JP2002534621A - Electronically operated lock - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an electrically operated lock, especially for a central locking device of a vehicle, wherein the lock is movable between at least two positions by means of an electric adjustment drive and is a lock. At least one lever (10) acting on the element is provided, characterized in that the lever (10) can be fixed in its at least both positions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electrically operated lock for a central locking device of a vehicle, which is based on the features of the preamble of claim 1.

A lock of this kind is known from DE 195 36 611 A1. In this case, the lever acting on the lock element, which can occupy two different positions, is operated by the adjusting drive. When the lever is in the neutral position, the lever can arbitrarily reciprocate between both positions, which can cause undefined or unwanted positions of the lever to be adjusted. If the lever is in the position corresponding to the unlocking, for example when bringing the central locking device into the anti-theft position by means of the lever, the vehicle is not secured and therefore the vehicle is unsafe. Is accessible by Of course, such a situation is both undesirable and inconvenient.

[0003] Furthermore, the use of an adjusting cylinder according to DE-A-195 36 611 has the disadvantage that the adjusting cylinder requires a large installation space, and this large installation space is particularly important for vehicle doors. In the lock-in area between the vehicle casing and the inner lining or glass pane.

The present invention seeks to improve an electronically operated lock so that the above-mentioned disadvantages are eliminated.

This problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0006] Advantageously, the lever can be fixed in a position that can be adjusted by an electric adjustment drive. In short, the adjustment drive moves the lever from one position to another
It is used for so-called "switching" to one position and possibly to several other positions. This ensures that the lever is locked in the respective position pregiven by the adjusting drive. Yet another advantage is that the adjustment drive switches the lever from one position to another, and then the adjustment drive returns to its starting position so that the desired position of the lever is maintained and the other side is maintained. At the same time, the lever is disengaged from the adjusting drive, so that in the event of a fault (especially in the event of a failure of the current supply for the adjusting drive), the lever is adjusted, for example, by a closing cylinder acting on the lever. It can be brought from one location to another. This is particularly advantageous if the lock is in the unlocked state and the power supply is interrupted, so that it can then be ensured that the vehicle is locked by operating the closing cylinder.

[0007] In an embodiment of the invention, a spring is arranged corresponding to the lever, by means of which the lever can be fixed in its position. This spring is in particular a snap spring, in which case advantageous shapes are shown in the figures described below.

[0008] In another embodiment of the invention, a transmission element is correspondingly arranged between the adjusting drive and the lever. In a first embodiment, an adjusting drive, such as an electromagnet, acts directly on the lever by the tappet to move it from one position to another. However, to make the adjustment drive compact,
A transmission element is advantageously arranged between the adjusting drive and the lever, which transmits the movement of the adjusting drive to the lever at a reduced speed. This ensures, on the one hand, the compact design of the adjusting drive and, on the other hand, the acquisition of the required force for adjusting the lever based on deceleration.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the transmission element is formed as a drive disk. On the other hand, it is also conceivable to form the transmission element as an adjusting cylinder as is known from the prior art, but in an advantageous manner the transmission element is formed as a flat drive disk, which has a particularly advantageous form due to its flat configuration. A built-in space, which is used between the outer shell of the vehicle and the inner wall (for example, a glass plate or an inner lining for a side door) can be used. Specific embodiments according to the invention are set out in the dependent claims and in the drawings described below.

In one configuration according to the invention, a function in a vehicle door, a rear flap or the like is realized by one adjusting drive and one lever each. In short, with the appropriate activation control of the adjusting drive, the central locking device
Functions such as unlocking, locking and anti-theft can be adjusted. In that case, in each case one adjusting drive acts on one lever. In that case, the levers are each arranged corresponding to one handle (such as a door outer grip or a door inner grip). It is also conceivable that the adjusting drive acts on the transmission element. In that case, the transmission element is connected to two levers, one of the two levers being operatively connected to the door outer grip and the other of the two levers being operatively connected to the door inner grip. In this case, the transmission element is designed in such a way that both levers carry out the same movement or different movements when operating the adjusting drive. Furthermore, in the unlocked position of both levers, this position allows the door to be opened by the door inner grip as well as the door outer grip. In the locked position, the door cannot be opened either by the door inner grip or by the door outer grip. In the different positions, both levers allow the door to be opened by the door inner grip and the door outer grip in the unlocked position, while in the locked position the door cannot be opened by the door outer grip, but The door can be opened by the grip. Therefore, depending on the configuration of the transmission element, a number of adjustable possibilities are provided.

