CLOSING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR-VEHICLE HOOD, AND METHOD

Abstract

The problem addressed by the invention is providing a closing device for a motor vehicle that can be opened comfortably and nevertheless can be produced with little effort and cannot open in an unplanned manner. This problem is solved in that a closing device comprises a locking mechanism, which has a rotary latch and a pawl, and at least one electrical drive for opening the locking mechanism. The closing device has an actuating apparatus for actuating the electrical drive, such that the locking mechanism can be opened exclusively electrically. Thus, there is no mechanical systemfor example, comprising a handle and a Bowden cable that connects the handle to a release lever of the locking mechanismfor enabling the locking mechanism to be opened exclusively in a mechanical manner, i.e., without the use of the electrical drive or another electrical apparatus. In the non-actuated state, the electrical drive is completely disconnected from the current-carrying electrical conductors. Thus, there is then no voltage on the drive, which must be used to open the locking mechanism. The actuating apparatus is designed in such a way that, by means of actuation, one or more electrical contacts are closed in order to contact the electrical drive to a current source and put the electrical drive into operation such that an associated door or flap can be opened.

Claims

1. A closure device with a locking mechanism consisting of a catch and a pawl and an electrical drive for an opening of the locking mechanism and with an activation device for activation of an electrical drive, in order to thus be able to electrically open the locking mechanism, characterized in that wherein the locking mechanism can only be opened with the aid of the electrical drive and the electrical drive is not connected to a current-conducting electrical conductor with the closure device closed.

2. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein an electrical switch, preferably only an electrical switch or an electronic control device, preferably only an electronic control device is present as an activation device inside a motor vehicle.

3. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the closure device is used for a hood.

4. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical activation device must be activated for closure.

5. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein an activation of the activation device for closure causes the electrical drive to be disconnected from the current-conducting electrical conductors in the closed state.

6. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein an activation of the activation device for closure causes the electrical drive to close a hood or a door in such a way that a hood gap between the adjacent chassis and the hood or door is less than 5 mm, is preferably less than 3 mm, and is of particular preference less than 1 mm and in the scheduled closed state of the pertaining door or flap.

7. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the drive can move the locking mechanism completely or partially in such a way that a hood gap can be reduced.

8. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism can only be shifted by means of a closure aid from a pre-ratchet position to a main ratchet position of the locking mechanism.

9. The closure device according to claim 8, comprising a stop for the catch and/or for a locking bolt of the closure device which prevents the locking mechanism from being able to be latched in the main ratchet position by manual closure of a door or a flap.

10. The closure device according to claim 9, wherein this is created in such a way that the stop is moved out of its stop position by the drive when the locking mechanism has been latched in the pre-ratchet position by closure of a door or a flap and subsequently the locking mechanism is latched in the main ratchet position by the drive.

11. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the door gap or hood gap in the main ratchet position is not more than 5 mm, preferably not more than 3 mm, of particular preference not more than 1 mm.

12. A method for the closure of a locking mechanism, preferably a hood latch of a motor vehicle, in which a closure device, according to claim 1 is used.

Description

[0025] The following are shown:

[0026] FIG. 1: Latch structure in the latched state (main ratchet);

[0027] FIG. 2: Perspective view of the latch;

[0028] FIG. 3: Top view of the latch;

[0029] FIG. 4: Integral latch and hood;

[0030] FIG. 5: Enlarged view of a section in the case of the impingement of the catch on the stop of the latch;

[0031] FIG. 6: Initial closure of the hood with remaining gap;

[0032] FIG. 7: Continuation of the closure process;

[0033] FIG. 8: Complete closure of the hood;

[0034] FIG. 9: Initial opening of the hood;

[0035] FIG. 10: Continuation of the opening of the hood;

[0036] FIG. 11: Hood with latching of the catch in the pre-ratchet position;

[0037] FIG. 12: Complete opening of the hood;

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a closure device for a hood 19 of a vehicle. The closure device has a locking mechanism comprising a catch 1 and a pawl 2. The catch 1 can be latched in a closed position with the pawl 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The pawl 2 is pivotably located on a plate 3 by an axis 5. The catch 2 is pivotably located on the plate 3 via its axis 5. For stability reasons, the plate 3 is preferably made of metal. The pawl 2 and/or the catch 1 are preferably also made completely or partially of metal.

[0039] With a drive 6 the locking mechanism consisting of the catch 1 and the pawl 2 can be moved in such a way that a door gap or flap gap can be reduced. The drive 6 can simultaneously serve to open the pertaining door or flap. For this purpose, the drive 6 has an electromotor 7 and a worm 8 connected with the shaft of the motor. The motor 7 can cause a rotational movement of the worm 8. By means of a preferably multistage gearbox 9 provided for, a rotational movement of the worm 8 causes a rotational movement of a disk 10. A bolt 11 protrudes vertically from the disk 10. The bolt 11 is attached to the disk 10. The bolt 11 has a distance to the rotational center of the disk 10 and is therefore arranged excentrically. The bolt 11 reaches into a lengthwise hole 12 of a pivotably located lever or swing lever 13. The swing lever 13 is pivotably located by the axis or shaft 5. A rotation of the disk 10 thus causes the swing lever 13 to pivot.

