Abstract:
A vehicle lock has a rotary latch and a closing member cooperating with the rotary latch that is rotatable between a closing position receiving the closing member and an open position releasing the closing member. A pivotable pawl is spring-loaded toward a locking position for securing the rotary latch in the closing position. The pawl has a release position for releasing the rotary latch. Interior, exterior, and safety handles can transfer the pawl into the release position. A common control lever switches the lock between first, second, and third states. The first state is the closing state; vehicle access is authorized via the interior and external handles. The second state is the locking state; access is denied via the exterior handle. The third state is the secured state; access is denied via the external and internal handles. A release lever connected to the control lever transfers the pawl into the release position when actuated by an access-authorized handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a rotary latch lock of the kind referred to in the claims. A high actuating comfort and a high safety of the lock require a great apparatus expenditure and increase the weight of the lock considerably. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a reliable lock of a simple configuration which is characterized by an especially minimal weight. In spite of this, the actuation should be very reliable even when the electrical current supply provided for a comfort actuation of the lock should fail completely. The solution to this object results from the measures indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings. It is shown in: 
     FIG. 1 a plan view onto a side of a component support receiving the components of the lock according to the invention, showing the rotary latch in the closing position in which it receives a closing member; 
     FIG. 2 a few parts of the plan view of FIG. 1 when the lock is in a different operative position, i.e., an open position in which the closing member is released; 
     FIG. 3 the lock illustrated in FIG. 1 in a plan view onto the opposite side of the component support showing the components of the corresponding mechanical device in a first operative position; 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 the same illustration as in FIG. 3 with the components being in two other operative positions; and 
     FIG. 6 a detail of the lock in a schematic illustration. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show components already disclosed in the German patent application 197 25 416.0-22. These components are also used in the present invention; accordingly, the description of the aforementioned patent application applies, and reference is being had thereto. There are a closing member  10 , which is illustrated in section in FIGS. 1 and 2, at the stationary door column of a vehicle body, and a rotary latch  20  seated by means of an axle  21  on a profiled, plate-shaped component support  11  which is mounted on the movable door. The rotary latch  20  is rotatable between two rotary end positions of which one is shown in FIG.  1  and the other is shown in FIG.  2 . The rotary latch is spring-loaded by a return spring  22  which has the tendency to secure the rotary latch  20  in the open position illustrated in FIG.  2 . The rotary latch  20  has a radial cutout  23  into which the closing member  10  moves when closing the door in the direction of arrow  13  of FIG. 2, and the rotary latch  20  is thus moved counter to the effect of the return spring  22  from the open position of FIG. 2 into the aforementioned closing position of FIG.  1 . The profiled component support  11  has a channel  19  into which the closing member  10  moves upon performing its movement  13 . This closing position is limited by a stop  12  on the support  11 . In the closing position of FIG. 1 the closing member  10  is received in the radial cutout  23 , and in the open position of FIG. 2 it is in its release position which is illustrated with  10 ′. 
     A further component of the lock is a pawl  30  comprised of two arms  31 ,  32  and seated on an axle  34  on the support  11 . The pawl  30  is spring-loaded by a spring  33  which forces it by means of one arm  31 , the working arm, against the rotary latch  20 . The pawl  30  cooperates with the rotary latch  20  via this working arm  31 . The other arm  32  serves to adjust the pawl  30  in different adjusting movements which are described in more detail in the aforementioned patent application 197 25 416.0-22. This includes a DC motor  50  which cooperates by means of a worm drive  52  with a worm wheel  53  that bears a control cam  51 . The control cam  51  cooperates, in the manner disclosed in the aforementioned patent application, not only with the adjusting arm  32  but also with a further pre-loaded lever  40  which is loaded by a force storage means  41  comprised of a leg spring. A sensor  15  responds to certain rotary positions of the rotary latch  20  which, as explained in more detail in the aforementioned patent, cooperates with the motor  50 . 
