LOCKING MEANS FOR A FRONT FLAP OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A locking apparatus for a front flap of a motor vehicle comprises a double-stroke lock, including a first locking element and a second locking element, to mechanically lock the front flap in a closed position and in a locked position; an unlocking element, coupled to the double-stroke lock, to unlock the first locking element by a first stroke and the second locking element by a second stroke separate from the first stroke; an actuator, coupled to the unlocking element, to move the unlocking element to unlock the first locking and the second locking element; a drive motor to drive the actuator; a first control device and a second control device to separately control the drive motor; and a changeover element to change over control of the actuator from the first control device to the second control device and vice versa based on a position of the actuator. The drive motor is operable by the first control device to move the actuator to effect a first stroke, and the drive motor is operable by the second control device to move the actuator to effect a second stroke.

Claims

1. A locking apparatus for a front flap of a motor vehicle, the locking apparatus comprising: a double-stroke lock, including a first locking element and a second locking element, to mechanically lock the front flap in a closed position and in a locked position; an unlocking element, coupled to the double-stroke lock, to unlock the first locking element by a first stroke and the second locking element by a second stroke separate from the first stroke; an actuator, coupled to the unlocking element, to move the unlocking element to unlock the first locking and the second locking element; a drive motor to drive the actuator; a first control device and a second control device to separately control the drive motor; and a changeover element to change over control of the actuator from the first control device to the second control device and vice versa based on a position of the actuator, wherein the drive motor being operable by the first control device to move the actuator to effect a first stroke, and the drive motor being operable by the second control device to move the actuator to effect a second stroke.

2. The locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive motor being controllable by the first control device to move the actuator from a neutral position, in a first direction, to effect the first stroke, as far as a first changeover position in which the changeover element to be actuated by the actuator to change over from the first control device to the second control device, whereupon the actuator to be restored to the neutral position, and the drive motor being controllable by the second control device to move the actuator from the neutral position, in the first direction, to effect the second stroke, whereupon the drive motor to be restored to the neutral position.

3. The locking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the drive motor being controllable by the second control device to move the actuator from the neutral position, in a second direction, into a second changeover position in which the changeover element to be actuated by the actuator to change over from the second control device to the first control device, whereupon which the actuator can be restored to the neutral position.

4. The locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-stroke lock to be actuated by a pull-shut element coupled to the actuator to pull the front flap shut.

5. The locking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the double-stroke lock to be actuated by a pull-shut element coupled to the actuator to pull the front flap shut.

6. The locking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the double-stroke lock to be actuated by a pull-shut element coupled to the actuator to pull the front flap shut.

7. The locking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pull-shut element to be actuated during the movement of the actuator in the second direction.

8. The locking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pull-shut element to be actuated during the movement of the actuator in the second direction.

9. The locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator to be rotated by the drive motor, or the actuator is a linear actuator to be moved linearly by the drive motor.

10. The locking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator to be rotated by the drive motor, or the actuator is a linear actuator to be moved linearly by the drive motor.

11. The locking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator to be rotated by the drive motor, or the actuator is a linear actuator to be moved linearly by the drive motor.

12. The locking apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a first position element and a second position element, the first position element and the second position element being on the actuator and being operatively connectable to the changeover element based on a direction of movement of the actuator.

13. The locking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first position element and the second position element are driver elements mechanically operatively connectable to the changeover element, or the first position element and the second position element are elements to be sensed optically or electromagnetically, a position of which to be sensed by a sensor of the changeover element.

14. The locking apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a stop element on the actuator; a first stop in a first position to delimit the movement of the actuator into a first changeover position; and a second stop in a second position to delimit the movement of the actuator into a second changeover position.

15. The locking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the unlocking element and/or the pull-shut element is/are a Bowden cable.

16. The locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator to be returned from a first changeover position and/or a second changeover position to a neutral position by a spring element.

17. The locking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the actuator to be returned from the first changeover position and/or the second changeover position to a neutral position by a spring element.

18. The locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator to be returned from a first changeover position and/or a second changeover position to a neutral position by one of the first control device and the second control device switched-in when the respective changeover position is reached, by operation of the drive motor.

