This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to German Patent Application No. DE 20 2020 103 981.4, filed Jul. 9, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to a remotely actuable release device for the unlocking of a lock of a vehicle-door or -hatch, in particular a door or hatch of an agricultural vehicle, e.g., of a tractor, or of a construction machine. The invention also relates to a combined arrangement or combination of such a remotely actuable release device with a vehicle door lock.
A generic lock usually includes a rotary latch assembly and is coupled to a release mechanism for the lock or for the rotary latch assembly. The release mechanism includes, for example, a first, remotely actuable and a second, locally actuable release device, wherein the remotely actuable release device includes a traverse tube, a remote actuation button, and a cable pull mechanism in operative connection with the remote actuation button. In the context of the invention, “remotely actuable” thus means that the actuation mechanism of the release device, namely the remote actuation button, is not directly attached to the lock case of the rotary latch assembly. In addition, a generic lock can also include two locally actuable or two remotely actuable release devices.
Such a vehicle door lock is known, for example, from DE 20 2007 005 292 U1 and DE 10 2015 000 750 A1. The rotary latch assembly of the vehicle door lock includes a lock case including a recess for a locking bolt in which at least one rotary latch is rotatably supported, wherein the rotary latch is drivable in connection with a rotary latch spring. In addition, at least one pivotable locking pawl is disposed in the lock case, using which locking pawl the rotary movement of the rotary latch is lockable, and thus the rotary latch assembly is lockable. The release mechanism includes a locally actuable release device and a remotely actuable release device, including a traverse tube, a remote actuation button, and a cable pull mechanism in operative connection with the remote actuation button. The locking pawl can be actuated both with the locally actuable release device and with the remotely actuable release device, so that the locking of the rotary latch(es) is releasable, wherein the release mechanism includes an actuation lever by means of which the locking pawl can be actuated and which can be actuated both using the locally actuable release device as well as using the remotely actuable release device.
These known locally and remotely actuable vehicle door locks have proven themselves.
Furthermore, generic door locks increasingly have electrical components or subassemblies that must be supplied with power via cables or lines. The cables additionally or alternatively also serve for transmission of electrical signals, in particular electrical pulses, e.g., between sensors and a control device.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a remotely actuable release device for a lock of the above-mentioned type that ensures a space-saving arrangement of the electrical cables.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a lock in combination with such a remotely actuable release device.
These objects are achieved by a remotely actuable release device having the features as described herein as well as a combination or a combined arrangement having such features. Advantageous further developments of the invention are characterized in the subsequent dependent claims.
In the following, the invention is described in more detail by way of example with reference to a drawing.
It is shown:
The remotely actuable release device 1 according to the invention (
According to the invention, the inventive remotely actuable release device 1 also includes a cable holder 8 for retaining power cables 26 of a cable- or line-bundle 9.
The traverse tube 2 is configured in a known manner and includes the tube wall 3 as well as a first tube end 2a facing the lock or on the lock-side, and a second tube end 2b opposite thereto facing away from the lock. On its second tube end 2b, the traverse tube 2 is attached in a known manner to the vehicle door to be opened. In addition, preferably on its second tube end 2b, the traverse tube 2 includes an opening 10 passing through the tube wall 3. Furthermore, the traverse tube 2 optionally includes a bend 11 on its second tube end 2b, which serves, if necessary, for mounting the traverse tube 2 on a window of the vehicle.
In addition, the traverse tube 2 includes a longitudinal slot 12 extending through the tube wall 3, which is penetrated through by the remote actuation button 4.
The traverse tube 2 also preferably has an outer diameter of 20 to 40 mm, preferably 25 to 30 mm.
The longitudinally formed, hollow remote actuation button 4 includes a first, lock-side button end 4a and a second button end 4b opposite thereto. In addition, the remote actuation button 4 includes preferably two button side walls 13 spaced from each other, as well as a button top wall 14 and preferably two button end walls 15. Opposite the button top wall 14, the remote actuation button 4 is open. A hollow button interior 16 is thus formed between the two button side walls 13, the button top wall 14 and the two button end walls 15. Webs 17 formed on the button side walls 13 serve for stabilization.
Preferably the button top wall 14 is also ergonomically shaped, in particular wave-shaped, in order to make it easier for the operator to press the remote actuation button 4. However, the button top wall 14 can also be formed, for example, straight or planar.