     While in FIG. 1 the electrical devices  14  provided on the one side  16  of the support  11  are arranged adjacent to the rotary latch  20  and the pawl  30 , the components of a mechanical device  18  for actuating the pawl  30  are positioned on the opposite side  17  illustrated in FIG.  3 . The actuations are based on different mechanical and/or electrical handles which are not represented in detail but illustrated in FIG. 3 by means of their points of action  24  through  27 . These points of action  24  through  27  will be used in the following for identifying the different handles. They include an interior handle  24  provided in the interior of the vehicle; moreover, an exterior handle  25  accessible from the exterior of the vehicle; also, a safety handle  26  that can be actuated from the interior of the vehicle; and, finally, locking means, not shown in detail, actuatable from the exterior of the vehicle which by means of their rotary action  70  act on a pivot axis  27  of a control lever  28 . The reference numeral  70  of this rotary movement will be used in the following also for identifying the locking means. The control lever  28  is seated fixedly on the pivot axle  27 . The control lever can be pivoted between three pivot positions indicated by  28 ,  28 ′,  28 ″. A rotary axle  51 ′ is fixedly connected to the pivot axle  27  and is arranged on the opposite side  16  of the component support  11  illustrated in FIG.  1 . As can be seen in FIG. 1, a worm wheel  53 ′ is fixedly connected to this axle  51 ′ and driven by a worm drive  52 ′ by means of a DC motor  50 ′. The actuation of the motor  50 ′ can be effected by a remote control etc. These components  50 ′ through  53 ′ are motoric components of the aforementioned locking means  70  which, however, may further include also a mechanical actuation such as a cylinder core of a key-actuatable closing cylinder. Instead of the remote control device, a so-called keyless entry etc. can be used. 
     The control lever  28  is connected by a connecting member  42  with a release lever  35  having an angled release finger  36 . The release finger  36  penetrates a cutout  54  in the component support  11  and projects on the other side  16  of the support  11  according to FIG.  1 . The release finger  36  engages behind a nose  39  provided on the pawl  30 . The connecting member  42  is pivotably connected at  43  to the control lever  28  and glides with a sliding block  46  provided on its other end  44  in a longitudinal guide which is embodied as a gate provided in one arm  37  of the release lever  35 . 
     In addition to the release lever  35  two actuating levers  45 ,  46  are provided, i.e., an inner actuating lever  45  connected to the aforementioned interior handle  24  and an actuating lever  46  cooperating with the exterior handle  25 . Th e two levers  45 ,  46  are rotatably supported together with the release lever  35  on a common pin  47 . The bearing pin  47  is advantageously coaxially positioned to the pawl axle  34  arranged on the opposite side  16  of FIG.  1 . 
     In FIG. 3 a first pivot position  28  of the control lever is illustrated which characterizes a first state of the lock which is the so-called “closing state”. In this case, access to the vehicle is authorized via the interior handle  24  as well as the exterior handle  25 . This access authorization is not only realized via the mentioned electrical devices  14  of a comfort actuation but also via the mechanical device  18  shown in FIG. 3, for example, when a current supply outage occurs. By actuating one of the two handles illustrated by their points of action  24 ,  25 , the corresponding actuating lever  45 ,  46  is pivoted. Both levers  45 ,  46  have working arms  48 ,  49  which, upon counter-clockwise pivoting of the levers  45 ,  46 , impact the end of the connecting member  42  and entrain it. The end  44  of the connecting rod  42  seated in the longitudinal guide  38  is thus a “driver”. This results in a rotation of the release lever  35  in the direction of arrow  55  of FIG.  3 . The release finger  36  engages the nose  39  of the pawl  30  illustrated in FIG.  1  and moves it into the release position illustrated in FIG.  2 . The release lever  35  and the actuating levers  45 ,  46  are subjected to a spring force, not shown in detail, which has the tendency to return them into the initial position of FIG.  3 . Upon actuation of the interior and exterior handles  24 ,  25 , the control member  28  can remain in the rest position, even though the connecting member  42  pivotably connected thereto is entrained by means of its driver end  44  upon rotation  55  of the release lever  35 . 
