Patent Publication Number: US-2015076840-A1

Title: Coupling device for releasably connecting a pivotably mounted body part, such as a vehicle door, tailgate or hood to a vehicle structural part of a motor vehicle body

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation, under 35 U.S.C. §120, of copending International Application No. PCT/EP2013/001681, filed Jun. 7, 2013, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German Patent Application No. DE 10 2012 011 420.6, filed Jun. 8, 2012; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention  
     The invention relates to a coupling g device for releasably connecting a pivotably mounted body part, in particular a vehicle door, tailgate or hood, to a vehicle structural part of a vehicle body. 
     German Utility Model DE 200 03 277 U1 discloses a generic coupling device which is formed of a lock with two locking bars which are displaceable in a parallel manner in relation to one another between an open and a closed position, wherein when displacing the locking bars into their closed position they interact with a counterpart in a form-locking and/or force-locking manner for the purposes of locking. In order to move the locking bars between their open and closed position, a rotatable locking plate is provided which produces an operative connection to the locking bars through the use of crank drives. The two locking bars are moved between the open and closed position as a result of rotating the locking plate. 
     In addition, Published, Prosecuted German Patent Application DE 10 57 496 B describes a device for dosing motor vehicle doors which includes an electrically drivable engagement member on a door wing or on a stationary door frame and a corresponding receiving body for the drivable engagement member on the other part. In this connection, a truncated-cone-shaped locking bar can be used as an engagement member which engages in a hollow truncated cone as a receiving body. In addition, realizing such a locking bar and the associated receiving opening in a wedge-shaped manner, for example, in the form of wedge faces is also proposed. 
     Finally, Published German Patent Application DE 103 15 565 A1 also makes known a coupling device which is used as a so-called force joint for releasably connecting a vehicle door to a door pillar, the vehicle door being pivotally mounted on the locating side on the door pillar located there by way of a force joint. In addition, the vehicle door includes a door stiffening device connecting the force joint to the force lock such that forces from the door pillars can be introduced into the vehicle doors via the force joint and the force lock and, as a result, the rigidity of the vehicle body is increased. 
     The force lock described in German Patent Application DE 103 15 565 A1 for releasably connecting a vehicle door to a B-pillar of a motor vehicle body includes a first coupling element which is provided on the door side and a second coupling element which interacts with the first coupling element and is fastened on the body side, in a closed state of the force lock the two coupling elements abutting against one another in a play-free manner such that pulling and pushing forces are able to be transmitted in order, as a result, to increase the bending stiffness of the connection between the vehicle door and the B pillar and the torsional stiffness of the vehicle body. In addition, to avoid a high surface pressure and to compensate for any tolerances which can be generated by the production or in operation, holding bodies, including wedge faces, of the second coupling element are provided which cooperate with correspondingly realized wedge faces of an engagement body of the first coupling element. To form the wedge faces, the holding bodies or the engagement bodies provided on the door side are realized in the manner of cone segments or in the shape of truncated cones, four such holding bodies, for example, being arranged radially around a bolt. The tensioning of the wedge faces, that is the locking of the two coupling segments is brought about by a motorized drive or by an electromagnet, the two coupling elements being released in the event of the power supply of the drive being switched off. Realization of the known force-locking requires a high number of kinematic components which include a complicated geometry. Apart from the force lock, the vehicle door of the vehicle body additionally includes a usual door lock. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a coupling device which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known coupling devices of this general type. It is in particular an object of the invention to provide a coupling device that can be produced using a few, structurally simple components. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a coupling device for releasably connecting a pivotably mounted body part to a vehicle structural part, the coupling device including: 
     a first coupling element and a second coupling element, the second coupling element, in a coupled state of the coupling device, being coupled in a play-free manner with the first coupling element; 
     the first coupling element having two locking bars, the locking bars being mounted so as to be displaceable in relation to one another in a parallel manner, the locking bars being configured as plate-shaped closing wedges; 
     a cuboid closing wedge holder, the plate-shaped closing wedges being mounted in the cuboid closing wedge holder, the plate-shaped closing wedges having respective wedge faces and having a respective side edge with a respective wedge-shaped cross section for forming the wedge faces; 
     a motorized driving device and an operative connecting device, the motorized driving device, in order to couple the first and the second coupling element, moving the locking bars apart from one another in a motorized manner by using the operative connecting device; and 
     the second coupling element having two holding jaws, the holding jaws receiving the first coupling element therebetween, the holding jaws having respective keyways with respective wedge faces formed therein such that the plate-shaped dosing wedges are pressed, with the wedge faces of the plate-shaped dosing wedges, into the keyways as a result of the plate-shaped dosing wedges being displaced apart from one another in a motorized manner and thus are movable into abutment with the wedge faces of the keyways. 
     In other words, according to the invention, there is provided a coupling device for releasably connecting a pivotably mounted body part, in particular a vehicle door, tailgate or hood, to a vehicle structural part of a vehicle body, having a first coupling element and a second coupling element which is coupled in a play-free manner with the first coupling element in the coupled state of the coupling device, wherein the first coupling element includes two locking bars which are mounted so as to be displaceable in relation to one another in a parallel manner and there is provided a motorized driving device which, for coupling the two coupling elements, moves the locking bars apart from one another in a motorized manner through the use of an operative connecting device, is characterized according to the invention in that the locking bars are realized as plate-shaped closing wedges, which are mounted in a cuboid closing wedge holder, having wedge faces which include a side edge with a wedge-shaped cross section for forming the wedge faces, and the second coupling element is realized with two holding jaws, which receive the first coupling element between them, having keyways in such a manner that the closing wedges are pressed by way of their wedge faces into the keyways as a result of the locking bars being displaced apart from one another in a motorized manner and at the same time are able to be moved into abutment with the wedge faces of the keyways. 
     The coupling device according to the invention manages with a few elements, in particular only two dosing wedges are necessary, by way of which an effective form-locking is obtained between the two coupling elements, namely in all directions lying in the plane perpendicular to the wedge faces, i.e. with reference to a coordinate system of a vehicle both in the x and z direction. There is a high degree of form-locking in the direction in which the dosing wedges are moved out of the keyways. 
     As a result of using simple dosing wedges with keyways introduced into holding jaws for receiving the dosing wedges, a simple structural configuration is produced which can be realized in a cost-efficient manner both with regard to the production and also to assembly. 
     As a result of the plate-shaped closing wedges with side edges with a wedge-shaped cross section, the structural configuration is further reduced as complicated rotationally symmetrical bodies according to the prior art, such as truncated cone segments or truncated cones are omitted. Even the kinematics necessary for the two closing wedges to be displaced apart into the keyways of the holding jaws can be realized with simple measures. 
     In order to also allow a form-locking in the y-direction in the direction of the vehicle interior, in their longitudinal extension the keyways taper conically toward one another and the wedge faces of the closing wedges are adapted to the conical development or profile in such a manner that the insertion of the closing edges, when closing for example a vehicle door, into the second coupling element is made easier, however as a result of the longitudinal grooves of the holding jaws conically tapering toward one another in the direction of the vehicle interior and the closing wedges being adapted thereto, the two coupling elements are tensioned in this direction and consequently also allow a form-locking that enables force transmission. Thus, according to a feature of the invention, the keyways taper conically toward one another in a longitudinal extension of the keyways thus forming a conical profile; and the wedge faces of the closing wedges are adapted to the conical profile. 
     According to another feature of the invention, each of the dosing wedges has a side edge facing a respective one of the holding jaws; and at least one of the dosing wedges has a dosing lug on the side edge. Thus, alternatively or additionally, at least one of the dosing wedges is realized with a dosing lug on the side edge located opposite the holding jaws, which dosing lug moves into corresponding dosing openings in the keyways of the holding jaws of the second coupling element during locking. As a result, full form-locking is brought about between the two coupling elements also in the y direction, that is both in the direction of the vehicle interior and toward the outside. 
