REVERSIBLE ACTIVATION UNIT FOR ALTERNATE IMPINGEMENT OF TWO SEPARATE MOTOR VEHICLE FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS

Abstract

The object of the invention is a reversible activation unit for the alternate impingement of two separate motor vehicle functional elements (1, 2), in particular two motor vehicle door latches (1, 2). The activation unit possesses a single motor (3, 4) and two connecting elements (8, 10). The motor (3, 4) impinges either the distanced first functional element (1) via the connecting element (8) or the distanced second functional element (2) via the second connecting element (10) dependent on its working direction. According to the invention, the first connecting element (8) is connected to a first lever (7) and the second connecting element (10) to a second lever (9). The respective lever (7, 9) is impinged dependent on the working direction of the motor (3, 4) which preferably works in a linear manner. Furthermore, the two levers (7, 9) are connected via an interposed spring (15).

Claims

1. A reversible activation unit for the alternate impingement of two separate motor vehicle functional elements, in particular two motor vehicle door latches, with a single motor, and with two connecting elements, whereby the motor according to its working direction either impinges the distanced first functional element via the first connecting element or the distanced second element via the second connecting element, wherein the first connecting element is connected to a first lever and the second connecting element to a second lever, whereby the respective lever is impinged dependent on the working direction of the motor preferably working in a linear manner, and whereby the two levers are connected via an interposed spring.

2. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the two levers are formed as pivoting levers and demonstrate a common axis.

3. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the two levers are respectively formed as two-armed levers with a connecting arm for the connecting element and a stop arm.

4. The unit according to claim 3, wherein the connecting arm and the stop arm are opposite one another with regard to the axis.

5. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the motor works on the pertaining lever via a connecting element.

6. The unit according to claim 5, wherein the connecting element either impinges the relevant lever in a pushing or pulling manner.

7. The unit according to claim 5, wherein the connecting element is equipped with an engagement opening for an adjusting lever engaging and impinged by the motor as a component of the motor.

8. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the spring between the two levers is equipped as a two-armed spring with two arms connected to a wound connecting section.

9. The unit according to claim 8, wherein the first arm of the spring engages into a recess of the first lever and the second arm of the spring is arranged in a further recess of the second lever.

10. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the lever which is respectively not impinged functions as a stop for the impinged lever in its return movement initiated by the spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Hereinafter, the invention is explained in further detail on the basis of a sketch which only depicts an execution example. It shows:

[0023] FIG. 1 The reversible activation unit according to the invention in an overview,

[0024] FIG. 2 The object according to FIG. 1 in the longitudinal section along the line A-A,

[0025] FIG. 3 The activation unit in a neutral position,

[0026] FIG. 4 The activation unit according to FIG. 3 with extended adjusting lever to impinge the first lever and consequently the first motor vehicle functional element, and

[0027] FIG. 5 The adjusting lever with a retracted movement with impingement of the second lever and consequently the second motor vehicle functional element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the figures a reversible activation unit is depicted which serves for the alternate impingement of two separate motor vehicle functional elements 1, 2. The two motor vehicle functional elements 1, 2 are distanced from one another and respectively functionally separated. With the aid of the reversible activation unit to be described in detail below and with recourse to a single motor 3, 4 the two separate motor vehicle functional elements 1, 2 can now be alternately impinged. i.e. the single motor 3, 4 either ensures that the first motor vehicle functional element 1 or the second motor vehicle functional element 2 is impinged or experiences activation.

[0029] Within the scope of the execution example, the two separate motor vehicle functional elements 1, 2 are respectively motor vehicle door latches 1, 2. On the basis of the diagrammatic representation in FIG. 1, it is recognized that the motor vehicle door latch 1 is formed as a central latch 1 in a lower flap element or flap component 5 of a divided tailgate 5, 6. In the second motor vehicle door latch 2, in the execution example and not restrictively it involves a lateral latch 2 or two lateral latches 2 also in the lower flap element or the flap component 5 of the divided tailgate 5, 6.

[0030] In fact, the divided tailgate 5, 6 comprises the relevant lower flap element or the lower flap component 5 on the one hand and the upper flap component or window component 6 on the other hand. Both components 5, 6 can be opened separately from one another. In order to open the window component 6 for example, it is necessary to open or unbolt the central latch 1. To this end, the depicted reversible activation unit works on the relevant central latch 1 with the aid of the motor 3, 4 via a first lever 7 with interposition of a first connecting element 8. If, in contrast the lower flap component 5 of the divided tailgate 5, 6 is opened, the reversible activation unit ensures that the motor 3, 4 works on a second lever 9 and a second connecting element 10 in order to open or unbolt the relevant lateral latch 2 or the two lateral latches 2. The two latches 1, 2 can also be activated consecutively in order to open the tailgate 5, 6 overall.