     The point of action  26  for the safety handle is located at one end of the control lever  28 . Upon actuating this safety handle  26 , which, as mentioned above, is located within the interior of the vehicle, the control lever is moved into the second pivot positioned  28 ′ illustrated in FIG.  4 . This corresponds to a second state of the lock which is the locked position. In this case, the exterior handle  25  no longer has access authorization. In this second pivot position  28 ′ of the control lever, the driver  44  has been moved in the longitudinal guide  38  of the release lever  35  such that it is no longer aligned with the working arm  49  of the exterior actuating lever  46 . Upon actuation of the lever  46 , the working arm  49  cannot engage. This movement into the pivot position  28 ′ can also be imparted to the control lever by means of the aforementioned locking means  70  engaging the pivot axle  27 , for example, by means of a closing cylinder or a remote control device which can be operative via the motor  50 ′. 
     The lock according to the invention has moreover also a third state, illustrated in FIG. 5, in which the two handles  24 ,  25  no longer have access authorization; this is a “secured state” of the lock. In this secured state the control lever would have to be moved into the third pivot position  28 ″ illustrated in FIG.  5 . This can only be achieved from the exterior of the door by the locking means  70  acting on the pivot axle  27 . These locking means  70  moreover deactivate a rotary stop  57 , illustrated in FIG. 6, relative to the control lever. The rotary stop  56  is normally in the operative position illustrated in FIG.  6  and projects into the movement path  58  of the control lever between the second and third pivot positions  28 ′,  28 ″. Reference numeral  57  indicates a surface of the component support  11  in FIG. 6 which can serve as a gliding guide of the control lever between its different pivot positions  28 ,  28 ′,  28 ″. The rotary stop  56  can extend up to the surface  57  and, if needed, can penetrate it to a greater or lesser extent. When performing its pivot movement  58 , the control lever  28 ′ thus impacts with its lever end  59  on the stop  56 . Accordingly, the further movement  58  into the third pivot position  28 ″ is prevented. This movement  58  is only possible when a control device  60  has deactivated the rotary stop  56 . The rotary stop  56  is then positioned at a spacing relative to the surface  57  of FIG. 6 so that the control lever can be moved easily from the second position  28 ′ into the position  28 ″. 
     The control device  60  in the present case is comprised of a solenoid with an armature  61  that is liftable or pivotable. In the shown embodiment according to FIG. 6, the armature is comprised of an armature  61  which can be pivoted in the direction of arrow  63  and is loaded by a return spring  59 . The return spring  59  pivots the armature  61  away from the solenoid  60 . At the outer side of the armature  61  a rotary stop  56  is provided which, as shown in FIG. 6, can be profiled. The solenoid  60  is integrated into the plastic material  64  of the support. The coil member  62  of the solenoid  60  is surrounded by the wall parts  65  of the plastic material  64  and receives in its interior a coil core  66  that cooperates magnetically with the armature  61 . Only when the solenoid  60  is switched on by the locking means that can be actuated from the exterior of the vehicle, is it possible to lift the armature  61  against the effect of the return spring  59 . Only then the lever end  29  can move into the third pivot position  28 ″ of FIG. 5 in the working gap below the solenoid  60 . This is illustrated in dashed lines in FIG.  6 . 
     As is apparent, the switching of the lock from the locked position according to the second pivot position  28 ′ into the secured position according to the third pivot position  28 ″ is possible only electrically in the illustrated embodiment. It must be possible to supply the solenoid  60  with current. However, a mechanical solution is also used, in that, for example, a closing cylinder is acting on the pivot axle  27 . In the third pivot position  28 ″ the lever end can be maintained in its desired end position by the profiling illustrated on the underside  67 , as shown in FIG. 6, of the rotary stop  56  or the armature member  61 . For this purpose, the armature  61  is again positioned in its blocking position. By means of the return spring  59 , the profiled underside  67  of the armature  61  is forced against the control lever positioned in the position  28 ″ which is then supported on the surface  57  of FIG.  7 . 
