Motor vehicle doorlock with combined central locking and opening actuator

[0001] This invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock with a combined central interlock and opening drive with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The concept of a motor vehicle door lock should be understood comprehensively, not only side door locks and rear door locks, but also for example rear gate locks are covered by it.

[0003] The known motor vehicle door lock underlying the invention (EP 0 710 755 B1) first of all has the conventional lock elements in the form of a lock latch and a detent pawl which blocks the lock latch in the closed position, as well as a lock mechanism with several interacting elements which optionally actuate the lock elements. The elements of the lock mechanism include an outside actuation element which can be actuated by hand from the outside door handle or the like, in the form of a toggle lever which can actuate the detent pawl via a coupling element in the form of a swivelling level which can be moved in the lengthwise direction in the coupled position. In the decoupled position of the coupling element, specifically the position which has been swivelled out by a drive projection into an undercut, the outside actuation element executes an idle stroke.

[0004] The coupling element is moved by an adjustment element out of the coupled into the decoupled position, by motorized actuation of the adjustment element by means of a central interlock drive. Upon repeated actuation of the central interlock drive in the same actuation direction the adjustment element returns via spring force to its initial position in the manner of a ballpoint pen mechanism and thus the coupling element returns from the decoupled position into the coupled position.

[0005] In a second function, the central interlock drive has the function of an opening drive, specifically actuates the detent pawl. There can be an additional release element between the detent pawl and the central interlock drive for this purpose. The central interlock drive has a drive element which can be driven in two directions in the form of a driving pinion which engages a toothed segment on the adjustment element. In one direction the drive element actuates the adjustment element, both coupling and decoupling, in the other direction the release element or the locking element.

[0006] The spring-loaded ballpoint pen mechanism of the known motor vehicle door lock can also be made with correct matching of the paths and spring forces such that the coupling element which is in the decoupled position when the outside actuation element is actuated can be adjusted by motorized actuation of the adjustment element into a storage position preceding the coupled position, from which storage position the coupling element is moved automatically into the coupled position when the actuation of the outside actuation element is omitted, and, as explained, under the action of the spring force of a spring element. This ensures that this motor vehicle door lock can also be unlocked by motor when at the same time opening actuation has taken place from the outside, the outside actuation element has therefore been actuated. The coupled position, therefore the unlocked position, is stored here under spring force and after release of the outside actuating element is automatically assumed under spring force. This is called a luxury function.

[0007] The known motor vehicle door lock explained above is basically made as an electric lock, in normal operation it can only be opened by motor. Only in emergency operation can it be mechanically opened by manual actuation of the outside actuating element.

[0008] When the electric lock is equipped with a passive entry function, also called an electronic key, the motor vehicle door lock can be unlocked automatically when approaching the motor vehicle without pressing a button on the remote control module or the like.

[0009] A motor vehicle door lock system with a passive entry function requires a certain reaction phase for the control electronics. The length of the reaction phase is perceived as long compared to conventional motor vehicle door lock systems. Pulling the outside door handle can take place under certain circumstances when the reaction of the control electronics has not yet been completed. Then the operator is annoyed that he must pull the door handle a second time, because it is interpreted as a malfunction. There are various approaches to somehow concealing or shortening the resulting total time of the reaction (DE 195 21 024 A1; DE 197 52 974 A1).

[0010] A similar problem also occurs when a passive entry function is not set up, for example when the passenger tries to open the passenger door from the outside, although the central interlock drive there has not moved the coupling element into the coupled position yet (unlocked position).

[0011] It is not always desirable to use a purely electric lock as a motor vehicle door lock. In fact, that is considerable mistrust of purely electric locks which no longer have any mechanical opening actuation. This mistrust is based on considerations of safety engineering.

[0012] For this purpose it could be imagined that the initially explained known motor vehicle door lock (EP 0 710 755 B1) underlying this invention can only be actuated mechanically by the outside door handle. Then the central interlock drive need only perform the function of actuating the adjustment element. This motor vehicle door lock however would possibly be so slow in the reaction phase that the outside door handle would have to be pulled a second time in order to finally mechanically open the motor vehicle door lock.

[0013] Therefore the object of the invention is to configure the known, initially explained motor vehicle door lock such that in principle it operates mechanically, but nevertheless in any case rapid opening takes place.

