JP2024003985A - Door latch apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a service life of a door latch apparatus that can drive a latch mechanism with a motor.

SOLUTION: A door latch apparatus 10 includes a latch mechanism 12, a base plate 21, a set plate 22 coupled to the base plate 21, a rotation member 14 that is rotatably supported by the set plate 22, is driven by a motor 13, and operates the latch mechanism 12 by rotating from a neutral position, and first and second stoppers 61, 62. The first stopper 61 is provided in the set plate 22, and prevents the rotation material 14 from rotating beyond a first angle θ1 in a first direction R1 from a neutral position. The second stopper 62 is provided on the base plate 21, and prevents the rotation member 14 from rotating beyond a second angle θ2 in the first direction R1 from the neutral position. The first angle θ1 is smaller than the second angle of θ2, or equal to the second angle θ2.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a door latch device.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a door latch device provided on a door that opens and closes an opening (gate) of a vehicle body. The door latch device includes a latch mechanism that holds a striker provided on the vehicle body. The door latch device includes a motor and a rotating member such as a sector gear. When a predetermined door opening operation is performed, the motor is activated. As a result, the rotating member operates the latch mechanism, and the striker separates from the latch mechanism.

The door latch device includes a latch storage body that stores a latch mechanism, and a set plate that supports a motor and a rotating member. The set plate is connected to a base plate that forms part of the latch housing using a fixture such as a bolt. The base plate is provided with a stopper that mechanically restricts rotation of the rotating member.

JP2019-090255A

In the door latch device described above, a load based on the rotational driving force of the motor is input to the base plate via the rotating member during the period of use of the vehicle. When loads are repeatedly input, fatigue accumulates in the components of the door latch device, such as the attachment portion between the base plate and the set plate, resulting in a shortened lifespan of the door latch device.

An object of the present invention is to improve the durability of a door latch device whose latch mechanism can be driven by a motor.

One aspect of the present invention includes a latch mechanism that holds a striker provided on a vehicle body, a base plate that constitutes a part of a latch storage body that stores the latch mechanism, a set plate that is connected to the base plate, and a set plate that is connected to the base plate. a rotating member that is rotatably supported by a plate and operates the latch mechanism so that the striker detaches by rotating from a neutral position in a first direction; a motor that rotationally drives the rotating member; a first stopper provided on the base plate to prevent the rotating member from rotating beyond a first angle in the first direction from the neutral position; and a second stopper that prevents the door from rotating beyond a second angle in the direction.

According to the above configuration, if the motor continues to rotate for some reason even though the striker is released from the latch mechanism, the rotation of the rotating member is prevented by the first stopper when the rotating member rotates through the first angle. Ru. The second stopper functions when the rotating member rotates through a second angle. Since there are two types of stoppers, the load input to the base plate can be reduced.

A first aspect of the present invention is that the first angle is smaller than the second angle, and rotation of the rotating member in the first direction is prevented by the first stopper before the second stopper. The Company provides door latch devices. Since the second angle is larger than the first angle, of the two types of stoppers, only the first stopper functions first. A load based on the rotational driving force of the motor is input to the set plate via the rotating member. Load can be prevented from being input to the base plate.

A second aspect of the present invention is that the first angle is equal to the second angle, and rotation of the rotating member in the first direction is prevented by both the first stopper and the second stopper. Provide door latch devices. Since the second angle is equal to the first angle, both the first stop and the second stop function. A load based on the rotational driving force of the motor is input to the set plate and the base plate via the rotating member. Since the set plate bears part of the load, the load input to the base plate is reduced.

According to the present invention, the durability of a door latch device whose latch mechanism can be driven by a motor can be improved.

1 is a side view of a vehicle equipped with a door provided with a door latch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door latch device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the door latch device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a control system of the door latch device according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing latch release processing executed by the control system. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the door latch device according to the first embodiment in a state where the sector gear is positioned at a neutral position. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the door latch device according to the first embodiment in a state in which the sector gear has rotated in the first direction by the first initial angle value from the neutral position. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the door latch device according to the first embodiment in a state in which the sector gear has rotated in the first direction by a second angle from the neutral position. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the door latch device according to the first embodiment in a state where the sector gear rotates from the neutral position in the second direction and the close stopper is functioning. It is a back view of the door latch device based on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a door latch device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the door latch device according to the third embodiment in a state in which the sector gear has rotated in the first direction by the first angle from the neutral position. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the door latch device according to the third embodiment in a state in which the sector gear has rotated in the first direction by a second angle from the neutral position. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12, where the left side is a cross-sectional view in which only the first stopper functions, and the right side is a cross-sectional view in which both the first stopper and the second stopper function. .

