Abstract:
The invention relates to an actuating apparatus for a lock mechanism, in particular of a door or panel of a motor vehicle having a handle body, in which an actuating device for driving an actuating element for the lock mechanism is mounted in a handle-body end region. A moveable coupling link is provided, with which the actuating device can be brought out of operation, the coupling link being connected driveably to a locking device having a remote-controllable driving device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to DE 10 2004 009 366.0, filed Feb. 26, 2004. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an actuating apparatus for a lock, in particular a door lock and/or panel lock of a motor vehicle or tractor. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Known actuating apparatuses for motor vehicle locks have a handle body, in which a pushbutton with a movable lock cylinder is mounted. The pushbutton can be transferred from a first operating state into a second operating state and vice versa by means of a key which fits into the lock cylinder. In the first operating state, a lock can be actuated by means of the pushbutton, so that it opens. In the second operating state, the pushbutton, when actuated, executes an “empty stroke”, so that despite the button being pressed, an actuation, i.e. an opening of the lock, does not occur. The associated motor vehicle door or motor vehicle flap is therefore locked. 
   Furthermore, it is known to enable the locks to interact with a remote-controllable locking unit, for example within the context of a central locking system of the motor vehicle. In the case of known arrangements of actuating apparatus and lock together with a remote-controllable locking unit, it is disadvantageous that a large amount of space is necessary and a multiplicity of parts and a high structural outlay are required. Furthermore, it is expensive and laborious to install and secure the components. 
   It is the object of the invention to provide an actuating apparatus for a lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock or panel lock, in particular for a tractor, which does not need much space and has a remote-controllable locking and/or unlocking functionality. 
   This object is achieved by an actuating apparatus having the features of claim  1 . Advantageous embodiments are indicated in the subclaims which are dependent thereon. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective exploded illustration of an actuating apparatus according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows the actuating apparatus according to  FIG. 1  in a perspective assembly illustration; 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective exploded illustration of a pushbutton of the actuating apparatus according to  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective assembly illustration of the pushbutton according to  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective exploded illustration of a locking device of the actuating apparatus according to the invention according to  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  shows the locking device according to  FIG. 5  in a perspective assembly illustration; 
       FIG. 7  shows a longitudinal section through the actuating apparatus according to  FIG. 1  in a first operating position with the pushbutton not actuated; 
       FIG. 8  shows the actuating apparatus according to  FIG. 7  with the pushbutton actuated; 
       FIG. 9  shows a longitudinal section through the actuating apparatus according to the invention in a second operating position with the pushbutton not actuated; 
       FIG. 10  shows the actuating apparatus according to  FIG. 9  with the pushbutton actuated. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , an actuating apparatus  1  according to the invention has a handle body  2 , and as actuating device a pushbutton  3  with a lock cylinder  4 , a motor-driveable locking device  5 , a compression spring  6 , and a covering  7  and an actuating element  8 . 
   As viewed from the side, the handle body  2  is designed as an essentially U-shaped handle bracket, with a base limb  10 , a first U-limb  11  and a second U-limb  12 . The U-limbs  11 ,  12  each have end sides  13  with which the handle body  2  can be fastened, for example, to a door outer skin of a motor vehicle. The second U-limb  12  has, along an actuating longitudinal axis  14 , which extends in the limb direction and is also the longitudinal movement axis of the pushbutton  3  together with the lock cylinder  4 , a plug-in opening  15  for the pushbutton  3 . The plug-in opening  15  opens into a plug-in channel  15   a  which completely penetrates the second U-limb  12 . A bushing-shaped receiving device  16  which has an essentially cylindrical outer shape extends from the end side  13  of the second U-limb  12 . An elongate groove or a blind-hole recess  17  extends away from the plug-in opening  15 , and opening into the latter and to the outside, to over approximately ⅔ of the base limb  10 , said elongate groove or blind-hole recess  17  following the contour of the U-limb  12  and of the base limb  10 . The blind-hole recess  17  in the base limb  10  is connected in the region of its end  18  lying opposite the plug-in opening  15 , just above its groove base, to a groove-type depression  19  or a groove, which is open opposite or extends from an inside  20  of the base limb  10  and of the first U-limb  11  as far as the end side  13  of the first U-limb  11 , or said blind-hole recess  17  follows the contour of these parts. The groove-type depression  19  can be covered or can be closed by means of the covering  7 , which is essentially an L-shaped design with a first covering limb  7   a  and a second covering limb  7   b.    
