Closing device for closing functions in vehicles in particular

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6439016
  • Patent Number
    6,439,016
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, November 28, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 27, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A closing device with a closing cylinder for closing functions to be performed especially on vehicles has a radial recess for the locking and control member that is open toward the exterior of the housing and the locking and control member is exposed in the radially outward direction, but is covered by a leaf-shaped spring. A spring is arranged in the circumferential area of the housing and acts directly on the locking and control member. The control and locking member is arranged radially adjacent to the cylinder portion of the cylinder core being provided with followers. A slide is positioned in a portion of the closing cylinder axially stepped relative to the locking and control member, and an axial connection bridges the spacing between the locking and control member and the slide.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates to a closing device for closing functions to be performed especially on vehicles, with a closing cylinder, wherein the closing cylinder comprises a free bushing and a cylinder core supported therein axially fixed and rotationally and having a cylinder portion comprising followers, and the followers are controllable by insertion of a key and, when the key is removed, lock the cylinder core with the free bushing, with a stationary housing receiving the free bushing in a rotatable fashion in which, however, the free bushing is normally rotationally fixed by a radially spring-loaded locking and control member of an overload interlock, wherein the locking and control member is positioned loose in a radial recess of the housing and, in the normal situation, engages with its radially inner end, because of the radial spring load, a radial recess of the free bushing having a lifting profile, wherein, however, in the overload situation, it moves from this engagement position, counter to its spring load, into a lifted position in the circumferential area of the free bushing, with a working member performing the locking function in the vehicle as well as with a slide rotationally fixedly but slidably connected with the working member, which normally is in a rotationally fixed coupling position with the cylinder core because of a return force, but in the overload situation is decoupled by means of the locking and control member and reaches a locking position which is rotationally fixed in the housing, in which optionally also the working member is locked. When the proper key is completely inserted into the cylinder core and the key is turned, the rotation is transmitted in this device onto a working member which acts on the lock and performs thereat closing functions. When a forced rotation of the closing cylinder by means of burglary tools is carried out, an overload interlock ensures that, even though a rotation of the cylinder core together with the free bushing takes place, this rotation is not transmitted onto the working member. Accordingly, a closing function is not carried out. Moreover, in the overload situation manipulations on the working member are also not possible because they are secured in a locking position; it is secured in the housing. This overload safety ensures that the device is not damaged in the case of forced opening attempts by burglary tools. The device is subsequently ready to be actuated by means of a proper key in the proper way.




2. Description of the Related Art




Devices of the aforementioned kind (DE 44 12 609 A) have been successful in practice but they have the disadvantage of a relatively large axial constructive length. In this device, the overload interlock must be arranged in an axial extension of the cylinder core which is arranged behind the cylinder portion which comprises the followers. The slide is arranged in a recess of the working member which is formed as a lever. In the recess a pressure spring must also be arranged which is supported between the slide and the working member and generates the radial spring load for the locking and control member of the provided overload interlock. The spring load of the overload interlock is thus realized indirectly via the slide. For space reasons, the pressure spring can be only small so that its radial spring load is limited. In order to be able to activate this spring load, the slide has an axial tab which is supported on the locking and control member. The supported tab of the slide is positioned in the same portion as the locking and control member. Moreover, in the same axial portion, the locking surfaces between a locking tongue and an outer sleeve of the housing are provided and, finally, also an inner sleeve of the housing with the radial recess for the locking and control member. The known device has, in addition to the overload interlock, also a catch member in the form of a roller which is forced by a leaf spring into a catch recess of the free bushing. This catch member was axially remote from the overload interlock and could not perform a control function on the slide. The known device was space-intensive and could not exert a sufficiently high spring-load onto the overload interlock.




