Vehicle door lock

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle door lock and an associated method for the operation thereof, wherein the vehicle door lock is equipped with a locking mechanism, which essentially consists of a catch and a pawl. The pawl has a contact surface for the catch, which rests on said contact surface when the locking mechanism is closed. According to the invention, a supporting element, which delays the opening of the locking mechanism, is associated with the pawl, so that the catch glides along the contact surface up to a predetermined opening angle until is it is released from the pawl.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door lock, having a locking mechanism, the motor vehicle door locking comprising: a catch, a pawl and a locking lever that abuts the pawl to lock the pawl against the catch when the locking mechanism is closed, in which the pawl has a contact surface for the catch which rests on said contact surface when the locking mechanism is closed, wherein the pawl contacts a supporting element that delays the opening of the locking mechanism after release of the locking lever, so that the catch glides along the contact surface up to a specified opening angle, until it is released from the pawl, wherein the supporting element is arranged on a worm gear that acts on the locking lever, wherein the supporting element defines a curved delaying contour that contacts the pawl, wherein the locking lever and the supporting element interact with the pawl in direct succession, and wherein after the release of the locking lever from the pawl, the supporting element or a delaying contour on the support element engages with an extension arm on the pawl.

2. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the specified opening angle of the catch corresponds to minimal or no force being exerted on the locking mechanism.

3. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the curved delaying contour is a circular contour.

4. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 3, wherein the circular contour contains an increasing radius.

5. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the worm gear is being acted on by a drive for electric operation, which also preferably controls the delayed opening of the locking mechanism.

6. A method for the operation of a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism comprising a catch and pawl, according to which the catch rests against a contact surface of the pawl in the closed state of the locking mechanism and according to which a supporting element is provided, wherein the supporting element is arranged on a worm gear that acts on a locking lever and wherein the locking lever and the supporting element interact with the pawl in direct succession rotating the worm gear thereby unlocking the locking lever causing the pawl to abut the support element thereby delaying an opening of the locking mechanism such that continued rotation of the worm gear causes the catch to glide along the contact surface up to a specified opening angle releasing the catch from the pawl.

7. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the worm gear is being acted on by a drive for electric operation, which also preferably controls the delayed opening of the locking mechanism.

8. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the specified opening angle of the catch corresponds to minimizing resetting forces of a rubber door seal of a door that the motor vehicle door lock is installed in.

9. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface is an arched contour.

10. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein, in an initial position with the locking mechanism closed, the pawl does not contact the support element.

11. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 10, wherein, moving the support element into contact with the pawl moves the pawl toward the catch thereby releasing the locking lever.

12. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 11, wherein further moving the support element after initial contact with the pawl allows the pawl to gradually move away from the catch until the catch is released.

13. A motor vehicle door lock having a locking mechanism, the motor vehicle door lock comprising: a catch having a closed position and an open position and rotatable in an opening direction from the closed position to the open position; a pawl having a blocking position where the pawl abuts that catch to hold the catch in the closed position and an unblocking position where the pawl does not restrict movement of the catch; an extension arm on the pawl; a locking lever having a locking position where the locking lever abuts the pawl to hold the pawl in the blocking position and an unlocked position where the locking lever does not restrict movement of the pawl; a support element having a delaying contour that is selectively movable against the extension arm, wherein initial contact of the delaying contour against the extension arm shifts the pawl allowing the locking lever to move from the locking position to the unlocked position and further movement of the delaying contour gradually moves the pawl from the blocking position to the unblocking position at a specified opening angle of the catch.

14. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 13, further comprising a worm gear that rotates the support element.

15. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 13, wherein the delaying contour is a circular contour.

16. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 15, wherein the circular contour contains a varying radius that corresponds to a distance to an axis of rotation of the pawl.

17. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 13, wherein, in an initial position with the locking mechanism closed, the support element does not contact the pawl.

18. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 17, wherein, moving the support element into contact with the pawl moves the pawl toward the catch thereby releasing the locking lever.

19. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 18, wherein further moving the pawl toward the catch moves the pawl away from its unblocking position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows the motor vehicle door lock of the invention reduced to the essential components in a first embodiment and

(2) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the motor vehicle door lock of the invention and

(3) FIGS. 3A-3D show the motor vehicle door lock of FIG. 2 in different functional positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) The figures show a motor vehicle door lock which can be designed as a motor vehicle side door lock. Generally, the lock is, however, a motor vehicle tailgate lock. In all cases the respective motor vehicle door lock contains a locking mechanism 1, 2 essentially comprising a catch 1 and a pawl 2. The pawl 2 contains a contact surface 3 for the catch 1, resting against said pawl in the closed state of the locking mechanism 1, 2. In the embodiment, the contact surface 3 is an arched contour and, in particular, a circular contour 3. The pawl 2 is mounted around a rotation axis 4. The rotation axis 4 is defined by a pin or bearing pin on which the pawl 2 is rotatably mounted in relation to a respective lock case 5, as shown in FIG. 2.

