MOTOR VEHICLE LOCK

Abstract

A motor vehicle lock comprising a locking mechanism which essentially consists of a rotary latch and a pawl, further comprising a drive and a securing element. The drive acts on the securing element via a toothed rack element that is equipped with a blocking element. According to the invention, the blocking element is in the form of a tilting lever defining at least two end positions of the toothed rack element.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock comprising: a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and a pawl, a drive, a toothed rack element, and a securing element, wherein the drive acts on the securing element via a toothed rack element, and wherein the toothed rack element has a blocking element, wherein the blocking element is designed as a tilting lever that defines two end positions of the toothed rack element.

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the tilting lever is connected to the toothed rack element.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission lever, wherein the tilting lever is connected in an articulated manner to the toothed rack element by the transmission lever.

4. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the tilting lever has two blocking legs oriented in a C-shaped manner.

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, wherein the two blocking legs interact with a stop arranged between the two blocking legs.

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, wherein the stop is a component part of the drive.

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, wherein the stop is formed on a worm wheel of the drive.

8. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the tilting lever has a restoring spring.

9. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the securing element is connected in an articulated manner to the toothed rack element.

10. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the securing element acts as a securing lever that interacts with a torsion spring to secure a position of the securing element.

11. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 3, wherein the tilting lever and the transmission lever are mounted coaxially relative to one another.

12. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, wherein the restoring spring is a bistable spring that can act in opposite directions and restores to a middle position.

13. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, wherein the restoring spring is a torsion spring.

14. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, wherein the worm wheel has rear stop disk that has an outer circumference having two opposing stops for blocking the tilting lever corresponding to the two end positions of the toothed rack element.

15. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, wherein the worm wheel includes a gear wheel that interacts with the toothed rack element, wherein the gear wheel is rotated in a first direction to move the toothed rack element toward a first end position of the two end positions of the toothed rack element, and the gear wheel is rotated in a second direction opposite from the first direction to move the toothed rack element toward a second end position of the two end positions of the toothed rack element.

16. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 10, wherein the securing element has a spring cantilever that interacts with a lug on a leg of the torsion spring whereby the securing element is securable in three different positions.

Description

[0025] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to drawings which show only one exemplary embodiment. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows the motor vehicle lock according to the invention in its neutral functional position,

[0027] FIG. 2A shows a rear view of the motor vehicle lock according to FIG. 1 in the neutral position,

[0028] FIG. 2B shows the motor vehicle lock according to FIG. 2A in the “child-proof” position, and

[0029] FIG. 2C shows the motor vehicle lock according to FIG. 2A in the “theft-proof” position.

[0030] In the drawings, a motor vehicle lock is shown, which is a motor vehicle door lock. This has a non-illustrated locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl. To release and operate the locking mechanism, an operating lever 1 is implemented, which is mounted on the same axis as an opening lever 2. The locking mechanism can be opened mechanically with the help of the opening lever 2, regardless of the position of the operating lever 1 and a clutch lever 3.

[0031] If the clutch lever 3 is in its engaged position (cf. FIG. 2B), an actuation of the actuating lever or external actuating lever 1 about its axis in the clockwise direction indicated in FIG. 1 results in the actuating lever 1 being able to open the locking mechanism via the opening lever 2 and a release lever 4, in that the release lever 4 lifts the pawl which has fallen into the rotary latch out of its engagement with the rotary latch. If, on the other hand, the clutch lever or outer clutch lever 3 is in its “disengaged” position shown in FIG. 1 (and in FIG. 2A and 2C), a corresponding opening movement of the actuating lever or outer actuating lever 1 is ineffective in the example. However, opening via the motor-driven opening lever 2 is still possible. For this purpose, the opening lever 2 is acted upon in a clockwise direction about its axis which is common to the actuating lever 1.

[0032] The clutch lever or outer clutch lever 3 is transferred to the “disengaged” position shown in FIG. 1 (and in FIG. 2A and 2C) with the help of a securing element 5, as will be explained in more detail below. For this purpose, a drive 6, 7, 8 for a toothed rack element 9 is additionally provided. The drive 6, 7, 8 works via the toothed rack element 9 on the securing element 5, as will be explained in more detail below. In addition, the toothed rack element 9 is equipped with a blocking element 10.

[0033] According to the invention, the blocking element 10 is designed as a tilting lever 10 that defines at least two end positions of the toothed rack element 9. The tilting lever 10 is connected to the toothed rack element 9 in an articulated manner. A transmission lever 11 is provided for this purpose. It can be seen that the tilting lever 10 is connected in an articulated manner to the toothed rack element 9 with the help of the transmission lever 11. For this purpose, the tilting lever 10 and the transmission lever 11 are mounted on the same axis. A spring 12 which is associated with the tilting lever 10 can also be seen. The spring 12 is a restoring spring. In addition, the spring 12 is designed as a torsion spring and encloses with its leg base a bearing pin that defines the common axis of the tilting lever 10 and the transmission lever 11. The two spring legs extending from the leg base are supported on respective stops of the tilting lever 10. In this way, a pivoting movement of the tilting lever 10 starting from its neutral position shown in FIG. 1 results in the spring or restoring spring 12 in question being tensioned. After the toothed rack element 9 is no longer acted upon with the help of the drive 6, 7, 8, the spring or restoring spring 12 ensures that the tilting lever 10, and with it the toothed rack element 9 and also the entire drive 6, 7, 8, are transferred back to their home position or the neutral position (shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2A).

