Latch for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A latch for a motor vehicle, having a locking mechanism with a catch and at least one pawl, a triggering lever, whereby by means of the triggering lever a locked locking mechanism can be unlocked, an operating lever and a coupling lever, whereby the operating lever can be coupled with the triggering lever dependent on an operating speed of the operating lever by means of the coupling lever and whereby the coupling lever is mounted and guided in the operating lever.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle latch comprising: a locking mechanism; a triggering lever provided for unlocking the locking mechanism; an operating lever provided for operating the triggering lever, wherein the operating lever moves about a first axis; a coupling lever provided for coupling and decoupling the operating lever to the triggering lever dependent on an operating speed of the operating lever, wherein the coupling lever is mounted and guided in the operating lever by way of an extension that extends from a first side of the coupling lever through an aperture of the operating lever, wherein when the operating lever is operated with a normal operating speed, the coupling lever and the operating lever are coupled for movement together, and the coupling lever is moved by the operating lever so that a second extension of the coupling lever that extends from a second side of the coupling lever opposite the first side abuts the triggering lever to couple the coupling lever the triggering lever for unlocking the locking mechanism via the operating lever, and wherein when the operating lever is operated with an excessive operating speed that is greater than the normal operating speed, the coupling lever moves about a second axis to rotate the extension of the coupling lever away from engagement with the triggering lever to uncouple the coupling lever and the triggering lever for preventing unlocking the locking mechanism via the operating lever, wherein the second axis is different from the first axis; and a mass inertia element that is mounted separately from the coupling lever and is engageable with the coupling lever, wherein the mass inertia element is spring biased clockwise about a third axis, wherein the third axis is different from the first axis and the second axis, wherein during the normal operating speed of the operating lever, the coupling lever rotates the mass inertia element counterclockwise about the third axis against the spring bias, and wherein during the excessive operating speed of the operating lever, the mass inertia element is configured to hold the coupling lever in a starting position.

2. The motor vehicle latch of claim 1, wherein the coupling lever is pivotably mounted in the operating lever.

3. The motor vehicle latch of claim 1, wherein the coupling lever is connected to the operating lever by a positive-locking connection.

4. The motor vehicle latch of claim 3, wherein the positive-locking connection is a bayonet fitting.

5. The motor vehicle latch of claim 1, wherein the triggering lever has a contour in the form of a recess, wherein the contour of the triggering lever is provided for engaging the second extension of the coupling lever.

6. The motor vehicle latch of claim 5, wherein the coupling lever has a third extension and the aperture of the operating lever includes two apertures for guiding the extension and the third extension of the coupling lever.

7. The motor vehicle latch of claim 1, wherein the second extension is a cylindrical extension.

8. The motor vehicle latch of claim 1, wherein the coupling lever is disengaged from the triggering lever by the mass inertia element during the excessive operating speed of the operating lever.

9. The motor vehicle latch of claim 1, wherein the mass inertia element is formed of a first metallic mass component and a plastic component surrounding the first metallic mass component.

Description

THE FOLLOWING ARE SHOWN

(1) FIG. 1 a top view of a motor vehicle latch formed according to the invention, where the motor vehicle latch is shown in an open position and where only the crucial operating elements for explanation of the invention are illustrated and the motor vehicle latch is reproduced in a locked position and unoperated,

(2) FIG. 2 a detailed view of the motor vehicle latch according to FIG. 1 from the direction of the arrow II, whereby in particular the engagement relationships between the coupling lever and the triggering lever are reproduced in an enlarged depiction,

(3) FIG. 3 a view of the motor vehicle latch according to FIG. 1, where the operating lever is reproduced in a deflected position, i.e. a nascent unlocking of the locking mechanism in the case of operation of the operating lever with a normal speed, and

(4) FIG. 4 the position of the coupling lever with excessively strong acceleration of the operating lever and deflection of the coupling lever.

(5) In FIG. 1, a motor vehicle latch 1 is shown in a top view of an open housing 2. A locking mechanism 3 consisting of a catch 4, a first pawl 5, which is also called a convenience pawl 5, and a pawl 6 is accommodated in the housing. Additionally, FIG. 1 shows an external operating lever 7, an operating lever 8, a mass inertia element 9, a coupling lever 10 and a triggering lever 11.