     According to yet another feature of the invention, the first coupling element has at least one return spring element, the at least one return spring element connects the closing wedges to one another and pretensions the closing wedges in a direction toward one another. By, according to this embodiment, the first coupling element including at least one return spring element which connects the closing wedges and pretensions the two closing wedges in the direction toward one another, the two closing wedges do not have to be actively pulled out of the tensioning with the keyways when the cam disk is rotated in the corresponding position through the use of the motorized driving device. 
     According to a feature of the invention, the operative connecting device for establishing an operative connection between the motorized driving device and the closing wedges of the first coupling element includes a cam disk with two diametrically opposed cam lugs; and the cam disk is mounted in the first coupling element such that, as a result of a rotation with the cam lugs and the closing wedges in operative connection, the closing wedges are pressed into the keyways of the holding jaws. In the case of this advantageous further embodiment of the invention, the operative connecting device for producing the operative connection between the motorized driving device and the closing wedges of the first coupling element includes a cam disk which has two diametrically opposed cam lugs and is mounted in the first coupling element in such a manner that, as a result of a rotation with the cam lugs and the closing wedges in operative connection, the same are pressed into the keyways. 
     Consequently, the dosing wedges, which are displaceably mounted in the first coupling dement, can be easily moved apart into the keyways by way of the cam disk that is disposed in between them, preferably in the plate plane of the dosing wedges, the dosing wedges moving symmetrically into the keyways of the holding jaws as a result of the oppositely located cam lugs. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the operative connecting device includes a control disk, the control disk is connected to the cam disk in a manner fixed against rotation relative thereto; and a stop device limits a rotation of the control disk such that the control disk is rotatable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position decouples the first and the second coupling element and wherein the second position couples the first and the second coupling element. Thus, according to this embodiment of the invention, the operative connecting device includes a control disk which is connected non-rotatably to the cam disk, wherein through the use of a stop device the rotation of the control disk is limited in such a manner that the control disk is rotatable between a first position, which decouples the first and second coupling element, and a second position which couples the first and second coupling element. 
     With such a control disk, advantageous control of the motorized driving device can be realized as the limited rotation of the control disk results in a detectable change in driving parameters, such as, for example, the motor current of an electric motor as the driving device and can be utilized for switching off the driving device. 
     According to another feature of the invention, an entrainment device is provided; the operative connecting device has a driving disk, the driving disk is connectable to the control disk in a manner fixed against relative rotation through use of the entrainment device; the entrainment device is disposed in a pivotable and spring-loaded manner on the control disk such that the entrainment device establishes a releasable latching connection to the driving disk such that the latching connection is fixed against relative rotation; and the control disk is pivotable between the first and the second position as a result of a rotation of the driving disk, wherein the rotation is brought about by the motorized driving device. Thus, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the operative connecting device includes a driving disk which is non-rotatably connectable to the control disk through the use of an entrainment device, wherein the entrainment device is provided in a pivotable and spring-loaded manner on the control disk in such a manner that the entrainment device produces a releasable and non-rotatable latching connection to the driving disk and, as a result of a rotation of the driving disk that is brought about by the driving device, the control disk is pivotable between the first and second position. 
     A releasable coupling between the driving side and the driven side, which serves manually for realizing a manual emergency release, is realized by way of this entrainment device. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, this is realized through the use of an emergency lever which is displaceable when operatively connected to the entrainment device in such a manner that the latching connection to the driving disk is released in the second position of the control disk and there is provided a spring element which pretensions the control disk in the direction of the first position, through the use of which the control disk is pivoted into the first position when the entrainment device is unlatched. Thus, according to a feature of the invention, an emergency lever is provided for an emergency release of the first and the second coupling element when coupled, wherein the emergency lever, when operatively connected to the entrainment device, is displaceable such that the latching connection in the second position of the control disk to the driving disk is released; and a spring element is provided for pretensioning the control disk in a direction of the first position, the spring element pivoting the control disk into the first position when the entrainment device is unlatched. 
     In the event of a power failure, the emergency lever is actuated through the use of a door handle, as soon as the latching connection between the control disk and the driving disk is released, the return spring elements pull the two closing wedges back out of the clamping with the keyways in the holding jaws such that, a vehicle door, for example, can be opened. 
     An alternative embodiment of an emergency release is created wherein a release ring, disposed axially with respect to the control disk, is provided with a control cam which can be moved into operative connection with the entrainment device for releasing the latching connection between the entrainment device and the driving disk and wherein an actuating device is provided by way of which a rotation of the release ring out of a rest position into at least one operating position is effected in such a manner that with the rotation initially the latching connection with the driving disk is released at least in the second position of the control disk and the control disk is then rotated through the use of the entrainment device in the direction of the first position thereof. Thus according to a feature of the invention, a release ring is provided for the emergency release of the first and the second coupling element, the release ring is disposed axially with respect to the control disk, the release ring has a control cam which can be brought into operative connection with the entrainment device for releasing the latching connection of the entrainment device with the driving disk; and an actuating device is configured to effect a rotation of the release ring out of a rest position into at least one operating position such that by way of the rotation initially the latching connection, at least in the second position of the control disk, with the driving disk is released and the control disk is then rotated, through use of the entrainment device, in a direction of the first position of the control disk. 
     This embodiment provides the advantage that an emergency release is possible even if the motorized driving device fails during the operation of coupling the two coupling elements. 
     In the case of this embodiment, the rotation of the release ring is preferably effected through the use of a pivotably mounted toothed segment element, in particular a toothed segment wheel or a toothed rod which meshes with a toothed segment of the release ring, the toothed segment element is pretensioned through the use of a spring in a first pivot position which corresponds to the rest position of the release ring and through the use of the actuating device, the toothed segment element is pivoted out of the first pivot position into a second pivot position which rotates the release ring in the operating position thereof. Thus, according to a feature of the invention, the release ring has a toothed segment; a toothed segment element is pivotably mounted and meshes with the toothed segment of the release ring such that the toothed segment element effects a rotation of the release ring; and the toothed segment element is spring-pretensioned in a first pivot position, which corresponds to a rest position of the release ring, and, through use of the actuating device, the toothed segment element is pivoted out of the first pivot position into a second pivot position which rotates the release ring in an operating position thereof. According to another feature of the invention, the toothed segment element is a toothed segment wheel or a toothed rod. 
     A Bowden cable device is provided in particular as actuating device which is pivotally mounted on the toothed segment element at the one end and is connected to a door handle of the lock at the other end. In other words, the actuating device is configured as a Bowden cable device having a first end and a second end, and wherein the Bowden cable device is linked to the toothed segment element at the first end and is configured to be connected to an actuating handle of a vehicle lock at the second end. 
     A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is provided as a result of providing an entrainment disk which is rotationally coupled with the driving disk, wherein the rotational coupling is formed by at least one play-compensating spring element which is connected at the one end to the entrainment disk and at the other end to the driving disk, and the rotational coupling allows a relative rotation between the driving disk and the entrainment disk over a predefined rotation angle in such a manner that as a result of a rotation of the entrainment disk in the direction of rotation D 1  of the second position of the control disk, the driving disk is pretensioned in the same direction of rotation D 1  at least when its end position is reached and a play-compensating further rotation at a maximum rotation angle that corresponds to the predefined rotation angle is made possible. Thus, according to this feature of the invention, an entrainment disk is rotationally coupled with the driving disk; and at least one play-compensating spring element is connected at one end thereof to the entrainment disk and at another end thereof to the driving disk such that a rotational coupling between the entrainment disk and the driving disk is established via the at least one play-compensating spring element, wherein the rotational coupling allows a relative rotation between the driving disk and the entrainment disk over a given rotation angle in such a manner that as a result of a rotation of the entrainment disk in a direction of rotation of the second position of the control disk, the driving disk is, at least when an end position of the driving disk is reached, pretensioned in a same direction of rotation and a play-compensating further rotation at a rotation angle which maximally corresponds to the given rotation angle is made possible. 
