Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02865309 2014-08-22
Motor vehicle door lock
Description:
The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock with an actuation/locking
lever
mechanism with a first lever and a second lever with both levers being
couplable with
each other in at least two different relative positions.
The prior art disclosed in DE 23 55 556 A describes a motor vehicle door lock
with a
locking mechanism containing a tong case with two tong arms. The two tong arms
are
mounted respectively on bolts. In addition, a spring is provided that is
supported by
the two bolts of the tong arms.
The generic state of the art according to DE 89 16 180 U1 discloses two
levers, a
coupling lever and an actuating lever that can be coupled to each other and in
different relative positions. One relative position corresponds to the coupled
state,
whilst another relative position corresponds to the uncoupled state. In
principle, this
arrangement has proven to be successful. The known solution requires, however,
a
kinematically complicated design and is hardly suitable for other applications
as the
change in coupling position is achieved by a double stroke activation.
In more modern motor vehicle door lock versions equipped with a so-called
quick
release function, this quick release function ensures that the actual
unlocking
operation carried out by a motor is shortened, for instance as part of a so-
called
"keyless entry" function. For this purpose, various actuating operations are
required,
with the aid of which the actuating lever chain is directly moved into the
unlocked state
or a previously interrupted mechanical connection to the release lever is
produced
(see DE 10 2005 043 227 B3). This arrangement has generally been successful
can,
however be improved as regards the coupling used between the levers integrated
in
the quick release unit. Indeed there is the general possibility or even danger
with this
arrangement that two levers coupled during this process are not exactly
aligned with
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each other in their relative position, resulting in malfunctioning. The
invention seems to
remedy this situation.
The invention is based on the technical problem of developing such a motor
vehicle
door lock further in such a way that the coupling of the two lever functions
and, in
particular, the assumed relative positions can be safely and reproducibly
attained and
maintained.
In order to solve this problem, a generic motor vehicle door lock of the
invention is
characterized by at least the first lever containing a connected detent spring
for
cooperation with at least one detent contour on the second lever.
The detent spring can be connected to the first lever. In this context it is
possible that
the detent spring and the first lever form and define a single component.
Generally,
the detent spring can, however, also be connected to the first lever in any
possible
manner. It is possible, to couple the respective detent spring to the first
lever by
riveting, bolting, etc.
In all cases, the first lever with the connected detent spring ensures that
the second
other lever is acted upon by the detent spring.
For this reason, the lever with the detent spring is in most cases designed as
a fixed
lever. The second lever with the detent contour is, on the other hand, a
detent lever
arrangable in different detent positions in relation to the fixed lever. This
means that
the fixed lever regularly maintains its position whilst the detent lever is
designed to be
moved in relation to the fixed lever and against the force of the detent
spring into the
different detent positions. In most cases, at least two detent positions can
be realised.
According to an advantageous embodiment even three or more detent positions
can
be defined.
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In order to achieve this in detail, the detent spring and the detent lever can
be
arranged on the same plane. In this case, the spring force exerted by the
detent spring
acts in the direction of the plane of the detent lever acted upon by the
detent spring.
It is, however, also possible and feasible that the detent spring and the
detent lever
are arranged on different planes. In this case, the detent spring and the
detent lever
thus describe different planes, regularly arranged to each other at an angle.
In most
cases it has proven to be advantageous in this context for the detent spring
and the
detent lever to be arranged perpendicularly to each other. This means that in
this
situation the detent spring exerts a spring force perpendicular to the plane
formed by
the detent lever.
A particularly cost effective and well functioning solution is characterized
by the detent
lever being mounted on the fixing lever in a rotary axis. The detent spring is
arranged
in the area of the rotary axis. In this situation, the detent spring ensures
in case of the
detent spring and detent lever being arranged on the same plane that the
detent
spring acts upon the detent lever with a perpendicular force in relation to
the axial
direction of the rotary axis. In contrast, the arrangement of the detent
spring and
detent lever on different planes, in particular their perpendicular
arrangement to each
other, cause the detent spring to act on the detent lever with an axial force.
In this
case the spring force exerted by the detent spring acts in axial direction of
the rotary
axis. In general, the axial force and the force perpendicular to the axial
direction of the
rotary axis can also at the same time be applied to the detent lever.
