WO2018185209A1

WO2018185209A1 - Lock for motor vehicle door or lid

Info

Publication number: WO2018185209A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/058703
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vincenzo SCUDERI
Original assignee: Cebi Italy S.P.A.
Priority date: 2017-04-06
Filing date: 2018-04-05
Publication date: 2018-10-11

Abstract

Lock (100) for motor vehicle door or lid comprising: a closing hook (2), a pawl (3) that acts on the closing hook (2) to lock the closing hook in closed position; a bolt (6) comprising a plate (60) that cooperates with the pawl (3), an actuator (5) that moves a toothed wheel (53) connected to the bolt (6) by means of a reset mechanism (S). The reset mechanism (S) comprises a lower cam (4) that is integral with the plate (60) of the bolt, and two cam tracks (41) disposed in diametrally opposite positions; a tooth assembly (7) provided with two lower pins (75) engaged in the cam housings (41) of the lower cam and with an upper pin (76) engaged in a cam housing (1) of an upper cam (8).

Description

Lock for motor vehicle door or lid

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle door or lid, in particular for the trunk of a vehicle.

Various types of locks for motor vehicle doors or lids are known on the market. Said locks comprise a closing hook that is engaged into an "U"- shaped pin fixed to the body of the vehicle.

The closing hook is actuated by an electrical motor by means of a transmission with gears and levers. A stop lever, which is normally called pawl, is engaged with the closing hook in order to lock the closing hook and keep it in closed position.

In such a type of locks, if the motor is blocked, the closing hook is blocked in closed position by the pawl and the lock cannot be opened.

In order to solve such a drawback, locks are known, which are provided with an external actuator to actuate the closing hook and with an internal motor to actuate the pawl. Obviously, such locks are cumbersome and expensive, because they are provided with an external actuator and a motor. Moreover, if the external actuator is blocked, also the closing hook is blocked. In fact, the actuation of the internal motor will release the pawl, but not the closing hook, which remains blocked. In such a case, several systems are available to disengage the closing hook by disconnecting the transmission or by disconnecting the levers.

Such a drawback caused by the blocking of the closing hook is partially solved by locks provided with only one motor with an epicycloid reduction gear and an emergency release system that provides for manually actuating a lever that is translated to release the epicycloid reduction gear of the motor and allow the rotation of the closing hook in the opening position. However, such an emergency release system is complex and cumbersome due to the presence of several lever mechanisms. Moreover, such an emergency release system is difficult to be actuated by the user, who needs to disengage the pawl from the closing hook first and then actuate the closing hook.

Locks are also known, which comprise an actuator connected to a mechanism that comprises gears for moving the closing hook. However, after the opening of the closing hook, the reset of said mechanism determines a backward rotation of the gears, which causes an annoying noise for the user.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a lock for a vehicle door or lid that is noiseless, reliable and easy to release if the motor of the lock is blocked.

Another purpose of the present invention is to disclose such a lock for vehicle door or lid that is not cumbersome and is easy to make and assemble.

These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the independent claim 1 .

Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

Additional features of the invention will appear manifest from the detailed description below, which refers to merely a illustrative, not limiting embodiment, as illustrated in the attached figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the lock of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a reset mechanism used to connect an actuator to a bolt of the lock;

Fig. 2A is an enlarged view of a tooth assembly of the reset mechanism of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2A is an enlarged view of an upper cam of the reset mechanism of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a perspective top view of the lock in closing position;

Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3, except for it shows the lock in open position; Fig. 5 is a perspective bottom view of a toothed wheel of the lock according to the invention;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken along a sectional plane that is orthogonal to the axis of the toothed wheel, which show a tooth of the tooth assembly in respectively an engagement position and a disengagement position;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views respectively taken along the section planes VIII-VIII and IX-IX of Figs. 6 and 7.

With reference to the Figures, the lock of the invention is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference numeral (100).

Reference is made to a set of three Cartesian axes (X, Y, Z) that are oriented as shown in Fig. 1 .