[0031] However, the reversible activation unit to be described in detail hereafter according to the invention ensures alternate impingement of the two separate motor vehicle functional elements 1, 2 or the two motor vehicle door latches 1, 2 in such a way that either the central latch 1 or the lateral latch 2 or the two lateral latches 2 in the execution example are opened. The respective connecting elements 8, 10 are respectively impinged in a pulling manner, as explained in detail hereafter. As the two connecting elements 8, 10 in the execution example respectively involve Bowden cables, the relevant pulling movement can be transmitted to the pertaining motor vehicle door latch 1, 2 arranged at the end of the Bowden cable. In principle, of course, a pushing impingement or both (pushing and pulling) is possible which is not shown and described, however.

[0032] As a result of the pulling movement exerted by the connecting element 8, 10 or the opening Bowden cable, for example, a pawl of a locking mechanism comprising a catch and a pawl can lift off the catch in the relevant motor vehicle door latch 1, 2. As a consequence hereof, a previously caught locking bolt is released in each instance and the window component 6 or the flap component 5 of the divided tailgate 5, 6 can accordingly be opened as described.

[0033] For this purpose, the motor 3, 4 works with different working directions either on the first lever 7 or the second lever 9. The different working directions of the motor 3, 4 are implemented in the execution example in such a way that the relevant motor 3, 4 works in a linear manner overall and possesses an adjusting lever 4 impinged by it, which executes an extending or a retracting movement according to FIG. 5 depicted accordingly in FIG. 4. This is indicated by corresponding arrows in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, the motor 3, 4 works in a linear and reversible manner overall and can therefore be impinged in both opposite working directions with regard to its extended working direction according to FIG. 4 or its retracted working direction for the purpose of FIG. 5. To this end, another polarity generally corresponds according to the execution example in the impingement of the motor 3, 4 configured as an electromotor. This change in polarity can be undertaken with the aid of a control unit which is not illustrated. However, the adjusting lever 4 can either extend, as illustrated in FIG. 4 or can be retracted according to the reproduction in FIG. 5. In contrast, a switch-off of the motor 3, 4 corresponds to the motor 3, 4 assuming a neutral position according to FIG. 3.

[0034] The two aforementioned levers 7, 9 pertain to the basic construction. Both levers 7,9 are formed as pivoting levers and located around a common axis 11. Thus, a common bolt defining the axis 11 is executed. The bolt is connected to a mounting plate 12 which not only incorporates the bolt and consequently the two levers 7, 9 pivotably located thereon, but also acts as a base for the motor 3, 4. At the same time, the mounting plate 12 provides mountings for the two connectors 8, 10 or Bowden cables in such a way that the mounting plate 12 is equipped with relevant thrust bearings.

[0035] The respective lever 7, 9 is a two-armed lever. In fact, the respective lever 7,9 is equipped with a connecting arm 7a, 9a for the pertaining connecting element 8, 10 on the one hand and a stop arm 7b, 9b on the other hand. The stop arm 7b of the first lever 7 interacts with a stop 13 on the mounting plate 12 for this purpose. The second lever 9 is equipped with a stop arm 9b for interaction with a hook 18 of a connecting element 17 (cf. FIG. 2). Furthermore, the second lever 9 possesses a stop edge 9 which lies adjacent to the stop 13 in the neutral position according to FIG. 3.

[0036] In conjunction with a spring 15 interposed between the two levers 7, 9 the stop 13 ensures overall that the two levers 7, 9 are spread out and assume their neutral position illustrated in FIG. 3. In the execution example, the spring 15 is a two-armed spring which ensures that the relevant lever 7, 9 is reset after an adjusting movement as described in more detail below.

[0037] In fact, the relevant spring 15 comprises a wound middle section 15a and two arms 15b, 15c. The wound middle section 15a of the spring 15 surrounds the bolt defining the common axis 11 for the two levers 7, 9. One of the spring arms 15b of the spring 15 is arranged in a recess 16 of the first lever 7. In contrast, the second arm 15c of the spring 15 is located in a recess 16 of the second lever 9. The stop 13 on the mounting plate 12 furthermore interacts with the connecting arm 9a of the second lever 9.

[0038] Finally, the connecting element 17 is recognized in the figures. The connecting element 17 is configured in such a way that the motor 3, 4 works on the pertaining lever 7, 9 via the connecting element 17. In particular, on the basis of the sectional view in FIG. 2 it is recognized that the relevant connecting element 17 is equipped with the hook 18 which reaches under the stop arm 9b of the second lever 9. Furthermore, the hook 18 of the connecting element 17 can enter into an arch-shaped recess of a stop 14 on the first lever 7. Furthermore, the connecting element 17 is equipped with an engagement opening 19. A head 20 of the adjusting lever 4 engages into the engagement opening 19 as a component of the motor 3, 4 (cf. FIG. 2).

