Patent ID: 12258794

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the FIGURE, a motor vehicle latch and in particular a motor vehicle door latch is shown. In its basic structure, said latch has a locking mechanism1,2consisting essentially of a catch1and a pawl2. In principle, a plurality of pawls can also be realized at this point, as is the case with the generic state of the art that has previously been referred to. A release lever3interacts with the locking mechanism1,2and is mounted in a latch case5such that it is rotatable about an axis of rotation4.

In fact, the latch case5is made of plastics material. The same may apply to a pivot pin4defining the axis of rotation4of the release lever3. The release lever3is also typically made of plastics material and is an injection-molded part made of plastics material. It can be seen that the release lever3according to the exemplary embodiment has a lug3aand is designed overall in the manner of a trapezoid, comprising a lower edge3b, an upper edge3c, and two side edges3d,3erunning obliquely. It can be seen that the two side edges3d,3erun approximately radially in comparison to the axis of rotation4.

The axis of rotation4is assigned a spring6which encompasses the pivot pin4realized at this point in the manner of a spiral spring and overall ensures that the release lever3assumes its basic position shown inFIG.1in contact with a stop7. Any pivoting movements of the release lever3about its axis of rotation4in the counterclockwise direction indicated inFIG.1result in the lug3adriving against the pawl2and pivoting it. As a result, the latching of the (closed) locking mechanism1,2is lifted and the catch1can swing open with the aid of a spring and release a locking pin (not expressly shown) that was previously caught. The associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

An electromotive opening drive8,9is also part of the further basic structure of the motor vehicle latch. From the electromotive opening drive8,9, a driven pulley8, which is driven and rotated by an electric motor (not shown in detail), can be recognized. An actuating cam9is coupled to the driven pulley8in a rotatably fixed manner, which performs clockwise pivoting movements about its axis, indicated inFIG.1, in order to thereby pivot the release lever3counterclockwise about its axis of rotation4, so that the locking mechanism1,2can be opened.

In addition to the above-mentioned electromotive opening drive8,9, a manual opening of the locking mechanism1,2is then alternatively or additionally possible. For this purpose, the motor vehicle latch shown, and in particular the motor vehicle door latch, has a handle10and a connecting means11connected to the handle10. According to the exemplary embodiment, the connecting means11is designed to be flexible. In fact, it is a Bowden cable11, which, with its core, is hooked on the one hand into a recess3fof the release lever3and on the other hand into a recess of the handle10(not expressly shown). The recess3fis provided on the front side and on the head side of the release lever3. As soon as the handle10in the exemplary embodiment according toFIG.1is subjected to a pull indicated there (to the left), this again has the effect that the release lever3is pivoted counterclockwise about its axis of rotation4, so that the release lever3with its lug3acan open the locking mechanism1,2as described above.

In order to open the locking mechanism1,2, the electromotive opening drive8,9and the handle10connected to the connecting means11can now act by motor and/or manually on the release lever3. This can be done simultaneously or alternatively. A manual actuation of the release lever3is also conceivable and possible within the scope of the exemplary embodiment within the scope of an emergency operation, as has already been described in the introduction.

Based on the example shown inFIG.1, it can be seen that the release lever3according to the exemplary embodiment is constructed in a particularly expansive manner. As a result, the electromotive opening drive8,9can engage on the release lever3radially on the inside, whereas the connecting means11engages on the release lever3radially on the outside, in each case in relation to the axis of rotation4. As a result of this, the handle10or the connecting means11acted upon by the handle10acts on the release lever3with a relatively large lever arm in relation to the axis of rotation4, so that low actuating forces are required on the handle10in order to be able to manually act on the release lever3to open the locking mechanism1,2.

As already explained, the electromotive opening drive8,9has the actuating cam9. The actuating cam9engages in a recess12of the release lever3. In fact, the actuating cam9interacts with a two-part contour12c,12bin the recess12. The contour12cis an actuating contour which interacts with the actuating cam9. In addition, a contact contour12bfor the actuating cam9is provided. Contour12aassures a clearance is maintained to cam9in the idle state over all build variations.

The contour12c,12bis provided on a rear edge of the recess12running predominantly in the radial direction R compared to the axis of rotation4. In this context, a front edge12dof the recess12functions as a clearance for manual travel of lever3. This front clearance edge12dinside the recess12ensures that, in the case of a manual actuation of the release lever3with the aid of the handle10, the associated actuating movement of the release lever3about its axis4can be achieved regardless of the position of actuating cam9. Thus a manual release is assured despite any failure of the electromotive opening drive.

The mode of operation is as follows. Starting from the basic position inFIG.1, the locking mechanism1,2can in principle be opened by the release lever3being acted upon about its axis of rotation4in the counterclockwise direction indicated there. This takes place against the force of the spring6. As a result, the lug3aof the release lever3moves upward against the pawl2and lifts it from its latching engagement with the catch1. The catch1can then swing open with the aid of a spring (not shown) and/or door rubber sealing forces and releases a previously caught locking pin (not shown). As a result, the associated motor vehicle door can be opened.

The opening movement of the release lever3can be brought about on the one hand by the electromotive opening drive8,9and on the other hand by a manual actuation of the handle10. In the case of an electromotive opening of the release lever3, this results in a counterclockwise movement of the actuating cam9.

During this counterclockwise movement of the actuating cam9, the end thereof ensures that the actuating cam9moves against the actuating contour12cand thereby pivots the release lever3counterclockwise about the axis of rotation4as desired. Contour12bprovides additional lift and speed to the release lever3near the end of travel. This additional travel and speed provides a comfortable clearance between the pawl2and catch1where less effort is required to rotate the pawl2. In contrast, in the idle state, contour12aprovides a comfortable clearance to the full travel end of actuating cam9as it rests against the contact contour12b. Contour12bprovides an elevation between contours12a,12c. Additionally contours12c,12bprovide different rates of operation of lever3.

If, on the other hand, the release lever3is acted upon manually, this results in a tensile force engaging on the connecting means or Bowden cable11and indicated inFIG.1(in the exemplary embodiment in the direction of the arrow to the left). The result of this is that the release lever3is again pivoted counterclockwise about its axis of rotation4. This pivoting movement is not limited by any position of the actuating cam9due to the front clearance edge12d.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

Catch1Pawl2Locking mechanism1,2Upper edge2Release lever3Lug3aLower edge3bUpper edge3cSide edges3d,3eRecess3fAxis of rotation4Pivot pin4Latch case5Spring6Stop7Driven pulley8Actuating cam9Opening drive8,9Handle10Connecting means11Recess12Contours12a,12cElevation12bEdge12dRadial direction R