Lock for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a bonnet lock, having a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a locking pin and an ejector interacting with the locking pin, wherein the locking pin can be brought into a lifting-off position by means of the ejector, and with at least one electrically actuable means for moving the lock holder from the lifting-off position into a locking position, wherein a drive lever can be brought into engagement with the ejector, and wherein the drive lever interacts with a pull-closed lever, wherein the drive lever is connectable to the rotary latch by means of the pull-closed lever only after a securing position is reached.

Claims

1. A lock for a motor vehicle comprising: a locking mechanism comprising a rotary latch and at least one pawl; a lock holder; an ejector lever that contacts the lock holder, wherein the lock holder is movable into a lifting-off position by the ejector lever; at least one electrically actuatable drive for moving the lock holder from the lifting-off position into a locking position; a drive lever that is movable by the at least one actuatable drive to be brought into engagement with the ejector lever to move the ejector lever which moves the lock holder into a securing position; and a pull-closed lever that is engageable with the drive lever, the rotary latch being configured to enter into engagement with the pull-closed lever during movement of the lock holder into the securing position, the drive lever being connectable to the rotary latch by the pull-closed lever only after the securing position of the lock holder is reached.

2. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the pull-closed lever can be brought into engagement with the drive lever only after the securing position is reached.

3. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the pull-closed lever can be brought into engagement with the rotary latch in an interlocking manner, in the securing position.

4. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the rotary latch can be brought into engagement with the lock holder in an interlocking manner, in the securing position.

5. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the rotary latch can be pivoted by the pull-closed lever, the rotary latch being transferrable from a position corresponding to the securing position of the lock holder into a position in which the rotary latch locks the lock holder in the locking position.

6. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the securing position can be determined by a locking position of a door or hatch of the motor vehicle that is movably connected to the motor vehicle, the locking position being definable by a clearance between the door or hatch and a motor vehicle body, wherein the securing position is reached when the clearance is 10 mm or less.

7. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the pull-closed lever comprises a recess that is engageable with the rotary latch.

8. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the rotary latch comprises an extension that is engageable with the pull-closed lever.

9. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the drive lever interacts with the ejector lever to transfer the lock holder from the lifting-off position into the securing position, and wherein the drive lever interact with the pull-closed lever to transfer the lock holder from the securing position into the locking position.

10. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the drive lever can be pivotably mounted in a lock case.

11. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the pull-closed lever can be guided and/or mounted in the drive lever.

12. The lock according to claim 6, wherein the securing position is reached when the clearance is 6 mm or less.

13. The lock according to claim 12, wherein the securing position is reached when the clearance is 4 mm or less.

14. The lock according to claim 8, wherein the extension is a cylindrical pin.

15. The lock according to claim 1 further comprising an arrester hook that is engageable with the lock holder.

16. The lock according to claim 1 further comprising an electrical control device that include at least one microdrive for moving the pawl.

17. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the ejector lever is pre-loaded whereby the lock holder is held in the lifting-off position.

18. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the ejector lever has a first contact surface that is engageable with the lock holder and a second contact surface that is engageable with the drive lever.

19. The lock according to claim 18, wherein the ejector lever is formed of metal and the first and second contact surface are bevel portions.

20. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the drive lever has a guide pin and the pull-closed lever has an elongated guide groove in which the pin is guided, wherein the pull-closed lever becomes coupled for movement with the drive lever after the pin reaches an end of the elongated guide groove.

Description

(1) The invention will be explained in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings and on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment. The principle applies, however, that the exemplary embodiment does not limit the invention but is merely one embodiment. The features shown can be implemented individually or in combination with further features from the description and from the claims.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is an only partial side view of a motor vehicle lock according to the invention, in a lifting-off position, the lock holder resting on the ejector and an arrester hook being brought out of engagement with the lock holder,

(4) FIG. 2 shows the lock according to FIG. 1 in a lifting-off position,

(5) FIG. 3 shows the lock according to FIG. 1 in a securing position,

(6) FIG. 4 shows the lock according to FIG. 1 in a locking position.

(7) A region of a motor vehicle lock 1 is shown in FIG. 1. The lock 1 comprises a lock case, a rotary latch 3, a pawl 4, a drive lever 5, an ejector 6, a pull-closed lever 7, an arrester hook 8, and two electrical control means in the form of microdrives 9, 10. A lock holder 11 rests on the ejector 6, as a result of which the lifting-off position of the lock can be determined.

(8) The rotary latch 3 and the pawl 4 form the locking mechanism, it being possible for the pawl 4 to be latched into the rotary latch 3 and in particular into an extension 12. In this case, the extension 12 latches into a hook-shaped contour 13 of the pawl 4. In the present design, the pawl 4 is pre-loaded, by means of a spring, in the anticlockwise direction, and abuts for example against a stop 14 in the lock case 2. The pawl 3 can be moved in the clockwise direction, in the direction of the arrow P1, by the control means 10. The control means can for example be a linear microdrive which can pivot the pawl 4 in the clockwise direction and thus move it into a position in which the pawl 4 comes out of engagement with the rotary latch 3.