Now with reference to Fig. 1 , the lock (100) comprises a closing hook (2) suitable for being fastened to a pin that is generally shaped like a "U" (not shown). The pin is fixed to the body of the vehicle. Instead the lock (100) is disposed in a box (1 ) fixed to the door or lid of the vehicle.

The box (1 ) has a base (10), a lid (1 1 ) and an electrical connector (12) fixed to the lid in order to power the electrical parts of the lock. A slot (15) is obtained in the base (10) for letting the pin pass through.

The closing hook (2) has a plate-shaped body (10) provided with a

"U"-shaped slot (20) suitable for fastening the pin (B).

A pivoting hole (21 ) is obtained in the body (10) of the closing hook for pivoting the closing hook in the box (1 ) that contains the lock, around a pivoting axis parallel to axis Z. A pivoting pin (14a) fixes the lid (1 1 ) to the base (10) and hinges the closing hook (2) to the box (1 ).

The closing hook (2) comprises a first tooth (22) that protrudes in the proximity of the fastening slot (20) and a second tooth (23) that protrudes in distal position with respect to the fastening slot (20).

The closing hook (2) is stressed by a spring (M1 ) that pushes the closing hook towards its opening position (Fig. 4).

A pawl (3) is provided with a pivoting hole (31 ) for hinging the pawl in the box (1 ) around a pivoting axis that is parallel to the axis Z. A pivoting pin (14b) fixes the lid (1 1 ) to the base (10) and hinges the pawl (3) to the box (1 ).

The pawl (3) has a tooth (30) that is faced towards the closing hook (2). The pawl (3) has a first arm (32) that protrudes from the pawl, forming an acute angle, as well as a second arm (33) that is shaped like an "L" and protrudes from the pawl, forming a straight angle.

The pawl (3) is stressed by a spring (M2) that pushes the pawl towards its locking position (Fig. 3).

The closing hook (2) and the pawl (3) interact mutually.

With reference to Fig. 3, when the closing hook (2) is in closing position, the first tooth (22) of the closing hook is stopped against the tooth (30) of the pawl, and the pawl (3) is in locking position, in such a way not to let the closing hook (2) open.

With reference to Fig. 4, the bolt (6) pushes the second lever (33) of the pawl, making the pawl rotate in such a way that the tooth (30) of the pawl is released from the first tooth (22) of the closing hook. Now, the closing hook (2) is brought to the open position by means of the thrust of the spring (M1 ), releasing the pin that is integral with the body; therefore, the door or lid can be opened by the user.

The bolt (6) is moved by an actuator (5) by means of a transmission.

The actuator (5) controls an electrical motor (50) with a drive shaft (51 ) whereon an endless screw (52) is mounted, and engaged in an external toothing (59) of the toothed wheel (53) that rotates with an axis of rotation parallel to the axis (Z). The toothed wheel (53) is advantageously provided with an external toothing (59) of helical type.

With reference to Fig. 5, the toothed wheel (53) is provided with a collar (54) that protrudes in lower position, defining a housing (55). A plurality of retention teeth (56) internally protrude from the collar (54) inside the housing (55) of the toothed wheel. Four internal retention teeth (56) are preferably provided and equally spaced angularly.

The internal retention teeth (56) of the toothed wheel have a triangular shape. Each internal retention tooth (56) of the toothed wheel has a stop surface (56a) that radially protrudes from the collar (54) and a sliding surface (56b) that is inclined with respect to a radial direction. The toothed wheel (53) has an axial hole (57). A slot (58) is provided above each internal retention tooth (56), being obtained in an upper wall of the toothed wheel.

With reference to Fig. 2, the toothed wheel (53) is connected to the bolt (6) by means of a reset mechanism (S) that resets the bolt (6) after the rotation of the toothed wheel (53).

