阅读说明：本技术 机动车门锁 (Motor vehicle door lock ) 是由 F·昆斯特 于 2018-03-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于机动车的车门或舱盖的锁闭装置,该锁闭装置具有锁止机构,该锁止机构包括转动锁叉1和用于将转动锁叉1保持在锁闭位置中的锁爪2,其中,锁爪2以可转动的方式安置在转动锁叉1上。因此,特别在机动车门锁中,可实现特别紧凑的结构方式。(The invention relates to a locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking mechanism which comprises a rotary catch 1 and a catch 2 for holding the rotary catch 1 in a locked position, wherein the catch 2 is rotatably mounted on the rotary catch 1. In particular in motor vehicle door locks, a particularly compact design can thus be achieved.)

1. A locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle, with a locking mechanism comprising a rotary catch (1) and a catch (2) for holding the rotary catch (1) in a locked position, characterized in that the catch (2) is rotatably arranged on the rotary catch (1).

2. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the locking device is configured such that the locking mechanism can be opened by movement of a stop (3) for the locking pawl (2).

3. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two stop faces (4, 5) are provided for the locking pawl (2), wherein the first stop face (4) is arranged at an angle to the second stop face (5), which angle is in particular greater than 30 °, preferably greater than 60 °, particularly preferably greater than 90 °.

4. Locking device according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the pawl (2) meets the stop (3) or the first stop face (4) when the rotary catch (1) is pivoted from the open position for receiving the locking bolt (6) into the locking position.

5. Locking device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that for holding the rotary locking fork (1) in the locking position, the locking pawl (2) bears against the stop (3) or the second stop surface (5).

6. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a latching element (7) is provided for limiting the rotation of the pawl (2) relative to the rotary catch (1).

7. Locking device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the locking pawl (2) bears against the catch element (7) in order to hold the rotary locking fork (1) in the locking position.

8. Locking device according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the pawl (2) projects radially out of the rotary catch (1) when the pawl (2) bears against the catch element (7).

9. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pawl (2) has the shape of an elongated flat profile and/or overlaps the rotary catch (1) in a planar manner.

10. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pawl spring (12) is provided for preloading the pawl (2) in the following rotational direction: the direction of rotation is in the same direction as the direction of pivoting of the rotary latch fork (1) from the open position into the latched position.

11. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device is configured such that the pawl (2) allows the rotary catch (1) to be pivoted from the open position into the locked position by means of a snap mechanism, but prevents the rotary catch (1) from being accidentally pivoted from the locked position into the open position.

12. Locking device according to one of the ten preceding claims, characterized in that a manual and/or motor-driven mechanism for moving the stop (3) is provided.

13. Locking device according to one of the preceding eleven claims, characterized in that the stop (3) is capable of linear movement or of rotational movement.

14. Locking device according to any of the previous twelve claims, characterized in that the stop is formed by a tab (13) on the rotary disc (8) or by a movable part (9) of the housing or lock case (10) of the locking device.

15. Locking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device is a motor vehicle door lock, which in particular has an electrically operated opening device for a vehicle door.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a locking device for a door or a hatch of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking mechanism which comprises a rotary catch and a catch for holding the rotary catch in a locked position.

Background

A locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle serves to prevent the door or hatch from opening unintentionally in the closed state of the door or hatch, for example during a driving operation. The installation space available for such locking devices, which are usually integrated into vehicle doors or hatches, is in general extremely limited. In particular, in motor vehicles with an electric opening function, which requires the integration of corresponding additional components into the door or hatch, particularly compact locking devices are required.

Document DE 10320459 a1 discloses a locking device for a vehicle door or hatch, namely a motor vehicle door lock, which has a rotary catch and a pawl, wherein a damping stop is arranged on the rotary catch.

DE 10021768 a1 discloses a locking device for rear seat backs, which therefore does not have a locking device for vehicle doors or hatches with the specific structural space limitations described above.

The above-described features known from the prior art can be combined individually in any combination with one of the objects according to the invention described below.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a further improved locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle.

A locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle according to claim 1 is used to achieve this object. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

This object is achieved by a locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle, having a locking mechanism comprising a rotary catch and a catch for holding the rotary catch in a locked position, wherein the catch is rotatably mounted on the rotary catch.

A locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle is generally used to prevent the door or hatch from opening unintentionally in the closed state of the door or hatch, for example during a driving operation.

