WO2021151424A1

WO2021151424A1 - Motor vehicle lock

Info

Publication number: WO2021151424A1
Application number: PCT/DE2021/100040
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carsten Fuchs
Original assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2020-01-29
Filing date: 2021-01-14
Publication date: 2021-08-05
Also published as: DE102020102084A1; EP4097317A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock (1) for a motor vehicle, having a locking mechanism (7) with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a release lever (6), wherein the locking mechanism (7) can be unlocked by means of the release lever (6), an actuation lever (2), a coupling lever (3) arranged between the release lever (2) and the actuation lever (6), coupling of the coupling lever (3) being controllable by means of a mass inertia element (5) and wherein a movement of the mass inertia element (5) is mechanically blocked.

Description

description

Motor vehicle lock

The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a side door lock, comprising a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one locking pawl, a release lever, the locked locking mechanism being unlockable by means of the release lever, an actuating lever, an actuating lever arranged between the actuating lever and the release lever Clutch lever, coupling of the clutch lever being controllable by means of a mass inertia element.

A lock for a motor vehicle, which is also called a locking system, is for the most part built in a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl. The locking mechanism in the lock interacts with a lock holder that is either attached to the body of the motor vehicle or the door, flap, sliding door, etc. The relative movement between the lock holder and the rotary latch causes the rotary latch to pivot and, at the same time, the pawl engages the rotary latch.

Depending on the embodiment, there are one- or two-stage locking devices, which then have a pre-locking position and / or a main locking position. The pawl is preferably brought into engagement with the rotary latch in a spring-preloaded manner. To unlock, that is, to release the pawl from the rotary latch, a release lever is used. The release lever acts on the pawl in such a way that the pawl disengages from the rotary latch and the rotary latch moves from the latching position into an open position. The movement of the Drehfal le takes place here mostly by means of a spring element and / or due to a tensile load resulting from the lock holder in combination with the door seal. An operating lever is used to operate the release lever. The actuation lever can for example be an internal actuation lever or an external actuation lever. With the help of the operating lever, the release lever is moved and the lock is unlocked.

To increase safety in motor vehicles, systems are used that are equipped with inertia elements. The mass inertia elements counteract an external impulse and prevent, for example, a side door of a motor vehicle from being opened unintentionally. An impulse can be introduced into the vehicle, for example, by a collision. If, for example, in a side impact, an impulse is introduced into the motor vehicle in such a way that, for example, a door handle of a side door is accelerated, the deflection of the door handle can cause the actuating lever to be activated and the locking mechanism to open, causing it to become unintentional Opening the side door can come. In order to prevent such undesired events, locking systems based on mass inertia have become known, which counteract unintentional opening of a door lock.

From DE 20 2013 104 118 U1 a motor vehicle door lock is known which is provided with an inertia lock. The motor vehicle lock comprises a locking arrangement which is equipped with a control lever and a clutch element. The coupling element is designed with a spring arrangement. When the actuating lever is not actuated, the locking arrangement locks or is only unlocked when the actuating lever is actuated federgetrie ben. If the actuation of the actuation lever results in an actuation speed which is above a predetermined limit speed, the inertia of the control lever ensures that the actuation of the actuation lever is delayed.

In addition, DE 20 2012 007 312 U1 discloses a motor vehicle lock with an actuating lever and a clutch arrangement. The actuating Transmission lever cooperates with the clutch arrangement in such a way that the actuating lever in question disengages the engaged clutch assembly and leaves the disengaged clutch assembly in the disengaged state.

If, in the event of an accident, the actuation lever is actuated at an actuation speed above a certain limit speed, the actuation lever executes an idle stroke because of the delayed engagement of the clutch arrangement due to inertia.

From DE 10 2014 001 490 A1 an inertia-based actuation system for a release lever is known. The actuating lever cooperates with a clutch lever which is pivotably mounted on the release lever. A spring seated on the actuating lever engages the clutch lever and thus enables the clutch lever to engage when the actuating lever is actuated. When the clutch is engaged, the lock can be unlocked using the release lever. In addition, a locking lever is provided by means of which the clutch lever can be disengaged as well as in the event of an accident caused by inertia.