In a preferred embodiment, the detent spring is a leaf spring. In this case
the first one
lever or fixed lever has an L-shaped cross section with the detent spring
being
arranged on an L-leg. As a result, the one first lever or fixed lever and the
detent
spring can be produced at the same time, which is particularly cost effective.
The detent contour can be a detent recess at least partially accommodating the
leaf
spring. The detent recess then also provides a stop in most cases. This stop
represents a first detent position. In addition, at least another second stop
can be
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provided, corresponding to a further detent position of the detent lever in
relation to
the fixed lever.
As part of an alternative method, the detent spring can also be a spring
washer. A coil
spring containing several such spring washers can also be provided in this
context. In
this case, the detent contour is typically designed as a stop edge interacting
with the
projection on the detent lever. The stop edge is located on the fixed lever,
whilst the
projection on the detent lever interacts with this stop edge on the fixed
lever. The
abutting of the projection on the detent lever against the stop edge of the
fixed lever
corresponds to a first detent position. A further second detent position can
be
assumed by the detent lever when a further stop edge is being used on the
fixed lever.
Where the fixed lever is a longitudinal strip-like lever, the two longitudinal
edges of the
lever are each available as a stop edge for the first and second detent
position.
As part of the invention, the detent lever is designed to assume at least
three different
detent positions. In this context it has proven to be advantageous if the
detent spring
and the detent lever are arranged on the same plane. This then allows the
option of
having the leaf spring or detent spring formed on one L-leg of the fixed lever
cooperate with one polygon-like contour at the end of the detent lever.
Depending on
the number of edges of this polygon-like contour or polygon structure, any
number of
detent positions between the detent lever and the fixed lever can be provided
in
theory. Each detent position corresponds to one edge of the leaf spring
abutting
against the polygon structure. In principle this polygon structure can also be
combined
with a spring washer as a detent spring. In this case it is feasible that the
spring
washer contains axial webs spanning the polygon structure and that each detent
position corresponds to the polygon structure being, as it were, turned in
relation to
the finger-like spanning axial webs.
Where the detent lever assumes two or more detent positions compared to the
fixed
lever it has proven to be advantageous, if at least one of the detent
positions can
solely and exclusively be fixed with the detent spring. This means that in
this case the
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detent position is solely defined by the cooperation between the detent spring
and the
detent contour ¨ without additional stop.
At least one of the several detent positions can, on the other hand, be fixed
with the
aid of the detent spring as well as with the aid of a stop. In this case it is
on one hand
the cooperation between the detent spring and the stop contour and, on the
other
hand, the stop and the detent lever as a whole that ensure that the detent
lever
assumes the respective detent position. Generally it is, of course also
feasible that all
detent positions of the detent lever can only be fixed in relation to the
fixed lever by
means of the detent spring. Also, all detent positions can only be defined due
to the
fact that the detent spring and the respective associated stop ensure that the
detent
lever assumes its desired detent position in relation to the fixed lever.
Preferably, the detent lever is an unlocking lever and, in particular, a quick
release
lever. In this case the detent lever can be part of an unlocking lever chain.
In contrast,
the fixed lever is generally part of the actuating lever mechanism. To
implement the
quick release function, the detent lever is pivoted into a displaced position
or second
detent position compared to the first detent position or base position. This
operation
can be motor driven or manual. As a result of the quick release lever or
detent lever
assuming this displaced position, a release lever acting upon a locking
mechanism
can, for instance, be directly displaced via the activation lever chain so
that the locking
mechanism is opened without hardly any delay. The whole operation is quick,
works
reliably and is reproducible as the base position and displaced position of
the detent
lever or of the quick release lever is correctly and reproducibly assumed as a
result of
the cooperation with the detent spring. These are the main advantages.
Below, the invention is explained in detail with reference to a drawing
showing only
one embodiment, in which:
Fig.1 shows a first version of the motor vehicle door lock of the invention,
Fig. 2 shows a section along line A-A of the object of Fig. 1,
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Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of a modified embodiment of Fig. 1,
Fig.4 shows a longitudinal section of the second version of the motor vehicle
door lock
of the invention and
Fig. 5 shows a top view of the version of Fig. 4.