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the figures, and redundant detailed description will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 1, a door latch device 10 is provided on a door 2 of a vehicle 1. The door 2 opens and closes an opening 4 formed in the vehicle body 3. In this embodiment, just as an example, the opening 4 is a rear gate that opens the vehicle compartment 5 to the rear, and the door 2 is a back door that opens and closes the rear gate.

The door 2 has two positions around a swing shaft 6 extending in the vehicle width direction at the rear upper part of the vehicle body 3: a closed position where the opening 4 is closed (see the broken line) and a fully open position where the opening 4 is opened (see the two-dot chain line). It is rotatably assembled to the vehicle body 3 between. In the left side view of the vehicle 1, the clockwise direction is the closing direction A1, and the counterclockwise direction is the opening direction A2.

A striker 7 made of a U-shaped metal fitting is provided at the lower peripheral edge of the opening 4. The striker 7 is erected on the lower peripheral edge with its pair of pin portions aligned in the front-rear direction and extending in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the door latch device 10 is arranged on the inner surface of the lower edge of the door 2. When the door 2 rotates in the closing direction A1, the rear pin portion of the striker 7 enters the door latch device 10 that is moving forward, and the striker 7 engages with the door latch device 10. As a result, the door 2 is latched and held in the closed position. A weather strip 8 is provided around the entire circumference of the opening 4. In the latched state, the door 2 crushes the weatherstrip 8, thereby sealing the opening 4.

When a predetermined unlocking condition is satisfied, such as when the open switch 9 exposed on the outside of the door 2 is pressed, the door latch device 10 electrically switches the door 2 from the latched state to the unlatched state, and causes the striker 7 to latched the door. Release from device 10. The weather strip 8 is expected to assist in this switching, and its elastic force acts on the door 2 in the opening direction A2. In the unlatched state, the opening 4 is opened when the electric spindle or the user of the vehicle 1 lifts the door 2 in the opening direction A2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the door latch device 10 includes a frame 11, a latch mechanism 12, a motor 13, and a sector gear 14. The lower part of the frame 11 forms a rectangular box-shaped latch storage body 15 that accommodates the latch mechanism 12 . The rear part of frame 11 forms a support 16 that supports motor 13 and sector gear 14 .

The latch storage body 15 is located at the bottom and front of the entire door latch device 10. The latch housing 15 forms an insertion groove 17 into which the striker 7 is inserted and removed. The insertion groove 17 is open to the front and lower surfaces of the latch housing 15 and extends from the front to the rear.

The frame 11 has a base plate 21, a set plate 22, a cover plate 23, and a fence block 24. The set plate 22 constitutes the support body 16. The base plate 21 constitutes a part of the latch housing 15, specifically, the bottom wall and both side walls. The cover plate 23 constitutes the upper part of the upper wall and both side walls of the latch housing 15. The fence block 24 constitutes the internal structure of the latch housing 15 and supports the latch mechanism 12 housed in the latch housing 15.

The base plate 21 is formed from a metal plate material, and has a bottom wall 21a, a pair of side walls 21b, and a pair of attachment parts 21c. The bottom wall 21a has a rectangular shape in plan view, and partially forms the insertion groove 17. The pair of side walls 21b protrude upward from both side edges of the bottom wall 21a, and have a triangular shape when viewed from the side. This triangle has a pair of hypotenuse edges that slope downward toward the front and rear, respectively, from the vertex at the center in the front-rear direction. The pair of attachment portions 21c protrude outward in the left-right direction from each of the rear oblique edges of the pair of side walls 21b, and are tilted rearward downward.

The fence block 24 is accommodated in the inner space of the base plate 21 (specifically, the space surrounded by the bottom wall 21a and the pair of side walls 21b), and partially forms the insertion groove 17. Cover plate 23 has an upper wall 23a, a pair of side walls 23b, and a pair of attachment parts 23c. The upper wall 23a has a rectangular shape in plan view, and is stacked on the fence block 24. The pair of side walls 23b protrude upward from each side edge of the upper wall 23a and are close to the upper part of the inner surface of the pair of side walls 21b of the base plate 21. The pair of attachment portions 23c protrude outward in the left-right direction from each of the pair of side walls 23b, and are inclined similarly to the attachment portions 21c of the base plate 21.