     The rotational coupling between the driving disk and the entrainment disk brings about, therefore, that in the case of a rotation of the entrainment disk that is brought about by the driving device in the rotational direction of the second position of the control disk, the driving disk is initially pretensioned until it is enough to entrain the entrainment disk in the same rotational direction into a position in which the closing wedges are tensioned in a play-free manner in the keyways, wherein in this position the play-compensating spring element presses excessively up to a stop that limits the relative rotation and as a result the spring force up to this position has increased. Should, with the driving device switched off, play be generated between the closing wedges and the holding jaws, the spring force brought about by the play-compensating spring element brings about a relative rotation of the driving disk in relation to the entrainment disk which rotates the control disk further in the direction of its second position whilst eliminating the play generated, such that, as a result, also the cam disk with its two cam lugs presses the two closing wedges further into the keyways whilst eliminating the play generated. 
     Consequently, when the driving device is switched off, a dynamic play compensation between the two coupling elements is obtained and, as a result, the form-locking between the two coupling elements is continuously ensured during the operation of the vehicle. 
     According to a further embodiment, there are provided connecting devices which enable a relative rotation of the entrainment disk in relation to the driving disk at the predefined rotation angle and consequently form a stop that limits the relative rotation. In other words, connecting devices enabling the relative rotation of the entrainment disk in relation to the driving disk at the given rotation angle are provided. A connecting pin which is connected to the driving disk and a longitudinal groove which is disposed on the entrainment disk for receiving the connecting pin are preferably provided as connecting devices in such a manner that the longitudinal groove enables a relative movement of the connecting pin corresponding to the angle of rotation. Thus, according to a feature of the invention, a connecting pin and a longitudinal groove are provided as the connecting devices, the connecting pin is connected to the driving disk, the longitudinal groove is provided on the entrainment disk for receiving the connecting pin such that the longitudinal groove allows a relative movement of the connecting pin corresponding to the rotation angle. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment, the entrainment disk includes a worm wheel which is driven by the motorized driving device through the use of a worm or screw. According to this feature of the invention, a worm is provided; and the entrainment disk includes a worm wheel driven by the motorized driving device via the worm. In addition, the entrainment disk includes a spring attaching wheel which, together with the driving disk receives the at least one play-compensating spring dement and includes the longitudinal groove. In other words, the entrainment disk includes a spring attaching wheel, the spring attaching wheel is formed with a longitudinal groove and, together with the driving disk, receives the at least one play-compensating spring element. 
     The motorized driving device is realized so as to be self-locking, in particular as an electric motor for the motorized driving of the driving disk or of the entrainment disk. Thus, according to a feature of the invention, the motorized driving device is configured to be self-locking and the motorized driving device is advantageously configured as an electric motor for a motorized driving of the driving disk or the entrainment disk. 
     With the objects of the invention in view there is also provided, a vehicle configuration which includes: 
     a motor vehicle body having a vehicle structural part and a pivotably mounted body part; 
     a coupling device for releasably connecting the pivotably mounted body part to the vehicle structural part; 
     the coupling device including a first coupling element, a second coupling element, a cuboid dosing wedge holder, a motorized driving device, and an operative connecting device; 
     the second coupling element, in a coupled state of the coupling device, being coupled in a play-free manner with the first coupling element; 
     the first coupling element having two locking bars, the locking bars being mounted so as to be displaceable in relation to one another in a parallel manner, the locking bars being configured as plate-shaped closing wedges; 
     the plate-shaped closing wedges being mounted in the cuboid closing wedge holder, the plate-shaped closing wedges having respective wedge faces and having a respective side edge with a respective wedge-shaped cross section for forming the wedge faces; 
     the motorized driving device, in order to couple the first and the second coupling element, moving the locking bars apart from one another in a motorized manner by using the operative connecting device; and 
     the second coupling element having two holding jaws, the holding jaws receiving the first coupling element therebetween, the holding jaws having respective keyways with respective wedge faces formed therein such that the plate-shaped closing wedges are pressed, with the wedge faces of the plate-shaped closing wedges, into the keyways as a result of the plate-shaped closing wedges being displaced apart from one another in a motorized manner and thus being movable into abutment with the wedge faces of the keyways. 
     According to a feature of the invention, the pivotably mounted body part is a body part such as a vehicle door, a tailgate, or a hood. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the operative connecting device for establishing an operative connection between the motorized driving device and the closing wedges of the first coupling element includes a cam disk with two diametrically opposed cam lugs; the cam disk is mounted in the first coupling element such that, as a result of a rotation with the cam lugs and the closing wedges in operative connection, the dosing wedges are pressed into the keyways of the holding jaws; the operative connecting device includes a control disk, the control disk is connected to the cam disk in a manner fixed against rotation relative thereto; a stop device limits a rotation of the control disk such that the control disk is rotatable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position decouples the first and the second coupling element and wherein the second position couples the first and the second coupling element; an entrainment device is provided, the operative connecting device has a driving disk, the driving disk is connectable to the control disk in a manner fixed against relative rotation through use of the entrainment device; the entrainment device is disposed in a pivotable and spring-loaded manner on the control disk such that the entrainment device establishes a releasable latching connection to the driving disk such that the latching connection is fixed against relative rotation; a release ring is provided for an emergency release of the first and the second coupling element, the release ring is disposed axially with respect to the control disk, the release ring has a control cam which can be moved into operative connection with the entrainment device for releasing the latching connection between the entrainment device and the driving disk; an actuating device is configured to effect a rotation of the release ring out of a rest position into at least one operating position such that by way of the rotation initially the latching connection, at least in the second position of the control disk, with the driving disk is released and the control disk is then rotated, through use of the entrainment device, in a direction of the first position thereof; the release ring has a toothed segment, a toothed segment element is pivotably mounted and meshes with the toothed segment of the release ring such that the toothed segment element effects a rotation of the release ring, the toothed segment element is spring-pretensioned in a first pivot position, which corresponds to a rest position of the release ring, and, through use of the actuating device, the toothed segment element is pivoted out of the first pivot position into a second pivot position which rotates the release ring in an operating position thereof; and a vehicle lock with an actuating handle is provided, the actuating device is configured as a Bowden cable device having a first end and a second end, and the Bowden cable device is linked to the toothed segment element at the first end and is connected to the actuating handle of the vehicle lock at the second end. 
     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a coupling device for releasably connecting a pivotably mounted body part, such as a vehicle door, tailgate or hood to a vehicle structural part of a motor vehicle body, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a first coupling element of a first exemplary embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a second coupling element, which together with the first coupling element according to  FIG. 1  forms a coupling device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the second coupling element according to  FIG. 2  with closing wedges of the first coupling element according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the coupling device according to the invention with a first and second decoupled coupling element according to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the coupling device according to the invention with a closing wedge holder of the first coupling element shown in exploded form; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the coupling device according to the invention with a first coupling element shown in part in exploded form; 
         FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  are diagrammatic partial views of the first and second coupling elements of the coupling device according to  FIG. 4  with the closing wedges decoupled in accordance with the invention; 
         FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b  are further diagrammatic partial views of the first and second coupling elements of the coupling device according to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  with the closing wedges in the coupled position in accordance with the invention; 
         FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b  are diagrammatic partial views of the first coupling element according to the invention to explain the emergency release function of the coupling device according to  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the coupling device according to  FIG. 4  with a housing that includes a load attaching element; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic partial view of the region of the B pillar of a vehicle body with the coupling device according to  FIG. 4  installed in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic side view of a coupling device as a further exemplary embodiment according to the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic exploded view of the first coupling element according to  FIG. 12  without a closing wedge holder; 
         FIGS. 14   a ,  14   b  are diagrammatic perspective views of the driving disk and entrainment disk according to  FIG. 13  in accordance with the invention; 
         FIGS. 15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c  are diagrammatic perspective views of the first coupling element according to  FIG. 12  which show the sequence of movement of the dosing wedges from a decoupled position into a coupled position in accordance with the invention; 
         FIGS. 16   a ,  16   b  are diagrammatic views of elements of the coupling device according to the invention for explaining the emergency release function of the coupling device according to  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIGS. 17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c  are diagrammatic perspective views of the first coupling element according to  FIG. 12  which show the sequence of movement of a manual emergency release function in accordance with the invention; 
         FIGS. 18   a ,  18   b  are diagrammatic perspective views of the first coupling element according to  FIG. 12  which show the sequence of movement of a motorized locking operation after a manual emergency release function has been carried out in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a closing wedge with a closing lug according to the invention; 
         FIG. 20  is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternative second coupling element with a displaceable cover according to the invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a closing wedge holder with an alternative implementation of a closing wedge according to the invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the closing wedge holder according to  FIG. 21  with the closing wedge extended; and 
         FIG. 23  is a diagrammatic view of a detail of the closing wedge holder according to  FIG. 22  in the state coupled with a holding jaw in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to  FIGS. 1 to 4  thereof, there is shown a coupling device  100  with a first and second coupling element  10  and  20  as an exemplary embodiment both in representations showing the two coupling elements  10  and  20  in the separated state and in the connected state. 
