Abstract
A safety device for a motor vehicle, having a lock holder, a pawl and a rotary latch, wherein the rotary latch has a load arm, a catch arm, an opening direction of rotation, a closing direction of rotation, a pre-latching position and a main latching position, wherein the pawl is latched in on the catch arm in the pre-latching position and is latched in on the load arm in the main latching position.
Claims
1. A safety device for a motor vehicle comprising: a lock holder, a pawl, a rotary latch, and a rotary latch spring with a spring stiffness, where the rotary latch spring acts on the rotary latch in the opening direction of rotation, wherein the rotary latch has a load arm, a catch arm, an opening direction of rotation, a closing direction of rotation, a pre-latching position and a main latching position, wherein the pawl is latched in on the catch arm in the pre-latching position and is latched in on the load arm in the main latching position, wherein when the rotary latch is in the main latching position, the rotary latch spring has a leg with a section that is parallel or nearly parallel with a lengthwise axis of the motor vehicle, and wherein the section of the leg abuts the lock holder; wherein the section of the leg of the rotary latch spring overlaps at least part of a surface of the rotary latch that extends in a rotational plane of the rotary latch, wherein the section of the leg extends over the rotary latch to engage the lock holder, and wherein when the rotary latch is in a main latching position, the lock holder is held between the load arm and the catch arm at a location between an axis of the rotary latch and an engagement point at which the pawl engages the rotary latch to hold the rotary latch in the main latching position.
2. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the safety device has a pawl spring with a spring stiffness, where the pawl spring acts on the pawl in a closing direction of rotation, and a spring stiffness of the pawl spring which is adjusted to a spring stiffness of the rotary latch spring such that during unsecuring of the rotary latch from the main ratchet position, latching of the rotary latch into the pre-latching position is ensured.
3. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the safety device has a delay mechanism to delay the rotary latch, where the delay mechanism ensures ratcheting of the rotary latch in the pre-latching position during rotation of the rotary latch in the opening direction of rotation starting from the main ratchet position.
4. The safety device according to claim 3, wherein the delay mechanism has a stop surface to stop the rotary latch.
5. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the pawl has a first active surface and the catch arm has a countersurface and the first active surface interacts with the countersurface of the catch arm during rotation of the rotary latch in a closing direction of rotation before reaching the pre-latching position.
6. The safety device according to claim 5, wherein the load arm has a countersurface and the first active surface interacts with the countersurface of the catch arm during closure of the rotary latch before reaching the main ratchet position.
7. The safety device according to claim 6, wherein the pawl has a second active surface which interacts with the countersurface of the load arm during closure of the rotary latch before reaching the main ratchet position.
8. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary latch spring is formed as a spiral spring.
9. A method for opening a safety device according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: deflecting the pawl from a locking position; rotating the rotary latch starting from the main ratchet position in the opening direction of rotation; delaying the rotary latch; moving the pawl in the direction of the locking position; and ratcheting the rotary latch in the pre-latching position.
Description
(1) Other advantages, characteristics and details of the invention result from the following description, at least of a preferred exemplary embodiment to which the invention is not restricted, however, and on the basis of the figures.
(2) These show in:
(3) FIGS. 1a to 1f a sectional view of a safety device during an opening process;
(4) FIGS. 2a to 2e a sectional view of a safety device according to FIG. 1 a during a closure process;
(5) FIG. 3 the safety device according to FIG. 1 a with a front hood arranged on a lock holder;
(6) FIG. 4 a sectional view of a further safety device;
(7) FIG. 5 a sectional view of a further safety device;
(8) FIG. 6 a top view of a safety device according to FIG. 5.
