GB2307272A - Automobile door latch actuator arrangement - Google Patents

Automobile door latch actuator arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2307272A
GB2307272A GB9523687A GB9523687A GB2307272A GB 2307272 A GB2307272 A GB 2307272A GB 9523687 A GB9523687 A GB 9523687A GB 9523687 A GB9523687 A GB 9523687A GB 2307272 A GB2307272 A GB 2307272A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
condemnation
actuator arrangement
automobile door
door latch
latch actuator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9523687A
Other versions
GB9523687D0 (en
Inventor
John Phillip Chevalier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9523687A priority Critical patent/GB2307272A/en
Publication of GB9523687D0 publication Critical patent/GB9523687D0/en
Priority to AU76312/96A priority patent/AU7631296A/en
Priority to PCT/GB1996/002851 priority patent/WO1997019242A1/en
Publication of GB2307272A publication Critical patent/GB2307272A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
    • E05B81/02—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the type of actuators used
    • E05B81/04—Electrical
    • E05B81/06—Electrical using rotary motors
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B77/00—Vehicle locks characterised by special functions or purposes
    • E05B77/22—Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle
    • E05B77/24—Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle preventing use of an inner door handle, sill button, lock knob or the like
    • E05B77/245—Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle preventing use of an inner door handle, sill button, lock knob or the like by blocking the movement of a movable element
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B77/00—Vehicle locks characterised by special functions or purposes
    • E05B77/22—Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle
    • E05B77/24—Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle preventing use of an inner door handle, sill button, lock knob or the like
    • E05B77/28—Functions related to actuation of locks from the passenger compartment of the vehicle preventing use of an inner door handle, sill button, lock knob or the like for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
    • E05B81/12—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the function or purpose of the powered actuators
    • E05B81/16—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the function or purpose of the powered actuators operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action

Landscapes

  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention concerns an automobile door latch actuator arrangement comprising a blocking member 25; an actuation plate 30 coupled with the lever of a key-mechanism and an interior locking knob; a servomotor 45 adapted to engage with either the said actuation plate or the said blocking member. By independently actuating the said actuation plate either by means of the key mechanism, the interior locking knob or the said servomotor; the said blocking member is impelled into a position whereby either the detent lever alone or both the detent lever and the latch are blocked thereby.