In principle, the rotary latch fork is mounted rotatably and can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position. The rotary latch fork can in particular receive a bolt in the open position, which bolt preferably enters the inlet opening of the rotary latch fork when the vehicle door or the hatch is closed from the open state into the closed state and is thus received by the rotary latch fork. The rotary latch fork can be pivoted in particular together with the received bolt from the open position into the latched position.

The pawl serves to hold the rotary latch in the latched position, in particular so that the bolt is reliably held in the latched position by the rotary latch. As a rule, the rotary latch fork is held in the latched position by means of the latching pawl, so that the rotary latch fork cannot be accidentally pivoted back into the open position, for example by means of a latch bolt pulled in the opening direction. Thus, accidental opening of the door or hatch can be avoided by the locking pawl. The holding of the rotary catch in the locking position can be achieved primarily by locking, in particular by the pawl preferably being locked by a stop.

The fact that the pawl is mounted on the rotary latch fork in a rotatable manner means that: the rotary catch provides a catch rotation shaft and/or a rotation bearing, for example a pin, for the catch. Since the pawl is mounted on the rotary latch fork in a rotatable manner, the pawl rotary shaft and thus the pawl follow the pivoting movement of the rotary latch fork accordingly. In principle, the relative movement between the pawl and the rotary catch can be in the form of a rotation of the pawl relative to the rotary catch only.

The locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle, in which the pawl is rotatably mounted on the rotary catch, can be provided particularly compactly. Thus saving construction space. This in turn can provide space for e.g. a powered opening device.

In one embodiment, the locking device is designed such that the locking mechanism can be opened by a movement of a stop for the pawl, in particular by a movement away from a stop blocking state and/or a movement to a stop release state.

The stopper means a member that is movable independently of the locking claw. Such a stop can in particular limit the rotation of the pawl, preferably such that this limitation helps the rotary latch fork to be held in the latched position by the pawl. For example, a movable stop for the pawl is not disclosed in DE 10021768 a 1.

The stop for the locking pawl means: the pawl, which is mounted rotatably on the rotary catch, can during operation come into contact with the stop, in particular at least in one state of the movable stop, preferably in the locked state. "on the fly" means: a closing process and/or an opening process of the locking device. The stop is usually located at least at a position on the path of movement of the pawl, which is composed of the path of rotation of the pawl and the path of oscillation of the rotary latch fork, i.e. in principle of a superimposed position.

By means of the stop element, the locking mechanism can be opened by movement of the stop element, enabling flexible and/or modular use of the locking device. The locking device can thus be configured for manual, electric or manual/electric triggering of the rotary latch by means of a structurally identical rotary latch pawl unit. Triggering the rotary locking fork means: the rotary latch fork is intentionally no longer held in the latched position and is therefore preferably pivoted or pivoted into the open position in the direction of the open position.

In one embodiment, the locking device comprises two stop surfaces for the locking pawl, wherein the first stop surface is arranged at an angle to the second stop surface, wherein the angle is in particular greater than 30 °, preferably greater than 60 °, particularly preferably greater than 90 °. Two stop surfaces for the locking claw mean: the locking claw during operation strikes the first stop surface and the second stop surface. The stop element has in particular two stop surfaces, namely a first stop surface and a second stop surface. Preferably, the stop is one piece. The angle can be measured between the normals of the two stop surfaces. For example, if the stop is square, wherein the upper side is the first stop face and the side is the second stop face, the angle is 90 °. If the upper side is the first stop face and the lower side is the second stop face, the angle is 180 °. By providing two stop surfaces for the locking pawl, a particularly compact locking device can be provided.

In one embodiment, the pawl strikes the stop or the first stop surface when the rotary latch fork is pivoted from the open position for receiving the latch bolt into the latched position. The abutment or the first stop surface can be used to rotate the pawl about the pawl rotation axis. This results in the rotary locking fork continuing its pivoting movement until the locking position is reached.

In one embodiment, in order to hold the rotary latch fork in the latched position, the pawl in particular bears directly against the stop or the second stop surface or is pushed against the stop or the second stop surface. Abutting also means at least point-like contact. By the abutment or support, it is possible for the torque acting on the rotary latch for rotating the rotary latch into the open position to be absorbed by the latch pawl which abuts the stop, more precisely the second stop surface. The rotary locking fork can be held and the locking mechanism can be prevented from being opened accidentally.