   The locking device  5  is designed in the manner of a plug-in module for plugging into the blind-hole recess  17  of the handle body  2  and has a cross-sectionally rectangular housing  21  with a housing main part  22  and a lateral housing cover  23 . As viewed from the side, the housing  21  is of essentially an L-shape design and has a longer first L-limb  24  and a shorter second L-limb  25 . The first L-limb  24  corresponds to the blind-hole recess  17  in the base limb  10 . The second L-limb  25  corresponds to the blind-hole recess  17  in the region joining the latter to the plug-in opening  15 , and, in the assembled state, comes to lie in the transition region between the second U-limb  12  and the base limb  10 . Electric lines  26  lead off at the free end of the first L-limb  24 . The second L-limb  25  has, toward the plug-in opening  15 , an outer surface  27  which is designed in the shape of a section of a concave cylinder, such that the plug-in opening  15  together with the outer surface  27  is circular in cross section. A projecting slide  28 , which is described in more detail further below, projects from the outer surface  27  of the locking device  5  for a distance into the plug-in opening  15 . 
   The pushbutton  3  has a pushbutton upper part  30  and a pushbutton lower part  31 . The lock cylinder  4  sits in the pushbutton upper part  30  by means of a clip connection. A sealing ring  32  which interacts with the inside of the plug-in opening  15  and seals off the gap between the pushbutton upper part  30  and the plug-in opening  15  is arranged on the outside of the pushbutton upper part  30 . 
   In the following, the construction of the pushbutton  3 , which together with the actuating element  8  forms an actuating device, together with the lock cylinder  4  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The pushbutton upper part  30  has a cylindrical tube section  32   a  and a compressive part  33 . The cylindrical tube section  32   a  is a thin-walled, cylindrical tube with an outside tube  34  and a free annular end surface  35 . Opposite the annular end surface  35 , the compressive part  33  is connected integrally to the cylindrical tube section  32   a . The compressive part  33  is larger in outside diameter than the cylindrical tube section  32   a  and has a stepped hole  36  with the actuating longitudinal axis  14  as the central axis. The stepped hole  36  has longitudinal grooves  37  on the inside for receiving small lock plates of the lock cylinder  4 . On the outer circumference, the compressive part  33  has, adjacent to the cylindrical tube section  32   a , an annular groove  38  for receiving the sealing ring  32 . 
   The cylindrical tube section  32   a  has opposite, rectangular window-type cutouts  40  with a lower edge  41 , two side edges  42  and an upper edge  43 . The two window-type cutouts  40  have the same extent in terms of area. The lower edge  41  and the upper edge  43  are each parallel to the annular end surface  35 . The side edges  42  are parallel to the actuating longitudinal axis  14 . 
   The lock cylinder  4  has a blocking body  50  and a rotating body  51   a . Small lock plates  51  are mounted in a known manner in the blocking body  50 . Furthermore, the blocking body  50  has a tumbler  52  as a means of securing it against falling out, said tumbler  52  being intended in a known manner to prevent the blocking body  50  from rotating in the compressive part  33 . The rotating body  51  has, eccentrically with respect to the actuating longitudinal axis  14 , an eccentric nipple  53  which protrudes downward for a distance in the axial direction from the rotating body  51 . 
