CLOSING DEVICE HAVING A CONTROL DISK AND METHOD FOR CLOSING A HOOD BY MEANS OF SUCH A CLOSING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing device, comprising a locking mechanism, which has a rotary latch and at least one pawl for locking the rotary latch. The closing device comprises an electric drive for moving components of the closing device. The present invention is especially advantageous for front hoods or front flaps, which are located in the front as viewed in the typical direction of travel of a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a method for closing a hood by means of a closing device according to the corresponding claims. The present invention aim to be able to suitably move and control a plurality of components in such a closing device without having to make an excessive technical effort therefor. The invention should preferably enable a purely electrically operated hood lock having locking, opening, and closing functions. In order to achieve the aim, a closing device having a locking mechanism comprises a control disk, by means of which at least two components, preferably at least three components, of the closing device can be moved by means of rotation of the control disk. Thus, for suitable movement of a plurality of components, it is only necessary to rotate the control disk by rotation by means of an electric drive in order to be able to close and/or open a door or flap.

Claims

1. A latching device with a locking mechanism comprising a catch and at least a pawl for latching of the catch and an electrical drive for movement of components of the latching device, comprising a control disk rotatable by the electrical drive which is capable of moving a multitude of components by a rotary movement.

2. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the control disk encompasses a multitude of control contours which are arranged in different planes.

3. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the components movable by the control disk are a pawl, a transmission lever and/or an ejector lever.

4. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the components movable by the control disk are in different planes.

5. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein a control contour of the control disk is approximately triangular.

6. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein a control contour of the control disk is equipped with one or several indentations.

7. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein a control contour of the control disk is circular.

8. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the control disk demonstrates a gearwheel which is driven by the electrical drive.

9. The latching device according to claim 8, wherein the gearwheel functions as part of a gearbox.

10. A procedure for closure of a hood of a motor vehicle which demonstrates a latching device according to claim 1, comprising the steps: the hood is placed on the latching device, consequently the latch holder is then supported on an arm of the catch and/or on an ejector lever, whereby a gap of at least 10 mm, preferably of at least 15 mm remains between the hood and the adjacent chassis, the hood is then further lowered by rotation of the control disk and lowering of the ejector lever caused thereby, a specified gap dimension between the hood and the adjacent chassis of preferably 4 mm to 8 mm is attained. Consequently, the pawl is released by rotation of the control disk (1) for ratcheting of the catch, by further rotation of the control disk the gap dimension is further decreased, in particular due to a pivoting movement of a transmission lever until attainment of a gap dimension of preferably 0 to 2 mm.

Description

[0017] Hereinafter, an execution example of the invention is explained in further detail on the basis of the figures. Characteristics of the execution example can be individually or severally combined with the stressed object.

[0018] The following are shown:

[0019] FIG. 1: first control contour with ejector lever;

[0020] FIG. 2: second control lever with locking mechanism;

[0021] FIG. 3: third control contour with transmission lever,

[0022] FIG. 1 depicts a first plane of the control disk 1 in addition to a pertaining movable component. The control disk 1 can be pivoted around its axis 2. An approximately triangular-shaped control contour 3 for pivoting of an ejector lever 4 is located in a first plane above a gearwheel 12. The control contour 3 is also bracket-shaped in the region adjacent to the peripheral area of the gearwheel 12 in order to thus maintain the ejector lever 4 in a lowered position and to be able to rotate the control disk 1 nevertheless in order to move other components in a controlled manner. The ejector lever 4 can be pivoted around an axis 5. If the pertaining hood is closed, the latch holder or locking bolt 6 of the hood is ultimately supported on the free end 7 of one lever arm 8 of the ejector lever 4. If the latch holder 6 is supported on the free end 7, the hood can be lifted or lowered by pivoting of the ejector lever 5 as follows: If the control disk 1 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the control contour 3 pivots the other lever arm 9 of the ejector lever 4 in a clockwise direction around the axis 5. Hereby, the free end 7 of the lever arm 8 is lowered and thus the supporting latch holder 6 alongside the non-illustrated hood. If the control disk 1 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the ejector lever 4 is pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction due to the spring force of a spring 10. The latch holder 6 supporting on the free end 7 is lifted hereby and thus also the pertaining hood. The spring 10 possesses a leg 11 which is adjacent in a pre-tensioned manner to a short lever arm 13 of the ejector lever 4 in order to thus be able to pivot the ejector lever 4 in an anti-clockwise direction. The other leg 14 of the spring 10 is accordingly adjacent in a pre-tensioned manner on a non-illustrated bracket or wall. The free end of the lever arm 13 is preferably bent off in order to hold the adjacent spring leg with particular reliability.

[0023] The arm 9 of the ejector lever 4 is preferably extended and in a straight line in order to suitably move the ejector lever. The arm 8 of the ejector lever 4 preferably runs in a bracket-shaped manner around the inlet area for the latch holder 6 as shown in the figure in order on the one hand not to prevent latching and on the other hand to be able to provide a support for the latch holder 6. Such a support is preferably provided by a bent off flap 7 in order to create an adequately large surface and to thus guarantee reliable functioning.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a second plane above the gearwheel 12 with a control contour 15 for control or movement of a pawl 16. The pawl 16 is pivotably located by an axis 17. The pawl 16 can latch a catch 18. The pawl 18 is pivotably located by an axis 19. The catch 18 preferably possesses two protruding ratchet surfaces 20 and 21 into which a lever arm 22 of the pawl 16 can engage. There is therefore preferably two different ratchet positions; the so-called pre-ratchet position and the so-called main ratchet position.

