Motor vehicle door closure

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door closure, comprising a locking mechanism, an electric drive (3, 4) for the locking mechanism, and a child-restraint element (14) with a corresponding sensor (15). The electric drive (3, 4) can be activated or deactivated in order to open the locking mechanism dependant on the position of the child-restraint element (14), said position being requested using the sensor (15). The activated child-restraint element (14) can be deactivated in an emergency operation by a switch (17), and the locking mechanism can be opened by the electric drive (3, 4).

Claims

1. Motor vehicle door closure comprising a locking mechanism, an electric drive for the locking mechanism and a child-restraint element with a corresponding sensor, in which depending on the position of the child-restraint element detected by the sensor the electric drive can be activated or deactivated regarding the opening of the locking mechanism, wherein the child-restraint element interacts with a coupling lever containing two actuating journals by means of a follower, wherein the coupling lever couples the follower to a locking lever, wherein the first actuating journal is a locking pin and extends through the locking lever and a recess in the follower, wherein during an emergency operation the activated child-restraint element can be deactivated by a switch and that the locking mechanism can be opened by the electric drive.

2. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 1 wherein at least one switch is assigned to the child-restraint element, selectively provides a temporary electric deactivation of the activated child restraint.

3. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 2, wherein the switch is a dashboard switch inside a motor vehicle and is at the same time a locking and unlocking switch.

4. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 1, wherein a control unit is provided, with the aid of which individual child-restraint elements are optionally activated/deactivated and which evaluates the respective switch and acts on the respective electric drive accordingly.

5. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 1, wherein the coupling lever couples the follower to a locking lever.

6. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 1, wherein the coupling lever is displaceably arranged on an actuating lever.

7. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 1, wherein the follower and the coupling lever permit movements of the locking lever in the deactivated position of the child-restraint element.

8. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 6, wherein the follower and the coupling lever hold the locking lever in its locked position when the child-restraint element is in activated position.

9. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 6, wherein the coupling lever mechanically couples the actuating lever to a triggering lever or causes an idle stroke of the actuating lever in relation to the triggering lever depending on the position of the coupling lever on the actuating lever.

10. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 9, wherein the actuating lever and the triggering lever are arranged on the same axis.

11. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 1, wherein one actuating journal on the coupling lever extends through a recess in the actuating lever.

12. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 5, wherein the coupling lever is displaceably arranged on an actuating lever.

13. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 12, wherein the follower and the coupling lever permit movements of the locking lever in the deactivated position of the child-restraint element.

14. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 13, wherein the follower and the coupling lever hold the locking lever in its locked position when the child-restraint element is in activated position.

15. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 14, wherein the coupling lever mechanically couples the actuating lever to a triggering lever or causes an idle stroke of the actuating lever in relation to the triggering lever depending on the position of the coupling lever on the actuating lever.

16. Motor vehicle door closure comprising: a locking mechanism, an electric drive for the locking mechanism and a child-restraint element with a corresponding sensor, in which depending on the position of the child-restraint element detected by the sensor the electric drive can be activated or deactivated regarding the opening of the locking mechanism, wherein the child-restraint element interacts with a coupling lever by means of a follower, wherein the coupling lever couples the follower to a locking lever, wherein during an emergency operation the activated child-restraint element can be deactivated by a switch and that the locking mechanism can be opened by the electric drive, wherein the coupling lever is displaceably arranged on an actuating lever, wherein the follower and the coupling lever permit movements of the locking lever in the deactivated position of the child-restraint element, wherein the follower and the coupling lever hold the locking lever in its locked position when the child-restraint element is in activated position, wherein the coupling lever mechanically couples the actuating lever to a triggering lever or causes an idle stroke of the actuating lever in relation to the triggering lever depending on the position of the coupling lever on the actuating lever wherein the actuating lever and the triggering lever are arranged on the same axis.

17. Motor vehicle door closure according to claim 16, wherein the coupling lever contains two actuating journals.

18. Motor vehicle door closure comprising a locking mechanism, an electric drive for the locking mechanism and a child-restraint element with a corresponding sensor, in which depending on the position of the child-restraint element detected by the sensor the electric drive can be activated or deactivated regarding the opening of the locking mechanism, wherein the child-restraint element interacts with a coupling lever containing two actuating journals by means of a follower, wherein the coupling lever couples the follower to a locking lever, wherein during an emergency operation the activated child-restraint element can be deactivated by a switch and that the locking mechanism can be opened by the electric drive and wherein one actuating journal on the coupling lever extends through a recess in the actuating lever.

