Locks – Operating mechanism – Using a powered device
Patent
1998-04-13
2000-04-18
Barrett, Suzanne Dino
Locks
Operating mechanism
Using a powered device
702791, 292201, 292337, E05B 4700
Patent
active
060501170
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock or the like with an outer housing with an entry slot for a lock hinge, a rotary bolt that moves in the entry slot, a lock pawl that holds the rotary bolt in a locked position and an electric drive for the for the lock pawl.
2. Description of Related Art
The known motor vehicle door lock on which the invention is based (EP-A-0 589 158) is characterized in that it functions without a key-operated lock cylinder and has a simple design with few mechanical parts. In this motor vehicle door lock only the essentially necessary parts are located in the outer housing, notably rotary bolt, lock pawl and electric drive. Here the rods usual up to now can be eliminated because of the purely electrical control of the drive for the lock pawl. Operating ease is high because of the electrical opening from outside and inside, assembly costs are low. Numerous functions are combined in a simple way in this known motor vehicle door lock. The closed system is overall quite strong for transport to the assembly site, it has fewer individual parts and is easy to build, antitheft protection (protection from opening from the inside when a window pane is destroyed) can be easily made electronically, namely simply by interrupting the control of the electric drive, correspondingly, electric child-proofing is easy to integrate.
Emergency operation is achieved by a reserve battery and controlled by a crash sensor. Optionally also to provide additional mechanical unlocking, which takes into consideration complete stopping of all electrical components, cable pulls can be used in this known motor vehicle door lock. They engage exposed carrying elements of a bent metal carrying plate.
It is also known in the art (DE-A-42 28 235) to coordinate the lock pawl with an antitheft lever which, in the engaged position, blocks the lock pawl for its part in its engaged position. Thus it is avoided that the lock pawl can be raised or pushed away from the outside, for example by a hole made purposely in the outer door panel. This cannot happen either through the necessarily open entry slot for the lock hinge.
A fundamental concept applies to electronic control of motor vehicle door locks in general and we refer to its contents here ("Smart Card--Good Bye to the Auto Key" Siemens Magazine, special edition "Special FuE," Spring 1995, pages 24-27). The modified door handle and lock mechanics mentioned in this concept are not explained further there, they reflect on the above-mentioned concept or similar concepts.
The above-mentioned concept of a motor vehicle door lock is in many respects oriented toward modern and future-oriented requirements of motor vehicle door locks, but still leaves room for further improvements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The concept known from the prior art on which the invention is based, that of minimizing mechanical components of a motor vehicle door lock and of replacing the mechanical tumbler system and the various levers by a suitable electronic control, is optimized according to the teaching of the invention by encapsulating the outer housing as much as possible. This results in comprehensive antitheft protection, since the inside of the housing, i.e., especially the lock pawl, is protected from theft. The complete sealing of the interior of the housing gives comprehensive protection against moisture. This is made possible by exploiting the fact that electrical strip conductors can be conveyed, sealed, directly through the housing wall to electrical connection devices. Thus what remains is only the entry slot of the lock hinge, which can also be sealed with measures known from the prior art, as necessary.
If it is desired to have supplemental mechanical operation of the lock pawl, for security reasons or because certain countries require it, then here a concept suitable for sealing and with entry fittings for Bowden cables is included. Finally, a lock cylinder can be integrated directly with a trunk lid, for example, if
REFERENCES:
patent: 4679836 (1987-07-01), Pupillo et al.
patent: 4898414 (1990-02-01), Yamada
Smart Card--Good Bye to the Auto Key, Siemens Magazine, Special Edition "Special FuE", Spring 1995, pp. 24-27.
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Safran David S.
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