19. A motor vehicle, comprising: a front flap; and a locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

20. A motor vehicle, comprising: a front flap; and a locking apparatus as claimed in claim 2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0025] FIGS. 1-9: show various schematic representations of a locking apparatus according to examples of the invention in examples of different operating positions, and

[0026] FIG. 10: shows a schematic representation of an example of a motor vehicle according to an example of the invention comprising a locking apparatus according to an example of the invention . . .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an example of a locking apparatus 1 according to the invention. The locking apparatus 1 serves to lock and unlock a front flap (such as a hood or a front trunk) of a motor vehicle. The locking apparatus 1 comprises a double-stroke lock 2, having a first locking element 3 that serves to lock the front flap in the final locked position. The first locking element 3 may be, for example, a pawl or similar. Also provided is a second locking element 4 that serves to hold the front flap in a pre-latched position. When the first locking element 3 is locked, the front flap can be opened slightly in a manner known per se, but not completely, so that the front flap is prevented from opening when the first locking element is unlocked inadvertently. This securing is realized by the second locking element 4, for example a catch hook, which fixes the front flap in the pre-latched position.

[0029] The double-stroke lock 2 is a mechanical lock that, by two separate, successive strokes, enables the first locking element 3 to be unlocked first with a first stroke, and then the second locking element 4 to be unlocked with a second stroke. The basic structure and function of such a double-stroke lock 2 is known. In order to unlock the locking elements 3, 4, an unlocking element 5 is provided in the form of a Bowden cable 6, which can be actuated by an actuator 7 to effect the individual strokes. The actuator 7 is a rotary actuator 8 that can be rotated about an axis of rotation, this rotation being effected by a drive motor 9. There is a transmission 10 connected between the drive motor 9 and the rotary actuator 8. To actuate the Bowden cable, i.e. to pull the pull-cable to effect the respective stroke, the Bowden cable 6 is accommodated with a retaining nipple 11 in what is here an arcuate groove 12 of the rotary actuator 8.

[0030] Also provided is pull-shut element 13, which is also in the form of a Bowden cable 14. This pull-shut element 13 serves to automatically pull the front flap into the final closed position when the front flap is to be brought from the open position into the closed position, and then to lock the front flap, such that ultimately no manual action is required for this. This Bowden cable 14 is also mounted in the arcuate groove 12 by a retaining nipple 15, but is located at the other end of the groove 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0031] The rotary actuator 8 furthermore has a first position element 16 in the form of a radially protruding projection, and a second position element 17, likewise in the form of a radially protruding projection, the two being diametrically opposite each other. These two position elements 16, 17 serve to actuate a changeover element 18 (or changeover apparatus 18), by which either a first control device 19 or a second control device 20 can be switched into the control path for the purpose of controlling the drive motor 9. The changeover element 18 in this case is configured in such a way that only one of the two control devices 19, 20 is switched-in to the control path at any one time, while the other is switched out of the control path.

[0032] Also provided on the rotary actuator 8 is a stop element 21, again protruding radially, to which are assigned the stops 22, 23, which are fixed in position and delimit the rotational movement of the rotary actuator 8 in a first direction I (clockwise) and a second direction II (anti-clockwise). The respective rotation delimitation coincides with the respective actuation of the changeover element 18, by the first or second position elements 16, 17, in the respective direction of rotation.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an example of the locking apparatus 1 in the initial position, in which the actuator 7 is located in a neutral position. The front flap is fully controlled, i.e. fixed in the final closed position by the first locking element 3. The changeover element 18 is switched in such a way that only the first control device 19 is switched-in to the control path, while the second control device 20 is not connected in the control path. Therefore, the drive motor 9 in this switch position is controlled exclusively by the first control device 19. The changeover element 18 is represented here as a simple mechanical switch. Alternatively, however, a changeover element 18 that is switched electronically, and that has corresponding optical or capacitive sensing for sensing the position elements 16, 17, may also be used.