[0014] The aforementioned object is achieved in a motor vehicle door lock with the features of the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0015] Therefore, as claimed in the invention opening actuation is normally executed mechanically from the outside door handle. Therefore in this respect it is a purely mechanical motor vehicle door lock. The central interlock drive however has preserved its second function of an opening drive nevertheless, specifically when the outside door handle has been pressed or pulled more quickly than the control electronics for triggering the central interlock drive and the central interlock drive itself could react; this can occur especially when the passive entry function is implemented, regardless of the opening actuation of the outside door handle to implement electrical opening. Then, if the central interlock drive has not been able to execute unlocking, the central interlock drive takes effect in the second function and actuates the release element or the lock element as a motorized opening drive. Electrical opening of the motor vehicle door lock therefore takes place only when the operator actuates the outside door handle more quickly than the motorized, especially electric motor unlocking mechanism could react. A second actuation of the outside door handle is not necessary, because the door opens by itself.

[0016] Using the motorized central interlock drive which is present anyway, ease of operation is therefore improved; this will also be generally advantageous to a limited degree especially when a passive entry system is implemented in the motor vehicle. Nevertheless it is possible to retain the motor vehicle door lock itself in the normal case (and especially in an emergency) as a motor vehicle door lock which can be opened purely mechanically. Therefore considerations of safety engineering no longer apply.

[0017] Preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0018] It is not important for the teaching of this invention whether the motor vehicle door lock is implemented in one part, therefore with lock elements and a lock mechanism which are executed in one unit, and optionally lock electronics, or in two parts with on the one hand the lock elements in a lock unit, on the other hand the lock mechanism and optionally the lock electronics in the control unit which is spatially separate from it. The latter is known in and of itself from the prior art (DE 44 44 581 A1) with the advantage that the more moisture-sensitive control unit is located in the dry space of a motor vehicle door and only the less moisture-sensitive lock unit with the mechanical lock elements is located in the moist space of the motor vehicle door. Typical connecting elements for transmission of force are Bowden cables.

[0019] The invention is detailed below using drawings which show only embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a motor vehicle door lock in one view in the locked position,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the motor vehicle door lock from FIG. 1, but now in the unlocked position, outside door handle not pulled,

[0022] FIG. 3 shows in a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 the motor vehicle door lock, outside door handle pulled in an idle stroke before the unlocked position is reached,

[0023] FIG. 4 shows in a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 a second embodiment of a motor vehicle door lock as claimed in the invention;

[0024] FIG. 5 shows the embodiment from FIG. 4 in an extract in the lower area of the outside actuating element 3,

[0025] FIG. 6 shows in a schematic a motor vehicle door lock made in two parts and

[0026] FIG. 7 shows a control unit of a motor vehicle door lock made in two parts as shown in FIG. 6.

[0027] The motor vehicle door lock 1 which is shown schematically in FIG. 1 in a perspective view is shown on the example of a motor vehicle side door lock. Also rear door locks, sliding door locks, hatch locks, etc. are encompassed by the concept of door lock.

[0028] One such motor vehicle door lock 1 belongs to a motor vehicle door lock system in which the different motor vehicle locks for motor vehicle doors and motor vehicle hatches can be locked and unlocked by motor, preferably an electric motor. The control electronics of one such motor vehicle door lock system can have the passive entry function which was explained in the general part of the specification. The motor vehicle door lock 1 which is shown is matched especially to boundary conditions when a passive entry function is implemented. As has already been stated in the general part of the specification, the teaching is also important in a normal remote-controlled motor vehicle door lock 1 with motorized central interlock drive.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows first of all the motor vehicle door lock 1 with a lock mechanism with several elements which interact with one another. First of all, an outside actuating element 3 in the form of an outside actuation lever which is pivotally supported on a bearing axis 4 is shown; it can be actuated by hand from the outside door handle, the direction in which the force acts being indicated by the arrow 2. The outside actuating element 3 is loaded against the direction 2 in which the force acts by a pretensioning spring which is not shown. The outside actuating element 3 is thus reset into its initial position shown in FIG. 1 under spring force when the outside door handle is released. There is furthermore a coupling element 5. The coupling element 5 in this embodiment is made dumbbell-shaped with a swivelling axis 6 and a coupling journal 7. This is detailed below.

[0030] Furthermore, a locking element 8 is shown in the form of a detent pawl. The pertinent lock latch 9 which is held in the lock position by the detent pawllock element 8, can be seen in the closed position in FIG. 1. As is conventional, it can be made as a rotary latch with a bearing axle 10 without this being understood as limiting.

[0031] Basically it would also be possible, and it is also often implemented, to have an additional element, a release element for example in the form of a trailing lever, between the lock element 8 and the coupling element 5. To do this reference should be made to the citations listed at the beginning, which in part shows these additional release elements.

