JP4632436B2 - Vehicle door latch device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch device, and more particularly, to a door latch device that reduces the operation load of an opening handle.

  Conventionally, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-21956, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-278426, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-68182, and the like, the striker fixed to the vehicle body and the striker fixed on the vehicle door A latch that rotates in the closing direction by engagement with the latch, a ratchet that engages with the latch and maintains the engagement between the striker and the latch, and a power closer mechanism that rotates the latch in the closing direction with motor power A vehicle door latch device having a power release mechanism that rotates the ratchet with motor power to release the engagement state between the ratchet and the latch is known.

  The power closer mechanism allows the door to be closed easily by rotating the latch initially engaged with the striker to the full latch position with motor power, and the power release mechanism releases the ratchet from the latch with motor power. By doing so, the opening operation of the opening handle can be performed easily.

In the device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-68182, when the power release mechanism is operated, the power closer mechanism is operated in advance to close the latch from the fully latched position in order to enable the output of the power release mechanism to be reduced. The idea of extra rotation in the direction is also disclosed. If the latch is rotated excessively in this way, the reaction force of the latch spring and the reaction force of the door seal that is compressed between the door and the vehicle body are eliminated from being transmitted to the ratchet via the latch. Therefore, the output of the power release mechanism for rotating the ratchet can be reduced.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-21956 JP 2003-278426 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-68182

  The known power release mechanism is a mechanism that rotates the ratchet in the anti-engagement direction with motor power, and is a mechanism independent of the power closer mechanism that rotates the latch in the door closing direction with motor power. Since the power mechanism with motor power is expensive and requires a large installation space, usually only the power closer mechanism tends to be adopted, and the power release mechanism is handled as an accessory of the power closer mechanism. It is attached to the door latch device for some luxury cars.

  In the door latch device without the power release mechanism, the door opening handle is manually rotated throughout the door to open the door. However, the unexpected operation load is heavy depending on the model. One of the factors that increase the operating load is the effect of a latch spring that urges the latch in the door opening direction and a seal member provided between the door and the vehicle body when the door is closed. Both the latch spring and the seal member are compressed when the door is closed, and the reaction force urges the latch in the direction of opening the door, strongly pressing the full latch step of the latch against the ratchet pawl, creating a strong frictional force between them. generate. This frictional force becomes a strong resistance force when the ratchet is moved in the anti-engagement direction by the opening operation of the opening handle, and increases the operation load of the opening handle.

  The frictional resistance between the latch and the ratchet can be eliminated by excessively rotating the latch in the closing direction by the power closer mechanism as in the idea disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-68182. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-68182, a power release mechanism is still used to rotate the ratchet in the anti-engagement direction with motor power.

Therefore, without using a power release mechanism for rotating in the counter-engagement direction ratchet in motor power, compact door latch device is desired inexpensive that can reduce the operation load of the open handle.

  Especially for users such as the elderly, children, disabled people, sick people (hereinafter referred to as powerless users), the door opening operation with the door opening handle may be difficult, and it is cheap to assist the powerless user's handle operation. Mechanism was desired.

Therefore, the present invention includes a striker 15 fixed to the vehicle body 10, a latch 16 provided in the vehicle door 11 and rotating in the closing direction by engagement with the striker 15, a half latch step 24 of the latch 16 and a full latch. A ratchet 17 having a claw 23 that can be engaged with the stepped portion 25, a door opening handle 13 that is operatively connected to the ratchet 17, and the latch 16 that is in the half-latch position beyond the full latch position by motor power. And a power closer mechanism 27 that can be rotated to an excessive rotation position. When the door opening handle 13 rotates from the standby position to the direct coupling position A, mechanical play between the door opening handle 13 and the ratchet 17 is absorbed. When rotating beyond the direct connection position A to the disengagement position B, the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 is moved to the latch 16. The power closer mechanism 27 is configured to be separated from the rotation locus of the full latch step portion 25 and then to the full stroke position. In the power closer mechanism 27, the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 is engaged with the full latch step portion 25 of the latch 16. When the door opening handle 13 reaches the first operation position set in the vicinity of the direct connection position A by the door opening operation in the combined fully closed state, the latch 16 is rotated toward the excessive rotation position in the door closing direction. When the door opening handle 13 reaches the second operation position set in the vicinity of the disengagement position B , the restraint of the latch 16 rotated toward the excessive rotation position is released, and the door opening direction of the latch 16 is released. The vehicle door latch device is configured to enable rotation of the vehicle.

