Lock for a panel or door

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a reliably functioning lock for a motor vehicle in particular. This is achieved in that the claimed lock for a door or a panel has a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl for locking the rotary latch. The rotary latch and the pawl are preferably designed such that the rotary latch is capable of introducing an opening torque into the pawl. The locking mechanism has a triggering lever for opening the locking mechanism. A transmission device is further provided which increases the pivotal movement of the triggering lever and which comprises a transmission lever in particular for moving the pawl out of the locking position of the pawl by means of a follower. On the basis of the pivotal movement transmission caused by the transmission lever, a relatively small pivotal movement of the triggering lever is sufficient to move the pawl completely out of the locking position by means of the follower. The invention thus ensures that a locking mechanism can be reliably opened even when the triggering lever can no longer be pivoted over the entire original distance due to the effects of aging.

Claims

1. A lock for a door or panel for a motor vehicle or a building, the lock comprising: a rotary latch; a pawl comprising a detent, wherein the pawl is rotatable between two conditions, a closed condition in which the detent blocks rotation of the rotary latch relative to the detent and an open position where the rotary latch is rotatable relative to the detent; a trigger lever rotatable in an opening direction and an opposite direction, wherein the pawl and the trigger lever are pivotally mounted on a common axis; a stop that abuts the pawl when the pawl is in the closed condition and blocks further movement of the pawl away from the open condition and also abuts the trigger lever and defines a stop point when the trigger lever is rotated in the opposite direction; and a transmission lever comprising a follower, wherein the transmission lever is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the trigger lever is adapted to contact the transmission lever and rotate the transmission lever in the first direction when the trigger lever is rotated in the opening direction, and wherein the follower is adapted to contact the pawl and rotate the pawl to the open position when the transmission lever is rotated in the first direction.

2. The lock according to claim 1, wherein rotating the trigger lever up to 20° is sufficient to completely move the pawl to the open position.

3. The lock according to claim 1, wherein rotating the trigger lever up to 16° is sufficient to completely move the pawl to the open position.

4. The lock according to claim 1, wherein rotating the trigger lever up to 14° is sufficient to completely move the pawl to the open position.

5. The lock according to claim 1, wherein moving the pawl to the open position required rotating the trigger lever at least 8°.

6. The lock according to claim 1, wherein moving the pawl to the open position required rotating the trigger lever at least 10°.

7. The lock according to claim 1, wherein moving the pawl to the open position required rotating the trigger lever at least 12°.

8. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the pawl further comprises a first arm that the follower contacts.

9. The lock according to claim 8, wherein a physically effective length of the follower is longer than a physically effective length of the first arm.

10. The lock according to claim 1, further comprising a blocking lever rotatable between two conditions, a blocking condition in which the blocking lever blocks rotation of the pawl while the pawl is in the closed condition and an unblocked condition where the pawl is rotatable relative to the blocking lever.

11. The lock according to claim 10, wherein the trigger lever further comprises a second arm adapted to contact the blocking lever and rotate the blocking lever from the blocking condition to the unblocked condition when the trigger lever is rotated in the opening direction.

12. The lock according to claim 11, wherein the trigger lever comprises a third arm that contacts the transmission lever.

13. The lock according to claim 12, wherein the transmission lever further comprises a fourth arm, wherein the fourth arm is adapted to contact the pawl to prevent bouncing of the locking mechanism.

14. The lock according to claim 10, wherein the rotary latch, the pawl and the blocking lever are located on a common plane.

15. The lock according to claim 14, wherein the triggering lever is located on a different plane than the common plane.

16. The lock according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission lever spring that biases the transmission lever in the second direction.

17. The lock according to claim 16, wherein the transmission lever further comprises a fourth arm that contacts the pawl and rotates the pawl to the closed condition when the transmission lever is rotated in the second direction.

18. The lock according to claim 17, wherein the pawl further comprises a first arm which contacts the follower, with the follower contacting a first side of the first arm, wherein the fourth arm contacts the first arm on a second side of the first arm opposite the first side.

