Motor vehicle lock

Abstract

A motor vehicle lock, in particular for a vehicle rear door, having a lock cover and a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, also comprising at least one coupling element, and at least one electric drive, wherein the coupling element can assume different positions, and the coupling element interacts with a drive element of the drive and a central locking mechanism, wherein the coupling element is connected to the drive element in order to take up its positions.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle latch for a vehicle rear door, the motor vehicle latch comprising: a latch cover; a locking mechanism having a catch and at least one pawl; at least one coupling element; at least one electric drive having a drive element, wherein the at least one coupling element is configured to assume different positions and the at least one coupling element is configured to interact with the drive element and a central locking mechanism, the at least one coupling element being connected to the drive element to assume the different positions, wherein the drive element and/or the latch cover includes a ratchet contour having at least two positioning notches, wherein each positioning notch is U-shaped with two straight abutment surfaces; and a spring mechanism, wherein a turn portion of the spring mechanism is configured to act on at least one of the two positioning notches of the ratchet contour by means of a spring force whereby the at least one coupling element is positioned in the different positions and the drive element is held in the different positions by the spring force of the spring mechanism, and wherein the turn portion comprises two points of contact that engage the abutment surfaces when the turn portion acts on at least one of the two positioning notches.

2. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is formed as a leg spring.

3. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 2, wherein the spring mechanism is arranged on the latch cover or on the at least one coupling element or on the drive element, wherein the turn portion of the spring mechanism acting on the at least two positioning notches of the ratchet contour fix the at least one coupling element in a position.

4. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 2, wherein the spring mechanism is formed as a pressure spring and is arranged on the drive element, wherein portions of the pressure spring are configured to contact the at least two positioning notches on the latch cover whereby the different positions are maintained.

5. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 4, wherein the pressure spring is arranged in a spring receptacle on the drive element.

6. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 3, wherein the drive element is formed as a worm wheel and comprises an external teeth portion that is engageable with the electric drive.

7. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 6, wherein the external teeth portion is formed in a first plane on a circumference of the drive element and the ratchet contour is formed in at least a different second plane.

8. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 6, wherein the spring mechanism includes at least two fastening ends, wherein each fastening end of the at least two fastening ends are arranged in a fastening receptacle.

9. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 6, wherein the at least one coupling element is rotatably mounted on a bearing receptacle on the drive element.

10. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 6, wherein the at least one coupling element includes two coupling elements, wherein a first coupling element is operatively connected to a second coupling element by a transmission lever.

11. A method for operating a child lock in a motor vehicle latch that comprises a latch cover, a locking mechanism having a catch and at least one pawl, at least one coupling element, and at least one electric drive having a drive element, the method comprising: moving the at least one coupling element to assume different positions, wherein the at least one coupling element interacts with the drive element and a central locking mechanism; connecting the at least one coupling element to the drive element to assume the different positions, wherein the drive element and/or the latch cover comprises a ratchet contour having at least two positioning notches, wherein each positioning notch is U-shaped with two straight abutment surfaces; engaging a turn portion of a spring mechanism with the at least two positioning notches of the ratchet contour by means of a spring force of the spring mechanism whereby the at least one coupling element is positioned in the different positions and the child lock is engaged, disengaged and/or released and the drive element is held in the different positions by the spring force of the spring mechanism, wherein the turn portion comprises two points of contact that engage the abutment surfaces when the turn portion engages with at least one of the at least two positioning notches.

12. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 2, wherein the leg spring is a double leg spring.

13. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 5 further comprising a positioning element that is operatively connected to the pressure spring, wherein the positioning element is pressed against the ratchet contour.

14. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 13, wherein the positioning element is arranged at one end of the pressure spring and an opposite end of the pressure spring is supported against the spring receptacle.

15. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 8, wherein the fastening receptacle is formed as a slot.

16. The motor vehicle latch according to claim 10, wherein the second coupling element is formed as an external locking lever.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Additional measures that improve the invention may be found in the following description of a few exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are shown schematically in the drawings. It should be noted here that the drawings are only descriptive in nature and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Other embodiments to those included in and disclosed by the invention may therefore also be taken into consideration, which are not explicitly shown or explained in the drawings, but are clear from and may be produced by the embodiments mentioned as a result of separate combinations of features. In the figures, the same reference signs denote components that are the same or have the same function, unless stated otherwise.

(2) In the figures:

(3) FIG. 1A shows a first possible embodiment of a motor vehicle latch according to the invention in position III,

(4) FIG. 1B is a cut-out of the motor vehicle latch in the first embodiment in position II,

(5) FIG. 1C is a cut-out of the motor vehicle latch in the first embodiment in position I,

(6) FIG. 2A shows another possible embodiment of a motor vehicle latch according to the invention in position II,

(7) FIG. 2B shows another possible embodiment of a motor vehicle latch according to the invention in position III,

(8) FIG. 3 shows another possible embodiment of a motor vehicle latch according to the invention in position I, and

(9) FIG. 4 shows a motor vehicle comprising a motor vehicle latch according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1A shows a first possible embodiment of a motor vehicle latch 10 according to the invention, comprising a latch cover 11 and a locking mechanism having a catch 12 and a pawl 13. Furthermore, the motor vehicle latch comprises a coupling element 17 and an additional coupling element 18, the coupling element 17 being mounted on a drive element 14. The second coupling element 18 is connected to a central locking mechanism 40. The first coupling element 17 and the second coupling element 18 are operatively connected to one another by means of a transmission lever 30. The drive element 14 may be transferred to the different positions/functional positions by means of the electric drive 15, 16. The first coupling element 17 according to the invention is formed as a coupling lever. In contrast, the second coupling element 18 is formed as an external locking lever.

