Motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a rotary latch and a pawl. A triggering element is additionally provided in order to lift the pawl and thereby open the locking mechanism. The motor vehicle door lock finally comprises an accumulator element which is impinged upon by a spring and which holds the pawl in the lifted position until the rotary latch is opened. According to the invention, the spring and the accumulator element form one component. Furthermore, the spring and the accumulator element are designed as a spring lip which impinges upon the trigger element.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door lock with a locking mechanism comprising: a catch movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the catch comprises a contour, a pawl movable between a blocking position where the pawl blocks the catch from moving to the unlocked position and a free position where the pawl does not block the catch from moving, a release lever movable between a first position where the release lever does not move the pawl and an unlocking position where the release lever moves the pawl to the free position to lift the pawl off the catch and open the locking mechanism, a buffer element movable between a holding position where the buffer element holds the release lever in the unlocking position and a disengaged position where the buffer element does not block the release lever from moving, wherein the buffer element is biased toward the holding position and wherein when the catch moves to the unlocked position, the contour moves the buffer element from the holding position to the disengaged position, wherein, in the free position, at least a portion of the buffer element rests on the release lever which prevents the buffer element from returning to the holding position.

2. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the buffer element comprises a lengthwise support, wherein a first end of the lengthwise support is fixed relative to the pawl and wherein a second end of the lengthwise support is movable, wherein the lengthwise support resists deflection which biases the buffer element toward the holding position.

3. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the buffer element extends transversely to a lengthwise extension of the release lever.

4. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the release lever further comprises a molding and wherein the buffer element abuts the molding.

5. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 2, wherein the lengthwise support of the buffer element extends transversely to a lengthwise extension of the release lever.

6. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 2, wherein the first end of the lengthwise support is connected to a housing or a latch component.

7. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 6, wherein the buffer element is molded as part of the housing or the latch component.

8. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 7, wherein the buffer element and either the housing or the latch component are a single unitarily formed plastic component.

9. A motor vehicle door lock with a locking mechanism comprising: a catch movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the catch comprises a contour, a pawl movable between a blocking position where the pawl blocks the catch from moving to the unlocked position and a free position where the pawl does not block the catch from moving, a release lever movable between a first position where the release lever does not move the pawl and an unlocking position where the release lever moves the pawl to the free position to lift the pawl off the catch and open the locking mechanism, a buffer element movable between a holding position where the buffer element holds the release lever in the unlocking position and a disengaged position where the buffer element does not block the release lever from moving, wherein the buffer element is biased toward the holding position and wherein when the catch moves to the unlocked position, the contour moves the buffer element from the holding position to the disengaged position, wherein the pawl and the release lever rotate about a common rotational axis.

10. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 9, wherein the catch and pawl rotate on a first plane and the release lever rotates on a second plane that is spaced apart from the first plane.

11. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 10, wherein, in the holding position, the buffer element is positioned on the second plane.

12. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 11, wherein the contour on the catch extends into the second plane.

13. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 11, wherein, in the free position, at least a portion of the buffer element is not in either the first or second plane.

14. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 12, wherein, while the catch moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, the contour contacts the buffer element and moves at least a portion of the buffer element out of the second plane.

15. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 14, wherein the buffer element comprises a lengthwise support, wherein a first end of the lengthwise support is fixed relative to the pawl and wherein a second end of the lengthwise support is movable, wherein the lengthwise support resists deflection which biases the buffer element toward the holding position.

16. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 15, wherein, in the free position, at least a portion of the buffer element rests on the release lever which prevents the buffer element from returning to the holding position.

17. A motor vehicle door lock with a locking mechanism comprising: a catch movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the catch comprises a contour, a pawl movable between a blocking position where the pawl blocks the catch from moving to the unlocked position and a free position where the pawl does not block the catch from moving, a release lever movable between a first position where the release lever does not move the pawl and an unlocking position where the release lever moves the pawl to the free position to lift the pawl off the catch and open the locking mechanism, a buffer element movable between a holding position where the buffer element holds the release lever in the unlocking position and a disengaged position where the buffer element does not block the release lever from moving, wherein the buffer element is biased toward the holding position and wherein when the catch moves to the unlocked position, the contour moves the buffer element from the holding position to the disengaged position, wherein the catch and pawl rotate on a first plane and the release lever rotates on a second plane that is spaced apart from the first plane.

18. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 17, wherein, in the holding position, the buffer element is positioned on the second plane.

19. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 18, wherein the contour on the catch extends into the second plane and wherein, while the catch moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, the contour contacts the buffer element and moves at least a portion of the buffer element out of the second plane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 a first variant of the motor vehicle door lock in accordance with the invention in an overview without housing,

(2) FIG. 2 the object in accordance with FIG. 1 in a further second variant with housing

(3) FIG. 3A-3D the motor vehicle door latch in accordance with FIG. 1, reduced to the different functional settings for the crucial components and

(4) FIG. 4A-4D the motor vehicle door latch in accordance with FIG. 2 in the different functional settings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) In the figures, a motor vehicle door latch is represented which basically comprises the respectively shown motor vehicle door latch 1 in the interior of a motor vehicle door and a solely indicated locking bolt 2 on a motor vehicle chassis. The motor vehicle door latch 1 respectively has a locking mechanism 3, 4 consisting of a catch 3 and a pawl 4. The locking mechanism 3, 4 is located in a not explicitly shown latch case and spans a pertaining locking mechanism level.

(6) The catch 3 is stored on a bolt 5 anchored in the latch case which simultaneously functions as a rotational axis 5 for the catch 3. A further bolt 6 anchored in the latch case is available to accommodate the pawl 4 which defines the rotational axis 6 for the pawl 4.

(7) A release lever 7 lies on the same axle as the pawl 4. i.e. the pawl 4 and the release lever 7 lie on the same axle with reference to the common rotational axis 6 in the latch case. The release lever 7 is a triggering lever 7 which performs or can perform arc-shaped pivoting movements or arch-shaped and in particular circular arch-shaped pivoting movements around the rotational axis 6 in question. This is indicated by relevant arrows.A pivoting movement of the release lever 7 can be initiated mechanically in the sense of opening electrically or manually by actuation of an internal door handle/external door handle.

(8) Furthermore, a buffer element 8 is recognized which forms a constructional unit within the scope of the invention together with a spring. In actual fact, the buffer element 8 is designed as a plastic lengthwise support 8a in the present case and in the position in the deflecting movements indicated in FIGS. 3B to 3C and 4B to 4C by (black) arrows predominantly vertically compared to its lengthwise extension.

(9) The springs and the buffer element 8 form a constructional unit and are designed as the spring lip 8 actuating the release lever 7 in accordance with the invention. It is recognized that the spring lip 8 and the release lever 7 are crucially arranged in a common level or describe such a common level. The level spanned by the release lever 7 in conjunction with the spring lip 8 is crucially arranged in parallel to the locking mechanism level. In accordance with the execution example, the level spanned by the release lever 7 and the buffer element 8 is above the locking mechanism level. Furthermore, it is designed in such a way that at least the spring lip 8 covers the locking mechanism 3, 4. This partly also applies to the release lever 7, whichas already explainedlies on the same axle as the pawl 4 on the common axis 6. Furthermore, the spring lip 8 predominantly stretches transversely to the lengthwise extension of the release lever 7.

(10) The springs and the buffer element 8 are designed as single components and connected to a latch component 9 in the execution example in accordance with FIG. 1. In the variant in accordance with FIG. 2 the spring lip 8 or the construction unit consisting of the spring and the buffer element 8 are connected to a housing 10 on the other hand. The latch component 9 and the housing 10 are respectively plastic components. Furthermore, the design is such that the spring lip 8 in question is molded to the relevant plastic component. The procedure is usually such that the latch component 9 and the spring lip 8 or the housing 10 and the spring lip 8 are respectively manufactured in a common plastic injection molding process. i.e. the spring lip 8 and the housing 10 and/or the latch component 9 are respectively designed as a single-piece plastic component.

(11) With a comparative observation of the two execution variants in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 it is clear that the spring lip 8 is mainly tangentially aligned compared to the circular arched pivoting movements described by the release lever 7 and already referred to. Thus, the spring lip 8 can easily interact with a molding 11 on the release lever 7. This molding 11 on the release lever 7 within the scope of the two execution variants in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 is a level range 11 on the surface of the release lever 7. This is also recognized in FIGS. 3A to 3D and 4A to 4D.

(12) It is known that the first variant in accordance with FIG. 1 corresponds to the illustrations in FIG. 3A to 3D, where the variant in accordance with FIG. 2 concurs with the sketches in FIG. 4A to 4D. The spring lip 8 is predominantly designed as a lengthwise support 8a. In addition, on the end side of the lengthwise support 8a in question at least one transverse support 8b is provided for. That applies to both execution variants. With the aid of the transverse support 8b the active surface can be increased in the interaction of the spring lip 8 with the molding or the step range 11.

(13) The catch 3 has a contour 12 on its upper side which interacts or can interact with the spring lip 8. In actual fact, the contour 12 on the catch 3 ensures in the course of the opening movement of the catch 3 that the spring lip 8 is lifted from its rest on the release lever 7. To this end, a contour 12 is provided for in the area of a main ratchet of the catch 3.