19. A lock for a door or panel for a motor vehicle or a building, the lock comprising: a rotary latch; a pawl comprising a detent, wherein the pawl is rotatable between two conditions, a closed condition in which the detent blocks rotation of the rotary latch relative to the detent and an open position where the rotary latch is rotatable relative to the detent; a blocking lever rotatable between two conditions, a blocking condition in which the blocking lever blocks rotation of the pawl while the pawl is in the closed condition and an unblocked condition where the pawl is rotatable relative to the blocking lever; a trigger lever rotatable in an opening direction and an opposite direction, wherein the trigger lever comprises a first arm adapted to contact the blocking lever and rotate the blocking lever from the blocking condition to the unblocked condition when the trigger lever is rotated in the opening direction; and a transmission lever comprising a follower, wherein the transmission lever is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the trigger lever is adapted to contact the transmission lever and rotate the transmission lever in the first direction when the trigger lever is rotated in the opening direction, wherein the follower is adapted to contact the pawl and rotate the pawl to the open position when the transmission lever is rotated in the first direction, wherein the trigger lever comprises a second arm that contacts the transmission lever and wherein the transmission lever further comprises a third arm adapted to contact the pawl to prevent bouncing of the locking mechanism.

20. A lock for a door or panel for a motor vehicle or a building, the lock comprising: a rotary latch; a pawl comprising a detent, wherein the pawl is rotatable between two conditions, a closed condition in which the detent blocks rotation of the rotary latch relative to the detent and an open position where the rotary latch is rotatable relative to the detent; a trigger lever rotatable in an opening direction and an opposite direction; a transmission lever comprising a follower, wherein the transmission lever further comprises an arm that contacts the pawl and rotates the pawl to the closed condition when the transmission lever is rotated in the second direction, wherein the transmission lever is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the trigger lever is adapted to contact the transmission lever and rotate the transmission lever in the first direction when the trigger lever is rotated in the opening direction, and wherein the follower is adapted to contact the pawl and rotate the pawl to the open position when the transmission lever is rotated in the first direction; and a transmission lever spring that biases the transmission lever in the second direction.

Description

EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: shows a locking mechanism in the main catch position;

(2) FIG. 2: shows a locking mechanism of FIG. 1 during opening;

(3) FIG. 1 shows a locking mechanism comprising a rotary latch 1, a pawl 2, a blocking lever 3 and a triggering lever 4. The rotary latch 1 can be pivoted around its own axis 5. The pawl 2 and the triggering lever 4 can be pivoted around their common axis 6. The blocking lever 3 can be pivoted around its axis 7. The rotary latch 1, the pawl 2 and the blocking lever 3 are located on a common plane. The triggering lever 4 is located on another, second plane.

(4) The locking mechanism also includes a transmission lever 8 with three lever arms 9, 10 and 11. The transmission lever 8 can be pivoted around its axis 12. The transmission lever 8 is located on a further, third plane. The three lever arms 9, 10 and 11 form an acute angle between themselves. This also applies to the outer lever arms 10 and 11. A lever arm starts at the rotation point of the axis 12 and ends in the end area that can rest against another component as described below.

(5) FIG. 1 shows the locking mechanism in the main catch position. The lever arm 13 of the pawl 2 rests against the engaging arm or main detent arm 14 of the rotary latch 1 thus preventing the rotary latch 1 from being moved in clockwise direction towards the open position. The engaging arm 14 of the rotary latch 1 rests against the lever arm 13 in such a way that an opening torque is introduced into the pawl 2. A lever arm 15 of the blocking lever 3 blocks the lever arm 13 of the pawl 2, preventing the pawl 13 form being moved out of its detent position in clockwise direction as a result of the opening torque. In this blocking position the lever arm 16 of the blocking lever 3 rests against stop 17, thus preventing the blocking lever 3 from being pivoted in clockwise direction past its blocking position. Preferably, the arrangement contains a spring—not shown—which is pretensioned and which can move the blocking lever 3 in the direction of the blocking position.

(6) The lever arm 15 is, in particular, formed in such a way and can rest against the side of the lever arm 13 of the pawl 2 in such a way that the lever arm 15 pivots the lever arm 13 of the pawl 2 into its detent position when the blocking lever 3 is moved into its blocking position. Alternatively or in addition, a pretensioned spring is provided—not shown—which is able to move the pawl 2 into its detent position.

(7) A pin 18 protrudes from the blocking lever 3 in the direction of the second plane. A lever arm 19 of the triggering lever 4 can be pivoted in clockwise direction in such a way that it catches the pin 18 so that the blocking lever 3 can be pivoted out of its blocking position. The lever arm 19 also serves to lock the rotary latch 1 in the main catch position. The rotary latch 1 contains a pin 20 protruding in the direction of the second plane and which rests against the lever arm 19 in the intermediate catch position. The triggering lever 4 is thus also an intermediary catch pawl.

