EP3722543B1 - Closing system for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a locking system for a motor vehicle with a disc-shaped rotation element, a drive for rotating the rotation element about an axis of rotation, and a lever that can be moved by the rotation element.

A locking system for a motor vehicle is generally used to prevent an unplanned opening of a door or lid of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, a locking bolt of a door or hatch is usually received by a rotary latch of a locking mechanism and held by a pawl when the locking mechanism is closed, so that the door or hatch can no longer open. For automated opening of the locking system of the locking system, a drive can be provided which, via e.g. By such actuation, the lever can release the pawl from the catch so that the door or hatch can be opened again. The electrical energy required for the automated opening for the drive is usually provided by an energy source in the motor vehicle.

The space available for a locking system is often limited. The pamphlet DE112009001288T5 discloses a lock arrangement for a motor vehicle, in which a gear wheel with a projection and a ratchet lever interacting with the projection each have axes of rotation offset by 90°. The interaction occurs laterally to the axis of rotation of the gear wheel.

It will also refer to the pamphlets DE102016108565A1 and DE102016108568 A1 pointed out. From the U.S. 2018/258671A1 discloses a locking system for a motor vehicle with a disk-shaped rotary element that can be driven by a drive and with a lever that can be moved by the rotary element, in which the rotary element has a ramp for pivoting the lever.

It is the object of the invention to provide a further developed locking system.

A locking system according to claim 1 serves to solve the problem. Advantageous embodiments result from the dependent claims.

A locking system for a motor vehicle with a disc-shaped rotating element, a drive for rotating the rotating element about a rotating axis and a lever that can be moved by the rotating element serves to solve the task. A ramp is provided, i.e. present, on the disc-shaped rotating element. The locking system is arranged in such a way that the lever can be pivoted by the ramp when the rotary element is rotated by the drive. According to the invention, the ramp runs obliquely to the axis of rotation and falls in the radial direction, relative to the axis of rotation, towards the rotation element.

By providing a ramp on the disk-shaped rotation element for pivoting the lever, two advantages can be achieved simultaneously.

On the one hand, the rotation element and the lever allow a particularly flexible arrangement relative to one another and thus enable a compact Fitting the locking system into a given space geometry. For example, a motor vehicle lock as the locking system or as a part thereof can be accommodated in an L-shaped installation space geometry or in a correspondingly L-shaped housing. Due to the ramp on the disc-shaped rotation element, a pivot axis of the lever can be arranged and mounted at an angle to one another with respect to the rotation axis of the rotation element. In this way, this arrangement can be placed around the corner, so to speak. This is of particular advantage if the locking mechanism is located in one leg of an L-shaped housing and a connection to an electrical energy source is located in the other leg. The lever, which interacts in particular with the locking mechanism, and the drive, which is to be connected to an electrical energy source, can then be installed in different legs of the L-shaped housing.

On the other hand, the provision of a ramp on the disk-shaped rotating element allows the lever to be pivoted and thus actuated with particularly low mechanical losses from the interaction of the lever with the ramp. A very high degree of efficiency of the automated locking system can be achieved in this way. Less electrical energy is then required to operate the locking system.

A locking system can be a motor vehicle lock for a door or flap and/or part of a central locking system or closing aid for a motor vehicle. A locking system for a motor vehicle preferably comprises a locking mechanism which, in a closed state, can hold a door or flap in a closed position and, in an open state, allows the door or flap to be opened from the closed position. The lever can be brought into contact with the ramp in order to interact with the rotary element, ie touch the ramp directly and slide along the ramp when the rotary element rotates. Thus, the lever be moved by a rotational movement of the rotary element depending on the (geometric) course of the ramp in order to bring the locking mechanism into the open or closed state.

A disk-shaped rotating element can be, for example, a toothed wheel or a worm wheel. The use of a worm wheel as the disk-shaped rotating element enables a flexible and compact design. A disk-shaped rotating element generally has a diameter that is larger than a thickness of the disk-shaped rotating element. The drive preferably includes an electric motor and a drive shaft, which preferably directly drives the disc-shaped rotating element. In one embodiment, the locking system and the drive are set up in such a way that the rotary element can be rotated in two directions of rotation by the drive. This enables an automated resetting of the rotary element into a starting position or an automated latching and releasing of a rotary latch of a locking mechanism of the locking system. In one configuration, automated rotation of the rotary element by the drive is only possible in one direction of rotation. A rotary latch is then reset and/or latched via a force applied by the user and/or a mechanical energy store such as a spring.

