1235results about "Power transmission/actuator features" patented technology

A latching apparatus may have a normal mode of operation in which a mechanical signal is employed to actuate a door pawl, and hence to release a door latch ratchet. An electrical actuator may be employed to send that mechanical signal, and operation of the actuator may be governed by an electronic control unit (ECU). The latch apparatus may also have a second, or emergency, mode of operation in which a second mechanical signal path is employed either to cause an augmented force to be employed to release the pawl, or to cause a sudden impulse to urge the pawl to release, the sudden impulse being driven by a release of energy from an energy storage device, in particular a mechanical energy storage device. The apparatus may include either an electrical or a mechanical door handle interrupt to prevent unwanted activation. The device may also include an auxiliary electrical back-up power source in the event of a main power source failure.

A flush door handle includes a powered actuator that shifts the handle from a fully retracted position to an intermediate position. A user can then grasp the handle, and pull the handle to a fully open position to thereby unlatch the door latch. After a user releases the handle, it shifts to a closed position due to spring force or a powered actuator. The door latch may also comprise a fully powered version wherein the handle shifts from a closed position to an open position, and a powered door latch releases the door latch if predefined conditions are detected.

A flush door handle includes a powered actuator that shifts the handle from a fully retracted position to an intermediate position. A user can then grasp the handle, and pull the handle to a fully open position to thereby unlatch the door latch. After a user releases the handle, it shifts to a closed position due to spring force or a powered actuator. The door latch may also comprise a fully powered version wherein the handle shifts from a closed position to an open position, and a powered door latch releases the door latch if predefined conditions are detected.

The invention relates to a rotating catch lock, wherein a closing member (10) interacts with a catch (20), which can be rotated between a closing position accommodating the closing member (10) and an open position which releases said member. The catch (20) is force-loaded (22) in an open position and is held by a spring-loaded (33) rotating latch (30) in the close position. Said latch (30) is moved by a motor (50) between the locking position retaining the catch (20) and a stand-by release position in which the spring-loaded latch (30) is propped up by the catch (20) as long as it remains in an open position. In order to use small compact motors (50), the invention provides that the stored energy (61) exerted by an energy storage mechanism (60) is transmitted to the latch (30) via a storage lever (40). Normally, the latch (30) is shifted into its stand-by position by the storage lever (40). When the latch (30) is in a stand-by position, the storage lever (40) is supported on a control tappet (51) which is rotationally driven by the motor (50). The motor (50) can be driven by an electrical control logic in both a forward mode (56) unloading the energy storage (60) and a reverse mode (56') loading the energy storage (60), i.e. in opposite directions. In the reverse mode (56') the control tappet (51) releases the latch (30), moves towards the storage lever (40) and guides it back into a starting position which corresponds to the stand-by position of the latch (30).

The invention relates to an external door handle for the side door, rear door or boot of a motor vehicle, said door handle being fitted with a flap (1) that retracts automatically when the handle is used. The flap is fitted with a sensor (5) which detects the presence of a hand opposite said flap. When the flap is not in use, it is closed in such a way as to be perfectly flush with the external surface (2) of the door and it is held in position by a spring recall system. An actuation device, which is controlled by a computer, is designed to retract the flap at the appropriate moment in order to provide access to the door opening control (8). Said flap system can be connected to an electric-or mechanical-type-opening control. The inventive handle affords the advantage of being very practical to use and having a value-enhancing style and appearance.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a latch having a catch, a pawl, and an actuator wheel having first and second protrusions. The first protrusion drives movement of the catch and pawl to selectively engage and disengage a striker. The second protrusion engages a catch abutment surface and a pawl abutment surface to define an opened and closed state of the latch, respectively.

An improved electric latch including latch position registration at power loss. A small motor affects a number of independent electrical actuations using an index gear, actuations of: Central Locking, Super Locking, Selective Locking, Power / electrical door opening (Passive Opening), and Power / electrical door closing (Soft Closing). The improved latch uses at least one sensor and several targets positioned on latch hardware to register drive mechanism positions of a latching system after loss of power. The improved system uses a sensor and target specifically for registered function. The present invention avoids the complexity of prior Latch designs by providing for latch position registration.