It is an object of the invention to develop a reliable, space-saving device of the aforementioned kind which is primarily characterized by a minimal axial construction length. This is achieved according to the invention in that the radial recess for the locking and control member is open toward the exterior of the housing and the locking and control member is exposed in the radially outward direction, but is covered by a leaf-shaped spring, wherein the spring is arranged in the circumferential area of the housing and acts directly on the locking and control member, that the control and locking member is arranged radially adjacent to the cylinder portion of the cylinder core being provided with the followers, and that the slide is positioned in a portion of the closing cylinder axially stepped relative to the locking and control member and that an axial connection bridges the spacing between the locking and control member and the slide. According to the invention, the locking and control member can be arranged independently of the location of the slide and can therefore be arranged without problems in that cylinder portion of the cylinder core where also the followers are positioned. This saves axial space within the device. In this cylinder portion the locking and control member is radially outwardly exposed and is covered by a leaf-shaped spring which exerts directly the radial spring force of the overload interlock onto the locking and control member. The slide can be axially remote from the locking and control member. The spring load of the overload interlock which now acts independently of the slide can be as large as desired depending on a corresponding size of the leaf-shaped spring. Moreover, it is now also possible without problems to activate by the same or a separate leaf-shaped spring several locking and control members in the overload interlock, for example, a diametrically correlated pair of members. The spring load of the leaf-shaped spring which acts directly onto the locking and control member is used according to the invention for controlling the slide. For this purpose, an axial connection is provided which bridges the spacing between the side and the locking and control member. This axial connection can be formed in different ways, wherein each of these possibilities has its own inventive importance.




A first possibility for this axial connection resides in that a control member produces an indirect axial connection between the locking and control member and the slide, wherein the control member is arranged radially outside of the housing and connected to a spring of the overload interlock acting on the locking and control member and is moveable together with it. The control member is arranged radially outside of the housing and is formed either as a unitary part of the leaf-shaped spring acting on the locking and control member or comprised of several parts that are however connected to form a constructive unit. When the locking and control member in the overload situation is lifted out of the radial recess of the free bushing, the control member and the spring perform a common radial movement, and this movement is transmitted via the control member onto the slide.




A second possibility for the axial connection resides in that between the locking and control member and the slide a direct positive-locking connection is realized and that the spring of the overload interlock acting on the locking and control member produces by the positive-locking action at the same time the return force which forces the slide into the coupling position with the cylinder core. A direct positive-locking connection between the locking and control member and the slide is provided. In this case, the spring acting on the locking and control member has a double function. On the one hand, it serves as a radial spring-load of the overload interlock, as mentioned above. By means of the positive locking connection, the spring however has at the same time the new function of generating the return force, already mentioned above, which secures the slide in its coupling position. By means of this positive locking connection, the slide is transferred into a locking position in the overload situation in which the slide is fixed in the housing and, at the same time, the working member is secured in the housing. An especially simple embodiment of this positive-locking connection between the slide and the locking and control member results when the positive-locking connection is comprised of an axial pin on the locking control member and a link guide in the slide wherein the pin engages the link guide.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Further measures and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings. The drawings show three embodiments of the invention. It is shown in:





FIG. 1

a schematic longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention along the section I—I of

FIG. 2

, however, with the key illustrated in

FIG. 2

being removed;





FIG. 2

a first cross-section of the device along the section line II—II of

FIG. 1

, but after insertion of the proper key;





FIG. 3

a second cross-section of the device of

FIG. 1

along the section line III—III shown therein;





FIG. 4

a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG.


1


through the device, when, because of a forced rotation of a burglary tool, not shown in detail, an overload interlock is moved into a free-wheeling position;





FIG. 5

a cross-section corresponding to that of

FIG. 2

along the section line V—V of

FIG. 4

of the device with inserted burglary tool, when the device is in the free-wheeling position of

FIG. 4

; and





FIG. 6

a second cross-section in analogy to

FIG. 3

of the device of

FIG. 4

in its free wheeling position along the section line VI—VI shown therein;





FIG. 7

a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, in analogy to

FIG. 1

, whose section is indicated by the section line VII—VII in

FIG. 8

, but again with the key being removed;





FIG. 8

a cross-section of the device of

FIG. 7

along the section line VIII—VIII, after the proper key has been reinserted;





FIG. 9

a perspective view of the device of

FIG. 7

according to the invention; and





FIG. 10

an axial section of a third device according to the invention, also illustrated only schematically, with the key being removed, in a variant of the device illustrated in FIG.