   The pushbutton lower part  31  has a punch section  60  and a tube section  61 . The punch section  60  has, along the actuating longitudinal axis  14 , at a free end  62  of the punch section  60 , a threaded hole  63  for receiving the actuating element  8 . The tube section  61  has an outside diameter which corresponds to the inside diameter of the cylindrical tube section  32   a  of the pushbutton upper part  30 . The tube section  61  extends away for a distance from the punch section  60  and, corresponding to the window-type cutouts  40 , has latching projections  64  which are dimensioned, with regard to their three-dimensional shape, in such a manner that they can interact in a latching manner with the lower edge  41  of the window-type cutouts  40 . With regard to the width, the latching projections  64  are dimensioned in such a manner that they can be moved up and down in the window-type cutouts  40  guided by the side edges  42 . Adjacent to the latching projections  64 , the tube section  61  has end steps  65  situated somewhat lower down. The end steps  65  serve to support a slide guide  66  which is described in more detail further below. Aligned in the longitudinal direction, one of the latching projections  64  has a stop tab or stop web  67  as an extension of the tube section  61  upward. The stop tab  67  has a three-dimensional shape in the form of a section of a cylindrical tube wall, and has an upper, free end edge  68  and side edges  69 . Directly in the longitudinal axial direction  14 , adjacent to the associated latching projection  64 , the stop tab  67  has an outwardly projecting, curved stepped shoulder  70  which has a step upper side  71  in the form of a section of a circular ring. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the assembly of the pushbutton upper part  30  and of the pushbutton lower part  31 , the stepped shoulder  70  is situated in one of the window-type cutouts  40  of the pushbutton upper part  30 . The axial extent of the stop tab  67  is dimensioned in such a manner that, in the assembly, when the latching projection  64  bears against the lower edge  41  of the window  40 , there is an axial distance between the free end edge  68  and the upper edge  43 , so that a clearance or gap  72  is formed. 
   As best shown in  FIG. 3 , slide guide  66  has a base plate  75  which is essentially in the form of a circular disk and the outside diameter of which corresponds approximately to the inside diameter of the tube section  61 . Spaced apart opposite one another, circular disk segments  76  are integrally formed on the base plate  75  and have an outside diameter which corresponds to the outside diameter of the tube section  61  or the inside diameter of the cylindrical tube section  32   a . The circular disk sections  76  are of thicker design than the base plate  75  and have opposite, parallel, plane guide surfaces  77  which, together with the base plate  75 , serve for the displaceable mounting of a slide  78  which will be described in more detail further below. The base plate  75  therefore forms, together with the guide surfaces  77 , a cross-sectionally u-shaped guide groove for the slide  78 . 
   The slide  78  is a first coupling link and has a three-dimensional form essentially in the shape of a disk and has rectilinear, opposite guide edges  79  which interact with the guide surfaces  77 , so that guiding of the slide  78  between the circular disk sections  76  is ensured. The end edges of the slide  78  are in the form of a circular arc. The outside diameter of the slide  78  between the end edges corresponds to the inside diameter of the cylindrical tube section  32   a . A u-shaped recess  80  extends from one of the guide edges  79  into the interior of the slide  78 . In the assembly, the eccentric nipple  53  of the lock cylinder  4  engages in this u-shaped recess  80 . In the assembly, the slide guide  66  sits with the circular disk sections  76  on the end steps  65  of the tube section  61 . As best shown in  FIG. 10 , the slide guide  66  can be displaced together with the slide  78  or the pushbutton lower part  31  in a double arrow direction or axial direction  81 , the slide guide  66  being guided along the free side edges  69  of the stop tab  67 . 
   The construction of the locking device  5  according to the invention will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
   The housing main part  22  has a three-dimensional shape which, as viewed from the side, is essentially L-shaped and U-shaped in cross section, with a housing base wall  91 , a first, L-shaped side wall  92  and a second, L-shaped side wall  93  and an end side wall  94 . The second side wall  93  has the outer surface  27  in the region of the plug-in opening  15 , which outer surface, together with the plug-in opening  15 , forms a cross-sectionally circular passage. The base housing wall  91  has, in the region of the first L-limb  24 , a first, long base wall section  91   a  and, in the region of the second L-limb  25 , a second, short base wall section  91   b . The base wall sections  91   a  and  91   b  merge one in the other with a base wall curved section  91   c.    