(5) The contact surface of circular contour 3 contains, as shown in FIG. 1 and in opening direction of the pawl 2, which means in this instance in case of a rotation of the pawl 2 around its rotation axis 4 in clockwise direction (see arrow in FIG. 1), an increasing radius, increasing from a length a up to a greater length b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the relation
b1.3a
applies.

(6) In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the contact surface 3 of the pawl 2 also contains an increasing radius in the opening direction of the pawl 2 (rotary movement of the pawl 2 around its axis 4 in clockwise direction). In the opening direction of the pawl 2 the size of the radius is initially around a and then increases to b. The ratio is similar to the one described above.

(7) Of particular significance is that the invention provides for an additional supporting element 6 assigned to the pawl 2. This supporting element 6 assigned to the pawl 2 provides a delayed opening of the locking mechanism. This means that the supporting element 6 prevents that the pawl 2 is suddenly lifted off the catch 1 during opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 so that, as a result, the catch 1 opens by means of a spring or by resetting forces applied by the rubber door seal and releases a previously retained locking bolt 7.

(8) The delayed opening of the locking mechanism by means of the supporting element 6 ensures that the catch 1 glides along the contact surface 3 up to a specified opening angle. This opening angle corresponds to an opening angle across which the catch 1 moves during this process and which is indicated by a dash/doted line in FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, one edge 8 of the catch 1 glides along the contact surface 3. At the same time, the pawl 2 moves in the opposite direction, i.e. carries out a clockwise movement in the opening sense around a respective rotation axis 4. The catch 1 also moves in clockwise direction. As a result, the catch 1 passes over the angle during the described delayed opening of the locking mechanism, as indicated in

(9) FIG. 1. The opening angle can have a value of between 5 and 20. The opening angle of the catch 1, across which the catch 1 moves as part of the delayed opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2, corresponds to a predefined opening angle of the catch 1 and consequently also of an associated motor vehicle doornot shown. At the same time, the locking bolt 7 moves along an opening path s during this process, as indicated in FIG. 1. This opening path s corresponds to the opening angle or the specified opening angle of the catch 1 as part of the delayed opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2.

(10) After completion of the opening path s or the aforementioned specified opening angle of the catch 1, the locking mechanism 1, 2 is essentially not exposed to any force. This means that when the catch 1 has reached its opening angle or after the opening angle s of the locking bolt 7 has been reached, the resetting forces F indicated in FIG. 1 and exerted by the rubber door seal of the motor vehicle door are not (no longer) applied. In FIG. 1 the respective resetting forces F are indicated by a force error and are applied in this case in such a way that they act on the locking bolt 7 in a force direction to the left side. At the same time, the resetting forces F act on the catch 1 in such a way that it is acted upon around its axis 9 in clockwise direction or that the torques desribed in the introduction to the description are exerted.

(11) Generally these resetting forces F ensure that during opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 the pawl 2 is pivoted directly away from the catch 1 and that the catch 1 carries out the indicated opening movement. This corresponds essentially to a rotary movement of the catch 1 around its axis in clockwise direction. According to the invention, the catch 1 carries out a pivoting movement around angle , as described. As part of this pivoting movement of the catch 1, the respective edge 8 glides along the contact surface 3 of the pawl 2. This process is also facilitated by the fact that the pawl 2 contains an increasing radius a, b at the contact surface or circular contour 3 during its opening process, so that the catch 1 is being increasingly opened, essentially caused by the resetting forces F and/or the opening spring allocated to the catch 1. Due to its counter movement in relation to the pawl 2, the edge 8 of the catch 1 moves against a decreasing radius b, a on the contact surface 3, resulting in a controlled opening of the catch 1.

(12) In order to achieve the described delayed opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 in this context, the supporting element 6 is a contour or delaying contour 6 interacting with an extension arm 10 of the pawl 2. In the embodiment, the supporting element or the delaying contour 6 is arranged on a worm gear 11. In the embodiment, the worm gear 11 is acted upon by a drive 12, 13, by means of which the locking mechanism 1, 2 can be electrically opened as explained in detail below.