  In the present invention, the strong frictional force generated between the full latch step 25 of the latch 16 and the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 is eliminated by the function of the power closer mechanism 27, thereby reducing the operation load on the handles 13, 14. Therefore, compared to a mechanism that moves the ratchet in the anti-engagement direction with motor power, the structure can be made much cheaper, and the door latch device with a power closer mechanism, which is currently in widespread use, needs only a slight change in control. Since it can be implemented, it is easy to design.

  Further, since the first operation position for starting the power closer mechanism 27 is set in the vicinity of the direct connection position A, the power closer mechanism 27 can be started at an early stage, and the operation load on the handle 13 at that time is extremely high. The power closer mechanism 27 can be reliably activated with a small size.

  Further, since the second operation position for starting the return control of the power closer mechanism 27 is set in the vicinity of the disengagement position B, the latch 16 is released from the restraint by the power closer mechanism 27 at an early stage. The door can be opened early. Further, since the return control of the power closer mechanism 27 is started before the handles 13 and 14 reach the full stroke position, there is no need to hit the handles 13 and 14 at the full stroke position.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a vehicle body 10 and a door 11 fixed to the vehicle body 10. A latch unit 12 is provided on the rear side of the door 11, and an outer door opening handle 13 and an inner door opening handle 14 connected to the latch unit 12 are provided on the door 11.

  As is well known, the latch unit 12 includes a latch 16 that can be engaged with a striker 15 fixed to the vehicle body 10, and a ratchet 17 that holds the engagement between the latch 16 and the striker 15 by engaging with the latch 16. And are provided. The latch 16 is fixed to the latch shaft 18 and is urged in the clockwise direction (door opening direction / unlatching direction) in FIG. 2 by the elasticity of the latch spring 19. The ratchet 17 is fixed to the ratchet shaft 20 and is urged counterclockwise (engagement direction) toward the latch 16 by the elasticity of the ratchet spring 21.

  The latch 16 is provided with a U-shaped groove 22 that comes into contact with and engages with the striker 15 fixed to the vehicle body. When the door 10 is moved in the closing direction, the striker 15 is in the U-shaped groove of the latch 16 in the unlatched position. 2, the latch 16 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (door closing direction / full latch direction) in FIG. At this time, the latch spring 19 is compressed and accumulates a reaction force that returns the latch 16 to the door opening direction.

  The latch 16 is formed with a half latch step 24 and a full latch step 25 to which the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 is engaged. When the claw 23 engages with the half latch step portion 24 (see FIG. 3), the rotation of the latch 16 in the door opening direction is restricted, and the door 11 enters the half door closed state. The position of the latch 16 at this time is the half latch position. Similarly, when the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 is engaged with the full latch step portion 25 (see FIG. 4), the rotation of the latch 16 in the door opening direction is restricted, and the door 11 is in a fully closed state. The position of the latch 16 at this time is the full latch position.

  The door 11 or the vehicle body 10 is provided with an elastic seal member (weather strip) 26. When the door 11 is closed, the seal member 26 is compressed between the door 11 and the vehicle body 10 and accumulates a reaction force that returns the door 11 in the opening direction, that is, a reaction force that returns the latch 16 in the opening direction. . Accordingly, in the closed state, the latch 16 is strongly biased in the opening direction by the reaction force of the latch spring 19 and the seal member 26, and the full latch step portion 25 (or the half latch step portion 24) of the latch 16 and the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 A strong frictional force is generated between the two.

  In the normal manual closing operation, the latch 16 rotates in the closing direction against the elastic force of the latch spring 19 against the striker 15 and rotates to the excessive rotation position via the half latch position and the full latch position ( (See FIG. 5). The latch 16 that has reached the excessive rotation position is returned to the full latch position from the excessive rotation position by the reaction force accumulated in the latch spring 19 and the seal member 26, and the full latch step portion 25 of the latch 16 abuts on the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 ( 4), the door 11 is fully closed.