(9) FIG. 1a to 1f and FIG. 2a show a safety device 1 for a motor vehicle during an opening process. FIG. 1a shows a safety device 1 with a lock holder 2, a pawl 3 and a rotary latch 4. The rotary latch 4 has a load arm 5, a catch arm 6, an opening direction of rotation 7, a closing direction of rotation 8, a pre-latching position and a main ratchet position, where the rotary latch 4 in FIG. 1 a assumes the main ratchet position. Furthermore, the safety device 1 has a rotary latch spring 9 which is tensioned in the closure direction 8 of the rotary latch and acts on the rotary latch 4 in the opening direction of rotation 7. The rotary latch spring 9 has a fixed end 36, which is braced on a static support 37 of the safety device 1. The fixed end 36 advantageously extends to a bearing socket 38 and surrounds the bearing socket 38, preferably such that the fixed end 36 is immobile in relation to the pivot axis 34 of the rotary latch spring 9. The rotary latch spring 9 has a leg which has an almost horizontal section in the main ratchet position shown in FIG. 1a which lies adjacent to the lock holder. Especially advantageously, the horizontal section of the leg borders a coil of the rotary latch spring 9. FIG. 1 a furthermore shows that the section of the leg in the main ratchet position includes an angle of approximately 12 degrees with a horizontal line in image plane of FIG. 1a, i.e. is aligned almost horizontally. The pawl 3 has a pawl spring 10 which acts on the pawl 3 into a locking direction of rotation 11. Furthermore, the pawl 3 has a ratchet nose 12 which secures the rotary latch 4 in the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 4 shown in FIG. 1 a against rotating in an opening direction of rotation 7.
(10) The catch arm 6 and the load arm 5 form a fork-shaped infeed section 13 of the rotary latch 4 which accommodates the lock holder 2. The load arm 5 and the catch arm 6 are formed at least partially arch-shaped in order to enable guidance of the lock holder 2 within the infeed section 13 during a closure movement and an opening movement of the rotary latch 4.
(11) The catch arm 6 has a head area 14 with a bending tangent 15 in the direction of the opening direction of rotation 7 of the rotary latch 4, where the bending tangent 15 forms a pre-ratchet 16. In the pre-latching position of the rotary latch 4 shown in FIG. 1e, the pawl 12 encompasses the pre-ratchet 16, where the ratchet nose 12 secures the rotary latch 4 from rotation in the opening direction of rotation 7. Furthermore, the load arm 5 has a head area 17 with a bending tangent 18 in the direction of the opening direction of rotation 7 of the rotary latch 4, where the bending tangent 18 forms a main ratchet 19. In the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 4 shown in FIG. 1a the pawl 12 encompasses the main ratchet 19. In the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 4 the rotary latch spring 9 furthermore acts on the rotary latch 4 in the direction of the opening direction of rotation 7 by means of the lock holder 2, whereby the main ratchet 19 presses against the ratchet nose 12 of the pawl 3 and thus generates pressure on a contact surface of the ratchet nose 12, which additionally holds the pawl to the force acting by means of the pawl spring 10 in a locked position shown in FIG. 1a.
(12) In the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 4, starting from the pawl 3 through the ratchet nose 12 and the main ratchet 19 a retaining force acts on the load arm 5, which counteracts a torque of the tensioned rotary latch spring 9, whereby a distance of the main ratchet 19 to a pivot axis 20 of the rotary latch 4 forms a lever arm of the retaining force. Equally, a lever arm of a retaining force which acts on the catch arm 6 by the pawl 3 in the pre-latching position of the rotary latch, formed by means of a distance of the pre-ratchet 16 to the pivot axis 20.
(13) The head area 17 of the load arm 5 and the head area 14 of the catch arm 6 constitute the areas of the rotary latch 4 furthest from the pivot axis 20 of the rotary latch 4 in the embodiment shown in the figures so that the largest possible lever arms can respectively be provided for the retaining forces in the main ratchet position or the pre-latching position of the rotary latch 4. Thus, additional material on an external circumference of the rotary latch 4 can be dispensed with, in particular in the area of the catch arm 6, to form a pre-ratchet or a main ratchet in a comparatively similar distance to the pivot axis 20, as shown in the pre-ratchet 16 and the main ratchet 19 to the pivot axis 20.