The figures show a motor vehicle door lock containing an actuating lever
mechanism 1
and an unlocking lever mechanism 2. The example only shows a first lever or
fixed
lever 1 of the actuating lever mechanism 1 whilst the locking lever mechanism
2 is
also only represented by a second lever 2. In the actual installed situation ¨
not shown
in detail - the actuating lever mechanism 1 and the locking lever mechanism 2
contain
also other levers, not identified further, which are of no importance in the
present
case.
As usual, the actuating lever mechanism 1 is typically mechanically connected
to a
handle, e.g. an internal door handle and/or external door handle. Activation
of the
handle for opening a motor vehicle door belonging to the shown motor vehicle
door
lock results in the first lever or fixed lever 1 being pivoted around a
respective rotary
axis 3 in counter clockwise direction in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, as
indicated
by an arrow. During these pivoting movements, the detent lever 2 mounted on
the
fixed lever 1 in the rotary axis 3, does not reach the indicated release lever
4.
When, on the other hand, the detent lever 2 assumes its displaced position or
second
detent position in comparison to its first detent position or base position ¨
shown by a
solid line ¨ in comparison to the fixed lever 1 ¨ shown by a dashed line ¨ the
already
discussed pivoting movement of the fixed lever 1 triggered by the handle,
causes the
release lever 4 to be acted upon. As a result, the handle is now able to open
a locking
mechanism ¨ not shown in detail - by means of a release lever 4. The
triggering lever
4 does, indeed act on a pawl ¨ not shown ¨ lifting it off the rotary catch.
The rotary
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catch opens with the aid of the spring and releases a previously retained
locking pin.
As a result, the motor vehicle door can be directly opened.
The described process corresponds to a quick release which is achieved
manually
and/or with the aid of a motor, by the detent lever 2 being moved in the
example from
its base position ¨ shown by a solid line ¨ to its deflected position ¨ shown
by a
dashed line. Both levers 1, 2 are indeed coupled to one another in at least
two
different relative positions, the base position and the deflected position, as
described.
This coupling is a detent coupling, as the first lever or fixed lever 1
contains a
connected detent spring 5. The detent spring 5 is arranged to cooperate with
at least
one detent contour 6 at the other second lever or detent lever 2. In the
embodiments
shown in Fig. 1 to 3, the detent spring 5 is formed on the first lever or
fixed lever 1.
The detent spring 5 and the first lever 1 do actually form a single-part
component.
From the respective sectional view of Fig. 2 it is also apparent that the
fixed lever 1
together with the single-piece detent spring 5 forms an overall L-shaped lever
1, 5 in
cross section. The fixed lever 1 defines the longer L-leg, whilst the detent
spring 5 is
arranged on the shorter Lleg. In this way, the fixed lever 1 and the detent
spring 5 can
be produced in one and the same operation, keeping costs to a minimum. The
detent
spring 5 is also designed as a leaf spring 5.
It is apparent that the detent spring 5 and the detent lever 2 are arranged on
the same
plane in the example shown in Fig. 1 to 3. This means that the spring force F
exerted
by the detent spring 5 acts in the direction of the plane defined by detent
lever 2. This
is indicated in Fig. 1 by a respective force arrow F for the spring force F
exerted by the
detent spring 5.
The aforementioned detent contour 6 on the detent lever 2 corresponds to the
detent
spring or leaf spring 5. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 to 3 the detent
spring 5 or
leaf spring 5 has a rectangular cross section, so that the contour 6 also has
a square
form. As a result, the detent contour 6 also forms a stop 7 for the front end
of the leaf
spring 5.
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The stop 7 and the cooperation between the detent spring 5 and the detent
lever 2
define the first detent position or the base position of the detent lever 2 ¨
shown by a
solid line - in Fig. 1 in relation to the fixed lever 1. When the detent lever
2 is pivoted
out of this position into the deflected position shown by the dashed line,
with the
effects already described above, a further stop 8 is provided, which again
with the
cooperation between the detent spring 5 and the detent contour 6 ensures that
the
defined displaced position of the detent lever 2 is taken up. The stop 8 ¨
like the
detent spring 5 ¨ is formed on the fixed lever 1 (single component).
