DE10351665A1 - Locking system for motor vehicle has two locking elements that keep opening mechanism locked when at least one of the locking elements is in its locking position - Google Patents

Abstract

The locking system consists of an opening mechanism (1,12) that keeps a door, a bonnet or a flap shut or releases them for opening. Two locking elements (10,11) have a locking position and a release position. The opening mechanism is locked when at least one of the locking elements is in its locking position.

Description

Provide access control systems for motor vehicles increasingly in addition to pure access control, there are also convenience features. There is an access control system typically from a locking system, mechanical or electronic keys and control electronics. The locking system allows doors, Unlock, lock, open and unlock hoods and flaps on the vehicle keep closed. Unlocking and locking take place in the Rule about the key and opening over one Handle like the door handle. Under the term door handle is the outer opening handle in the following a vehicle door to understand. If the also often available handle for opening from From the inside of the vehicle, this is referred to below as the interior opening handle or inside door handle. Doors are closed, Hoods and flaps mostly by simply pressing them shut. The states more conventional locking systems are usually not independent from each other: for example, a closed door can be locked or be unlocked while an open one Door unlocked have to be.

Conventional locking systems must first be unlocked before the door can be opened by operating the door handle. In the case of an unlocked door, the work which is carried out by actuating the door handle is transferred to the opening mechanism in such a way that the door is brought into its open position. Such a locking system is, for example, in DE 40 09 277 A1 described. There, a door is kept closed by a spring-loaded locking hook (also called a rotary latch). The rotation of the rotary latch is blocked by a pawl. An opening lever, which is usually connected to the door handle, acts on the pawl. With this locking system, another locking lever can be used to determine whether a movement of the opening lever is non-positively transmitted to the pawl (corresponds to the unlocked system status) or whether the movement of the opening lever is decoupled from the locking pawl (corresponds to the locked system status). If the locking system is locked and the door handle and thus also the opening lever are actuated, the door remains closed due to the decoupling between the opening lever and the pawl.

It is not to open the door when the door handle is activated sufficient, the locking system to unlock. Rather, the door handle first returned and actuated again after unlocking be around the door to open.

It is also known to connect the opening and unlocking of a vehicle door with one another in such a way that when the inner opening handle is actuated, a locked door is opened and unlocked at the same time (e.g. DE 198 45 125 A1 ). However, this only makes sense for the inside opening handle, because transferring this function to the outside door handle would cancel the theft protection of the vehicle and thus the access control function of the locking system.

Modern access control systems offer convenience features like remote control and passive access. Remote control means that the user by actuation a portable code transmitter can trigger functions such as "unlock vehicle" and "lock vehicle" without to stand next to the vehicle or the key in a lock cylinder introduce. A passive access control system allows the wearer to have one To unlock and open the vehicle without activating the code transmitter to operate. The bare carry the encoder is sufficient. With the passive access control system, the user solves through a conscious Action - that so-called trigger signal - one Query from the vehicle to the carried Code transmitter off. If the code transmitter answers with the correct answer signal, then the vehicle is unlocked, for example, so that by subsequent actuation the door handle can.

The type of trigger signal has crucial Influence on the implementation of the passive access control system and thus also on the locking system to be used. As trigger signals for access to vehicle doors For example, the following approaches are possible:

• 1. The trigger signal is made by approaching the hand on the door handle triggered.
• 2. The trigger signal is activated by pressing a button in the Near the door handle triggered.
• 3. The trigger signal is obtained by pulling the door handle at the beginning of the movement of the door handle from its rest position.

The first approach has the disadvantage that the required proximity sensors and evaluation usually leads to very high costs. The second approach leads at relatively inexpensive Systems, however, has the disadvantage of limited comfort because always two independent Actions to open one locked vehicle door are necessary: first must the Button to unlock the door actuated and then must the door handle to open the door actuated become.

The third approach is used by many Users considered particularly convenient when opening a locked door only the door handle actuated must become. In conventional Passive access control systems, however, lead to complex procedures locking systems and therefore high costs.

If, in the case of a passive access control system, the start of the movement of the door handle as Trigger signal is used, the problem arises that the door handle has usually already traveled a considerable distance until the code transmitter is recognized as authorized and the door has then been unlocked. Depending on how fast the user pulls on the door handle, the door handle is even in its end position before the communication process between the vehicle and the code transmitter is completed. In this case, when using a conventional locking system, the user has to return the door handle to its rest position and pull it a second time to open the door, which is very annoying.

