Vehicle lock

Abstract

A lock with a locking mechanism including a rotary latchpreferably at least partially composed of metalwith a load arm and a catch arm, which is rotatably mounted on a catch axis, and which can receive a locking bolt, where the distance between the inner end of the locking bolt and the contact point between locking bolt and load arm is shorter than the distance between the contact point between locking bolt and load arm and the outer end of the locking bolt. The opening forces of a vehicle lock are minimised as a result.

Claims

1. A latch for a motor vehicle with a locking bolt and with a locking mechanism, the latch comprising: a catch with an axis, a load arm, and a catch arm, wherein the catch defines an infeed slot between the load arm and the catch arm adapted to receive the locking bolt; wherein the infeed slot has an outer end corresponding to the beginning of the infeed slot; wherein the infeed slot has an inner end corresponding to the furthest point from the outer end that the locking bolt can be received; wherein the catch defines a first arched section of the infeed slot between the outer and inner ends of the infeed slot that arches around the axis of the catch; wherein the catch defines a longitudinal axis that extends from the axis through the outer end of the infeed slot between the load arm and the catch arm; wherein the catch defines a horizontal axis that extends from the axis perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis; and wherein the inner end of the infeed slot is aligned with the horizontal axis and the inner end of the infeed slot is horizontally offset from the axis of the catch.

2. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the centre of the catch axis is arranged behind the inner end of the infeed section or at the level of the inner end when viewed from the outer end of the infeed section.

3. The latch according to claim 1, further comprising a pawl is made of plastic with an axis of the pawl being made of metal.

4. A latch for a motor vehicle with a locking bolt and with a locking mechanism containing a rotatably mounted catch according to claim 1 with a load arm and a catch arm of an infeed section and a pawl for latching the catch wherein the catch defines a second arched section of the infeed slot between the outer end and the first arched section, wherein the second arched section curves opposite the first arched section.

5. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the infeed section contains a guide for the locking bolt, the guide having a length of at least 5 mm.

6. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the catch is designed in such a way that the inner end of the infeed section is arranged below a top end of the infeed section in the main-ratchet position.

7. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the width of the catch arm in the area of the catch axis is greater than the width of the load arm.

8. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the width of the catch arm at the outer end of the infeed section of the catch is equal to the width of the load arm.

9. The latch according to claim 2, further comprising a pawl that is made of plastic with an axis of the pawl being made of metal.

10. A latch for a motor vehicle with a locking bolt and with a locking mechanism containing a rotatably mounted catch according to claim 9 with a load arm and a catch arm of an infeed section and a pawl for latching the catch wherein the catch defines a second arched section of the infeed slot between the outer end and the first arched section, wherein the second arched section curves opposite the first arched section.

11. The latch according to claim 10, wherein the infeed section contains a guide for the locking bolt, the guide having a length of at least 5 mm.

12. The latch according to claim 11, wherein the catch is designed in such a way that the inner end of the infeed section is arranged below a top end of the infeed section in the main-ratchet position.

13. The latch according to claim 12, wherein the width of the catch arm in the area of the catch axis is greater than the width of the load arm.

14. The latch according to claim 13, wherein the width of the catch arm at the outer end of the infeed section of the catch is equal to the width of the load arm.

15. The latch according to claim 5, wherein the catch is designed in such a way that the inner end of the infeed section is arranged below a top end of the infeed section in the main-ratchet position.

16. The latch according to claim 5, wherein the width of the catch arm in the area of the catch axis is greater than the width of the load arm.

17. The latch according to claim 1, wherein a latching element ratio is the length ratio between a first lever and a second lever, wherein the first lever extends between the pivot point of the catch and a main-ratchet area of the catch, wherein the second lever extends between the pivot point of the catch and a contact area or a contact point between the locking bolt and the load arm and wherein the latching element ratio is 3 to 7.

18. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the load arm defines a second infeed surface, wherein the first and second infeed surfaces extend opposite to one another between the inner and outer ends of the infeed section.