  As is well known, the outer door opening handle 13 and the inner door opening handle 14 are held at a standby position by the elasticity of a handle spring (not shown), and are operatively connected to the ratchet 17 through mechanical play. . The ratchet 17 rotates in the anti-engagement direction against the elasticity of the ratchet spring 21 when the handles 13 and 14 are opened, and the claw 23 is moved to the full latch step 25 (or the half latch step 24 of the latch 16). ) (See FIG. 6), and the restraint in the opening direction on the latch 16 by the ratchet 17 is released.

  The latch unit 12 is provided with a power closer mechanism 27 that rotates the latch 16 from the half latch position to the excessive rotation position by motor power. The mechanical structure of the closer mechanism 27 of the present invention is well known in the art.

  The latch unit 12 is provided with a latch sensor 28 for detecting the rotational position of the latch 16, and the unlatched position, half-latch position, full-latch position, etc. of the latch 16 are detected and output to the controller 29. When the latch sensor 28 detects the displacement of the latch 16 from the unlatched position to the half-latched position due to the displacement of the door 11 in the closing direction, the controller 29 operates the power closer mechanism 27 to rotate the latch 16 in the closing direction. For this reason, even if the manual closing force is insufficient to bring the door 11 into the fully closed state, the door 11 is fully closed by the motor power.

  The rotational positions of the handles 13 and 14 are detected by handle switches 30 and 31. The relationship between the rotational positions of the handles 13 and 14 and the detection states of the handle switches 30 and 31 is shown in FIG. The handles 13 and 14 can be rotated from the standby position to the full stroke position. When the handles 13 and 14 are rotated to the direct connection position A on the way, the mechanical play formed between the handles 13 and 14 and the ratchet 17 is absorbed and the handle 13 is absorbed. 14 and the ratchet 17 are directly connected (the ratchet 17 does not move in the anti-engagement direction even if the handles 13 and 14 are rotated to the direct connection position A). When the handles 13 and 14 are rotated to the disengagement position B, the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 is disengaged from the step portions 24 and 25 of the latch 16 (on the rotation locus thereof), and the restraint in the door opening direction with respect to the latch 16 is released.

  The handle switches 30 and 31 detect the first operation position and the second operation position of the handles 13 and 14, respectively. The first operation position is set in the vicinity of the direct connection position A, and is preferably set on the standby position side from the direct connection position A (including the direct connection position A). The second operation position is set in the vicinity of the engagement release position B, and is preferably set on the standby position side from the engagement release position B (including the engagement release position B). The handle switches 30 and 31 of the embodiment are turned on when the handles 13 and 14 are in the first operation position, and this ON state is continued until the handles 13 and 14 are in the second operation position. When it exceeds 2 operation positions, it will return to OFF.

  Signals from the handle switches 30 and 31 are used to control the power closer mechanism 27. In the fully closed state, when the handle switches 30 and 31 are turned ON by opening the handles 13 and 14, the controller 29 activates the power closer mechanism 27 to rotate the latch 16 from the full latch position toward the excessive rotation position ( Surplus rotation control). When the handle switches 30 and 31 are turned OFF, the power closer mechanism 27 releases the latch 16 rotated toward the excessive rotation position and returns to the standby state.

Next, the operation will be described.
When the door 11 is moved in the closing direction and the latch 16 is displaced from the unlatched position to the half-latched position by contact with the striker 15, the latch sensor 28 detects this. Then, the controller 29 activates the power closer mechanism 27 to rotate the latch 16 to the surplus rotation position via the full latch position with motor power as shown in FIG. Further, the ratchet 17 rotates in the engaging direction by the elasticity of the ratchet spring 21 and moves to a position where the claw 23 can engage with the full latch step portion 25 of the latch 16. At this time, the latch spring 19 and the seal member 26 are gradually compressed as the door 11 moves to close the door, and accumulate a reaction force that returns the latch 16 to the door opening direction.