For this reason, today's passive access control systems with this type of trigger signal use complex locking systems with so-called e-locks with an electrical opening function. For this purpose, e-locks have inputs that are connected to an electronic control. When the electrical opening function is activated, for example, an electric motor or lifting magnet is activated, which gives energy for opening the door directly or indirectly to the opening mechanism. For example, describes DE 199 61 247 A1 a door lock in which an electric motor enables the door to be opened electrically: if the electric motor is operated in one direction, it loads an energy store that is designed as a mechanical spring. If the electric motor is operated in the other direction, it releases the force stored in the spring. The force causes a pawl to rotate, which disengages the pawl. The rotation of the catch made possible thereby opens the door for opening.

Have access control systems with e-locks the disadvantage that additional Electric motors or other electromechanical actuators are required in the locks, that additional Control electronics is necessary that additional wiring between the control electronics and each E-lock and that new Safety risks can arise from the fact that vehicle doors by an electrical Defect opened accidentally could become.

For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that auxiliary actuations for vehicle locks are also known in the prior art, which also enable unlocking and opening of the door in a different manner, without actuating the normal handles such as inside or outside door handles. In the DE 198 47 079 A1 A lock is described which has an energy store, the energy of which acts directly or indirectly on the unlocking mechanism of the lock. In this case, the energy store is designed, for example, as a chemical primer or a prestressed spring. In special situations such as a crash or when sinking into water, the energy is transferred to the unlocking mechanism to enable the door to be opened. The lock mentioned cannot be used for the repeated unlocking and opening of doors, as happens in daily use, because mechanisms for recharging the energy store are missing.

In order to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above, the DE 101 27 523 A1 described a locking system in which the work which is carried out by actuating the outer door handle is stored in an energy store. The stored energy is transferred to the opening mechanism of the locking system after unlocking. This enables opening even if the door handle has already been operated before unlocking. That in the DE 101 27 523 A1 However, the exemplary embodiment shown leads to another disadvantage: locking a previously opened door requires a complex locking mechanism, so that the locking lever shown in the exemplary embodiment does not hinder the return of the pawl into its locking position. Locking a previously opened door can be desirable. In North America in particular, it is customary to first lock the open driver's door after getting out of the vehicle and then slam it shut (so-called "slam lock").

The invention is based on the object locking system according to the generic term of claim 1 to realize, which is inexpensive and none of the above mentioned disadvantages and for example for use in passive access control systems with triggering by pulling the door handle once. this will according to the invention the characterizing features of claim 1 achieved.

Advantageous embodiments of the Invention are characterized in the respective subclaims.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by drawings:

1 shows a basic implementation of the system described in claims 1 to 18.

The 2 to 6 show exemplary embodiments of an implementation of claims 19 to 21 according to the invention.

A locking system for a motor vehicle comprises according to 1 an opening mechanism consisting of a rotary latch 7b and a return spring 7c who has a locking pin 8th can record. In the closed position shown, the locking pin 8th in the catch 7b held. This is equivalent to a closed door, hood or flap. By rotating the catch 7c the opening mechanism can be brought into its open position in which the locking bolt 8th is released, causing the door; Hood or flap can be opened. The return spring 7c strives to catch 7c to transfer to their open position. In the position shown, however, this is done by a first locking element 10 and a second locking element 11 prevented. Both locking elements 10 and 11 are each in their locking position and prevent rotation of the catch 7b , The locking elements engage in their locking position 10 and 11 each in a latching cam of the rotary latch 7b and thus prevent rotation in the direction of the open position. In the example shown, the locking elements can be pivoted, as a result of which they can also assume a releasing position in addition to their locking position. The first locking element 10 can by operating the handle 1 , which is designed, for example, as an outside door handle, via the transmitter 2 be brought into its releasing position. The first locking element 10 can also be operated by operating the other handle 12 , which is designed, for example, as an inside door handle, via the transformer 6 be brought into its releasing position. An actuation of the further handle 12 brings over the transmitter 6 the second locking element 11 also in its releasing position. The second locking element 11 can also be done by turning a mechanical key in a locking cylinder, which is typically mounted on the outside 9 via the transmitter 4 be brought into its releasing or blocking position. In addition, the second locking element 11 also by an electric motor 5b via the transmitter 3 be brought into its releasing or blocking position. From the figure it can be seen that the catch 7b can only rotate to its open position if both the first locking element 10 as well as the second locking element 11 are each in their releasing position. It is irrelevant in what time sequence the locking elements 10 and 11 are brought from their blocking position to the releasing position.