The set plate 22 is molded from a metal plate material or a resin material, and has a support wall 22a, a pair of side walls 22b, and a pair of attachment parts 22c. The support wall 22a extends in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The pair of side walls 22b protrude forward from each side edge of the support wall 22a. The pair of attachment portions 22c protrude inward in the left-right direction from the tip edges of the pair of side walls 22b, and are inclined similarly to the attachment portions 21c of the base plate 21.

The mounting portion 22c of the set plate 22 is sandwiched between the mounting portion 21c of the base plate 21 and the pair of mounting portions 23c of the cover plate 23. The stacked mounting portions 21c, 22c, and 23c are connected to each other using fixing devices (not shown) such as bolts. Thereby, the set plate 22 is connected to the base plate 21 and cover plate 23 that constitute the latch storage body 15. The fixture is oriented in the stacking direction of the attachment parts 21c, 22c, and 23c. The extending direction of the fixture (the direction in which the attachment parts 21c, 22c, and 23c are stacked) is tilted forward downward. When a load is input to the base plate 21, the mounting portions 21c, 22c, 23c and the fixtures bear the load.

The latch mechanism 12 mainly includes a fork 30 and a claw lever 35. The fork 30 is fixed to a fork shaft 31. The claw lever 35 is rotatably supported by a claw shaft 36. The fork shaft 31 and the claw shaft 36 extend in parallel in the vertical direction and are supported by the latch housing 15. The fork shaft 31 and the claw shaft 36 are arranged on opposite sides of the insertion groove 17 in the left-right direction. The positional relationship between the fork 30, the claw lever 35, and the insertion groove 17 is also similar to this. As just one example, the fork 30 is placed on the right side of the insertion groove 17 when viewed from the front, and the claw lever 35 is placed on the left side of the insertion groove 17 when viewed from the front.

The fork 30 rotates around the axis of the fork shaft 31 between a latch position where it traverses the insertion groove 17 and holds the striker 7, and an open position where the insertion groove 17 is opened and the striker 7 is allowed to be inserted and removed. The fork 30 is elastically biased counterclockwise toward the open position when viewed from above. The claw lever 35 has a locking position where it locks the fork 30 and restricts rotation of the fork 30 in the urging direction, and a non-locking position where it is separated from the fork 30 and allows rotation of the fork 30 in the urging direction. It rotates around the axis of the claw shaft 36 between. The claw 35 is elastically biased clockwise toward the locking position when viewed from above.

The fork 30 is housed in the lower inner portion of the latch housing 15 together with a claw portion (not shown) of a claw lever 35 that engages with the fork 30 so as to be able to separate from the fork 30 . The upper end of the fork shaft 31 projects upward from the latch housing 15. A fork lever 32 is fixed to this upper end. The fork lever 32 rotates together with the fork shaft 31 and the fork 30. The claw lever 35 integrally includes a claw part and a lever part 37. The lever portion 37 is erected upward from the rear portion of the claw portion. The right rear portion of the latch storage body 15 is recessed forward. The lever portion 37 is disposed within this recess and projects upwardly from the upper wall of the latch storage body 15.

The fork lever 32 and the lever portion 37 are arranged above the latch housing 15 and along the front surface of the support body 16 (the front surface of the support wall 22a of the set plate 22). The motor 13 is provided on the rear side of the support wall 22a, and the sector gear 14 is provided on the front side of the support wall 22a. The sector gear 14 is an example of a rotating member that operates the latch mechanism 12 by selectively pressing either the fork lever 32 or the lever portion 37 depending on the rotation direction.

The motor 13 is a bidirectional rotating electric motor, and is attached to a housing 41 that accommodates an output shaft and a speed reducer (not shown). A pinion shaft 42 projects outwardly and forwardly from inside the housing 41 , and a pinion 43 is fixed on the pinion shaft 42 outside the housing 41 . When the motor 13 operates, the rotation of the output shaft is decelerated and transmitted to the pinion shaft 42, causing the pinion 43 to rotate.

The housing 41 is attached to the rear surface of the support wall 22a of the set plate 22 using fixing tools such as bolts. The support wall 22a has a through hole 44 and a flange 45. When the housing 41 is attached to the set plate 22, the pinion shaft 42 passes through the through hole 44, and the pinion 43 is placed in front of the support wall 22a. The flange 45 is formed into an inverted L shape when viewed from the side, protrudes forward from the upper edge of the through hole 44, and is bent downward. The tip of the pinion shaft 42 is rotatably supported by a flange 45. The flange 45 is open downward, and at least the teeth of the pinion 43 are exposed downward.