The remote actuation button 4 is also preferably composed of plastic.
The remotely actuable release device 1 according to the invention preferably also includes a cuboid supporting frame 18 for supporting the remote actuation button 4.
The elongated and cuboid supporting frame 18 includes an attachment lug 19 on its second frame end 18b facing away from the lock. In addition, on the opposing first, lock-side frame end 18a, a movable and spring-loaded latching element 20 including a latching lug 21 is inserted into the supporting frame 18. The latching lug 21 serves for clipping the bearing frame 18 into the longitudinal slot 12 of the traverse tube 2. Apart from that, the supporting frame 18 is arranged in a form-fit manner in the longitudinal slot 12. This is known per se.
In addition, the supporting frame 18 includes a circumferential frame edge 39 and two frame side walls 40 spaced from each other. The two frame side walls 40 have a longitudinal extension parallel to the tube longitudinal axis 2c and are spaced from each other perpendicular thereto.
On the lock-side button end 4a, the button side walls 13 include outer-side supporting grooves having a spiral course. For this purpose the supporting frame 18 includes corresponding raised contours that are guided in the supporting grooves. The raised contours are present in particular on the outside in the two frame side walls 40. In this way, the remote actuation button 4 is rotatably supported in the supporting frame 18, likewise in a known manner, about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the tube longitudinal axis 2c.
The coupling lever 5 includes a first lever end 5a and a second lever end 5b. On its second lever end 5b, the coupling lever 5 is rotatably connected to the remote actuation button 4. For this purpose, the coupling lever 5 is disposed with its second lever end 5b in the button interior 16 between the two button side walls 13. In addition, the coupling lever 5 is disposed on the second button end 4b. For supporting the coupling lever 5, a supporting bolt 22 is preferably present that extends through a bearing recess in the coupling lever 5 and respectively through a supporting recess in the two button side walls 13.
On its first lever end 5a, the coupling lever 5 includes a rolling surface 23 and a base surface 24. In addition, on its first lever end 5a, the coupling lever 5 includes a recess for coupling to the cable pull mechanism 6.
Furthermore, a spring 25 is present between the coupling lever 5 and the remote actuation button 4, which spring 25 drives both into their non-actuated, non-pressed position (
The cable pull mechanism 6 is configured in a known manner and includes the pull cable 7. The pull cable 7 is connected on one end at the first lever end 5a to the coupling lever 5, and on the other end to the lock mechanism of the lock to be opened. Instead of the pull cable 7, the cable pull mechanism, as already explained above, can also include another pull element, e.g., a pull rod.
Preferably, the lock is configured according to DE 10 2015 000 750 A1, to which reference is hereby made to the full content.
As already explained, the supporting frame 18 is inserted in the longitudinal slot 12 of the traverse tube 2, in particular clipped-in. It then borders the longitudinal slot 12.
In addition, the remote actuation button 4 is also inserted in a known manner into the supporting frame 18 and the longitudinal slot 12. In its non-actuated or non-pressed position (
To open the lock, the remote actuation button 4 is now pressed in a known manner by the operator on its button actuation end 2b into the traverse tube 2 (
As soon as the operator releases the remote actuation button 4, it automatically returns to its non-actuated or non-pressed initial position. For this purpose, a spring 25 is preferably present. The spring 25 is disposed between the coupling lever 5 and the remote actuation button 4, and is preferably disposed on the supporting bolt 22. The spring 25 presses and thus also holds the remote actuation button 4 in its non-actuated initial position.
This described functionality of the remotely actuable release device 1 is known per se.
As already explained, the remotely actuable release device 1 according to the invention now also includes, according to the invention, the cable holder 8 for retaining the cables 26 of the cable- or line-bundle 9.
The cable bundle 9 preferably serves for supplying power to one or more electrical components or subassemblies of the lock and/or a locally actuable release device arranged directly adjacent to the lock. The locally actuable release device can be in a known manner, for example, a pull handle or a pushbutton handle or a shell type handle. The locally actuable release device also serves for unlocking the lock like the remotely actuable release device 1. For example, the cable bundle 9 can serve for supplying power to a pulling device of the lock and/or to an illumination of the locally actuable release device.
Additionally or alternatively thereto, the cable bundle 9 serves for transmission of electrical signals, in particular electrical pulses, e.g., between sensors and a control device. It can thus serve for data transmission.
