Electrically operable motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

An electrically operable motor vehicle door lock (1) has a locking mechanism including at least one locking element (2) and/or actuating element, a motor (3) which acts on the locking element (2) and/or actuating element, and an emergency energy source (12) for emergency operation of the motor (3) in the event of failure of a main energy source (6). A switching element (8, 9) actuated by the main energy source (6) is provided. The switching element (8, 9) connects the emergency energy source (12) to the motor (3) electrically in the event of failure of the main energy source (6) to and provide for the emergency operation.

Claims

1. An electrically operable motor vehicle door lock comprising: a locking mechanism including at least one of a locking element and an actuating element, a motor that acts on the locking mechanism, at least one emergency energy source for emergency operation of the motor in the event of failure of a main energy source, and a switching element actuated by the main energy source, which further connects the emergency energy source with the motor electrically in the event of failure of the main energy source for emergency operation, wherein the switching element has at least two selector positions comprising main energy source on and main energy source off, wherein the two selector positions main energy source on/off of the switching element correspond to matching selector positions emergency energy source off and emergency energy source on, and wherein the emergency energy source is switchable in parallel to the main energy source to be charged electrically by the main energy source.

2. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the main energy source and the emergency energy source are connected to a common positive connecting line and to a ground.

3. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 2, wherein the positive connecting line has a flow control valve.

4. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 3, wherein the flow control valve is a semiconductor diode.

5. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the motor is tied into a control circuit of the switching element.

6. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the emergency energy source is situated in a working circuit of the switching element.

7. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein both connection ends of the emergency energy source are connected to associated switches of the switching element.

8. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 7, wherein the two switches of the switching element are actuated synchronously and correspond to the two selector positions.

9. An electrically operable motor vehicle door lock comprising: a locking mechanism including at least one of a locking element and an actuating element, a motor that acts on the locking mechanism, at least one emergency energy source for emergency operation of the motor in the event of failure of a main energy source, and a switching element actuated by the main energy source, which further connects the emergency energy source with the motor electrically in the event of failure of the main energy source for emergency operation, wherein the switching element has at least two selector positions comprising main energy source on and main energy source off, and wherein both connection ends of the emergency energy source are connected to associated switches of the switching element.

10. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 9, wherein the emergency energy source is switched in parallel to the main energy source and is charged electrically by the main energy source.

11. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 9, wherein the main energy source and the emergency energy source are connected to a common positive connecting line and to a ground.

12. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 11, wherein the positive connecting line has a flow control valve.

13. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 12, wherein the flow control valve is a semiconductor diode.

14. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 9, wherein the motor is tied into a control circuit of the switching element.

15. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 9, wherein the emergency energy source is situated in a working circuit of the switching element.

16. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 9, wherein the two switches of the switching element are actuated synchronously and correspond to the two selector positions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be explained in greater detail on the basis of drawings, which depict exemplary embodiments. The figures show the following:

(2) FIG. 1 an electrically operable motor vehicle door lock according to the present invention in a basic schematic depiction, and

(3) FIG. 2 the corresponding electrical circuit for supplying energy to the motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 depicts an electrically operable motor vehicle door lock 1. The motor vehicle door lock 1 has, for example, a locking element 2, which in exemplary embodiments is led to outside of the motor vehicle door lock 1, merely to clarify the principle of operation. The locking element, or the locking lever 2 which is realized at this location, is acted on by a motor 3, with an actuating element 4 interposed in this example, which in the present exemplary embodiment is an actuating rod 4.

(5) Furthermore, the actuating rod 4 is coupled mechanically with an inside locking knob 5. The solid-line position in FIG. 1 corresponds to the “locked” position of the motor vehicle door lock, assumed in the present exemplary embodiment in normal operation. In contrast, the dot-dash position of the actuating rod 4 and also of the locking lever 2, belongs to the “unlocked” position of the motor vehicle door lock 1. The locking knob 5 then assumes a raised position in comparison.

(6) In normal operation, the motor 3 acting on the locking element 2 is supplied with the requisite electrical energy with the aid of a main energy source. The normal operation and the “locked” position of the locking element 2, according to FIG. 1 in the example, correspond to a switch 7 in the circuit diagram according to FIG. 2 being closed, as the solid-line position makes clear. An electric current then flows starting from the main energy source 6 or its indicated positive pole through the switch 7, another switch 8, through the motor 3, and by way of an additional switch 8 and a junction point 10, finally to the ground 11. The main energy source 6 is the battery located in the motor vehicle, or the storage battery there. The switch 7 is basically an optional switch.

(7) The two switches 8, which are closed in normal operation when energy is supplied to the motor 3 by the main energy source 6, belong to a switching element 8, 9 which will be explained in greater detail below.

(8) Besides the main energy source 6, an emergency energy source 12 is also realized. In exemplary embodiments, the emergency energy source 12 is a capacitor, although the emergency energy source 12 is not limited to a capacitor. In the event that the main energy source 6 is destroyed, for example in an accident, or one or both supply lines of the main energy source 6 to the motor 3 break, the motor 3 is supplied with the requisite electrical energy with the aid of the emergency energy source 12, so that the motor 3 is at least able to perform at least an emergency operation described in greater detail below.