A gear shaft 51 is fixed to the through hole 1 formed in the lower part of the support wall 22a. Sector gear 14 is rotatably supported by gear shaft 51. The gear shaft 51 is formed into a bobbin shape to prevent it from coming off. One side (rear surface) of the sector gear 14 faces the front surface of the support wall 22a.

The side surface of the sector gear 14 is shaped like a triangle cut out from a sector, in other words, L-shaped when viewed in the axial direction. The sector gear 14 has an arm portion 14a and an arc portion 14b. A center hole 14c through which the gear shaft 51 is inserted is formed at the base end of the arm portion 14a. The arm portion 14a extends radially around the axis of the center hole 14c. The arc portion 14b extends from the tip of the arm portion 14a in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front.

The tooth portion of the sector gear 14 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the circular arc portion 14b. The angular range of the arc portion 14b and the tooth portion of the sector gear 14 is, for example, about 90 degrees, which is set slightly larger than the operating range required to operate the latch mechanism 12. Since the sector gear 14 does not have teeth partially on the outer periphery of the disc, the large diameter sector gear 14 can be pivotally supported at the bottom of the frame 11, and a high reduction ratio (torque amplification ratio) can be obtained with a compact configuration. . Further, as will be described later, the arm portion 14a can be utilized to mechanically prevent rotation of the sector gear 14, and a mechanical stop of the electric door latch device 10 can be realized with a simple configuration.

An operating member 53 is provided on the side surface (front surface) of the sector gear 14 opposite to the support body 16. The operating member 53 protrudes forward from the side. The operating member 53 includes a relatively long first pin 53a and a second pin 53b that is arranged above the first pin 53a and shorter than the first pin 53a. In FIG. 2, the sector gear 14 is positioned at the neutral position. With the sector gear 14 positioned at the neutral position, the operating member 53 is disposed between the fork lever 32 and the lever portion 37 in the left-right direction.

Referring to FIG. 4, door latch device 10 includes a controller 90, a fork sensor 91, and a neutral position sensor 92. Controller 90 is connected to open switch 9 , motor 13 , fork sensor 91 , and neutral position sensor 92 . The open switch 9 is integrated with, for example, a button-type operator that is pressed by the user, and is provided on the outer surface of the door 2.

Fork sensor 91 detects the rotational position of fork 30. Fork sensor 91 is composed of, for example, a rotary switch. The fork sensor 91 is attached to the right rear lower part of the latch storage body 15 and is arranged close to the fork 30 (see FIG. 2). Note that the fork sensor 91 is also referred to as a lamp switch because the detection signal of the fork sensor 91 is used to control turning on/off of the interior light 95 as the door 2 is opened/closed.

Neutral position sensor 92 detects whether sector gear 14 is positioned at a neutral position. Referring also to FIG. 2, the neutral position sensor 92 is attached to the front surface of the support wall 22a and is disposed radially outward from the sector gear 14. The neutral position sensor 92 is composed of, for example, a limit switch or an electromagnetic pickup. A detected object 93 is attached to the front surface of the sector gear 14 . When the sector gear 14 is positioned at the neutral position, the detected object 93 is close to or in contact with the neutral position sensor 92 . As a result, neutral position sensor 92 outputs a signal to controller 90 indicating that sector gear 14 has been positioned at the neutral position.

The operation of the door latch device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. First, it is assumed that the door 2 is in an unlatched state and the door 2 is positioned, for example, in a fully open position. At this time, the sector gear 14 is positioned at the neutral position (see FIG. 2). Fork 30 is biased to the open position. The claw lever 35 is biased to the locking position, but is spaced apart from the fork 30, which is positioned at the open position. Fork sensor 91 outputs a signal to controller 90 indicating that fork 30 is positioned at the open position. Thereby, the interior light 95 may be turned on.

When the electric spindle or the user rotates the door 2 from the fully open position to the closing direction A1, the lower surface of the latch housing 15 moves forward slightly above the lower peripheral edge of the opening 4, and the rear side of the striker 7 moves forward. The pin portion is introduced into the insertion groove 17 from the front and from below. The striker 7 is held between the fork 30 within the insertion groove 17 and pushes the fork 30 backward. As a result, the fork 30 rotates clockwise when viewed from above against the biasing force, and is displaced to the half-latched position between the open position and the latched position. The claw lever 35 engages with the rotationally displaced fork 30 while remaining in the locking position, and locks the fork 30 in the half-latched position.

