JP3458821B2 - Door lock operating device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a door lock operating device capable of simplifying a waterproof structure of an actuator and a door panel for performing an unlatch operation for releasing a meshing mechanism of a door lock, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in Japanese Patent No. 2630896, a door lock fixed to a rear end of a door and a release end of a locking plate forming a part of a meshing mechanism of the door lock are directly engaged with each other. There has been proposed a door lock operating device (conventional technology) in which an actuator having a release lever is integrated and mounted in a door panel.

In addition, inside the box-like body of the door lock, there is a meshing mechanism composed of a striker fixed to the vehicle body, a latch that can be disengaged, and a locking plate that can be disengaged from the latch. It is stored. The actuator is configured to house the motor and the speed reduction mechanism, and decelerates the rotation of the motor to move the release lever to move the locking plate in the release direction to disengage the latch from the striker. , Open the door.

[0004]

However, in the conventional door lock operating device, the actuator incorporating the electric components such as the motor is mounted in the door panel, and therefore, the waterproof structure is required. Sealing parts are required on the mating surfaces. In addition, since the connector attached to the actuator for supplying electric power to the motor from the vehicle-mounted power supply also needs a waterproof structure, the product cost of the actuator increases and the price of the entire door lock operating device increases. .

When the actuator breaks down, the actuator and the door lock are integrated, so that the door lock also needs to be removed, resulting in poor serviceability. Further, since the door lock mounted inside the door panel and the actuator are integrated, it is difficult to modularize the actuator. Here, a person who tries to steal items placed in the vehicle or passenger compartment inserts a thin hook or the like through the gap between the door panel and the side window glass, and moves the release lever or locking plate in the release direction. Generally, a means for releasing the engagement mechanism of the door lock is taken. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the anti-theft property for preventing the theft of the articles in the vehicle or the vehicle compartment as described above.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a door lock operating device capable of suppressing an increase in the product cost of an actuator and improving serviceability when the actuator fails. Another object of the present invention is to provide a door lock operating device that can easily modularize the actuator.

[0007]

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, the motor housing of the actuator is attached to the inside of the door panel, separated from the engagement mechanism of the door lock, and the tip of the output shaft of the actuator is attached. Is projected from the end surface of the motor housing, penetrates the opening of the door panel and is taken out into the door panel to
By directly connecting to the center of rotation of the link lever , which is rotatably supported by, and by providing a sealing material that liquid-tightly seals the opening of the door panel between the motor housing of the actuator and the indoor end surface of the door panel. Since it is not necessary to provide a sealing part on the mating surface of the motor housing of the actuator, the product cost of the actuator can be reduced, so that the price of the door lock operating device as a whole can be reduced.

Further, the engagement mechanism of the door lock installed in the door panel and the actuator are separated, and the actuator is installed on the indoor side of the door panel, so that even if the actuator fails, it is not necessary to remove the door lock. , Only the actuator can be removed to repair or replace the actuator.
The serviceability can be improved, and the actuator can be modularized easily. Also phosphorus
Set the rotation center of the clever to the output shaft of the actuator.
It is installed coaxially with and is fitted to the tip of the actuator output shaft.
Linking the output shaft of the actuator
Can be directly connected to

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the link lever and the engagement mechanism of the door lock are integrally housed in the door lock housing, and the output shaft of the actuator and the link lever are directly connected. Therefore, the link lever cannot be moved through the gap between the door panel and the side window glass, the engagement mechanism of the door lock is not released, and the antitheft property can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the output shaft of the actuator is provided with a concave portion having a width across flat to which the tip end of the output shaft of the actuator is fitted, at the center of rotation of the link lever. The output shaft of the actuator can be easily connected directly to the link lever by simply inserting the tip end of the into the concave portion without the output shaft idling with respect to the link lever.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the ratchet is rotated by transmitting the rotation output of the motor rotated by the switch operation from the indoor or outdoor to the ratchet of the door lock via the link lever. The latch that meshes with the ratchet is released from the meshing state with the striker, and the door can be opened.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the switch operation of the handle switch for detecting that the inside handle arranged on the indoor side or the outside handle arranged on the outdoor side is manually operated is performed. Then, the motor of the unlatch actuator is supplied with electric power, so that the rotation output of the motor is transmitted to the ratchet via the link lever.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [Structure of Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment with reference to the drawings. here,
FIG. 1 is a view showing a door equipped with a vehicle door lock operating device, and FIG. 2 (a) is a view showing a state in which an output shaft of an unlatch actuator and a shaft portion of a ratchet drive lever are directly connected.