7


.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The three devices


71


,


72


,


73


shown in

FIGS. 1 through 10

are mounted preferably in doors of vehicles and have with respect to their closing cylinders


70


a substantially identical configuration. The closing cylinder


70


is comprised first of a free bushing


20


and a cylinder core


10


axially secured but rotationally supported therein. The axially secured connection is realized by inner shoulder surfaces between the components. For this purpose, the cylinder core is stepped and comprises a widened cylinder head


11


, a cylinder portion


12


comprising spring-loaded followers


15


, and a radially stepped cylinder end


13


. The cylinder core


10


comprises a key channel


14


for receiving a key


16


, illustrated first in

FIG. 2

in cross-section. When the key


16


is removed, the followers


15


due to their spring load are forced radially outwardly and engage, as is illustrated at


15


′ in

FIG. 2

, a locking channel


22


of the free bushing


20


. Now the cylinder core


10


is locked with the free bushing


20


.




The free bushing


20


is rotationally supported in a stationary cylindrical housing


30


but is normally prevented from rotation by means of an overload interlock


60


in the housing


30


. The free bushing


20


is thus normally secured in the housing


30


. On the cylinder end


13


a working member


50


is rotatably supported. In the first device


71


the working member


50


is comprised of a shaft which is seated axially secured by means of a mounting means


65


, illustrated in

FIG. 1

, on the cylinder end


13


. The working member


50


engages with a tab


66


a recess


67


of a slide


40


, illustrated best in

FIG. 3

, whose importance and function will be explained in the following. This arrangement realizes the rotationally fixed connection between the working member


50


and the slide


40


.




Generally, the cylinder core


10


is in a zero position illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, which is determined, for example, by an impetus spring


75


illustrated in FIG.


1


. The impetus spring


75


surrounds with its windings the working member


50


and its two legs enclose between them two axial tabs


68


,


74


of the slide


40


and the housing


30


, respectively. In the zero position, the proper key


16


can be inserted into the key channel


14


and again removed therefrom. In the inserted state of the key, the followers


15


, as illustrated in

FIG. 2

, are sorted into the circumference of the cylinder core


10


. Now the cylinder core


10


is rotatable in the direction of arrow


18


in the free bushing


20


. Upon actuation of the key


16


, the cylinder core can then be transferred into different angular positions which correspond to certain working positions of the gear wheel


50


and the lock engaged therewith. This rotation


18


of the cylinder core


10


is usually transmitted in the following manner onto the working member of


50


.




The already mentioned slide


40


is positioned on an inner end face of a shoulder surface between the cylinder portion


12


and the cylinder end


13


of the free bushing


20


and the housing


30


so that a radial guiding


54


for the slide


40


results. The slide


40


is force-loaded in the direction of arrow


44


of

FIG. 3

, which in this device


71


is realized in a special way that will be explained in more detail later. In this connection, the coupling surfaces


17


,


47


illustrated in

FIG. 3

engage one another. The coupling surface


47


belonging to the slide


40


is comprised of a nose pointing into the recess


67


which engages a radial depression


17


in the area of the cylinder end


13


. Accordingly, the initial rotational position of the working member


50


is also defined in the zero position of the cylinder core


10


. Upon rotation


18


of the cylinder core


10


initiated by the key, the working member


50


is rotated by the cylinder core


10


by means of the engaged coupling


17


,


47


and


66


,


67


and thus carries out the desired closing functions on the closing members.




The aforementioned overload interlock


60


has the following special configuration illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. This includes in the present case two locking and control members


61


,


61


′ whose number can be increased, if needed, or can be replaced by only a single member. In the present case, the two members, as can be seen best in

FIG. 2

, can be arranged diametrically relative to one another and oriented in a mirror-symmetrical way. They are spring-loaded in the direction of the two arrows


33


,


33


′ in the direction toward the cylinder axis


19


of

FIG. 1

which is indicated by a dash-dotted line. Because of their identical configuration, it is therefore sufficient to consider only the locking and control member


61


.




