Locks – Systems – Operation and control
Patent
1996-07-10
1998-03-03
Meyers, Steven N.
Locks
Systems
Operation and control
70275, 70277, E05B 5300
Patent
active
057222720
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to locking systems for vehicle doors and other closures of the kind in which the individual locks are interconnected through a central control unit for electrical actuation whereby locking or unlocking of all doors can be effected from a single control station actuated from within or outside the vehicle, herein referred to as "central locking systems"; and more specifically to the provision in said system of a power operated lock actuator incorporating a superlocking facility whereby the associated door latch cannot be freed from a locked condition even if access is gained to latch actuating elements within the vehicle e.g. the interior door handle or sill button as by breaking a window or probing into or through the door.
The object of the invention is to provide an actuator having a remotely controllable powered superlocking facility which is convenient and reliable in operation, which can be used in association with existing patterns of latch and locking mechanisms in substitution for known patterns of actuator unit, which provides a high standard of security against tampering and attempted unauthorised entry to the vehicle, and which is readily adaptable to a variety of modes of operation of central locking systems and with various arrangements for manual override by direct key actuation of the associated locking mechanism.
According to the invention there is provided a power actuator for use in combination with a door latch and lock mechanism of a vehicle having a central locking system, said actuator comprising: in use, locked and unlocked positions, manual element (e.g. a sill button or internal door handle), and lever for manual locking and unlocking independently of said drive motor, drive-connectable with the actuating lever through coupling means of said linkage including a drive dog selectively shiftable between an engaged position at which motion is transmitted between the two levers for locking and unlocking and a disengaged superlocking position at which the manual lever is free to move without displacement of the actuating lever from its locked position, the linkage further including a superlocking lever movement of which carries the drive dog into and out of its drive transmitting condition, and a superlocking motor for selective powered movement of the superlocking lever.
Conveniently said linkage includes an elongate sliding link connected at one end to an arm of the actuating lever and guided for longitudinal movement, said link defining a first guide slot extending generally laterally thereof; said drive dog being a floating connecting pin engaged in said first slot; an arm of the manual locking lever in overlapping relationship with the part of the link defining the first guide slot defining a second guide slot co-acting with the connecting pin and shaped to provide a lost motion portion extending co-axially of the manual lever axis whereby when the pin is in said portion motion of the manual lever is not transmitted through the linkage, and a narrow portion extending radially of the lever from the lost motion portion for close fitting motion transmitting engagement with the pin, the superlocking lever defining a third guide slot in engagement with the pin positioned to shift the latter selectively into and out of said narrow portion of the second guide slot but not restricting movement of the pin along the lost motion portion.
Preferably the linkage is arranged so that the superlocking can be manually overridden, as by key actuated unlocking of the associated lock mechanism, without actuation of the superlocking motor; and/or so that the manual lever is cammed to align with the drive as the superlocking lever shifts to the drive transmitting condition if the manual lever should have been misaligned therewith in the superlocking condition.
An example of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: superlocking facility, associated powered actuator forming part of said system, shown in an unlocked state, p
REFERENCES:
patent: 4364249 (1982-12-01), Kleefeldt
patent: 4802350 (1989-02-01), Periou
patent: 4974886 (1990-12-01), Kleefeldt et al.
patent: 5046769 (1991-09-01), Rimbey et al.
patent: 5052731 (1991-10-01), Hayakawa et al.
patent: 5054300 (1991-10-01), Nakahara et al.
patent: 5066054 (1991-11-01), Ingenhoven
patent: 5078436 (1992-01-01), Kleefeldt et al.
patent: 5092638 (1992-03-01), Mizuki
patent: 5438855 (1995-08-01), Ikeda
Bridgeman Mark
Golar Jack
Meyers Steven N.
Pham Tuyet-Phuong
Rockwell Light Vehicle Systems (Uk) Limited
LandOfFree
Vehicle door lock actuator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle door lock actuator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle door lock actuator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2239593