The bolt (6) comprises a plate (60) shaped like a semicircle. A lower cam (4) is provided and integral with the plate (60). The lower cam (4) comprises a disc-like plate (40) provided with two cam tracks (41 ) that are shaped like a "U" and are peripherally obtained in the lower cam (4) in diametrally opposite directions. The lower cam (4) is also provided with two peripheral slots (63) with a rectangular shape. A hole (64) passes through the lower cam (4) and the plate (60) of the bolt. The hole (64) is in axial position relative to the lower cam (4), but in eccentric (peripheral) position relative to the plate (60) of the bolt. The plate (60) of the bolt has a tooth (65) that protrudes above a peripheral end of the plate of the bolt.

Also with reference to Fig. 2A, a tooth assembly (7) is engaged above the lower cam (4). The tooth assembly (7) comprises a disc-like plate (70) with a slot (71 ) shaped as a through slot.

A tooth (72) radially protrudes from the plate (70) of the tooth assembly in the direction of the major axis of the slot (71 ). The tooth (72) has a flat stop surface (72) and a convex sliding surface (73). The flat stop surface (72) of the tooth is suitable for being stopped against the stop surface (56a) of an internal retention tooth of the toothed wheel.

Two lower pins (75) protrude in lower position from the plate (70) of the tooth assembly in order to be engaged in the cam tracks (41 ) of the lower cam. The two lower pins (75) of the tooth assembly operate as followers and are peripherally disposed in diametrally opposite positions, spaced by an angle of 90° relative to the tooth (72). The two lower pins (75) can slide in the cam tracks (41 ) of the lower cam. Two tabs (76) protrude in lower position from the plate (70) of the tooth assembly in order to be engaged in the slots (42) of the lower cam (4). The tabs (76) are disposed in diametrally opposite positions and are equally spaced relative to the lower pins (75). The tabs (76) are loose inside the slots (42) of the lower cam in order to move along the direction of the major axis of the slot (71 ) of the lower cam.

An upper pin (76) protrudes in upper position from the plate (70) of the tooth assembly, in peripheral position, in the proximity of the tooth (72).

Also with reference to Fig. 2B, an upper cam (8) is suitable for being disposed above the tooth assembly (7). The upper cam (8) comprises a flange (80) with a disc-like shape and a subtended angle of approximately 210°-270°. The flange (80) of the upper cam has a cam track (81 ) with a "U" shape that is obtained in peripheral position in the lower surface of the cam (80). The cam track (81 ) can be obtained by means of a groove in the flange (80). Each foot of the "U" of the cam track has a substantially "S" shape and comprises a first curved section (82) with center of curvature in the center of the flange, as well as a second curved section (83) with center of curvature in the periphery of the flange.

The upper pin (76) of the tooth assembly (7) is engaged in the cam track (81 ) of the upper cam (8). Therefore, the upper pin (76) of the tooth assembly (7) operates as follower and can slide in the cam track (81 ) of the upper cam (8).

A pipe (84) axially protrudes in lower position from the flange (80) of the upper cam. A hole (85) axially passes through the flange (80) and the pipe (84).

Two elastic tabs (86) are obtained at the lower end of the pipe (84). Each elastic tab (86) has a retention tooth (87) that radially protrudes outwards.

The pipe (84) of the upper cam is inserted into the slot (71 ) of the tooth assembly and into the hole (64) of the lower cam and of the bolt, in such a way to protrude in lower position from the bolt. A lower closing plate (94) is suitable for being disposed under the bolt (6). The lower closing plate (94) comprises a central hole (95) and a peripheral slot (96).

A torsional spring (M3) is disposed between the lower plate (94) and the bolt (6). The torsional spring (M3) comprises a first end (Μ3') that is engaged in the peripheral slot (96) of the lower closing plate, as well as a second end (M3") that is engaged in the bolt. The torsional spring pushes the bolt (6) to its idle position (Fig. 3) wherein the bolt (6) does not interfere with the pawl (3).

The lower end of the pipe (84) is inserted into the central hole (95) of the closing plate, in such a way that the retention teeth (87) of the elastic tabs are engaged under the closing plate (94) in order to retain it.