(13) In addition to the supporting element or the delaying contour 6, the worm gear 11 also contains a locking lever 14 in FIG. 1. Generally the design can be such that the worm gear 11 acts upon the respective locking lever 14. In this case, the locking lever 14 is not mounted on or at the worm gear 11 but separately in lock case 5. This is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(14) The overall arrangement is such that the locking lever 14 and the support element 6 interact with the pawl 2 in close succession. In the example shown in FIG. 1 the drive 12, 13 ensures that the worm gear 11 first carries out a small movement around its respective axis 15 in counterclockwise direction for opening the locking mechanism 1, 2, as shown by an arrow. This releases the previously blocked pawl 2 from the locking lever 14.

(15) As a result, the edge 8 of the catch 1 can role down the contact surface or circular contour 3 whilst the pawl 2 is pivoted in clockwise direction around its rotation axis 4 during this process. This process is, however, controlled or delayed as after the release of the locking lever 14 from the pawl 2, the supporting element or the delaying contour 6 engages with the extension arm 10 on the pawl 2. The delayed opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 actually corresponds to the extension arm 10 rolling down the supporting element or delaying contour 6, so that the pawl 2 as a whole moves at a speed specified by the drive 12, 13 around its rotation axis 4 in clockwise direction.

(16) Similarly, the catch 1 also carries out an opening movement controlled by the drive 12, 13 and until the locking bolt 7 has completed the opening travel s. The extension arm 10 is then released from the supporting element or the delaying contour 6 and can pivot the pawl 2 completely away from the catch 1 which is then opened by means of the spring and fully releases the locking bolt 7.

(17) These steps are also clear from FIGS. 2 and 3A to 3B. FIG. 2 or 3A initially show the locking mechanism 1, 2 in its closed state. In order to open the locking mechanism the provided drive 12, 13 is energized, said drive consisting of an electric motor 12 and a driving worm 13 acted upon by the electric motor 12 for the worm gear 11. After this electric opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 the worm gear 11 is pivoted around its axis 15 in counter-clockwise direction during the transition from FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B. This process also causes the locking lever 14 to be released from the pawl 2 by means of the drive 12, 13 so that the pawl 2 can essentially open around its rotation axis 4 in clockwise direction. This opening movement is, however, delayed in a controlled manner by the supporting element or the delaying contour 6.

(18) During the continued travel of the worm gear 11 in clockwise direction around its associated axis 15 and during the transition from FIG. 3B to FIG. 3C, the pawl 2 is controlled by the delaying contour 6 or by the drive 12, 13, in order to act on the rotation axis 4 for opening. As a result, the edge 8 of the catch 1 can also glide along the contact surface 3 in a controlled manner and until the locking bolt 7 has completed the opening travel. This occurs during the transition from FIG. 3C to FIG. 3D. The edge 8 of the catch 1 is then able to leave the contact surface 3 on the pawl 2 and the catch 1 is then fully released from the pawl 2. The catch 1 then opens and fully releases the locking bolt 7.

(19) FIGS. 2 and 3 also show a initial latching pawl 16, retaining the catch 1 in a closed condition together with the pawl 2 in connection with the locking lever 14 and which is pivoted away from the catch 1 for opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 by means of the drive 12, 13. The latching pawl 16 is thus of no further significance for the described functionality so that it does not have to be described in further detail.

(20) In addition to the described electric opening of the locking mechanism 1, 2 by means of the drive 12, 13 also a mechanical opening in the sense of an emergency release is possible. For this purpose the locking lever 14 is, for instance, starting from the functional position shown in FIG. 3A, lifted off the pawl 2 by mechanical means and not with the aid of the drive 12, 13 and then reaches the position shown in FIG. 3B. As a result, the pawl 2 can pivot in relation to the (stationary) worm gear 11 and without the pawl 2 interacting with the supporting element or the delaying contour 6. This can be directly achieved from the functional position shown in FIG. 3A as the pawl 2 is pivoted essentially below the supporting element 6 or the delaying contour 6 around its rotation axis 4. As a result the catch 1 is directly released and the locking mechanism 1, 2 opens without the described delayed opening process 5 of the locking mechanism 1, 2.

(21) In the shown embodiment, it is however primarily the electric drive 12, 13 in connection with the worm gear 11 and the supporting element or the delaying contour 6, that ensures that the pawl 2 can directly interact with the supporting element or the delaying contour 6 once the pawl or the latching pawl 16 is released from its engagement in the catch 1. As a result, the pawl 2 carries out an opening movement controlled by the drive 12, 13. The controlled opening movement of the pawl 2 corresponds to the edge 8 of the catch 1 rolling off the contact surface 3 of the opening pawl 2, also controlled by the drive 12, 13. This releases the catch 1 from the pawl 2 and generally only once no or only minor resetting forces F act on the locking mechanism 1, 2. As a result, the locking mechanism 1, 2 is gently opened and the opening plop known from prior art is avoided.