Fork sensor 91 outputs a signal to controller 90 indicating that fork 30 is positioned at the half-latched position. Controller 90 reverses motor 13 in response. As the motor 13 reverses, the sector gear 14 rotates from the neutral position in the second direction R2 (clockwise when viewed from the front), and the operating member 53 pushes the fork lever 32 to the right. The fork lever 32 rotates clockwise together with the fork shaft 31 and the fork 30 when viewed from above. The fork 30 rotates while holding the striker 7, and relatively moves the striker 7 rearward within the insertion groove 17. That is, the door 2 is displaced forward (closing direction A1).

When the fork 30 rotates to the latched position, the claw lever 35, which remains in the locked position, re-engages the fork 30 and locks the fork 30 in the latched position. The fork 30 locked at the latched position extends in the left-right direction, crosses the insertion groove 17, and prevents the striker 7 from moving forward. That is, the door 2 is switched to the latched state. In the process of the fork 30 being displaced from the open position to the latched position, the door 2 crushes the weather strip 8, thereby sealing the opening 4.

Fork sensor 91 outputs a signal to controller 90 indicating that fork 30 is positioned at the latched position. Thereby, the interior light 95 may be turned off. The controller 90 rotates the motor 13 in the normal direction in response to the displacement of the fork 30 to the latched position, and returns the sector gear 14 to the neutral position. When the neutral position sensor 92 outputs a signal indicating that the sector gear 14 is positioned at the neutral position, the controller 90 stops the motor 13.

Referring to FIG. 5, when door 2 is in the latched state and sector gear 14 is positioned at the neutral position, controller 90 determines whether a predetermined unlocking condition is met (step S1). The unlocking condition is not particularly limited, but an example of the unlocking condition is that the key unique to the vehicle 1 is in the vicinity of the vehicle 1 and the open switch 9 is pressed. If the unlocking condition is not satisfied (step S1: N), the current status is maintained.

When the unlocking condition is satisfied (step S1: Y), the controller 90 rotates the motor 13 in the forward direction (step S2). The sector gear 14 rotates from the neutral position in the first direction R1 (counterclockwise when viewed from the front), and the operating member 53 pushes the lever portion 37 to the left. The claw lever 35 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above. The claw lever 35 rotates against the urging force acting on the claw lever 35, the urging force acting on the claw lever 35 from the fork 30 in the latched position, and the frictional force generated between the fork 30 and the claw lever 35. . Sufficient torque is transmitted to the sector gear 14 to counteract these forces.

When the claw lever 35 rotates by a certain release angle from the locked position, the claw lever 35 is separated from the fork 30 and no longer supports the biasing force of the fork 30. Thereby, the fork 30 is allowed to rotate counterclockwise when viewed from above based on the biasing force. At this time, the crushed weather strip 8 attempts to restore its original shape. The elastic force acts rearward on the door 2 and urges the striker 7 to move forward relative to the latch mechanism 12. By prompting the relative displacement of the striker 7, counterclockwise rotation of the fork 30 is also encouraged.

When normal rotation of the motor 13 is started, the controller 90 monitors the output from the fork sensor 91 and determines whether the fork 30 has been displaced from the latched position (step S3). The forward rotation of the motor 13 is a time-limited process, and ends after a predetermined set time (for example, 1.5 seconds) regardless of the position of the fork 30.

When it is determined that the fork 30 has been displaced from the latched position within the set time (step S3: Y), the controller 90 reverses the motor 13 (step S5). The sector gear 14 is rotationally driven in the second direction R2. Next, the controller 90 monitors the output from the neutral position sensor 92 and determines whether the sector gear 14 has reached the neutral position (step S6). When the sector gear 14 reaches the neutral position (step S6: Y), the controller 90 stops the motor 13 (step S7). Thereby, the sector gear 14 is positioned at the neutral position. Note that the interior light 95 may be turned on simultaneously with the start of the reverse rotation of the motor 13 (step S8).

On the other hand, depending on the elastic force of the weather strip 8, the door 2 cannot be displaced rearward (opening direction A2) from the closed position, and even if the claw lever 35 is separated from the fork 30, the fork 30 is in the latched position. A situation may arise in which the displacement does not occur. Examples of such factors include the rearward inclination of the opening 4 with respect to the vertically downward direction, the weight of the door 2, the vertical gradient of the road surface, and the gradient of water in the parking lot. As shown in FIG. 1, when the inclination angle φ of the opening 4 is large, a rotational moment in the closing direction A1 acts on the door 2 held in the closed position based on its own weight, and the striker 7 is inserted into the fork 30 and It continues to stay in the groove 17.

When the set time elapses without determining that the fork 30 is displaced from the latched position (step S3: N), the controller 90 once reverses the motor 13 (step S5) and returns the sector gear 14 to the neutral position. (Step S6).