In one embodiment, the locking device has a detent element to limit the rotation of the pawl relative to the rotary catch. The catch element is in particular connected to the rotary catch in a rotationally fixed manner or is a projection of the rotary catch. A particularly simple, reliable and compact mechanism for holding the rotary locking fork in the locking position can thus be achieved.

In one embodiment, the locking pawl in particular directly abuts the catch element or is pushed against the catch element in order to hold the rotary locking fork in the locked position. Contact here also means at least point-like contact. In particular, a surface contact is provided between the locking pawl and the catch element for holding the rotary locking fork in the locking position, preferably the surface of the catch element facing the locking pawl in the locking position of the rotary locking fork is planar over a large part. The abutment or the support enables a torque acting on the rotary latch for rotating the rotary latch into the open position to be absorbed by the latching pawl which abuts the latching element. The holding of the rotary latch fork is thus achieved and accidental opening of the locking mechanism is avoided.

In one embodiment, the pawl has the shape of a long flat profile and/or overlaps the rotary catch in a planar manner. The overlapping proportion of the locking claws is in particular at least 40%, preferably more than 50%. Such a planar overlap with the rotary latch enables a particularly compact and also robust design. A long flat profile is typically a member whose length is at least twice its width and whose width is at least twice its thickness. Typically, the length and width directions perpendicular to the length are orthogonal to the pawl rotation axis, while the thickness direction is parallel to the pawl rotation axis. Preferably, the ends of the long flat profiles are angled to save material, or rounded, curved or semicircular to reduce material wear during operation.

In one embodiment, the locking pawl projects radially beyond the rotary locking fork if it abuts against the catch element. The pawl in particular in this case abuts against the side of the latching element which the pawl contacts if the pawl is rotated in a rotational direction which is the same as the pivoting direction of the rotary latch fork from the open position into the latched position. The radial extension is referenced to the pawl rotation axis or the rotational fork oscillation axis, which in one embodiment are parallel to each other. Due to the radial extension of the locking pawl, a very narrow installation space is possible for the snap-in connection if the locking pawl is in contact with the latching element.

In one embodiment, the locking device has a pawl spring for preloading the pawl in a rotational direction which is the same as the pivoting direction of the rotary latch fork from the open position into the locking position. By implementing the preloaded locking pawl spring in this way, the catch mechanism can be realized in a particularly simple and compact manner.

In one embodiment, in order to obtain a particularly reliable catch mechanism, the rotary catch is preloaded by a rotary catch spring, in particular a torsion spring, about the axis of rotation of the rotary catch in the direction of rotation of the rotary catch from its locking position into its opening position.

In one embodiment, the locking device is designed such that, by means of the catch mechanism, the pawl allows the rotary latch to be pivoted from the open position into the locked position, but prevents an unintentional pivoting of the rotary latch from the locked position into the open position. By accident is meant: no measures are taken by the user for opening or closing the door or hatch, but a corresponding force is nevertheless exerted on the locking mechanism, for example as a result of an accident. Rather, it is intended to mean: the user takes measures for opening or closing the door or hatch, for example by manipulating the door inner handle or the door outer handle or by pressing a button, to open the door, the tailgate or the hood electrically or mechanically. The catch mechanism enables a particularly compact, but functionally efficient design of the locking device for the vehicle door or hatch.

In one embodiment, the snap mechanism is such that: when the rotary latch fork is pivoted from the open position into the latched position, the pawl, which is pushed against the latching element in particular by the pawl spring, is rotated against the pivoting direction from its initial state past the stop or the first stop surface relative to the rotary latch fork, in particular against the force of the pawl spring. The pawl thus passes the stop and the rotary latch fork continues its pivoting movement into the latched position unhindered. After the pawl has passed or slid past the stop, the pawl is rotated back into the initial state, i.e. in the pivoting direction of the rotary catch into the latched position, in particular by the force of the pawl spring. Preferably, the locking pawl in the initial state abuts against the catch element.

However, when the rotary latch fork is pivoted from the latched position into the unlatched position, the pawl then again strikes the stop, i.e., the opposing or second stop surface of the stop, as described above, i.e., the previous pivoting of the rotary latch fork from the unlatched position into the latched position.

However, the rotation of the pawl in the direction of rotation which is in the same direction as the direction of pivoting of the rotary latch fork from the open position into the latched position is impeded or limited by the catch element. As long as the stop element is not moved into the release state, or in other words as long as the stop element is in its blocking state, the pawl can therefore not pass over the stop element, in particular in a rotational direction which is the same as the direction of oscillation of the rotary catch from the locking position into the open position.

