GB1434505A - Remote control latch release mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

1434505 Latch operating mechanisms FORD MOTOR CO Ltd 30 May 1974 [21 June 1973] 23911/74 Heading E2A A remote control, latch release mechanism, e.g. of a motor-vehicle engine compartment closure, comprises a handle assembly 26 slidably journalled in support means 34, 35 and having cable coupler means 33, a pair of cables 24, 43 connected to the coupler means for coordinated movement by the handle assembly in a latch releasing direction, one of the cables 24 being connected to the release lever 22 of a latch mechanism 21 located remotely from the handle assembly and the other cable 43 being coupled to a locking device 27, 48, Figs. 1 and 3, operable to hold the cable 43 against movement in the latch releasing direction and thereby the handle assembly against latch releasing actuation, and disabling means rendering the handle assembly inoperative against latch releasing actuation upon the cable 43 being severed between the coupler means and the locking device. As shown, the disabling means comprises a slide plunger 45 housed within the coupler means 33 and coupled to the latter by a pawl 58, a spring 47 operable to retract the cable 43 and to move the slide plunger relative to the pawl, and co-acting cam means 65 and 66 on the slide plunger and pawl. The locking device comprises a guide 48 in which the cable 43 is received, the cable having an abutment 51 and blocking means, i.e. an ignition switch activation rod 27, slidable in the guide and shifted into abutting relation with the abutment 51 by operation of a key-operated means 16. Normally, the tab 57 on the rod 27 is in abutting relation with the abutment 51 on the cable 43 and the pawl 58 has interlocking engagement with the slide plunger 45 and, to actuate the latch mechanism 21, the key cylinder of the lock 16 is turned to a position other than the ignition locked position thereby moving the tab 57 out of the path of the abutment 51 so that the handle 31 can be pulled the movement thereof being transmitted to the coupler means 33 which is retracted together with the cable 24 to release the latch mechanism. If the cable 43 is cut, the spring 47 forces the slide plunger 45 into the position shown in Fig. 6 wherein the cam surface 65 of the plunger co-acts with the cam surface 66 of the pawl 58 to lift the latter to a position in which an abutment surface 67 on the pawl is aligned with an edge 68 of either of recesses 69 in the housing part 35; this prevents retraction of the coupler means 33. The plunger 45 drops on to an inclined surface 71 in the coupler means and the forward edge thereof abuts an edge 72 to prevent the slide plunger being moved to the right as seen in Fig. 6 should an attempt be made to grasp the severed end of the cable 43.