[0034] The tilting lever is equipped with two blocking legs 10a, 10b in an overall C-shaped manner. The two blocking legs 10a, 10b can thereby interact with a stop 13 arranged therebetween. According to the exemplary embodiment, this stop 13 is designed as a rear stop disk or stop rib 13, which is connected to a worm wheel 8 as part of the drive 6, 7, 8 at the rear.

[0035] In fact, the drive 6, 7, 8 consists essentially of an electric motor 6, a drive worm 7 arranged on the output shaft of the electric motor 6 and the worm wheel 8 in question, which meshes with the drive worm 7. The worm wheel 8 in turn carries a gear wheel 8a which engages in the toothed rack element 9. In this way, rotational movements of the worm wheel 8 or gear wheel 8a are converted into linear adjustment movements of the toothed rack element 9.

[0036] The securing element 5 is in turn connected in an articulated manner to the toothed rack element 9, specifically at an end opposite a toothing of the toothed rack element 9. In addition, the securing element 5 is a securing lever 5 which is acted upon by a spring 14 to secure the position.

[0037] The mode of operation is as follows. Starting from the neutral position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, acting upon the drive 6, 7, 8 in such a way that the gear wheel 8a (in FIG. 1) is acted upon clockwise causes the toothed rack element 9 to move to the left. As a result of this, the tilting lever 10 also pivots clockwise (in the rear view according to FIG. 2a), so that its blocking leg 10a comes to rest against the stop disk 13 of the worm wheel 8. As a result, the “child-proof” position shown in FIG. 2B is set. After the drive 6, 7, 8 is no longer applying force to the toothed rack element 9, the restoring spring 12 ensures that the drive 6, 7, 8 and also the toothed rack element 9 are returned to their starting position or neutral position (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2A).

[0038] Actuation of the drive 6, 7, 8 starting from the initial position in such a way that the gear wheel 8a (in FIG. 1) rotates counterclockwise now causes the toothed rack element 9 in FIG. 1 to be moved to the right. The consequence of this is that the tilting lever 10 pivots clockwise (in FIG. 1 and counterclockwise in FIG. 2C) so that its other blocking leg 10b again comes into contact with the stop or the stop disk 13. The “theft-proof” functional position shown in FIG. 2C is now reached. This “theft-proof” function corresponds to a locking lever 15 connected to the toothed rack element 9 acting on an inner clutch lever 16 in the sense of “disengaging.” Typically, the inner clutch lever 16 is “engaged” most of the time. At the same time, in the “theft-proof” position, the securing element 5 keeps the outer clutch lever 3 in the “disengaged” position according to FIG. 2C. Consequently, the motor vehicle lock can be opened neither from the inside nor from the outside.

[0039] In contrast, the outer clutch lever 3 is engaged in the “child-proof” position according to FIG. 2b, so that in this functional position only the inner clutch lever 16 is disengaged, so that the motor vehicle lock in question cannot be opened from the inside. In contrast, the outer clutch lever 3 is “engaged” in this case, so that, when the motor vehicle lock is unlocked, the associated motor vehicle door can still be opened from the outside.

[0040] In contrast, the “theft-proof” position according to FIG. 2C corresponds to both clutch levers 3, 16 being in their “disengaged” position, so that the motor vehicle lock in question cannot be opened either from the inside or from the outside. This is the usual and desired anti-theft function.

[0041] In FIGS. 2A to 2C, the different positions of the securing element 5 relative to the spring 14 interacting with the securing element 5 are shown. The spring 14 has a lug 14a for this purpose. In addition, the securing element 5 is equipped with a bulge 5a. It can be seen that the three different functional positions discussed above, neutral or “unlocked or not locked,” “child-proof” and finally “theft-proof,” correspond to a spring cantilever 5b of the securing element 5 with the front bulge 5a being either centrally secured by the lug 14a or located on one side or the other of the lug 14a. In other words, the interaction between the spring 14 and the securing element 5 ensures that the securing element 5 is secured in position.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0042] 1 Operating lever [0043] 2 Opening lever [0044] 3 Outer clutch lever [0045] 4 Release lever [0046] 5 Securing element [0047] 5a Bulge [0048] 6, 7, 8 Drive [0049] 6 Electric motor [0050] 7 Output worm [0051] 8 Worm wheel [0052] 8a Gear wheel [0053] 9 Toothed rack element [0054] 10 Tilting lever [0055] 10a, 10b Blocking leg [0056] 11 Transmission lever [0057] 12 Restoring spring [0058] 13 Stop disk [0059] 14 Spring [0060] 14a Lug [0061] 15 Locking lever [0062] 16 Inner clutch lever