In this way, even under conditions where it is difficult to encourage displacement of the fork 30, the motor 13 is stopped in a timely manner. However, the motor 13 continues to operate until the set time elapses. In order to mechanically prevent rotation of the sector gear 14 in the first direction R1 within this period, the door latch device 10 includes an open stopper 60 (see FIG. 6).

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, open stopper 60 includes a first stopper 61 provided on set plate 22 and a second stopper 62 provided on base plate 21. The first stopper 61 prevents the sector gear 14 from rotating beyond the first angle θ1 from the neutral position in the first direction R1 through cooperation between the set plate 22 and the sector gear 14. The second stopper 62 cooperates with the base plate 21 and the sector gear 14 to prevent the sector gear 14 from rotating from the neutral position in the first direction R1 beyond a second angle θ2, which will be described later.

Regarding the first stopper 61, a protrusion 61a is provided on the back surface of the sector gear 14. The shape of the protrusion 61a is not particularly limited, but as an example, it is an elliptical shape or an oval shape, and the outer peripheral surface has a curved surface portion. The curved surface portions are provided at least at both ends of the protrusion 61a in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, the set plate 22 has a groove 61b into which the protrusion 61a is inserted. The groove 61b is formed in an arc shape centered on the through hole 52 (that is, the rotation center of the sector gear 14) along the locus of movement of the protrusion 61a when the sector gear 14 rotates.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the sector gear 14 continues to rotate in the first direction R1 beyond the release angle that rotates the claw lever 35 from the neutral position to the release angle, the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 61a is moved to the first end of the groove 61b. It comes into contact with the portion 61c. Thereby, rotation of the sector gear 14 in the first direction R1 beyond the first angle θ1 is restricted. Thus, in this embodiment, the first end 61c (and the protrusion 61a) of the groove 61b serves as the first stopper 61.

Regarding the second stopper 62, an L-shaped protruding piece 62a is provided on the rear edge of the bottom wall 21a of the base plate 21 when viewed from the side. The protruding piece 62a protrudes slightly upward from the bottom wall 21a and is bent rearward. The protruding piece 62a is relatively long in the left-right direction. On the other hand, a portion of the end surface of the arm portion 14a of the sector gear 14 protrudes in the first direction R1 and forms an abutment surface 62b.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the sector gear 14 continues to rotate in the first direction R1 from the neutral position beyond the release angle, the contact surface 62b comes into contact with the upper surface of the protruding piece 62a. In particular, in this embodiment, since the contact surface 62b is in surface contact with the protruding piece 62a, stress concentration at the contact portion between the sector gear 14 and the base plate 21 is alleviated. In this way, rotation of the sector gear 14 in the first direction R1 is prevented. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the protruding piece 62b (and the contact surface 62b of the arm portion of the sector gear 14) serves as the second stopper 62.

Hereinafter, the first angle θ1 in the new state of the door latch device 10 will be referred to as the "first angle initial value θ1a" (see FIG. 7). In this embodiment, the first initial angle value θ1 is smaller than the second angle θ2.

Therefore, when the fork 30 cannot rotate sufficiently even though the claw lever 35 is separated from the fork 30 when the vehicle 1 is put into practical use, the protrusion 61a of the sector gear 14 will not rotate until the set time elapses. It continues to contact the first stopper 61. At this time, a load based on the rotational driving force of the motor 13 acts on the first stopper 61 (that is, the first end 61c of the groove 61b) of the set plate 22 via the sector gear 14.

Since the set plate 22 constitutes the support body 16 that supports the motor 13 and the sector gear 14, almost all of this load is borne by the first stopper 61. For example, it does not act on the mounting portion 22c of the set plate 22 and the fixture applied thereto. Therefore, even if a load is repeatedly input when the door 2 is opened, fatigue can be prevented from being accumulated in the mounting portion 22c.

As an example, the sector gear 14 is formed from a heat-treated steel material, while the set plate 22 is formed from a steel material with lower strength than the sector gear 14 in consideration of ease of bending. Therefore, while the vehicle 1 is used for a long period of time, the first stopper 61 undergoes plastic deformation due to repeated load input. In this example, the first end 61c of the groove 61b is dug by the protrusion 61a so that the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 61a is transferred.