As an alternative, an adjusting drive with an associated transmission element and an associated lever is arranged on each handle. This allows
The adjustment of the position of the lever is not only possible via the formation (contour) of the transmission element, but also via the corresponding activation control of the respective adjusting drive.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the adjusting drive is formed as an electric motor. This is because this type of motor is cheaply manufactured, its function is reliable, and it is feasible to simply reduce the movement of the motor and transmit it to the transmission element. . Adjustment drives in general, in particular electric motors, can be switched off depending on the switch signal when the lever has reached its respective different position-these positions are detectable by something like a switch. . In that case, it is also conceivable to drive the adjusting drive in block operation, that is to say that the adjusting distance of the adjusting drive or the lever is limited at the end of the respective position. In each case, after each time the other position is reached, the adjusting drive is switched off after a time which can be given in advance for a reliable reaching of this position, or the amount of current received by the adjusting drive Alternatively, another parameter is measured and the adjusting drive is shut off when this parameter changes suddenly.

A particularly advantageous embodiment to which the invention is not restricted is described below and explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an electrically operated lock with an adjusting drive formed as an electric motor 1. A worm gear 3 is mounted on a shaft 2 of the electric motor 1, in which case a transmission element formed as a drive disk 4 is driven by the electric motor 1. The outer circumference 5 of the drive disk 4 is provided with teeth (not shown) that mesh with the worm gear 3, thereby forming a reduction transmission. At least one side of the drive disk 4 is provided with an inner ridge 6 and an outer ridge 7, which form an intermediate area. The inner ridge 6 and the outer ridge 7 form a profile extension for the adjustment of the various functions of the lock, which will be described further below. The drive disk 4 is rotatably supported on a shaft 9. A first lever is shown at 10, the end of the first lever 1 facing the drive disk 4 supporting a pin 11, which protrudes into the intermediate area 8 and is The contour of the ridge 6 and the contour of the outer ridge 7 can be abutted. 1 also shows a second lever 12, which is mounted together with the first lever 10 on one common shaft 13 and is dependent on the first lever 10. Without being adjusted by the inner ridge and the outer ridge on the other side of the drive disk 4. It should be noted here that, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the operation of the door inner grip and the door outer grip depends on the position of the levers 10 and 12, for example a pawl / rotary latch. It can or cannot be transmitted to the lock element. On each individual handle (for example a door inner grip), a unique drive disk 4 with an inner ridge 6 and an outer ridge 7 on one side only, and one unique motor 1 with only one lever. A corresponding arrangement is also conceivable. Since the formation of the lock element is independent of the configuration of the adjusting drive, it is not shown. For the sake of clarity, it is only mentioned that the handle is connected via a Bowden cable to another lever, in which case this further lever is operated, for example, by the first lever 10. Another lever acts on a lock element, for example a pawl cooperating with a rotary latch. In one position, the first lever 10 allows another lever to act on the pawl when the handle is operated, and in the other position the first lever 10 allows the handle to be operated by the pawl. Act on the other lever so that it cannot act on the other lever (idle stroke).

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 essentially allows a very flat structure and all functions of an electrically operated lock, such as unlocking, locking and anti-theft (possibly child lock) Make it possible. With a suitable starting control of the motor 1 and the movement of the levers 10 and 12 depending on the profile of the drive disk 4, only one adjusting drive (motor 1) (for example, a door inner grip and a door outer grip, etc.) 2.) A lock function for two handles is realized.

FIG. 2 shows a spring 14 arranged corresponding to the lever 10 (or the lever 12), and the lever 14 fixes the lever 10 and / or the lever 12. In the position shown by the solid line of the lever 10, for example, the unlocked position of the lock is shown, while its rotational position about the common shaft 13 assumes its second position, which corresponds to the locked position. , Spring 14. The fixing of the lever 10 by a spring is not a limitation, and other means for fixing the lever can also be problematic.

FIG. 3 shows, for example, a starting position, in which both levers 10, 12 are located in the same position, for example, corresponding to the unlocked position. After the start-up control of the motor 1, the drive disk 4 is rotated, the pins 11 sliding along the contour provided by the inner ridges 6 and the outer ridges 7 along this contour, and the lever 10
Is moved to the other position. At the same time, the lever 12 can also be moved together with the first lever 10, in which case in FIG. 4 the lever 10 is brought into the other position upon rotation of the drive disk 4, for example approximately 90 °, It is shown that the second lever 12 is locked in its starting position.

FIG. 5 shows that as the drive disk 4 continues to rotate, the lever 10 is moved back to its first position and the lever 12 is moved from its first position to another position. This adjusts the various positions of one lever and also the various positions of the two levers relative to each other based on the contours provided by the formation of the inner ridge 6 and the outer ridge 7.

As is clear from FIG. 1, the shape of the electric motor 1 (flattened side) and
Due to the flat shape of the drive disk 4 and the associated levers 10, 12, a particularly compact and flat structure is obtained in an advantageous manner, whereby the existing installation space can be used.