(14) The rotary latch 4 can be loosened by means of a rotation of the pawl 3 against the locking direction of rotation 11 to a release position from the pre-latching position and from the main ratchet position. If the load arm 5 or the catch arm 6 of the rotary latch 4 can be passed in the opening direction of rotation 7 on the ratchet nose 12 of the pawl, the pawl 3 is located in the release position.
(15) In the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 4 especially advantageously a movement of the pawl 3 can be triggered from the locked position to the release position by means of an electrical drive. FIG. 1 b shows the pawl 3 in the release position in which the bending tangent 18 of the load arm 5 can be passed on the ratchet nose 12. In the release position of the pawl 3 the rotary latch spring 9 accelerates the lock holder 2 upwards, whereby the lock holder 2 lies directly adjacent on the load arm 5 of the rotary latch 4 and rotates the rotary latch 4 in the opening direction of rotation 7 by means of its movement upwards. A special embodiment can be provided for that the electrical drive moves the pawl 3 from the locked position for a short time and an effect of the electrical drive on the pawl 3 is canceled directly after reaching the release position of the pawl 3.
(16) It is within the possible that a spring stiffness of the pawl spring 10 is adjusted to the spring stiffness of the rotary latch spring 9, such that during unsecuring of the rotary latch 4 ratcheting into the pre-latching position is ensured from the main ratchet position. Such an adjustment of the spring stiffness of the pawl spring 10 provides in particular for the pawl spring 10 exerting at least such a pivot acceleration on the pawl that the pawl 3 moves back from the release position in a timely manner into the locking position, before the catch arm 6 can pass the ratchet nose 12.
(17) In addition or alternatively to this adjustment of the spring stiffness of the pawl spring 10, the safety device 1 can have a delay mechanism 21. The delay mechanism 21 is shown in FIG. 1c and formed as a stop surface 22 at one end of a boom 23 of the pawl 3 and a chock-shaped end 24 of the bending tangent 15 of the catch arm 6.
(18) The delay mechanism 21 is configured such that in the release position of the pawl 3 and during rotation of the rotary latch 4 starting from the main ratchet position into the opening direction of rotation 7 a trajectory 35 of a tip of the chock-shaped end 24 intersects the stop surface 22 of the boom 23. During impacting of the chock-shaped end 24 on the stop surface 22 the rotation of the rotary latch 4 in the opening direction of rotation 7 is stopped. By stopping the rotary latch 4 it is possible for the pawl spring 10 to move the pawl 3 into the locking position, before the bending tangent 15 of the catch arm 6 can pass the ratchet nose 12. Compared to a variant in which the rotary latch 4 is not stopped by means of the delay mechanism 21, the pawl spring 10 can have smaller dimensions as more time is available to move the pawl 3 from the release position into the locked position by stopping of the rotary latch 4.
(19) FIG. 1d shows the rotary latch 4 in an intermediate position between the main ratchet position and the pre-latching position in which the leg of the rotary latch spring 9 lies adjacent both to the lock holder 2 and also a bolt 25 which is arranged on the catch arm 6. After reaching this intermediate position of the rotary latch 4 the rotary latch spring 9 acts on the rotary latch 4 directly by means of the bolt 25 into the opening direction of rotation 7.
(20) FIG. 1e shows the rotary latch 4 in the pre-latching position in which the ratchet nose 12 encompasses the bending tangent 15 of the head area 14 of the catch arm 6. In the pre-latching position, a rotation of the rotary latch 4 is blocked by means of the pawl 3 in an opening direction of rotation 7. The rotary latch 4 can be loosened from the pre-latching position by means of rotation of the pawl 3 from the locked position into the release position, as shown in FIG. 1f. Starting from the position shown in FIG. 1f of the rotary latch 4 the pawl spring 9 moves the rotary latch 4 further in the opening direction of rotation 7 to an open position of the rotary latch 4, whereby the lock holder 2 is lifted further. The open position of the rotary latch 4 is shown in FIG. 2a. According to the opening process of the safety device 1 shown in FIGS. 1a to 1f and 2a, the pawl spring 10 moves the pawl 3 back into the locked position.