A stem (9) is inserted in the axial hole (85) of the upper cam and of the tube. The stem (9) has a lower ending portion (90) that comes in contact with the elastic tabs (86) of the pipe in order to prevent them from moving, as well as an upper ending portion (92) that is engaged in the central hole (57) of the toothed wheel (53).

The tooth assembly (7) is situated between the lower cam (4) and the upper cam (8). The tooth assembly (7) can move from an engaged position (Figs. 6 and 8), wherein it is moved outwards and the tooth (72) of the tooth assembly is stopped against an internal retention tooth (56) of the toothed wheel, to a disengaged position (Figs. 7 and 9), wherein it is moved inwards and the tooth (72) of the tooth assembly does not interface with the internal teeth (56) of the toothed wheel. Such a movement of the tooth assembly (7) is permitted by the sliding of the lower pins (75) and of the upper pin (76) of the tooth assembly, respectively in the cam tracks (41 ) of the lower cam and in the cam track (81 ) of the upper cam.

This description continues by illustrating the operation of the lock (100) of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, in an initial situation, the closing hook (2) is in closed position, wherein it closes the pin of the body of the vehicle. The pawl (3) is in locking position, wherein it locks the closing hook (2). Therefore the door or lid cannot be opened.

The bolt (6) is in idle position, wherein it does not interfere with the pawl (3). In such a situation, the bolt (6) is constrained to the toothed wheel (53) because the tooth (72) of the tooth assembly interferes with an internal retention tooth (56) of the toothed wheel (Figs. 6 and 8). Otherwise said, the stop surface (73) of the tooth assembly is stopped against the stop surface (56a) of the internal retention tooth of the toothed wheel.

When the actuator (5) is actuated, the actuator (5) determines an anticlockwise rotation of approximately half turn of the toothed wheel (53). Considering that the toothed wheel (53) is constrained to the bolt (6) by means of the tooth (72) of the tooth assembly that is stopped against the internal retention tooth (56) of the toothed wheel, also the bolt (6) makes a rotation of approximately half a turn in order to be brought to its opening position (Fig. 4), which is an operating position.

During the rotation of the bolt (6), the plate (60) of the bolt comes in contact with the pawl (3) and pushes the pawl (3) to the unlocking position (Fig. 3) wherein the pawl (3) does not interfere with the closing hook (2). In such a situation, the spring (M1 ) pushes the closing hook to the opening position, releasing the pin of the vehicle body. Therefore the user can lift the trunk open.

During the rotation of the bolt (6), the torsional spring (M3) is loaded. Moreover, during the rotation of the bolt (6), the tooth assembly (7) is moved from its engaged position (Figs. 6, 8) to its disengaged position (Figs. 7 and 9). Consequently, also the tooth (72) of the tooth assembly is moved away and is disengaged from the internal retention tooth (56) of the toothed wheel (Figs. 7 and 9). Now, the bolt (6) is disengaged from the toothed wheel (53) and the torsional spring (M3) is unloaded, pushing the bolt (6) that makes approximately half a turn in clockwise direction, returning to its idle position (Fig. 3) without having to drive the toothed wheel that engages in the endless screw (52). In such a situation, the bolt (6) is reset and ready for a next opening cycle, because the tooth (72) of the tooth assembly returns to its engaged position in contact with the internal retention tooth (56) of the toothed wheel.

The pawl (3) remains in its unlocking position because the first arm (32) of the paw is locked by a tooth of the closing hook (2). When the user closes the trunk, the pin of the vehicle body is stopped against the closing hook (2), making it rotate in order to disengage the pawl (3) that is reset to its locking position by means of the thrust of the spring (M2).

Such a reset mechanism (S) permits the opening of the pawl (3), by means of the rotation of the bolt (6) that is moved by the actuator (5). The rotation of the bolt (6) determines a rotation of the lower cam (4) that determines a movement of the tooth assembly (7) from an engaged position (Figs. 6 and 8) to a disengaged position (Figs. 7 and 9). The advantage of the reset mechanism (S) consists in that, when the opening of the pawl (3) is completed, the bolt (6) is disengaged from the toothed wheel (53) and is reset, without driving the toothed wheel (53) and the motor (50).