The cable bundle 9 includes at least two power cables 26. In addition, it includes a first, lock-side bundle end 9a and a second bundle end 9b.
In addition, the cable bundle 9 includes an electrical terminal element 27 at each end. The cable bundle 9 also preferably includes two bundled sections 28 and a split section 29 disposed therebetween. In the bundled sections 28, all cables 26 are bundled with one another and form a single cable harness. Preferably, the individual cables 26 are sheathed for this purpose.
In the split section 29, the cable bundle 9 is divided or split into two cable harnesses 30a;b, each of which consists of at least one cable 26, preferably of a plurality of cables 26. In the region of the split section 29, the cable bundle 9 is also attached to or retained within the cable holder 8 according to the invention.
The cable holder 8 according to the invention is preferably configured as a channel and includes a channel wall 31 including a channel wall outer surface 31a and a channel wall inner surface 31b. In addition, the channel wall 31 includes two wall longitudinal edges 32. The cable holder 8 also has a channel longitudinal direction 33. In addition, it includes a first, lock-side holder end 8a and a second holder end 8b. The cable holder 8 is open at the two holder ends 8a;b.
The cable holder 8 is preferably also composed of plastic.
Furthermore, the cable holder 8 preferably has a round cross-section. In particular, the diameter of the channel wall outer surface 31a corresponds to the inner diameter of the tube wall 3 of the traverse tube 2.
The cable holder 8 also preferably includes two cable receiving grooves or cable receiving channels 34. The cable receiving grooves 34 each extend from one of the two wall longitudinal edges 32 into the channel wall 31. They also divide the respective wall longitudinal edges 32 into an outer edge section 32a and an inner edge section 32b. The cable receiving grooves 34 also extend parallel to the channel longitudinal direction 33 and over the entire longitudinal extension of the cable holder 8 or over the entire wall longitudinal edge 32. The cable receiving grooves 34 are also open at the two holder ends 8a;b.
Furthermore, the cable holder 8 preferably includes a penetration slot 35 extending parallel to the channel longitudinal direction 33. The penetration slot 35 is penetrated by the remote actuation button 4, which is discussed below in more detail. It extends through the channel wall 31. Viewed in the circumferential direction of the cable holder 8, the penetration slot 35 is disposed centrally. It also extends between the two holder ends 8a;b. The penetration slot 35 also includes two slot longitudinal edges 35a and two slot end edges 35b. Preferably, the penetration slot 35 has an essentially cuboid contour.
The channel-like cable holder 8 preferably also has an extension in the circumferential direction of slightly more than 180°. This serves for a more stable retaining of the cable holder 8 inside the traverse tube 2.
Furthermore, the cable holder 8 includes a plurality of clips 36;37 for retaining the cables 26, in particular in a clamping and/or form-fitting manner.
The clips 36;37 each include two clip halves 36a;b; 37a;b, between which one of the cables 26 is held, in particular in a clamping and/or form-fitting manner. In particular, the clips 36;37 each include an outer clip half 36a;37a and an inner clip half 36b;37b.
The cable holder 8 preferably includes four first clips 36 and a plurality of second clips 37. The first clips 36 are each disposed on one of the two holder ends 8a;b. Viewed in the channel longitudinal direction 33, the second clips 37 are disposed therebetween.
The outer clip halves 36a;37a are also each connected to the outer edge section 32a of the wall longitudinal edge 32 and protrude therefrom. In particular, the outer clip halves 36a;37a are resiliently connected to the outer edge section 32a. They also preferably protrude over the outer edge section 32a.
The inner clip halves 36b;37b are preferably connected to the channel wall inner surface 31b and protrude inward therefrom. According to a first embodiment of the invention (
Viewed in the channel longitudinal direction 33, the first clips 36 are also preferably formed longer than the second clips 37. This serves for strengthened retention of the cables 26 in these regions.
Furthermore, the inner clip halves 36b of the first clip 36 preferably include a plurality of, preferably two, ribs 38. The ribs 38 preferably extend in the circumferential direction of the channel wall 31 and are present in particular due to the manufacturing process.
Furthermore, the two clip halves 36a;b; 37a;b each include a clamping surface or clip surface 41a;b (
According to a further, preferred embodiment of the invention (
Furthermore, viewed in the circumferential direction, the inner edge section 32b preferably protrudes over the outer edge section 32a.