(9) The emergency operation is designed in exemplary embodiments so that the motor 3, corresponding to the depiction in FIG. 1, guides the locking element or locking lever 2 to the dot-dashed “unlocked” position. The same then holds for the inside locking knob 5, and consequently for the motor vehicle door lock 1 as a whole. That is, in an emergency operation the motor vehicle door lock 1 is transferred to its functional position “unlocked” with the aid of emergency energy source 12, and consequently can be opened without problem both from inside and from outside the motor vehicle.

(10) Thus, the supply of energy to the motor 3 can be switched over automatically and without delay from the main energy source 6 to the emergency energy source 12 in the case of such a crash or in an accident, according to operation of the switching element 8, 9, which is actuated by the main energy source 6. The switching element 8, 9 connects the emergency source 12 to the motor 3 electrically in the event of failure of the main energy source 6. The switching element 8, 9 thereby provides simultaneously for the described emergency operation.

(11) To this end, the switching element 8, 9 can be guided into at least two selector positions. These two selector positions correspond on the one hand to the functional position “main energy source 6 on; emergency energy source 12 off,” and on the other hand “main energy source 6 off; emergency energy source 12 on.”

(12) It can be seen that the emergency energy source 12 is switched in parallel to the main energy source 6. Furthermore, the emergency energy source 12 is supplied with electrical energy from the main energy source 6. To this end, a positive line 13 is supplied on the one hand, and on the other hand a ground line 14 is supplied which is connected to the ground 11. That is, the main energy source 6 and the emergency energy source 12 are connected on the one hand to the common positive connecting line 13, as well as both to ground 11 on the other hand through the common ground line 14.

(13) In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, a flow control valve D is tied into positive connecting line 13. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the flow control valve is a diode D, which may be a semiconductor diode. The diode D ensures that the current coming from the main energy source 6 can flow on the one hand to charge the emergency energy source 12 and on the other hand to supply the motor 3, only in the indicated arrow direction in each case, and that a flow of current in the opposite direction is not possible. As soon as the capacitor or the emergency energy source 12 is completely charged, it acts as an open switch as a result of the DC voltage present; that is, no additional current is able to flow through the emergency energy source 12.

(14) The switching element 8, 9 is equipped with a control circuit 15 on the input side and a working circuit 16 on the output side. It can be seen that the emergency energy source 12 is situated in the working circuit 16. In contrast, the motor 3, and also the main energy source 6 are located in the control circuit 15 of the switching element 8, 9.

(15) The two poles of the emergency energy source 12 are connected to the control circuit 15 through the working circuit 16 and the two switches 8, provided that the two switches 8 are in their dashed (open) position. That is, in the open position both connection ends of the emergency energy source 12 are connected to the corresponding switches 8 of the switching element 8, 9. Furthermore, both switches 8 of the switching element 8, 9 are actuated synchronously, and reflect the two basic selector positions of the switching element 8, 9 mentioned previously, i.e., “main energy source 6 on; emergency energy source 12 off” on the one hand, and “main energy source 6 off; emergency energy source 12 on” on the other hand.

(16) The switching element 8, 9 is an electromagnetically operated remote-controlled switch, such as for example a relay 8, 9. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the relay 8, 9 is made up of the two synchronously actuated switches 8 on the one hand and a coil 9 shown as outline by the dashed line. In normal operation and with the main energy source 6 intact, the two switches 8 are closed, corresponding to the solid-line position in FIG. 2.

(17) The electric current coming from the positive pole of the main energy source 6 flows through the coil 9. The current flows from the positive pole of the main energy source 6 through the closed switch 7, the switch 8, through the motor 3 and additional switch 8 to the junction 10 and on to the ground 11. The coil 9, through which current flows simultaneously and in parallel here, ensures in this connection that the two switches 8 are attracted by the magnetic field of the coil 9 and assume the closed position corresponding to the solid-line position in FIG. 2. The switching element 8, 9 is consequently in the selector position “main energy source 6 on; emergency energy source 12 off,” because the emergency energy source 12 in the working circuit 16 is uncoupled from the motor 3 by the respective closed switch 8.

(18) If instead a failure of the main energy source 6 or a break in the positive connecting line 13 or the ground line 14 occurs, current is no longer flowing through the motor 3—at least for the short term. The same is true of the coil 9.

(19) However, the locking element 2 maintains its “locked” position in the example, due to mass inertia and/or friction in motor 3. In consequence of this the two switches 8 are no longer attracted by the coil 9, and move to the dashed (open) position corresponding to FIG. 2, for example with spring support.

(20) The emergency energy source 12 is now connected to the motor 3 through the switch 8, which is in the dashed position. For emergency operation a current indicated in FIG. 2, coming from the positive pole of the emergency energy source 12, can flow through the upper switch 8, the motor 3 and the additional switch 8 to the junction point 10, and then to the ground 11. In this emergency operation a reversal of direction of the electric current takes place, in comparison to normal operation. In consequence, the motor 3 is acted on in its opposite direction.

(21) If normal operation functioning with main energy source 6 corresponds, for example, to the motor 3 acting on the locking element 2 in the sense of “locked” corresponding to the depiction according to FIG. 1, then the emergency operation corresponds to the opposite action on the locking element 2. This corresponds to the “unlocked” position, as indicated by the dash-dotted line in FIG. 2.

(22) Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.