(6) In this exemplary embodiment, the catch 3 and the external operating lever 7 are mounted around a common axis 12 and the operating lever 8, the pawl 5 and the triggering lever 11 are pivotably mounted around a common axis 13 in the motor vehicle latch 1. The pawl 6 and the mass inertia element 9 are respectively accommodated around separate axes 14, 15, and are also mounted pivotably in the motor vehicle latch 1. A leg spring 16 extends around the axis 13 abuts with a leg 17 the operating lever 8 and with a further leg 18 the coupling lever 10. The coupling lever 10 is in turn pivotably accommodated around an axis 19 in the operating lever 8. The coupling lever can be pivoted against the force of the leg spring 16 and in particular against the spring leg 18 of the leg spring 16 in this exemplary embodiment around the axis 19 in the anti-clockwise direction in places. Pivoting of the coupling lever 10 is possible in the area of the guide aperture 20 of the operating lever 8. For operation of the coupling lever 10 and pivoting around the axis 19 the coupling lever must be moved against the force of the spring leg 18, as explained in further detail hereafter.

(7) The motor vehicle latch 1 is shown in FIG. 1 in a locked position of the locking mechanism 3. The catch 4 is engaged with the convenience pawl 5 and in particular in a main latching position so that the catch 4 is locked in a movement direction in an anti-clockwise direction. The convenience pawl 5 is in turn held in engagement with the catch 4 by means of the pawl 6. Due to the use of two pawls 5, 6 this type of construction of a locking mechanism 3 is also named a double pawl locking mechanism. The operating lever 8 must be operated in the direction of the arrow P to unlock the locking mechanism 3. The operation of the operating lever 8 takes place by means of the external operating lever 7, for example, where the connecting element is accommodated between the external operating lever 7 and the operating lever 8, in this example on the protrusion 21 of the housing 2. If the external operating lever 7 is now operated, the operating lever pivots in the direction of the arrow P. By means of the leg spring 16 and the coupling lever 10 the triggering lever 11 is now also pivoted in the direction of the arrow P in an anti-clockwise direction and the pawl 6 and the convenience pawl 5 are disengaged. An opening force acting on the catch 4 which, for example, can result from a door seal, then pivots the catch 4 in an anti-clockwise direction so that a latch holder held by the catch 4 is released and the door or flap can be opened.

(8) The illustrated course of the opening process of the locking mechanism 3 is connected to a pivoting movement of the mass inertia element 9. The mass inertia element 9 is also engaged with the coupling lever 10 so that during operation of the operating lever 8 the mass inertia element 9 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow P1 in an anti-clockwise direction around the axis 15. The mass inertia element 9 abuts the coupling lever 10 in a spring pre-tensioned manner in the direction towards the coupling lever. During customary, i.e. normal operating speed of the operating lever 8 the force of the leg spring 16 is sufficient to hold the coupling lever 10 in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, so that the mass inertia element 9 is deflected.

(9) Only for the purposes of clarification it is pointed out that extensions 22 are arranged on the coupling lever 10 which extend through apertures of the operating lever 8. These extensions 22 in combination with the apertures 23 form a mounting option for the coupling lever 10, where by means of the extensions and the formation of the apertures 23 a bayonet-type connection is attained between the operating lever 8 and the coupling lever 10.

(10) In FIG. 2, an enlarged view of the engagement area of the coupling lever 10 into the triggering lever 11 and the interplay of the coupling lever 10 with the leg spring 16 is shown. The leg spring 16 abuts, as clearly apparent in FIG. 2, with a spring leg 18 on a first cylindrical extension 24 of the coupling lever 10. A further spring leg 17 of the leg spring 16 is engaged with a splay 25 of the operating lever 8. The leg spring 16 is configured as a splay spring, so that the coupling lever 10 is held in a spring pre-tensioned manner in the aperture 20 of the operating lever 8 and in FIG. 2 to the right in the aperture 20. If the operating lever 8 is now pivoted around the axis 13 in an anti-clockwise direction, a further cylindrical extension 26 thus engages with a contour 27 of the triggering lever 11. An extension 28 on the triggering lever can move the pawl 6 and a further extension on the triggering lever 11 can ultimately disengage the convenience pawl 5 with the catch, should the convenience pawl 5 not independently move out of the engagement area with the catch.