As a result, the first angle θ1 gradually increases over time. During this time, the second stopper 62 is not functioning, and the load does not cause deformation to the mounting portion 22c or other elements of the door latch device 10 other than the groove 61b. Therefore, the difference between the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 gradually becomes smaller over time due to deformation of the set plate 22 (especially deformation of the groove 61b thereof). The first angle θ1 gradually increases until the difference between the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 is eliminated.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the groove 61b is deformed until the first angle θ1 becomes equal to the second angle θ2, the load based on the rotational driving force of the motor 13 is applied to the first stopper 61 and the second stopper 61 through the sector gear 14. 62 simultaneously. The load is distributed to the first stopper 61 and the second stopper 62. Therefore, the load acting on the first stopper 61 is reduced compared to the load that has been acting thus far.

A load acts downwardly on the second stopper 62 from the contact surface 62c of the sector gear 14. While the protruding piece 62 is elastically deformed downward, a downward load is also applied to the mounting portion 21c of the base plate 21 and the fixture applied thereto. That is, the load acts in a direction that separates the mounting portion 22c of the set plate 22 on which the sector gear 14 is pivotally supported from the mounting portion 21c of the base plate 21 on which the second stopper 62 is provided. However, the load acting on the second stopper 62 is reduced compared to the case where the second stopper 62 alone takes charge of the load.

Therefore, fatigue accumulated in the mounting parts 21c, 22c and the fixtures applied thereto can be reduced. Therefore, the service life of the attachment parts 21c, 22c and thus the door latch device 10 is improved. In particular, in this embodiment, there is a stage where only the first stopper 61 takes charge of the load before the stage where the second stopper 62 takes charge of the load. Therefore, the service life is further improved.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 2, the door latch device 10 includes an emergency lever 59 for manually rotating the claw lever 35. Therefore, the door 2 can be opened even if the latch mechanism 12 cannot be operated by the motor 13 because the remaining capacity of the vehicle-mounted battery as a power source is low.

Further, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 9, the door latch device 10 also includes a close stopper 65 that mechanically restricts rotation of the sector gear 14 in the second direction. In this embodiment, the close stopper 65 is constituted by the end of the protruding piece 62a opposite to the side that contacts the contact surface 62b (the right end when viewed from the front). The sector gear 14 has a convex piece 65a that projects in the second direction R2 from the arm portion 14a. When the sector gear 14 continues to rotate in the second rotation direction, the convex piece 65a is stopped by the close stopper 65. Thereby, rotation of the sector gear 14 is regulated.

In the illustrated example, when the close stopper 65 is in a functional state, the protrusion 61a is separated from the second end 61d of the protrusion 61b. In this way, the groove 61b does not have to serve as the close stopper 65, and the second end 61d of the groove 61b may simultaneously serve as the close stopper 65 together with the right end of the protruding piece 62a. .

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, a second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the above embodiment. In this embodiment, the first initial angle value θ1a is equal to the second angle θ2. Therefore, when the fork 30 cannot rotate sufficiently even though the claw lever 35 is separated from the fork 30 from the beginning of the practical use of the vehicle, the protrusion 61a of the sector gear 14 is inserted into the first end 61c of the groove 61b. At the same time, the contact surface 62b of the sector gear 14 contacts the upper surface 62b of the protruding piece 62a.

In this embodiment as well, the load based on the rotational driving force of the motor 13 is applied to the first stopper 61 and the It is distributed over two stoppers 62. Thereby, the service life of the mounting portion 22c of the set plate 22 and thus of the door latch device 10 can be improved.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, focusing on the differences from the above embodiments. In this embodiment, the first angle initial value is smaller than the second angle.

Referring to FIG. 11, a first stopper 161 is constituted by a protrusion 161a provided on the support wall 22a of the set plate 22. The protrusion 161a projects forward of the support wall 22a. As an example, the protrusion 161a is formed on the lower edge of the support wall 22a by bending, but may also be formed by cutting and raising.

Referring to FIG. 12 and the left part of FIG. 14, when sector gear 14 rotates by a first angle in a first direction from the neutral position, it comes into contact with protrusion 161a. The sector gear 14 has a configuration for abutting against the protrusion, but its form can be changed as appropriate depending on the position of the protrusion 161a and the like. For example, when the protrusion 161a is disposed on the upper part of the support wall 22a, the sector gear 14 may have an arcuate groove in the arm portion 14a to receive the protrusion 161a. When the protrusion 161a is provided at the lower end of the support wall 22a as in this embodiment, an abutment surface 161b that abuts the protrusion 161a may be formed on the end surface of the arm portion 14a of the sector gear 14.