Another mass inertia-based flow system in a lock for a motor vehicle with a separate mass inertia element is known from DE 10 2014 002 581 A1. A clutch lever is mounted on an operating lever and is spring-loaded in a position in which the clutch lever engages the release lever when the operating lever is operated.

If a limit speed of the actuation of the actuating lever is overridden, a locking lever acts on the coupling member so that the coupling member disengages from the release lever. The locking lever, in turn, is spring-loaded against the release lever and can follow the movement of the actuating lever when the actuating lever is operated with a normal actuating lever. speed is operated. In the event of an accident and thus an excessive speed of the operating lever, the control lever cannot follow the movement of the operating lever due to the inertia element in engagement with the control lever and engages with the clutch lever. The control lever then causes the clutch lever to be deflected. The release mechanism for the lock can be locked by fixing the inertia element in the deflected state in which the control lever is in engagement with the clutch lever, so that the locking mechanism is not unlocked even if the actuating lever is operated again can.

The safety systems known from the prior art are mostly based on the fact that the coupling member is controlled by means of a spring element. Spring elements can have strong fluctuations in the spring constants due to the material properties and the Fierstellung method. A defined design of the springs therefore requires a great deal of effort. In addition, controlling by means of a spring element is always associated with uncertainties, since temperature fluctuations, for example, can also influence the spring properties.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved lock for a motor vehicle. In addition, it is the object of the invention to provide an actuation system based on mass inertia for a lock of a motor vehicle with which engagement can be reliably prevented even in the event of a multiple pulse.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments described in the following are not restrictive, they are Rather, any possible variations of the features described in the description, the subordinate claims and the drawings are possible.

According to claim 1, the object of the invention is achieved in that a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a side door lock, is provided, comprising a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a release lever, the locked locking mechanism being unlockable by means of the release lever , an actuating lever, a coupling lever arranged between the actuating lever and the release lever, coupling of the coupling lever being controllable by means of a mass inertia element, and a movement of the mass inertia element being blockable. A secure decoupling of the operating lever chain can be made possible by mechanically blocking the mass inertia element. If the movement of the inertia element is blocked, the actuating lever chain can be actuated from, for example, an outside door handle, a Bowden cable and an outside actuating lever, the retention of the inertia element is initialized in its starting position, but the coupling lever is disengaged so that the actuating lever is actuated but this does not trigger the locking mechanism.

For example, if the vehicle is hit by an impulse, as occurs for example in an accident, the inertia of the mass of the mass inertia lever counteracts the impulse and remains in its starting position. In a real crash, however, there is not a single pulse; rather, pulses that follow one another periodically decay and act on the motor vehicle lock and thus the inertia lever. It can therefore be spoken of as an impulse wave. Although the amplitudes of the pulse wave decrease over time, they have an effect on the inertia element. The occurrence of these impulse waves is also referred to as bouncing. In order to prevent deflection of the inertia lever as a result of the pulse wave, the inertia lever mass is blocked in its movement according to the invention, preferably mechanically blocked. It a maximum of security is thus provided in the motor vehicle lock, on the one hand the inertia of the inertia lever is supplemented with the tel for blocking the inertia lever. The inertia lever counteracts the first or the first strong impulses, whereas blocking the inertia lever, albeit delayed, prevents the locking mechanism from opening due to the blocking of the movement of the inertia lever.

The lock for a motor vehicle also includes those locks that are used, for example, in sliding doors, rear locks, side doors, flaps or covers, such as a convertible top hood. The lock usually comprises a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl. The locking mechanism can be designed with a preliminary detent and / or a main detent, with one or two detent pawls being able to be used.