A vehicle passive entry side door latch release system engageable with a release cable connected a door latch includes a moveable linkage assembly engageable with the cable, and a motor including an output shaft engaged with a tensioning gear for driving a ratcheting gearwheel rotatably affixed to a coil spring, with the gearwheel including external teeth engageable with a rack affixed to the linkage to move the cable to unlatch the door latch. A pivotable ratcheting pawl may be engageable with the gearwheel to allow or prevent rotation of the gearwheel. Operation of the motor may drive the gear to drive the gearwheel in a rotary direction to energize the spring, and disengagement of the pawl from the gearwheel may allow stored energy in the spring to drive the gearwheel in an opposite rotary direction to thereby drive the rack to move the cable to unlatch the door latch.

The invention relates to a fully automatic electro lock for vehicles, which comprises a ratchet, a motor and a drive system. The drive system comprises a pinion mounted on the output shaft of the motor; a driving part that is engaged with the pinion and drives. Another end of the driving part is provided with a first pressing part and a second pressing part; a first switch that matches with the first pressing part; a second switch that matches with the second pressing part; a force-applying arm that matches with the ratchet; a third switch detecting the position of the ratchet; a pawl limiting the ratchet to rotate toward the open position; an opening arm that is fixed with the pawl; a fourth switch that can detect whether the opening arm is at the initial state and can control the rotation of the motor; a swinging arm that can touch the lower end of the arc of the driving part, so that the rotation of the driving part can drive the swinging arm to swing, and another end of the swinging arm touches with another end of the opening arm. The drive system eliminates the shortcomings associated with a clutch, achieves the locking / unlocking of door lock through a single motor, so the invention is of advantages of the simple structure, the short process flow, the low manufacturing cost and the easy installation.

A cylindrical worm 25 is attached to an output shaft of a motor, a first worm wheel 26 and a second worm wheel 27 are disposed on both the sides of the axial center of the cylindrical worm 25, the first worm wheel 26 and a wire drum are supported by a first support shaft 28, and the second worm wheel 27 and a swing arm are supported by a second support shaft 32. A first clutch is interposed between the first worm wheel 26 and the wire drum, a second clutch is interposed between the second worm wheel 27 and the swing arm, and the swing arm and the wire drum are rotated by controlling the first and second clutches with the motor rotating continuously.

A rotating speed of the motor 4 is reduced at a high reduction ratio by using a reduction gear (the first and the second reduction gear), and the unlatch mechanism for conducting unlatch operation of the door lock 1 and the closer mechanism for conducting closer operation of the door lock 1 are separated from each other by the normal and the reverse rotating direction of the second reduction gear. Due to the foregoing, even in the middle of a closing operation conducted by the reverse rotation of the second reduction gear, when the closing operation is stopped and then the motor 4 is normally rotated, it is possible to switch from the stopping position of the closing operation to unlatch operation.

A latch system includes a latch bolt, a pawl for releasably retaining the latch bolt in a closed position, a first release member, a first transmission path connecting the first release member to the pawl, a second release member, and a second transmission path connecting the second release member to the pawl. A portion of the first transmission path and a portion of the second transmission path have a common portion, the common portion including a lock link having a first position at which the lock link completes the first transmission path and the second transmission path such that operation of either the first release member or the second release member opens a latch, and the lock link having a second position at which the lock link breaks the first transmission path and the second transmission path such that a single operation of either the first release member or the second release member does not open the latch. The latch system includes a first device capable of holding the lock link in the second position, a second device capable of holding the lock link in the second position, and a third device capable of holding the lock link in the second position.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a hood latch assembly is provided for a vehicle. The hood latch assembly is configured to be positioned within a forward compartment of a vehicle and to releasably retain a hood of the vehicle in a closed position with a first hood latch and in a partly open position with a second hood latch. A hood latch release mechanism is configured to be positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and be coupled to the hood latch assembly for releasing the first hood latch upon a first operation of the hood latch release mechanism and releasing the second hood latch upon a second operation of the hood latch release mechanism. This provides a dual-action release mechanism that can be operated entirely from within the vehicle.

A door locking system for a vehicle includes a striker, a latch, a pawl allowing and regulating the latch to rotate, a lock release operating portion moving the pawl to release the regulation on the latch rotation, a latch driving motor driven in one direction to shift the door to a fully closed state from a half-closed state, the latch driving motor driven in the other direction to move the pawl to be release position when the lock release operating portion is operated, and a power transmission system switching mechanism connecting a motor output shaft of the motor to the latch for driving the latch in the locking direction, the power transmission system switching mechanism connecting the motor output shaft of the motor to the pawl for moving the pawl to the release position and including a first canceling mechanism for switching a power state.