(8) A rod mechanism or a Bowden cable is, for instance, connected to the lever arm 21 of the triggering lever 4 in such a way so that the triggering lever 4 can be pivoted to open the locking mechanism in clockwise direction. By actuating the handle, the locking mechanism is opened.

(9) The end of the lever arm 11 of the transmission lever 8 extends into the first plane and contains a small gap to the lever arm 22 of the pawl 2 as clearance in the main catch position. This end of the lever arm 11 serves as follower to move the pawl 2 out of its detent position, if the pawl is not moved out of its detent position by the opening torque. The lever arm 11 is approx. 1.8 times longer than the lever arm 10. If the locking mechanism is opened, the lever arm 23 of the triggering lever 4 catches the end of the lever arm 10 and pivots the transmission lever 8 as a result in counter clockwise direction and preferably against the spring force of a pretensioned spring. As the lever arm 11 is longer than the lever arm 10, a transmission is achieved so that a small pivoting movement of the triggering lever 4 of only 13.5° already suffices to fully move the pawl 2 out of its detent position, where required, with the aid of the followers 11.

(10) In the main catch position the end of the lever 9, extending into the first plane, rests against the lever arm 22 of the pawl 2 and can thus support the movement of the pawl 2 into its detent position. Bouncing of the pawl 2 during closing of a door or of a panel can thus be prevented.

(11) In the main catch position a gap can be provided between the lever arm 23 of the triggering lever 4 and the end of lever 10, in order to alternatively or in addition provide the clearance for the follower 11.

(12) FIG. 1 shows a stop 24 against which the lever arms 22 and 23 can be moved in order to prevent excessive pivoting in counter clockwise direction by the triggering lever 4 and pawl 2.

(13) In order to achieve a favourable transmission ratio, the lever arm 23 of the triggering lever 4, which is able to move the lever arm 10 of the transmission lever 8, is long compared to the lever arm 10 of the transmission lever 8. The lever arm 23 of the triggering lever 4 is in FIG. 1 approx. 2 times as long as the lever arm 10 of the transmission lever 8.

(14) The lever arm 11 of the transmission lever 8, which is able to move the pawl 2, is preferably long compared to the related physical effective length of the lever arm 22 of the pawl 2. In FIG. 1, this lever arm 11 of the transmission lever is approx. 1.5 times as long as the section of the lever arms 22 of the pawl 2 physically effective on the transmission.

(15) FIG. 2 shows the opening of the locking mechanism with the aid of the follower 11. The transmission lever 8 has been pivoted in counter clockwise direction compared to FIG. 1 by the arm 23, resting against the end of the lever arm 10. The blocking lever 3 has been moved out of its blocking position by the triggering lever 4 and rests now with its lever arm 15 against the side of the lever arm 13 of the pawl 2. The follower 11 rests against the lever arm 22 of the pawl 2 and has moved the pawl 2 completely out of its detent position, as shown. The rotary latch 1 has already moved slightly in clockwise direction towards the opening position and can pivot freely. The locking mechanism is unlocked. The triggering lever 4 has pivoted the transmission lever 8 with the aid of the lever arm 10. The transmission has been chosen in such a way that the pawl 2 has been moved out of the engagement area of the rotary latch 1 with lever arm 10 and pivoted lever arm 11. The triggering lever 4 does in this case also no longer act on blocking lever 3. Blocking lever 3 is deflected further by pawl 3. This shows the gap between the pin 18 of the blocking lever 3 and the lever arm 19 of the triggering lever 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(16) 1: rotary latch 2: main catch pawl 3: blocking lever 4: triggering lever 5: rotary latch axis 6: common axis of pawl and triggering lever 7: blocking lever axis 8: transmission lever 9: lever arm of transmission lever 10: lever arm of transmission lever 11: lever arm of transmission lever 12: pivot axis of transmission lever 13: detent arm of pawl 14: engaging arm of rotary latch 15: blocking arm of blocking lever 16: lever arm of blocking lever 17: stop for blocking lever 18: pin of blocking lever 19: lever arm of triggering lever 20: pin of rotary latch 21: lever arm of triggering lever 22: lever arm of pawl 23: lever arm of triggering lever