Motor vehicle lock

Abstract

A motor vehicle lock having a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, comprising an electric drive unit. The drive unit interacts at least indirectly with the locking mechanism, and the drive unit has an electric motor with an output shaft and an output means secured to the output shaft, wherein means for guiding and/or binding a lubricant are arranged between the electric motor and the output means.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock comprising: a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and at least one pawl; an electrical drive unit that interacts with the locking mechanism, the electrical drive unit comprising an electric motor having an output shaft and an output means fastened to the output shaft; a lock casing configured to receive the electric motor, wherein a front face of the lock casing includes an opening and the output shaft extends through the opening, wherein except for the opening, the front face of the lock casing is solid, wherein the lock casing includes a lip formed integrally on the front face of the lock casing and configured to extend outwardly from the front face to extend along an edge of the opening; and a guide for guiding and/or binding a lubricant arranged between the opening and the output means, wherein the guide overlaps the opening and the lip.

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the guide is configured to discharge the lubricant.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, wherein the guide includes a discharge collar or a centrifuge collar.

4. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the guide is formed in one piece with the output means.

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the guide overlaps the lock casing whereby the lubricant is discharged in a region outside of a motor receptacle in the lock casing.

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, wherein the guide overlaps the motor receptacle in a funnel-shaped or hat-shaped manner.

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, wherein the guide interacts with the lock casing in a form-fitting manner.

8. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, wherein the output shaft protrudes out of an opening of the lock casing and the guide is configured to discharge the lubricant outside of the opening.

9. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the guide includes a rubbery-elastic seal.

10. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the guide includes a felt pad.

11. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 10, wherein the felt pad can be guided and/or fixed in the lock casing.

12. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 11, wherein the felt pad is guided in grooves of the lock casing.

13. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 10 further comprising the lock casing having a slope for discharging lubricant.

14. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the output means is formed of a metal material and the guide is formed of a plastic material.

15. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the output means includes a gear wheel.

16. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the guide is formed to be a rotationally symmetrical component mounted to the output shaft.

17. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 further comprising a gear stage engageable by the output means.

18. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 further comprising a sealing flange for rigidly connecting the guide to a receptacle of the lock casing.

19. An electromechanical drive module comprising the motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the electromechanical drive module is part of a micro drive.

20. The electromechanical drive module according to claim 19, wherein the electromechanical drive module is part of a charging plug lock or a closing aid or a locking device for a motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings and on the basis of a preferred embodiment. The principle applies, however, that the embodiment does not limit the invention but is merely one embodiment. The features shown can be implemented individually or in combination with further features from the description and from the claims.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a motor vehicle lock comprising a drive unit and a gear stage and a funnel-shaped guide and/or binding means,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a guide and/or binding means in the form of a rubbery-elastic seal,

(5) FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the intermediate region between the electric motor and the output means, comprising a guide and/or binding means in the form of a felt pad,

(6) FIG. 4 shows two alternative embodiments of guide and/or binding means, comprising a centrifuge element and a conical guide means, and

(7) FIG. 5 shows two alternative embodiments comprising a lubricant discharge collar and a guide means that interacts with the lock casing in a form-fitting manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a motor vehicle lock 1, shown as a dotted line. The motor vehicle lock 1 comprises a drive unit 2 having a worm wheel transmission 3, the worm wheel transmission 3 interacting indirectly with a locking mechanism (not shown). The drive unit 2 comprises an electric motor 4 which is received in a lock casing 5 in a form-fitting manner. An output shaft 6 protrudes out of the electric motor 4 and carries a drive means 7, the drive means 7 interacting with a worm gearwheel 8. The worm gearwheel 8, in turn, can interact directly with a lever, gearwheel and/or slide element.

