EP2931998B1 - Lock for a motor vehicle door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, with a locking mechanism, further comprising a locking mechanism acting on the locking mechanism, and with a drive unit for at least one lever of the actuating lever mechanism, wherein the drive unit has at least one motor and a slider acted upon by the motor.

The acted upon by the drive unit lever of the actuating lever mechanism is often a locking lever and in particular central locking lever. Such locking lever or central locking lever are usually pivoted by means of an eccentric control pin, which engages in an associated fork recess of the central locking lever (see, for example DE 102 40 003 A1 ).

In a generic motor vehicle door lock according to DE 10 2004 011 798 B3 a motor-closing and opening aid for a motor vehicle door is provided. This has a first output element, which acts as a closing aid and pivots the catch as part of the locking mechanism from its Vorrastlage further into a Hauptrastlage. A second output element acts as an opening aid and lifts the associated pawl out of the catch. In this way, the released catch can turn back due to a spring load in its open position.

Both output elements are arranged on a common output gear. When rotating the driven wheel in one direction, the first output element is effective, whereas the second output element is ineffective and vice versa. The acting as an opening aid second output element is designed as a longitudinally movable slide.

In the further state of the art according to the DE 196 10 708 A1 a door safety device for motor vehicles is described. This is arranged directly in the region of a locking bolt of motor vehicle doors and can be controlled by an electrical pulse. For this purpose, an electric motor is provided in detail in a housing, wherein the electric motor one or more locking bolts are assigned. The locking bolt has a toothed rack part, which meshes with a gear wheel acted upon by the engine. In this way, the locking bolt can be moved linearly out of the housing.

The closest to the state of the art performing motor vehicle door lock according to GB 2 342 950 A works with a motor, which acts on a pivotable element. For this purpose, the element in question is equipped with a receptacle for an output shaft of the engine.

In drive units with at least one motor and a slider acted upon by the motor of the previously described design, in particular in an embodiment with a rack and engaging pinion there is the problem that act on the pinion and the slider or the rack radial forces or can act. Such radial forces occur, for example, when the slide is prevented in its movement (by friction) or starts against a stop. This can lead to the overall result that the pinion is no longer fully engaged in the teeth of the rack. As a result, depending on the load or number of use cycles, possibly damage to the tooth flanks or it may even lead to a tooth breakage. As a result, malfunctions of the drive unit and consequently of the entire motor vehicle door lock are to be feared.

In view of the problems described currently trying in practice to manufacture the pinions and racks with the lowest possible tolerances and bring them into engagement with each other. In addition, an attempt is made to increase the rigidity of the elements engaged with each other in order to largely or at least largely exclude the deformation described by the partially constituting radial forces. This results in increased manufacturing costs, which is disadvantageous in view of the enormous cost pressure in the manufacture of automotive accessories. Here, the invention aims to provide a total remedy.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing a motor vehicle door lock of the structure described at the beginning in such a way that, with perfect functionality, the production costs are simultaneously reduced.

To solve this technical problem is the subject of the invention, a motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1.

According to the invention, the receptacle receives the output shaft in question on the head side. In addition, the receptacle radially supports the output shaft. This is of particular importance insofar as the slider is usually designed as a rack assembly and engages the output shaft of the motor with a driven pinion in a toothing of the slider or the rack assembly.

In this way, the output shaft of the motor is supported radially in the receptacle of the slide. Thus, there is virtually no danger in the context of the invention that the output shaft at occurring forces evades radially relative to the slide. Rather, the output shaft is properly supported, held and guided on the head side in the recording. As a result, the output pinion gear arranged typically on the output shaft after a head accommodated in the receptacle generally engages perfectly and smoothly in the toothing of the slide.

As a result, the output pinion and / or the slider can be manufactured with greater tolerance and / or lower rigidity than before. In this way it is possible, for example, to manufacture the slide made of plastic and / or metal. This not only results in cost advantages, but at the same time the weight of the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention compared to previous embodiments is reduced. Such a weight reduction is particularly advantageous against the background of increasing vehicle weights. Always realized according to the invention in the slide receptacle for the output shaft of the motor ensures that the center distance or radial distance of the output shaft remains virtually constant compared to the slide. That is, the output pinion can - in contrast to the prior art - against the teeth in which engages the output pinion, radially no longer dodge (more). Here are the main benefits.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the recording is a slot recording. The slot recording has a certain predetermined axial length. This axial length ultimately dictates the travel of the slider. In fact, the slide moves predominantly linear compared to the engine. Due to the fact that the output shaft engages with its head into the receptacle or oblong hole receptacle, the axial extension of this oblong receptacle ultimately predetermines the linear movement of the slide. In addition, the slot recording is equipped with a matched to a diameter of the output shaft clear width. This adjustment rule ensures that the output shaft is radially supported in the receptacle with its head as described.