Description

Automobile Door Latch Actuator Arrangement The present invention relates to an actuator of an automobile door latch capable of being independently actuated by either a servomotor, the interior condemnation knob of an automobile door latch or a key mechanism.
Latch actuators are primarily utilised to effect a controlled actuation of electronically or electrically managed door latches, as is the case with centrally commanded automobile door latches.
Actuators are normally comprised of a certain mechanical arrangement that includes gears, cams, toothed racks, and at least one motive means such as a servomotor.
Today's actuators tend to be rather costly, inefficient, and sizeable.
The present invention introduces an automobile door latch actuator wherein both the key mechanism and the interior condemnation knob act directly upon the actuator as opposed to acting upon the release mechanism of the latch; this represents a new anti-tampering (antitheft) arrangement. Upon condemning the latch by means of the present invention both the interior condemnation pin and door handles can be arranged to become completely neutral thus providing an important anti-theft protection feature.
Being completely independent from the latch, the present invention provides maximum safety against accident repercussions.
Above all, The present invention allows for the use of a very feeble power consumption servomotor, and permits the construction of an extremely efficient electronic central locking circuitry that can easily be incorporated within the housing of the present invention.
The present invention also introduce a new convenience feature: only the condemnation knob actuated to re-condemn the door latches can remain active, all other condemnation knobs and door handles become completely neutral.
With the present invention the automobile designers' needs for improved adaptability and standardisability are ideally met with. The present actuator arrangement can be adapted in a number of different configurations: alone as a separate unit, with the key mechanism as one single unit, or with both the latch and the key mechanism as one unit.
The present invention permits a considerable reduction in the number of constituting mechanical components as well as in the size and cost of such devices, and in particular, the cost of assembly.
Ideally, the present invention is a very small and compact automobile door latch and actuator arrangement.
According to the present invention there is provided an automobile door latch actuator arrangement 5 comprising: a striker 10 capable of being retained by a pivotable fork-like latch 15; a detent lever 20 capable of retaining the said latch in a latched position; a suitably adapted condemnation block 25; an actuation plate 30 suitably adapted to couple with the lever of a key-mechanism by a said first arm 35 and with the interior condemnation knob by a said second arm 40; a servomotor 45 suitably adapted to engage with either the said actuation plate or the said condemnation block or both by independently actuating the said actuation plate either by means of the key mechanism. the interior condemnation knob or the said servomotor, the said condemnation block is impelled into a position whereby either the detent lever alone or both the detent lever and the latch are in any part thereof simultaneously blocked up thereby.
The said condemnation block and the actuation plate may take any geometrical form and may be made from any suitable material. The actuation plate may be adapted to engage with the said first and second arms by means of cams, pins or rivet-pins. The said actuation plate may be retained, as a safety measure, in both the condemnation and the uncondemnation positions thereof, by either a mechanical means, an elastic means or any possible combination thereof The said servomotor may be coupled with the said actuation plate by means of a suitably adapted set of gears and toothed racks or by means of cams and cam-followers, or any possible combination thereof.The said condemnation block may be linked to the servomotor by means of suitably adapted gears, toothed racks and cams or any possible combination thereof The movement of both the condemnation block and the actuation plate is guided inside the housing of the latch actuator arrangement by a suitably adapted guiding means including grooves and matching projections. Due to a specific mechanical arrangement, in some instance, a worm gear and a matching toothed rack, and in another, a suitably adapted cam and a cam-follower, the movement of the said condemnation block is, as a safety arrangement, rendered unattainable without first actuating either the key mechanism, the interior condemnation knob or the said servomotor.So long as the door remains open, the accidental condemnation of the latch is rendered unattainable: as the space created by the notch becomes unavailable for the condemnation block to move into neither the detent lever nor the latch can be blocked up. In order to actuate the detent lever independently by either the interior or the exterior door handles, both of the said handles are coupled with the detent lever by means of cam-pins and cam-followers.
Another important feature of the present invention is the specific arrangement of the interior condemnation knob whereby only the interior condemnation knob actuated to re-condemn the latches in an automobile remains active; all the other interior condemnation knobs (specifically in a centrally commanded set of latches) become neutral. The said second arm is hinged with a link characterised by having a cam-pin adapted to follow the path of an 'L'-shaped camfollower suitably cut out or grooved into the said actuation plate. The said link has a protuberance thereof suitably adapted to insert against a matching notch in the housing of the present latch actuator arrangement.By actuating the said interior condemnation knob, and this can only be effected if the said actuation plate is in an uncondemnation position, the said link slides away from the notch while rotating around the said hinge and concomitantly impelling the said cam-pin thereof to slide into an engagement position in the cam-follower whereby the said actuation plate can be actuated from an uncondemnation into a condemnation position and back into an uncondemnation one once again. The said link is kept into the notch by means of a spring acting thereon. The interior condemnation knob, unless deliberately actuated. remains in place regardless of the state of condemnation of the door latch.