The vehicle door lock operating device of this embodiment is
It is mounted on a door panel 1 for each door equipped in a vehicle such as an automobile, and is controlled by a door lock control device (hereinafter referred to as a door ECU) 10 provided for one door or for each door. The door panel 1 of each door (for example, the front door, the rear door, the back door) has a door lock having a meshing mechanism that can be engaged with and disengaged from the striker 2 fixed to the door receiving portion of the vehicle, and a meshing mechanism of this door lock. Ratchet drive lever 5 that drives the unlatched direction
And an unlatching actuator that electrically releases the meshing mechanism of the door lock via the ratchet drive lever 5.

The door panel 1 is a sash door whose front hinge is rearward and which is difficult to open by wind pressure. The inner panel 11 is formed by deep drawing a steel plate, and the three sides except the waist line 12 are hemmed and spot welded or bonded. And the outer panel 13 assembled together.
A door trim (lining) 14 that covers the inner side of the inner panel 11 is attached to the interior side of the door panel 1. The inner panel 11 is formed with an opening 15 (a round hole, an oval hole, or a square hole) for inserting an output shaft of an unlatch actuator described later.

The engagement mechanism of the door lock is a substantially L-shaped latch housing (corresponding to the door lock housing of the present invention) arranged at the end opposite to the door hinge portion (not shown) side of the door panel 1. 17, this latch housing 17
It comprises a ratchet 3 which is rotatably supported therein, and a latch 4 which changes the engagement state (engagement state) with the striker 2 according to the rotation of the ratchet 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the latch housing 17 and the door panel 1 are provided with a substantially U-shaped notch 19 capable of receiving a striker.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ratchet 3 is rotatably provided on the inner wall surface of the latch housing 17 about the support shaft portion 21. Then, the ratchet 3 is changed to an engagement position (full latch position or half latch position) that meshes with the latch 4 and a release position (unlatch position) that releases the meshed state with the latch 4 according to the rotation angle.

The ratchet 3 has a claw-shaped engaging portion (hereinafter referred to as a claw portion) capable of engaging with the latch 4.
22 and an engaging piece 23 capable of engaging with the output portion of the ratchet drive lever 5 are provided. Also,
A ratchet spring 25 that urges the protruding piece 24 of the ratchet 3 in the direction of returning from the unlatched position to the meshed position is mounted.

The ratchet spring 25 has one end locked to the protruding piece 24 of the ratchet 3 and the other end locked to the protrusion 26 of the latch housing 17. When the ratchet 3 is pushed by the output portion of the ratchet drive lever 5, the ratchet 3 resists the biasing force of the ratchet spring 25 and rotates about the support shaft portion 21 in the clockwise direction in the drawing to engage with the latch 4. Is released.

The latch 4 is provided on the inner wall surface of the latch housing 17 as shown in FIGS.
It is provided so as to be rotatable around 1. The latch 4 locks (holds) the door by completely meshing with the striker 2 according to the rotation angle (door closed state), and half-latch state (half door state not fully meshing with the striker 2). ), And the opening portion of the cutout portion 32, which will be described later, are changed to an initial state in which the notch portion 32 faces left in the drawing. The latch 4 is changed between a full-latch state in which the ratchet 3 is engaged (see FIG. 3) and an unlatch state in which the engagement between the ratchet 3 is released (see FIG. 4), depending on the rotation angle of the ratchet 3.

The latch 4 has a substantially U-shaped notch 32 capable of engaging with the striker 2, and a hook 22 of the ratchet 3 when the door is completely closed (fully latched). The claw-shaped first engaged portion 33 to be fitted, and the claw-shaped second engaged portion engaged with the claw portion 22 of the ratchet 3 when the door is in the half-door state (half-latched state) in which the door is not completely closed. A joint 34 and the like are provided.

Around the support shaft portion 31 of the latch 4, a concave portion for accommodating a latch spring 35 for returning the latch 4 to the initial state (position where the opening portion of the cutout portion 32 is directed leftward in the drawing) is accommodated. An (opening) 36 is formed. The latch spring 35 has one end locked to a columnar protrusion 37 provided on the latch housing 17, and the other end locked to a groove wall surface of the recess 36.