In one embodiment, the minimum distance of the stop in its blocking state from the pivot axis of the rotary latch fork is less than the maximum distance of the pawl from the pivot axis of the rotary latch fork or less than the distance of the pawl from the pivot axis of the rotary latch fork when the pawl bears against the catch element. The locking pawl can thus reliably abut against the stop, i.e. when the stop is in its blocked state.

In a further embodiment, the minimum distance of the stop in its blocking state from the pivot axis of the rotary latch fork is greater than the maximum distance of the pawl from the pivot axis of the rotary latch fork or greater than the distance of the pawl from the pivot axis of the rotary latch fork when the pawl rests against the catch element. Thus, the pawl can reliably pass through the stop when the rotary latch fork is pivoted from the latched position into the open position, i.e. when the stop is in its released state.

In one embodiment, the locking device comprises a manually and/or motor-driven mechanism for moving the stop element, in particular from the locked state, preferably into the released state. In the manual mechanism, actuating a lever, for example an inner lever or an outer lever, is sufficient to move the stop element into the release state. In motor-driven mechanisms, a motor (e.g., a hydraulic, electric or pneumatic motor) provides the force for moving the stop, in particular in order to move the stop into the released state. High operating comfort can thus be achieved. In a manual motor-driven mechanism, improved safety is obtained in the event of a motor malfunction or defect.

In a further embodiment, the return of the stop element, in particular from the release position into the blocking position, is effected by a spring. This saves effort and energy.

In one embodiment, the stop member may be moved linearly or only linearly or rotationally or only rotationally. The stop element, which can be moved linearly, can be actuated manually with particular effort. The stop element, which is movable by rotation, can be actuated by the motor in a technically particularly simple and compact manner.

In one embodiment, the stop is formed by a tab on the rotary disk or by a movable part of the housing or lock case of the locking device. A particularly compact locking device can thus be provided. The tabs are protrusions on the surface of the turntable. For low manufacturing expenditure, the movable part of the housing or of the lock case is a part separate therefrom and thus movable relative to the housing or lock case, or for increased robustness with simultaneous saving of space, a separately manufactured part which is adapted to the shape of the lock case or housing. In one embodiment, the locking device is a motor vehicle door lock. The locking device is in particular a motor vehicle door lock for a vehicle door, which has an electric opening device.

For the reasons explained above, the locking device according to the invention allows a saving in installation space, which has the additional advantage, in particular in the case of special requirements and special installation of motor vehicle door locks, that space is available for an additional electric opening device, in particular without additional installation space being available.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are further explained below with the aid of the figures. The features of the embodiments may be applied alone or in combination with a plurality of objects as claimed.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a locking device with an electric opening device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle,

fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a locking device with a manual mechanism for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1 and 2, the pawl 2 is mounted on the rotary catch 1. The pawl spring 12, in particular a torsion spring, preferably presses the pawl 2 around the pawl rotational axis 14 against the catch element 7, which is fixedly connected to the rotary pawl 1, so that the pawl 2 projects radially beyond the periphery, i.e. the outer edge, of the rotary pawl 1 when the pawl 2 abuts against the catch element 7. In the embodiment which is also realized in fig. 1 and 2, the catch element 7 starts on the side of the pawl 2 from a pawl pivot axis 14 which is in the pivoting direction in which the rotary latch fork 1 is pivoted from the open position to the closed position. The pawl pivot 14 is covered by the detent element 7, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface of the detent element 7, so that a short pawl can be arranged together with the detent element 7 in the vicinity of the outer edge of the rotary latch fork 1.

If the projecting pawl 2 strikes an obstacle, in this case a movable stop 3, in particular with a projecting end, during the pivoting movement of the rotary latch 1 into the latched position, the pawl 2 will deflect or spring back against the pivoting movement of the rotary latch.

The pawl 2 is pushed away from the obstacle or stop 3 to such an extent that the rotary catch 1 continues to pivot, so that the pawl passes, runs over or is pulled past the obstacle or stop 3.

As soon as the locking claw 2 passes over the obstacle or stop 3, the locking claw 2 snaps back into the radially oriented or abutting state against the catch element 7 again as a result of the locking claw spring force 12.

