DOOR LOCK, IN PARTICULAR MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR LOCK

Abstract

A door lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism that substantially consists of a rotary latch and at least one pawl. Each of the two locking mechanism parts rotatably supported on a base about a respective axis. For this purpose, a bearing surface of each locking mechanism part slides along a fixed support body. According to the invention, the support body is provided with an open bearing trough for receiving the bearing surface.

Claims

1. A door lock for a motor vehicle door, the door lock comprising: a locking mechanism including a rotary latch and at least one pawl, wherein each of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl is rotatably supported on a base about a respective axis; and a fixed support body having a bearing surface, wherein at least one of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl slides along the fixed support body, wherein the fixed support body is provided with an open bearing trough for receiving the bearing surface.

2. The door lock according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl has a bearing pin comprising a bearing surface.

3. The door lock according to claim 2, wherein the bearing surface is formed at a front side of the bearing pin.

4. The door lock according to claim 1, wherein the fixed support body comprises at least one stop that is arranged on a side of the open bearing trough.

5. The door lock according to claim 4, wherein the at least one stop interacts with a counter stop of at least one of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl.

6. The door lock according to claim 5, wherein the stop and the counter stop limit a pivoting movement of at least one of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl with respect to the support body to pivoting angles up to 90°.

7. The door lock according to claim 1, wherein at least one additional bearing body is provided in an engagement region between the rotary latch and the at least one pawl in order to realize a rolling friction.

8. The door lock according to claim 1, wherein the base is formed as a metallic lock case.

9. The door lock according to claim 1, wherein the fixed support body comprises a resistance radius associated with a modulus of resistance.

10. The door lock according to claim 9, wherein the bearing surface is arc-shaped and has a bearing radius.

11. The door lock according to claim 10, wherein the resistance radius is greater than the bearing radius.

12. The door lock according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl comprises a casing made of plastic.

13. The door lock according to claim 1, wherein at least one guide surface is provided.

14. The door lock according to claim 13, wherein the guide surface is provided in or on a casing of at least one of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl and/or a plastic housing.

15. The door lock according to claim 13, wherein the guide surface interacts with a mating guide surface, which is formed on at least one of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl and/or a casing and/or a plastic housing.

16. The door lock according to claim 6, wherein the pivoting angles are up to 60°.

17. The door lock according to claim 16, wherein the pivoting angles are up to 50°.

Description

[0021] In the following, the invention is described by means of only one drawing illustrating an exemplary embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 1 is the door lock according to the invention in its general shape

[0023] FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of a bearing of the locking mechanism part or the pawl, respectively, in the exemplary case

[0024] FIG. 3 is a further modified exemplary embodiment of the bearing,

[0025] FIG. 4 is a further third embodiment variant, and

[0026] FIG. 5 is a further fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a door lock, which is a motor vehicle door lock. The motor vehicle door lock is advantageously connected to a motor vehicle door, which is not shown. A base 1, which, in the exemplary embodiment is a metallic lock case 1, is used for this purpose. The lock case 1 is connected to the motor vehicle door lock, which is not shown. Fastening screws are used to engage in openings 2 of the lock case.

[0028] In the lock case 1, a locking mechanism 3, 4 is mounted, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is composed of a rotary latch 3 and a pawl 4. In principle, more than one pawl 4, i.e., a so-called multiple pawl locking mechanism, could also be implemented, but this is not shown. The pawl 3, 4 of the door lock or motor vehicle door lock interacts with a locking bolt 5, which is connected to a motor vehicle body, which is not shown.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows the closed state of the locking mechanism 3, 4 according to the state of the art. In this closed state, the locking bolt 5 is caught by means of the rotary latch 3, as is generally known. The rotary latch 3 is, in turn, held in the closed position, or the main rest position shown here, by means of the pawl 4. An additional pawl spring 6 ensures in this case that the pawl 4 is provided with a closing torque indicated in FIG. 1 with respect to its axis 7, which is indicated in FIG. 1. The rotary latch 3 also has a torque that is likewise indicated in FIG. 1, which in this case is designed as an opening torque or opening moment.

[0030] The closing torque on the pawl 4 works on the pawl 4 in the clockwise direction with respect to its axis 7. The opening torque of the rotary latch 3 works on its axis 9 in the counterclockwise direction. In addition, FIG. 1 also shows an electric drive or opening drive 8, which applies an opening torque or opening moment to the pawl 4 in a counterclockwise direction with respect to its axis 7. As soon as the pawl 4 is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 3 by means of the opening drive 8, the rotary latch 3 can swing open due to its opening moment (caused in particular by the rubber sealing forces of the door) and releases the locking bolt 5.