   The first side wall  92  has a first, long side wall section  92   a  in the region of the first L-limb  24 , a second, short side wall section  92   b  in the region of the second L-limb  25  and a side wall curved section  92   c  in between. The second side wall  93  has a first, long side wall section  93   a  in the region of the first L-limb  24 , a second, short side wall section  93   b  in the region of the second L-limb  25  and a side wall curved section  93   c  in between, the first, long side wall section  93   a  and the side wall curved section  93   c  together in the assembly forming a surface which is aligned with the surface of the handle body  2 . 
   In the assembly, the end side wall  94  bears flush against the free end  18  of the blind-hole recess  17 . The end side wall  94  has, in the region of the side wall  92 , two recesses  95  through which the electric lines  26  can be led out of the housing interior. 
   A motor axial drive  100 , for example a lifting magnet with a magnet body  101  and a piston rod  102 , which is guided in a central hole and protrudes out of the hole, is arranged in the region of the first L-limb  24 . The piston rod  102  is connected outside the magnet body  101  via a transverse pin  103  to a drag lever or drag arm  104  which sits in front of the head on the piston rod. The drag lever  104  has, in the region of its free end  105 , a slot-type recess  106  which extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent and in which is mounted a pin  107  which extends transversely with respect thereto and via which the drag lever  105  is connected to a first lever arm  111  of a two-armed reversing lever  108 . The reversing lever  108  has a hole  109  with which it is mounted pivotably on an axis  110  which extends away vertically from the base wall  91  in the region of the base wall curved section  91   c . The reversing lever  108  has a second lever arm  112  lying opposite the first lever arm  111 . The axial drive  100 , the drag lever  104  and the first lever arm  111  of the reversing lever  108  are arranged in the region of the first L-limb  24  of the housing  21 . The second lever arm  112  of the reversing lever  108  protrudes from the axis  110  into the second L-limb  25  of the housing  21 . The reversing lever  108  has an actuating section  113  in the region of the free end of the second lever arm  112 . The actuating section  113  tapers toward the free end and has a sliding surface  114  which points in the assembly toward the plug-in opening  15 . Axial extension of the axial drive  100  in a direction  120  causes the reversing lever to pivot via the drag lever  104  about the axis  110  in a direction  121 . 
   The second base wall section  91   b  has a rectangular, L-shaped angled groove  122  with a short first groove limb  122   a  and a long second groove limb  122   b . The first groove limb  122   a  runs parallel to the actuating direction  120  of the axial drive  100 . The second groove limb  122   b  runs parallel to the actuating longitudinal axis  14 . At the free end of the first groove limb  122   a , the latter ends in the transition region between the base wall section  92   c  and the second side wall section  92   b  of the side wall  92 . A stop console  123  for the slide  28 , which will be described further below, is integrally formed, laterally aligned with the groove limb  122   a , on the inside of the second side wall section  92   b . Opposite the second side wall section  92   b , the side wall section  93   b  has, below the outer surface  27 , a recess from which the slide  28  protrudes. 
   The slide  28  is a further coupling link and has a slide plate  130  and a stop tab or stop web  131  which, perpendicularly from the slide plate  130 , extends away from the end of the slide plate  130  in the region of one end thereof. The stop tab  131  has a free edge  131   a  and has a width which is smaller than or equal to the clear width of the window-type cutouts  40 . In the region of the other end of the slide plate  130 , a projection  132  is integrally formed on each side of the slide plate  130 . In the assembly, the projections  132  run in the angled groove  122 , i.e. they are in engagement with the angled groove limbs  122   a  and  122   b . Opposite the angled groove  122  in the base wall  91 , an angled groove  122 ′ with a first angled groove limb  122   a ′ and a second angled groove limb  122   b ′ is likewise formed in the cover  23 . The angled grooves  122  and  122 ′ serve for guiding the slide  130 . In an operating position, the slide plate  130  rests on the supporting console  123 . The slide plate  130  furthermore has an essentially square reach-through window  133  through which the free end  113  of the reversing lever  108  reaches. The stop tab  131  of the slide  28  has a three-dimensional shape which is in the form of a cylindrical tube wall and the inside diameter of which corresponds approximately to the outside diameter of the tube section  61  and the outside diameter of which corresponds approximately to the outside diameter of the cylindrical tube section  32   a . As an extension of the slide plate  130 , a slide projection  134  which has a channel in the form of a circular arc at its free end extends beyond the stop tab  131 , the channel approximately corresponding in respect of its diameter to the inside diameter of the tube section  61 . 