[0032] In the coupled position the outside actuating element 3 via the coupling element 5 actuates the lock element 8, in the decoupled position of the coupling element 5 the outside actuating element 8 executes an idle stroke when the outside door handle is pulled. FIG. 1 shows the decoupled position.

[0033] When the outside actuating element 3 has not been actuated, the coupling element 5 can be moved out of the coupled position into the decoupled position and vice versa by an adjustment element 11 which can be actuated by motor. The central interlock drive 12 is used for motorized actuation of the adjustment element 11. The interlock drive in this embodiment has, as shown in FIG. 1, an electric drive motor 13 and a worm gear pair 14. Other embodiments are known from the prior art and can be used.

[0034] In the second function the central interlock drive 12 can actuate the lock element 8. How this happens is detailed further below.

[0035] What is important first is that opening actuation normally takes place mechanically only with the outside actuating element 3. The central interlock drive 12 actuates the lock element 8 in the second function only when the outside actuating element 3 in this phase is already in the idle stroke, therefore has been mechanically actuated so quickly that the coupling element 5 has not yet reached the coupled position. In this way it is concealed to the operator that the directly following opening of the motor vehicle door lock 1 has not taken place by mechanical actuation with pulling of the outside door handle, but electrically in the second function by the central interlock drive 12. But this function only occurs in exceptional cases. Normally, when there is enough time for actuating the adjustment element 11 by the central interlock drive 12 in the first function, the subsequent opening actuation of the motor vehicle door lock 1 takes place purely mechanically in the classical manner.

[0036] With the above explained design on the one hand the safety considerations of many automobile manufacturers are taken into account by making available a motor vehicle door lock 1 which can fundamentally be actuated mechanically and which can also be opened mechanically in an accident, on the other hand by skillful double use of the central interlock drive 12 the actuation problem which can occur especially when implementing the passive entry function or pulling on the outside door handle which leads in some way is considered.

[0037] It could be provided that the central interlock drive 12 has a drive element 15 which can be driven in two directions, especially in the form of a drive pinion or a drive cam which in one direction actuates the adjustment element 11 and in the other opposite direction actuates the release element or the lock element 8. This would be the design which is implemented in the central interlock drive of the prior art underlying the teaching of this application (EP 0 710 755 B1).

[0038] The preferred embodiment which is shown takes a different approach, specifically one in which the central interlock drive 12 has a drive element 15 which can be driven in two directions, especially in the form of a drive pinion or a drive cam which in one direction actuates the adjustment element 11 in the direction of the coupled position and the release element or the lock element 8 and in the other, opposite direction actuates the adjustment element 11 in the direction of the decoupled position and releases the lock element 8. Thus there is directionally-identical actuation of the adjustment element 11 in the direction of the coupled position and of the lock element 8 in the opening direction (lifting of the detent pawl).

[0039] The illustrated embodiment shows the drive element 15 made fundamentally as a drive pinion, but degenerated into a toothed arc because here only swivelling over a relatively small angular range in two directions is necessary.

[0040] The illustrated embodiment shows, as is apparent from comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, that here the initially mentioned luxury function is implemented. This is implemented by the coupling element 5, which is in the decoupled position when the outside actuating element 3 is actuated, being able to be moved by motorized actuation of the adjustment element 11 into the storage position which precedes the coupled position (shown in FIG. 3) from which storage position, when actuation of the outside actuating element 3 is omitted, the coupling element 5 is automatically moved into the coupled position (shown in FIG. 2). The latter takes place preferably under the force of a pretensioning spring which acts clockwise in this embodiment on the coupling element 5 and which is not shown separately here.

[0041] The storage position which precedes the coupled position is defined in this embodiment by a catch 3 on the outside actuating element 3 which, when the outside actuating element 3 is in the idle stroke, prevents the coupling element 5 from engaging the coupled position. To do this, in this embodiment the coupling journal 7 under the spring force of a pretensioning spring which acts clockwise and which is not shown adjoins the catch 3. If the outside actuating element 3 has returned to its initial position, the path for the coupling journal 7 into the coupled position is free.

[0042] After releasing the outside actuating element 3 therefore the mechanical coupling to the lock element 8 is closed, regardless of the fact lifting the lock element 8 by means of the central interlock drive 12 has already taken place in the meantime in its second function as the opening drive. The following opening actuations again take place purely mechanically.