     Expediently, a return movement of the control lever indicated by arrow  68  in FIG. 6 from the third pivot position  28 ″ into the second pivot position  28 ′ is possible at any time, independent of whether the locked position of the rotary stop  56  shown in FIG. 6 is present or not. The inoperative position of the rotary stop  56 , as disclosed above, would require an electromagnetic control of the control device  60 . However, the latter would require current to be supplied to the solenoid, which could be unavailable in an extreme case, for example, outage of the current source. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 the armature  61  is provided with a profile  67  at its underside with the rotary stop  56 , wherein the profile has an ascent slant. Accordingly, the control lever can be mechanically returned from the third pivot position  28 ″, for example, by means of the closing cylinder mentioned already several times which engages the pivot axle  27 , into the second pivot position  28 ′. The lever end ascends on the slanted profile  67  and thus lifts the rotary stop  56  against the effect of the return spring  59  upwardly by a sufficient amount and glides underneath. With the same means the control lever can also be returned into the first pivot position  28  according to FIG. 3 which corresponds to the closing state of the lock. In this case, access to the vehicle is also possible by means of the exterior handle; the door can be opened. 
     According to the invention, opening of the rotary catch is possible usually by means of the electric devices  14  illustrated in FIG.  1 . If needed, it is also possible to employ mechanical components which are disclosed in FIGS. 3 through 6 in the form of the device  18 . Accordingly, the system is not dependent on the current supply of the vehicle which is conventionally used for the comfort actuation of the rotary latch lock; even when the electrical supply fails, the rotary latch positioned in its closed position can be easily mechanically transferred into the open position of FIG. 2 by means of the device  18 . Important in this context is the compact configuration and the inexpensive manufacture and assembly of the components which result especially from the integration of the control device  60  during manufacture of the component support  11  of plastic material  64 . The rotary latch lock according to the invention is characterized by a surprisingly minimal weight even through it has the aforementioned multi-function motoric comfort actuation. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       10  closing member (receiving position in  20 ) 
       10 ′ release position of  10  (FIG. 2) 
       11  component support 
       12  stop for  20  in  11   
       13  part of the locking movement of  10 ′ in  10  (FIG. 2) 
       14  electric devices on  16  of  11   
       15  sensor for  20   
       16  one side of  11  for  17   
       17  other side of  11  for  18   
       18  mechanical device of  11   
       19  channel in  11  for  10   
       20  rotary latch 
       21  axle of  20   
       22  return spring for  20   
       23  radial cutout in  20  for  10   
       24  point of action for interior handle 
       25  point of action for exterior handle 
       26  point of action for securing handle 
       27  slanted axle of  28   
       28  control lever (first pivot position) 
       28 ′ second pivot position of  28   
       28 ″ third pivot position of  28   
       29  lever end of  28   
       30  pawl 
       31  working arm of  30   
       32  adjusting arm of  30   
       33  spring for  30   
       34  axle of  30   
       35  release lever for  18   
       36  release finger of  35  for  18   
       37  arm of  35   
       38  longitudinal guide, gate 
       39  nose of  30  for  36   
       40  pre-loaded lever 
       41  force storage means for  40   
       42  connecting member between  28 ,  35   
       43  pivot connection of  42  at  28   
       44  end of  42 , driver 
       45  interior actuating lever for  44   
       46  exterior actuating lever for  44   
       47  bearing pin of  45 ,  46 ,  35   
       48  working arm of  45   
       49  working arm of  46   
       50  DC motor for  32  and  40   
       50 ′ DC motor for  27   
       51  control cam on  53   
       51 ′ axle of  531   
       52  worm drive of  50   
       52 ′ worm drive of  50 ′ 
       53  worm wheel of  50   
       53 ′ worm wheel of  50 ′ 
       54  cutout in  11  for  36   
       55  arrow of rotary movement of  35  by  45  or  46   
       56  rotary stop on  61  (FIG. 6) 
       57  gliding guide surface on  11  for  28   
       58  movement path of  28 ′ in  28 ″ 
       59  return spring for  61   
       60  control device, solenoid 
       61  armature of  60   
       62  coil member of  60   
       63  arrow of pivot movement of  61   
       64  plastic material of  11   
       65  wall part of  64  for  60   
       66  coil core of  60   
       67  underside profile of  56   
       68  arrow of return movement from  28 ″ to  28 ′ 
       69  sliding block at  44   
       70  locking means on  27