[0034] When the user wishes to open the front flap automatically, which is made possible by the locking apparatus 1, the user actuates an actuating element located in the vehicle interior, for example a pushbutton or similar, whereby the first control device 19 receives a corresponding signal that opening is required. The first control device 19 thereupon operates the drive motor 9 such that the latter rotates in a direction that causes the rotary actuator 8 to rotate in the first direction I, i.e. clockwise. This operation is shown in FIG. 2, in which it can be seen that the rotary actuator 8 is rotated out of the neutral position shown in FIG. 1. The rotary actuator 8 is provided with a spring element 24, which, in the neutral position shown in FIG. 1, does not exert any preload force upon the rotary actuator 8. However, when the rotary actuator 8 is rotated out of the neutral position, as shown in FIG. 2, the spring element 24 is extended or compressed, depending on the design, i.e. the spring element 24 generates a restoring force.

[0035] Simultaneously with the rotation of the rotary actuator 8, the Bowden cable 6 is also pulled (see arrow P1), i.e. the unlocking element 5 is actuated, since, as shown in FIG. 2, the groove 12 naturally also changes its position due to the rotation of the rotary actuator 8. Since the Bowden cable 8 is accommodated in the groove 12 by the retaining nipple 11 and is located on the base of the groove 12, the pull-cable is necessarily drawn along and pulled, thereby causing the first stroke on the double-stroke lock 2, resulting in the unlocking of the first locking element 3. The pull-shut element 13, i.e. this second Bowden cable 14, in this case remains unactuated, with its retaining nipple 15 merely moving freely in the groove 12.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, due to the rotation in direction I, the first position element 16 approaches the changeover element 18. Upon further rotation of the rotary actuator 8, always controlled by the drive motor 9 and the first control device 19, the first position element 16 runs against a switching element 25 of the changeover element 18, which in this case, see arrow P2 in FIG. 3, changes over from the first control device 19 to the second control device 20, which from then on is switched into the control path, while the first control device 19 is switched out of the control path. With the changeover from the first control device 19 to the second control device 20, the stop element 21 also runs against the first stop 22, thereby delimiting the rotary movement of the rotary actuator 8. The Bowden cable 6 is now pulled to its maximum, and the first locking element 3 is definitely unlocked in this position. The first stroke is completed in the position shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] In the next step, the rotary actuator 8 reverses back to the neutral position. This backward movement is effected either by the decompressing spring element 24, with the drive motor 9 being switched off so that a reverse rotation is possible. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the second control device 20 to be programmed in such a way that the second control device 20 operates the drive motor 9 to rotate backwards accordingly. In this case, the spring element 24 may be omitted. The restoration is effected by a rotation in the second direction II, i.e. anti-clockwise, as shown in FIG. 1. In the neutral position as shown in FIG. 4, the two retaining nipples 11, 15 are again accommodated in the initial positions in the groove 12. The original stroke of the first Bowden cable 6 is again reset.

[0038] The front flap was unlocked by the first stroke and is now in the pre-latched position, which is fixed by the second locking element 4. In order to now fully unlock the front flap and also open this pre-latched position, the second control device 20 operates the drive motor again in order thereby to turn the rotary actuator 8 a second time in the first direction I, i.e. clockwise, as FIG. 5 shows. In this case the Bowden cable 6 is pulled again, since the retaining nipple 11, which bears against the base of the groove 12, is drawn along, such that the corresponding pull-cable is pulled and the second stroke is thereby effected. This movement is now controlled exclusively by the second control device, since only this control device is integrated into the control, but not the first control device 19. Therefore, for this second stroke, the control signal for the drive motor comes exclusively from the second control device 20. An inadvertent control signal transmitted from the first control device 19 therefore does not result in any activity of the locking apparatus 1, such that incorrect operation of the locking apparatus 1 is precluded.

[0039] The movement shown in FIG. 5 is again effected until the stop element 21 runs against the stop 22, the Bowden cable 6 is then again pulled to the maximum and the second stroke is fully performed and completed. The second locking element 4 is definitely unlocked, i.e. the catch hook is opened, so that the front flap can be fully swiveled open. However, the entering of the end position shown in FIG. 6 does not now result in an actuation of the changeover element 18, since the switching element 25 has already been actuated and is changed over, and so the switching element 25 can no longer be actuated by the first position element 16. Consequently, there is no changeover from the second control device 20 to the first control device 19; instead, the second control device 20 remains switched into the control path. Again, the second Bowden cable 14 also remains unactuated during this second stroke, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0040] FIG. 7 again shows the operation by which the rotary actuator 8 is restored to the neutral position. This restoring operation is again effected either by the previously tensioned spring element 24, or directly by the second control device 20, which is still switched on and operates the drive motor 9 in a corresponding reversing manner. In the neutral position shown in FIG. 7, the first Bowden cable 6 is reset back and the two retaining devices 11, 15 again bear against the respective base of the groove 12.