(21) FIG. 2a to 2f show a closure process of the safety device 1. Starting from the open position of the rotary latch 4 shown in FIG. 2a the lock holder 2 moves the rotary latch 4 into the closing direction of rotation 8 by means of the catch arm 6. During movement of the rotary latch 4 from the open position in the direction of the pre-latching position the bending tangent 15 of the head area 14 of the catch arm 6 impacts on a first active surface 41 of the pawl 3. The first active surface 41 extends along a back of the ratchet nose 12 to a tip of the ratchet nose 12. After impacting of the bending tangent 15 on the first active surface 41 the catch arm 6 shifts the pawl 3 starting from the locked position in the direction of the release position, whereby the catch arm 6 can pass on the ratchet nose 12.
(22) FIG. 2c shows the rotary latch 4 in the pre-latching position after the catch arm 6 has passed the ratchet nose 12 and the pawl 3 was moved by means of the pawl spring 10 into the locked position. This position can be assumed, for example, if a front hood on which the lock holder 2 is attached in an installed state of the safety device 1, was not depressed with sufficient force and the rotary latch 4 does not reach the main ratchet position. Ratcheting of the rotary latch 4 in the pre-latching position during a closure process of the safety device 1 prevents the rotary latch 4 from reaching the open position again and the front hood is released from the rotary latch 4 again.
(23) If, starting from the pre-latching position of the rotary latch 4 shown in 2 c the lock holder 2 is once again depressed, the bending tangent 18 impacts on the head area 17 of the load arm 5 on the first active surface 41 and rotates the pawl 3 into the release position shown in FIG. 2d in which the bad arm 5 can pass the ratchet nose 12. After the bad arm 5 has passed the ratchet nose 12, the pawl spring 10 moves the pawl 3 into the locking position in which the pawl 3 has a second active surface 12a and the ratchet nose 12 encompasses the bending tangent 15 of the head area 17 of the bad arm 5 and the rotary latch 4 assumes the main ratchet position, as shown in FIG. 2e.
(24) In the embodiment of the safety device 1 shown in FIGS. 1a to 1f and 2a to 2e, the rotary latch spring 9 has a pivot axis 34, which is arranged in a displaced manner to a pivot axis 20 of the rotary latch 4. A lever arm which extends between the central point of the lock holder 2 and the pivot axis 34 of the rotary latch spring 9, and is enlarged by means of the displaced pivot axes 34 and 20 compared to a safety device in which the rotary latch spring 9 and the rotary latch 4 have a common pivot axis. In a different configuration, the rotary latch 4 and the rotary latch spring 9 have a common pivot axis. This has the advantage of a more compact design and weight saving.
(25) FIG. 3 shows a front hood 66 arranged on the lock holder 2, as can be provided for, for example, in the safety device 1 located in a state installed in a motor vehicle. The safety device 1 is preferably arranged in a front area of the front hood 66. Alternatively, the safety device 1 can be arranged in a rear area of the front hood 66.
(26) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a further configuration of a safety device 101 with a lock holder 102, a pawl 103 and a rotary latch 104, where the rotary latch 104 has a catch arm 106 with a pre-ratchet 112, a load arm 105 with a main ratchet 113, an opening direction of rotation 107, a closing direction of rotation 108, a pre-latching position and a main ratchet position and is located in the main ratchet position in FIG. 4. Apart from the lock holder 102, almost all parts of the safety device 101 are preferably arranged on a lock case 67, where the lock case 67 is installed in an installed state of the safety device 101 statically in a motor vehicle. This also preferably applies to the safety device 1. The safety device 101 furthermore has a rotary latch spring 109 with a leg 127 to eject the lock holder 102, which acts on the rotary latch 104 in the opening direction of rotation 107. The pawl 103 has a pawl spring 110 which acts on the pawl 103 in a locking direction of rotation 111. In the pre-latching position of the rotary latch 104, the pawl 103 encompasses the pre-ratchet and is thus ratcheted on the catch arm 106. In the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 104 the pawl 103 encompasses the main ratchet 113 and is thus ratcheted onto the load arm 105.