Although not shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a means such as a spring 14 for fixing the lever in one position is, of course, provided.

FIG. 6 shows that the functions of the individual handles are each adjusted via one electric motor. In a similar embodiment to FIG. 1, the lever 10 is driven by the electric motor 1 via its own drive disk 4. The drive disk 4 is again provided with an inner ridge and an outer ridge forming an intermediate area, into which the pins of the lever 10 are engaged. The drive disk 4 is formed flat on the opposite side. Furthermore, a second electric motor 15 is provided, which drives a second drive disk 16 arranged on the shaft 9, whereby the second lever 12 is actuated by the second drive disk 16. Exercise. Second drive disk 16
It is also flat on one side and also has an inner ridge and side ridges on the other side, between which the pins of the lever 12 are in a push-fit engagement. Both drive disks 4 and 16 are driven independently of one another, depending on the respective start-up control of the motor 1 or 15. This embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, again allows for a very flat structure and all functions such as unlocking, locking and anti-theft (possibly child lock) an electrically operated lock. Electric motors 1 and 1
By means of the activation control of 5 and the movement of the levers 10 and 12 depending on the profile of the drive discs 4 and 16, a lock function for two handles (for example, a door inner grip and a door outer grip) is realized.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show, similarly to FIGS. 3 to 5, levers 10 and 12
Again has a common (or different) starting position (FIG. 7 shows a common starting position), in which case the different positions of the levers 10 and 12 are It can be adjusted after the start control of the motor 1 or 15 (FIGS. 8 to 10).

It is important to mention two advantageous configurations. First, the intermediate region 8 between the inner ridge 6 and the outer ridge 7 allows the lever to be switched by operating the closing cylinder after the adjusting drive has "switched" the lever from one position to another. The lever is configured to be moved to a neutral position where it can be moved to another position.
To that end, the intermediate region is formed in such a way that the movement of one lever about a common axis 13 allows this "switching" after overcoming the force of the spring 14.
This advantageously provides for the release of the lever or lock element from the adjusting drive. This is necessary because the adjusting drive is acting on the lever in a decelerated manner, so that the force for overcoming the adjusting drive must not be generated by operating the closing cylinder. It should be further mentioned that in the configuration according to FIG. 1, the drive disk 4 does not have a terminal position, so that the adjusting drive can be moved by suitable means (for example, a switch for position detection) to a desired angle range. That is, the contour of the drive disk is selected so that the start-up needs to be controlled. In the arrangement according to FIG. 6, one or more adjusting drives are driven in a so-called block operation, so that one or more drive disks can only be rotated within a predefined angular range. Of course, the block operation according to FIG. 6 can be reversed and applied to the embodiment according to FIG.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a lock with one adjustment drive.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a spring attached to a lever.

FIG. 3 shows one position of a lever.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another position of the lever.

FIG. 5 is a view showing still another position of the lever.

FIG. 6 shows a lock according to the invention with two adjusting drives.

FIG. 7 shows one position of the lever.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another position of the lever.

FIG. 9 is a view showing still another position of the lever.

FIG. 10 is a view showing still another position of the lever.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 motor, 2 shaft, 3 worm gear, 4 drive disk, 5 outer periphery, 6 inner ridge, 7 outer ridge, 8 intermediate area, 9 axis, 10
1st lever, 11 pins, 12 second lever, 13 common axis,
14 spring, 15 second electric motor, 16 second drive disk

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electrically operated lock, in particular for a central locking device of a vehicle, which is movable between at least two positions by an electric adjusting drive and acts on a lock element; In at least both positions the spring (14
At least one lever (10) is provided which can be fixed by means of a drive disk, in which case the transmission element is arranged between the adjusting drive and the lever (10). (4), wherein the drive disk (4) has an inner contour (6) and an outer contour (7) with an intermediate region (8).
And the pin (11) of the lever (10) can be guided by the inner and outer contours (6, 7) during the movement of the drive disc (4), and the lever (10) Inner contour of both contours where one location is not equidistant from each other (6)
And / or another position is obtained by the outer contour (7). 2. Lock according to claim 1, wherein the drive disk (4) is decelerated via the worm transmission (3, 5) and can be driven by the adjusting drive (1, 15). 3. The drive disk (4) can drive two levers (10, 12), wherein the same or different inner and outer contours are provided on both sides of the flat drive disk (4). The lock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein (6, 7) is present. 4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein one drive disk and one adjusting drive are arranged in each case on one lever. The lock according to any one of the above. 5. Lock according to claim 3, wherein the lever (10; 12) and the drive disc (4; 6) are each arranged on one shaft (9; 13). 6. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting drive is formed as an electric motor.