       FIG. 1  shows the first coupling element  10  with a cuboid closing wedge holder  13 , on each of the longitudinal sides of which a closing wedge  11  and  12  is mounted so as to be displaceable in the z direction. The closing wedges  11  and  12  are in each case realized on their free end faces  11   a  and  12   a  with a symmetrical wedge-shaped cross section thereby forming in each case two wedge faces  11   b  and  12   b.    
     According to  FIG. 1 , the closing wedge holder  13  of the first coupling element  10  is disposed on a panel  17  which forms the end face of a vehicle door  3  of a vehicle body  1 . A motorized driving device  30  and an operative connecting device  40 , which produces an operative connection between the closing wedges  11  and  12  and the driving device, are disposed on the other side of the panel  17 , i.e. inside the vehicle door  3 . 
     The second coupling element  20  according to  FIG. 2  includes two holding jaws  21  and  23 , which are disposed spaced apart from one another on a base plate  25  and between them receive the closing wedge holder  13  with the two closing wedges  11  and  12 , as is shown in  FIG. 3 . This second coupling element  20  is mounted on a B pillar  2  of the vehicle body  1 , which is indicated schematically in  FIG. 2 , such that as a result of the vehicle door  3  closing, the dosing wedge holder  13  with the two closing wedges  11  and  12  passes between the two holding jaws  21  and  23  according to  FIG. 3  and is able to be locked or coupled there with the second coupling element  20 . To this end, the two holding jaws  21  and  23  in each case include a keyway  22  or  24  with wedge faces  22   a  or  24   a,  into which, for coupling and locking the two coupling elements  10  and  20 , the closing wedges  11  and  12  are pressed through the use of the locking device  30 , as is shown, for example, in  FIG. 8   a .  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in contrast, show the first and second coupling element  10  and  20  in a decoupled state. 
     In order to make it easier to insert the closing wedge holder  13  with the two closing wedges  11  and  12  between the two holding jaws  21  and  23 , the two holding jaws  21  and  23  are pivoted at a point P by an angle α (for example 3°) in relation to a horizontal center line A such that the two keyways  22  and  24  taper conically toward one another (cf.  FIG. 2 ). The side edges  11   a  and  12   a  of the two closing wedges  11  and  12  are also adapted to the conical development or profile of the two keyways  22  and  24 . 
     In order to displace the closing wedges  11  and  12 , for coupling the two coupling elements  10  and  20 , out of their position decoupled with the holding jaws  21  and  23  according to  FIGS. 3 and 4  into a position tensioned with the keyways  22  and  23  thereof, the operative connecting device  40 , for producing an operative connection between the closing wedges  11  and  12  and the driving device  30 , includes a cam disk  41 , which is mounted in the closing wedge holder  13  through the use of a cam shaft  42 , with two diametrically opposed cam lugs  41   a,  as can be seen in particular from  FIG. 1 . In the representation shown in  FIG. 1 , the cam disk  41  is situated in a position in which a straight line, formed by the two cam lugs  41   a,  is directed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the two closing wedges  11  and  12 , that is in the y direction, which is designated below as a 0° position. 
     As a result of a rotation of the cam disk  41  about 90°, brought about by the driving device  30  and designated as a 90° position, the cam lugs  41   a  come into contact with the two closing wedges  11  and  12  and press the closing wedges apart from one another against the spring force of two return spring elements  14 , which connects the two dosing wedges  11  and  12  together according to  FIG. 7   b  or  8   b , such that at the same time they are tensioned in the keyways  22  and  24  of the holding jaws  21  and  23 . As a result of the two return spring elements  14 , the two dosing wedges  11  and  12  are pretensioned in the direction toward one another such that as a result of a rotation of the cam disk  41  back into its starting position according to  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 7   b , the two dosing wedges  11  and  12  are pulled out of their position tensioned by way of the keyways  22  and  24  into their decoupled position. The locking and releasing operation will be explained in detail further below. 
     As a result of tensioning the closing wedges  11  and  12  by way of the keyways  22  and  24 , a form-locking is produced between the two coupling elements  10  and  20  in the x and z direction and on account of the conical profile of the two keyways  22  and  24  also in the y direction, namely in the direction of the vehicle interior. There is high degree of force-locking in the opposite y direction, that is toward the outside. 
     Consequently, this form-locking can be utilized for the purpose of introducing forces from the B pillar  2  into the vehicle door  3  when a corresponding door load path is constructed. To this end, according to  FIG. 10 , the operative connecting device  40  can be accommodated in a housing  60  which includes a load attaching portion  60   a.    
     According to  FIG. 11 , the second coupling element  20  is mounted on a mounting face  2   a  of the B pillar  2  of the vehicle body  1 , whilst the first coupling element  10  together with the housing  60  is situated at a corresponding position in the vehicle door  3 , the load attaching portion  60   a  of the housing being connected to a reinforcing element  4  of the vehicle door  3  for forming a door load path. A usual vehicle lock can be provided below the coupled coupling elements  10  and  20 . 
       FIG. 20  shows an alternative embodiment of the second coupling element  20  which is attached to a B pillar  2  of a vehicle body. In order to prevent ingress of dirt into the second coupling element  20 , the two holding jaws  21  and  23  are bridged by a drivable or displaceable cover  26  such that the cover is able to be displaced from an open position, as shown in  FIG. 20 , into a closed position. 
     The detailed configuration of the coupling device  100  according to the invention will be described below by way of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     According to  FIG. 5 , the closing wedge holder  13  is realized in a cuboid manner with an H-shaped cross section such that in each case a closing wedge  11  or  12  is able to be accommodated between the H legs. The closing wedges  11  and  12  are realized in a plate-like manner and include—as already described above—two wedge faces  11   b  and  12   b  in each case on their longitudinal edges  11   a  and  12   a . To guide the closing wedges  11  and  12  in the wedge closing holder  13 , semicircular grooves  13   a,  which in each case correspond with one another, are provided on the closing wedge holder  13  and semicircular grooves  11   c  or  12   c  on the closing wedge  11  or  12  such that the hollow cylinders formed as a result can in each case receive a closing wedge guiding element  15  (cf.  FIG. 7   b  or  8   b ). 
     According to  FIG. 21 , the semicircular groove  11  c of the closing wedge  11  and the length of the closing wedge guiding element  15  are adapted to one another such that in the state inserted into the closing wedge holder  13 , the upper end face of the closing wedge guiding element  15  lines up with the closing wedge holder  13  at the end face. When the closing wedge  11  is moved out of or the closing wedge  11  is moved into the key way  22  of the holding jaw  21 , corresponding to the representation in  FIG. 22  the closing wedge guiding element  15  also moves out of or into a semicircular groove  21   a  of the holding jaw  21  of the second coupling element  20  that is adapted to the closing edge guiding element  15  (cf.  FIG. 23 ). 
     As a result, a form-locking is achieved between the two coupling elements  10  and  20  also in the y direction with reference to the vehicle coordinate system. Such an embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 21 to 23  can also be provided for the opposite closing wedge  12  and the associated holding jaw  23 . 
     Openings  13   b  are provided in the cross leg of the H shape of the closing wedge holder  13 , through which openings the two return spring elements  14  connecting the dosing wedges  11  and  12  are guided. In each case elastic and sleeve-shaped closing wedge dampers  14   a  are sheathed over the return spring elements  14  in order to ensure that the dosing wedges  11  and  12  move gently into the keyways  22  and  24 . 