[0041] As explained, the first control device 19 is exclusively responsible for controlling the first stroke, while the second control device 20 is exclusively responsible for controlling the second stroke. Since the front flap is now unlocked and open, the front flap is closed again in the next step, and this closing operation can also be effected automatically until the final locked position is assumed. Once this final locked position has been reached again, for the next opening process there must necessarily be a changeover to the first control device 19

[0042] In order to effect this, after the performing of a closing operation of the front flap is sensed, for example by a suitable sensor system, the second control device 20 operates the drive motor 9 accordingly such that the drive motor 9 rotates the rotary actuator 8 in the second direction, anti-clockwise out, of the neutral position. In this situation, the front flap is already closed sufficiently far past the pre-latched position that the final closed position, in which the front flap is locked by the first locking element 3, can be assumed. This final closed position can be assumed automatically in that the front flap is actively pulled shut by the pull-shut element 13, i.e. the second Bowden cable 14. This closing operation (see arrow P3 in FIG. 8) is effected simultaneously with the movement of the rotary actuator 8 to change over from the second control device 20 to the first control device 19, as shown in FIG. 8. This is because the rotation of the rotary actuator 8 in the second direction II actuates the Bowden cable 14 on the one hand, since the groove 12 is rotated in the opposite direction, i.e. anti-clockwise, such that the retaining nipple 15 bearing against the groove base is drawn along and the Bowden cable 14 is pulled. A corresponding pull-shut mechanism of the double-stroke lock 2 is thereby actuated, i.e. this is also stroke-controlled, which pull-shut mechanism grips the front flap with a suitable pull-shut hook or similar and pulls the front flap into the locked position in which the locking element 3, for example the pawl, performs the final locking.

[0043] With this rotary movement in the second direction II, the second position element 17 simultaneously runs in the direction of the changeover element 18 and, as part of this movement, runs against the switching element 25, which actuates the changeover element 18 when the switching element 25 assumes the end position shown in FIG. 8, and switches back over from the second control device 20 to the first control device 19 (see arrow P4 in FIG. 8). From now on, only the first control device 19 is switched into the control path, while the second control device 20 is switched out of the control path again. From now on, the drive motor 9 can therefore only be controlled by the first control device 19. In this end position shown in FIG. 8, the stop element 21 bears against the second stop 23, thereby delimiting the movement in this direction of rotation.

[0044] In the next step, see FIG. 9, the rotary actuator 8 is reset to the neutral position. This may again be effected either by the spring element 24, which was preloaded again during the rotation in the direction of the second direction II shown in FIG. 8, the drive motor 9 not operating in this case, such that the reverse rotation is possible. Alternatively, the restoration may also be effected by the first control device 19 and the drive motor 9 controlled by the first control device, which rotates the rotary actuator 8 in the first direction I back to the neutral position.

[0045] The schematic representations each show the actuator 7 as a rotary actuator 8. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the actuator 7 to be realized as a linear actuator that can be moved linearly from a neutral position in a first direction and in an opposite second direction. The movement in the first direction, which in turn may be effected against the restoring force of a spring element such as a coil spring, effects the first and the second stroke for the purpose of unlocking the two locking elements 3, 4, while the movement in the opposite second direction, possibly again against a restoring element, serves to switch back from the second control device 20 to the first control device 19 (corresponding to FIG. 8) and to effect active pulling-shut by the second Bowden cable 14.

[0046] FIG. 10 shows an example of a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 26 according to an example of the invention, comprising both a front flap (such as a hood or a front trunk) 27 and a locking apparatus 1 according to an example of the invention.

[0047] A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase at least one of A, B and C as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).