Locking mechanism on hatch covers or hinged covers of motor vehicles, especially military vehicles

Abstract

A locking mechanism for hatch or hinged covers of vehicles, especially military vehicles, allows the simultaneous locking or unlocking of all locking elements of the hatch cover or a hinged cover actuating one handle or push button, thus providing a secure and well-sealed closure. The movement of the plurality of locking elements arranged on a hatch cover or hinged cover takes place by means of an actuating device disposed on the outside and/or the inside of the hatch cover or the hinged cover. By actuation of the actuating element, a mechanical transmission element arranged to rotate in a guide on the circumference of the hatch cover or the hinged cover and cooperating with slide rods and corner hinge elements can be displaced in its longitudinal direction. The locking elements are coupled with the mechanical transmission element in such a way that upon displacement of the mechanical transmission element into one direction, they perform the locking movement, and in the other direction, they perform the unlocking movement.

1 . A locking mechanism for hatch covers or hinged covers of motor vehicles, especially military vehicles, said motor vehicle having a vehicle housing with at least one opening that is sealingly closeable by means of the hatch cover or hinged cover, comprising: 
 a plurality of locking elements, said locking elements distributed on a circumference of the hatch cover or hinged cover;    counter elements correspondingly arranged on the vehicle housing in an edge region of the at least one opening for cooperating with the locking elements, whereby the locking elements are moveable from a locked position in which they engage in the counter elements into an unlocked position in which they release the counter elements, and wherein the locking elements are moveable back from the unlocked position into the locked position;    an actuating device disposed on the outside and/or the inside of the hatch cover or the hinged cover, wherein movement of the locking elements takes place by means of the actuating device; and    a mechanical transmission element comprising slide rods and corner hinge elements, wherein said mechanical transmission element is disposed on the circumference of the hatch cover or the hinged cover to be rotatable in a guide, wherein said mechanical transmission element is displaceable in its longitudinal direction by means of the actuating device, and wherein the locking elements are coupled with the mechanical transmission elements in such a way that during displacement of the mechanical transmission element in a first direction, the locking elements perform a locking movement and during displacement of the mechanical transmission element in a second direction, the locking elements perform the unlocking movement.    
   
   
       2 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the corner hinge elements comprise chain elements guided in sliding guides.  
   
   
       3 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein locking rollers arranged on the slide rods serve as the locking elements, wherein hook-shaped locking plates serve as the counter elements arranged on the motor vehicle housing in an edge region of the at least one opening, wherein each locking plate has a hook opening running parallel to a movement direction of a respective slide rod, and wherein with the locking movement one of the locking rollers engages in one of the locking plates.  
   
   
       4 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the locking plates are adjustably arranged on the motor vehicle housing.  
   
   
       5 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein each locking plate has a hook-shaped part and an inclined surface on an inner side of the hook-shaped part, and wherein an associated locking roller runs on the inclined surface in such a manner that the hatch cover or the hinged cover is pulled against a force effect of a seal into the locked position.  
   
   
       6 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein a pivotable actuating lever serves as the actuating device, wherein a gear wheel is arranged on the actuating lever, wherein the gear wheel rotates upon actuation about a pivot axis, and wherein the gear wheel engages in a gear rod disposed on one of the slide rods.  
   
   
       7 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein an electric drive motor serves as the actuating element, and wherein the electric drive motor has a driven gear that engages in a gear rod arranged on one of the slide rods.  
   
   
       8 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein a tightener is disposed in the mechanical transmission element for tolerance and/or play compensation.  
   
   
       9 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the hatch cover or the hinge cover is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis.