Lock module for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock module. The aim of the invention is to provide a lock module which can contribute to a reduction in the complexity of assembly. In order to achieve said aim, the lock module comprises a plurality of components, that is to say at least two components, which are selected from the following: a lock having a locking mechanism consisting of a pawl and a rotary latch, in particular a servolock; a drive, in particular an electric drive for the lock, particularly preferably for the servolock; an actuating lever system; a locking lever system; and a handle module having an opening handle, in particular an outer opening handle. The lock includes at least one drive which is movably mounted within the lock module. The drive can therefore be moved relative to the other one or more components of the lock module.

Claims

1. A lock module comprising: a lock; a drive connected to the lock for driving the lock; a moveable connection that is connected between the lock and the drive, wherein the moveable connection is configurable in an uninstalled state and an installed state; and a handle module with an outer opening handle for operating the lock module; wherein the moveable connection includes a web connection and latching elements for snap-fitting the moveable connection to the lock, wherein the drive is rotatable relative to the lock via the web connection for adjusting placement of the drive relative to the lock when the moveable connection is in the uninstalled state, and, wherein the drive is non-rotatable relative to the lock when the latching elements are snap-fitted to the lock and the moveable connection is in the installed state, and wherein the drive drives the lock when the outer opening handle is actuated when the moveable connection is in the installed state.

2. The lock module according to claim 1, wherein the drive is moveably connected to the lock at a lock housing or at a cover plate of the lock in the first state.

3. The lock module according to claim 1, wherein the moveable connection includes a flange connection, with the drive being flange mounted.

4. The lock module according to claim 1, wherein the drive is connected to the lock by means of a Bowden cable for its operation.

5. The lock module according to claim 1, wherein the drive is an electrical drive including an electric motor or a drive containing a shape memory alloy.

6. The lock module according to claim 1, wherein the web connection provides a rigid and fixed connection between the drive and the lock.

7. The lock module according to claim 6, wherein a second web connects the handle module to the drive and provides a rigid and fixed connection.

8. A door of a motor vehicle containing an installed lock module according to claim 1.

9. The door according to claim 8, in which the moveable connection of the lock module cannot be moved once the lock module is installed in a door.

10. A procedure for installing a lock module according to claim 1 in a door, wherein the moveable connection is moved before and/or during installation.

Description

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lock module according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a lock module with a servolock 1, an electric drive 2 for lock 1 and a handle module 3 comprising a handle back plate 3a and a handle 3b. The drive 2 is moveably connected to the lock 1. The moveable connection can be or include a flange connection 7. The drive 2 is moveably connected to the servo lock 1 by means of the web 4. The servolock comprises a frame plate 1 a, a lock housing 1 b and a cover plate 1 c. The rotatable connection between the servo lock 1 and the electric drive 2 contains snap-in means, allowing snapping-in in at least two different snap-in positions. Generally, two different snap-in positions suffice to considerably simplify installation. It is therefore even preferable to only have two different fixing or snap-in positions allowing only two different fixed and/or snapped-in arrangements of the drive 2 in relation to the servolock 1. As a result, operating faults are regularly reduced. Because of the limited number of snap-in or fixing positions it is thus not possible, to snap-in or fix the drive in any position and thus also not in less favourable positions.

(3) Using a Bowden cable 5, lock 1 arranged remotely from drive 2, can move the rotary latch of lock 1 from its auxiliary catch position into its main catch position. Because of its remote arrangement, the drive can be positioned in sections of a door not otherwise required. Because of the web connection 4, the lock module can be supplied readily preassembled for final installation in a door despite being separated from the drive 1 and lock 2.

(4) Alternatively or additionally, the handle module 3 can, for instance, also have a rotary connection to the lock 1 to facilitate installation. It has, however, emerged that it is particularly important to provide a rotary connection for a drive 2, as handle 3 and lock 1 always have to assume a specified position in a door. The actual position of a drive can, on the other hand, be flexibly chosen or specified. A significant advantage is therefore only achieved if this fact is exploited by moveably fixing drive 2. In general, a rotatable fixing, able to follow the flexible Bowden cable, suffices. Where required, a different moveable fixing can, however, also be used. A respective fixing can, for instance, allow a sliding movement or even a folding movement as an alternative or in addition to a rotary movement, allowing a three-dimensional movement of the drive. For the above reasons it is therefore preferred that the handle 3 is for instance rigidly connected to the lock 1 by means of a web 6 as in this respect an exact position between said handle and lock is regularly required.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

(5) 1: Servolock 1 a: Frame plate 1 b: Lock housing 1 c: Cover plate 2: Drive for servolock 3: Handle module 3a: Handle back plate 3b: Handle 4: Web 5: Bowden cable 6: Web