[0025] The second control contour 15 has two indentations 24 and 25 into which the other arm 23 of the pawl 16 can reach. If the control disk 1 is pivoted in the clockwise direction, in the case of FIG. 1 the arm 23 is pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction around the axis 17. The pawl 16 can thus be lifted out of its ratchet position, preferably against the force of a pre-tensioned spring. The arm 23 then initially lies adjacent to a bracket-shaped external contour of the control contour 15 and ultimately engages into the second indentation 25 in order to ratchet the catch 18 again if necessary. If the control disk 1 is then further rotated in a clockwise direction, the pawl 16 is lifted again by rotation in an anti-clockwise direction.

[0026] The pawl 16 is preferably pre-tensioned by a non-illustrated spring in such a way that it can be moved into its ratchet position by spring force. The pawl 16 can lock or ratchet in the open and closed position and is lifted over the second control contour 15 in due course, i.e. moved out of its ratchet position.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a third plane of the control contour 1 with a third, circular control contour 26 arranged excentrically relative to the axis 2 for controlling or pivoting of a transmission lever 27. The transmission lever 27 is pivotably located by the axis 17 and can therefore be pivoted around the axis 17. The axis 19 of the catch 18 is attached to one arm 28 of the transmission lever 27. The circular contour 26 is located within a U-typed lever arm 29 of the transmission lever 27. By pivoting of the transmission lever 27 around its axis 17 the position of the catch 18 can be lifted and lowered in order to thus change a gap between the hood and the chassis following ratcheting. Within the scope of a latching process, a gap can be ultimately minimized between the hood and the chassis by lowering. The transmission lever 27 can therefore pull the locking mechanism 16, 18 in the ratcheted state into a position with a minimized joint.

[0028] The transmission lever 27 is also pivoted by rotation of the control disk 1. If, for example, in the case of FIG. 3, the control disk is rotated in a clockwise direction, the position of the catch 18 is thus further lifted.

[0029] Overall, the transmission lever 27 is preferably approximately Y-shaped, as illustrated, in order to thus enable the desired processes with little construction space and light weight.

[0030] The gearwheel 12 is in particular rotated by a non-illustrated electromotor and gearbox around its axis 2.

[0031] With such a latching device, the construction of which was explained by FIGS. 1 to 3, a hood is advantageously opened or closed as follows.

[0032] A hood is placed on the latching device. The latch holder 6 is then located on the lower arm of the catch 18 and on the end 7 of the ejector lever 4. A joint or gap of preferably 13 to 17 mm remains, e.g. approximately 15 mm between the hood and the adjacent chassis in order to prevent injuries due to clamped fingers. The hood is now further lowered for closure using an electromotor by rotation of the control disk in an anti-clockwise direction which causes lowering of the ejector lever 8.

[0033] In this phase, the hood can be lifted again at any time as the catch 18 is not yet latched. There is therefore no risk of trapped fingers.

[0034] If the gap between the hood and the adjacent chassis is thus reduced to preferably 4 to 8 mm. e.g. to approximately 6 mm, the pawl 16 is released by the second control contour 15. The pawl 16 can now pivot into its ratchet position by spring force, for example, and latches the catch 18. The locking bolt or latch holder 6 can now no longer leave the locking mechanism. The hood can no longer be lifted. As the gap is small enough, the clamping risk no longer exists at this time.

[0035] Now, with the aid of the transmission lever 27 and the third control contour 26 the hood is closed apart from a small gap of preferably 0-2 mm.

[0036] For opening, the drive performs the actions in a reverse sequence until release of the hood. The technical implementation of the movements succeeds via the control disk 1 which guarantees the precise sequence of lever movements.

[0037] In the case of power outage, the hood can be latched manually at least in the pre-ratchet position. Mechanical opening is still possible for a workshop.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

[0038] 1: Control disk

[0039] 2: Control disk axis p 3: First control contour

[0040] 4: Ejector lever

[0041] 5: Axis for the ejector lever

[0042] 6: Latch holder

[0043] 7: Bent-off end of an arm of the ejector lever

[0044] 8: Arm of the ejector lever

[0045] 9: Arm of the ejector lever

[0046] 10: Spring for the ejector lever

[0047] 11: Spring arm for the ejector lever

[0048] 12: Gearwheel

[0049] 13: Bent-off short lever arm of the ejector lever

[0050] 14: Spring leg

[0051] 15: Second control contour

[0052] 16: Pawl

[0053] 17: Axis for the pawl

[0054] 18: Catch

[0055] 19: Axis for the catch

[0056] 20: Ratchet surface of the catch

[0057] 21: Ratchet surface of the catch

[0058] 22: Ratchet arm of the pawl

[0059] 23: Arm of the pawl

[0060] 24: Indentation of the second control contour

[0061] 25: Indentation of the second control contour

[0062] 26: Third control contour

[0063] 27: Transmission lever

[0064] 28: Lever arm of the transmission lever

[0065] 29: U-shaped lever arm of the transmission lever