[0040] The lever 10 and the plate 3 are rigidly connected to the shaft 5. Pivoting of the lever 13 synchronously causes a pivoting of the plate 3.

[0041] Viewed from the shaft 5 the plate 3 and the swing lever 13 extend in the same direction, preferably in the direction of the drive 6 in order to minimize construction space. The swing lever 13 extends beyond the plate 3, in particular beyond the infeed section of the plate 3, i.e. beyond the area into which a locking bolt 18 reaches when the hood 19 is closed. Favorable lever ratios are hereby provided in order to be able to pivot the swing lever 13 with little electrical output for reduction of a hood gap.

[0042] Furthermore, the closure device encompasses a first plate 14 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. For stability reasons, there is preferably a second plate 15 on the opposite side. Both plates 14 and 15 pivotably mount the axis or shaft 5. For stability reasons, the plate(s) 14 and 15 are preferably made of metal. The one or two plates 14 and 15 are affixed with the aid of deflected brackets furnished with holes 16 on the vehicle with grooves or screws, for example, on a door, a flap or a chassis. If the one or two plates 14 and 15 are attached to the vehicle chassis 17 as shown in FIG. 4, the pertaining locking bolt 18 (see FIG. 4) is attached to the door or flap 19. FIG. 4 shows the case of attachment to a front hood of a motor vehicle. The drive 6 is affixed to the plate 15. One of the plates 14 or 15 therefore preferably also serves as an attachment to the drive 6, in order to thus minimize the number of components.

[0043] The closure device encompasses a bridge-shaped stop 20 which is pivotably attached preferably to the plate 14 by an axis or shaft 21. A bolt 22 protrudes in particular vertically from the plate 14 which is capable of restricting a pivoting movement of the stop 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The bridge-shaped stop 20 has a preferably deflected bracket 23 which can be moved by pivoting against the bolt 22 in order to prevent continuation of a relevant pivoting movement by attainment of the bolt 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0044] Originating from the axis or shaft 21, a bracket 24 extends which controls the movement of the stop 20. Together with the stop 20 the bracket 24 practically forms a U-shape. The bracket 24 basically abuts the bolt 11. If the disk 10 is rotated, the bracket 24 is thus also moved due to the bolt 11. The movement of the bracket 24 causes a relevantly synchronous movement of the stop 20.

[0045] The stop 20 not only acts as a stop for the catch 1, but also as a stop for the swing lever 13 when the locking bolt 18 engages into the latch. In order that the stop 20 then also constitutes a stop for the swing lever 13, both the stop 20 and the swing lever 13 have suitably deflected brackets 25 and 26. If the locking bolt 18 engages into the latch, the deflected bracket 25 of the swing lever 13 impinges on the deflected bracket 26 of the stop 20, as illustrated in the enlarged excerpt in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 furthermore illustrates the impingement of one end of the arm of the catch 1 on the end of the stop 20. In this design, two paths are therefore present in order to introduce a load into the plate 14 during closure and thus preserve the drive 6.

[0046] The latch furthermore possesses a triggering lever 27 which is also pivotably mounted by the axis or shaft 5. The triggering lever 27 is triggered by a second electrical drive 32 and/or by the drive 6 by means of a non-illustrated mechanism. By activation or closure of a switch 33, the drive 32 is connected to a power source 34, the drive 32 is started off and the pawl 2 thus moved out of its ratchet position in order to subsequently be able to open a door or a flap. The drive 32 can be an actuator which is capable of moving a bolt out of the drive in a linear manner. The switch 33 can be arranged inside a motor vehicle.

[0047] For example, FIG. 3 shows that the axes/shafts can be equipped with springs in order to be able to move the pivotable components using spring force, thus for example the catch 1 from a closure position in the direction of the opening position.

[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates the situation following an engagement of the locking bolt 18 into the latch. One arm of the catch 1, namely the so-called load arm is supported on the stop 20. The bracket 25 of the swing lever 13 is supported on the bracket 26 of the stop 20. The catch 1 has been latched by the pawl 2 and is located in the main ratchet. A gap 29 remains between the hood 19 and the chassis 17 of the vehicle. The disk 10 of the drive 6 is located in a starting position. In one design, the bolt 11 is located above the rotational center of the disk 10 in a starting position.