(11) FIG. 1A shows the motor vehicle latch in position III and therefore the functional position “child lock engaged/releasable.”

(12) In this case, the drive element 14 comprises a ratchet contour 19 having a total of three positioning notches 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3. The ratchet contour 19 comprising the positioning notches 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3 interact with the spring mechanism 20 such that the drive element 14 and therefore the coupling elements 17, 18 connected thereto may be fixed in position 3. The spring mechanism 20 is formed as a double leg spring in FIG. 1A, the double leg spring 20 comprising a turn portion 21 and the turn portion 21 interacting with the positioning notches 19.3. For this, the turn portion 21 of the spring mechanism 20 contacts the positioning notch 19.3 at two contact points. The drive element 14 is formed as a worm wheel in this case and comprises an external teeth portion 14.1.

(13) The spring mechanism 20 in the form of the double leg spring 20 comprises two fastening ends 20.1 and 20.2 in this case, the fastening ends 20.1 and 20.2 of the double leg spring 20 being fastened in a slot 26 in the latch cover of the motor vehicle latch 10 in each case.

(14) The electric drive 15, 16 consists of a motor 16 and a screw conveyor 15, the screw conveyor 15 engaging with the external teeth portion 14.1 of the drive element 14 so that a force may be transferred by means of the motor 16 from the screw conveyor 15 to the drive element 14 such that the drive element 14 may rotate about an axis. Accordingly, the drive element 14 may be moved into the different positions and therefore functional positions. On the whole, in FIG. 1A the drive element 14 comprises three positioning notches 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3. In this case, these positioning notches may, according to the invention, assume the positions “child lock engaged,” “child lock disengaged” and/or “child lock engaged/releasable.”

(15) In FIG. 1A, the drive element 14 is shown in position III, position III corresponding to the functional position “child lock engaged/releasable.” In this position, it is possible to disengage the child lock by means of repeatedly operating the internal operating element from inside the motor vehicle. If the drive element 14 is then moved into the different positions by means of the drive 15, 16, the coupling element 17 and the coupling element 18 move according to the change of position. Therefore, the motor vehicle latch may be transferred into the 3 functional positions, preferably electrically, by means of the drive 14, 15, 16.

(16) FIG. 1B shows a cut-out of the motor vehicle latch 10, the cut-out in particular showing the drive 14, 15, 16. In this case, this drive 14, 15, 16 comprises the motor 16, the screw conveyor 15 and the drive element 14. In position II, which is shown in FIG. 1B, the functional position “child lock disengaged” is reached. Here, the turn portion 21 of the double leg spring 20 is arranged in the positioning notch 19.2. In this case, the turn portion 21 of the spring mechanism 20 comprises two points of contact with the positioning notch 19.2. The contact points are each arranged on the abutment surfaces 24 and 25. The abutment surfaces are straight in this case. If the positioning notch 19.1, 19.2 or 19.3 is considered to be substantially U-shaped, the limbs comprise no more outwardly rounded portions. Rather, the limbs are formed as straight lines toward the end and therefore in the region of the abutment surfaces 24, 25.

(17) The design of the drive element 14, the screw conveyor 15 and of the motor 16 corresponds to that in FIG. 1A.

(18) In FIG. 1B, the double leg spring 20 is likewise mounted in a slot 26 by a fastening end 20.1, 20.2 of the double leg spring 20 in each case. In FIG. 1B, only the coupling element 17 is shown and is arranged on the side opposite/facing away from the ratchet contour, as shown in FIG. 1A. In this case, the coupling lever 17 is rotatably mounted on the bearing receptacle 14.2.

(19) The position shown, position II, and therefore the functional position “child lock disengaged” is achieved by the motor 16 driving the screw conveyor 15 and the screw conveyor 15 transferring the force to the external teeth portion 14.1 of the drive element 14 such that the drive element 14 is rotated anti-clockwise around the shaft 11.1. In this case, the turn portion 21 of the spring mechanism 20 contacts the ratchet contour and snaps into the positioning notches 19.1, 19.2 or 19.3. In the positioning notch 19.2 shown in FIG. 1B, the spring mechanism 20 in the form of a double leg spring once again comprises two points of contact with the abutment surfaces 24, 25 of the ratchet contour 19 or with the positioning notches in the region of the turn portion 21. In this case, at least portions of the ratchet contour 19 are straight in the region of the positioning notches 19.1, 19.2, 19.3 on the abutment surfaces 24, 25.