A lever can generally pivot about a pivot axis to transmit force and/or motion. A pivoting of the lever through the ramp basically takes place through a contact, ie a direct contact, between the lever and the ramp. When the rotary element is rotated by the drive, the lever then drags along the ramp. In the present locking system, the lever can be a pawl for locking the rotary latch, a blocking lever for holding the pawl in a position locking the rotary latch, a release lever for releasing the pawl or the blocking lever or another locking element. A pawl as a lever allows a Locking system with particularly few locking components. In combination with automated driving in both directions of rotation, a rotary latch can be locked and unlocked particularly quickly and reliably. A release lever as a lever enables a locking mechanism to be released in a particularly energy-efficient manner, in particular in combination with a blocking lever and/or automated driving of the rotary element in only one direction of rotation.

A ramp is generally an inclined guide or actuation surface. A ramp is not a chamfer on an edge, nor is it a manufacturing-related bevel or rounding of a corner. In particular, the ramp is formed by a projection which is, for example, connected or manufactured in one piece with the rotating element. This reduces the number of parts. In one embodiment, the ramp is formed by a separate component that is provided on the disc-shaped rotation element. This allows the use of different materials for the ramp and the rotating element and a reduction in manufacturing costs. The ramp or the separate component forming the ramp is then connected or coupled to the rotation element in such a way that the ramp can be rotated together with the rotation element. If the ramp is provided by a separate component, there is preferably a non-moving or at least non-rotatable connection to the rotation element. A ramp provided on the disc-shaped rotary member is in the axial direction of the rotary member, that is, in the direction of the axis of rotation. The ramp is therefore arranged on an upper side of the disc-shaped rotation element. The top side refers to a surface of a disk base on which the ramp is provided. The upper side does not refer to a collar surrounding the disk base body, which is provided, for example, for interacting with a drive shaft of the drive and has a greater axial extent than the disk base body.

Due to the configuration according to the invention, the ramp essentially has the shape of a lateral surface segment of a truncated cone-like structure. As a result, the lever can be actuated with a particularly high level of efficiency, in particular when the pivot axis of the lever is inclined relative to the axis of rotation. In particular, the ramp is obliquely shaped in such a way that the lever is displaced away from the rotary element by guiding, sliding and/or grinding along the ramp. Preferably, the ramp meets at an angle an upper side of the disc-shaped rotating element, which faces the ramp. In particular, the ramp is entirely within the perimeter of the disc-shaped rotary member on which the ramp is provided. The ramp therefore does not protrude radially at any point beyond the outer circumference of the rotating element.

In one embodiment, the ramp is curved around the axis of rotation in the circumferential direction. A particularly targeted pivoting of the lever as a function of the course of the ramp in the circumferential direction can thus be made possible by rotating the rotary element. In particular, the ramp runs over an angular range of at most 270°, preferably 235°, particularly preferably at most 205°, around the axis of rotation. A particularly fast response time can be achieved in this way.

In one embodiment, an axial top end of the ramp spirals about the axis of rotation. As a result of the rotation of the rotary element, the lever can be pivoted with particularly low friction losses. An axial upper end of the ramp refers to a longitudinal section along the axis of rotation of the rotary member and means the point axially furthest from the top of the disc-shaped rotary member. In an embodiment where the ramp meets the top of the disc-shaped rotating element, the axial extent of the ramp corresponds exactly to the axial distance of the top of the disk-shaped rotating element to the axial top of the ramp. This axial distance and/or this axial extent change depending on the angular position which, together with the axis of rotation, spans the plane of the above-mentioned longitudinal section. The axial upper end of the ramp thus progressively moves away from the disc-shaped rotary element in the direction of the axis of rotation relative to the lever with a fixed angular position when the rotary element is rotated away from the rotary element by the drive preferably for pivoting the lever.

In one embodiment, the radial extent of the ramp increases when viewed in the circumferential direction. This increases the reliability of the locking system.

In one embodiment, a radial distance from the axis of rotation to the axial top of the ramp increases when viewed circumferentially. As a result, the lever can be pivoted particularly far, and this with a particularly high level of efficiency.

In one embodiment, the ramp includes a concave shape, particularly when viewed in longitudinal section. A further optimized actuation vector can thus be obtained.

