Motor vehicle doorlock with combined central locking and opening actuator

• US 6,932,393 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Erices, Bernardo
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US10/129,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20030116977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 292/216, 292/201, 292/DIG.23
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/16 operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/01 Mechanical arrangements specially adapted for hands-free locking or unlocking handles with means for initiation of a hands-free locking or unlocking process E05B81/78
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a motor vehicle door lock which can be locked and unlocked by motor and can be opened both mechanically and also by motor, with a lock mechanism with several interacting elements, and the outside actuating element (3) which can be actuated by hand from the outside door handle can actuate a release element or directly a lock element (8), especially a detent pawl, via a coupling element (5) in the coupled position and in the decoupled position executes an idle stroke, and the coupling element (5) can be moved by motor from the coupled position into the decoupled position and vice versa when the outside actuation element (3) is not actuated, for motorized actuation of the coupling element (5) there being a central interlock drive (12) and the central interlock drive (12) in a second function can also actuate the release element or the lock element (8). This is characterized in that normally opening actuation takes place mechanically only with the outside actuation element (3) and that the central interlock drive (12) in the second function actuates the release element or the lock element (8) only when the outside actuating element (3) is already in the idle stroke in this phase.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle door lock which can be locked and unlocked by motor and can be opened both mechanically and also by motor, comprising:

a lock mechanism with several interacting elements, including;

a lock element in the form of a detent pawl,

a lock latch which is held in a lock position by the lock element and which is released from the lock position when the lock element is actuated, and

a coupling element, wherein said coupling element has;

a coupled position in which an outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, actuates the lock element via the coupling element, and

a decoupled position in which the outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, executes an idle stroke; and

a central interlock drive having a motor for moving the coupling element from the coupled position to the decoupled position and from the decoupled position to the coupled position when the outside actuation element is not actuated,

wherein, if actuation of the outside actuating element begins with the coupling element in the coupled position, actuation of the lock element can be obtained mechanically by the operation of the outside actuating element,

wherein, if the outside actuating element is already in the idle stroke and the coupling element has not yet reached the coupled position, the coupling element is prevented from reaching the coupled position, but actuation of the lock element can be obtained in that position in a motorized manner by the motor of the central interlock drive; and

wherein the coupling element is actuable by the motor of the central interlock drive via an adjustment element;

wherein the coupling element is moveable by motorized actuation from the decoupled position, when the outside actuation element is actuated, into a storage position preceding the coupled position, the coupling element being automatically moveable from the storage position into the coupled position when the actuation if the outside actuation element is not actuated;

wherein the drive element is connected to a pivot arm which, when the drive element is actuated, pivots in a direction around a pivot axis such that a free end thereof meets said one of the release element and the lock element and actuates it if the coupling element is not in the coupled position, and runs freely if the coupling element is in the coupled position; and

wherein the adjustment element is a lever which is supported on the pivot arm at a distance from the pivot axis and which, when the pivot arm pivots around the pivot axis, executes an essentially linear motion.

2. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling element is supported directly on the drive element and is able to execute limited relative motion relative to the drive element.

3. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coupling element is a lever which runs on the drive element in a slot.

4. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lever is spring-loaded towards an end of the slot facing the coupled position.

5. Motor vehicle door lock which can be locked and unlocked by motor and can be opened both mechanically and also by motor, comprising:

a lock mechanism with several interacting elements, including;

a lock element in the form of a detent pawl,

a lock latch which is held in a lock position by the lock element and which is released from the lock position when the lock element is actuated, and

a coupling element, wherein said coupling element has;

a coupled position in which an outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, actuates the lock element via the coupling element, and

a decoupled position in which the outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, executes an idle stroke; and

a central interlock drive having a motor for moving the coupling element from the coupled position to the decoupled position and from the decoupled position to the coupled position when the outside actuation element is not actuated,

wherein, if actuation of the outside actuating element begins with the coupling elements in the coupled position, actuation of the lock element can be obtained mechanically by the operation of the outside actuating element,

wherein, if the outside actuating element is already in the idle stroke and the coupling element has not yet reached the coupled position, the coupling element is prevented from reaching the coupled position, but actuation of the lock element can be obtained in that position in a motorized manner by the motor of the central interlock drive; and

wherein the coupling element is actuable by the motor of the central interlock drive via an adjustment element; and

wherein the coupling element is actuable by the motor of the central interlock drive via an adjustment element; and

wherein the coupling element is a lever, one end of which runs in a slot and an opposite end of which is pivotally mounted on the adjustment element.

6. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lever is spring-loaded towards an end of the slot facing the coupled position.

7. Motor vehicle door lock which can be locked and unlocked by motor and can be opened both mechanically and also by motor, comprising:

a lock mechanism with several interacting elements, including;

a lock element in the form of a detent pawl,

a lock latch which is held in a lock position by the lock element and which is released from the lock position when the lock element is actuated, and

a coupling element, wherein said coupling element has;

a coupled position in which an outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, actuates the lock element via the coupling element, and

a decoupled position in which the outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, executes an idle stroke; and

a central interlock drive having a motor for moving the coupling element from the coupled position to the decoupled position and from the decoupled position to the coupled position when the outside actuation element is not actuated,

wherein, if actuation of the outside actuating element begins with the coupling element in the coupled position, actuation of the lock element can be obtained mechanically by the operation of the outside actuating element,

wherein, if the outside actuating element is already in the stroke and the coupling element has not yet reached the coupled position, the coupling element is prevented from reaching the coupled position, but actuation of the lock element can be obtained in that position in a motorized manner by the motor of the central interlock; and

wherein the lock mechanism further comprises a catch which, when the outside actuating element is in the idle stroke, prevents the coupling element from engaging the coupled position.

8. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 7, wherein the motor of the central interlock drive is an electric drive motor.

9. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed 8, wherein the electric drive motor works with less power for performing said first function for locking and unlocking, than for performing second function for actuating said one of the release element and the lock element.

10. Motor vehicle door lock which can be locked and unlocked by motor and can be opened both mechanically and also by motor, comprising:

a lock mechanism with several interacting element, including;

a lock element in the form of a detent pawl,

a lock latch which is held in a lock position by the lock element and which is released from the lock position when the lock element is actuated, and

a coupling element, wherein said coupling element has;

a coupled position in which an outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, actuates the lock element via the coupling element, and

a decoupled position in which the outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, executes an idle stroke; and

a central interlock drive having a motor for moving the coupling element from the coupled position to the decoupled position and from the decoupled position to the coupled position when the outside actuation element is not actuated,

wherein, if actuation of the outside actuating element begins with the coupling element in the coupled position, actuation of the lock element can be obtained mechanically by the operation of the outside actuating element,

wherein, if the outside actuating element is already in the idle stroke and the coupling element has not yet reached the coupled position, the coupling element is prevented from reaching the coupled position, but actuation of the lock element can be obtained in that position in a motorized manner by the motor of the central interlock drive; and

wherein the lock element and the outside actuating element each have an actuation arm; and

wherein the actuation arm of the lock element and the actuation arm of the outside actuating element from a slot which is open on one end and into which a part of the coupling element dips in the coupled position and is removed in the decoupled position.

11. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 10, wherein a portion of the actuating arm of the lock element extends beyond open end of the slot and wherein part of the coupling element is located in front of said portion of the actuating arm in the decoupled position.

12. Motor vehicle door lock which can be locked and unlocked by motor and can be opened both mechanically and also by motor, comprising:

a lock mechanism with several interacting elements, including;

a lock element in the form of a detent pawl,

a lock latch which is held in a lock position by the lock element and which is released from the lock position when the lock element is actuated, and

a coupling element, wherein said coupling element has;

a coupled position in which an outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from outside door handle, actuates the lock element via the coupling element, and

a decoupled position in which the outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, executes an idle stroke; and

a central interlock drive having a motor for moving the coupling element from the coupled position to the coupled position and from the decoupled position to the coupled position when the outside actuation element is not actuated,

wherein, if actuation of the outside actuating element begins with the coupling element in the coupled position, actuation of the lock element can be obtained mechanically by the operation of the outside actuating elements,

wherein, if the outside actuating element is already in the idle stroke and the coupling element has not yet reached the coupled position, the coupling element is prevented from reaching the coupled position, but actuation of the lock element can be obtained in that position in a motorized manner by the motor of the central interlock drive; and

wherein said interacting elements of the lock mechanism are combined in a mechanical lock unit, wherein other components of the motor vehicle door lock are combined in control unit, wherein the lock unit is located spaced away from the control unit, and wherein the released element for actuating the lock element is a mechanical distance-force transmission means.

13. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 12, wherein said mechanical distance-force transmission means is a Bowden cable.

14. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lock unit is placed in an area exposed to moisture and the control unit is placed in a dry space, and wherein the mechanical force transmission means penetrates a separation between the dry space an the area exposed to moisture.

15. Motor vehicle door lock as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the lock unit and the control unit has a housing which encloses it toward the outside.

16. Motor vehicle door lock which can be locked and unblocked by motor and can be opened both mechanically and also by motor, comprising:

a lock mechanism with several interacting elements, including;

a lock element in the form of a detent pawl,

a lock latch which is held in a lock position by the lock element and which is released from the lock position when the lock element is actuated, and

a coupling element, wherein said coupling element has;

a coupling position in which an outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside handle, actuates the lock element via the coupling element, and

a decoupled position in which the outside actuating element, when actuated by hand from the outside door handle, executes an idle stroke; and

a central interlock drive having a motor for moving the coupling element from the coupled position to the decoupled position and from the decoupled position to the coupled position when the outside actuation element is not actuated,

wherein, if actuation of the outside actuating element begins with the coupling elements in the coupled position, actuation of the lock element can be obtained mechanically by the operation of the outside actuating element,

wherein, if the outside actuating element is already in the idle stroke and the coupling element has not yet reached the coupled position, the coupling element is prevented from reaching the coupled position, but actuation of the lock element can be obtained in that position in a motorized manner by the motor of the central interlock drive;

wherein the motor of the central interlock drive is an electric drive motor;

wherein the electric drive motor works with less power for performing said first function for locking and unlocking, than for performing second function for actuating said one of the release element and the lock element; and

wherein the electric drive motor in the first function is triggered with a lower voltage than in the second function.