[0039] It operates as follows. Starting from the neutralization according to FIG. 3, an extending movement of the adjusting lever 4 ensures as a component of the motor 3, 4 according to the reproduction in FIG. 4 that the connecting element 17 is moved downwards starting from the neutral position according to FIG. 3 in the execution example.

[0040] As a consequence hereof, the hook 18 enters the arch-shaped recess of the stop 14 and ensures that the first lever 7 bearing the stop 14 starting from the neutral position in FIG. 3 in the clockwise direction is pivoted around the axis 11. This is recognized in the transition from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4. As the connecting arm 7a of the first lever 7 is furthermore equipped with a mounting opening 21 for a bore 22 of a Bowden cable 22, 23 or the first connecting element 8, the relevant bore 22 is impinged in a pulling manner. Because a thrust bearing 24 provided for on the mounting plate 12 ensures that the relevant sheath 23 of the Bowden cable 22, 23 is held firm.

[0041] The pulling movement of the bore 22 of the Bowden cable 22, 23 thus executed is transmitted to the first motor vehicle door latch 1 or the central latch 1 in order to open it as described. To this end, the bore 22 may lift the pawl from the catch which then opens in a spring-assisted manner. Subsequently, the window component 6 of the divided tailgate 5, 6 can be pivoted upwards. After the end of this process, the motor 3, 4 is no longer energized and returns to its resting position according to FIG. 3. At the same time, a pair of bellows 25 surrounding the adjusting lever 4 and protected from environmental influences is retracted. The previously impinged first lever 7 is returned solely to its neutral position illustrated in FIG. 3 in a counterclockwise direction around its axis 11. The spring 15 initially ensures this return movement. Because the clockwise movement of the first lever 7 illustrated in FIG. 4 corresponds to the first spring arm 15b of the spring 15 also being pivoted and the spring 15 consequently being tensioned.

[0042] As soon as the impingement of the relevant lever 7 by the motor 3, 4 now ceases, the spring 15 can relax. The first lever 7 is pivoted back around its axis 11 in a counterclockwise direction. The pivoting movement is limited by the stop arm 7b of the first lever 7 hitting the stop 13 on the mounting plate 12.

[0043] If now instead of the previously impinged first lever 7 the second lever 9 is impinged, this corresponds to the adjusting lever 4 of the motor 3, 4 completing a retracted movement starting from the neutral position in FIG. 3. Hereby the second lever 9 is pivoted around its axis 11 in a clockwise direction starting from the neutral position in FIG. 3.

[0044] This pivoting movement is permitted to the extent that the connecting element 17 moves upwards hereby and the stop arm 9b carries along the second lever 9. As a further and comparatively constructed Bowden cable 22, 23 is connected with a thrust bearing 24 or the second connecting element 10 to the second lever 9 in a mounting opening 21 of its connecting arm 9a, the counterclockwise direction movement of the second lever 9 to be recognized in FIG. 5 leads to the relevant Bowden cable 22, 23 or its bore 22 being impinged again in a pulling manner. This pulling impingement on the other end of the Bowden cable 22, 23 ensures that the lateral latch 2 connected hereto or the two lateral latches 2 are opened. As a consequence hereof, the flap component 5 of the divided tailgate 5, 6 can be opened.

[0045] In order to execute the countermovement or return movement of the connecting element 17 illustrated in FIG. 5 and consequently the adjusting lever 4 as a component of the motor 3, 4, it is proceeded in the execution example in such a way that the relevant motor 3, 4 is impinged with a polarity opposite to the extension movement according to FIG. 3. This can easily be performed with the aid of a control unit.

[0046] After the second lever 9 has accomplished the movement in a counterclockwise direction around its axis 11 illustrated in FIG. 5 and consequently the lateral latch 2 has been opened, the impingement or energization of the motor 3, 4 ceases. The motor 3, 4 accordingly assumes its position illustrated in FIG. 3 again. The previous counterclockwise movement of the second lever 9 leads to the second spring arm 15c of the spring 15, which is adjacent in the recess 16 of the second lever 9 in the previously described process being tensioned. The same then naturally also applies to the entire spring 15.

[0047] As soon as the impingement by the motor 3, 4 now ceases, the spring 15 can relax. Thus, the second lever 9 is returned around its axis 11 in a clockwise direction. This occurs until its stop edge 9 moves against the stop 13 on the mounting plate 12. The stop 13 therefore ensures that the return movement initiated by the spring 15 of the previously impinged lever or second lever 9 is limited.