MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR LOCK

Abstract

A motor vehicle door lock, particularly a motor vehicle bonnet lock, includes a ratchet mechanism which substantially consists of a rotary latch and a pawl. The ratchet mechanism interacts with a lock retainer pin on a vehicle bonnet. A retention element is additionally provided which holds the pawl in a retention position, raised from the rotary latch, during unlocking of the bonnet. The lock retainer pin continues to engage in the rotary latch when in said retention position. During a first opening process which proceeds from the retention position, the lock retainer pin transfers the retention element into a release position that releases the pawl. During a subsequent bonnet closing process, the pawl can thus engage in the rotary latch, which can be pivoted without exertion of force by the lock retainer pin at least into the hold position.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door lock comprising: a locking mechanism including a rotary latch and a pawl, the locking mechanism having a pre-ratchet position in which the pawl is in a retention position and a release position in which the pawl is released; a bonnet having a lock retainer pin interacting with the locking mechanism; and a retention element which holds the pawl in the retention position in which the pawl is raised from the rotary latch during an unlatching operation of the bonnet, wherein when the pawl is in the retention position, the lock retainer pin drops into the rotary latch to move the retention element during an first opening operation starting from the retention position of the pawl to the release position releasing the pawl.

2. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the retention element is mounted on a shift lever.

3. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 2, wherein the shift lever projects into an inlet mouth of the locking mechanism and rests against the lock retainer pin.

4. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 2, wherein the shift lever is configured as a two-arm lever with a stop arm resting against the lock retainer pin and a bearing arm holding the retention element.

5. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 2, wherein the retention element is configured as a memory lever with a blocking arm interacting with the pawl and with a control arm interacting with the shift lever.

6. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the retention element is biased by a spring in a direction of the retention position.

7. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the retention element, after lifting the pawl of the rotary latch, moves with a blocking arm, supported by a spring against the pawl and holds it in the retention position.

8. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the blocking arm of the retention element rests in the retention position on a stop pin of the pawl.

9. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein an unlatching/opening mechanism is provided for acting on the locking mechanism.

10. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 9, wherein the unlatching/opening mechanism has a handle provided in an interior of a motor vehicle body, which in a first operation, switches the locking mechanism to the retention position and, in a second operation, unlatches the locking mechanism.

11. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 2 further comprising a sensor that is in communication with the bonnet for detecting closure of the bonnet.

12. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 11, wherein the shift lever has a sensor arm that is configured to interact with the sensor depending on a position of the shift lever.

13. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 12, wherein the sensor is a microswitch.

14. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the rotary latch is a fork latch having two fork arms that define a slot therebetween for accommodating the lock retainer pin.

15. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 3, wherein the inlet mouth is formed on a frame plate.

16. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 4, wherein the retention element is rotatably mounted on the bearing arm.

17. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 15, wherein the pawl has a stop pin which is received through a recess of the frame plate.

Description

[0032] In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 1A and 1B depict the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention on the one hand from the rotary latch side (FIG. 1A) and on the other hand from the memory lever side (FIG. 1B) in the closed state or in the main position,

[0034] FIG. 2A and 2B vehicle door lock according to FIGS. 1A and 1B in the pre-ratchet position, again with a view to the rotary latch side (FIG. 2A) and the memory lever side (FIG. 2B), and

[0035] FIG. 3A and 3B the motor vehicle door lock in the retention position and in an indicated opening operation, again with regard to the rotary latch side (FIG. 3A) and the pawl side (FIG. 3B).

[0036] In the figures, a motor vehicle door lock is shown, which is not limited to a motor vehicle bonnet lock. The respective motor vehicle door lock is therefore located in the front area of a not depicted motor vehicle. The motor vehicle door lock has a locking mechanism 1,2 consisting essentially of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. Rotary latch 1 is a fork latch with two fork arms 1a, 1b and a slot 1c defined between the fork arms 1a and 1b for accommodating and holding a lock retainer pin 3. The lock retainer pin 3 is connected to a bonnet 4 or front hood 4 of the motor vehicle (not shown), which is indicated only in FIG. 1A.

[0037] Rotary latch 1 is mounted with the aid of a pin or shoulder stud rotatable relative to a frame plate 5 defining an axis 6. Pawl 2 is rotatably mounted relative to the frame plate 5. Also in this case a pin or shoulder stud accommodating the pawl 2 defines a corresponding axis or axis of rotation 7. Frame plate 5 is equipped with an inlet mouth 8, via which the lock retainer pin 3 extends into and retracts from the motor vehicle door lock or the locking mechanism 1.2.