     For accommodating the cam disk  41  which is disposed on the end of the cam shaft  42 , the dosing wedge holder  13  includes a central bore  13   c.  The cam disk  41  is placed onto a profiled end of the cam shaft  42  and secured through the use of a fastening screw  42   a.    
     Finally, the end faces of the closing wedge holder  13  are covered in each case with an end cap  13   d.    
     In addition, one of the two closing wedges  11  and  12  can be realized with a closing lug  11   d  or  12   d,  as is shown in  FIG. 19 . Accordingly, the closing lug stands perpendicularly in the middle of the side edge  11   a  or  12   a  and consequently extends in the z direction with reference to the reference system on the vehicle side. This results in form-locking being effected between the two coupling elements  10  and  20  in the y direction both in the direction of the vehicle interior and in the direction toward the outside. Both closing wedges  11  and  12  can also be realized with such a closing lug  11   d  and  12   d.    
     The axial configuration along the cam shaft  42 , formed of the closing wedge holder  13 , the panel  17  and a base plate  16  is held together by two mounting screws  18 . 
     Proceeding from the base plate  16  as far as up to the driving device  30 ,  FIG. 6  shows an explosion-like representation of the operative connecting device  40  for producing the operative connection between the driving device  30  and the closing wedges  11  and  12 . 
     The cam disk  41  which sits on the end of the cam shaft  42  has already been described. The other end of the cam shaft  42  projects through the base plate  16  and carries a control disk  43 , which is connected non-rotatably, i.e fixed against relative rotation, to the cam shaft  42  and on the flange  43   a  of which a driving disk  48  is rotatably mounted. The control disk  43  and the driving disk  48  are releasably connected through the use of an entrainment device  46 , which is disposed so as to be pivotable on the control disk  43  and is realized as an angle lever. The entrainment device  46  is mounted through the use of a rotational axis  46   a  on the control disk  43  in such a manner that a pin-shaped locking bar  46   b,  which is disposed on the end of a leg, is pressed both into a latching device  48   a  of the driving disk  48  and into a latching device  43   b  of the control disk  43  under the spring force of a spring element  47  which is realized as a leg spring. 
     As a result of a rotation of the driving disk  48  initiated by the driving device  30 , a corresponding rotation of the control disk  43  is effected, the rotation thereof being limited by a stop device  44 , which is realized as a stop pin and interacts with an arcuate control slot  43   c  of the control disk  43 , substantially to a 90° angular range. 
     A spring element  45 , which is realized as a tension spring and is pivotally mounted on the control disk  43  at one end through the use of a fixing pin  45   a  by way of the base plate  16  and at the other end through the use of a return cable  45   c  through the use of a connecting pin  45   b,  is additionally provided. A rotation into the rotational direction D 1  brings about a pretensioning of the control disk  43  into the opposite rotational direction. 
     A non-rotatable coupling between the driving disk  48  and the driving device  30  is achieved by a coupling disk  49  which on one side sits on a flange  48   b  of the driving disk  48  and is non-rotatably connected to the driving disk  48  through the use of driving pins  49   a  that engage in driving bores  48   c  of the driving disk  48  and on the other side produces a non-rotatable coupling with the driving device  30  through the use of a connecting element  49   b  that is realized as a square shaft. The coupling disk  49  is mounted in a holding element  16   a  which is mounted onto the base plate  16 . 
     An emergency release lever  50  which is provided for an emergency release function of the coupling device  100  abuts flatly against the base plate  16  and is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable through the use of the rotational axis  47   a  of leg spring  47  that is guided in a guide slot  50   a,  a limiting pin  50   d  being disposed additionally on the base plate  16  for longitudinal guidance. 
     In addition, one end of the emergency release lever  50  includes a flange  50   c  which is angled by approximately 90° and, when manually displaced longitudinally, moves from a rest position into operative contact with the entrainment device  46 , the emergency release lever  50  being pretensioned in the direction of its rest position through the use of a spring element  51  that is realized as a return spring. At one end the return spring  51  is connected to a tab  50   b  on the other end of the emergency release lever  50  and at the other end it is connected to the base plate  16  through the use of a fixing pin  51   a.    
     The customary method of operation of the coupling device  100  described up to now is to be explained below and entails that, with the vehicle door  3  dosed, that is when the dosing wedge holder  13  with the closing wedges  11  and  12  lies between the two holding wedges  21  and  24 , in dependence on the vehicle speed the coupling device  100  is locked automatically through the use of the motorized driving device  30 , for example an electric motor, i.e. the two closing wedges  11  and  12  are pressed into the two keyways  22  and  24  of the holding jaws  21  and  23  and the two coupling elements  10  and  20  are consequently transferred into the coupled state. An equally motorized release, that is a decoupling of the two coupling elements  10  and  20 , is effected when an inside actuating lever of the coupling device  100  is actuated and, as a result, the two closing wedges  11  and  12  are pulled out of the keyways  22  and  24  by the return spring elements  14 . 
     According to  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , the two closing wedges  11  and  12  are situated in their decoupled state, according to  FIG. 7   a  therefore they are not tensioned by way of the wedge faces  22   a  and  24   a  of the keyways  22  and  24  through the use of their wedge faces  11   b  and  12   b.  In this case, the cam disk  41  is situated in the position shown in  FIG. 7   b  and designated as the 0° position which corresponds to a first position of the control disk  43 . 
     The first position of the control disk  43 , which corresponds to the decoupled state of the two coupling elements  10  and  20 , is defined by the stop pin  44  abutting against one end of the arcuate control slot  43   c.  In addition, in the first position of the control disk  43 , the control disk is non-rotatably coupled with the driving disk  48  through the use of the entrainment device  46 , the entrainment device  46  being pretensioned by the leg spring  47  in such a manner that the locking bar  46   b  is pressed both into the latching device  48   a  of the driving disk  48  and into the latching device  43   b  of the control disk  43 . The control disk  43  is pretensioned in opposition to the direction of rotation D 1  through the use of the tension spring  45 . 
     To lock the coupling device  100 , the electric motor  30  is controlled such that the driving disk  48  moves in the direction of rotation D 1 , as a result of which the control disk  43 , and as a result also the cam disk  41 , is entrained in the same direction of rotation D 1 , that is in the direction of the 90° position. After rotating by approximately 90°, the stop pin  44  strikes against the other end of the control slot  43   c,  whereupon the control disk  43  has reached a second position in which the closing wedges  11  and  12  are pressed by the cam lugs  41   a  of the cam disk  41  into the keyways  22  and  24  of the two closing jaws  21  and  23 . As a result of the non-rotatable coupling between the control disk  43  and the driving disk  48 , the driving disk  48  is no longer able to rotate either such that on account of the rising motor current of the electric motor  30  that is realized as the driving device, it is switched off. On account of the self-locking of the electric motor  30 , the tensioned tension spring  45  is not able to rotate the control disk  43  back into its first position. This situation is shown in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , In the locked state of the coupling device  100 , the electric motor  30  remains switched off; consequently, in the locked state no electric power is consumed by the coupling device  100 . 
     If the electric motor  30  receives a signal to release the coupling device  100 , the coupling device is actuated in such a manner that the driving disk  48  is moved in opposition to the direction of rotation D 1  such that on account of the coupling with the control disk  43 , it is moved out of its second position into its first position according to  FIG. 7   a , until, on account of the movement of the control disk  43  that is limited by the stop pin  44 , the rising motor current of the electric motor  30  results in its shutdown. When the first position of the control disk  43  is reached, the cam disk  41  has also rotated back into the 0° position according to  FIG. 7   a  such that, as a result, the dosing wedges  11  and  12  are pulled back out of the keyways  22  and  24  on account of the return spring elements  14 . The two coupling elements  10  and  20  are consequently decoupled again. 
     If the motorized driving device  30  fails in the locked state of the coupling device  100 , the emergency release lever  50 , which is connected to an inside actuating lever or a door handle of a usual vehicle door lock, serves for emergency release, as is explained below by way of  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b.    