The rotary catch 1 is thus now held in the latched position by the catch 2 against the obstacle or stop 3. In the pivoting direction of the rotary latch fork towards the open position, the pawl 2 blocks the rotary latch fork 1, since the pawl 2 cannot be deflected or sprung again by pushing and/or pressing against the catch element 7 in this pivoting direction of the rotary latch fork 1.

In the case of the locking device shown in fig. 1 for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle with an electric opening device, the stop element 3 is a projection or a lug 13 on the rotary disk 8, which can be rotated about the rotary disk axis 20 by an electric drive, not shown, and thus enables the stop element 3 to be moved into the release state and in particular also into the blocking state.

The rotary latch fork 1 is preloaded by a rotary latch fork spring 15, in particular a torsion spring, about a rotary latch fork pivot axis 16 in the pivoting direction of the rotary latch fork 1 from its latching position into its open position, i.e. counterclockwise in fig. 1 and 2.

In the closed state of the locking device, i.e. when the door or flap is closed, the stop 3 of the rotary disk 8 is in the locked state as shown in fig. 1.

The rotary latch spring 15 pushes the latch claw 2, which is in contact with the latch element 7, via the latch element 7, so that the latch claw 2 abuts against the second stop surface 5 of the stop element 3. The locking pawl 2, which is rotatably mounted about the locking pawl rotational axis 14, is therefore clamped to some extent between the second stop surface 5 and the contact surface of the catch element 7 and therefore cannot be pivoted or rotated.

The force between the locking pawl 2 and the second stop surface 5 is therefore absorbed by the detent element 7 and in principle also at least partially by the locking pawl pivot 14.

If the user now operates, for example, an operating device for opening a vehicle door or hatch, the rotary disk 8 is rotated by the electric drive in a rotational direction (see dashed rotational direction arrow in the clockwise direction in fig. 1) which is in the same direction as the preload direction of the pawl spring 12, i.e. has the same rotational direction. As soon as the stop 3 has reached the release position, the path of movement of the pawl 2 is released, so that it is pivoted together with the rotary catch 1 into the open position (see the dashed counterclockwise rotary direction arrow in fig. 1), i.e. there is no relative movement between the pawl 2 and the rotary catch 1. Since the detent element 7 prevents the rotary latch fork 1 from being pivoted into the open position for releasing the latch bolt 6 as long as the pawl 2 is prevented from pivoting together, the described construction enables a particularly comfortable electrical opening of the vehicle door or hatch by pressing the actuating device.

After the opening process has been completed, the rotary disk 8 and thus the stop element 3 are moved into the blocking position again, in particular under the action of a spring.

In one embodiment, the electrical opening device has an electrical drive with a neutral zero position.

This is typically an electromotive drive which is held in an intermediate state in the inactive state, for example by a spring. The intermediate state corresponds in particular to the blocking state of the stop element 3.

A particularly simple design of the electric opening device is thus possible.

For the closing process, i.e. if the user closes the vehicle door or the hatch, the pawl 2 is pivoted together with the rotary catch 1 in the direction of the locking position. The pawl 2 is pushed by the pawl spring 12 against the catch element 7 and is brought into contact therewith until the pawl 2 strikes the stop 3, i.e. the first stop surface 4, in the blocking position.

Since the closing force is greater than the preload force of the pawl spring 12, the pawl 2 rotates against the force of the pawl spring 12 when it hits the stop 3 and is therefore pushed or deflected by the stop 3. After the pawl 2 has passed the stop 3, the pawl 2 is therefore again pivoted back under the preload of the pawl spring 12 into the catch element 7 to abut against the catch element 7.

The webs 13 are in particular curved. Preferably, the webs 13 are helical, preferably starting from the axis of rotation of the turntable 8 and extending in radial direction in the direction of the periphery of the turntable 8. This achieves an efficient force transmission.

The width of the webs 13 and/or the height of the webs 13 in particular continuously increases from the turntable shaft 20 in the direction of the circumference of the turntable 8. This achieves an efficient force transmission.

The second stop face 5 is formed in particular by the end of the web 13, preferably by the wider end. The end portion is preferably substantially parallel to the radial direction of the turntable shaft 20.

The turning disc 8 is arranged in particular at the open end of the lock case 10. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the machining of the opening 11 can be omitted.

Fig. 2 shows a locking device for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle, which has a manual mechanism for opening the locking device.

