Bowden cable

Abstract

The invention relates to a Bowden cable, particularly for a motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism, comprising a rotary latch and at least one pawl for locking said rotary latch in a main latching position and a pre-latching position, preferably with a closing aid for moving said rotary latch from the pre-latching position into the main latching position. The Bowden cable comprises a securing device designed such that said Bowden cable can be adjusted and fixed in place by means of a translational movement, or that this adjustment can be fixed by deformation of at least one deformation tab. This allows said Bowden cable to be mounted in a particularly simple manner.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle latch comprising: a locking mechanism comprising a locking housing, a catch and at least one pawl, mounted on the locking housing, for locking said catch in a main ratchet position and in a pre-ratchet position, a closing aid for moving the catch from the pre-ratchet position to the main ratchet position, a Bowden cable comprising a Bowden cable core and a Bowden cable sheath, the closing aid is configured to be operatively connected to a first end of the Bowden cable sheath, said locking housing comprising a connection part that is configured to receive and connected an opposite end of the Bowden cable sheath to the locking housing, the connection part defining a ratchet profile, a fixing device movably mounted to the connection part, the fixing device defining at least one detent cog that interconnects with the ratchet profile on the connection part, wherein, the Bowden cable sheath contains a connection device, which is received into an opening on the fixing device, for connecting a tool, so as to move the at least one cog of the fixing device with respect to the ratchet profile of the connection part, to a desired position in order to adjust the position of the Bowden cable.

2. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting and fixing of the Bowden cable can be achieved by a single translation movement in a tensioning direction.

3. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 2, wherein the fixing device has at least one detent hook for fixing the adjustment of the Bowden cable, and wherein the connecting part has a guide for retaining the detent hooks and guiding in a translation direction.

4. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 3, wherein the fixing device contains a fixing means that is releasably attached perpendicularly to the tensioning direction in a translation direction with a positive connection to the Bowden cable core or the Bowden cable sheath.

5. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 4, wherein at least one detent cog and/or at least one detent hook are arranged on the fixing means.

6. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 2, wherein the detent cog and/or the ratchet profile have a saw-tooth shape in such a way that the translation movement is only possible in a tensioning direction.

7. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 2, wherein a guide for retaining the detent hooks and guiding in a translation direction are provided in a connection part.

8. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connection devices for connecting a tool for adjustment of the Bowden cable is in the form of a recess.

9. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device contains a fixing means consisting of a single piece, wherein the fixing means is releasably attached perpendicularly to the tensioning direction with a positive connection to the Bowden cable core or the Bowden cable sheath by a retaining lug and respective detent opening.

10. A method for installing a motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the installation is carried out by: in a first step, positioning the Bowden cable relatively to the connection part; and in a second step, adjusting, tensioning and fixing the Bowden cable relatively to the connection part by conducting a single translation movement.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the motor vehicle latch is formed according to claim 6, prior to the second installation step, the method further comprises an additional installation step for attaching a fixing means to the Bowden cable sheath.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein after step two, the adjustment can be corrected by carrying out the additional installation steps releasing the fixing means, readjusting the Bowden cable and reattaching the fixing means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: shows a section of the system including the Bowden cable.

(2) FIG. 2: shows a fixing device with the fixing means (front).

(3) FIG. 3: shows a fixing device with the fixing means (rear).

(4) FIG. 4: Bowden cable sheath.

(5) FIG. 5: fixing means.

(6) FIG. 6: fixing device with fixing means (front).

(7) FIG. 7: fixing device with fixing means (rear).

(8) FIG. 8: Bowden cable sheath

(9) FIG. 9: fixing means.

(10) FIG. 10: fixing device before fixing.

(11) FIG. 11: fixing device before fixing (detailed view)

(12) FIG. 12: fixing device after fixing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(13) FIG. 1 shows a section of the system with a Bowden cable 1 (example I) with a fixing device 4, in which the Bowden cable 1 is used in a motor vehicle latch of a door or flap containing a locking mechanism 27, comprising a catch and at least a pawl for retaining the catch in a main ratchet position and in a pre-ratchet position by means of a force or longitudinal movement being transferred from a drive onto a closing aid for moving the catch from the pre-ratchet position into the main ratchet position.

(14) FIG. 1 only shows the connection to the connection parts 5 on one side of the Bowden cable 1. The connection and connection parts are hidden on the other side. FIG. 1 thus shows a Bowden cable 1 in which only one end of the Bowden cable core 2 is connected to the connection part 5 (covered by the housing 6 in FIG. 1) and in which only one end of the Bowden cable sheath 3 is connected to the housing 6 as a connection part.

(15) The Bowden cable 1 shown in FIG. 1 (example embodiment I) contains a fixing device 4 in which a fixing means 7 can be attached perpendicularly from the rear to the tensioning direction 8. FIGS. 2. 3. 4 and 5 show details of this example embodiment I. FIGS. 6. 7. 8 and 9 show detailed views of the example embodiment II of a Bowden cable 1 with fixing device 4 in which the fixing means 7 can be installed by the user perpendicularly from the front in relation to the tensioning direction 8. Depending on accessibility, installation space and selected installation method, the example embodiment I or II can be advantageous for a particularly simple installation.

(16) The fixing means 7 is designed as a single-piece plastic injection molding part, containing saw-tooth shaped detent cogs 9, two detent hooks 11 and a detent opening 12 (see FIGS. 5 and 9).