[0031] FIGS. 2 to 5 now show different variants of the mounting of a locking mechanism part 3, 4 in the specific example of the pawl 4. In fact, the respective locking mechanism 3, 4 or the pawl 4 is mounted in the region of its axis 7 according to the exemplary embodiment in the manner shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 5 on the basis of different exemplary embodiments. For this purpose, the respective locking mechanism part or the pawl 4 has a bearing surface 10. To realize the bearing of the pawl 4 in the example with respect to the base or in the lock case 1 about the axis 7, the respective bearing surface 10 slides along a fixed support body 11, which basically takes over the function of a bearing bolt previously realized in the state of the art because the support body 11 is connected to the base 1. It is even possible that the support body 11 is part of the base 1, namely as an upwardly bent lug of the lock case 1, as shown in the variant in FIG. 5, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0032] According to the invention, the fixed support body 11 is equipped with an open bearing trough 12 for receiving the bearing surface 10. According to the exemplary embodiment, the bearing surface 10 of the locking mechanism part or the pawl 4 is provided on a bearing pin 13. In fact, the bearing pin 13 is part of the pawl 4 in the example. In addition, the bearing pin 13 is provided with a previously mentioned bearing surface 10 on the front side, which in conjunction with the open bearing trough 12, provides the bearing for the pawl 4 about its axis 7 in the lock case 1.

[0033] The support body 11 has a stop 14 arranged at the side of the bearing trough 12. In fact, according to the exemplary embodiments, two stops 14 are provided at the side of the bearing trough 12. The two stops 14 accommodate the bearing trough 12 approximately in the center. FIG. 5 shows that the stops 14 may not only be realized on the support body 11, but also on a plastic housing 19.

[0034] In this context, the design is further made in such a way that the relevant stop 14 interacts with a counter stop 15. In the example, the counter stop 15 is provided on the locking mechanism part 3, 4 or the pawl 4. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 2 to 5, the design is such that the counter stop 15 is formed on or in a casing 16 of the relevant locking mechanism part 4 or the pawl 4. The casing 16 is a plastic casing of the pawl 4, which is used for noise optimization purposes. In the exemplary embodiment and according to the invention, the casing 16 now assumes additional functions in that, with the help of the casing 16, the respective counter stops 15 are made available for the stops 14 of the support body 11.

[0035] Either way, the rotatable bearing of the pawl 4 with its bearing surface 10 at the front of the bearing pin 13 within the open bearing trough 12 of the support body 11 causes the axis or axis of rotation 7 to be defined. Further, the interaction between the stops 14 on the support body 11 or on the plastic housing 19 and the counter stops 15 on the relevant locking mechanism part or the pawl 4 causes pivoting angles α of the relevant locking mechanism part 4 or the pawl 4 to be limited with respect to the support body 11, in the exemplary embodiment to pivoting angles α which can amount to up to 90°. According to the exemplary embodiment, pivoting angles α of up to 50° are observed.

[0036] As explained earlier, the base 1 is a metallic lock box 1. The support body 11 is made of metal as well and is connected to the lock case 1. Within the context of the variant according to FIG. 5, the support body 11 and the lock case 1 are even formed in one piece because the support body 11 is designed as a bent lug of the lock case 1. In this way, the support body 11 defines an overall resistance radius S, which is determined by a radius starting from the center of gravity of the support body 11 to its periphery. The respective resistance radius S defines a modulus of resistance provided by the support body 11 with respect to the tearing forces F already mentioned, which are indicated by way of example in FIG. 2. Such tearing forces F occur, for example, in the event of a crash.

[0037] In addition to the resistance radius S, a bearing radius R is relevant to the invention. This bearing radius R results from the fact that the bearing surface 10 on the front side of the bearing pin 13, on the pawl 4 has an overall arc-shaped design so that the respective bearing radius R arises as a result. The overall design is such that the aforementioned resistance radius S of the support body 11 is configured to be larger than the bearing radius R. In fact, most often the configuration is such so that the following relation applies:

S≥1.2 R.

[0038] Preferably, even size ratios of

S≥1.5 R and especially S≥2 R

[0039] are observed.

[0040] The previously mentioned casing 16 of the pawl 4 not only provides the counter stops 15 for the stops 14 on the support body 11 or the plastic housing 19, but the casing 16 also comprises at least one guide surface 18. This guide surface 18 slides along a mating guide surface 18′, which is provided by the plastic housing already mentioned. The plastic housing 19 is used to close the lock case 1. The plastic housing in question is usually a so-called “lock cover.” In any case, the interaction between the guide surface 18 on the pawl 4 on the one hand and the mating guide surface 18′ on the plastic housing 19 on the other hand ensures that the locking mechanism part 4 is properly guided during its rotary movement about the axis 7. In addition, the respective locking mechanism part or pawl 4 is shown to be in contact with the support body 11. That means that the interaction between the guide surface 18 and the mating guide surface 18′ ensures that the bearing pin 13 remains in contact with its bearing surface 10 within the open bearing trough 12 and is not separated therefrom.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the guide surface 18 is realized in or on the casing 16 of the pawl 4. Here, the design is such that the guide surface 18 in the casing 16 engages around the outer circumference of the support body 11. The support body 11 has a corresponding mating guide surface 18′ so that the bearing pin 13 on the pawl 4 is held with its front-side bearing surface 10 in contact with the open bearing trough 12 of the support body 11.