[0038] In addition, a retention element 9 depicted in particular in the rear view according to FIGS. 1B to 3B, which is a memory lever 9, is also part of the basic design. The retention element or the memory lever 9 has a blocking arm 9a and a control arm 9b. The blocking arm 9a can interact with the pawl 2 or a stop pin 2a on the pawl 2, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1B to 3B. For this purpose, the stop pin 2a passes through the frame plate 5 in the region of a recess 10.

[0039] The retention element or the memory lever 9 is rotatably mounted on a shift lever 11. This is ensured by a rotation axis 12. In addition, the retention element or the memory lever 9 is biased by mechanism of a spring, not explicitly shown in the direction of its retention position to be explained below. For this purpose, the spring in question ensures that the retention element or the memory lever 9 is biased in the direction of a clockwise movement about its axis or axis of rotation 12 on the shift lever 11. This is indicated by a corresponding arrow in FIGS. 1B to 3B.

[0040] During an unlatching operation of the bonnet 4, the pawl 2 is held in a retention position lifted from the rotary latch 1 as shown in FIG. 3A and 3B. In this retention position, the locking mechanism 1.2 is still in its pre-ratchet position, which is reproduced in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the pre-ratchet position of the locking mechanism 1, 2 or the retention position of the pawl 2, the lock retainer pin 3 still dropped into the rotary latch 1 as before. This can be seen in a comparative view of FIGS. 2A, 3A and 2B and 3B, respectively.

[0041] Shift lever 11, which is part of the basic design and has already been mentioned, is designed as a two-arm lever. In fact, the shift lever 11 has a stop arm 11a adjacent to the lock retainer pin 3 and a bearing arm 11b supporting the retention element 9. According to the exemplary embodiment, the shift lever 11 is additionally equipped with a sensor arm 11c, which interacts with a sensor 13 in certain positions of the shift lever 11. Sensor 13 is a microswitch in the exemplary embodiment and is not restrictive.

[0042] Finally, an unlatching/opening mechanism 16, 17 for acting on the locking mechanism 1.2 is provided as well. The unlatching mechanism 16, 17 is indicated only in FIG. 1A. In fact, the unlatching/opening mechanism 16, 17 engages the pawl 2 as part of the locking mechanism 1,2.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment, the unlatching/opening mechanism 16, 17 has a handle 16 provided in the interior of a motor vehicle body on the one hand and a connecting element 17 mechanically coupling the handle 16 with the pawl 2 on the other hand. The connecting element 17 is a cable or Bowden cable. With the aid of handle 16, the locking mechanism 1,2 or pawl 2 can be acted on from the inside of the vehicle body. A respective operation of the handle 15 corresponds to a pulling acting on the connecting mechanism 17, which corresponds to the fact that the pawl 2 is acted upon about its axis or axis of rotation 7 in the counterclockwise direction indicated in FIG. 1A.

[0044] According to the exemplary embodiment and particularly preferable is that the handle 16 is operated twice. During a first operation of the handle 16, the locking mechanism 1,2 moves from the main-ratchet position of FIGS. 1A, 1B into the pre-ratchet position shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the pre-ratchet position, the bonnet 4 is slightly pushed out. This is ensured by a spring, not shown, which may act on the bonnet 4 directly in the opening direction. In principle, the spring can also act on the rotary latch 1. The overall design is made so that the bonnet 4 is held in the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, as it were suspended, i.e., is not acted upon by the spring in the opening sense. As a result, the lock retainer pin 3 remains in the slot 1c between the two fork arms 1a, 1b of the rotary latch 1. The lock retainer pin 3 and thus the bonnet 4 are logically secured in the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B as before.

[0045] For the transition from the closed position of the motor vehicle door lock according to FIGS. 1A and 1B to the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the handle 16 is operated for the first time. As a result, the pawl 2 is acted upon counterclockwise about its axis 7 and exits a main-ratchet 14 on the fork arm or main-ratchet arm 1a of the rotary latch 1. After the first operation of the handle 16, the handle 16 together with the connecting means 17 and the pawl 2 is reset with the help of the spring, so that the pawl 2 in the then reached pre-ratchet position according to FIG. 2A and 2B can interact with a pre-ratchet 15 on the additional fork arm or pre-ratchet arm 1b of the lock 1. The lock retainer pin 3 is still in the slot 1c between the two fork arms 1a, 1b of the rotary latch 1. In the pre-ratchet position, the locking mechanism 1,2 thus continues to ensure securing of the lock retainer pin 3 and consequently of the bonnet 4.