(17) The Bowden cable sheath 3 contains a retaining lug 13 in the area of the fixing device 4 for a positive connection with the detent opening 12 in tensioning direction 8 or translation direction, a connection means 14 in form of a recess for connecting a tool and for adjusting the Bowden cable 1 manually or with the aid of a tool as well as a recess 15 on the Bowden cable sheath increasing the flexibility of the Bowden cable at the transition to the area of the fixing device 4 (see FIGS. 4 and 8).

(18) In the area of the fixing device 4, the housing 6 contains a cylindrical opening 20 allowing a particularly easy installation of the Bowden cable and a guide 17 for retaining the detent hook 11 and guidance in the translation direction. In the example embodiment I this guide 17 consists of a projection with phase in the housing 6 (see FIG. 3). In the example embodiment II this guide 17 is a groove or slot in the housing 6 (see FIG. 7). A ratchet profile 10 is also provided or formed in the housing 6, facing the detent cogs 9 of the fixing means 7 in the attached state (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 6).

(19) The detent cogs 9 and the ratchet profile 10 have a saw-tooth shape and contain a sliding leg 18 with a small incline and a detent leg 19 with a steep incline. The sliding leg 18 and the detent leg 19 of the detent cogs 9 and of the ratchet profile 10 are designed in such a way that in case of a translation movement of the fixing means 7 in tensioning direction 8, sliding is made possible and that the detent cogs 9 engage with the ratchet profile 10 in tensioning direction 8. The detent hooks 11 held by the guide 17 ensure a reliably fixing of the fixing means 7 in such an engaged position. The user can thus adjust and simultaneously fix the Bowden cable using a single translation movement of the Bowden cable sheaths in tensioning direction.

(20) The detent hook 11 contains a phase 21 as a result of which the detent hook 11 can be particularly easily engaged in the guide 17. The plastic material of the detent hook 11 has been selected in such a way that an elastic deformation of the detent hook 11 is made possible, allowing the detent hook 11 to be repeatedly attached and also detached again to the guide 17 without destruction.

(21) This allows several installation and adjustment options of the Bowden cable 1 and fixing of the Bowden cable 1 by the fixing device 4.

(22) The Bowden cable 1 comprising the Bowden cable core 2 and the Bowden cable sheath 3 is first of all placed in position. In relation to the section displayed in the figure, showing the connected ends of the Bowden cable, this means insertion of the Bowden cable sheath 3 including the enclosed Bowden cable core 2 into the cylindrical opening 20 of the housing 6 and connecting the Bowden cable core 2 to the connection part, covered by the housing 6 in FIG. 1.

(23) Next, the Bowden cable 1 can either be adjusted and fixed by attaching the fixing means 7 and by a single translation movement of the Bowden cable sheath 3 in the tensioning direction 8 or the Bowden cable is first adjusted by a translation movement and is then fixed by attaching the fixing means 7. The latter option allows a translation movement in both directions along a straight parallel to the tensioning direction.

(24) Where required, a correction of the setting is possible in both of the above options. This is achieved by releasing the fixing means 7, readjusting the Bowden cable 1 using a translation movement and finally reattaching the fixing means 7.

(25) FIG. 10 shows a Bowden cable 1 (example embodiment III) with a fixing device 4, containing four deformation tabs 22 for fixing the setting of the Bowden cable 1. FIGS. 10 and 11 show the Bowden cable 1 in an unfixed state and FIG. 12 shows it in a fixed state with bent deformation tabs 22.

(26) The Bowden cable 1 contains a connection means 23 separated from the Bowden cable core 2 for the installation with a curved, hook-shaped end 24, only shown partly in FIG. 11.

(27) As the connection means 23 and the Bowden cable core 2 are separated for installation, the Bowden cable core 2 and the end 24 can be installed separately and therefore in a particularly simple manner.

(28) After installation and tying up the ends, the Bowden cable core 2 is placed in a recess 25 in the area of the fixing device 4, having essentially the same radius as the Bowden cable core 2 to be connected. As a result, the Bowden cable core 2 can be subjected to a particularly easy translatory movement or tensioned in tensioning direction for adjustment. In the area of the recess 25, the connection means 23 is designed as a half shell as an inspection window for displaying the relative position of the Bowden cable core 2 to the connection means 23 or to the end 24. This allows a particularly simple adjustment by the user.

(29) The deformation tabs 22 are arranged or formed in the connection means 23 as a single piece and tangentially to the recess 25, parallel to each other and offset on both sides of the recess 25 (see FIG. 11). The connection means 23 is made of metal. As a result of this arrangement of the deformation tabs 22 the Bowden cable core 2 can be particularly easily inserted in the connection means 23 and subsequently connected with a high level of strength due to the contact force of the plastically deformed or bent over deformation tabs 22.

(30) The seat 26 of the connection means 23 allowing anchoring of the deformation tabs 22 after deforming can prevent a translation movement of the deformation tabs 22 after deforming and offers a particularly connection strength between the connection means 23 and the Bowden cable core 2 as a result of a greater contact surface.

(31) The Bowden cable 1 of example embodiment III also allows one of the above methods for adjusting and fixing the Bowden cable 1 by means of the fixing device 4.

(32) The Bowden cable 1 comprising the Bowden cable core 2, a separate connection means 23 and the Bowden cable sheath 3, is installed first.

(33) Next, the Bowden cable 1 is adjusted by a translation movement and is then fixed by deforming of the deformation tabs 22 of the fixing means 7, with a translation movement along a straight parallel to the tensioning direction being possible in both directions.