US-12624579-B2 - Motor vehicle with a locking system

US12624579B2US 12624579 B2US12624579 B2US 12624579B2US-12624579-B2

Abstract

A motor vehicle locking system having a locking mechanism with a rotary catch and at least one pawl, wherein the rotary catch can be latched in at least one latching position by means of the pawl in order to hold a lock striker; a control unit; and a pyrotechnic actuator, wherein the pyrotechnic actuator can be activated by means of the control unit, and the locking mechanism can be unlocked by means of the pyrotechnic actuator.

Inventors

Ömer Inan
Michael Scholz
Holger Schiffer
Uwe Reddmann

Assignees

KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221118
Priority Date: 20211203

Claims (13)

1 . A motor vehicle locking system comprising: a locking mechanism with a rotary catch and at least one pawl, wherein the rotary catch is latched by the pawl at least in one latching position in order to hold a lock striker; a control unit; and a pyrotechnic actuator, wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is activated by the control unit, and wherein the locking mechanism is unlocked by activating the pyrotechnic actuator, a retaining lever, wherein the lock striker is retained by the retaining lever, and an emergency actuation handle, wherein after activation of the pyrotechnic actuator, the emergency actuation handle is released, and wherein the retaining lever is moved out of engagement with the lock striker by the emergency actuation handle.
2 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator acts indirectly on the pawl via an actuating lever chain to disengage the pawl from the rotary catch.
3 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , wherein the pawl and the retaining lever are actuated jointly by activating the pyrotechnic actuator.
4 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , further comprising an opening lever, wherein an actuating force is directed into the lock striker by the opening lever.
5 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 4 , wherein the opening lever is actuated by activating the pyrotechnic actuator.
6 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 4 , wherein the opening lever is mounted on an axis of rotation of the pawl.
7 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining lever is mounted on an axis of rotation of the rotary catch.
8 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator acts directly on the pawl to disengage the pawl from the rotary catch.
9 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , further comprising a crash sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to activate the pyrotechnic actuator in response to a signal received from the crash sensor.
10 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the pyrotechnic actuator after a predetermined time interval from receiving the signal from the crash sensor.
11 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator includes a propellant charge that drives movement of the pyrotechnic actuator.
12 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is manually actuatable by operation of a door handle.
13 . The motor vehicle locking system according to claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is manually actuatable.

Description

This application is a national phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/DE2022/100862 filed Nov. 18, 2022, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2021 131 891.2 filed Dec. 3, 2021, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a motor vehicle having a locking system, a locking mechanism with a rotary catch and at least one pawl, wherein the rotary catch can be latched by means of the pawl in at least one latching position in order to hold a lock striker; a crash sensor; and a pyrotechnic actuator, wherein the pyrotechnic actuator can be activated by means of the crash sensor. BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE Today's motor vehicles are increasingly being equipped with electrically assisted operating elements. With regard to a locking system, such as a vehicle door lock, it is common nowadays for the door lock to be lockable using a radio remote control. This means that the vehicle can be unlocked and/or opened using a vehicle key, for example, so that the operator can gain access to the vehicle using the door handle. One development in the automotive industry and with regard to vehicle access solutions is that there is no need for an external door handle—or at least mechanical operation of the motor vehicle lock. The complete absence of an outside door handle offers the advantage that the design of the vehicle can be created independently of a door handle. In the case of a door handle without a mechanical connection to the door lock, a door handle is actuated, but only an electrical signal is transmitted to the door lock, wherein the door lock is unlocked electromechanically so that the door can be opened. The mechanical connection between the outside door handle and the locking system is also referred to as mechanical redundancy. If a mechanical connection can be established between the outside door handle and the lock—for example, in the event of an accident—this is referred to as temporary crash redundancy (TCR). An electrically actuatable motor vehicle lock is known from DE 10 2018 113 562 A1. The motor vehicle lock discloses an electromechanical drive which can unlock a locking mechanism with the aid of a release lever, so that a lock striker held by means of the locking mechanism can be released. By using the electromechanical drive to release or unlock the latched locking mechanism, there is no need for mechanical redundancy. The use of this vehicle lock therefore makes it possible to dispense with an external door handle or, if an external door handle is used, to open the vehicle lock simply by actuating the door handle using an electrical signal, and thus gain access to the vehicle. In addition to the use of electrically assisted access systems in motor vehicles, safety systems are also used to protect both the driver and the other party in the event of an accident, for example. For example, passive safety systems are known which ensure that the impact energy is dissipated in a defined manner when a pedestrian hits the hood. The impact energy is absorbed by raising the hood or front cowling. Such a safety system has been disclosed, for example, in AT 516 050 B1. So-called pyrotechnic actuators are used to raise the hood in the event of a detected accident at the front of the vehicle. Pyrotechnic actuators work with propellant charges that act upon a cylinder and move a piston to raise the hood. If an accident is detected by a crash sensor, the pyrotechnic actuator is activated, allowing the hood to be raised in fractions of a second, especially milliseconds. Another drive device for a vehicle component, such as a headrest, by means of a pyrotechnic actuator, is known from DE 199 61 019 C1, for example. The pyrotechnic actuators are used where an accident is immediately detected by the crash sensor, so that the safety systems can be activated. The consequences of accidents can thus be reduced for the people involved. With regard to motor vehicle locking systems, special requirements must be met in order to secure vehicle occupants in the event of an accident. In the event of an accident, unlike a hood, for example, the locking systems must keep the doors or hatches closed in order to protect the occupants of the vehicle. If a voltage drop occurs in the vehicle's power supply in the event of an accident, an electrically operated locking system, especially a locking system without mechanical redundancy, cannot be opened without difficulty. Measures must therefore be taken to enable the emergency opening of a vehicle lock. This is where the invention starts. SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE The object of the invention is to provide a locking system for a motor vehicle which, while dispensing with mechanical redundancy, on the one hand makes it possible to secure the vehicle in the event of an accident, and on the other provides emergency actuation of the vehicle lock. The object of the invention is achieved by the features