The present invention can now be explained by way of example with reference to the following drawings.
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, show in perspective the various elements ofthe present invention in a number of possible arrangements thereof.
Referring to Figure 1, the present invention is an automobile door latch actuator arrangement 5 comprising: a striker 10 capable of being retained by a pivotable fork-like latch 15 a detent lever 20 capable of retaining the said latch in a latched position; a suitably adapted condemnation block 25; an actuation plate 30 suitably adapted to couple with the lever of a key-mechanism by a said first arm 35 and with the interior condemnation knob by a said second arm 40; a servomotor 45 suitably adapted to engage with either the said actuation plate or the said condemnation block or both, and by independently actuating the said actuation plate either by means of the key mechanism, the interior condemnation knob or the said servomotor, the said condemnation block is impelled into a position whereby either the detent lever alone or both the detent lever and the latch are in any part thereof simultaneously blocked up thereby.
The said condemnation block is adapted to slide into a position whereby both the detent lever and the latch are in any part thereof (in this instance the abutment notch 50 of the latch, and the pawl 55 of the detent lever) are capable of being blocked thereby. The said condemnation block prevents the release of either the latch or the detent lever by means of obstructing the movement thereof in the release direction. So long as the latch is in the unlatched position thereof, the part of the condemnation block adapted to block the latch serves, in addition to blocking up the said latch while in the latched position thereof, to render the condemnation of the latch unattainable.
The said actuation plate is linked with the servomotor by means of a toothed rack 60 and a spur gear 65, whereas the said condemnation block is linked with the servomotor by means of a toothed rack 60 and a worm gear 70. The movement of both the condemnation block and the actuation plate is guided by means of grooves 75 in the housing of the said latch actuator arrangement and matching projections 80 thereon. By independently actuating the actuation plate by either the interior re-condemnation knob, the key mechanism or the servomotor both the actuation plate and the condemnation block are impelled from either a condemnation position into an uncondemnation one or vice versa. The said spur gear and worm gear are fixed on the same shaft 85 and linked to the drive shaft of the servomotor by means of a set of gears 90.The said first arm is adapted by means of a cam-follower 100 cut out or grooved thereinto to engage with the actuation plate by means of a cam-pin 105. The said second arm is coupled freely onto the said actuation plate by means ofa pin 110. Both the interior and exterior handles are, by means of arms 115 incorporating cam followers 100 grooved or cut thereinto, capable of coupling onto the detent lever by means of a cam-pin 105 forming part thereof.
Referring to Figure 2, the present invention is an automobile door latch actuator arrangement wherein the said condemnation block is linked with the servomotor by means of a screw gear 120 and a matching threaded hole 125. The said actuation plate is adapted to engage with the said first arm by means of a cam-follower 100 cut out or grooved thereinto and a cam-pin 105 coupled onto the said first arm. The said second arm is adapted by means of a link 130 hinged thereon to couple with the said actuation plate by means of an 'L' shaped cam-follower 135 cut out or grooved into the said actuation plate. The said link is characterised by having a protuberance 140 thereof capable of inserting against a notch 145 in the housing of the present latch actuator arrangement. By actuating the said second arm while the said actuation plate is in the uncondemnation position, the link slides away from the notch while rotating around a hinge 150, and by means of a cam-pin 105 the said second arm becomes capable of impelling the said actuation plate into a condemnation position. The said cam-pin remains in an engaging position 155 thereof until the said actuation plate is impelled once again back into an uncondemnation position either by means of energising the servomotor, the key mechanism or the said re-condemnation knob.
In this particular instance only the detent lever is adapted at one side 160 thereof to be blocked up by the said condemnation block.
Referring to Figure 3, the present invention is an automobile door latch actuator arrangement wherein the said condemnation block may be adapted by means of a cam-follower 165 to engage with the said actuation plate by means of a cam-pin 105 forming part thereof The said cam-pin and cam-follower arrangement permits the movement of the condemnation block only by actuating the said actuation plate. The said actuation plate is, for additional safety, retained in either position thereof by means of a stop bolt 170 incorporating a cam-pin 105 capable of following a cam-follower 175 cut out or grooved into the said actuation plate. the said stop bolt is acted upon by a spring 1 80.
Referring to Figure 4, the present invention is an automobile door latch actuator arrangement wherein the condemnation block is linked with the servomotor by means of a pivoted toothedlever 185 suitably toothed to mesh with a matching pinion or gear 190 coupled with the drive shaft of the said servomotor. The said actuation plate is capable of being retained in either the condemnation or the uncondemnation positions thereof by means of notches 195 and a spring 200 adapted into the housing of the present latch actuator arrangement.