In one embodiment, a projection is provided with a cylindrical lateral surface, ie the lateral surface extends curved around the axis of rotation and parallel to the axis of rotation. In particular, the projection has a greater axial extent than the ramp. The axial upper end of the ramp can then lie on the cylindrical surface. The ramp then encloses an obtuse angle with the ramp when viewed in longitudinal section along the axis of rotation. A particularly robust ramp can be obtained in this way.

In one embodiment, the lever can be pivoted by the ramp about a pivot axis spaced axially from the ramp. A particularly effective pivoting of the lever is made possible by the axially spaced pivot axis.

In one embodiment, the pivot axis is inclined to the axis of rotation by an angular difference. In particular, the angle difference is at least 45° and/or at most 135°, particularly preferably exactly 90°. A compact design in a given installation space can thus be achieved with at the same time low energy consumption of the drive. Minimum energy consumption is possible with an angle difference between 85° and 95°.

In one embodiment, the lever is axially displaced by the ramp when the rotary member is rotated by the drive. A particularly reliable actuation of the lever is thus made possible. Axially displaced means in the direction of the axis of rotation, in particular away from the disk-shaped rotation element.

In one embodiment, the lever is curved, L-shaped, hooked, or J-shaped. A particularly high level of efficiency can thus be achieved when the ramp is used to actuate it. In addition, a particularly compact locking system can be provided.

In one embodiment, the lever may reach over the rotary disc from below the rotary disc and contact the ramp. The lever can therefore enclose an annular collar on the outer circumference of the rotating element, which collar is in particular axially thicker than the disk base body of the rotating element. The lever can reach over the top of the rotating element to the radially inner ramp in order to contact the ramp. In particular, the lever preferably pressed against the ramp by a spring to contact the ramp.

In one embodiment, the free end of the lever is rounded. The free end of the lever preferably has an approximately semicircular shape when viewed in cross section through the pivot axis. As a result, the frictional resistance can be reduced.

In one embodiment, a free end of the lever slides or drags helically along the ramp relative to the rotary member as the rotary member is rotated by the drive. An actuation vector adapted to the movement of the lever and the free end with particularly low friction losses can thus be obtained.

In one embodiment, a slope angle of the ramp becomes progressively flatter when the rotary element is rotated by the drive, preferably in a direction of rotation for pivoting the lever away from the axis of rotation and/or for actuating the lever. A particularly high level of efficiency can thus be achieved during actuation despite the relative movement between the ramp and the lever.

In one embodiment, a radial distance between the axis of rotation and a contact point between the free end of the lever and the ramp increases steadily when the rotary element is rotated by the drive, preferably in a direction of rotation for pivoting the lever away from the axis of rotation and/or towards operating the lever. A particularly large pivoting angle of the actuated lever can be realized in this way.

In one embodiment, the ramp has an incline angle of at least 20° and/or at most 80°, in particular within a Surface area over which the free end slides or grinds, the rotary element is rotated by the drive. Frictional losses can be reduced in this way, especially in combination with a rounded free end of the lever, which contacts the ramp with the mentioned angles of inclination.

In one embodiment, the slope angle of the ramp increases steadily in the circumferential direction along a path that the free end of the lever slides or drags along the ramp during the rotation of the rotary element, in particular from 20° to 80°. The pitch angle can thus be adapted to the relative movement and the change in orientation of the free end to the ramp in the area of the contact point in order to optimize efficiency, with the relative movement and the change in orientation being caused by the pivoting of the lever. The pitch is measured to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. In particular, the slope to the top of the disk-shaped rotation element is measured. In principle, the axis of rotation is oriented perpendicularly to the upper side of the rotating element.

In particular, in this document the direction of rotation refers to the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation, which results in the lever pivoting away from the axis of rotation and/or in actuating the lever. The opposite direction of rotation is then the reverse direction of rotation. Actuation of the lever preferably leads to triggering of the locking mechanism so that, for example, a door or hatch of a motor vehicle can be opened again. In one embodiment, a rotation of the rotation element in the reverse direction of rotation serves to return the lever and/or the rotation element to a starting position. Alternatively or additionally, a rotation of the rotary element in the reverse direction of rotation can be used to lock a rotary latch in order to bring a locking mechanism into a closed state, in which, for example, a door or hatch of a motor vehicle is held securely in a closed position.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are also explained in more detail below with reference to figures. The claimed scopes of protection are not limited to the exemplary embodiments.