[0043] In the above explained embodiment an especially feasible design which is shown in the drawings is characterized in that the drive element 15 is connected to a swivelling arm 16 which, when the drive element 15 is actuated, swivels in one direction around the swivelling axis 17 such that its free end meets the release element or the lock element 8 and actuates it if the coupling element 5 is not in the coupled position, and runs freely if the coupling element 5 is in the coupled position. The free-running position is shown in FIG. 2. Here the coupling journal 7 on the coupling element 5 is not between the swivelling arm 16 and lock element 8. The swivelling arm 16 can swivel relatively far clockwise without influencing the detent pawllock element 8.

[0044] Conversely, in FIG. 3 the coupling journal 7 is between the swivelling arm 16 and the lock element 8. Further swivelling of the swivelling arm 16 in FIG. 3 clockwise would lead to the fact that the lock element 8 would be swivelled around the bearing axis 4 counterclockwise because the coupling journal 7 to a certain extent pushes it in front of itself.

[0045] The illustrated embodiment shows an especially feasible, toggle level-like design of the mechanism on the central interlock drive 12. It is provided that the adjustment element 11 is made as a lever (swivelling axis 11) which is supported on the swivelling arm 16 with a distance from the swivelling axis 17 and which, when the swivelling arm 16 swivels around the swivelling axis 17, executes an essentially linear adjustment motion. The drive motion of the drive element 15 is therefore converted on the one hand into a swivelling motion of the swivelling arm 16, on the other hand leads to displacement of the adjustment element 11 for purposes of adjustment of the coupling element 5. Thus the desired superimposed motions for different functions can be implemented, although the central interlock drive 12 runs only in one direction (and returns against this direction back to the starting point).

[0046] The coupling element 5 in this embodiment is made as a lever which runs on one end in a crank 18 with the coupling journal 7 and which is pivotally mounted on the adjustment element 11. The crank 18 is made in the shape of a circular arc (pisiform) in the adjustment element 11, on the right next to this crank 18 is the swiveling axis 6 of the coupling element 5.

[0047] It furthermore applies to the preferred embodiment shown that the lever which forms the coupling element 5 is spring-loaded towards the end of the crank 18 facing the coupled position by a pretensioning spring which is not shown here.

[0048] FIGS. 1 to 3 furthermore show that in this preferred embodiment the actuation arm 19 of the lock element 8 and the actuation arm 20 of the outside actuating element 3 form a slot 21 which is open on one end and into which the coupling journal 7 of the coupling element 5 in the coupled position dips and in the decoupled position does not dip. The coupled position is shown by FIG. 2, the decoupled position is shown in FIG. 1.

[0049] The second function for the central interlock drive 12 is implemented by the actuating arm 19 of the closing element 8 extending beyond the open end of the slot 21 and the journal 7 of the coupling element 5 also being in the decoupled position and optionally in the storage position in front of this actuating arm 19. Therefore force can also be transferred here to the lock element 8detent pawl, but only from the swivelling arm 16 of the central interlock drive 12. Conversely, the coupling journal 7 with normal actuation by hand fits upward into the slot 21, the swivelling arm 16 is now deactivated, for this reason the outside actuating element 3 acts via the actuating arm 20.

[0050] In general, the part which dips into the slot 21 need not be a journal 7. This part 7 of the coupling element 5 can also have other forms, for example it can be molded in one piece on the coupling element 5.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows the central interlock drive 12 underneath the lock element 8 and the rotary latch 9. For this reason this arrangement stands relatively high. Conversely it is feasible for the outside actuating element 3 to be supported on the bearing axis 4 on which the lock element 8 is supported.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment which differs from the previously explained embodiment first of all in that the central interlock drive 12 has been moved up, roughly to the level of the lock element 8. The makes the overall structure of the motor vehicle door lock 1 more compact in height (relative to the plane of the drawing) in any case.