if the second locking element 11 is in its locking position, this corresponds to the system state "locked". An actuation of the handle 1 in this system state does not result in a previously closed door being opened.

If the second locking element 11 is in its release position, this corresponds to the system state "unlocked". An actuation of the handle 1 In this system state, a previously closed door is opened.

An exemplary process for opening a closed one and locked vehicle door in the case of a passive access control system looks like this:

• - The locking system is in the "locked" state. The second locking element 11 is in its blocking position.
• - The user carries an electronic code transmitter with him, which can communicate with the electronic access control system of the motor vehicle via radio signals. The user pulls on the outside door handle (handle 1 ). The movement of the door handle actuates an electrical switch, which generates the trigger signal for the electronic access control system of the motor vehicle.
• - The electronic access control system carries out a radio interrogation of the electronic code transmitter. In the meantime, the user has pulled the outer door handle as far as it will go and holds the handle in this position. The first locking element 10 is now in its release position. However, the door remains closed because of the rotary latch 7b through the second locking element 11 is kept in its closed position.
• - The electronic access control system determines that the code transmitter of the user is valid and then controls the electric motor 5b which is the second locking element 11 transferred to its releasing position.
• - The feather 7c now presses the catch 7b in their open position. In its open position the rotary latch is there 7b the locking pin 8th free, which allows the user to open the door.
• - The locking system is now in the "unlocked" state and the door is open.

By pushing the door shut the locking pin 8th into the trap 7b brought. The catch 7b Now a rotation begins in the direction of the closed position. The return spring 7c curious; excited. The first locking element 10 is typically also spring-loaded in such a way that the locking element 10 if the handle is not operated 1 and unactuated further handling 12 strives to take its blocking position. Such a spring is in the 2 to 6 shown. during the catch 7b rotates towards the closed position, the locking element slides 10 over the locking cam of the rotary latch 7b and locks the rotation towards the open position as soon as the catch of the rotary latch 7b the locking lug of the locking element 10 happened. This ensures, among other things, that the door does not open immediately after it has been closed.

All elements of the 1 are to be regarded as exemplary. The type of transformer or gear 2 . 3 . 4 and 6 is not described in detail because they are irrelevant to the idea of the invention. As an example, however, that the transmitter 2 and 6 typically can be designed as a Bowden cable. The handle 1 serves the user of the vehicle to open the door from the outside. The handle can be designed, for example, as a door handle for pulling, turning or pressing. The further handling 12 serves the user of the vehicle to open the door from the inside. The door can be unlocked or locked with the help of a mechanical key, which is typically attached to the outside. About the electric motor 5b the locking system can also be unlocked or locked. Instead of an electromo For example, a lifting magnet or a pneumatic drive can also be used.

The return spring 7c can be designed for example as a plastic or steel spring or pneumatic spring. The elements of a rotary latch lock known in the prior art and usually additionally present, such as the preliminary catches, are not shown.

2 shows an advantageous embodiment according to claims 19 to 21, in which the two locking elements are designed as pawls with the same axis of rotation. Furthermore, an embodiment for the transmission is shown, which the lock cylinder 9 as well as the engine 5b the electric central locking system with the second pawl 11 combines. The gearbox makes it possible to use the locking cylinder 9 or the engine 5b the second pawl 11 from their blocking position to their releasing position or from their releasing position to their blocking position.

The 2 to 6 show the embodiment in different system states:

In 2 the system is closed and locked. The handle 1 is not activated.

In 3 the handle is actuated. The pawl 10 is in its releasing position. The system is locked and the pawl 11 locks the catch 7b in its closed position. The system is closed.

In 4 the handle is actuated. The pawl 10 is in its releasing position. The system is by turning a key in the lock cylinder 9 been unlocked. The pawl 11 is in its releasing position. The catch 7b is through the energy in the spring 7c brought into their open position. The system is open. It does not matter whether the handle first 1 or the lock cylinder 9 were operated.