A release lever is the lever that acts directly on the locking mechanism. The release lever acts on the pawl and releases the pawl from the A handle with the rotary latch. A clutch lever acts between the actuating lever and the release lever. When the actuating lever is actuated and preferably before the external actuating lever, the coupling lever comes into contact with the release lever and thus enables the release lever to be actuated, whereby the lock can be unlocked. The clutch lever is guided in a control curve so that a defined alignment of the clutch lever on the release lever is possible. On the one hand, the alignment of the coupling lever can be controlled, and the Auslenkungsverhal th of the coupling lever can also be adjusted by the course of the contour. It is possible to control the deflection angle as well as the deflection speed of the coupling lever through the course of the contour. Depending on the existing path when operating the operating lever, the movement of the clutch lever can thus be adjustable. The clutch lever is pivotably mounted in the actuating lever. The inclusion of the coupling lever in the actuating lever and in particular in the Außenbetäti transmission lever offers the advantage that a coupling of the actuating lever to the release lever is possible with a small number of components. In addition, the transmission of the movement from the actuating lever to the release lever is directly possible. The pivotable mounting of the clutch lever in the actuating lever enables the clutch lever to be mountable on the one hand in the actuating lever and, at the same time, to be guided through the control cam.

The clutch lever can be guided by means of a control lever. The inclusion of the clutch lever or the guiding of the clutch lever in a control lever enables the control cam to follow the movements of the actuating lever. The control cam can thus be moved together with the actuating lever and in engagement with the clutch lever together with the clutch lever. From this arrangement it can be seen that the control lever can function as a control member when the control lever performs a movement relative to the actuating lever.

During normal actuation of the actuating lever, the control lever follows the movement of the actuating lever through the engagement of a spring between the actuating lever and the control lever. The clutch lever is gela in the operating lever and follows the movement of the operating lever. If the actuating lever is moved in normal operation at a speed that can be assigned to the actuation, the control lever follows the movement of the actuating lever. The spring acting between the control lever and the actuating lever is designed in such a way that a corresponding movement takes place between the control lever and the actuating lever in normal operation. Only in the case of an excessive speed of the actuating lever, as can occur, for example, in the event of an accident, the actuating lever is accelerated to start in such a way that there is a relative movement between the control lever and the actuating lever. A relative movement between the control lever and the actuating lever then means that the clutch lever is guided in the control curve of the control lever and can be steered by the geometry of the contour of the control lever. The deflection of the clutch lever causes the clutch lever to disengage from the release lever. The lock remains locked.

The inertia lever is used to hold the motor vehicle in motion when there is an impulse and thus to prevent the control lever from moving. In this case, the clutch lever is guided in the control curve in such a way that the clutch lever disengages from the release lever. The Massenträg unit lever counteracts that acting on the motor vehicle and blocks the movement of the control lever, as described above. According to the invention, it is also conceivable that the mass inertia lever is designed merely as a pivotably mounted lever, that is to say without a mass inertia function. According to the inven tion, the movement of the pivotably mounted Flebels, or the inertia lever, can be blocked.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention results when a blocking element can be introduced into a movement path of the mass inertia element. If the mass inertia element and in particular the movement of the mass inertia element is hindered in movement by a blocking element, the movement of the clutch lever can be controlled by means of the mass inertia element. The blocking element can act directly on the mass inertia element, whereby the mass inertia element remains in its original position. The starting position of the mass inertia element is the position in which the mass inertia element is when the motor vehicle lock is in the inactivated state. From the starting position, the inertia element can ment to be moved into an actuation position. When the actuating lever is operated normally, the inertia element is carried along via the coupling lever. Only in the case of a strong impulse, by accelerating the actuation lever strongly, does the inertia lever counteract the impulse and remain in the starting position. The blocking element holds the mass inertia element in the starting position.