(11) The extension 26 on the coupling lever 10 only engages with the contour 27 if the operating lever 8 is operated with a customary speed, i.e. a normal operating speed. This is shown in FIG. 3. The leg spring 29 acting on the mass inertia element 9 is also depicted in FIG. 3. The leg spring 29 exerts a spring force on the mass inertia element in a clockwise direction so that the mass inertia element is present in a spring pre-tensioned manner in the direction of the coupling lever 9. The mass inertia element can, as illustrated in this exemplary embodiment, can be a two-part construction, wherein a first metallic mass component 30 and a plastic component 31 surrounding the first metallic mass element 30 can be provided for. As clearly apparent in FIG. 3, the cylindrical extension 24 abuts the contour 27 of the triggering lever 11 so that by means of the operating lever 8 and with the aid of the coupling lever 10 the triggering lever 11 can be pivoted. With the operating lever 8 operated at a customary operating speed the force of the leg spring 16 is sufficiently large to pivot the mass inertia element 9 against the force of the leg spring 29. A spring force of the leg spring 16 is chosen in such a way that during the customary operating speed the leg spring 16 remains rigid and the coupling lever 10 presses simultaneously on the operating lever 8 and on the mass inertia element 9, so that the coupling lever 10 is taken along by the operating lever 8 and simultaneously deflects the mass inertia element 9, so that the operating lever 8 can be pivoted around further. In other words, the leg spring 16 holds the coupling lever 10 in an operating position for the triggering lever 11. The locking mechanism 3 can thus be opened.

(12) In FIG. 4, the state is now shown which occurs when the operating lever 8 is operated with an excessive speed by means of the external operating lever 7, for example, in the direction of the arrow P2. Due to the high speed of the operating lever 8 the spring force of the leg spring 16 is insufficient in order to deflect the mass inertia element 9 during impingement of the coupling lever 10 on the mass inertia element 9, taken along by the operating lever 8, instead the leg spring 16 is compressed. Due to the compression of the leg spring 16 the coupling lever 10 can move with its extensions 22 within the apertures 23 in the operating lever 8 and it can pivot around its axis 13. By means of compression of the leg spring 16 and collision with the mass inertia element 9, which cannot follow the operating lever 8 with its high speed due to its higher mass inertia compared to the operating lever 8 the coupling lever 10 is pivoted around the axis 13. The cylindrical extension 24 disengages from the triggering lever 11 during this pivot. Coupling between the operating lever 8 and the triggering lever 11 is thus interrupted, so that opening of the locking mechanism or unlocking of the locking mechanism is prevented when the operating lever 8 is subjected to excessive accelerations. Advantageously, by means of the construction of the motor vehicle latch according to the invention and in particular by means of mounting and guidance of the coupling lever 10 in the operating lever a space-saving and structurally beneficial solution to generate a mass inertia-based coupling system can be provided for a motor vehicle latch. Furthermore, a securely accommodated coupling system can be provided for with the least possible number of components.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

(13) 1 Motor vehicle door latch

(14) 2 Housing

(15) 3 Locking mechanism

(16) 4 Catch

(17) 5 Convenience pawl

(18) 6 Pawl

(19) 7 External operating lever

(20) 8 Operating lever

(21) 9 Mass inertia element

(22) 10 Coupling lever

(23) 11 Triggering lever

(24) 12, 13, 14, 15, 19 Axis

(25) 16, 29 Leg spring

(26) 17, 18 Spring leg

(27) 20 Guide aperture

(28) 21 Elevation

(29) 22 Extensions

(30) 23 Apertures

(31) 24, 26 Cylindrical extension

(32) 25 Splay

(33) 27 Contour

(34) 28 Extension

(35) 30 Metallic mass element

(36) 31 Plastic component

(37) P, P1, P2 Arrow