   The housing  21 , in which the axial drive  100 , the drag lever  104 , the reversing lever  108  and the slide  28  are mounted, therefore form the locking device  5  which can be inserted into the handle body  2  in the manner of a module or cassette. 
   The assembly of the actuating apparatus  1  according to the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7  as a supplement to the previous description. 
   In the assembly, the compression spring  6  at one end is supported on a base wall of the receiving device  16  and at the other end rests against the annular end surface  35  of the cylindrical tube section  32   a  of the pushbutton upper part  30 . The pushbutton lower part  31  is connected by means of the previously described clip connection to the pushbutton upper part  30  in a manner such that they can be displaced axially in the direction  81 . The pushbutton upper part  30  is mounted in the handle body  2  by means of the sealing ring  32  in the plug-in opening  15  in interaction with the outer surface  27 . The pushbutton lower part  31  reaches through a hole in the base wall of the receiving device  16  and is connected to the actuating element  8 . The reversing lever  108  reaches with its  113  through the slide plate  130  of the slide  28 , the slide  28  being guided in the grooves  122 ,  122 ′, in the housing  21 . The window-type cutouts  40  of the pushbutton  3  are arranged in such a manner that the window-type cutout  40 , in which the stop tab  67  of the pushbutton lower part  31  is arranged, lies opposite the slide  28 . The slide  78 , which can be actuated manually via the lock cylinder  4 , is in engagement with the eccentric nipple  53  of the lock cylinder  4  and can be displaced to and fro by means of the eccentric nipple  53  in a direction perpendicular with respect to the axis  14 , for example by rotation of the lock cylinder  4  by a key. 
   In the following, a first operating position (“central locking system or locking device  5  open”) will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In the position according to  FIG. 7 , the pushbutton  3  is not actuated and, in the position according to  FIG. 8 , it is actuated, i.e. pushed in. 
   According to  FIG. 7 , the axial drive  100 , i.e. the lifting magnet, is energized, so that the piston rod  102  is drawn in. In this position, the second lever arm  112  of the reversing lever  110  is positioned in such a manner that the sliding surface  114  is oriented parallel to the actuating longitudinal axis  14 . The slide  28  sits with its guide projections  132  in the corner region of the angled groove  122 , so that the stop tab  131  of the slide  28  comes to bear against the stop tab  67  of the pushbutton lower part  31  and the free end edge  131   a  rests on the upper side  71 . Furthermore, the upper edge  43  of the window-type cutout  40 , which faces the slide  28 , in the pushbutton upper part  30  sits on the slide plate  130 . In addition, the projection  134  rests on the free end edge  68  of the stop tab  67 . The pushbutton upper part  30  is therefore connected to the pushbutton lower part  31 , in a manner coupled in a form-fitting manner via the slide  28 , said pushbutton lower part  31  in turn being connected in a form-fitting manner to the actuating element  8 , so that pressing on the compressive part  33  according to  FIG. 8  causes the pushbutton upper part  30  together with the slide  28  and the pushbutton lower part  31  and the actuating element  8  to be displaceable by the length l, as best shown in  FIG. 8 . In this position, the slide  28  with its projections  132  is situated at the free end of the second groove limb  122   b  or  122   b ′. The compression spring  8  is compressed. Release of the compressive part  33  causes the compression spring  6  to expand and to bring the pushbutton  3  back into the starting position according to  FIG. 7 . Extension of the actuating element  8  by the length l causes a lock mechanism to be actuated (not illustrated). 