The slider is generally formed in cross-section substantially L-shaped. The two L-legs defined in this way are, on the one hand, a drive leg and, on the other hand, a guide leg. The drive leg is equipped on the underside with the toothing of the slider designed as a rack assembly. Into the interlocking that attacks Output pinion. In contrast, the guide leg on the front side of the receptacle for the output shaft. As seen in cross-section, the driven pinion substantially fills the space between the two L-legs. In this way, the output pinion is typically protected in the space between the two L-legs below the drive leg.

This arrangement also increases the reliability and protects both the output pinion and the underside of the drive leg provided teeth from any damage or dirt. This is of particular importance against the background that the output pinion and / or the slide can be made of plastic.

The drive unit specially designed in the context of the invention can generally work on any lever of the actuating lever mechanism for its adjustment. In general, it has proven useful if the slider works on a locking lever and / or a clutch lever as part of the operating lever mechanism for its adjustment. For example, it is conceivable that the drive unit operating on a locking lever transfers the locking lever and consequently the entire motor vehicle door lock into the positions "locked" or "unlocked". In a comparable manner, however, the drive unit can also act on a clutch lever which optionally interrupts or closes the actuating lever mechanism mechanically.

An interruption of the operating lever mechanism typically corresponds to the state "locked" and that a continuous mechanical connection of, for example, a handle is interrupted until the locking. In contrast, the state "unlocked" means that with the help of the drive unit, the clutch lever closes the operating lever mechanism, so that the acted upon handle can open the locking mechanism.

Of course, the described procedures are only examples. It is crucial that the output shaft in the receptacle of the slide undergoes a guide and consequently can not (more) radially dodge towards the slide even when forces occur. As a result, a consistently flawless engagement of the output pinion is ensured in the toothing of the slide, even if the slide and / or the output pinion have a lower compared to the prior art stiffness. Also, any tolerances between the output pinion and the teeth can be controlled. All this leads to significant cost savings, while at the same time still flawless functionality. Here are the main benefits.

Fig. 1

eine Antriebseinheit für ein erfindungsgemäßes Kraftfahrzeugtürschloss perspektivisch,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht auf den Gegenstand nach Fig. 1 teilweise im Schnitt und

Fig. 3

das erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugtürschloss mit der Antriebseinheit nach den Fig. 1 und 2 ausschnittsweise.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment representing drawings; show it:

Fig. 1

a drive unit for an inventive motor vehicle door lock in perspective,

Fig. 2

a side view of the object Fig. 1 partly in section and

Fig. 3

the motor vehicle door lock according to the invention with the drive unit according to the Fig. 1 and 2 in part.

In the figures, a motor vehicle door lock is shown, which is equipped as usual with a locking mechanism, which is not shown in the embodiment and generally in a plane below the in Fig. 3 Planned is located or arranged. In the present case, a release lever 1, which ensures or can ensure that a pawl is lifted from a catch as respective components of the locking mechanism, operates on the locking mechanism. In the Fig. 3 can be seen beyond a locking lever 2, which can be pivoted by means of a drive unit 3, 4.

For this purpose, it is only necessary that a motor 3 of the drive unit 3, 4 a 4 acted upon by the motor slide 4 - starting from the functional position in Fig. 3 "locked" - acted upon so that the slide 4 performs an upward movement. As a result, the slider 4 is released from the engagement with the locking lever 2. In the in Fig. 3 shown position "locked", the release lever 1 is not able to open the locking mechanism. A mechanical coupling of a handle on the illustrated operating lever mechanism with the release lever 1 and the locking lever 2 to the locking is interrupted. As soon as the handle is acted upon, there is an idle stroke.

In contrast, the unillustrated position "unlocked" corresponds to the fact that the slide 4 compared to its functional position to Fig. 3 has been moved "up" and the locking lever 2 releases. This can go into its "unlocked" position and overall ensures that a continuous mechanical connection is observed from the handle on the release lever 1 to the locking mechanism. As a result, an application of the handle is converted directly into a locking opening. That's the usual functionality.

Based on Fig. 1 and 2 Now, the detailed structure of the drive unit 3, 4 will be explained in more detail. The engine 3 is an electric motor. The motor 3 acts on the slide 4, which as a result of this linear movements according to the double-headed view in the Fig. 3 performs. In such movements, it may happen that act on the slide 4 radial forces R, which are indicated by corresponding arrows in the Fig. 1 are indicated. To still make sure that the motor 3 can move the slider 4 properly when such radial forces occur, initially an output shaft 5 of the motor 3 is equipped with a driven pinion 6, which in turn into a Gearing 7 of the slider 4 engages. As a result, the slider 4 is a rack and pinion arrangement.