When the vehicle is initially put into use, when the sector gear 14 continues to rotate in the first direction, the sector gear 14 first contacts only the first stopper 161, thereby mechanically preventing rotation. Referring to FIG. 14, when a load is repeatedly input to first stopper 161, protrusion 161a is deformed. The amount of protrusion of this protrusion 161a is longer than the distance between the contact surface 62b and the protrusion piece 62a when the sector gear 14 is rotated from the neutral position in the first direction R1 by the first initial angle value θ1a.

Therefore, with reference to the right side of FIG. 13 and FIG. It is equal to 2 angles. In other words, a state in which only the first stopper 161 functions is shifted to a state in which both the first stopper 161 and the second stopper 62 function, and a state in which the load acts only on the second stopper 62 can be avoided. Therefore, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the above configuration can be changed, added to, and deleted as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

In the case where the first stopper is constituted by a projection provided on the set plate, the first angle initial value θ1a may be equal to the second angle θ2, as in the second embodiment.

Although the case where the door 2 is a back door is illustrated, the door latch device 10 may be applied to a side door.

Although the groove 61b is formed in an arc shape centered on the through hole 52, it may have any shape as long as it includes an arc groove therein along the locus of movement of the protrusion 61a when the sector gear 14 rotates. For example, it may be rectangular. The same applies when the arrangement of the protrusions and grooves is exchanged between the set plate and the sector gear.

3 Vehicle body 7 Striker 10 Door latch device 12 Latch mechanism 13 Motor 14 Sector gear 15 Latch housing 21 Base plate 22 Set plate 22a Support wall 61, 161 First stopper 61a Protrusion 1
61b Groove 61c First end 161a Protrusion 161b Concave surface 62 Second stopper θ1 First angle θ2 Second angle R1 First direction R2 Second direction

Claims (9)

a latch mechanism that holds a striker provided on the vehicle body;
a base plate that constitutes a part of a latch storage body that stores the latch mechanism;
a set plate connected to the base plate;
a rotating member rotatably supported by the set plate and operating the latch mechanism so that the striker detaches by rotating in a first direction from a neutral position;
a motor that rotationally drives the rotating member;
a first stopper provided on the set plate and configured to prevent the rotating member from rotating beyond a first angle in the first direction from the neutral position;
a second stopper provided on the base plate to prevent the rotating member from rotating beyond a second angle from the neutral position in the first direction;
The door latch device, wherein the first angle is smaller than the second angle, and rotation of the rotating member in the first direction is blocked by the first stopper before the second stopper. The difference between the first angle and the second angle is gradually eliminated by deformation of the set plate in response to a load input from the motor to the first stopper via the rotating member. The door latch device according to claim 1, wherein the door latch device is small. The set plate has a support wall that pivotally supports the rotating member and faces a side surface of the rotating member,
The rotating member has a protrusion that protrudes from the side surface toward the support wall,
The support wall has a groove into which the protrusion is inserted and includes a movement locus of the protrusion therein,
The door latch device according to claim 1, wherein the first stopper is configured by an end of the groove. The groove is formed in an arc shape centered on the axis of the rotating member along the movement trajectory.
The door latch device according to claim 3. The set plate has a support wall that pivotally supports the rotating member and faces a side surface of the rotating member,
The door latch device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first stopper is constituted by a protrusion that protrudes from the support wall toward the side surface of the rotating member. a latch mechanism that holds a striker provided on the vehicle body;
a base plate that constitutes a part of a latch storage body that stores the latch mechanism;
a set plate connected to the base plate;
a rotating member rotatably supported by the set plate and operating the latch mechanism so that the striker detaches by rotating in a first direction from a neutral position;
a motor that rotationally drives the rotating member;
a first stopper provided on the set plate and configured to prevent the rotating member from rotating beyond a first angle from the neutral position in the first direction;
a second stopper provided on the base plate to prevent the rotating member from rotating beyond a second angle from the neutral position in the first direction;
The first angle is equal to the second angle, and rotation of the rotating member in the first direction is prevented by both the first stopper and the second stopper. The set plate has a support wall that pivotally supports the rotating member and faces a side surface of the rotating member,
The rotating member has a protrusion that protrudes from the side surface toward the support wall,
The support wall has a groove into which the protrusion is inserted and includes a movement locus of the protrusion therein,
The door latch device according to claim 6, wherein the first stopper is configured by an end of the groove. The groove is formed in an arc shape centered on the axis of the rotating member along the movement trajectory.
The door latch device according to claim 7. The set plate has a support wall that pivotally supports the rotating member and faces a side surface of the rotating member,
The door latch device according to claim 6, wherein the first stopper is constituted by a protrusion that protrudes from the support wall toward the side surface of the rotating member.

Images