Figur 1:

Isometrische Darstellung eines Antriebs zum Rotieren eines Rotationselements, das sich in einer Ausgangsstellung α₀ befindet und über eine Rampe auf dem Rotationselement einen Hebel verschwenken kann;

Figur 2a:

Schematische Draufsicht auf die Anordnung der Fig. 1 in der Ausgangsstellung α₀;

Figur 2b:

Seitliche Darstellung der Anordnung der Figur 2a;

Figur 3a:

Schematische Draufsicht auf die Anordnung der Fig. 2a während eines Rotierens des Rotationselements, gezeigt in einer ersten Zwischenstellung α_i;

Figur 3b:

Seitliche Darstellung der Anordnung der Figur 3a;

Figur 4a:

Schematische Draufsicht auf die Anordnung der Figur 3a während des Rotierens des Rotationselements, gezeigt in einer zweiten Zwischen stellung α_k;

Figur 4b:

Seitliche Darstellung der Anordnung der Figur 4a.

Show it:

Figure 1:

Isometric representation of a drive for rotating a rotary element, which is in an initial position α ₀ and can pivot a lever on the rotary element via a ramp;

Figure 2a:

Schematic plan view of the arrangement of the 1 in the starting position α ₀ ;

Figure 2b:

Lateral representation of the arrangement of the Figure 2a ;

Figure 3a:

Schematic plan view of the arrangement of the Figure 2a during rotation of the rotation element, shown in a first intermediate position α _i ;

Figure 3b:

Lateral representation of the arrangement of the Figure 3a ;

Figure 4a:

Schematic plan view of the arrangement of the Figure 3a during rotation of the rotary member, shown in a second intermediate position α _k ;

Figure 4b:

Lateral representation of the arrangement of the Figure 4a .

the figure 1 shows a disc-shaped rotation element 1, in particular in the form of a worm wheel. The rotating element 1 has a disc base body 11 and a collar 12 surrounding the disc base body 11 . The narrow, annular collar 12 has a greater extent in the axial direction than the disc body 11 and / or is on Scope of the disc base body 11 axially. This projection preferably corresponds to at least twice the thickness of the disc base body 11. A drive 3, in particular an electric motor, is equipped with a drive axle 11 which can rotate about the axis of rotation 15, which is tangential to the circumference of the rotary element 1 and/or perpendicular to the axis of rotation 4 is oriented. Corresponding tooth profiles 14 on the circumference of the drive axle 11 and on the outer, radial surface of the collar mesh in order to transmit a rotation and a torque of the drive 3 to the rotary element 1, which is thereby made to rotate.

On the preferably flat surface of the disc base body 11 there is a ramp 5 (in 1 hatched) extending from the surface inside the circular top in the axial direction to form a slanting result on the rotary member 1. A cylindrical sleeve 16, which forms part of a bearing of the rotating element 1, and/or a projection 17 with a cylindrical lateral surface 18 is also provided on this surface of the disc base body 11. In particular, the projection 17 and/or the ramp 5 extends around the sleeve 16. The ramp 5 preferably extends around the projection 17. In particular, the projection 17 protrudes beyond the ramp in the direction of the axis of rotation 4. The ramp 5, the projection 17 and/or the sleeve 16, optionally together with the rotary body, is a one-piece or at least one-piece structure which is in particular in the form of a truncated cone. Overall, the structure has the shape of a non-rotationally symmetrical volcanic cone that becomes steeper in the direction of rotation. The ramp rests on the surface of the disc base body 11 and spirals around the projection 17, the projection 17 and the ramp having a steadily increasing radius in the circumferential direction and a steadily increasing radial extension. An axial upper end 7 of the ramp 5 has an increasing distance from the surface in the circumferential direction of the disc base body 11 and at the same time to the axis of rotation 4, whereby a spiral shape is formed.

The lever 2 is mounted such that it can pivot about a pivot axis 6 which is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation 4 and/or is spaced apart from the axis of rotation 1 by at least half the diameter of the rotary element. The lever 2 has a tubular part 19 for bearing about the pivot axis 6. The pivot axis 6 is arranged below the rotating element 1. As shown in FIG. The lever 2 extends perpendicularly to the tubular part 19 and/or perpendicularly to the pivot axis 6 in the shape of a hook, in particular J-shaped, and can reach from below via the collar 12 to the lower-lying surface of the disc base body 11 in order to move the ramp 5 with the free to contact end 8. The free end 8 of the lever 2 is preferably thickened in the direction of the pivot axis 6 in order to enable particularly reliable actuation with a particularly high degree of efficiency by the ramp 5 . In an initial position α ₀ of the rotary element 1, the free end 8 lies directly on or almost on the surface of the disc base body 11.