(27) In contrast to the configuration of the safety device 1 shown in FIGS. 1a to 1f, 2a to 2f and FIG. 3, the lock holder 102 is arranged in the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 104 between a pivot axis 134 of the rotary latch spring 109 and a pivot axis 120 of the rotary latch 104. This has the advantage of a simpler embodiment compared to the configuration shown in FIG. 1a. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 furthermore provides in a preferred variant for the rotary latch spring acting on the lock holder 102 directly during movement of the rotary latch 104 from the main ratchet position into the opening direction of rotation 107 to an open position in which the lock holder 102 is released by the rotary latch 104.
(28) The safety device 101 furthermore has a blocking element 161 which has a blocking position and a release position. In the blocking position of the blocking element 161 the rotary latch 104 is blocked in the closing direction of rotation 108. In the release position of the blocking element 161, the rotary latch 104 is released from the blocking element 161 in the closing direction of rotation 108 and enables lowering of the lock holder 102. Movement of the blocking element 161 from the release position into the blocking position is controlled by means of the pawl 103. The safety device 101 also has a blocking spring element 163, where the blocking spring element 163 can, for example, be a pivot spring or an elastic connecting element between the pawl 103 and the blocking element 161 and enables indirect driving of the blocking element 161 by means of the pawl 103. Furthermore, the safety device 101 has a tappet 164 by means of which the blocking element 161 can be driven against the locking direction of rotation 111 by means of the pawl 103.
(29) A possible variant of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can provide for the leg 127 having a curved section similarly to the leg of the rotary latch spring 9 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, whereby a curvature of the section preferably varies along the leg, in particular is formed alternately concave and convex to the pivot axis 134 of the rotary latch spring 109.
(30) Furthermore, the safety device 101 has a triggering lever 68 which interacts with a boom of the pawl 103. A rotation of the triggering lever 68 in the locking direction of rotation 111 causes rotation of the pawl 103 in contrast to the locking direction of rotation 111 in the direction of the release position of the pawl 103. The triggering lever 68 is can preferably be operated electrically to loosen the rotary latch 104 from the main ratchet position, for example by means of an electromotor, and on the other hand can be operated manually to loosen the rotary latch 104 from the pre-latching position.
(31) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a further configuration of a safety device 201 with a lock holder 202, a pawl 203 and a rotary latch 204, whereby the rotary latch 204 has a catch arm 206 with a pre-ratchet 212, a load arm 205 with a main ratchet 213, an opening direction of rotation 207, a closing direction of rotation 208, a pre-latching position and a main ratchet position and is located in the main ratchet position. Apart from the lock holder 202, almost all parts of the safety device 201 are preferably arranged on a lock case 167, whereby the lock case 167 is installed in an installed state of the safety device 201 statically in a motor vehicle. The safety device 201 furthermore has a rotary latch spring 209 with a leg 227 to eject the lock holder 202, which acts in the opening direction of rotation 207 on the rotary latch 204. In a special embodiment a pawl spring can act on the pawl 203 in a locking direction of rotation 211. In the pre-latching position of the rotary latch 204 the pawl 203 encompasses the pre-ratchet 112 and is thus ratcheted on the catch arm 206. In the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 204 the pawl 203 encompasses the main ratchet 113 and is thus ratcheted onto the load arm 205.
(32) In contrast to the configuration of the safety device 1 shown in FIGS. 1a to 1f, 2a to 2f and FIG. 3, the lock holder 202 is arranged in the main ratchet position of the rotary latch 204 between a pivot axis 234 of the rotary latch spring 209 and a pivot axis 220 of the rotary latch 204. This has the advantage of a simpler embodiment compared to the configuration shown in FIG. 1a. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 furthermore provides in a variant for the rotary latch spring 209 acting on the lock holder 202 directly during movement of the rotary latch 204 from the main ratchet position into the opening direction of rotation 207 to an open position in which the lock holder 202 is released by the rotary latch 204.