   In the second operating position according to  FIGS. 9 and 10  (when the locking system is closed), the axial drive  100  or the lifting magnet  101  is connected currentlessly, so that the rod  102  is extended. The actuating second lever arm  112  of the reversing lever  108  is pivoted toward the console  123  and bears against the console  123 . During the pivoting, it has carried along the slide  28  which, in the retracted position, rests in the free end of the groove limb  122   a , with the slide plate  130  resting on the console  123 . In this position, the stop tab  131  of the slide  28  is arranged spaced apart from the stop tab  67  of the pushbutton lower part  31 , so that the upper edge  43  of the window facing the slide  28  is exposed. Otherwise, all of the remaining components of the actuating apparatus  1  are in the position according to  FIG. 7 . When the pushbutton  3  is actuated by being pressed in the arrow direction according to  FIG. 10 , in this operating position there is no form-fitting or frictional connection between the pushbutton upper part  30  and the pushbutton lower part  31 , so that the pushbutton upper part  30  can be displaced in the axial direction  14  relative to the pushbutton lower part  31 . The pushbutton upper part  30  and the pushbutton lower part  31  are mechanically decoupled. The pushing according to  FIG. 10  therefore merely causes the pushbutton upper part  30  to be displaced axially, so that the compression spring  6  is compressed. The pushbutton lower part “remains” in its starting position according to  FIG. 9 , so that an actuation of a lock mechanism (not shown) by the actuating element  8  does not occur and an extension of the actuating element  8  by the length l is therefore prevented. In this “empty stroke”, the latching projections  64  are lifted off from the lower edges  41 . The latching projections  64  and the supporting projection  70  are guided between the side edges  42  of the window-type cutouts  40  in the cylindrical tube section  32   a  and are displaced relative to the pushbutton upper part  30 . Release of the pushbutton  3  enables the pushbutton upper part to be displaced by the compression spring  6  back into the starting position according to  FIG. 9 . In this position, an opening of a motor vehicle door or of the motor vehicle flap (not illustrated) is therefore not possible, since the actuating element  8  is mechanically decoupled from the pushbutton upper part  3 . 
   In the operating position of the locking device  5  according to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , i.e. the operating position “central locking system closed”, the  3 , including the pushbutton upper and lower parts  30  and  31 , can be mechanically coupled manually in a conventional manner by inserting the key into the lock cylinder  4  and rotating the same. After the key has been inserted into the lock cylinder  4 , the rotating body  51  is rotatable. Rotation of the rotating body  51  about the axis  14  causes the eccentric nipple  53  to be moved from the position according to  FIG. 9  (on the right of the longitudinal axis  14 ) into an open position (on the left of the longitudinal axis  14  (not shown)). By this means, the slide  78  is displaced from its position shown in  FIG. 9  to the left, so that it comes to lie over the free edge  68  of the stop tab  67  of the pushbutton lower part  31 . In this case, it can also displace the slide  28  if the latter is in the position according to  FIG. 7  because the locking device  5  is preferably set up in such a manner that it can be displaced. In this position, pushing of the pushbutton  3  causes the actuating element  8  to be actuated, since the pushbutton upper part  30  is mechanically coupled to the actuating element  8  via the lock cylinder  4 , the slide  78  and the stop tab  67  of the pushbutton lower part  31 . An actuation of the lock can therefore be achieved purely manually even, for example, if the current should fail. 
   In the case of the actuating apparatus according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the latter is of particularly compact construction and permits the manual closing and opening and also a remotely actuable opening and closing. A further particular advantage is that the electrically controllable locking device  5  is designed in the manner of a module or cassette and is inserted into the handle body, and a variation of the actuating apparatus with and without a remote-controllable unlocking functionality can therefore be realized in a simple manner. By means of omission of the locking device  5  and by means of a simple closing of the slot-type recess in the handle body  2  by a cover or a panel (not shown), the actuating apparatus according to the invention can optionally be designed with and without a remote-triggering functionality. A costly installation, for example in a door body of a motor vehicle, as conventionally takes place, is unnecessary. 
   While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.