The unlatch actuator is assembled between the inner panel 11 and the door trim 14 and rotates the ratchet 3 via the ratchet drive lever 5 to electrically release the engagement between the latch 4 and the striker 2. The door lock driving means performs an unlatching operation.

The unlatch actuator is
Door ECU via electric wiring 61 such as a wire harness
It has a motor housing 6 which incorporates an unlatch motor that is activated or deactivated by a control signal from 10 and a gear reduction mechanism that reduces the rotational speed of this unlatch motor. The motor housing 6 is a divided case in which a container-shaped case and a cover that closes the opening of the case are bonded together, and is fastened and fixed to the inner panel 11 of the door panel 1 using fasteners (not shown). . A connector (not shown) for connecting an electric wiring 61 such as a wire harness is provided on the side wall surface of the motor housing 6.

Here, the unlatch motor and the gear reduction mechanism constitute an actuator body, and the output shaft 7 thereof projects from the end face of the motor housing 6 and penetrates the opening 15 of the inner panel 11 with a margin. Then, it is taken out into the door panel 1 (between the inner panel 11 and the outer panel 13) and connected to the input portion of the ratchet drive lever 5. The output shaft 7 has a width across flats in a portion having a circular cross section. Further, the bearing portion of the motor housing 6 that rotatably supports the protruding portion of the output shaft 7 is provided with a sealing material (not shown) in order to enhance the waterproof property of the unlatch actuator.

The unlatch actuator model is
Between the end surface and the vehicle interior side end face of the inner panel 11 of the over motor housing 6, the annular sealing elastic member 39 is interposed in a non-contact with the output shaft 7 of the unlatching actuator. The sealing elastic body 39 corresponds to the sealing material of the present invention, and seals the opening 15 of the inner panel 11 in a liquid-tight manner and allows the output shaft 7 of the unlatch actuator to be inserted with a margin. . The sealing elastic body 39 is attached to the end surface of the motor housing 6 using an adhesive (not shown). The sealing elastic body 39 may be attached to the end surface of the inner panel 11 on the vehicle interior side.

The ratchet drive lever 5 corresponds to the link lever of the present invention, and is formed of a metal material or a resin material in a predetermined shape, and the latch housing 1
The ratchet 3 and the latch 4 are integrally housed in the inside 7. The ratchet drive lever 5 is a rotation center portion (input portion) rotatably supported by the latch housing 17.
41, a door lock drive unit (output unit) 42 that directly drives the ratchet 3 of the door lock, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the rotation center portion 41 is provided coaxially with the output shaft 7 of the unlatch actuator, and has one end rotatably supported in the opening 43 of the latch housing 17. The other end is rotatably supported by the bearing portion 44 of the latch housing 17. Then, at one end of the rotation center portion 41, as shown in FIGS.
As shown in, the shaft-shaped portion 46 having the recessed portion 45 having a width across flat with which the tip portion of the output shaft 7 is fitted is formed.

The door lock drive section 42 is composed of a rotation center section 41.
Is extended radially outward (to the ratchet 3 side, downward in FIG. 2) to engage with the engagement piece 23 of the ratchet 3. Here, the ratchet drive lever 5 is
By rotating around 1 as a center, an unlatch output lever for performing an unlatch operation for moving the engagement piece 23 of the ratchet 3 in the right rotation direction (unlatch direction) shown in FIG. .

The door ECU 10 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
A microcomputer having functions such as M and I / O ports, which has a well-known structure. At the I / O port of the door ECU 10, an outer handle switch 51 and an inner handle switch 52 that output a door open signal (unlatch signal) for each door and an unlatch motor of an unlatch actuator are electrically connected to a wire harness or the like. It is connected through wirings 61 to 63.

When the door ECU 10 receives a door open signal from either the outer handle switch 51 or the inner handle switch 52 when the unlocking operation is being performed by a key switch, a touch switch or the like (not shown), The door open signal (ON signal) is output to the unlatch motor installed in the door equipped with the switch that outputs the door open signal.

