JP4460244B2 - Vehicle door latch device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch device including a latch body and an actuator.

BACKGROUND ART A vehicle door latch device includes a latch body that can restrain an opening / closing body such as a tailgate in a closed state, and an actuator that can operate the latch body by an electric drive source such as a motor.
In addition, if the actuator drive source becomes inoperable due to a failure in the electrical system of the vehicle and the operation of the latch body by the drive source becomes impossible, use a predetermined tool such as a screwdriver to There is one in which an operation of a latch body can be performed by manually operating an operating member that is rotated by a drive source from the inside of the vehicle (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-90158 A

  Patent Document 1 discloses that an operating member for transmitting an operation force of a drive source to a latch body is provided outside an actuator housing that houses the drive source. Adheres to the working member and causes rust. Further, the actuating member is easily operated from the outside of the vehicle due to an illegal act, which is not preferable in terms of anti-theft performance. Furthermore, when the door latch device is assembled to the tailgate, the actuating member provided on the outside of the actuator housing interferes with the mounting hole of the tailgate, and the assemblability is poor. Therefore, the structure is extremely disadvantageous in terms of waterproofness, anti-theft property, and ease of assembly.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention aims to improve waterproofness, anti-theft property, and ease of assembly, and even if the operation of the latch body by the drive source becomes impossible due to a failure of the electrical system, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle door latch device that can easily operate a latch body.

According to the present invention, the above problem is solved as follows.
(1) A latch body that is fixed to an opening / closing body that is supported by the vehicle body so as to be openable / closable and that engages with a striker on the vehicle body side to restrain the opening / closing body in a closed state; An actuator that is disposed inside and is attached to the latch housing of the latch body and capable of operating the meshing means, the actuator being fixed to the latch housing, and being accommodated in the actuator housing In a vehicle door latch device comprising: a drive source that is actuated; and an open lever that causes the abutment portion to abut against the release portion of the meshing means by being actuated by the drive source to release the meshing means from the striker , said actuator housing, the inside of the actuator of the closing body In the installed state, one side part facing the vehicle inner side, the other side part facing the vehicle outer side, and the one side part provided in the one side part, the inside and outside direction for pivotally supporting the open lever in the actuator housing And the open lever is pivotally supported by the support shaft between the one side surface portion and the other side surface portion in the actuator housing. A gear for inputting the power of the drive source provided at the abutting portion provided at one end portion of the meshing means facing the release portion and the other end portion facing in a direction different from the one end portion. And a manually operable operation portion that is provided at a position radially away from the support shaft and between the support shaft and the gear portion and protrudes toward the vehicle interior. The inside of the operation hole Punreba with along the rotating direction is movable in projecting direction from the operation hole to the interior side.

(2) In the above item (1) , the contact portion of the open lever is formed in a crank shape so that it can contact the release portion of the meshing means.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the drive source of the actuator falls into a malfunctioning or inoperable state due to a failure of the electrical system, etc. The opening / closing body can be opened by operating the means.
Further, since the open lever is accommodated in the actuator housing, it can be made excellent in waterproofness and anti-theft property.
Furthermore, the operating part of the open lever can be easily manually operated.

(2) According to the invention described in claim 2 , the operation of the open lever can be reliably transmitted to the release portion of the meshing means.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a door latch device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. In FIG. 2, the left side is “rear” and the right side is “front”.

  The door latch device (1) is attached to the tailgate (2), which is an open / close body pivotably attached to the upper part of the rear part of the vehicle body, and is attached to the vehicle body (3) side when the tailgate (2) is closed. A latch body (5) having meshing means capable of engaging with the provided striker (4) and restraining the tailgate (2) in a closed state, and an actuator (6) capable of operating the meshing means of the latch body (5) ).

  The latch body (5) includes a metal latch housing (7) fixed to the lower panel portion (2a) of the tailgate (2). The latch housing (7) includes a concave accommodating portion (7a), A pair of left and right mounting pieces (7b) provided on the left and right upper portions of the accommodating portion (7a) and fastened to the outer surface (lower surface) of the lower panel portion (2a) of the tailgate (2) by a plurality of bolts (not shown). ) (7b).

  In the housing portion (7a) of the latch housing (7), a latch (8) that constitutes a meshing means and can be engaged with the striker (4) when the tailgate (2) is closed, and a tailgate (2 ) Is engaged with the latch (8) when closed, thereby preventing the latch (8) from rotating in the opening direction and retaining the engagement between the latch (8) and the striker (4). 9) is pivotally supported by the respective support shafts (10) and (11) facing in the vertical direction.