Of particular importance according to the invention now is the fact that the slide 4 is equipped with a receptacle 8 for the output shaft 5 of the motor 3. In detail, the receptacle 8 picks up the output shaft 5 on the head side or plunges a head 5a of the output shaft 5 into the respective receptacle 8.

Since the output shaft 5 is typically cylindrical or designed as a cylindrical pin, the head 5a of the output shaft 5 is accordingly a cylinder section. This cylinder section is received in the U-shaped design in the receptacle 8 and radially supported. That is, any attacking on the output gear 6 and / or the slider 4 and in the Fig. 1 indicated radial forces R lead in the invention not (more) to the fact that the radial distance between the output shaft 5 and the toothing 7 or the slide 4 changes. Rather, it is ensured that the output pinion 6 perfectly meshes with the teeth 7 even with such occurring radial forces R.

Overall, the design is such that the output pinion 6 is arranged following the head 5a on the output shaft 5 of the motor 3 in the direction of the motor 3. The head 5a of the output shaft 5, however, engages in the receptacle 8 in the slide 4 a. The receptacle 8 is presently designed as a slot recording, as can be seen in a comparison of Fig. 2 and 3 recognizes. In addition, the recording or slot recording has an axial length L, which defines an associated travel of the slider 4, which also has the length L (see. Fig. 3 ). In addition, the slot recording or recording 8 is equipped with a clear width W, which is adapted to a diameter of the output shaft 5. This can be seen from the cross-sectional view in Fig. 2 ,

As a result, the already described radial support of the output shaft 5 is achieved and at the same time set and limited the travel of the length L of the slider 4. This increases the reliability.

To this end, the circumstance contributes to the fact that the slide 4 is formed in cross-section substantially L-shaped. In fact, one recognizes a drive leg 4a and a guide leg 4b. The drive leg 4a has on the underside the toothing 7, in which the output pinion 6 engages. In contrast, the guide leg 4b is equipped on the front side with the receptacle or elongated slot receptacle 8 for the output shaft 5 and the head 5a of the output shaft 5, respectively. The cross-sectionally L-shaped design of the slider 4 defines a space between the two L-legs 4a, 4b. The output pinion 6 fills this space between the two L-legs 4a, 4b substantially and is thus protected as it were arranged below the slider 4. The same applies to the toothing 7, so that damage, contamination, etc. of the toothing 7 as well as the output pinion 6 are limited to a minimum.

This makes it possible to manufacture the output gear 6 and / or the slide 4 in total made of plastic or designed as a plastic injection molded part. In principle, of course, alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to produce the output pinion 6 and / or the slide 4 from metal, for example as a metal die casting component.

Claims (13)

1. Lock for a motor vehicle door, with a locking mechanism; an actuating lever mechanism (1, 2) which acts on the locking mechanism, and a drive unit (3, 4) for at least one lever (2) of the actuating lever mechanism (1, 2). wherein the

   - drive unit (3, 4) includes at least one motor (3) and one slider (4) which is acted upon by the motor (3), wherein

   - the slider (4) is equipped with a recess (8) for at least one cylindrical output shaft (5) of the motor (3), and wherein

   - a head (5a) of the output shaft (5) which is constructed with a cylindrical cross section is seated and radially supported in the recess (8) which has a U-shaped cross section.
2. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to claim 1, characterised in that the slider (4) is designed as a rack and pinion arrangement.
3. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the output shaft (5) of the motor (3) engages in a toothed arrangement (7) on the slider (4) with an output pinion (6).
4. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to claim 3, characterised in that the output pinion (6) is arranged on the output shaft (5) adjacent to a head (5a) accommmodated in recess (8).
5. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the recess (8) is conformed as an elongated slot recess (8).
6. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to claim 5, characterised in that the axial length (L) of the elongated slot recess (8) determines a travel path of the slider (4).
7. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the recess (8) has a clear span (W) adapted to a diameter of the output shaft (5).
8. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the cross section of the slider (4) is substantially L-shaped, with a drive leg (4a) and a guide leg (4b).
9. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to claim 8, characterised in that the underside of the drive leg (4a) is furnished with the toothed arrangement (7) in which the output pinion (6) engages.
10. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the front face of the guide leg (4b) is furnished with the recess (8) for the output shaft (5).
11. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the cross section of the output pinion (6) substantially fills the space between the two legs (4a, 4b) that form the L-shape.
12. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the slider (4) is made from plastic and/or metal.
13. Lock for a motor vehicle door according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the slider (4) acts on a locking lever (2) and/or a coupling lever as a part of the actuating lever mechanism (1, 2) to displace it.

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