the Figure 2a shows the lever 2 and the rotary element 1 with the ramp 5 on it in a top view in the initial position α ₀ of the rotary element 1. In one embodiment, the surface of the disc base body 11 or the ramp 5 in the initial position α ₀ of the rotary element 1 has an end area of the free end 8, which is closest to the axis of rotation 4 in the direction of the pivot axis 6, contacted. the Figure 2b shows the arrangement of the locking system Figure 2a in a side view. The free end 8 is finger shaped in cross-section and has a rounded, preferably approximately semi-circular end which contacts the ramp 5 or is preferably spaced from the ramp 5 by only a small air gap to protect the free end 8 from wear.

the Figures 3a and 3b show now compared to the Figures 2a and 2b a pivoting of the lever 2 by the ramp 5, which is contacted at a contact point 9 by the free end 8 of the lever 2 and the lever 2 as a result of the rotation of the starting position α ₀ displaced into the intermediate position α _i shown. The power is transmitted in the direction of an actuation vector 10. The actuation vector 10 extends approximately along the free end 8 of the lever 2, which indicates a power transmission with high efficiency and few mechanical losses.

the Figures 4a and 4b show now compared to the Figures 3a and 3b a continuation of the pivoting of the lever 2 by the ramp 5 through the rotation from the intermediate position α _i to the intermediate position α _k . The actuation vector 10, in the direction of which the force from the ramp 5 acts on the free end 8 of the lever 2, becomes steeper when the rotary element 1 is rotated by the drive 3. The actuation vector 10 is perpendicular to a connecting line 20 from the pivot axis 6 of a contact point 9 between the lever 2 and the ramp 5 at which the free end 8 contacts the ramp 5 .

By rotating the rotary element 1 in the direction of rotation shown in the figures (clockwise) the lever 2 is actuated, which in turn interacts with a locking mechanism (not shown). The contact points 9 together form a spiral shape around the axis of rotation with an increasing radius.

Reference list:

1

rotation element

2

lever

3

drive

4

axis of rotation

5

ramp

6

pivot axis

7

Axial top of ramp

8th

Free end of the lever

9

contact point

10

actuation vector

11

disc body

12

collar

13

drive axle

14

tooth profile

15

axis of rotation

16

sleeve

17

head Start

18

Lateral surface of the projection

19

Tubular part of the lever

20

connecting line

α0

starting position

αi, αk

intermediate positions

Claims (9)

1. Locking system for a motor vehicle, the locking system comprising a disk-shaped rotational element (1), a drive (3) for rotating the rotational element (1) about a rotational axis (4), and a lever (2) which can be moved by the rotational element (1), a ramp (5) being provided on the disk-shaped rotational element (1) and the locking system being designed such that the lever (2) can be pivoted by the ramp (5) when the rotational element (1) is rotated by the drive (3), characterized in that the ramp (5) extends obliquely to the rotational axis (4) and slopes in radial direction towards the rotational element (1).
2. Locking system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ramp (5) is curved in the circumferential direction about the rotational axis (4).
3. Locking system according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that an axial upper end (7) of the ramp (5) extends helically about the rotational axis (4).
4. Locking system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, viewed in the circumferential direction, a radial distance from the rotational axis (4) to the axial upper end (7) of the ramp (5) and/or a radial expansion of the ramp (5) increase.
5. Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ramp (5) has a concave shape.
6. Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (2) can be pivoted by the ramp (5) about a pivot axis (6) axially spaced from the ramp (5) and/or the pivot axis (6) is inclined relative to the rotational axis (4) by an angular difference, in particular by at least 45° and/or at most 135°.
7. Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (2) is L-shaped or J-shaped and/or can engage over the disk-shaped rotational element (1) from below the disk-shaped rotational element (1) and contact the ramp (5).
8. Locking system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a free end (8) of the lever (2) slides helically along the ramp (5) relative to the rotational element (1) when the rotational element (1) is rotated by the drive (3).
9. Locking system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a pitch angle of the ramp (5) becomes steadily flatter and/or a radial distance between the rotational axis (4) and a contact point (9) between the free end (8) of the lever (2) and the ramp (5) steadily increases when the rotational element (1) is rotated by the drive (3).

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