The outer handle switch 51 is a vehicle exterior operation detecting means for detecting that the operator pulls the outside handle 53. Its outside handle 53
Is a vehicle outside releasing operation means that can be manually operated from outside the vehicle. The inner handle switch 52 is a vehicle interior operation detecting unit that detects that the operator pulls the inside handle 54. The inside handle 54
Is a vehicle interior release operation means that can be manually operated from the vehicle interior.

[Operation of the Embodiment] Next, the operation of the vehicle door lock operating device of the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Here, FIG. 3 is a view showing a fully latched state (the door cannot be opened) of the door lock engagement mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an unlatched state (the door can be opened) of the door lock engagement mechanism. is there.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pawl portion 22 of the ratchet 3 engages with the first engaged portion 33 of the latch 4 so that the notch portion 32 of the latch 4 and the striker 2 are in proper positions. The door E is in the closed state (full latch state) where the doors engage with each other.
When the unlatch motor is supplied with power from the vehicle-mounted power supply in response to the door open signal from the CU 10, the shaft of the unlatch motor rotates.

When the shaft of the unlatch motor rotates, the output shaft 7 rotates through the gear reduction mechanism. As a result, the ratchet drive lever 5 in which the shaft-shaped portion 46 of the rotation center portion 41 is directly connected to the tip portion of the output shaft 7
Rotates about the rotation center portion 41 together with the output shaft 7. With the rotation of the ratchet drive lever 5, the engagement piece 23 is engaged with the door lock drive portion 42 of the ratchet drive lever 5.
The ratchet 3 which is engaged with rotates. That is,
As shown in FIG. 4, the ratchet 3 rotates in the right rotation direction (unlatch direction) in the drawing around the support shaft portion 21 while bending the ratchet spring 25. This allows
The claw portion 22 of the ratchet 3 and the first engaged portion 33 of the latch 4
Out of mesh with.

Then, the latch 4 to which the biasing force of the latch spring 35 acts becomes rotatable in the clockwise direction in FIG. 4 (unlatched state). As a result, when an operator such as a vehicle occupant pushes an armrest or the like of the door trim 14 of the door, the latch 4 rotates around the support shaft portion 31 and the cutout portion 32 and the opening portion of the latch 4 move in the left direction in the drawing. The door is opened by the disengagement between the direction and the notch 32 and the striker 2, so that the vehicle occupant can get out of the vehicle compartment.

[Effects of the Embodiment] As described above, in the vehicle door lock operating device of this embodiment, the unlatch actuator is mounted between the inner panel 11 and the door trim 14. That is, by mounting the unlatch actuator on the vehicle interior side of the door panel 1, the waterproof structure of the motor housing 6 and the connector of the unlatch actuator can be simplified. As a result, the product cost of the unlatch actuator can be reduced, so that the price of the vehicle door lock operating device as a whole can be reduced.

Further, by providing the annular sealing elastic body 39 and the opening 15 of the door panel 1 which are not in contact with the output shaft 7 of the unlatch actuator, the sliding resistance between the sealing elastic body 39 and the output shaft 7 is reduced. Disappear. As a result, the operability of the unlatch actuator that performs the unlatch operation can be significantly improved.

In this embodiment, the end face of the shaft-like portion 46 of the rotation center portion 41 of the ratchet drive lever 5 has a concave shape with a width across flat to which the tip end of the output shaft 7 of the unlatch actuator fits. The part 45 is provided. Then, the tip end portion of the output shaft 7 of the unlatch actuator is provided with a concave portion 45.
Output shaft 7 to ratchet drive lever 5
The output shaft 7 of the unlatch actuator is connected to the shaft-like portion 46 of the ratchet drive lever 5 without idling.
Can be directly connected to. As a result, the rotation output of the unlatch motor can be reliably transmitted to the ratchet 3 of the door lock via the ratchet drive lever 5.

The engagement mechanism of the door lock installed in the door panel 1 and the unlatch actuator are separated, and the unlatch actuator is installed in the door panel 1.
Even when the unlatch actuator fails, the door lock need not be removed by mounting the unlatch actuator on the vehicle interior side, and the unlatch actuator can be repaired or replaced by removing only the unlatch actuator. Thereby, maintainability and serviceability can be improved.