Here, the stopper 3 is a movable member 9 of the lock case 10 or a movable member 9 on the lock case 10. A spring, not shown, preloads the stop 3, in particular, toward the blocking state shown in fig. 2. In the closed state of the locking device, the rotary catch 1 is held in the locking position by the locking pawl 2, similar to that described for the exemplary embodiment in fig. 1. If the user then actuates a lever, i.e. for example a door handle, the stop 3 moves against the spring force from the locked state, in particular linearly, into the released state. Thus, similar to what is illustrated in the embodiment of fig. 1, the pawl 2 can pass over the stop 3 and the rotary catch 1 will be able to swing or swing into the open position.

If the user releases the lever, the pawl 2 has passed the stop 3 and the stop 3 returns to the blocking position, in particular under the action of a spring.

For the closing process, i.e. if the user closes the vehicle door or the hatch, the pawl 2 is pivoted together with the rotary catch 1 in the direction of the locking position, similarly to the embodiment shown in fig. 1. The pawl spring 12 presses the pawl 2 against the catch element 7 and rests against it until the pawl 2 strikes the stop 3, i.e. the first stop surface 4, in the blocking position.

Since the closing force is greater than the preload force of the pawl spring 12, the pawl 2 rotates against the force of the pawl spring 12 when it hits the stop 3 and is therefore pushed or deflected by the stop 3. After the pawl 2 has passed the stop 3, the pawl 2 is therefore pivoted back toward the catch element 7 under the action of the preload of the pawl spring 12 in order to come into contact with the catch element 7.

In particular, an opening 11 is introduced into the housing or the lock case 10, into which opening the pawl 2 sinks if the pawl 2 holds the rotary lock fork 1 in the locked position. This enables a compact construction. Preferably, the movable portion 9 of the lock case (which may form the stop 3) forms the edge of the opening 11. This enables a compact snap mechanism. In one embodiment, an additional stop element 17 can be provided in order to form an edge of the opening 11, against which the pawl strikes when the rotary latch fork 1 is pivoted together from the open position past the latched position. It is thus possible to achieve a lock box protection and thus an increased safety in the event of a crash.

As shown in particular in fig. 1 and 2, the pawl pivot axis is arranged in the region of the catch arm (Fangarm). Preferably, the rotational lock fork shaft is disposed closer to the capture arm than the load arm. This enables a compact and efficient snap mechanism. In one embodiment, the locking pawl assumes the function of locking the coupling part.

A locking device, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, for a door or hatch of a motor vehicle usually comprises at least one locking plate or in particular a metal lock case, which has a locking plate, which is arranged inside and is usually made of metal, on which a rotary latch fork is supported. The locking plate is typically provided with an entry notch 18 for receiving the locking bolt 6.

The rotary catch 1 usually has a fork-shaped inlet opening 19 formed by a load arm and a catch arm for receiving the bolt 6 in the open position of the rotary catch 1, into which the bolt 6 of a vehicle door or hatch, for example an engine hood or a trunk hatch, falls if the door or hatch is closed.

The bolt then rotates the rotary catch 1 from the open position into the locked position by means of the catch arm. If the rotary latch fork 1 reaches the latching position, it is held in this position by the latching pawl 2. The blocking bolt 6 can no longer leave the inlet 19 of the rotary latch 1, since this is impeded by the load arm. This closed state is referred to as the main lock position.

There are locking devices or motor vehicle locks which have a second locking position, the so-called pre-locking position. The pre-lock position is used to capture the respective door or hatch when it has not reached the main lock position in the closed position.

In the pre-locking state, the rotary latch 1 is therefore not completely closed, but the opening movement of the rotary latch 1 is already prevented by the latching pawl 2 or a pre-latching pawl, not shown. Finally, in the main locking position, the rotary locking fork is completely closed. The pre-lock is thus a transitional state between the open state and the main lock state, and is set for security reasons.

In one embodiment, the locked position is a primary locking position. A particularly comfortable opening can thus also be achieved electrically. In an alternative or supplementary embodiment, the locking position is a pre-locked state. A particularly safe and at the same time comfortable and operable locking device can thus be achieved.

In one embodiment, the rotary latch fork 1 and the pawl 2, which bears against the latching element 7, are pivoted during closing from the open position, temporarily in addition to the latched position, into the following positions: in this position, the locking pawl 2 slides over the stop 3 and rotates back again to the contact surface of the catch element 7. In this embodiment, the rotary latch fork 1 is pivoted into the latched position in particular only thereafter. A reliable snap mechanism can thus also be realized in a narrow space.