In 5 is the handle 1 not activated. The pawl 10 is in its locking position and locks the catch 7b in its closed position. The system is by the engine 5b been unlocked. The pawl 11 is in its releasing position. The system is closed.

In 6 the handle is actuated. The pawl 10 is in its releasing position. The system is by the engine 5b been unlocked. The pawl 11 is in its releasing position. The catch 7b is through the energy in the spring 7c brought into their open position. The system is open. It does not matter whether the handle first 1 or the engine 5b were operated.

Advantages of the invention:

• 1. Independent how fast the user operates the door handle and regardless of how long checking a authorized code transmitter, a single actuation of the door handle to unlock and open the system.
• 2. An opening can only take place when the door handle indeed actuated becomes. An electrical malfunction cannot lead to an accidental opening.
• 3. It is compared to a conventional lock with electrical or pneumatic locking function no additional electrical or pneumatic actuator needed to lock an initially Door at already operated handle to open. Therefore, there is no special control electronics and no additional Cabling effort necessary.
• 4. A previously opened one Door can first be locked before it is slammed.
• 5. Due to the simple mechanical implementation, the locking system little prone to errors and very inexpensive realizable.

1

handle (Outer opening handle)

2

exchangers or gear

3

exchangers or gear

4

exchangers or gear

5b

Engine, if necessary with gear

6

exchangers or gear

7b

catch

7c

Return spring for rotary latch (Energy storage)

8th

locking pin

9

lock cylinder

10

first Locking element (pawl)

11

second Locking element (pawl

12

Further Handle (inside opening handle)

Claims (21)

Locking system for a motor vehicle consisting of an opening mechanism, wherein the opening mechanism keeps a door, hood or flap closed in its closed position and releases it for opening in its open position, and a first locking element and a second locking element, which each take a locking position and a releasing position can, characterized in that the opening mechanism is locked in its closed position, provided that at least one of the two locking elements is in its locking position. locking system according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening mechanism only then can be brought from its closed position to its open position, when the first locking element and the second locking element in their releasing position. Locking system according to claim 2, characterized in that it is for the release of the transfer tion of the opening mechanism from its closed position to its open position is irrelevant whether the opening was first released by the first locking element or the second locking element. locking system according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a handle directly or is indirectly connected to the first locking element. locking system according to claim 4, characterized in that an actuation of the handle the first Locking element transferred from its locking position to its releasing position. locking system according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a locking cylinder for the mechanical unlocking of the door, Hood or flap directly or indirectly with the second locking element connected is. locking system according to claim 6, characterized in that an actuation of the lock cylinder with the help of a key the second locking element from its locking position to its releasing Location transferred. locking system according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a drive for unlocking the door, Hood or flap directly or indirectly with the second locking element connected is. locking system according to claim 8, characterized in that an actuation of the drive the second Locking element transferred from its locking position to its releasing position. locking system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the drive designed as an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic drive is. locking system according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the opening mechanism as a rotary latch is trained. locking system according to claim 11, characterized in that the catch is spring-loaded is so that the Spring force strives to keep the catch from its closed position to transfer to their open position. locking system according to claim 12, characterized in that the spring when closing or push the door, Hood or flap is tensioned. locking system according to claim 1 to 13, characterized in that the first Locking element is designed as a pivotable pawl. locking system according to one of the claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the first locking element as pivotable pawl is formed and that the catch is at least one Has catch in which the pawl can engage. locking system according to claim 1 to 15, characterized in that the second Locking element is designed as a pivotable pawl. locking system according to one of the claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the second locking element as pivotable pawl is formed and that the catch is at least one Has catch in which the pawl can engage. locking system according to claim 15 and 17, characterized in that the first Pawl and the second pawls in different notches Intervene catch. locking system according to claim 15 and 17, characterized in that the first Pawl and the second pawl in the same catches of the rotary latch intervention. locking system according to claim 14 or 15 and one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that that both Pawls can be pivoted about the same axis of rotation. locking system according to one of the claims 4 to 20, characterized in that the handle with permanently the locking element is connected, so no coupling mechanism between Handle and locking element is provided.