(20) FIG. 1c shows the embodiment in FIGS. 1A and 1B in which the drive element 14 and therefore the coupling element 17 are arranged in position I and therefore the functional position “child lock engaged.” The additional features of the components shown correspond to those in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Accordingly, reference is made to a specific embodiment in FIGS. 1A and 1B at this point.

(21) FIG. 2A shows another possible embodiment of a motor vehicle latch according to the invention, in particular an additional embodiment of a drive element 14 according to the invention and a ratchet contour 19. The spring mechanism 20 is formed as a pressure spring and is arranged on a drive element 14, it being possible for at least portions of the pressure spring to be brought into contact with the positioning notches 19.1, 19.2 or 19.3, which are arranged on a latch cover 11, as a result of which the different positions I, II and III may be maintained. In this case, the pressure spring is arranged in a spring receptacle 22 on the drive element 14. Furthermore, the spring mechanism 20 comprises a positioning element 23 at one end of the spring element, the positioning element being operatively connected to the pressure spring such that the positioning element 23 is pressed against the ratchet contour 19 and into the positioning notches 19.1, 19.2 or 19.3.

(22) Accordingly, another embodiment is formed in which it is possible to accurately position the drive element 14 and therefore the coupling elements 17, 18. In this case, the pressure spring 20 is guided in the spring receptacle 22 such that it is possible for force to be transferred to the ratchet contour 19 and therefore the positioning notches 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3. The drive element 14 is rotatably arranged on a on a rotary shaft 11.1 on the latch cover 11. In addition, in the embodiment in FIG. 2A, the drive element 14 comprises an external teeth portion 14.1, which is in engagement with the screw conveyor 15, and therefore a force may be transferred from the motor 16 via the screw conveyor 15 to the drive element 14 via the external teeth portion 14.1 In FIG. 2A, the drive element 14 and therefore the coupling element 17, which is rotatably arranged on the bearing receptacle 14.2 of the drive element 14.

(23) FIG. 2B shows another possible embodiment of the motor vehicle latch according to the invention, wherein the embodiment in FIG. 2B comprises a spring mechanism 20 having a pressure spring, a spring receptacle 22 and a positioning element 23. The spring mechanism 20 is arranged in the drive element 14 in this case, whereby, from now on the pressure spring and the positioning element 23 act on a ratchet contour 19 on the rotary shaft 11.1 of the latch cover 11. The rotary shaft 11.1 therefore comprises a ratchet contour 19 comprising the position receptacle 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3. In FIG. 2B, the positioning element 23 of the spring mechanism 20 is in position III.

(24) In FIG. 2B, too, the coupling lever 17 is rotatably arranged in a bearing receptacle 14.2 of the drive element. Furthermore, in FIG. 2B the drive element 14 also comprises an external teeth portion 14.1, which may be brought into engagement with a screw conveyor 15 such that a force may be transferred via the on the motor 16 to the screw conveyor 15 and therefore to the drive element 14 by means of the external teeth position 14.1. The drive element 14 may therefore be transferred into the different positions I, II and III and therefore into the different functional positions.

(25) FIG. 3 shows another possible embodiment of a motor vehicle latch according to the invention, in which a spring mechanism 20 is arranged on the drive element 14. The spring mechanism 20 is formed as a double leg spring in this case and comprises a fastening end 20.1 and a second fastening end 20.2, which are arranged in the fastening receptacles 26 on the drive element 14. In this case, the double leg spring 20 comprises a turn portion 21, which is formed together with a ratchet contour 19 of the rotary shaft 11.1 of the latch cover 11. In this case, the ratchet contour comprises the positioning notches 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3.

(26) In FIG. 3, the turn portion 21 of the spring mechanism 20 is arranged in the positioning notch 19.1 and at at least two points of contact and operatively connected to the positioning notch 19.1 such that position I and therefore the functional position “child lock” may be engaged but deflectable. In FIG. 3, too, the coupling element 17 is rotatably arranged on the drive element 14 in a bearing receptacle 14.2. In FIG. 3, too, the drive element comprises an external teeth portion 14.1, which may be operatively connected to a screw conveyor 15 such that the motor 16 may drive the screw conveyor 15 and transfer the drive element 14 into positions I, II or III.

(27) FIG. 4 shows a motor vehicle 100 comprising a motor vehicle latch 10 according to the invention on a movable part 110 of the motor vehicle 100. The movable part 110 is shown as a rear door of the motor vehicle 100 in FIG. 4 such that the motor vehicle latch 10 is formed as a motor vehicle latch of a vehicle rear door.

(28) List of reference signs 10 motor vehicle latch 11 latch cover 11.1 rotary shaft 12 catch 13 pawl 14 drive element 14.1 external teeth portion 14.2 bearing receptacle 15 screw conveyor 16 motor 17 coupling element 18 coupling element 19 ratchet contour 19.1 first positioning notch 19.2 second positioning notch 19.3 third positioning notch 20 spring mechanism 20.1 first fastening end 20.2 second fastening end 21 turn portion 22 spring receptacle 23 positioning element 24 abutment surface 25 abutment surface 26 fastening receptacle, slot 30 transmission lever 40 central locking mechanism 100 vehicle 110 rear door I first position II second position III third position