Description

(1) Below, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one embodiment, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle door closure in the position locked and child restraint deactivated,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the motor vehicle door closure according to FIG. 1 in the position locked and child restraint activated and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a general functional diagram.

(5) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a motor vehicle door closure with a locking mechanism comprising a rotary latch and pawlnot shown in detail. A triggering lever 1 can act on this pawl to open it if the triggering lever 1 is pivoted around its associated axis 2 in clockwise direction, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1. Such a clockwise movement of the triggering lever 1 around its axis 2 does correspond with the pawlnot shown in detailbeing pivoted away from its engagement in the rotary latch so that the rotary latch can open with the aid of a spring. A previously retained locking bolt is released and the respective motor vehicle door can be opened.

(6) The described opening movement of the triggering lever 1 can be either mechanical or motor driven. The motorized opening of the triggering lever 1 is provided by an electrical drive 3, 4, only indicated in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity and comprising mainly an electric motor 3 and a driven pulley 4 driven by the electric motor 3. If the driven pulley 4 in the example of FIG. 1 moves in counter clockwise direction, an opening contour provided on the driven pulley 4 and not expressly shown, is able to act upon the triggering lever 1 which as a result of being acted upon, pivots around axis 2 in indicated clockwise direction, lifting the pawl off the rotary latch as described.

(7) Alternatively the triggering lever 1 can also be mechanically pivoted in clockwise direction around its axis 2 with the aid of the actuating lever 5. In the example, the actuating lever 5 is an internal actuating lever 5 in the example although the invention is not limited to this. The actuating lever 5 and the triggering lever 1 are arranged on the same axis and do thus have a common axis 2.

(8) A coupling lever 6 is displaceably mounted on the actuating lever 5. On the end facing the actuating lever 5, the coupling lever 6 contains an actuating journal 7only indicatedwhich in this case is a triggering journal 7. The triggering journal 7 extends through a recess 8 in the actuating lever or internal actuating lever 5 and can cooperate with an edge or an extension arm of the triggering lever 1 in the coupled position of the coupling lever 6.

(9) If the coupling lever 6 is in its right end positiononly indicated by a dashed/dotted line in FIG. 1in relation to recess 8 in the actuating lever 5 (coupled position), the triggering journal 7 acts on the coupling lever 6 with the triggering lever 1, as soon as the actuating lever or internal actuating lever 5 is pivoted around axis 2, shared with triggering lever 1. This may be achieved by the internal door handle 20 or respective acting on the internal door handle 20.

(10) In the coupled position of the coupling lever 6 a continuous mechanical connection is consequently provided between the actuating lever or the internal actuating lever 5, the triggering lever 1 as well as the locking mechanism so that the acted upon internal door handle 20 can open the locking mechanism. The position coupled of the coupling lever 6 and the position unlocked (ER) of a locking lever 10, explained in detail below, corresponds to this position. In this functional position, also a child restraint, described in detail below, is disengaged or deactivated.

(11) In the example, the coupling lever 6 contains two actuating journals 7, 9. One actuating journal 7 is, as already described, a triggering journal 7 and operates in the position coupled of the coupling lever 6 and with the child restraint not engaged or disengaged and in the position unlocked of the locking lever 10 as a mechanical coupling between the actuating lever 5 and the triggering lever 1as described. The other actuating journal 9 provided at the end of the coupling lever 6 is a locking journal 9. The locking journal 9 extends through the locking lever 10 or a recess 11 provided in the locking lever 10 at this point as well as a follower 12, also containing a recess 13 accommodating and guiding the locking journal 9.

(12) As already indicated, the motor vehicle door closure contains a child restraint or a child-restraint function so that the motor vehicle door closure is primarily used for rear doors in passenger cars. In this context, the child restraint contains a child-restraint element 14. The child restraint also includes a sensor 15 assigned to the child-restraint element 14. The position of the child-restraint element 14 can be determined with the sensor 15. The sensor 15 is connected to a control unit 16, also acting on the electric motor 3 when required, initiating the already described electric opening. Furthermore, a switch 17 is provided which can in this case be a dashboard switch 17. The signals of the said switch 17 are also processed by the control unit 16. The switch or the dashboard switch 17 can be arranged inside the car body and is preferably designed as a locking and unlocking switch 17.