[0053] Furthermore, there is a simplification here by omitting the adjustment element 11 which is present in the first embodiment in the lock mechanism. This is because here the coupling element 5 is supported directly on the drive element 15. The coupling element 5 itself can execute limited relative motion compared to the drive element 15 by its being made as a lever which runs on the drive element 15 in a crank 18 and which is spring-loaded towards the end of the crank 18 facing the coupled position in the drive element 15.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows the position corresponding to FIG. 1 in this embodiment, therefore the locking position, the coupling element 5 therefore in the decoupled position. The catch 3 on the outside actuation element 3 in this position in an idle stroke would swivel past the coupling journal 7 of the coupling element 5, and this coupling journal 7 would stop in front of the actuating arm 19 of the lock element 8. The indicated swivelling arm 16 on the other hand would meet the journal 7 in this position even when the coupling element 5 remains in position (deflected against spring force) and would move the actuating arm 19 via the journal.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows the lower area of the outside actuation element 3 with the catch 3 in a extract side view. It is apparent that the outside actuation element 3 is elbowed to form the catch 3 and projects with the catch 3 into the path of motion of the coupling journal 7. In the position shown in FIG. 4, as FIG. 5 shows, the catch 3 is offset to the bottom relative to the coupling journal 7, the coupling journal 7 is not affected. But if the coupling journal 7 is displaced down, it moves in front of the catch 3 and the latter can then transfer force to the actuating arm 19 of the lock element 8 with the interposition of the coupling journal 7.

[0056] The special advantages of the motor vehicle door lock 1 as claimed in the invention have already been explained in the general part of the specification; reference should be made there.

[0057] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an embodiment in which the motor vehicle door lock is made in two parts. This concept is already known from the prior art (DE 44 44 581 A1) and makes it possible to house the moisture-sensitive components of the motor vehicle door lock in the dry space of the motor vehicle door and to leave only the less moisture-sensitive lock elements in the wet space. FIG. 6 shows the lock elements, specifically the detent pawl 8 and the lock latch 9, in a mechanical lock unit 22 which sits at the conventional location on the front sheet of the motor vehicle door and preferably is protected as well as possible against the entry of moisture from the inside and the outside. The other components of the motor vehicle door lock, especially therefore the lock mechanism and lock electronics which may be present, are combined in the control unit 23 which is spaced away from the lock unit 22. The control unit 23 is located in the dry space of the motor vehicle door on the inside of the partition between the wet space and the dry space. The lock unit 22 is connected by means of a mechanical distance-force transmission means 24 to the control unit. This force transmission means 24 is preferably the Bowden cable in the prior art. This is also the situation in the embodiment shown. The transfer of the mechanical force transmission means 24 from the dry space into the wet space can thus be done best with this. Of course, naturally there are also other force transmission means 24, for example rods with or without deflection levers.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a control unit 23 of the preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle door lock as claimed in the invention. The aforementioned individual elements of the lock mechanism in this control unit 23 are identified with the same reference numbers as in the above explained embodiment. It is indicated that the lock electronics is located in the plane behind the illustrated plane in the housing 25 of the control unit 23.

[0059] In addition to the above explained elements, the embodiment of FIG. 6 has another Bowden cable 26 to engage the locking cylinder on the adjustment element 11 (central interlock safety lever) and an antitheft drive which has a second electric drive motor 27 and a separate worm wheel 28. The antitheft drive moves an antitheft journal 29 in an angle-shaped elongated hole of the inside actuating lever 30 which for its part is connected to the inside door handle by means of another Bowden cable 31. Reference should also be made to the prior art for this fundamental design.

[0060] It is therefore apparent overall that the implementation of the teaching of this invention results in a certain function of the motor vehicle door lock which is independent of whether the motor vehicle door lock is made in one part or two. Even when there are two parts the force transmission conditions can be implemented by Bowden cables, etc.

[0061] The advantages of a two-part arrangement of the motor vehicle door lock are the following, among others.

[0062] In a suitable arrangement of the control unit 23, especially in the vicinity of the door hinges in the motor vehicle door or hatch, the control unit 23 with the impact-sensitive lock electronics located in it are exposed to less mass acceleration than as in the past on the edge of the motor vehicle door away from the coupling point.

[0063] The two-part execution makes it possible on the one hand to execute the lock unit 22, on the other hand the control unit 23, in the manner of a block, therefore no longer in an L-shape, as in the integrated execution. This makes it possible to better use the construction space in the motor vehicle door or hatch.

[0064] Combination with a corresponding inside handle arrangement allows emergency locking directly on the control unit 23 from the inside.

[0065] Finally, with a suitable arrangement of the control unit 23 there is improved antitheft protection.

[0066] The passive entry system and a switch for detection of actuation of the outside door handle make it possible for the control electronics to recognize whether only unlocking is taking place or whether the motorized drive is also to perform the opening function. The electrical drive motor 13 of the central interlock drive 12 can be triggered in this way if necessary with only the power supply necessary at the time.

[0067] To protect the mechanism and to keep the noise as low as possible, for example the trigger voltage of the electric drive motor 13 in the central interlock function can be lower than in the opening function, for example 8.0 V instead of 12.0 V.