(33) The safety device 201 furthermore has a blocking element 261 which has a blocking position and a release position. In the blocking position of the blocking element 261 the rotary latch 204 is blocked in the closing direction of rotation 208. In the release position of the blocking element 261, the rotary latch 204 is released from the blocking element 261 in the closing direction of rotation 208 and enables lowering of the lock holder 202. Movement of the blocking element 261 from the release position into the blocking position is controlled by means of the pawl 203. The safety device 201 also has a blocking spring element 263, whereby the blocking spring element 263 can, for example, be a pivot spring or an elastic connecting element between the pawl 203 and the blocking element 261 and enables indirect driving of the blocking element 261 by means of the pawl 203.
(34) A possible variant of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 can provide for the leg 227 having a curved section similarly to the leg of the rotary latch spring 9 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, where a curvature of the section preferably varies along the leg, in particular is formed alternately concave and convex to the pivot axis 234 of the rotary latch spring 209.
(35) In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, in the configuration of the pawl 203 shown in FIG. 5, the rotary latch spring 209 and the blocking element 261 are mounted around a common pivot axis 234, which enables a more compact design of the safety device 201 and saving of the pivot axis 134 of the rotary latch spring 109 shown in FIG. 4 and thus enables weight saving. Furthermore, the safety device 201 shown in FIG. 5 in contrast to the safety device 1 and the safety device 101 equipped with a spiral spring as a rotary latch spring 209 which can enable a narrower design of the safety device 201 compared to the safety devices 1 and 101, in which the rotary latch springs 9 and 109 are respectively executed as leg springs.
(36) FIG. 6 shows a top view of a safety device 201 according to FIG. 5. In FIG. 6 it is apparent that the rotary latch spring 209 assumes approximately a breadth as the pawl 203 and the blocking element 261 together assume a breadth. The configuration of the rotary latch spring 209 as a spiral spring can in particular simplify common accommodation of the pawl 203, the rotary latch spring 209 and the blocking element 261 on the common pivot axis 234. Hereby, in particular the narrower design of the rotary latch spring 209 is hereby advantageous in particular as a spiral spring compared to a leg spring, because bearings can be arranged in a bearing pairing for the joint pivot axis 234 and thus the pivot axis 234 can be shorter and a higher bearing load of the pivot axis 234 is enabled to accommodate more than one component.
(37) FIG. 5 furthermore shows that an internal end 228 of the rotary latch spring 209 lies against a connecting element 263 and is braced against this. The connecting element 263 advantageously combines the internal end 228 with the pawl 203 and the blocking element 261. A form-fitting connection between the internal end 228 and the pawl 203 is preferably provided for. By means of the connection between the internal end 228 and the pawl 203 the pawl 203 and the rotary latch spring 209 are preferably mutually supported, whereby additional components can be saved to support the pawl 203 and the rotary latch spring 209 and preferably also the pawl spring, whereby weight and necessary constructional space of the safety device 201 can be saved. A further embodiment, which is possible in combination with the aforementioned configuration can provide for the connecting element 263 being braced on the lock case 167.
(38) The connecting element 263 preferably connects the blocking element 261 with the rotary latch spring 209 or with the pawl 203 elastically and in a force-fitting manner. In this configuration, the connecting element 263 can also assume the function of the blocking spring element 163 of the safety device 101. Thus, the connecting element 263 can on the one hand support the pawl 203 against the rotary latch spring 209 and, on the other hand, is formed as a blocking spring element. For example, the connecting element 263 can accommodate the pawl 203 and the rotary latch spring 209 on a first end and the blocking element 261 on a second end and be elastically formed between the two ends.
(39) Furthermore, the safety device 201 has a triggering lever 168 which interacts with a boom of the pawl 203. A rotation of the triggering lever 168 in the locking direction of rotation 211 causes rotation of the pawl 203 in contrast to the locking direction of rotation 211 in the direction of the release position of the pawl 203. The triggering lever 168 can preferably be operated electrically to loosen the rotary latch 204 from the main ratchet position, for example by means of an electromotor, and on the other hand can be operated manually to loosen the rotary latch 204 from the pre-latching position.