For retaining or fixing the cables 26, the two cables 26 of a split section 29 are now disposed one above the other. The lower cable 26 is respectively disposed in the cable receiving groove 34, and the upper cable 26 is disposed in particular outside the cable receiving groove 34 and is retained by the clips 36; 37. In particular, it is respectively disposed between the two clip halves 36a;b; 37a;b of the clip 36;37 and is fixed by these, in particular in a clamping and/or form-fitting manner. For this purpose, the upper cable 26 is preferably disposed in a form-fitting manner within the recess 42.
Here the lower cable 26 is preferably thinner than the upper cable 26. However, since the upper cable 26 is fixed in the clips 36;37, the thinner lower cable 26 can also not escape from the cable receiving groove 34.
The cables 26 are thus releasably fixed in the cable holder 8.
As already explained, the cable holder 8 serves for retaining and fixing the cables 26 inside the traverse tube 2.
For this purpose, the cable holder 8 with the cables 26 mounted thereon is inserted into the traverse tube 2, in particular from the lock-side tube end 2a. The cable holder 8 is pushed in until the penetration slot 35 of the cable holder 8 is arranged flush and directly adjoining or adjacent to the longitudinal slot 12 of the traverse tube 2. The wall longitudinal edges 32 of the channel wall 31 of the cable holder 8 thus point away from the longitudinal slot 12 of the traverse tube 2.
Since the diameter of the channel wall outer surface 31a also corresponds to the inner diameter of the tube wall 3, the channel wall outer surface 31a abuts against the inside of the tube wall 3 in a form-fitting manner.
Due to the form-fitting arrangement, the cable holder 8 is only rotatable relative to the traverse tube 2 about a tube longitudinal axis 2c of the traverse tube 2, and is displaceable parallel to the tube longitudinal axis 2c with respect to the traverse tube 2, and otherwise non-rotatable and immovable relative to the transverse tube 2.
In addition, in the second embodiment (
Subsequently, the remote actuation button 4 and the supporting frame 18 are then mounted. For this purpose, the remote actuation button 4 and the coupling lever 5 are preferably already preassembled.
The supporting frame 18 is inserted in a known manner into the longitudinal slot 12 of the traverse tube 2 and latched with the traverse tube 2. In addition, the frame side walls 40 abut against the longitudinal slot 12. This is known per se. The supporting frame 18 is thus fixed in a form-fitting manner in the traverse tube 2.
In addition, the supporting frame 18 also penetrates with the attachment lug 19 and the latching element 20 through the penetration slot 35 of the cable holder 8, but without these two elements being in contact with the cable holder 8.
However, the supporting frame 18, in particular with the frame side walls, abuts in a form-fitting manner against the slot end edges 35b and the slot longitudinal edges 35a of the penetration slot 35 of the cable holder 8. As a result, the cable holder 8 can now no longer be displaced parallel to the tube longitudinal axis 2c relative to the supporting frame 18, and also can no longer be rotated about the tube longitudinal axis 2c relative to the supporting frame 18.
The cable holder 8 is thus fixed in a form-fitting manner in the supporting frame 18 and via this in the traverse tube 2.
The remote actuation button 4 is partially introduced together with the supporting frame 18 through the longitudinal slot 12 and the penetration slot 35 of the cable holder 8 into the traverse tube 2. The remote actuation button 4 thus penetrates through the penetration slot 35 of the cable holder 8 and the supporting frame 18.
The cable pull mechanism 6 is already attached in a known manner to the supporting frame 18 and to the coupling lever 5 in the vicinity of the movable locking element 20 before the supporting frame 18 is inserted.
An advantage of the cable holder 8 according to the invention is that the cables 26 are permanently fixed in the traverse tube 2. They cannot move in particular such that the release mechanism of the release device 1 is blocked. Since the available space in the traverse tube 2 is limited, there is the risk that the cables 26, even if they move only slightly after installation, block the mechanism or the components of the release device 1. This is prevented by the cable holder 8 according to the invention. Here, in particular due to the small available installation space, it was not immediately obvious to provide an additional component inside the traverse tube 2.
It is also of course within the scope of the invention that one or more cables 26 are retained only on one side of the cable holder 8, i.e., only on one of the two wall longitudinal edges 32.
While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2020 103 981.4 | Jul 2020 | DE | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220010602 A1 | Jan 2022 | US |