The locking and control member


61


is comprised in the present case of a roll body, i.e., a roller. This roller


61


is loosely positioned in a radial recess


31


of the housing


30


which is matched to the roller contour dimensions. The overload interlock


60


also includes a radial recess


21


in the circumferential area of the bushing


20


in which the roller


61


in the normal situation engages with its radially inwardly positioned circumferential area


62


according to FIG.


2


.




The aforementioned spring loading


33


is based in the device


71


by a slotted annular spring


37


which, as illustrated in

FIG. 2

in the cross-section of the housing


30


in a radial plane, i.e., the section line II—II of

FIG. 1

, surrounds the housing


30


and is supported by the radially springy annular segments, separate by the ring slot, on the two locking and control members


61


,


61


′. The corresponding radial recess


31


in the housing is open toward the outer housing surface


77


, illustrated in

FIG. 2

, so that the two locking and control members


61


,


61


′ are exposed with respect of their respective radial outer ends


63


and are covered by the leg ends of the slotted annular spring


37


. The annular spring thus acts directly onto the locking and control member


61


or


61


′ and thus provides the radial spring load


33


,


33


′ of the overload interlock


60


. The two locking and control members


61


,


61


′ are positioned radially adjacently to the axial portion which comprises the followers


15


. This not only holds true for this device


71


but also for the alternative devices


72


and


73


, illustrated in

FIG. 7 and 10

, respectively. The slide


40


is arranged in all three cases


71


to


73


in an axially stepped portion


69


of the closing cylinder


70


, as illustrated in FIGS.


1


through

FIG. 7

, but between one of the two members


61


,


61


′ and the respective slide


40


an axial connection exists which differ from one another in the devices


71


to


73


, respectively.




In the embodiment of the device


71


in

FIGS. 1 through 6

, a positive-locking connection


80


between the locking and control member


61


′ and the slide


40


is present. This connection


80


is comprised, as can be seen best in

FIG. 3

, of an axial pin


81


which engage a link guide


82


of the slide


40


. The length of the link guide


82


takes into consideration the degree of the predetermined rotational movement


18


of the cylinder core


10


. With this positive-locking connection


80


the spring-load


33


′, acting directly according to

FIG. 2

onto the locking and control member


61


′, acts indirectly also on the slide


40


. Accordingly, the aforementioned return force


44


, illustrated in

FIG. 3

, results which usually secures the aforementioned coupling surfaces


17


,


47


in their engagement-effective coupling position.




This control of the slide


40


by the locking and control member


61


, however, not only holds true for the normal situation, but also in the overload situation, as can be seen in

FIGS. 4 through 6

. When by means of a burglary tool


16


′, illustrated in

FIG. 5

, a forced rotation


18


′ is exerted onto the cylinder core


10


according to

FIG. 5

, as already mentioned before, the followers


15


are locked in the locking channels


22


of the free bushing


20


. Accordingly, both components of the locking cylinder


70


, i.e., the cylinder core


10


together with the free bushing


20


are rotated


18


′ in the housing


30


. This is possible because the overload interlock


60


reaches the free wheeling position illustrated in

FIG. 5

when during the forced rotation


18


′ a torque is exerted which surpasses a certain limit value. This limit value is determined by the spring load


33


,


33


′ as well as the profiling, recognizable in

FIG. 5

, of the two radial recesses


21


or


21


′ in the free bushing


20


. The radial recesses


21


,


21


′ have a suitable lifting profile shape, wherein the rollers


61


,


61


′ rotate out of the recesses when this limit torque has been surpassed. Then the roller


61


is transferred from the engagement position according to

FIG. 2

, present in the normal situation, into the lifted position, illustrated in

FIG. 5

, in the overload situation. The two ends of the slotted annular spring


37


are spread apart so that the spring-load


33


,


33


′ of the members


61


,


61


′ is increased. The members


61


,


61


′ roll upon rotation


18


′ on the circumferential area


64


of the free bushing


20


.




In order to be able to withstand the surface pressure for the high spring load


33


,


33


′, the radial recesses


21


,


21


′ are provided in the free bushing


20


with steel inserts


78


. In the overload situation the positive-locking connection


80


by means of the pin


81


the spreading movement of the locking member


61


′ is transferred onto the slide


40


, as is illustrated in FIG.


