Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging
Patent
1998-06-26
1999-09-14
Boucher, Darnell M.
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging
292216, 292DIG23, E05C 306
Patent
active
059510706
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to locking systems for vehicle doors and other closures of the kind in which individual locks are interconnected through a central control unit for electrical or other powered actuation whereby locking or unlocking off some or all doors or other closures can be effected from a single control station actuated from within or outside the vehicle, herein referred to as "Central Locking Systems". The locking mechanism and associated power actuator will provide for manual operation whereby the respective door can be locked and unlocked using a conventional interior sill button or other manually operated input element, and, maybe, by manual operation of a cylinder or other key controlled exterior lock.
2. Summary of Related Art
DE-A3319354 describes a locking system power actuator with facility for manual operation in which a powered driver has connection with an output element by way of an index resiliently urged into coacting engagement with an indexing formation of the driver so that the output element is positively indexed relative to the driver to one or other of its locked and unlocked positions on manual operation, and powered displacement of the driver carries the output element between said positions.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a power actuator which is simple and economical to produce and install, is durable and reliable in service, compact and with few moving parts, which is quiet and efficient in use, and which contributes to efficient and effective manual operation as well as powered operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a power actuator for shifting vehicle door lock or other closure mechanism selectively between a locked or other first condition and an unlocked or other second condition by powered operation while permitting manual operation also for effecting said shifting, said actuator being distinguished by the characterising part of appended claim 1.
Conveniently the driver is annular so that said first and second abutment portions are constituted by generally diametrally opposing interior wall portions of the annulus, the index being received within the annulus and the powered movement of the latter being rotational, i.e. said first path of movement is circular about the axis of the annulus.
Said annulus is conveniently powered by an electric motor having a worm pinion engaging an externally toothed periphery of said annulus. Preferably the helix angle of the worm pinion is selected to permit driven rotation thereof by rotational force above a selected value applied to the annulus to enable manual release of the mechanism in the event of a failure of power operation while the index is in positive engagement between the annulus and output element.
The output element may be a lever one arm of which is directly or indirectly coupled to the index for movement therewith and said lever may be fulcrumed co-axially with the annulus or upon an axis spaced from the axis of the annulus and within or outside the envelope of revolution thereof, whereby since second path of movement is angular.
The annular form of driver will preferably be provided with a series of equi-angularly spaced teeth and notches right around its interior periphery, the teeth being in one axial zone of said periphery and the notches, each being diametrically opposite a respective tooth, being in another axial zone thereof, the head and tail of the index being in stepped relationship in the diametrical plane for alignment with the respective axial zones.
The mounting will preferably include slots or other guide formations with which control portions of the index engage to define the displacement of the latter during operation relative to the driver.
An example of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle lock actuator,
FIG.
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patent: 5538298 (1996-07-01), Ikeda
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patent: 5667263 (1997-09-01), Kleefeldt et al.
patent: 5855130 (1999-01-01), Rorabacher et al.
Boucher Darnell M.
Meritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd.
Pham Teri
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