(13) As part of the embodiment, the child-restraint element 14 can generally assume two different positions. In FIG. 1, the child-restraint element 14 is in its position disengaged or deactivated, whilst the functional position of FIG. 2 corresponds to position engaged or activated of the child-restraint element 14 and thus the child restraint as a whole. The child-restraint element 14 is thus an activation nut that can, as usual, be mechanically pivoted from outside of the motor vehicle door closure with the aid of a spanner, a screwdriver, etc. In order to be able to fix the different positions of the child-restraint element 14, it contains a molded catch 14, cooperating with a detent recess 18 on the lock housing.

(14) Depending on which position of the child-restraint element 14 is transmitted to the control unit 16 by the respective sensor 15, said unit ensures that the electric motor 3 or the electric drive 3, 4 are activated or deactivated for opening the locking mechanism. If the child-restraint element 14 is, for instance, in its position disengaged or deactivated, as shown in FIG. 1, the locking mechanism can be electrically opened if the control unit 16 receives an additional signal from a sensor 19. This sensor 19 is a sensor 19, sensing the movements of an internal door handle 20. If the internal door handle 20 is pulled or activated, the sensor 19 is also acted upon, which the control unit 16 in turn interprets as an opening request.

(15) If the control unit 16 determines in this case the child-restraint element 14 is in its deactivated position (by checking the respective sensor 15), an (electric) opening of the shown motor vehicle door closure from the inside is permitted.

(16) This means that in the position child restraint or in the position deactivated of the child-restraint element 14 the locking lever 10 can assume the position unlocked (ER) and locked (VR). Only once the locking lever 10 has been moved into the unlocked (ER) position, is the coupling lever 6 in its coupled position. In this case also the actuating lever 5 and the triggering lever 1 are engaged.

(17) In order to, for instance, open the locking mechanism in the functional position of FIG. 1, when the electric drive has failed, a so-called two-stroke activation of the actuating lever 5 is required. In order to achieve this, the actuating lever 5 ensures during a first stroke i.e. during a rotating movement in clockwise direction, that the locking lever 10 is moved from the locked (VR) position of FIG. 1 into the unlocked (ER) position. At the same time, the coupling lever 6 is coupled. During the next stroke the actuating lever 5 can then act on the triggering lever 1 with the aid of the coupling lever 6 in order to open the locking mechanism.

(18) When the child restraint is activated and thus the child-restraint element 14 is activated, acting on the actuating lever 5 around axis 2 in clockwise direction ensures that the coupling lever 6 is basically moved up in relation to the position of FIG. 2 or pivoted around the locking journal 9 acting as an axis in counter clockwise direction and can, in any case, not interact with the triggering lever 1. This means that any activation of the internal door handle 20 has no result or corresponds to a desired idle stroke. The motor vehicle door closure is locked and the child restraint has been applied. Any internal activation is consequently without result.

(19) If the switch or dashboard switch 17 is activated in this functional position and the control unit 16 receives a certain signal, the control unit 16 unlocks the locking mechanism and a temporary deactivation of the child-restraint whilst the switch is being held. In this case, the signal of the sensor 15 assigned to the child-restraint element 14 is bridged or ignored. This means that the switch 17 causes a temporary electric deactivation of the activated child restraint in which the child-restraint element 14 remains unchanged in the position activated as shown in FIG. 2. This is generally shown in the functional overview of FIG. 3.

(20) It is apparent that there are two options when the child-restraint element 14 is activated. If in this functional position and with the sensor 15 being acted upon, the switch or dashboard switch 17 is activated, this is interpreted by the control unit 16 in such a way that the electric drive 3, 4 can be acted upon, as shown in the top sequence of the diagram.

(21) If, however, the additional switch 17 is not activated, the acted-on sensor 15 together with the control unit 16 scanning sensor 15, ensures that the electric drive 3, 4 is not acted upon. This is shown in the bottom part of FIG. 3