6


. In this connection, locking surfaces


42


provided on the slide


40


are brought into engagement with counter locking surfaces


32


of the housing


30


. These counter locking surfaces


32


are comprised of a slot


76


, illustrated in

FIG. 3

, of the axial tab


74


. The locking surfaces


42


of the slide


40


, on the other hand, are comprised of a radial nose


79


of the slide


40


. In the overload situation, the slide


40


is thus locked. By means of the described positive-locking engagement between the working member


50


and the slide


40


via the aforementioned tab


66


, the working member


50


is also locked according to

FIG. 6

in the overload situation. In this locked position the coupling surfaces


17


,


47


between the slide


40


and the cylinder core


10


are decoupled; in the overload situation the cylinder core


10


thus rotates freely. There is no entrainment of the working member


50


. The device


71


thus does not perform any locking function in the vehicle despite the rotation


18


′ of the cylinder core


10


.




This device


71


has the advantage that the spring load


33


,


33


′ of the overload interlock


60


, as has been mentioned already, automatically generates also the return force


44


for the slide


40


. Accordingly, a spring additionally provided for returning the slide


40


is thus saved. In the device


71


, the leaf-shaped annular spring


37


thus has a double function. Furthermore, it should be noted that, because of the connection


80


, in the embodiment of the device


71


the described control movement of the locking and control member


61


′ between the engagement position of FIG.


2


and the lifted position of

FIG. 5

is used for the complete control movement of the slide


40


between its coupling position in FIG.


3


and its locking position of FIG.


5


. In the two other devices


72


,


73


a partial control of the slide results by means of the locking and control member


61


provided thereat. Because of the substantially identical configuration, it is sufficient to only point of the differences in the devices


72


,


73


. Otherwise, the description of the device


71


applies.




In the devices


72


,


73


the working member


50


′ is comprised of a gear wheel which can be seen best in FIG.


9


. The gear wheel


50


′ is supported on the rear end face of the housing


30


wherein a snap connection


51


or the like is provided for axial connection of the components. The gear wheel


50


′ comprises a circumferential toothing


52


which engages teeth of further locking members which are not shown in more detail and whose position is illustrated by the arrow


53


in FIG.


7


. As can be seen best in

FIG. 9

, the gear wheel


50


′ has a radial guide for a slide


40


integrated therein. A receptacle


55


for a pressure spring


45


is provided in the guide


54


, as can be seen best in FIG.


7


. The pressure spring


45


is supported on the oppositely positioned radial shoulders


46


,


56


of the slide


40


and the guide


54


, respectively. Accordingly, the slide


40


is force-loaded in the direction of arrow


44


of FIG.


7


.




In the second device


72


illustrated in

FIG. 7 through 9

, an indirect axial connection


83


is used between the locking and control member


61


and the slide


40


for which purpose a control member


23


is used. This control member is comprised in this embodiment of a spring tongue


23


which is arranged radially externally to the housing


30


and produces the spring load


33


of the overload interlock


60


as already described above. This is true also in the same sense for the diametrically oppositely positioned locking and control member


61


′ which has its own spring tongue


23


′. The spring tongues


23


,


23


′ are fastened with their one tongue end


24


in the circumferential area of the housing


30


and are pivotable with their oppositely arranged free spring end


25


in a radial plane of the closing cylinder, which is illustrated by the section plane VII—VII of FIG.


8


. One spring tongue


23


is provided with an extension


35


which in this case also performs control functions on the slide


40


. The slide


40


projects radially past the cylindrical housing and has a radial shoulder


41


which is engaged from behind by an extension


35


of the control member


23


. With the aforementioned pressure spring


45


a constant contact


41


is provided between the extension


35


of the control member


23


and the slide


40


.




The control movement of the locking and control member, formed here also as rollers


61


or


61


′, between the engagement position of

FIGS. 7 and 8

and a lifted position, not illustrated in detail but resulting in analogy to

FIG. 5

, is also transmitted in this case by the axial connection


83


onto the shoulders


40


. This is realized by the spring tongue


23


which is supported on the outer end


63


of the roller


61


. In this connection, the locking surfaces


32


,


42


provided also between the slide


40


and the housing


30


reach their locking position. The gear wheel


50


is now rotationally locked. The return movement of the slide


40


from such a locking position into the coupling position of

FIG. 7

is realized actively by a pressure spring


45


but in cooperation with the return movement of the spring tongue


23


.