Further, modularization of the unlatch actuator can be easily implemented. For example, by simply making an integral part (actuator module) of a plate that can be assembled to the inner panel 11 of the door panel 1, a sealing elastic body 39, and an unlatch actuator, and attaching the actuator module to the inner panel 11, the unlatch actuator is waterproofed. The structure can be applied.

The ratchet drive lever 5 and the door lock meshing mechanism (ratchet 3, latch 4) are integrally housed in the latch housing 17, and the output shaft 7 of the unlatch actuator and the ratchet drive lever are accommodated. Since the rotation center portion 41 of 5 is directly connected, the ratchet drive lever 5 and the ratchet 3 cannot be moved from the gap between the door panel 1 and the side window glass, and the engagement between the latch 4 and the striker 2 is released. It will not be lost and the anti-theft property can be improved.

[Modification] In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the vehicle door lock operating device for operating the meshing mechanism of the door lock of the door mounted on the vehicle such as an automobile, but the present invention is applied. The present invention may be applied to a vehicle door lock operating device for actuating a meshing mechanism of a door lock of a small vehicle such as a passenger vehicle or a commercial vehicle or a railway vehicle, and a large vehicle such as a bus or a truck. Further, the present invention may be applied not only to a vehicle but also to a building door lock operating device for operating a meshing mechanism of a door lock of a door arranged in a building such as a house or a store.

In this embodiment, an example in which an unlatch actuator for performing an unlatch operation for releasing the engagement state of the ratchet 3 of the door lock with the latch 4 is applied as the actuator, but the latch 4 is a half-latch as the actuator. A closer actuator may be applied to drive the latch 4 from the half-latch state to the full-latch state when it is detected by a sensor or the like. In this case, the link lever serves as a latch drive lever. Further, an actuator having a deadlock position for theft prevention may be adopted as the actuator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a door equipped with a vehicle door lock operating device (embodiment).

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an output shaft of an unlatch actuator and a shaft portion of a ratchet drive lever are directly connected, and FIG. 2B shows an end face shape of the shaft portion of the ratchet drive lever. It is a top view (example).

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a fully latched state of a door lock meshing mechanism (embodiment).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an unlatched state of a door lock meshing mechanism (embodiment).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 door panel 2 striker 3 ratchet (meshing mechanism) 4 latch (meshing mechanism) 5 ratchet drive lever (link lever) 6 motor housing 7 output shaft 11 inner panel 15 opening 17 latch housing (door lock housing) 39 elastic body for sealing ( Sealing material) 41 Rotation center part 42 Door lock drive part 45 Concave part 46 Shaft part

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A door lock mounted in a door panel and having a meshing mechanism capable of engaging with and disengaging from a striker, and one link lever mounted in the door panel to operate a meshing mechanism of the door lock, A door lock operating device comprising: a motor that is rotated by a switch operation from inside or outside the room, and an actuator that transmits a rotation output of the motor to a meshing mechanism of the door lock via the link lever, The actuator is separated from the engagement mechanism of the door lock and attached to the inside of the door panel,
A motor housing that accommodates the motor, a seal member that is provided between the motor housing and the indoor end surface of the door panel to liquid-tightly seal the opening portion of the door panel, and protrudes from the end surface of the motor housing. Has an output shaft that extends through the opening of the door panel and is taken out into the door panel, and the link lever is rotatable with respect to the door lock housing.
The link lever has a rotation center portion that is supported on the rotation center portion of the link lever. Door lock operation device characterized by being directly connected. 2. A door lock operation device according to claim 1, wherein the link lever, the door lock operation, characterized in that it is integrally accommodated with meshing mechanism of the door lock in the door lock housing apparatus. 3. A door lock control device according to claim 1 or claim 2, the rotation center of the link lever, concave tip portion of the output shaft before Symbol actuator having a width across flats to be fitted A door lock operating device having a portion. 4. The door lock operating device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism of the door lock is a latch that engages with the striker, and a latch that engages with the latch to rotate. The actuator has an ratchet for moving the latch, and the actuator is an unlatch actuator for performing an unlatch operation for releasing the meshed state between the latch and the striker by rotating the ratchet via the link lever. Characteristic door lock operation device. 5. The door lock operating device according to claim 4, wherein the motor detects that an inside handle arranged on the indoor side or an outside handle arranged on the outside is manually operated. A door lock operating device characterized in that power is supplied when a handle switch is operated.