If the blocking element can be actuated by means of an electric drive unit, a further embodiment variant of the invention is achieved. The Blockierele element is movable, that is, slidably or pivotably added in the motor vehicle lock. By means of the electric drive unit, the blocking element can be moved into the movement path of the inertia element. The drive unit is preferably formed from an electric direct current motor and a gear stage. However, it is also conceivable that alternative drives, such as a piezo actuator, can be used. Of course, it is also conceivable that the blocking element is arranged directly on the motor shaft, so that the blocking element is moved directly by the movement of the output shaft of the motor. However, a gear stage is preferably provided from a gear attached to the output shaft and an output gear, so that the movement of the blocking element can be adapted via the gear stage. The output gear can also be designed in one piece with the blocking element, so that at least one toothing is formed on the blocking element, into which a drive wheel of the electric motor engages. The electric drive unit is thus preferably formed from the electric motor, the drive pinion, the driven gear and the blocking element. By using the electric motor, very fast actuating times can be achieved, so that actuating times for the blocking element of less than 50 ms, preferably less than 30 ms, can be achieved. Thus, from the interaction of the inertia element, which counteracts the first impulse from the impact, and the blocking of the inertia element, a secure locking of the motor vehicle lock or a Preventing the unlocking of the locking mechanism can be guaranteed, whereby opening of the component secured by the motor vehicle lock can be prevented.

It can also be advantageous and form an embodiment of the invention if the blocking element is pivotably mounted in the motor vehicle lock. Pivoting movements are structurally favorable to implement in the motor vehicle lock, since a pivotable mounting enables fast positioning times and at the same time is structurally simple to implement. The blocking element can have at least one stop surface for the inertia element, which can be moved against the inertia element by means of the pivoting or rotating movement of the blocking element. In a starting position and in the inactivated state of the electric drive, the inertia element can move freely. In the event of an accident, the electric drive is activated and wastes the blocking element or the stop of the blocking element against the inertia element. Thus, the movement of the mass inertia element is blocked and the unlocking of the locking mechanism can be interrupted by means of the actuating lever chain to unlock the locking mechanism.

It can also be advantageous and form a further embodiment variant of the invention if the blocking element is accommodated in the motor vehicle lock in a displaceable manner. The displaceable mounting of the blocking element can be advantageous, for example, when very little installation space is available in the motor vehicle lock and / or when the electric drive unit is arranged at a distance from the inertia element in the motor vehicle lock. Depending on the embodiment and the space required in the motor vehicle lock, blocking elements arranged to be pivotable or linearly moveable can alternatively be arranged in the motor vehicle lock.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using various exemplary embodiments. However, the principle applies that the exemplary embodiments do not limit the invention, but merely represent advantageous embodiments. The features shown can be carried out individually or in combination with other features of the description as well as the claims individually or in combination.

It shows:

FIG. 1 shows a basic representation of a motor vehicle lock with the components essential for explaining the invention, the release lever chain or the motor vehicle lock being shown in an unactuated position, and FIG

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the release mechanism for unlocking the lock according to FIG. 1 in the event of excessive acceleration of the actuating lever, the clutch lever being shown in a steered position.

In FIG. 1, a side view of a motor vehicle lock 1 is reproduced. The lock 1 is only indicated as a dashed line. The motor vehicle lock 1 comprises an operating lever 2, a clutch lever 3, a control lever 4, a mass inertia element 5, a release lever 6 and a lock 7. The lock 7, only partially indicated, can for example consist of a pawl 7 on which the release lever 6 acts immediately.

FIG. 1 shows the motor vehicle lock 1 in an unactuated state. To operate the operating lever 2, the operating lever is operated, for example, by means of a Bowden cable in the direction of the arrow P1 in a clockwise direction. When actuating the actuating lever 2, the clutch lever gela in the actuating lever 2 would be moved via its axis 9 mounted in the actuating lever. The clutch lever 3 in turn has a pin 10 with which the The clutch lever engages in a control cam 11 of the control lever 4. When the actuating lever 2 is actuated in the direction of the arrow P1, the actuating lever 2 thus entrains the control lever 4. A spring element acts between the actuating lever 2 and the control lever 4. The spring element holds the control lever in its starting position, so that the spring element acts with a relative force between the control lever and the actuating lever 2 for a relative movement between the actuating lever and the control lever 4. In order to produce a relative movement between the actuating lever 2 and the control lever 4, the spring force of the spring element must therefore be overcome.