     Proceeding from the coupled state of the two coupling elements  10  and  20  according to  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  where the control disk  43  is situated in its second position, the emergency release lever  50  is displaced in the direction R 1  by a door handle of the vehicle door  3  being actuated such that, as a result, the angled flange  50   c  is pressed against the entrainment device  46  which, as a result, is pivoted with the driving disk  48  out of its rest position against the spring force of the leg spring  47  and at the same time the control disk  43  is decoupled from the driving disk  48  corresponding to the representation according to  FIG. 9   a . The control disk  43  is rotated even further by the flange  50   c  until the locking bar  46   b  of the entrainment device  46  is released securely from both the latching device  48   a  of the driving disk  48  and from the latching device  43   a  of the control disk  43  corresponding to the representation according to  FIG. 9   a.    
     The emergency release lever  50  is displaced back into its rest position by the return spring  51  and the spring force of the pretensioned tension spring  45  takes over the further rotating of the control disk  43  into its first position in which the stop pin  44  terminates the rotation at the end of the control slot  43   c  (cf.  FIG. 9   b ). During the rotation into the first position, the locking bar  46   b  slides along the circumference of the driving disk  48  and at the same time the cam disk  41  is rotated back out of the 90° position into its 0° position in order to make it possible for the closing wedges  11  and  12  to be pulled back out of the keyways  22  and  24  of the holding jaws  21  and  23 . The driving disk  48 , in contrast, stops in its position for the duration of the entire emergency release operation on account of the self-locking of the electric motor  30 . 
     Once the fault in the electric motor  30  has been eliminated, the coupling device  100  is locked in a motorized manner by the driving disk  48  being driven in the direction of rotation D 1  by the electric motor  30  until the latching device  48   a  moves under the locking bar  46   b  such that the locking bar is able to latch into both the latching device  48   a  of the driving disk  48  and the latching device  43   b  of the control disk  43 . The control disk  43  is consequently coupled with the driving disk  48  again and can once again be entrained into the second position by the driving disk for locking. 
     In order to ensure the locking bar  46   b  latches securely into the latching device  48   a  of the driving disk  48 , the latching device  48   a  initially merges in the direction of rotation D 1  into a lifting lug  48   d  which projects on the circumferential face of the driving disk  48  such that, as a result, the locking bar  46   b  is pivoted against the spring force of the leg spring  47  prior to latching into the latching device  48   a.    
     All the components of the first coupling element  10  which exert a control function or actuating function, that is such as the closing wedges  11  and  12 , the control disk  43 , the entrainment device  46  and the emergency release lever  50 , are pretensioned through the use of spring elements in the direction of their rest position which corresponds to the decoupled state of the coupling device  100  and consequently improves its operational reliability. 
       FIGS. 12 to 18  show a further exemplary embodiment of the coupling device  100  according to the invention, a side view of which is shown according to  FIG. 12 . The coupling device  100  accordingly includes a first coupling element  10  with a closing wedge holder  13  for accommodating closing wedges  11  and  12  as well as a housing  60  for accommodating the operative connecting device  40  for producing an operative connection between the closing wedges  11  and  12  and a motorized driving device  30 . The configuration of the closing wedge holder  13  and of the holding jaws  21  and  23  of the second coupling element  20  correspond to that of the above-described coupling device  100  according to  FIGS. 1 to 11  or to the alternative embodiments according to  FIGS. 19 to 23 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the coupling device  100  with the two coupling elements  10  and  20  in the coupled state, where the two closing wedges  11  and  12  are tensioned through the use of their wedge faces  11   b  and  12   b  with the wedge faces  22   a  and  24   a  of the keyways  22  and  24  of the holding jaws  21  and  23 , this being effected by the motorized driving device  30  through the use of a flexible shaft  87  which is connected to the housing  60 . 
     According to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , the housing  60  is formed of a housing pot  61   a  with an associated cover  61   b,  a load attaching element  62  being screw-connected to the rear side of the cover through the use of a base plate  62   a  on the bottom part of the housing part  61  according to  FIG. 12 . Consequently, the coupling device  100  according to  FIG. 11  can also be used for coupling a vehicle door with a B pillar such that force is able be transmitted out of the vehicle body into the vehicle door via the coupling when the load attaching element  62  of the first coupling element  10  is connected to a reinforcing element of the vehicle door. 
       FIG. 13  shows an exploded representation of the operative connecting device  40  which is received by the housing  60  of the first coupling element  10  according to  FIG. 12 , the exploded representation is described below together with  FIG. 14  and  FIGS. 15 to 17  which show a functioning first coupling element  10 . 
     The operative connecting device  40  includes components which are identical or extensively identical to those of the operative connecting device  40  of the above-described coupling device  100  (cf.  FIGS. 1 to 10 ), consequently they are only referred to below. 
     Thus, according to  FIG. 13 , the closing wedges  11  and  12  are moved or driven into the keyways  22  and  24  of the holding jaws  21  and  23  also by way of a cam disk  41  that is disposed at the end of a cam shaft  42  as a result of a rotation that is initiated by the driving  30  device out of a 0° position corresponding to  FIG. 15   a  into a position substantially 90° hereto according to  FIG. 15   b  or  FIG. 15   c.    
     The cam disk  41  according to  FIGS. 13 and 15  is realized as a symmetrical two-sided lever with semicircular ends as cam lugs  41   a.    
     The rotation of the cam disk  41 , which is non-rotatably connected to the cam shaft  42 , is brought about by a control disk  43 , which is also connected non-rotatably to the cam shaft  42  and includes substantially the same geometry as that from the above-described exemplary embodiment and also fulfills the same function. Just as already described above in conjunction with the first exemplary embodiment, the control disk  43  is connected through the use of an entrainment device  46  in a releasable manner to a driving disk  48  which, in turn, produces a rotation with a worm gear that is driven by the driving device  30 , formed of an entrainment disk  80  that includes a worm wheel  81  and a worm  84 . 
     The coupling of the control disk  43  with the driving disk  48  is effected through the use of the entrainment device  46  which is realized as a one-sided lever which is pivotably mounted on the control disk  43  through the use of the rotational axis  46   a  and is pressed by a leg spring  47  into a position in which a locking bar  46   b , which is disposed on the other end, engages at the same time in a latching device  43   b  of the control disk  43  and a latching device  48   a  of the driving disk  48 .  FIG. 15   a  shows the first coupling element  10  in the decoupled state where the control disk  43  is situated in its first position and the two dosing wedges  11  and  12  are moved out of the keyways  22  and  24  of the second coupling element  20  which corresponds to the 0° position of the cam disk  41 . 
     The cam disk  43  is connected to a tension spring  45  through the use of a return cable  45   c,  the return cable  45   c  being connected at one end to the control disk  43  through the use of a connecting pin  45   b  and at the other end to the tension spring  45  which is disposed in a spring dome  90 . As can be seen in  FIG. 15   a , the return cable  45   c  is guided from the direction of the spring dome  90 , which is aligned perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the control disk  43 , through the use of a guide roper  75 , which is mounted in a bearing block  76 , into this plane of rotation. As a result of a rotation of the control disk  43  in the direction of rotation D 1 , the tension spring  45  is tensioned such that, as a result, a return force engages at the control disk  43  in opposition to the direction of rotation D 1  and it is rotated back into its first position when the coupling with the driving disk  48  is released. 
     As a result of the releasable coupling, realized by the entrainment device  46 , between the control disk  43  and the driving disk  48 , in the case of an initiated rotation of the same in the direction of rotation D 1 , the control disk  43  is entrained out of its first position, in which the cam disk  41  is situated in the 0° position, in the direction of is second position, whilst the cam disk  41  is rotated in the direction of its 90° position and at the same time the two closing wedges  11  and  12  are pressed apart from one another into the keyways  22  and  24  of the holding jaws  21  and  23 . 
     The driving disk  48  is driven through the use of the worm gear already described, formed of the entrainment disk  80  with worm wheel  81  and the worm  84 . The worm  84  is provided non-rotatably on a worm axle  84   a  and is connected through the use of a coupling  85  to the flexible shaft  87  which is guided to the driving device  30 . A mounting bracket  86  serves for fixing the arrangement. 