(9) As can furthermore be seen from FIG. 1, the output shaft 6 protrudes out of an opening 9 of the lock casing 5. Lubricant 11 can preferably be arranged in the engagement region 10 between the worm gearwheel 8 and drive means 7, such that, once the motor vehicle lock 1 has been assembled, favorable friction ratios can be achieved in the gear stage 12. If the lubricant 11 then begins to flow, owing to temperature influences and/or owing to frictional heat, a lubricant flow in the direction of the arrow P may result at a corresponding direction of rotation of the drive means 7. Fats are preferably used as the lubricant 11. At higher temperatures, said lubricants 11 may liquify and, at a corresponding direction of rotation of the drive means 7 and/or position of the drive unit 2 in the motor vehicle, enter the opening region 9 of the output shaft 6. The design according to the invention of the guide means 13 in the form of a funnel makes it possible for the lubricant 11 to be conducted away from the opening 9. In this case, the guide means 13 overlaps the lock casing 5, at least in the opening region 9 of the drive unit 2.

(10) The guide means 13 surrounds the motor receptacle 14, at least to such an extent that the lubricant 11 is discharged into a region outside of the opening 9. The design of the guide means 13 according to the invention thus means that no lubricant 11 can enter the opening region 9 of the output shaft 6.

(11) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a guide means 15. In this embodiment, the guide means 15 is formed as a rubbery-elastic seal 15. The rubbery-elastic seal 15 surrounds the drive shaft 6 in a sealing manner, and is rigidly connected, over the periphery, by means of a sealing flange 16, to the motor receptacle 14 of the lock casing 5. Using established and commercially available rubbery-elastic seals makes it possible for a cost-effective lubricant seal 15 to be provided, for sealing the motor windings.

(12) FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a guide means. In this embodiment, the guide and/or binding means 17 is formed as a felt pad 17. The felt pad is fixedly accommodated in grooves of the lock casing 5. In this case, the felt pad 17 rests on the output shaft 6 in a sealing manner. If lubricant 11 now reaches in the direction of the arrow P, from the drive means 7 towards the opening, 9 the lubricant 11 is thus absorbed by the felt pad 17. For example in the case of saturation of the felt pad 17, the excess lubricant can be discharged for example by means of a slope 19 in the lock casing 5.

(13) FIG. 4 shows two alternative embodiments of guide and binding means 20, 21. In this case, the guide and/or binding means 20 is conical or is formed as a conical annulus. Since the output shaft is preferably D-shaped, the guide and/or binding means 20 can be pushed onto the output shaft 6, by means of a corresponding opening, and fixedly mounted.

(14) In the embodiment according to the guide and/or binding means 21, the guide means 21 extends radially towards the outside, an extension being required only in regions in order to discharge the lubricant. A guide groove 22 is formed in the guide and/or binding means 21, which groove allows for targeted discharge of the lubricant 11.

(15) FIG. 5 shows two further embodiments of a guide and/or binding means. A guide means 23 engages in an extension 24 of the lock casing 5 in a form-fitting manner. As a result, the lubricant can be discharged from the opening 9. In this case, the guide means 23 is rigidly connected to the output shaft 6.

(16) In a further embodiment of a guide and/or binding means, a combined embodiment of the guide means 25 and binding means 26 is shown. The guide means 25 may be formed so as to be integral with the drive means 7, or may be able to be injection-molded onto the drive means 7. Furthermore, the guide means 25 comprises a guide groove 27, such that the lubricant 11 can be discharged in a targeted manner. If the lubricant 11 arrives in the guide groove 27, from the direction of the arrow P, the lubricant 11 is conducted radially towards the outside, in the event of a rotation of the output shaft, owing to the centrifugal force. A binding means 26 is arranged in an end region 28 of the guide groove 27, it being possible, for example, for the binding means 26 to be mounted on the motor receptacle 14 as a circular disc. The binding means can for example be a felt pad. Targeted discharge of the liquifying lubricant makes it possible for the opening 9 to be reliably protected against penetration of the lubricant 11. The motor windings can thus be protected against contamination.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(17) 1 motor vehicle lock 2 drive unit 3 worm wheel transmission 4 electric motor 5 lock casing 6 output shaft 7 drive means 8 worm gearwheel 9 opening 10 region 11 lubricant 12 gear stage 13, 15, 17, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26 guide means and/or binding means 14 motor receptacle 16 sealing flange 18 grooves 19 slope 20, 27 guide groove 28 end region P arrow