optimally used. The outer circumference of the planetary gear serves by of the worm wheel 17 to attack the electric drive motor 5, the Power transmission to the jack 3 takes place depending on the operating mode of one or other flat side of the planetary gear.

The illustrated and preferred embodiment shows that that the actuating lever 7 in emergency operation from the emergency actuator 11 is moved immediately that on the operating lever 7, a normal operating lever 7 'is pivotally mounted that the normal operating lever 7 'abuts a stop 20 and from there in one direction can be deflected against spring force and that in normal operation the normal operating lever 7 'and rigidly coupled the actuating lever 7 is moved by the normal actuator 10.

The figures show in connection the functioning of the preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle lock:

In normal operation, the electric drive motor 5 starts, the worm 16 rotates the worm wheel 17, which is steppedly attached to the worm wheel 17 Cam, which forms the normal actuator 10 is counterclockwise, in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow, rotated. This rotation takes place at high rotational speed because there is no additional reduction except that the worm gear is effective. The normal actuator 10 hits the normal operating lever 7 'on the operating lever 7 is mounted and abuts the stop 20. Therefore from Normal operating lever 7 'of the operating lever 7 immediately in the in Fig. 1st Removed order shown in dash-dotted lines. The jack 3 is has been moved to the raised position.

After lifting the pawl 3, shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, the electric drive motor 5 reverses and turns the worm wheel 17 in the position shown in solid lines.

The emergency actuator is also in normal operation during the entire operation 11, in the illustrated embodiment with the planet carrier 14 is rigidly coupled, has been moved. This movement takes place counterclockwise in Fig. 4. However, this movement has no function stayed because the movement of the normal actuator 10 in Fig. 1 around the reduction ratio of the planetary gear faster and so that it was carried out with considerable lead.

If an emergency occurs from the electronic control of the motor vehicle lock recognized, for example because the pawl 3 after a predetermined time has not been excavated (see detailed explanations in DE - A - 197 10 531), the electric drive motor 5 is used in its Reversed direction of rotation. That means that from the solid Lines shown position in Fig. 1, the normal actuator 10 in Rotates clockwise. With the same direction of rotation, but around the reduction ratio of the planetary gear reduced rotational speed the emergency actuator 11 also moves clockwise in FIG. 4. It hits directly in accordance with the curve shape of the cam on the actuating lever 7, which is in the plane of the emergency actuating element 11, is not in the plane of the normal actuating element 10. Fig. 4 shows, with a soft rotary movement, the movement of the actuating lever 7 and thus the jack 3 is lifted out in emergency operation. The illustrated The embodiment has a higher reduction ratio not only in the planetary gear for emergency operation, but also here in cam gear between the emergency actuator 11 (cam) and the longer operating lever 7.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the emergency actuating element is located in the exemplary embodiment shown 11 (cam) an angle of rotation of approximately 230 ° back from the rest position to the lifting position shown in broken lines. Due to the reduction ratio realized in the planetary gear meanwhile places the normal actuating element, which is designed as a stepped cam 10 a movement over a much larger one Angle of rotation back. The normal actuating element 10 passes through the Normal operating lever 7 ', that is shown in Fig. 5. Because the normal operating lever 7 'but on the operating lever 7 in this direction Spring force is deflectable, it is easy from the normal actuator 10 deflected to the side without the lifting movement of the operating lever 7 to hinder in emergency operation.

As soon as the normal operating element 10 on the normal operating lever 7 'in the deflected position (Fig. 5) has passed, the normal operating lever snaps 7 'back against the stop 20 under spring force. The resulting impact noise can be used as an indication for emergency operation be understood and evaluated.

In general, that applies to the planetary gear due to its compact design all or part of plastic parts can be used, which are very are inexpensive.

3 shows in a particularly impressive manner how expedient the one shown is Construction for a symmetrical structure of the motor vehicle lock can be used overall.

Claims (8)

Motor vehicle door lock or the like. with a lock latch (1) and a pawl (3) holding the lock latch (1) in the closed position (main catch and possibly preliminary catch) or with an integrated catch, with a (reversible) electric drive motor (5) running in both directions of rotation, a reduction gear (6) connected downstream thereof and an actuating lever (7) driven by the reduction gear (6) and coupled to the pawl (3) for lifting the pawl (3), wherein the electric drive motor (5) only works in one direction of rotation, the normal direction of rotation, works mid with a low reduction ratio via em normal actuating element (10) on the pawl (3), the electric drive motor (5) in emergency mode in the opposite Direction of rotation, the emergency direction of rotation, works and acts on the pawl (3) with a significantly larger reduction ratio via an emergency actuating element (11),
characterized, that the reduction gear (6) is designed as a planetary gear or includes a planetary gear. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the Reduction gear (6) as a combination of worm gear, planetary gear and cam gear is executed. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the worm gear (17) of the worm gear with the sun gear (12) of the planetary gear mid the normal actuator (10) rigid is coupled, the planet carrier (14) with the emergency actuator (11) is rigidly coupled and the ring gear (15) is fixed. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the worm wheel (17) of the worm gear with the ring gear (15) of the planetary gear and the normal actuating element (10) rigidly coupled the planet gear carrier (14) with the emergency actuating element (11) is rigidly coupled and the sun gear (12) is fixed. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the worm wheel (17) with the sun wheel (12) of the planetary gear and the normal actuating element (10) is rigidly coupled, the ring gear (15) is rigidly coupled with the emergency actuating element (11) mid the planet carrier (14) is fixed. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the normal actuator (10) and the emergency actuator (11) on opposite sides of the planetary gear are arranged. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that that the operating lever (7) in emergency operation from the emergency operating element (11) is immediately moved that on the operating lever (7) a normal operating lever (7 ') is pivotally mounted against one Stop (20) rests and can be deflected in one direction against spring force and that in normal operation the normal operating lever (7 ') mid above the rigidly coupled actuating lever (7) from the normal actuating element (10) is moved. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the planetary gear wholly or partly made of plastic parts is constructed.

Images