[0046] To assume the retention position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the bonnet 4 is unlatched. For this purpose, a second operation of the handle 16 corresponds. As a result of this unlatching, the retention position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is assumed. In fact, this second operation of the handle 16 of the unlatching/opening mechanism 16, 17 corresponds to the fact that the pawl 2 is again pivoted counterclockwise about its axis 7 starting from the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B. However, after the handle 16 has been operated for the second time, the pawl 2 does not spring-supported return to its home position shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A. This is ensured by the retention element or memory lever 9. This can be seen in the sequence of functions in the rear views or when looking at the memory lever side according to FIGS. 1B to 3B.

[0047] During the transition from the closed position according to FIG. 1B to the retention position corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 3B, the shift lever 11 makes a pivoting movement in the clockwise direction about its axis 18.

[0048] Actually, the shift lever 11 is supported in the frame plate 5 on the memory lever side. This may again be handled by a pin or bolt, which defines the axis or axis of rotation 18 for the two-armed shift lever 11.

[0049] The shift lever 11 protrudes into the inlet opening 8 of the frame plate 5 and can thereby interact with the lock retainer pin 3 or is in continuous contact with the lock retainer pin 3. This is ensured by a spring 11 which acts on the shift lever 11 and biases the shift lever 11 in the clockwise direction indicated in FIG. 1B with respect to rotations about its axis 18, as indicated by a corresponding arrow. The corresponding spring is not shown here.

[0050] During the transition of the locking mechanism 1, 2 from the closed position according to FIGS. 1A and 1B to the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the lock retainer pin 3 moves in an opening sense, i.e., out of the inlet opening 8, as indicated by arrows. This is ensured by the previously mentioned spring, which acts on the bonnet 4, respectively the rotary latch 1. As a result, a gap is observed between the bonnet 4 and the motor vehicle body, not shown, in the pre-ratchet position shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, through which an operator can grasp the bonnet 4 and open it completely from the pre-ratchet position.

[0051] During the transition from the closed position of the locking mechanism 1, 2 according to FIGS. 1A, 1B to the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the shift lever 11 follows the upward movement of the lock retainer pin 3 in the exemplary embodiment. As a result, the shift lever 11 in this case performs a pivoting movement in the clockwise direction about its axis 18. The memory lever or retention element 9 mounted on the shift lever 11 and rotatable about its axis 12 follows this pivoting movement of the shift lever 11. As already explained above, the retention element or the memory lever 9 is biased by a spring in the direction of the retention position, i.e., clockwise about its axis 12.

[0052] During the transition from the closed position to the pre-ratchet position, the memory lever 9 is now locked in its position opposite the shift lever 11 because, on the one hand, its control arm 9b rests against a stop 19 of the shift lever 11 and, on the other hand, a side surface of the blocking arm 9a rests against the stop pin 2a of pawl 2. This makes clear in particular the functional position according to FIG. 2B.

[0053] In the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the completed clockwise movement of the shift lever 11 additionally has the effect that the sensor arm 11c acts on the microswitch 13 in the exemplary embodiment. The signal of the sensor or microswitch 13 can be emitted as a warning signal inside the motor vehicle, indicating that the bonnet 4 is not completely closed. In addition, this signal can be evaluated so that the associated motor vehicle, for example, cannot be driven off.

[0054] As already explained, the transition from the closed position according to FIGS. 1A and 1B to the pre-ratchet position. 2A and 2B is initiated and started by the first operation of the handle 16 provided in the interior of the motor vehicle body.

[0055] Because this first operation of the handle 16 ensures that the pawl 2 is lifted from the rotary latch 1 or the main-ratchet 14. As a result, the bonnet 4 is raised slightly with the help of the spring and the locking mechanism 1, 2 switches over into the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Because following the first operation of the handle 16, the pawl 2 can fall into the pre-ratchet 15 of the rotary latch 1.