Claims (1)

1) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement 5 comprising: a striker 10 capable of being retained by a pivotable fork-like latch 15; a detent lever 20 capable of retaining the said latch in a latched position; a suitably adapted condemnation block 25; an actuation plate 30 suitably adapted to couple with the lever of a key-mechanism by a said first arm 35 and with the interior condemnation knob by a said second arm 40; a servomotor 45 suitably adapted to engage with either the said actuation plate or the said condemnation block or both, by independently actuating the said actuation plate either by means of the key mechanism, the interior condemnation knob or the said servomotor, the said condemnation block is impelled into a position whereby either the detent lever alone or both the detent lever and the latch are in any part thereof simultaneously blocked up thereby.
2) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claim 1, wherein the said condemnation block and the actuation plate may take any geometrical form and may be made from any suitable materials.
3) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claim 1, wherein the actuation plate may be adapted to engage with the said first and second arms by means of cams, pins, rivet-pins or any combination thereof.
4) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claim 1, wherein the said actuation plate may be retained, as a safety measure, in both the condemnation and the uncondemnation positions thereof, by either a mechanical means, an elastic means or any possible combination thereof 5) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claim 1, wherein the said servomotor may be coupled with the said actuation plate by means of a suitably adapted set of gears and toothed racks or by means of cams and cam-followers, or any possible combination thereof.
6) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claim 1, wherein the said condemnation block may be linked to the servomotor by means of suitably adapted gears, toothed racks and cams or any possible combination thereof.
7) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claims 1, wherein the movement of both the condemnation block and the actuation plate is guided by suitable guiding means including grooves and matching projections adapted into the condemnation block, the actuation plate and the housing of the said latch actuator arrangement.
8) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claim 1, wherein by means of a specific mechanical arrangement, in some instance, a worm gear and a matching toothed rack, and in another, a suitably adapted cam and a cam-follower, the movement of the said condemnation block is, as a safety arrangement, rendered unattainable without first actuating either the key mechanism, the interior condemnation knob or the said servomotor.
9) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claims 1, wherein the part of the condemnation block adapted to block the latch serves, in addition to blocking up the said latch while in the latched position thereof, to render the condemnation of the latch unattainable so long as the latch remains in the unlatched position thereof 10) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claim 1, wherein any type of electronic or electrical circuitry and any type and number of electrical or electronic switches may be incorporated or associated therewith.
11) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claims 1, wherein in order to actuate the detent lever independently by either the interior or the exterior door handles, both of the said handles are coupled with the detent lever by means of cam-pins and camfollowers 12) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claim 1, wherein the specific arrangement of the interior condemnation knob whereby only the interior condemnation knob actuated to re-condemn the latches in an automobile remains active and all the other interior condemnation knobs (specifically in a centrally commanded set of latches) meanwhile become neutral.
13) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claims 1 and 12, wherein the said second arm is hinged with a link characterised by having a cam-pin adapted to follow the path of an 'L'-shaped cam-follower suitably cut out or grooved into the said actuation plate, the said link has a protuberance thereof suitably adapted to insert against a matching notch in the housing of the present latch actuator arrangement, by actuating the said interior condemnation knob -and this can only be effected if the said actuation plate is in an uncondemnation position- the said link slides away from the notch while rotating around the said hinge and concomitantly impelling the said cam-pin thereof to slide into an engagement position in the cam-follower whereby the said actuation plate can be actuated from an uncondemnation position into a condemnation one and back into an uncondemnation position once again.
14) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claims 1, and Claims 12 and 13, wherein the said link is kept into the notch by means of a spring acting thereon.
15) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described in Claims 1, and Claims 12 to 14, wherein the interior condemnation knob, unless deliberately actuated, would remain in place regardless of the state of condemnation of the door latch.
16) An automobile door latch actuator arrangement as described hereinbefore with reference to figures 1 to 3, of the accompanying drawings.
GB9523687A 1995-11-20 1995-11-20 Automobile door latch actuator arrangement Withdrawn GB2307272A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9523687A GB2307272A (en) 1995-11-20 1995-11-20 Automobile door latch actuator arrangement
AU76312/96A AU7631296A (en) 1995-11-20 1996-11-20 Latch and latch actuator arrangements
PCT/GB1996/002851 WO1997019242A1 (en) 1995-11-20 1996-11-20 Latch and latch actuator arrangements

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9523687A GB2307272A (en) 1995-11-20 1995-11-20 Automobile door latch actuator arrangement

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9523687D0 GB9523687D0 (en) 1996-01-24
GB2307272A true GB2307272A (en) 1997-05-21

Family

ID=10784150

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9523687A Withdrawn GB2307272A (en) 1995-11-20 1995-11-20 Automobile door latch actuator arrangement

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7631296A (en)
GB (1) GB2307272A (en)
WO (1) WO1997019242A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6863318B2 (en) 2002-04-02 2005-03-08 Arvinmeritor Light Vehicle Systems (Uk) Limited Latch for a vehicle door

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10780810B2 (en) 2015-02-24 2020-09-22 Schukra Gerätebau Gmbh Actuator and method of actuating a latch
CN107130864B (en) * 2017-06-05 2023-12-01 麦格纳汽车系统（苏州）有限公司 Electric locking and unlocking mechanism of central control lock

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1292123A (en) * 1968-11-04 1972-10-11 Essex Internat Inc Power locking and unlocking apparatus for vehicle doors
EP0267423A2 (en) * 1986-10-06 1988-05-18 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Door lock assembly for automotive vehicles

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3443287C1 (en) * 1984-11-28 1986-06-12 Kiekert GmbH & Co KG, 5628 Heiligenhaus Electromechanical drive for a central locking device for motor vehicles
FR2607546B1 (en) * 1986-12-02 1989-03-10 Rockwell Cim LOCK, ESPECIALLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR
DE3923726A1 (en) * 1989-07-18 1991-01-24 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Lock for car door - has security device which prevents release of lock by actuation of door handles

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1292123A (en) * 1968-11-04 1972-10-11 Essex Internat Inc Power locking and unlocking apparatus for vehicle doors
EP0267423A2 (en) * 1986-10-06 1988-05-18 Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha Door lock assembly for automotive vehicles

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6863318B2 (en) 2002-04-02 2005-03-08 Arvinmeritor Light Vehicle Systems (Uk) Limited Latch for a vehicle door

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9523687D0 (en) 1996-01-24
AU7631296A (en) 1997-06-11
WO1997019242A1 (en) 1997-05-29

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