The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism, an actuating lever unit which interacts with the locking mechanism also a drive impinging on the actuating lever unit and an anti-theft protection device.
Such motor vehicle door locks are known from practical application and are, for instance, described in DE 10 2004 002 756 A1. As usual, the anti-theft protection device serves to deactivate the actuating lever mechanically connected to the locking mechanism during an impingement of the actuating lever unit by an internal release lever and during activation by an external release lever. This ensures that even if, for instance, the window has been smashed, unauthorized persons could not open the motor vehicle door using the internal release lever. This applies if the anti-theft protection device is active. The device is then in the position “Anti-theft protection on”.
If the motor vehicle door lock is, however, in the position “Anti-theft protection off”, the respective motor vehicle door can be opened from inside using the internal release lever and from the outside using the external release lever. This assumes that the door is not a rear side door in which a potential childlock is and can be engaged. This has generally proven to be successful.
Apart from motor vehicle door locks containing such an anti-theft protection device there are also door locks also containing a closing/opening device. In this context reference is made to utility model DE 20 2008 015 789 U1. In addition, prior art embodiments disclose, for instance, opening devices in DE 10 2004 052 599 A1 operating as opening aids. Such opening devices or opening aids use in the simplest form an electric drive, lifting a pawl off a rotary latch of a closed locking mechanism. As a result, the rotary latch can open with the aid of a spring and can release a previously retained locking bolt and thus the respective motor vehicle door as such.
Prior art is, however, not satisfactory in all aspects. This applies in particular with regards to the already described opening aids or the so-called “electric opening”. In the best possible design this process involves the locking mechanism being disengaged by an electric motor to release an associated motor vehicle door. In the event of this process being unintentionally initiated by, for instance, a fault current, a fault signal, etc., no convincing solutions preventing this have been available so far. This situation is remedied by the invention.
The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing a motor vehicle door lock in such a way that operating reliability is significantly improved, in particular during electric opening and the malfunctioning is avoided.
To solve this technical problem the invention provides a generic motor vehicle door lock with a buffer member assigned to the actuating lever unit and to an unlocking lever, which is controlled by the anti-theft protection device in accordance with a desired functional position of the locking mechanism.
As part of the invention the buffer member ensures in connection with the anti-theft protection device that a, so to speak, additional securing of the locking mechanisms is implemented. Indeed the anti-theft protection device ensures that an electric opening process of the locking mechanism is only carried out when the anti-theft protection device releases the buffer member for the associated pivoting of the locking mechanism. If, on the other hand, the buffer member is blocked, the locking mechanism can also not move into the opened functional position. Consequently unintentional opening of the locking mechanisms is ruled out, as in this case the anti-theft protection device blocks the buffer member and the locking mechanism cannot be opened as a result.
In fact the buffer member is, as it were, interposed between the drive impinged on by the actuation lever unit and the locking mechanism. The drive thus acts on the buffer member, which in turn transfers the movement of the actuating lever unit initiated by the drive onto the locking mechanism. During this process an opening movement of the drive is for instance only translated into an opening movement of the locking mechanism via the actuating lever unit and the buffer member and then onto the locking mechanism, if the buffer member is, for instance, not blocked by the anti-theft protection device. As when the buffer member is blocked, the locking mechanism is not influenced by the impinged on actuating lever unit and stays thus in its closed position in the described example.
Only when, whilst the actuating lever unit is acted upon by the drive, the anti-theft protection device also releases the buffer member is the actuating lever able to transfer a movement to the locking mechanism via the buffer member. In other words this prevents, as part of the invention, any and unintentional opening operations with the aid of the anti-theft protection device. Only when the drive impinging on the actuating lever unit and at the same time the anti-theft protection device operate in such a way that the actuating lever unit can disengage the locking mechanism via the buffer member, does the desired opening process occur. This all is achieved with strikingly simple means and with a simple design, so that not only the described functional but also cost advantages are achieved.
The design is in any case such that the buffer member is controlled by the anti-theft protection device. If the locking mechanism is to retain its closed position, the buffer member is blocked by the anti-theft protection device and cannot act on the locking mechanism if the actuation lever unit is impinged upon in the opening sense. If, on the other hand, the locking mechanism is to be opened, the anti-theft protection device releases the buffer member. Said member can after an opening movement of the actuation lever unit open the locking mechanism. In other words, the buffer member is respectively triggered by the anti-theft protection device in accordance with the desired functional position of the locking mechanism (“open” or “closed”).
Apart from this, the anti-theft protection device naturally provides the functions already explained above. This means that any impinging of the actuating lever unit has no effect on the locking mechanism as long as the anti-theft protection device is in its “engaged” position. This means that in this functional position the anti-theft protection device continuously ensures that any movements of the actuating lever unit are not transferred onto the locking mechanism via the buffer member. Instead, the buffer member is subjected to a more or less pronounced compression or deflection during such a procedure and in such a way that the locking mechanism is not affected in any way by this.
Only when the anti-theft protection device is moved into its “disengaged” position can the actuating lever unit impinge on the locking mechanism in the opening sense. This is because in this case opening movements of the actuating lever unit are, for example, transferred again onto the buffer member, which due to the removal of the blocking transfers these movements onto the locking mechanism via the anti-theft protection device, opening said mechanism. In this arrangement the design will always be such that in the position “anti-theft protection engaged” a respective internal release lever as well as an external release lever will have no affect on the locking mechanism.
As part of the invention, an unlocking lever is assigned to the actuating lever unit. In most cases, also the said buffer member is assigned to the unlocking lever. At the same time a two-part design of the buffer member has proven to be particular advantageous. In fact the buffer member generally consists of a rocker spring and a leg spring.
The rocker spring generally ensures that the actuating lever unit is, depending on its position, acted upon in the direction “open” or in the direction “keep closed” of the locking mechanism. For this purpose, the rocker spring engages in most cases with the unlocking lever. If the unlocking lever has exceeded a certain position compared to the locking mechanism, the rocker spring can act on the unlocking lever in the “open” direction of the locking mechanism. If, on the other hand, the unlocking lever is in a different position, the rocker spring ensures that the unlocking lever and thus the actuating lever unit is acted upon in the “keep closed” position of the locking mechanism.
In addition to the rocker spring the arrangement is known to also contain a leg spring. This leg spring can, on one hand, interact with a coupling lever and, on the other hand, with the unlocking lever and/or the anti-theft protection device. At the same time, the one free leg of the leg spring rests in most cases against the coupling lever. This free leg is then, depending on the position of the coupling lever and/or of an internal release lever interacting with the coupling lever, acted upon and can also follow this movement. In contrast, the other fixed leg of the leg spring rests against a journal of the unlocking lever. In addition, the anti-theft protection device interacts with the respective fixed leg of the leg spring.
For this purpose the leg spring is advantageously mounted on the unlocking lever. Mounting of the leg spring on an axis that essentially corresponds to the axis of rotation of the unlocking lever has shown to be particular advantageous. This means that the axis of the leg spring and the axis of rotation of the unlocking lever generally correspond or lie inside each other.
The aforementioned coupling lever, generally resting against the free leg of the leg spring is typically mounted in at least one guide. In most cases two guides are used for the coupling lever. The two guides are generally provided in adjacent levers. It has proven to be advantageous for one of the guides to be provided in an internal release lever and the other guide in the unlocking lever. This allows the coupling lever to freely glide along its “ineffective” and “effective positions” on the free leg of the leg spring.
If the coupling lever is in its “ineffective” position this corresponds to the “locked” position of the motor vehicle door lock. The locking mechanism can only be opened by the internal release lever and not by the external release lever if the anti-theft protection device is also in its “off” position. If the coupling lever is, however, in its “effective” position, the motor vehicle door lock as a whole is in its “unlocked” position. In this case, too, any movements of the actuating lever unit are only transferred to the locking mechanism in the opening sense, if the anti-theft protection device is in its “disengaged” position. Otherwise any actuation of the actuating lever unit causes the actuating lever unit to act on the buffer member in a deforming manner without the locking mechanism being opened. In this “unlocked” functional position the anti-theft protection device can generally also be mechanically disengaged by the actuating lever unit being actuated in the opening sense.
As a result, the invention provides a motor vehicle door lock that, in particular as regards the “electric opening” function, provides a significant additional level of safety. Even unintentional electric opening processes are not translated into an opening of the locking mechanism as long as the anti-theft protection device is in its “engaged” functional position. Only when the anti-theft protection device also assumes its “disengaged” position can the desired electric opening be translated into the opening of the locking mechanism.
Below, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary drawings showing only one embodiment, as follows:
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
As part of the invention, a buffer member 12, 13 is assigned to the actuating lever unit 3, 4, 16 and to the unlocking lever 5. This buffer member 12, 13 is actuated by the anti-theft protection device 10, 11. This depends on the desired functional position of the locking mechanism 1, 2. In other words, the anti-theft protection device 10, 11 either releases or blocks the buffer member 12, 13. In the embodiment the buffer member 12, 13 comprises a leg spring 12 and a rocker spring 13 and is thus made up of two parts. Depending on the position of the unlocking lever 5 and of the actuating lever unit 3, 4, 16 as a whole, the rocker spring 13 ensures that the unlocking lever 5 is acted upon in the “open” or “keep closed” direction of the locking mechanisms 1, 2.