     The entrainment disk  80  is formed of a worm wheel  81 , which engages with the worm  84 , and a spring attaching wheel  82 , which produces a spring coupling between the driving wheel  48  and the worm wheel  81 . A flange ring  81   a  holds the named parts together through the use of fastening screws  81   b  as entrainment disk  80 . The entrainment disk  80  is rotatably mounted on a flange  48   b  of the driving disk  48  and is secured by a locking ring. 
     The spring coupling between the driving disk  48  and the spring attaching wheel  82  is explained by way of  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b . The worm wheel  81  according to  FIG. 14   b  includes a circumferential sprocket which, in the direction of the driving disk  48  shown in  FIG. 14   a , realizes a flange which receives the spring attaching wheel  82 . The oppositely situated radial faces of the driving disk  48  and of the spring attaching wheel  82  include in each case two radially opposite arcuate grooves  48   e  and  48   f  or  82   b  and  82   c  such that, in pairs, they can receive a play-compensating spring  83   a  and  83   b  in each case between them. The arcuate grooves  48   e  and  48   f  or  82   b  and  82   c  include at the end in each case holding lugs  48   g  or  82   d , on which the play-compensating springs  83   a  and  83   b  are suspended. Thus, the play-compensating spring  83   a  or  83   b  is connected at one end to the holding lug  48   g  of the driving disk  48  and at the other end to the holding lug  82   d  of the spring attaching wheel  82 . 
     A relative rotation of the spring attaching wheel  82  in relation to the driving disk  48  as far as up to a maximum rotation angle is made possible through the use of a connecting pin  88  which, at one end is connected fixedly to the driving disk  48  through the use of a receiving bore  48 h and at the other end engages into a longitudinal groove  82   a  on the radial face of the spring attaching wheel  82 . The longitudinal groove  82   a  is defined in each case by a semicircular end face which is adapted to the connecting pin  88  and defines the relative rotation of the driving disk  48  and of the spring attaching wheel  82  and consequently serves as a stop for the connecting pin  88 . The longitudinal groove  82   a  includes a length which allows, for example, a relative rotation between the driving disk  48  and the spring attaching wheel  82  of, for example, 5°. 
     Driving of the entrainment disk  80  in the direction of rotation D 0  brings about entrainment of the driving disk  48  in the same direction D 1  when the resultant spring force of the two play-compensating springs  83   a  and  83   b  exceeds the frictional forces. When the rotation of the driving disk  48  is stopped, the entrainment disk  80  continues to be rotated against the spring force of the play-compensating springs  83   a  and  83   b  until the connecting pin  88  strikes against one of the end-face stop faces of the longitudinal groove  82   a  of the spring attaching wheel  82 . 
     The spring coupling is used for play compensation that occurs during the coupled state of the two coupling elements  10  and  20  between the closing wedges  11  and  12  and the keyways  22  and  24  of the closing jaws  21  and  23  that receive them, as is explained below by way of  FIGS. 15   a ,  15   b , and  15   c.    
     As already explained,  FIG. 15   a  shows the released state of the first coupling element  10  where the control disk  43  is situated in its first position defined by the stop pin  44 . The relative position of the driving disk  48  and of the entrainment disk  80  is characterized in each case by markings M 1  or M 2 . The two markings M 1  and M 2  show no misalignment. 
     As a result of controlling the motorized driving device  30  in a corresponding manner, rotation of the entrainment disk  80  is brought about in the direction of rotation D 0  through the use of the flexible shaft  87  and the worm  84  such that the driving disk  48  is entrained and the control disk  43  which is coupled with the driving disk is rotated out of its first position in the direction of rotation D 1 , as can be seen in  FIG. 15   b . According to  FIG. 15   b,  the rotating operation is terminated when the cam disk  41  has been rotated out of its 0° position into an approximately 85° position where the two dosing wedges  11  and  12  have already been moved completely into the keyways  22  and  24  of the second coupling element  20 . The control disk  43  is situated in an intermediate position briefly just before its second position in which the stop pin  44  does not yet strike against the end of the control slot  43   c  of the control disk  43 . The markings M 1  and M 2  are still aligned in the movement state of the first coupling element  10 . The entrainment disk  80  is rotated further by the driving device  30  beyond this state, indicated by the offset markings M 1  and M 2 , until the maximum possible rotation angle between the driving disk  48  and the entrainment disk  80  is achieved and at the same time the spring force of the two play-compensating springs  83   a  and  83   b  has risen to a maximum value, At the same time, further rotation is blocked, as a result of which the motor current, for example, of the driving device  30 , which is realized as a self-locking electric motor, rises and results in the electric motor  30  being switched off. With the coupling device  100  in the coupled state, the electric motor  30  remains switched off; on account of the self-locking even rotation of the worm wheel  81  of the entrainment disk  80  in the direction opposite to D 0  is prevented. 
     As a result of the relative rotation of the entrainment disk  80  in relation to the driving disk  48 , a misalignment between the two markings M 1  an M 2  is generated, as can be seen from  FIG. 15   c . The driving disk  48  is consequently pretensioned in the direction of rotation D 1 . If, with the two coupling elements  10  and  20  in the coupled state, play then arises between the closing wedges  11  and  12  and the keyways  22  and  24 , the play-compensating springs  83   a  and  83   b  press the driving disk  48  further in the direction of rotation  131 , as a result of which the control disk  43  is also entrained in the same direction of rotation D 1  and at the same time the cam disk  41  is rotated further in the direction of the 90° position and at the same time the closing wedges  11  and  12  compensate for this play. 
     For releasing the two coupling elements  10  and  20  in a motorized manner, the operation runs in the reverse direction, i.e. the driving device  30  is controlled in such a manner that the entrainment disk is moved out of the position according to  FIG. 15   c  in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation D 0  until the state according to  FIG. 15   a  is reached again. 
     An emergency release function that is explained below by way of  FIGS. 13 ,  16  and  17  serves to make releasing the two coupled coupling elements  10  and  20  possible in spite of a failed or faulty driving device. With the emergency release function, the coupling device  100  can not only be mechanically or manually released when in the already locked state, but also if the driving device  30  fails during the locking operation or release operation or a problem occurs with regard to the same and the cam disk  41  can be situated in such a case within the range of the 0° position up to the 90° position. 
     The emergency release function is realized through the use of a release ring  70 , which is rotatably mounted on a flange  46   a  of the control disk  46  and can be moved with the entrainment device  46  into an operative connection, and a toothed segment wheel  71 , which is mounted through the use of a rotational axis  74   a  in a bearing block  74  and, according to  FIG. 16   a , produces a rotary connection to a toothed segment  70   b  of the release ring  70  through the use of a toothed segment  71   a.    
     The release ring  70  includes a control cam  70   a  which, when the release ring pivots out of a rest position in opposition to the direction of rotation D 1 , moves into contact with the entrainment device  46 , the locking bar  46   b  of which is locked with both the latching device  43   b  of the control disk  43  and with the latching device  48   a  of the driving disk  48  (cf.  FIGS. 16   a  and  17   a ). 
     Pivoting the release ring  70  out of its rest position is brought about through the use of the toothed segment wheel  71 , which is held through the use of a leg spring  72  which is mounted on a flange  71   b  of the toothed segment wheel  71 , in a first pivot position that corresponds to the rest position of the release ring  70 . For releasing the control disk  43  from the driving disk  48 , the toothed segment wheel  71  is connected through the use of a connecting pin  73   a  to a tension cable  73 , which is guided by way of its other end on a door handle of the vehicle door, such that as a result of actuation of the door handle, the toothed segment wheel  71  is pivoted against the spring force of the angle spring  72  out of its first pivot position in the direction of rotation D 2  into a second pivot position, as a result of which on account of the toothed segment transmission, the release ring  70  is pivoted in opposition to the direction of rotation D 1  into an operating position and at the same time lifts the locking bar  46   b  out of the latching device  43   b  and  48   b,  as is shown in  FIG. 16   b , and then in abutment with the entrainment device  46 , the control disk  43  is pivoted further in opposition to the direction of rotation D 1 , thereby entraining the cam disk  41  in the direction of its 0° position. It can be seen from  FIG. 17   b  that the driving disk  48  stops in the position which corresponds to locking with both coupling elements  10  and  20 . In addition, the toothed segment wheel  71  is also rotated back by the leg spring  72  into the rest position which corresponds to the release ring  71 . 