The actuator (6) is a synthetic resin actuator housing (13) fixed to the latch housing (7) via a plate (12) fixed to the upper surface of the mounting piece (7b) (7b) of the latch housing (7). ) And is supported in the actuator housing (13) by a motor (14) as a drive source and a support shaft (15b) facing in the front-rear direction (inside / outside direction). A worm wheel (15) that meshes with the provided worm (14a), and a gear portion that meshes with the small gear (15a) provided on the worm wheel (15 ) ( the portion for inputting the rotational force of the motor (14)) ( An open lever (16) having 16a) is accommodated. As can be understood from FIG. 2, the worm wheel (15) is pivotally supported between one side portion (13b) facing the vehicle inner side and the other side surface portion (13e) facing the outer side in the actuator housing (13). The

  The actuator housing (13) is provided on the plate (12) between three substantially L-shaped claw portions (13d) provided integrally with the front side, that is, one side surface portion (13b) facing the vehicle interior side. The latch housing of the latch body (5) is fitted by fitting the left and right side edges of the raised piece (12a) and fastening it to the standing piece (12a) of the plate (12) with two screws (18). (7) is fixed.

The open lever (16) has a substantially central portion in the actuator housing (13), that is, as shown in FIG. 2, one side portion (13b) facing the vehicle inner side and the other side facing the vehicle outer side in the actuator housing (13). Between the side part (13e) and so as to be arranged closer to the one side part (13b) than the worm wheel (15), it can be rotated in the left-right direction by the support shaft (13a) facing in the front-rear direction. The gear portion (16a) is provided at the upper edge and can be contacted with the release portion (9a) facing upward, which is provided at the rear portion of the locking plate (9). A crank-shaped contact portion (16b) is provided. Furthermore, the actuator housing (13 ) is located below the gear portion (16a) , that is, at a position radially away from the support shaft (13a) and between the support shaft (13a) and the gear portion (16a). ) One side (the side facing the inner panel (2d) of the tailgate (2)) (13b) A circular arc-shaped operation hole ( 13a) pointing in the left-right direction around the support shaft (13a) An operating portion (16c) is provided that protrudes forward from 13c) (in the direction toward the vehicle inner panel (2d)).

  Since the contact portion (16b) of the open lever (16) has a crank shape, the release portion (9a) of the locking plate (9) is located behind the actuator housing (13), that is, the other side surface portion (13e) facing the vehicle exterior. Even if the configuration is arranged closer, the contact portion (16b) of the open lever (16) arranged closer to the one side surface (13b) of the actuator housing (13) is used as the release portion of the locking plate (9). The operation of the open lever (16) can be reliably transmitted to the locking plate (9) by reliably abutting on (9a).

The operation hole (13c) has an arc shape centered on the support shaft (13a). In addition, a buffer member (17) formed of an elastic body such as rubber is externally fitted to the operation portion (16c) of the open lever (16). The shock-absorbing member (17) contacts the left end edge of the operation hole (13c) when the open lever (16) is in the non-operating position shown in FIG. 1, and is released from the non-operating position (clockwise in FIG. 1). When a predetermined amount of rotation is made, the amount of rotation of the open lever (16) is restricted by contacting the right end edge of the operation hole (13c).
In the present embodiment, the amount of rotation of the open lever (16) is regulated by providing the buffer member (17) in the operating portion (16c) of the open lever (16). ) Is not necessarily required.
When the buffer member (17) is not required, another buffer member is provided on the worm wheel (15), and this buffer member is brought into contact with a stopper portion provided at an appropriate position of the actuator housing (13), so that the worm wheel By restricting the turning amount of (15), the turning amount of the open lever (16) is restricted.

  The operation portion (16c) is provided in the vicinity of the gear portion (16a) away from the support shaft (13a) of the actuator housing (13), so that the operation in the left-right direction is easy and one side surface portion (13b ) Protrudes forward from the operation hole (13c) provided in the vehicle, thereby enabling manual operation without using any tool or the like from the inside of the vehicle.

  The open lever (16) is accommodated in the actuator housing (13) so that only the operation portion (16c) is exposed from the operation hole (13c) of the actuator housing (13). The release portion (9a) of the locking plate (9) is covered with an actuator housing (13) so as not to be exposed to the outside from the door latch device (1). As a result, the actuator housing (13) has no operating member that can operate the locking plate (9) other than the operating portion (16c) of the open lever (16) outside the actuator housing (13).

  The door latch device (1) is attached to the tailgate (2) by moving the actuator (6) assembled to the latch body (5) from the outside (lower side) of the lower end (2a) of the tailgate (2) to the lower end. The mounting piece (7b) of the latch housing (7) is inserted into the tailgate (2) through the mounting opening (2c) provided in the portion (2a) and the lower end (2a) of the tailgate (2). It is performed by fixing with bolts on the outside.