The unactuated state of the motor vehicle lock 1 is shown in FIG of the arrow P2 in a clockwise movement of the release lever 6 around the axis 8. By means of the release lever 6, the locking mechanism 7 is locked. During normal actuation, the clutch lever 3 remains in its basic position and takes the control lever 4 with it via the pin 10. The control lever 4 is in turn connected by means of a pin to the inertia element 5, the pin in the control lever 4 pivoting the inertia element in the direction of arrow P3 counterclockwise.

If, in the event of an accident, there is an impulse on the motor vehicle, where the operating lever 2 is accelerated excessively, the inertia element remains in its initial position, whereby the control lever 4 remains in its initial position and the clutch lever 3 disengages. The coupling from the clutch lever 3 is shown as an example in FIG.

To secure the inertia element 5 in its starting position shown in FIG. 1, a blocking element 12 can be used. The blocking element 12 shown here comprises an electric motor 13, a drive wheel 14 and an output gear 15. A stop 16 is provided on the output gear 15, the stop 16 being movable against the inertia element 5 in the direction of the arrow P4 by means of the blocking element. The blocking element is thus equipped with a pivotably mounted stop 16. If the stop 16 rests against the inertia element 5, movement of the inertia element is prevented. If the inertia element 5 is blocked in the starting position, the control lever 4 connected to the inertia element 5 via the pin cannot move, which ultimately leads to a steering off of the clutch lever 5. The blocking of the inertia element 5 thus leads to a disengagement and an idle stroke of the actuating lever 2.

FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a blocking element 17, the blocking element having an electric motor 18, a drive wheel 19 and a sliding element 20 in this exemplary embodiment. The sliding element 20 can be moved by means of the drive wheel 19 in the direction of arrow P4. A stop 21 with which the blocking element 17 can prevent the movement of the inertia element 5 is arranged on the sliding element 20. The stop 21 has moved in the direction of the mass inertia element 5 and rests on the mass inertia element 5. In this case, a deflection of the actuating lever 2 leads to the clutch lever 3 being deflected, as shown in FIG. By using the blocking element 12, 17 according to the invention, the possibility is created to ensure sustainable safety of the inertia element 5 and to safely prevent unlocking of the locking mechanism 7 even in the event of an accident and when the motor vehicle lock 1 is hit in the manner of a pulse wave. List of reference symbols

1 motor vehicle lock

2 operating levers

3 clutch levers

4 control levers

5 mass inertia element

6 Release lever 7 Lock

8, 9 axis 10 spigot 11 control cam

12, 17 blocking element

13, 18 electric motor

14, 19 drive gear 15 output gear

16, 21 stop 20 sliding element

P1, P2, P3, P4 arrow

Claims

1. Motor vehicle lock (1), in particular a side door lock, comprising a ratchet (7) with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a release lever (6), the locked ratchet (7) being unlockable by means of the release lever (6), a Actuating lever (2), a coupling lever (3) arranged between the actuating lever (2) and the release lever (6), coupling of the coupling lever (3) being controllable by means of a mass inertia element (5), characterized in that a movement of the mass inertia selements (5) can be blocked.

2. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a blocking element (12, 17) can be introduced into a movement path of the mass inertia element (5).

3. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the blocking element (12, 17) can be actuated by means of an electrical drive unit.

4. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blocking element (12, 17) is pivotably mounted in the motor vehicle lock (1).

5. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the blocking element (12, 17) has at least one stop surface (16, 21) for the inertia element (5).

6. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the blocking element (12, 17) slidably in the motor vehicle lock (1) is received.

7. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive unit has at least one electric motor (13, 18) and at least one gear stage.

8. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inertia element (5) is received in a pivotable manner in the motor vehicle lock (1).

9. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the coupling lever (3) can be guided by means of a control lever (4).

10. Motor vehicle lock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a movement of the control lever (4) can be blocked by means of the mass inertia element (5).