     From this position shown in  FIG. 17   b  of the control disk  43  released from the driving disk  48 , the control disk is pulled back into its first position by the tension spring  45  that is disposed in the spring dome  90  such that the cam disk  41  has reached its 0° position corresponding to  FIG. 17   c.    
     The geometry of the control cam  70   a  is matched in such a manner to the geometry of the entrainment device  74  as a one-sided lever that each position of the control disk  43 , in each case, represents an operating position of the release ring  70  in which, in each case, the control wheel  43  is decoupled from the driving wheel  48  through the use of the toothed segment wheel  71 . Consequently, between the first position of the control disk  43 , which corresponds to the decoupled state of the two coupling elements  10  and  20 , and its second position, which corresponds to the coupled state of the two coupling elements  10  and  20 , the control disk  43  is decoupled from the driving disk  48  through the use of the control cam  70   a,  even in the first position of the control disk  43  which corresponds to the 0° position of the cam disk  41 . 
     A displaceable toothed rod which is connected mechanically to the door handle of the vehicle door can also be used in place of the toothed segment wheel  71 . When the door handle is actuated, the toothed rod is displaced such that, on account of the teeth meshing with the release ring  70 , the release ring is moved in opposition to the direction of rotation D 1  and, as a result, the entrainment device  46  is pivoted out of the latching device  43   b  of the control disk  43  and out of the latching device  48   a  of the driving disk  48 . 
     Once a fault with regard to the driving device  30  has been eliminated, motorized locking has to be carried out following a manually effected release, that is after decoupling the two coupling elements  10  and  20 . The operation is explained by way of  FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b.    
     Proceeding from the state shown in  FIG. 17   c , the driving device  30  is controlled in such a manner that the driving disk  48  that is not coupled with the control disk  43  is rotated further in the direction of rotation D 1  until the latching device  48   a  thereof moves under the locking bar  46   b  and, as a result, allows the locking bar to latch into the latching device  48   a  and  43   b.    
     The state just before the latching device  48   a  runs under the locking bar  46   b  is shown in  FIG. 18   a . Before the locking bar  46   b  drops into the latching device  48   a  and  43   b  under the effect of the leg spring  47 , the locking bar  46   b  is initially raised by the lifting lug  48   d  of the driving disk  48  against the spring force of the leg spring  47 .  FIG. 18   b  shows the state of the locking bar  46   b  of the entrainment device  46  latched into the latching device  48   a  and  43   b.  Consequently, the control disk  43 , which is situated in the first position, is once again coupled with the driving disk  48  and can now be entrained into the second position corresponding to  FIG. 17   a  for a new locking operation. 
     The coupling device  100  according to  FIGS. 12 to 18  also includes the characteristic that all the components of the first coupling element  10  that exert a control function or actuating function are pretensioned through the use of spring elements in the direction of their rest position which corresponds to the released state of the coupling device  100 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
       1  Vehicle body 
       2  B pillar of the vehicle body 
       2   a  Mounting face of the B pillar  2   
       3  Vehicle door 
       4  Reinforcing element of the vehicle door  3   
       10  First coupling element 
       11  Closing wedge 
       11   a  Side edge of the dosing wedge  11   
       11   b  Wedge faces of the side edge  11   a    
       11   c  Groove for dosing wedge guiding element  15   
       11   d  Closing lug of the dosing wedge  11   
       12  Closing wedge 
       12   a  Side edge of the dosing wedge  12   
       12   b  Wedge faces of the side edge  12   a    
       12   c  Groove for dosing wedge guiding element  15   
       12   d  Closing lug of the closing wedge  12   
       13  Closing wedge holder 
       13   a  Groove for closing wedge guiding element  15   
       13   b  Passage openings of the closing wedge holder  13   
       13   c  Central bore of the closing wedge holder  13   
       13   d  End cap of the closing wedge holder  13   
       13   e  Covering cap of the closing wedge holder  13   
       14  Return spring element 
       14   a  Closing wedge damper 
       15  Closing wedge guiding element 
       16  Base plate 
       16   a  Holder element 
       17  Panel 
       18  Mounting screws 
       20  Second coupling element 
       21  Holding jaw of the second coupling element  20   
       21   a  Semicircular groove of the holding jaw  21   
       22  Keyway of the holding jaw  21   
       22   a  Wedge faces of the keyway  22   
       23  Holding jaw of the second coupling element  20   
       24  Keyway of the holding jaw  23   
       24   a  Wedge faces of the keyway  24   
       25  Base plate 
       26  Movable cover 
       30  Driving device 
       40  Operative connecting device 
       41  Cam disk 
       41   a  Cam lug 
       42  Cam shaft 
       42   a  Fastening screw 
       43  Control disk 
       43   a  Range of the control disk  43   
       43   b  Latching device of the control disk  43   
       43   c  Control slot of the control disk  43   
       44  Stop device, stop pin for control disk  43   
       45  Spring element, tension spring 
       45   a  Fixing pin of the spring element  45   
       45   b  Connecting pin of the spring element  45  with control disk  43   
       45   c  Return cable of the tension spring  45   
       46  Entrainment device 
       46   a  Rotational axis of the entrainment device  46   
       46   b  Locking bar of the entrainment device 
       47  Spring element, leg spring 
       47   a  Rotational axis of the spring element  47   
       48  Driving disk 
       48   a  Latching device of the driving disk  48   
       48   b  Flange of the driving disk  48   
       48   c  Entrainment bores of the driving disk  48   
       48   d  Lifting lug of the latching device  48   a    
       48   e  Arcuate groove 
       48   f  Arcuate groove 
       48   g  Holding lug 
       48   h  Receiving bore for connecting pin  88   
       49  Coupling disk 
       49   a  Entrainment pin of the driving coupling  49   
       49   b  Square axis, connecting element of the coupling disk  49   
       50  Emergency release lever 
       50   a  Guiding slot of the emergency release lever  50   
       50   b  Tab of the emergency release lever  50   
       50   c  Angled flange of the emergency release lever  50   
       50   d  Limiting pin of the emergency release lever  50   
       51  Spring element, return spring of the emergency release lever  50   
       51   a  Fixing pin of the spring element  51   
       60  Housing 
       60   a  Load attaching portion of the housing  60   
       61   a  Housing pot of the housing  60   
       61   b  Housing cover of the housing  60   
       62  Load attaching element of the housing  60   
       62   a  Base plate of the load attaching element  62   
       63  Fastening screws 
       70  Release ring 
       70   a  Control cam of the release ring 
       70   b  Toothed segment of the release ring 
       71  Toothed segment element, toothed segment wheel, toothed rod 
       71   a  Toothed segment of the toothed segment wheel  71   
       71   b  Flange of the toothed segment wheel  71   
       72  Spring element, leg spring 
       73  Tension cable of the toothed segment wheel  71   
       73   a  Connecting pin of the tension cable with toothed segment wheel  71   
       74  Bearing block of the toothed segment wheel  71   
       74   a  Rotational axis of the toothed segment wheel  71   
       75  Guide roller 
       76  Bearing block of the guide roller  75   
       80  Entrainment disk 
       81  Worm wheel 
       81   a  Range ring 
       81   b  Fastening screws 
       82  Spring attaching wheel 
       82   a  Longitudinal groove for connecting pin  88   
       82   b  Arcuate groove 
       82   c  Arcuate groove 
       82   d  Holding lug 
       83   a  Play-compensating spring element 
       83   b  Play-compensating spring element 
       84  Worm 
       84   a  Worm axis 
       85  Coupling 
       86  Mounting bracket 
       87  Flexible shaft 
       88  Connecting pin 
       90  Spring dome 
       100  Coupling device