  In this way, the open lever (16) is accommodated in the actuator housing (13), the release portion (9a) of the locking plate (9) is covered by the actuator housing (13), and further outside the actuator housing (13). Since this is a configuration that does not have any operating member other than the operating portion (16c) of the open lever (16), it is extremely effective for waterproofing, anti-theft and miniaturization. In addition, when attaching the door latch device (1) to the tailgate (2), there is no actuating member provided outside the actuator housing (13), so that the actuating member is used for attaching the tailgate (2) during assembly. There is no interference with the edge of the opening (2c), and the ease of assembly can be improved.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment according to the present invention will be described. When an operation switch (not shown) formed by a touch sensor provided on the outer panel (2b) of the tailgate (2) is operated, a motor (14) of the actuator (13) is moved by a control device (not shown). When power is supplied, the motor (14) rotates in a predetermined direction. When the motor (14) rotates, the open lever (16) rotates in the release direction from the non-operating position via the worm (14a), the worm wheel (15), the small gear (15a), and the gear portion (16a). Be moved. The contact portion (16b) contacts the side surface of the release portion (9a) of the locking plate (9), and disengages from the latch (8) from the engagement position where the locking plate (9) is engaged with the latch (8). Operate in the release direction. Thereby, the engagement between the latch (8) and the striker (4) is released, and the tailgate (2) can be opened.

  For example, when the drive of the motor (14) of the actuator (6) becomes impossible due to a failure of the electrical system, etc., the lid provided on the interior trim (not shown) of the tailgate (2) from the interior of the vehicle Open the body (not shown), insert your hand through this part, and manually operate the operating part (16c) of the open lever (16) protruding from the operating hole (13c) of the actuator housing (13) in the release direction. Move. As a result, the open lever (16) can rotate from the non-operating position in the releasing direction to release the locking plate (9) and open the tailgate (2).

In addition, although the door latch apparatus in this invention demonstrated what was applied to the tailgate, it is applicable also to opening-and-closing bodies other than a tailgate, for example, a door, a slide door, etc.
Further, although the operation portion (16c) is convex so as to protrude from the operation hole (13c) of the actuator housing (13), the operation portion may be concave instead. In this case, the operation portion is only exposed without protruding outward from the operation hole (13c). When the operation unit is manually operated, the tip of a driver or the like is inserted into the operation unit (16c) through the operation hole (13c), and the operation unit is moved in the release direction.

It is a front view of the door latch device concerning the present invention. It is the II-II line longitudinal cross-sectional view in FIG.

(1) Door latch device
(2) Tailgate (opening / closing body)
(2a) Lower panel
(2b) Outer panel
(2c) Mounting opening
(3) Body
(4) striker
(5) Latch body
(6) Actuator
(7) Latch housing
(7a) Housing part
(7b) Mounting piece
(8) Latch (meshing means)
(9) Locking plate (meshing means)
(9a) Release part
(10) (11) Spindle
(12) Plate
(12a) Standing piece
(13) Actuator housing
(13a) Spindle
(13b) One side
(13c) Operation hole
(13d) Claw
(13e) Other side
(14) Motor (drive source)
(14a) Warm
(15) Worm wheel
(15a) Small gear
(15b) Spindle
(16) Open lever
(16a) Gear part
(16b) Contact part
(16c) Operation unit
(17) Buffer member
(18) Screw

Claims (2)

A latch body that is fixed to an opening / closing body that is supported by the vehicle body so as to be openable / closable and that engages with a striker on the vehicle body side to restrain the opening / closing body in a closed state, and a latch body disposed inside the opening / closing body. And an actuator that is attached to the latch housing of the latch body and that can operate the engaging means. The actuator includes an actuator housing that is fixed to the latch housing, and a drive that is accommodated in the actuator housing. A vehicle door latch device having a power source and an open lever that is operated to be released by the drive source so that the contact portion contacts the release portion of the meshing means to release the meshing means from the striker.
The actuator housing is provided on one side portion facing the vehicle inner side, the other side surface portion facing the vehicle outer side, and the one side surface portion in a state where the actuator is disposed inside the opening / closing body, and the open lever An arc-shaped operation hole centered on a support shaft facing inward and outward of the vehicle for pivotally supporting the actuator housing in the actuator housing,
The open lever is pivotally supported by the support shaft between the one side surface portion and the other side surface portion in the actuator housing, and is provided at one end portion of the meshing means on the side facing the release portion. A contact portion, a gear portion provided at the other end portion facing in a direction different from the one end portion, for inputting the power of the drive source, a position separated from the support shaft in the radial direction, and the support portion. A manually operable operation portion that is provided between the shaft and the gear portion and protrudes toward the vehicle interior;
The said operation part is movable in the said operation hole along the rotation direction of the said open lever, and protrudes toward the vehicle inside from the said operation hole, The vehicle door latch apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned . The abutment of the open lever, the vehicle door latch apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a crank shape so that it can contact with the releasing of engagement means.

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