  When the latch sensor 28 detects the excessive rotation position of the latch 16, the power closer mechanism 27 releases the latch 16 in the excessive rotation position, and the released latch 16 is opened by the reaction force accumulated in the latch spring 19 and the seal member 26. As shown in FIG. 4, the full latch step 25 of the latch 16 comes into contact with the claw 23 of the ratchet 17, and the door 11 is fully closed.

  In the fully closed state of FIG. 4, the latch 16 is strongly pushed in the opening direction by the reaction force of the latch spring 19 and the seal member 26, and a strong frictional force is generated between the full latch step portion 25 of the latch 16 and the claw 23 of the ratchet 17. Will occur. This frictional force becomes a strong resistance force when the ratchet 17 is moved in the anti-engagement direction by the opening operation of the handles 13 and 14 and increases the operation load of the handles 13 and 14. In some cases, users such as persons with disabilities (hereinafter referred to as powerless users) may experience significant inconvenience and may be forced to operate the steering wheel in response to pain.

  For this reason, in the present invention, when the opening operation of the handles 13 and 14 is detected in the closed state, the frictional force generated between the latch 16 and the ratchet 17 is eliminated, so that the opening handles 13 and 14 The operation load is reduced, and the opening operation of less powerful users is facilitated.

  More specifically, when the handle 13 (or 14) reaches the first operation position by the opening operation in the fully closed state (or half closed state), the handle switch 30 (or 31) is moved as shown in FIG. The controller 29 is turned on and activates the power closer mechanism 27. At this stage, the ratchet 17 does not move substantially due to the mechanical play formed between the handle 13 and the ratchet 17, or even if it moves, the movement is slight. Therefore, the operation load on the handle 13 is extremely small, and the power closer mechanism 27 can be reliably started.

  When the rotation of the latch 16 in the door closing direction is started by the activation of the power closer mechanism 27, the full latch step 25 of the latch 16 is quickly separated from the claw 23 of the ratchet 17, and the reaction force of the latch spring 19 and the seal member 26 is latched by the latch 16. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ratchet 17 from being imparted with rotational resistance.

  When the handle 13 rotates past the first operating position, the opening rotation of the handle 13 is substantially transmitted to the ratchet 17 and rotates the ratchet 17 in the anti-engagement direction. Will join. However, since the ratchet 17 is released from the influence of the reaction force due to the function of the power closer mechanism 27, the newly applied operation load is sufficiently reduced as compared with the case where it is affected by the reaction force. Therefore, the inconvenience and difficulty that may have been brought to a less powerful user are improved, and most less powerful users continuously rotate the handle 13 toward the second operating position without any special difficulty. be able to.

  When the handle 13 reaches the second operation position near the disengagement position B, the handle switch 30 is turned OFF, and the controller 29 starts the return control of the power closer mechanism 27. When the return control of the power closer mechanism 27 is started, the latch 16 that has been excessively rotated is released from the restraint by the power closer mechanism 27 and returned to the door opening direction by the reaction force of the latch spring 19 and the seal member 26.

  There is a slight time lag from when the return control of the power closer mechanism 27 is started until the latch 16 returns to the full latch position due to the reaction force of the latch spring 19 and the seal member 26. For this reason, even if the second operation position of the handle 13 is set slightly before the disengagement position B, the pawl 23 of the ratchet 17 is moved to the full latch step 25 of the latch 16 before the latch 16 returns to the full latch position. The ratchet 17 can be avoided from being re-engaged with the latch 16 that can be detached from the rotation trajectory.

  In this way, when the restraint in the door opening direction with respect to the latch 16 by the ratchet 17 and the power closer mechanism 27 is released, the door 11 can be opened, and if the door 11 is pulled forward by the door opening operation of the handle 13. The door 11 is opened, and when the hand is released from the handle 13, the handle 13 returns to the standby position by the elasticity of the handle spring (not shown).