As can be seen in

FIG. 7

, the locking position


32


for the slide


40


in the housing


30


is arranged radially closer to the cylinder axis


19


than the afore described contact location


41


between the slide


40


and the free tongue end


25


. The gear wheel


50


′ is positioned, as is shown in

FIG. 9

, at the inner end


27


of the cylinder core


10


. It is supported rotatably, coaxial to the cylinder axis


19


, on the cylinder pin


13


provided thereat. The fastening location


34


of the tongue


23


is positioned on the oppositely arranged outer end portion


28


. The cylinder head


11


provided there is covered by a dust cap


29


. An elastic annular seal


39


in an annular groove between the cylinder head


11


and the housing


30


provides protection against dirt.




It is understood that the number of the rollers


61


,


61


′ determining the torque limit and the corresponding spring tongues


23


,


23


′ can be as desired. Several such tongues


23


,


23


′ can also be produced by a slotted spring ring which allows a common fastening of all tongues in the circumferential area of the housing


30


. Instead of a bendable spring tongue


23


it is also possible to employ a pivotable arm which is spring-loaded by spring means in the direction of the cylinder axis


19


and generates the spring load which is described by the arrow


33


or


33


′.




The third embodiment of the device


73


according to the invention, illustrated in

FIG. 10

, is partly identical to the second embodiment according to

FIGS. 7 and 8

and partially identical to the first embodiment according to

FIGS. 1 through 6

. Therefore, inasmuch as the same reference numerals are being used, the above description applies in this respect. It is sufficient to point out the differences. The radial spring force


33


,


33


′ is generated also in this case by a slotted annular spring


37


and transmitted via the support location


43


,


43


′ onto the two members


61


,


61


′, wherein one of them


61


again carries out a control function.




In the overload situation, the annular spring


37


widens radially. It “breathes” upon transition from the normal situation into the overload situation. The annular spring


37


has at its annular inner surface


57


, as illustrated in

FIG. 10

, various support locations


43


,


43


′ for the individual locking members


61


,


61


′. Moreover, the annular spring


37


is provided with an axial projection


48


which, in the way described above in connection with the previous embodiment in an analog manner, cooperates on the contact location


41


with the slide


40


. The free bushing


20


has, as shown in

FIG. 6

, a circumferential groove


49


in which a spring ring


58


or the like engages which itself is positioned in a radial receptacle


59


of the housing


30


. This spring ring


58


provides an axial connection between the stationary housing


30


and the free bushing


20


rotatable therein in the overload situation.















list of reference numerals
























10




cylinder core






11




cylinder head of 10






12




cylinder portion of 10 with 15






13




cylinder end of 10






14




key channel for 16 in 10






15




follower in 12 (sorted position)






15′




locking position of 15 (FIG. 2)






16




key for 10






16′




burglary tool (FIG. 5)






17




coupling surface of 10, radial depression






18




key rotation of 10 (normal situation)






18′




forced rotation of 10 and 20 (overload situation, FIG. 5)






19




cylinder axis of 10






20




free bushing






21, 21′




radial cutout in 20






22




locking channel in 20 for 15






23




control member, spring tongue, leaf-shaped spring






23′




second spring tongue






24




fixed tongue end of 23






25




free end of 23






26






27




inner end of 10






28




outer end portion of 10






29




dust cap 12 (FIG. 7)






30




housing






31, 31′




radial penetration in 30 for 61, 61






32




counter locking surface on 30 for 40






33, 33′




arrow of spring load of 23 or 23′






34




fastening location for 24






35




extension of 23






36




axial shoulder between 61 and 61′ (FIG. 10)






37




slotted annular spring (FIG. 2 and 10)






38






39




annular seal between 12, 30 (FIG. 7)






40




slide






41




radial shoulder for 25, contact location






42




locking surface on 40 for 30






43, 43′




support location of 37 on 61, 61′ (FIG. 10)