[0049] However, in one design it is also possible for the catch 1 to be latched by engagement of the locking bolt 18 initially only in the pre-ratchet position shown in FIG. 10. Only after the moving away of the stop 20 out of its stop position can the catch be pivoted into the main ratchet position by an electrical drive in particular by the electromotor 7 alongside a non-illustrated mechanism and/or by the drive 32. In this design, the gap 29 can be reduced to 2 mm to 4 mm by attainment of the main ratchet position.

[0050] In order to further reduce the gap 29 now starting from the main ratchet position of the locking mechanism, the disk 10 is rotated in a clockwise direction with the aid of the drive 6. Hereby, the bolt 11 shifts within a lengthwise hole 12 by rotation through 90 degrees initially from one left lengthwise hole side to the other right lengthwise hole side, as illustrated by the comparison of FIGS. 6 and 7. By rotation in the clockwise direction, the stop 20 is initially moved out of its stop position with the aid of the bracket 24 by pivoting in the clockwise direction. If the stop 20 has been moved out of its stop position, the swing lever 13 and thus also the plate 3 can now be pivoted in a clockwise direction around its axis or shaft 5 in order to further decrease the gap 29 in order to finally generate gap-free contact between the motor hood 19 and the chassis 17 on the front side as shown in FIG. 8. If the disk 10 is rotated further in a clockwise direction and if the disk 10 completes an approximately 180 rotation, the gap finally disappears as illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0051] For example with the aid of a microswitch 30 the position of the disk 10 is queried. If the disk 10 has attained the position shown in FIG. 8, this is detected by the microswitch 30 and the drive is stopped. In addition, the drive 32 only illustrated in FIG. 1 is disconnected from the power source 34. Alternatively or additionally, the position respectively attained can be detected by electricity detection (power for the electromotor) and suitably switched. One or several further microswitches can be provided for in order to detect the position of the catch 1 and/or pawl 2, for example, and to control the latching and/or opening of the locking mechanism dependent thereon. However, in one design it can also be necessary to activate the switch 33 in order to be able to close it in a scheduled manner. At the same time, this activation of the switch 33 can cause a closure that disconnects the drive 32 from the power source 34.

[0052] FIGS. 9 to 12 illustrate the opening and in particular the procedural process during opening of the hood 19. Firstly, the pawl 2 is electrically moved out of its ratchet position using the drive 32, as shown in FIG. 9. This happens by activation of the triggering lever 27 which is pivoted in a clockwise direction around its axis or shaft 5 by means of the drive 32. The catch 1 can then pivot in an anti-clockwise direction, whereby the hood 19 is initially opened. A gap 29 occurs. The catch 1 now latches in a pre-ratchet position as illustrated in FIG. 10. In turn, the latching in the pre-ratchet position is attained with the aid of the pawl 2. The position attained in FIG. 10 can be queried by, for example, a microswitch or a sensor. Hereby the drive 6 can be started in such a way that the disk 10 now rotates approximately 180 in an anti-clockwise direction. The position shown in FIG. 11 is thus attained. Subsequently, the pawl 2 is pivoted out of its pre-ratchet position. This can occur by an electrical drive which is controlled by sensors in order to open the latch electrically. The catch 1 can then pivot further in the direction of the opening position and finally release the hood 19, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0053] The swing lever 13 can have a deflected bracket 31, as shown in FIG. 2. The bracket 31 can be placed on an upper edge of the plate 15 when the disk 10 is rotated by approximately 180 from its starting position. A suitable path limitation can thus also be ensured for the pivoting of the swing lever 13.

[0054] The swing lever 13 can have a step-shaped course as shown in FIG. 2 in order to reach the disk 10 and minimize the construction space.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

[0055] 1: Catch

[0056] 2: Pawl

[0057] 3: Plate

[0058] 4: Catch axis

[0059] 5: Axis for the pawl inter alia

[0060] 6: Drive

[0061] 7: Electromotor

[0062] 8: Worm

[0063] 9: Gearbox

[0064] 10: Disk

[0065] 11: Bolt of the disk

[0066] 12: Lengthwise hole of a swing lever

[0067] 13: Swing lever

[0068] 14: Plate for a stop

[0069] 15: Plate

[0070] 16: Bracket

[0071] 17: Chassis

[0072] 18: Locking bolt

[0073] 19: Hood

[0074] 20: Stop

[0075] 21: Axis or shaft of the stop

[0076] 22: Plate bolt

[0077] 23: Bracket

[0078] 24: Stop bracket

[0079] 25: Deflected bracket of the swing lever

[0080] 26: Deflected bracket of the stop

[0081] 27: Triggering lever

[0082] 29: Gap between the hood and chassis

[0083] 30: Microswitch

[0084] 31: Deflected bracket of the swing lever

[0085] 32: Electrical drive

[0086] 33: Electrical switch

[0087] 34: Power source