[0042] According to the exemplary embodiment, the guide surface 18 may also alternatively or additionally be provided by an indicated plastic housing 19, which serves to close the lock case 1. The respective plastic housing is usually a so-called lock cover. In any case, the at least one guide surface 18 ensures that the locking mechanism 4 is properly guided during its rotary movement about the axis 7 and, in particular, that the mutual contact of the bearing surface 10 within the open bearing trough 12 is not broken.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the guide surface 18 is realized in or on the casing 16 of the pawl 4. Here, the design is such that the guide surface 18 in the casing 16 supports the support body 11 on the outer circumference so that the bearing pin 13 on the pawl 4 is held with its front bearing surface 10 in contact with the open bearing trough 12 of the support body 11.

[0044] In all exemplary embodiments, the design as a whole is such that the bearing pin 13 provided on the pawl 4 does not, at least the region of its front bearing surface 10, comprise the casing 16 so that, in this region, a perfect transmission of force from the metallic bearing pin 13 to the likewise metallic support body 11 can take place so that the tearing forces F acting thereon in the event of a crash do not lead to any plastic deformations.

[0045] In the variant according to FIG. 3, a guide surface 18 is also provided on the plastic casing 16 of the pawl 4, which again surrounds the outer circumference of the support body 11. This, in turn, ensures that the bearing pin 13 on the pawl 4 with its bearing surface 10 is held in contact with the open bearing trough 12 of the support body 11. In addition, further guide surfaces 18 or counter guide surfaces 18′ can be seen here, which are again formed in the casing 16 or on the support body 11 and interact with the lateral guide flanks 20 of the support body 20 bearing the stops 14. These flanks 20 do not only comprise the stops 14 that interact with counter stops 15 in or on the casing or the plastic casing 16. Rather, the flanks 20 are also provided with an arc shape adjoining the stops 14 on the underside. This way, counter guide surfaces 18′ are defined in this region which interact with the guide surfaces 18 in or on the casing 16.

[0046] The variant according to FIG. 4 is provided with a counter guide surface 18′, which is realized in the plastic housing 19 or the plastic hood 19. The mating guide surface 18′ in or on the plastic hood 19 interacts with an associated guide surface 18 of the casing 16. For this purpose, the plastic hood 19 is equipped with a chamber 21, which is designed to be open. In addition, the plastic hood 19 surrounds the support body 11 on the outer circumference and also the bearing pin 13 of the pawl 4, which, in this case, is of meniscus-like design. The bearing surface 10 held in contact with the bearing trough 12 of the support body 11. This is because, in this case, the mating guide surfaces 18′ are realized on the one hand on the plastic housing 19, and on the other hand the guide surfaces 18 are realized on the outer circumference of the casing 16 of the pawl 4. Finally, in the third exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, the approach is that the guide surface 18 in or on the casing 16 of the pawl 4 interacts with the already mentioned arc segment 17 on the support body 11 or on the plastic housing 19. Since the arc segment 17 of the support body 11 or of the plastic housing 19 engages over the guide surface 18 of the respective pawl 4 and is equipped with the corresponding mating guide surface 18′, this interaction again ensures that the pawl 4 is held with its bearing pin 13 and the front bearing surface 10 in contact with the open bearing trough 12. For this purpose, the guide surface 18 is unspecifically realized on the bearing pin 13 of the pawl.

[0047] What all exemplary embodiments have in common is the possibility that at least one additional bearing body 22, indicated in particular in FIG. 1, can be provided in the engagement region between the two locking mechanism parts 3, 4 for realizing, for example, a rolling friction. The respective bearing body 22 may be a cylindrical body, a ball or a comparable rotating body, which is usually held in a cage. According to the exemplary embodiment, the respective bearing body 22 can but does not have to be found on the pawl 4, namely in the region of its engagement or opposite to the main detent of the rotary latch 3, in order to provide a particularly friction-optimized release of the pawl 4 from the rotary latch 3 during the opening process of the locking mechanism 3, 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0048] 1 Base, metallic lock case [0049] 2 Lock case openings [0050] 3 Locking mechanism (part), rotary latch [0051] 4 Locking mechanism (part), pawl [0052] 5 Locking bolt [0053] 6 Pawl spring [0054] 7 Axis [0055] 8 Opening drive [0056] 9 Axis [0057] 10 Bearing surface [0058] 11 Support body [0059] 12 Bearing trough [0060] 13 Bearing pin [0061] 14 Stops [0062] 15 Counter stop [0063] 16 Casing [0064] 17 Arc segment [0065] 18 Guide surface [0066] 18′ Mating guide surface [0067] 19 Plastic housing/hood [0068] 20 Flank [0069] 21 Chamber [0070] 22 Bearing body [0071] α Pivoting angle [0072] S Resistance radius [0073] F Shearing forces [0074] R Bearing radius