(14) Both the engagement process of the spring lip 8 so to speak behind the molding or the step range 11 on lifting of the trigger element 7 together with the pawl 4 from the catch 3 and also the lifting process of the spring lip 8 from the molding in question 11 during complete opening of the catch 3 respectively correspond to the spring lip 8 performing the already described and crucially vertical deflection movements compared to its lengthwise expansion. This is indicated by corresponding arrows in FIGS. 3A to 3D and 4A to 40. Such deflection movements of the spring lip 8 are easily possible due to their plastic design, because corresponding materials have the necessary elasticity, the lengthwise support 8a therefore functions as a spring.

(15) As already explained in the introduction, the latch component 9 can be designed as an electrical component carrier 9. Such an electrical component carrier is regularly separated from the housing 10 placed in its interior and its purpose, for example, is to hold and contact an electrical motor or also other electrical/electronic components. Within the scope of the variant in accordance with FIG. 1, it is recognized that the electrical component carrier 9 there partly functions as a storage site for an output shaft 13 of an electrical motor. With the aid of the drive shaft 13 a worm gear 14 is set to rotate and in the present case ensures that the release lever or the triggering lever 7 actuate in the sense of electrically open.

(16) A corresponding pivoting movement of the triggering lever 7 around the pertaining rotational axis 6 anticlockwise during the transition from FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B simultaneously corresponds to the pawl 4 being carried along and releasing the catch 3. In order to initiate the described movement of the release lever 7, the worm gear 14 is moved in a clockwise direction during transition from FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B in roughly a four-component revolution. However, the release lever 7 carries the pawl 4 along via a corresponding and invisible contour in the triggering movement and lifts this from the catch 3 during transition from FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B.

(17) As a consequence hereof, the spring lip 8 with its transverse support 8b can engage behind the molding 11 or the step range 11 on the release lever 7 as depicted. In this functional position the pawl 4 is lifted from the catch 3. The catch 3 can now open with the help of a spring, by performing a relevant pivoting movement in an anticlockwise direction around its axis 5, as becomes clear during the transition from FIG. 3B to FIG. 3C. A further opening movement of the catch 3 now leads to the contour 12 provided for in the area of a main ratchet reaching the catch 3 in the area of the spring lip 8 and being able to interact with the spring lip 8.

(18) In actual fact, the contour 12 arising so to speak on the catch 3 in this process ensures that the catch 3 lifts the spring lip 8 from its rest on the release lever 7 in the course of its opening movement. The contour 12 pushes the spring lip 8 up. Consequently, the transverse support 8b of the spring lip 8 is removed from the molding or the step range 11.

(19) Now a force affecting the release lever 7 and indicated by a (white) arrow in FIGS. 3C and 3D and 4C and 40 of a non-illustrated spring can ensure that the release lever 7 and also the pawl 4 are pivoted in the direction of the opening catch 3, namely in a clockwise direction around the common axis 6. As the contour 12 on the catch 3 is arranged in the area of its main ratchet, 30 the main ratchet of the catch 3 passes the pawl 4 so to speak during the opening movement. Therefore the pawl 4 can neither engage in the pre-ratchet nor the main ratchet of the catch 3, consequently the locking mechanism 3, 4 opens as requested and releases the previously caught bolts 2.

(20) A comparable functional procedure is observed in FIG. 4A to 4D. Also in this case the spring lip 8 initially catches with its transverse support 8b during transition from FIG. 4A to FIG. 48 behind the molding 11 on the triggering lever 7. The opening movement for the triggering lever 7 is again initiated by the worm gear 14 which is actuated by the electrical motor depicted in FIG. 2.

(21) In FIGS. 4B and 4C the release lever 7 and also the pawl 4 of the catch 3 is held in the elevated position. The catch 3 can consequently open with the aid of a spring by performing the indicated pivoting movement around its axis 5 in an anti-clockwise direction. As soon as, within the scope of the illustration in accordance with FIG. 4D, the contour 12 lifts the spring lip 8 from the molding 11 on the release lever 7, the release lever 7 can pivot actuated by the springs in the direction of the catch 3. Hereby the release lever 7 and the pawl 4 jointly perform a pivoting movement around the pertaining axis or rotational axis 6, and namely in a clockwise direction, until the pawl 4 is adjacent to the catch 3, and namely beyond its main ratchet. Thus, the pawl 4 can no longer engage in the catch 3 and the catch 3 goes into its completely open position. The locking bolt 2 is released.