Latch with closure device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The object of the invention is a motor vehicle latch (1), in particular an electrically actuated flap latch, demonstrating a locking mechanism (11) comprising a catch (10) and at least one pawl, a triggering lever (9), whereby by means of the triggering lever (9) the locking mechanism (11) can be unlocked, a closure device (8), whereby by means of the closure device (8) the locking mechanism (11) can be transferred at least from a pre-ratchet position into a main ratchet position and the closure device (8) demonstrates a spindle drive (4), whereby a functional position (N, O, Z) of the spindle drive (4) can be recorded by sensors, and whereby the spindle drive (4) demonstrates a spindle nut (5) and the spindle nut (5) interacts with an activation device (6) in such a way that using a sensor (7) at least a functional position (N, O, Z) of the spindle nut (5) can be detected.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle latch that is electrically actuated, the motor vehicle latch comprising: a locking mechanism; a triggering lever for unlocking the locking mechanism; a closure device for moving the locking mechanism from a pre-ratchet position into a main ratchet position, wherein the closure device includes a spindle drive having a spindle nut movable between an opening position in which the spindle pivots the triggering lever to unlock the locking mechanism, a closure position in which the closure device moves the locking mechanism toward the main ratchet position, and a neutral position between the opening position and the closure position; at least one sensor for detecting a position of the spindle nut; and an activation device that is engageable between the spindle nut and the at least one sensor and is engageable by the spindle nut to activate the at least one sensor, wherein when in the closure position, the spindle nut is disengaged from the activation device, and wherein when in the neutral position, the spindle nut is engaged with the activation device which activates the at least one sensor, wherein the activation device is a rotatably mounted component.

2. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the activation device can be detachably engaged with the spindle nut.

3. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the activation device can be pivotably accommodated in the housing.

4. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the activation device includes at least one activation arm.

5. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the activation device includes at least one drive arm, wherein the drive arm can be engaged with the spindle nut.

6. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 5, wherein the drive arm includes an aperture which receives the spindle nut.

7. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the activation device can be engaged with a housing of the motor vehicle latch whereby a position of the activation device can be fixed in the motor vehicle latch.

8. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 7, wherein the drive arm demonstrates an extension, whereby the extension can be engaged with the housing.

9. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 8, wherein the extension is formed as a spring arm and can be engaged with a recess in the housing.

10. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the sensor can be actuated using the activation device in an opening position of the locking position and in the closure position of the spindle nut.

11. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the activation device is rotatable about an axis.

12. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the activation device has a contour that engages the sensor when the spindle nut is in the opening position and when the spindle nut is in the neutral position.

13. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 12, wherein the activation device has an activation arm on which the contour is formed, and wherein an end of the activation arm engages the sensor when the spindle nut is in the closure position.

14. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the activation device has an activation arm that is engageable with the sensor and an extension that is connected to the activation arm and engages a housing.

15. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the spindle nut moves is linearly movable in a first direction toward the closure position and in a second direction opposite the first direction toward the neutral position.

16. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the spindle nut indirectly engages the sensor through the activation device which directly engages the sensor.

17. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a microswitch.

18. A motor vehicle latch comprising: a locking mechanism; a closure device including a spindle drive having a spindle nut movable between an opening position in which the locking mechanism is unlocked, a closure position in which the closure device moves the locking mechanism toward the main ratchet position, and a neutral position between the opening position and the closure position; at least one sensor for detecting the neutral position of the spindle nut; and an activation device that is engageable between the spindle nut and the at least one sensor and is engageable by the spindle nut to activate the at least one sensor when the spindle nut is in the neutral position, wherein the activation device is a rotatably mounted component.

19. A motor vehicle latch that is electrically actuated, the motor vehicle latch comprising: a locking mechanism; a triggering lever for unlocking the locking mechanism; a closure device for moving the locking mechanism from a pre-ratchet position into a main ratchet position, wherein the closure device includes a spindle drive having a spindle nut movable between an opening position in which the spindle pivots the triggering lever to unlock the locking mechanism, a closure position in which the closure device moves the locking mechanism toward the main ratchet position, and a neutral position between the opening position and the closure position; at least one sensor for detecting a position of the spindle nut; and an activation device that is engageable between the spindle nut and the at least one sensor and is engageable by the spindle nut to activate the at least one sensor, wherein when in the closure position, the spindle nut is disengaged from the activation device, and wherein when in the neutral position, the spindle nut is engaged with the activation device which activates the at least one sensor, wherein the activation device is a rotatably mounted component having an activation arm that is engageable with the sensor and an extension that is connected to the activation arm and engages a housing.