Manufacture is
therefore simple and quick. For actual functioning it suffices to define the
fixed lever 1
together with the bevelled detent spring 5 and the bevelled and also connected
stop 8
and then to only pivotally connect the detent lever 2 with the help of the
rotary axis 3
to the fixed lever 1.
Fig. 3 shows that the detent lever 2 is not only arranged and suited to assume
the two
detent positions shown in Fig. 1, i.e. the base position and the displaced
position. The
detent lever 2 can also assume three or more different detent positions. For
this
purpose the detent lever 2 has, in the version shown in Fig. 3, one polygon
contour 9
with several edges 10 in the area of its end on the rotation axis side.
Depending on the number of edges 10 of the polygon contour 9, three, four or
even
more different detent positions of the detent lever 2 can be defined and
arranged in
relation to the fixed lever 1. In the example, each detent position
corresponds to the
detent lever 2 being only fixed with the detent spring 5. In other words, no
additional
stops are used, although this is of course possible and is part of the
invention. In the
described versions of Fig. 1 to 3 the detent spring 5 and the detent lever 2
are, as
explained, arranged on the same plane. The design is such that the detent
spring 5
acts on the detent lever 2 with the force or spring force F extending
perpendicularly to
the axial direction of the rotary axis 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The detent lever
2 can thus
carry out a switching function and can be moved manually or with the aid of a
motor
from the base position ¨ solid line ¨ shown in Fig. 1 to the displaced
position ¨ dashed
line ¨ as described and back again.
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In principle, the embodiments of Fig. 4 and 5 operate in the same manner as
already
explained with reference to Fig. 1 to 3. The main difference compared to the
versions
shown in Fig. 1 to 3 is that according to the embodiments shown in Fig. 4 and
5 the
detent spring 5 and the detent lever 2 are arranged at an angle to each other.
The
detent spring 5 designed in this case as a spring washer 5, exerts a spring
force F
extending perpendicularly in relation to the plane defined by the detent lever
2. Also, in
the versions shown in Fig. 4 and 5, the detent spring 5 is also not formed on
the fixed
lever 1 but is connected to the fixed lever 1, i.e. via a rotary axis 3. The
design is
actually such that in the versions shown in Fig. 4 and 5 the rotary axis 3 is
designed
as a connecting axis acted upon by the spring washer 5 for pivotable mounting
of the
detent lever 2 on the fixed lever 1.
The detent spring or the spring washer 5 ensure that the detent lever 2 is
acted upon
in axial direction of the rotary axis 3 with the spring force F generated by
said spring or
washer. In this case, the detent spring 5 thus produces an axial force, acting
on the
detent lever 2 in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. A change of the different
detent
positions of the detent lever 2 compared to the fixed lever 1 requires for the
detent
lever 2 to be acted upon by the switching force F5, acting in the embodiment
shown in
Fig. 4 on the end opposed to the one projection 11. The projection 11 on the
detent
lever 2 does indeed cooperate again with a stop edge 6 on the fixed lever 1.
As
apparent from Fig. 5 the embodiment contains two opposing stop edges 6,
defined on
the respective longitudinal edges of the longitudinally extending fixed lever
1.
In order for the detent lever 2 to be moved from its solid line position shown
in Fig. 5
or its first detent position to the dashed position or second detent position,
switching
force F, must be applied to the end of the detent lever 2 opposite the
projection 11, so
that the projection 11 can be "lifted" over the fixed lever 1 after which it
rests or can
rest on the other opposing stop edge 6. In this case, at least two detent
positions, as
shown in Fig. 5, can be defined. Naturally also more than two detent positions
are
feasible.
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Fig. 5 shows that the displaced position of the detent lever 2 ¨ shown by the
dotted
line ¨is again able to act upon the release lever 4. This is not possible if
the detent
lever 2 is in the base position ¨ indicated by the solid line. In this way a
quick release
function can again be provided, as already described in detail with reference
to the
version shown in Fig. 1 to 3. Naturally the invention is not restricted to
this, as the
decisive factor is generally the cooperation between the two levers 1, 2¨
irrespective
of their function.