  As described above, in the present invention, the strong friction force generated between the full latch step portion 25 of the latch 16 and the claw 23 of the ratchet 17 is eliminated by the function of the power closer mechanism 27, so that the operation load of the handles 13 and 14 is reduced. As a result, the door latch device with a power closer mechanism, which is currently in widespread use, can be configured to be much cheaper than a mechanism that moves the ratchet in the anti-engagement direction with motor power. Since it can be implemented simply by making changes, it is easy to design.

  Further, since the first operation position for starting the power closer mechanism 27 is set in the vicinity of the direct connection position A, the power closer mechanism 27 can be started at an early stage, and the operation load on the handle 13 at that time is extremely high. The power closer mechanism 27 can be reliably activated with a small size.

  Further, since the second operation position for starting the return control of the power closer mechanism 27 is set in the vicinity of the disengagement position B, the latch 16 is released from the restraint by the power closer mechanism 27 at an early stage. The door can be opened early. Further, since the return control of the power closer mechanism 27 is started before the handles 13 and 14 reach the full stroke position, there is no need to hit the handles 13 and 14 at the full stroke position. If the second operation position is set to the full stroke position, the ineffective user must keep the handles 13 and 14 in place after the handles 13 and 14 are brought into contact with the full stroke position. Inconvenience and difficulty.

  The present invention was developed mainly for assisting a door opening operation for a powerless user, and the description of the above operation is based on the assumption that a powerless user opens the door. Therefore, when the healthy person quickly opens the handles 13 and 14, the assisting effect of the opening operation by the function of the power closer mechanism 27 may not be enjoyed.

  In addition, although the swing type door 11 is shown in FIG. 1, a slide type door may be used.

The partial cross-sectional view of a door and a vehicle body. The relationship figure of the latch and ratchet in an open state. The latch and ratchet relationship figure in a half latch state. The relationship diagram of the latch and ratchet in the full latch state. The related figure which shows the state which the latch rotated excessively from the full latch position. FIG. 6 is a relationship diagram illustrating a state in which the ratchet is detached from the rotation locus of the full latch step portion of the latch. The relationship diagram of an opening handle and a handle switch. Block circuit diagram.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle body, 11 ... Door, 12 ... Latch unit, 13 ... Outer door handle, 14 ... Inner door handle, 15 ... Striker, 16 ... Latch, 17 ... Ratchet, 18 ... Latch shaft, 19 ... Latch spring, 20 ... Ratchet shaft, 21 ... Ratchet spring, 22 ... U-shaped groove, 23 ... Claw, 24 ... Half latch step, 25 ... Full latch step, 26 ... Seal member, 27 ... Power closer mechanism, 28 ... Latch sensor, 29 ... Controller , 30, 31 ... Handle switch.

Claims (3)

A striker 15 that is fixed to the vehicle body 10, a latch 16 that is provided on the vehicle door 11 and rotates in the closing direction when engaged with the striker 15, and a half latch step 24 and a full latch step 25 of the latch 16 are engaged. A ratchet 17 having a pawl 23 that can be moved, an opening handle 13 operatively connected to the ratchet 17, and the motor 16 rotates the latch 16 in the half-latch position beyond the full-latch position to an excessive rotation position. A power closer mechanism 27 that can be moved, and when the opening handle 13 rotates from the standby position to the direct coupling position A, mechanical play between the opening handle 13 and the ratchet 17 is absorbed and exceeds the direct coupling position A. And when the pawl 23 of the ratchet 17 is rotated to the disengagement position B, the full latch stage of the latch 16 is moved. The power closer mechanism 27 is configured such that the power closer mechanism 27 is separated from the rotation trajectory 25 and then rotated to the full stroke position. When the door opening handle 13 reaches the first operation position set in the vicinity of the direct connection position A by the door opening operation in the state, it is activated to rotate the latch 16 toward the excessive rotation position in the door closing direction. When the handle 13 reaches the second operation position set in the vicinity of the disengagement position B , the restraint of the latch 16 rotated toward the excessive rotation position is released, and the latch 16 can be rotated in the door opening direction. A vehicle door latch device configured to be The vehicle door latch device according to claim 1, wherein the first operation position is set from the direct connection position A to the standby position side. 3. The vehicle door latch device according to claim 1, wherein the second operation position is set from the disengagement position B to the standby position side.

Images