Description

(1) The following are shown:

(2) FIG. 1 a top view of a flap latch with a spindle drive, an activation device and a partially illustrated locking mechanism in a neutral position,

(3) FIG. 2 the execution example according to FIG. 1, whereby the spindle nut is in an opening position, and

(4) FIG. 3 the flap latch according to FIG. 1, whereby the spindle nut is illustrated driven into a closure position.

(5) A motor vehicle latch 1 in a top view on a housing 2, a latch case 3 in an open illustration is reproduced in FIG. 1. Inside the motor vehicle latch 1 and in particular also inside the housing 2 of the motor vehicle latch 1 a spindle drive 4, a spindle nut 5, an activation device 6, a switching device 7, a closure device 8, a triggering lever 9 and a catch 10 as part of a locking mechanism 11 are reproduced. The spindle nut 5 can be driven along a spindle 12 and backwards and forwards in the direction of the arrow P. The latch housing 2 also demonstrates a plug 13 for the electrical contact of the motor vehicle latch 1. A spiral spring 14 is also arranged around the spindle 12 to assist at least part of the actuator movements of the spindle nut 5.

(6) The spindle nut 5 is located in a neutral position N in the functional position shown in FIG. 1. In this state, the locking mechanism 11 is in the locked state, i.e. the motor vehicle latch 1 is closed. The activation lever 6 is disengaged from the switching device 7, or the activation device 6 is only adjacent on the switching device 7. In this execution example, the activation device 6 can be pivoted around a pivot axis 15. An activation arm 16 of the activation device 6 is adjacent on the switching device 7 without the switching device 7 being activated. The activation device 6 can be pivoted free out of this position using the spindle nut 5. A closure device 8 and a triggering device 17 are connected to the spindle nut 5. The triggering device 17 interacts with the triggering lever 9, whereby the closure device 8 can be engaged with the catch 10.

(7) In FIG. 2 the motor vehicle latch 1 is reproduced in an opening position O according to FIG. 1. The spindle nut 5 was driven left from the neutral position N into the opening position O in FIG. 2. The spiral spring 14 was compressed in the process, whereby a force can be generated in the direction of the spindle nut 5. By the spindle nut 5 being driven into the opening position O the triggering lever 9 was pivoted in the direction of the arrow P1. Consequently, the catch 10 can be pivoted in the direction of the arrow P2 and the motor vehicle latch can be opened. The activation device 6 was pivoted around the pivot axis 15. Consequently, the wave contour 18 on the activation arm 16 interacts with the switching device 7 and activates the switching device 7. In this opening position. the spindle nut 5 remains engaged with the activation device 6 and thus stabilizes the position of the activation device 6.

(8) The spindle nut 5 is reproduced in the closure position Z in FIG. 3. The spindle nut 5 is driven by means of the spindle drive 4 and preferably an electrical drive. As clearly apparent in FIG. 3, the spindle nut 5 is disengaged from the activation device 6. An extension 19 formed as a spring element is integrally molded to a U-shaped drive arm 20. Hereby the extension 19 acts in a form-fitting manner with a recess 21 in the housing 2. The position of the activation device 6 is thus fixed by means of the extension 19. The U-shaped aperture 22 on the drive arm 20 thus remains in a release position. Consequently, the spindle nut 5 can engage with the activation device 6 during a resetting movement. As already apparent, the wave contour 18 is in turn adjacent to the switching device 7 and activates the switching device 7. Consequently, a position of the activation device 6 is detectable. In the closure position Z, the catch 10 was transferred into a locking position by means of the closure device 8. Consequently, the pawl can be engaged with the catch 10. The spindle nut 5 is driven back from this closure position Z. Consequently, the spindle nut 5 goes into the neutral position N. Safe recording of the positions of the spindle nut 5 is therefore possible by means of the activation device 6 and with the least possible constructional means.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

(9) 1 Motor vehicle latch 2 Housing 3 Latch case 4 Spindle drive 5 Spindle nut 6 Activation device 7 Switching device 8 Closure device 9 Triggering lever 10 Catch 11 Locking mechanism 12 Spindle 13 Plug 14 Spiral spring 15 Pivot axis 16 Activation arm 17 Triggering device 18 Grooved contour 19 Extension 20 Drive arm 21 Recess 22 Aperture P, P1, P2 Arrow N Neutral position Z Closure position O Opening position