If the unlocking lever 5 is, for instance in the “locked” position of the motor vehicle door lock shown in
In contrast, the leg spring 12 interacts, on one hand, with a coupling lever 16 and, on the other hand, with the unlocking lever 5 and/or the anti-theft protection device 10, 11. For this purpose the one free leg 12a of the leg spring 12 rests against the coupling lever 16, which can mainly slide linearly along the said free leg 12a of the leg spring 12. In contrast, the other fixed leg 12b of the leg spring 12 is supported on a stop 17 of the unlocking lever 5. In addition, the anti-theft protection device 10, 11 with its cam 11 is assigned to the fixed leg 12b of the leg spring 12. Depending on the position of the anti-theft protection device 10, 11, the cam 11 blocks the fixed leg 12b of the leg spring 12 and retains the leg spring 12 at the same time. This applies for the position “anti-theft protection device inserted”. If, however, the anti-theft protection device 10, 11 is in its “disengaged” position, the cam 11 releases said fixed leg 12b of the leg spring 12.
Die leg spring 12 is mounted on the unlocking lever 5 on an essentially common axis. This means that the axis of rotation of the leg spring 12 mainly corresponds with the axis of rotation 14 of the unlocking lever 5. Also the arrangement is in most cases such that the aforementioned drive 6 to 9 is designed as an opening drive. For this purpose the drive 6 to 9 consists of an electric motor 6 and a worm gear 7 driven by the electric motor 6. The worm gear 7 engages with a driving pulley 8, accommodating a cam 9 on the external circumference. In this way, the drive 6 to 9 can interact with the release lever 3.
If the release lever 3 is in the position shown in
As a result of this operation, the previously blocked coupling lever 16 is released. Said coupling lever 16 is in fact arranged in two guides 19, 20 with one guide 19 for the coupling lever 16 being arranged on the internal release lever 4 and the other guide 20 in the unlocking lever 5. A cam 21 of the coupling lever 16 engages in the guide 19 of the internal release lever 4 and is thus captively retained in the respective guide 19 of the internal release lever 4 and also in guide 20 of the unlocking lever 5 and is linearly guided.
It is apparent that the coupling lever 16 also contains a journal 22, sliding along the free leg 12a of the leg spring 12. If the coupling lever 16 moves from its right and “ineffective” position (“locked”) as shown in
The function is as follows.
This operation causes the cam 21 of the coupling lever 16 to enter the recess 23 of the release lever 3. This operation is assisted by the fact that the rocker spring 13 acts upon the unlocking lever 5 in clockwise direction as apparent from
As the leg spring 12 with its fixed end 12b is not blocked by the anti-theft protection device 10, 11 or its cam 11, as the anti-theft protection device 10, 11 is in the “disengaged” state, the leg spring 12 “carries along” the unlocking lever 5 during this process. This is achieved by the fixed leg 12b of the leg spring 12 engaging with the stop 17 of the unlocking lever 5. The unlocking lever 5 thus carries out a pivoting movement in clockwise direction around it axis 14, as already indicated in
A similar scenario is shown in
As a result, the cam 21 on the coupling lever 16 can enter the recess 23 of the release lever 3. As a result of this process, the leg spring 12 is increasingly acted upon at its free leg end 12a as the coupling lever 16 is at the same time moved radially outwards and the journal 22 resting against the coupling lever 16 acts upon the free leg end 12 of the leg spring 12 with increasing force. If during this process anti-theft protection device 10, 11 is also disengaged (see arrow in
The operation “disengage anti-theft protection device 10, 11” can be carried out electrically or mechanically. In any case the operation corresponds with the cam 11 being pivoted from the initial “engaged” position as shown in
This means that as part of the electric opening according to
In the functional position shown in
If the anti-theft protection device 10, 11 is “disengaged” during this process, the process results in the unlocking lever 5 being pivoted around its axis 14 in clockwise direction and the locking mechanism 1, 2 being impinged on by the release lever 3 via the actuating lever unit 3, 4, 16 in the opening sense.
It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment is illustrative of only one of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2011 018 512.7 | Apr 2011 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DE2012/000349 | 3/28/2012 | WO | 00 | 4/2/2014 |