44




arrow of return foresaw 40 (FIG. 3)






45




pressure spring for 44






46




radial shoulder for 45 on 40






47




coupling surface of 40






48




axial projection on 37 for 40 (

FIG. 10







49




circumferential groove in 20 (FIG. 10)






50




working member, pin (FIGS. 1 through FIG. 6)






50′




working member, gear wheel (FIGS. 7 through 9)






51




snap connection between 10, 50′ (

FIG. 7 through 10







52




circumferential toothing on 50






53




arrow of closing members on 50






54




radial guide of 40 on 50, 50′






55




receptacle for 45 in 54






56




radial shoulder for 45 on 54






57




inner annular surface of 37 (FIG. 10)






58




spring ring (FIG. 10)






59




radial receptacle in 30 (FIG. 10)






60




overload interlock






61, 61′




locking and control member for 60, roller






62




radial inner end of 61






63




radial outer end of 61






64




circumferential area of 20






65




mounting means between 13, 50 (

FIG. 1







66




tab of 50 (

FIGS. 1

, 3)






67




cutout in 40 (

FIGS. 1

, 3)






68




tab on 40 (FIG. 1)






69




portion of 40 at 70 (

FIGS. 1

, 7)






70




closing cylinder






71




first device






72




second device






73




third device






74




tab on 30 (FIG. 1)






75




impetus spring






76




slot for 32 in 74 (

FIG. 3







77




outer housing surface (FIG. 2)






78




steel insert in 21, 21′ (FIG. 5)






79




radial nose for 42 on 40 (FIG. 2)






80




positive-locking axial connection in 71 (

FIGS. 1

, 3)






81




axial pin on 61′ (FIG. 3)






82




link guide for 81 in 40 (FIG. 3)






83




indirect connection between 40, 61 in 72 or 73 (FIG. 7)