Such a reset mechanism (S) makes the reset of the lock noiseless. In fact, during the reset, the bolt (6) is the only part that moves to return to its initial position. Instead, the toothed wheel (53) and the endless screw (52) of the actuator remain motionless and do not cause any annoying noise of the user.

Numerous variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiment of the invention, which are within the reach of an expert of the field, falling in any case within the scope of the invention as disclosed by the attached claims.

Claims

1 . Lock (100) for motor vehicle door of lid comprising:

- a closing hook (2) hinged to a box (1 ) of the lock around a pivoting axis, said closing hook (2) comprising a slot (20) suitable for fastening a pin fixed to the vehicle body,

- a pawl (3) hinged to the box (1 ) of the lock around a pivoting axis and actuating on said closing hook (2) in order to lock the closing hook in closing position,

- a bolt (6) comprising a plate (60) that cooperates with said pawl (3) in order to push the pawl (3) from a locking position to an unlocking position, and

- an actuator (5) that actuates a toothed wheel (53) connected to said bolt (6) by means of a reset mechanism (S), wherein the toothed wheel (53) is provided with internal retention teeth (56),

wherein said reset mechanism (S) comprises:

- a lower cam (4) that is integral with the plate (60) of the bolt, said lower cam (4) being provided with two cam tracks (41 ) that are peripherally disposed in diametrally opposite positions,

- a tooth assembly (7) with a tooth (72), lower pins (75) engaged in said cam tracks (41 ) of the lower cam and an upper pin (76),

- an upper cam (8) comprising a cam track (81 ) wherein said upper pin (76) of the tooth assembly is engaged, in such a way that during the rotation of the bolt (6) the tooth assembly (7) can move from an engaged position, wherein the tooth (72) of the tooth assembly is stopped against an internal retention tooth (56) of the toothed wheel, to a disengaged position , wherein the tooth (72) of the tooth assembly does not interfere with the internal retention teeth (56) of the toothed wheel.

2. The lock (100) of claim 1 , wherein said tooth assembly (7) comprises a plate (70) with a slot (71 );

a hole (64) passes through the lower cam (4) and the bolt (6);

a pipe (84) protrudes in lower position from the upper cam (8) and is disposed in the slot (71 ) of the tooth assembly and in the hole (64) of the lower cam and of the bolt;

a lower closing plate (94) is engaged in a lower end of the pipe (84); a spring (M3) is disposed between the lower closing plate (94) and the bolt (6) to push the bolt (6) to an idle position, wherein it does not interfere with the pawl.

3. The lock (100) of claim 2, wherein an axial hole (85) passes through said upper cam and said pipe (84) and a rod (9) is inserted into said axial hole.

4. The lock (100) of claim 2 or 3, wherein said tooth (72) of the tooth assembly (7) radially protrudes outwards from the plate (70) along the direction of the major axis of the slot (71 ).

5. The lock (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tooth (72) comprises two tabs (76) that protrude in lower position in order to engage in two slots (42) that are peripherally obtained in said lower cam (4).

6. The lock (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cam tracks (41 ) of the lower cam are shaped like a "U" and said cam track (81 ) of the upper cam is shaped like a "U".

7. The lock (100) of claim 6, wherein each foot of the "U" of the cam track (81 ) of the upper cam has a substantially "S" shape and comprises a first curved section (82) with center of curvature in the center of the upper cam, as well as a second curved section (83) with center of curvature in the periphery of the upper cam.

8. The lock (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said upper cam comprises a flange (80) shaped as a disc-like plate, with subtended angle of 210°- 270°.

9. The lock (100) of any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein said pipe (84) comprises two elastic tabs (86) provided with retention teeth (87) suitable for being engaged in said lower closing plate (94).

10. The lock (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said toothed wheel comprises four internal retention teeth (56) that are equally spaced angularly.