[0056] If now starting from the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the bonnet is unlatched or is to be unlatched, a second operation of the handle 16 must take place. This second operation of the handle 16, starting from the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, has the result that the pawl 2 in turn is pivoted counterclockwise about its axis 7 and consequently exits the pre-ratchet 15. Since the force of the spring acting on the bonnet 4 is dimensioned such that the bonnet 4 is held in suspension in the pre-ratchet position, the bonnet 4 does not (anymore) open from the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B in the transition to the retention position according to FIGS. 3A and 3B . Rather, the lock retainer pin 3 drops into the rotary latch 1 in the retention position according to FIGS. 3A and 3B as before. Rotary latch 1 thus retains its pre-ratchet position.

[0057] By the second operation of the handle 16, starting from the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pawl 2 is now lifted from the rotary latch 1 in the pre-ratchet position. This counterclockwise pivoting movement of the pawl 2 about its axis or axis of rotation 7 in the rear view or when looking at the memory lever side and when comparing FIG. 2B and 3B results in that the stop pin 2a on the pawl 2 moves along the side surface of the blocking arm 9a of the pawl 9 and, at the end of the counterclockwise movement of the pawl 2 about its axis 7, reaches a front surface of the blocking arm 9a of the memory lever 9. This is ensured by the spring acting on the locking lever 9 clockwise around axis 12. The memory lever 9 maintains this position due to the interaction of its control arm 9b with the stop 19 on the shift lever 11. Since the stop pin 2 a of the pawl 2 is moved against the front surface of the blocking arm 9a of the retention element 9 and the retention element 9, maintains the retention position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the pawl 2 is lifted out of the rotary latch 1 in this retention position.

[0058] In a first opening operation of the bonnet 4, starting from the retention position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the lock retainer pin 3 ensures that the pawl 2 is transferred to a releasing release position. In this release position, the pawl 2 is free of the retention element or storage lever 9 and is again in its initial position as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A.

[0059] To achieve this in detail, the opening process of the bonnet 4, starting from the retention position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, first ensures that the lock retainer pin 3 is moved upwards. For this purpose, an operator reaches through the gap between the bonnet 4 and the vehicle body. This gap has automatically resulted or has been set in the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B, as has already been explained above. As a result of the opening movement of the bonnet 4 and thus the connected lock retainer pin 3, the shift lever 11 is also further pivoted clockwise about its axis 18, as indicated in FIG. 3B. The pivoting movement of the shift lever 11 in the clockwise direction about its axis 18 is followed by the retention element 9 rotatably mounted on the shift lever 11. As a result, the blocking arm 9a of the retention element or memory lever 9 moves away from the stop pin 2a of the pawl 2. Consequently, the retention element or the memory lever 9 can no longer hold the pawl 2 in its raised retention position. The pawl 2 thus returns, spring assisted, to its starting position shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A.

[0060] During a closing process of bonnet 4 following the described opening or the first opening process starting from the retention position, the lock retainer pin 3 can now engage with the locking mechanism 1, 2 with any exerted force. This is because the bonnet 4 is in the pre-ratchet position according to FIGS. 2A and 2B in a virtually floating or force-free state relative to the vehicle body. Even in the transition from the retention position of FIGS. 2A and 2B to the retention position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the rotary latch 1 is not pivoted further. As a result, the lock retainer pin 3 still drops into the rotary latch 1 in the retention position as before.

[0061] Conversely, this means that following the described first opening operation, a closing operation of bonnet 4 corresponds in any case to the fact that the lock retainer pin 3, without exerting any force, pivots the rotary latch 1 into the pre-ratchet position according to the illustration in FIG. 2A and 2B. Since previously the pawl 2 has been transferred to its releasing release position and consequently is at its basic position according to FIGS. 1A and 2A, the pawl 2 can drop directly into the pre-ratchet 15 of the rotary latch 1. This applies even if the bonnet 4 is lowered very slowly by an operator and is not acted on with an additional force. Because during this process no spring forces have to be overcome, the lock retainer pin 3 only ensures that the rotary latch 1 is transferred from its open position indicated in FIG. 3A to at least the position belonging to the pre-ratchet position. Since in the pre-ratchet position, the pawl 2 can drop down directly, the lock retainer pin 3 is secured in any case. At the same time, the microswitch or sensor 13 operated in the pre-ratchet position ensures that the previously described warning signal is emitted or subjected to a corresponding evaluation.