(9) The ejector 6 is accommodated in the lock case 2 so as to be pivotable about a shaft 15. The ejector 6 is pre-loaded, in the clockwise direction, by the force F.sub.F of a spring (not shown). The spring force F.sub.F holds the ejector 6 in the position shown in FIG. 1, so that the lock holder 11, and consequently for example an engine bonnet, can be held in the lifting-off position. The lock holder 11 is out of engagement with the rotary latch 3 and rests loosely on the ejector 6 and the rotary latch 3. The ejector 6 comprises a first contact surface 16 and a second contact surface 17. The lock holder 11 rests on the first contact surface 16, which may for example be formed by a bevel on the ejector 6. The drive lever 5 engages on the second contact surface 17. The ejector can be manufactured for example as a sheet-metal punched part, made of a steel, it being possible for the contact surfaces 16, 17 to be provided as bevels, for example.

(10) The drive lever 5 acts on the ejector by means of a driver 18. The drive lever 5, in turn, is accommodated in the lock case 2 so as to be pivotable about the shaft 19. The drive lever 5 furthermore comprises a bearing, drive and guide pin 20. The pin 20 is used for mounting the pull-closed lever 7 and for driving pull-closed lever 7.

(11) The drive lever 5 is actuated for example by means of a pull-closed drive 21 and by means, for example, of a Bowden cable 22 (shown merely by dashed lines). A force F.sub.B can be introduced into the drive lever 5 by means of the Bowden cable 22. The drive lever is thus moved about the shaft 19, in the clockwise direction, by the pull-closed drive 21.

(12) The pull-closed lever 7 comprises a guide groove 23 in which the pin 20 can be guided. The pull-closed lever 7 can in turn abut against a pin 24 on the ejector 6, and thus be able to be reliably guided in the lock 1. The pull-closed lever 7 comprises a recess 25 which can be brought into engagement with the extension 12 of the rotary latch 3 in an interlocking manner.

(13) The arrester hook 8 can be brought into engagement with the lock holder 11. The arrester hook 8 is preferably spring-loaded in the direction of the lock holder 11 and would engage in the lock holder 11, without the electrical control means 9. The lock holder 11 is preferably designed a bracket, so that the arrester hook 8 can engage in the lock holder 11. In the embodiment shown, the arrester hook 8 has been moved, by the control means 9, in the direction of the arrow P2, and in particular has been pivoted in the direction of the arrow P2, in the clockwise direction. The arrester hook can be accommodated in the lock case 2, or in a part of the lock case 2 that is not shown, so as to be pivotably mounted.

(14) FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the process of pulling closed, by the lock designed according to the invention, on the basis of the positions of lifting-off position in FIG. 2, securing position in FIG. 3, and locking position in position 4.

(15) In the lifting-off position A, the lock holder 11 rests on the rotary latch 3 and the ejector 6, the lock holder 11 being held in the lifting-off position A by means of the ejector 6 and in part also by the rotary latch 3 that is spring-loaded in the anticlockwise direction. The drive lever 5 is in the initial position thereof.

(16) The securing position S is shown in FIG. 3. The drive lever 5 has been pivoted in the clockwise direction, by means of the pull-closed drive 21 and in particular by means of the Bowden cable 22. The pivot movement causes the ejector 6 to be pivoted about the shaft 15 thereof in the anticlockwise direction, so that the lock holder 11, and in particular the lock holder 11 in combination with a load of a bonnet, moves into the securing position S. The pivot movement of the ejector 6 simultaneously causes the rotary latch 3 to be pivoted about the shaft 26, in the clockwise direction, by means of the lock holder 11, so that a cylinder pin 27 enters the engagement region of the recess 25 of the pull-closed lever 7. In said securing position S, the rotary latch 3 comes into engagement with the lock holder 11 in an interlocking manner, and the pull-closed lever 7 comes into engagement with the pin 27. At the same time, the pin 20 reaches the end of the guide groove 23, as a result of which the guide pin 20 is capable of transmitting a force to the pull-closed lever 7.

(17) FIG. 4 shows the main ratchet position HR or locking position HR of the locking mechanism, in which the lock holder 11 is in the locking position. The rotary latch 3 is engaged with the pawl 4, so that the locking mechanism is closed and the lock holder 11 is secured in its position. The locking position HR is achieved by means of the drive lever 5 having been pivoted further in the clockwise direction by the force F.sub.B of the pull-closed drive 21. As a result of this movement, the pin 20 moves the rotary latch 3 into the locking position HR.

(18) As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive lever, and in particular the engagement ratios of the drive lever 5 on the ejector 6, provides a transmission ratio which can allow for swift, i.e. quick, lowering of the lock holder 11. After the securing position S has been reached, the drive lever interacts primarily with the pull-closed lever 7, resulting in a larger transmission ratio and a large force can be provided for locking the rotary latch or for transferring the lock holder 11 into the main ratchet position HR. The combination, and in particular the interaction, of the drive lever 5, ejector 6 and pull-closed lever 7 thus makes it possible to ensure a secure lock which also meets the requirements in particular of tightness of a door, bonnet or hatch that is moved by the lock according to the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(19) 1 lock 2 lock case 3 rotary latch 4 pawl 5 drive lever 6 ejector 7 pull-closed lever 8 arrester hook 9, 10 control means 11 lock holder 12 extension 13 contour 14 stop 15, 19, 26 shaft 16 first contact surface 17 second contact surface 18 driver 20 bearing, pull-closed and guide pin 21 pull-closed drive 22 Bowden cable 23 guide groove 24, 27 pin 25 recess P1, P2 arrow F.sub.F spring force F.sub.B force Bowden cable