19. The latch according to claim 18, wherein a part of the second infeed surface is arch shaped.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 shows the locking mechanism in the main-ratchet position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(2) FIG. 1 shows a catch 1 into which a pawl 2 engages. The catch contains a catch arm 3 and a load arm 4, forming an inlet slot 5. The inlet slot 5 holds a latch holder or cotter pin 6. The latch holder 6 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow by a force F as a result, of for instance, a door sealing pressure. The load arm 4 does, however, prevent the latch holder 6 from being moved out of the locking mechanism by the force F. FIG. 1 also shows longitudinal axis 14 and horizontal axis 15 that is perpendicular to longitudinal axis 14. Horizontal axis 15 is parallel to the vector of force F. Longitudinal axis 14 extends between catch arm 3 and load arm 4 in the region of the outer end 9 of the inlet slot 5 that receives latch holder 6.

(3) The catch 1 is rotatably mounted by an axis 7. This axis 7 of the catch 1 partially extends into the area of the catch arm 3 and is therefore in parts, arranged next or in front of the inner end 8 of the infeed section 5 as seen along a perpendicular direction to the force arrow F as well as seen from the outer end 9 of the inlet section 5.

(4) The arrangement of the catch 1 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to an installed state in the door, so that the outer end 9 of the infeed section 5 lies above the inner end 8.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a stop 10 preventing an excessive pivoting movement of the catch 1 in counter-clatchwise direction and thus starting from the opening position of the catch 1 in the direction of the closing position.

(6) If the pawl 2 is pivoted around its axis 11 in clatchwise direction, the pawl moves out of its latched position. The catch 1 can then be turned or pivoted clatchwise in the direction of the opening position. Once the catch 1 has reached its opening position, the latch holder 6 can leave the locking mechanism. The stop 10 also restricts this pivoting movement of the catch 1 in clatchwise direction, i.e. pivoting to open the locking mechanism.

(7) By arranging a section of the axis 7 next to the inner end 8 of the infeed section 5, a very small distance a between the centre of the catch axis and contact area between the latch holder 6 and the load arm 4 and in perpendicular direction to the force arrow F, can be provided. The thus provided small second lever a starts at the centre of the catch axis 7, extends perpendicularly into the force arrow F in the shown main-ratchet position, where it also ends. FIG. 1 shows the scenario in which the centre of the catch axis is located at the height of the inner end 8 of the infeed section, as indicated by the drawn line.

(8) The distance of axis 7 to the inner end 8 is similar to the distance between the rotation axis 7 and the left edge of the catch or of the catch arm 3. The axis 7 is thus at least approximately arranged at the centre between the inner end 8 of the infeed section 5 and the facing outer edge of the catch arm. This optimizes mechanical stability and the strength of the catch arm with optimum material use.

(9) In order to further improve material usage, the catch arm 3 is, as shown, wider than the load arm 4 at the level of the inner end at the axis of rotation 7. Preferably, the catch arm is 1.5 to 2.5 times wider than the load arm in this area. At the free end adjacent to the open, external end 9 of the infeed section 5, the catch arm and load arm are, however, advantageously of a similar width, as shown, in order to minimize the use of material and thus weight and required installation space. The width of the catch arm 3 is equal to the width of the load arm 4.

(10) The first lever extends, as shown by the illustrated gap 5a, in such a way that the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 1 has a blatching element ratio of 5.

(11) Starting from the inner end 8, the infeed section 5 initially extends in an arch-shape around the catch axis 7 and up to about half of the infeed section 5. The subsequent section of the infeed section extends in an opposite arch-shape up to the external end 9 of the infeed section. This design contributes to optimizing material usage for achieving the mechanical stability. These arch-shaped arrangements formed by parallel lateral restrictions or contours of load arm 4 and catch arm 3 guide the locking bolt 6 for more than 5 mm. This guide results in a considerable noise reduction.

(12) The following reference numerals are used in the FIGURES: 1: catch 2: pawl 3: catch arm of catch 4: Load arm of catch 5: infeed section, inlet slot of catch 6: locking bolt, latch holder 7: axis of catch 8: inner end of inlet section 9: external end of inlet section 10: stop 11: axis of pawl 12: holding element F: force arrow