Claims
  • 1. Closing device (71, 72, 73) for closing functions to be performed especially on vehicles, with a closing cylinder (70),wherein the closing cylinder (70) comprises a free bushing (20) and a cylinder core (10) supported therein axially fixed and rotationally and having a cylinder portion (12) comprising followers (15), and the followers (15) are controllable by insertion of a key (16) and, when the key (16) is removed, lock the cylinder core (10) with the free bushing (20), with a stationary housing (30) receiving the free bushing (20) in a rotatable fashion in which, however, the free bushing (20) is normally rotationally fixed by a radially spring-loaded (33) locking and control member (61; 61′) of an overload interlock (60), wherein the locking and control member (61; 61′) is positioned loose in a radial recess (31; 31′) of the housing (30) and, in the normal situation, engages with its radially inner end (62), because of the radial spring load (33), a radial recess (21, 21′) of the free bushing (20) having a lifting profile, wherein, however, in the overload situation, it moves from this engagement position, counter to its spring load (33), into a lifted position in the circumferential area (64) of the free bushing (20), with a working member (50) performing the locking function in the vehicle as well as with a slide (40) rotationally fixedly but slidably connected with the working member (50, 50′), which normally is in a rotationally fixed coupling position with the cylinder core (10) because of a return force (44), but in the overload situation is decoupled by means of the locking and control member (61; 61′) and reaches a locking position which is rotationally fixed in the housing (30), in which optionally also the working member (50; 50′) is locked (32, 42) and, whereinthe radial recess (31; 31′) for the locking and control member (61; 61′) is open toward the exterior of the housing and the locking and control member (61; 61′) is exposed in the radially outward direction, but is covered by a leaf-shaped spring (37; 23, 23′), wherein the spring (37; 23, 23′) is arranged in the circumferential area of the housing (77) and acts directly on the locking and control member (61; 61′), that the control and locking member (61; 61′) is arranged radially adjacent to the cylinder portion (12) of the cylinder core (10) being provided with the followers (15), and that the slide (40) is positioned in a portion (69) of the closing cylinder (70) axially stepped relative to the locking and control member (61) and that an axial connection (80, 83) bridges the spacing between the locking and control member (61; 61′) and the slide (40).
  • 2. The device (71) according to claim 1, wherein between the locking and control member (61′) and the slide (40) a direct positive-locking connection (80) is realized and that the spring (37) of the overload interlock (60) acting on the locking and control member (61′) produces by the positive-locking action (80) at the same time the return force (44) which forces the slide (40) into the coupling position with the cylinder core (10).
  • 3. The device (71) according to claim 2, wherein the positive-locking connection (80) is comprised of an axial pin (81) on the locking control member (61′) and a link guide (82) in the slide (40) wherein the pin (81) engages the link guide (82).
  • 4. The device (71, 72, 73) according to claim 1, wherein the axial connection (80; 83) between the locking and control member (61; 61′) and the slide (40) is arranged at the same portion of the closing cylinder (10) as the coupling means (17, 47) between the slide (40) and the cylinder core (10) or the locking means (42, 32) between the slide (40) and the housing (30).
  • 5. The device (71, 72, 73) according to claim 1, wherein, for increasing the surface pressure exerted by the spring (37) of the overload interlock (60) onto the locking and control member (61; 61′), the radial recess (21) in the free bushing (20) is provided with a steel insert (78).
  • 6. The device (72, 73) according to claim 1, wherein a control member (23) produces an indirect axial connection (83) between the locking and control member (61) and the slide (40)wherein the control member (23) is arranged radially outside of the housing (30) and connected to a spring (23) of the overload interlock (60) acting on the locking and control member (61) and is moveable together with it.
  • 7. The device (72, 73) according to claim 6, wherein the slide (40) radially projects past the cylindrical housing (30),and that the control member (23) engages behind a radial shoulder (41), and that the slide (40) in the contact direction of its contact location (41) is force-loaded (44) by the control member (23).
  • 8. The device (72, 73) according to claim 6, wherein the locking location (42, 32) between the slide (40) and the housing (30) is arranged radially closer to the cylinder axis (19) than the contact location (41) between the slide (40) and the control member (23).
  • 9. The device (72, 73) according to claim 6, wherein the control member (23) is comprised of an extension (35) of a spring tongue (23),and that the tongue (23) is pivotable in a radial plane of the closing cylinder (70) and springy (33) in the direction of the cylinder axis (19).
  • 10. The device (71, 73) according to claim 1, wherein the spring of the overload interlock (60) is a slotted annular spring (37) which surrounds the housing (30) in a radial plane,and that the annular spring (37) is supported with a ring segment on the locking and control member (61; 61′) and exerts the radial spring force onto the locking and control member (61; 61′).
  • 11. The device (73) according to claim 10, wherein the annular spring (37) comprises an axial projection (48) which cooperates with the slide (40).
  • 12. The device (71, 72, 73) according to claim 1, wherein the overload interlock (60) comprises two or more locking and control members (61; 61′) with own radial recesses (31, 31′) in the housing (30) and with own radial cutouts (21, 21′) in the free bushing (20).
  • 13. The device (71, 72, 73) according to claim 12, wherein the individual locking members (61, 61′) are uniformly distributed about the circumference of the closing cylinder and that for two locking and control members (61, 61′) they are diametrically positioned relative to one another.
  • 14. The device (72, 73) according to claim 12, wherein the different locking and control members (61, 61′) on the closing cylinder are arranged with axial spacing (36) to one another.
  • 15. The device (72,73) according to claim 1, wherein the working member is a gear wheel (50′) which is rotationally supported on the stepped inner end (13) of the cylinder core (10),and that a radial guide (54) for the slide (40) is integrated in the gear wheel (50′).
  • 16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the locking and control member (61; 61′) is a roller (61) or a ball.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
198 24 398 May 1998 DE
198 53 543 Nov 1998 DE
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/EP99/03447 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO99/63187 12/9/1999 WO A
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
4056955 Glass Nov 1977 A
5044183 Neyret Sep 1991 A
5263348 Wittwer Nov 1993 A
5640864 Miyamoto Jun 1997 A
6058751 Dimig et al. May 2000 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number Date Country
4412609 Oct 1995 DE
195 25 499 Jan 1997 DE
0611860 Aug 1994 EP
0659961 Jun 1995 EP
0769598 Apr 1997 EP