An active hood latch system for a vehicle may include a housing, a locking / releasing bar connected to a cable of a hood latch assembly, a locking / releasing unit configured to release a locked state of the locking / releasing bar using a signal of a pedestrian collision detecting sensor, and a pulling unit configured to rotate the locking / releasing bar by pulling an end of the locking / releasing bar, wherein the hood latch assembly includes a main latch pivotally coupled to the housing, and a flexible member connecting the housing to the main latch, and wherein when the cable may be pulled by operating the locking / releasing unit using the signal of the pedestrian collision detecting sensor, the main latch may be released to pop up a hood and the flexible member connected to the main latch may be selectively extended by the hood to absorb collision energy and reduce damage to a pedestrian.

A modular latch for an automotive vehicle is provided. It includes a latch core (a housing and a ratchet and pawl rotatably mounted to the housing), a mounting plate that secures the latch core to the vehicle. The latch cure can use any of a plurality of different mounting plates for a lift gate latch, a decklid latch, and a sliding door latch; A latch module is mounted to the latch core to provide different functional including a manual release latch module, a power release latch module, a power lock and unlock latch module, and a power cinching and release latch module. The latch cure may fit a more or less universal envelope. The latch may employ one or more status sensors. Those status sensors may sense striker position, and may not necessarily include any sensors mounted to monitor ratchet position. The latch may include a layered latch core in which one or more sensor members move in different planes from the pawl and ratchet.

A vehicle passive entry side door latch release system engageable with a release cable connected a door latch. The door latch release system may include a movable linkage assembly engageable with the release cable, a motor including an output shaft having a pinion engageable with a rack affixed to or formed with the linkage assembly to move the release cable to unlatch the door latch, and an electronic control unit for controlling the motor. The electronic control unit may operate the motor upon receiving an actuation signal. The invention also provides a vehicle including the door latch release system described above, and various embodiments thereof.

An active hood latch system for a vehicle may include a housing, a locking / releasing bar connected to a cable of a hood latch assembly, a locking / releasing unit configured to release a locked state of the locking / releasing bar using a signal of a pedestrian collision detecting sensor, and a pulling unit configured to rotate the locking / releasing bar by pulling an end of the locking / releasing bar, wherein the hood latch assembly includes a main latch pivotally coupled to the housing, and a flexible member connecting the housing to the main latch, and wherein when the cable may be pulled by operating the locking / releasing unit using the signal of the pedestrian collision detecting sensor, the main latch may be released to pop up a hood and the flexible member connected to the main latch may be selectively extended by the hood to absorb collision energy and reduce damage to a pedestrian.

A vehicle door lock device includes a latch being rotatable between an open position in which the latch is disengageable from a strikes and a lock position in which the latch is prohibited to disengage from the striker, and an actuator for rotating the latch toward the lock position and including an operating portion engageable with an operated portion formed at the latch and a drive mechanism for moving the operating portion being in an engaged state with the operated portion along a predetermined path. The drive mechanism. includes a guide wall face arranged so as to face the operating portion and a biasing member for biasing the operating portion to be pressed against the guide wall face. The operating portion can be separated from the guide wall face by an external force greater than a biasing force of the biasing member.

A door latch device in a motor vehicle comprises an engagement portion including a latch which engages with a striker of a vehicle body. The door latch device comprises an inner lever connected to an inside handle, a lock lever connected to a lock knob on a door inside the vehicle, a subsidiary lever connected to the lock lever, a childproof lock lever, a motor and an actuating member driven by the motor to actuate the childproof lock lever. Childproof locking and a double locking can be carried out by the single motor.

A retractable handle system for a vehicle may include an electric actuator disposed inside a door panel, a driving member configured to be rotated in forward and reverse directions by receiving rotational force of the electric actuator, a driving arm provided to be rotated in the forward and reverse directions by the rotation of the driving member and blocked by the driving member from being rotated in a state in which an operation of the electric actuator is stopped so as to maintain a stored state and a pop-up state of a handle, and the handle which is supported by and coupled to the driving arm and configured to be moved by the forward and reverse rotation of the driving arm.

A vehicle door lock device includes a base member on which a pivot shaft is supported, a first lever rotatably supported on the pivot shaft, a second lever rotatably supported on the pivot shaft and operated in association with a door handle, an engaging member including an engaging pin for engaging the first lever and the second lever with each other in a predetermined engaging position and disengaging from each other in a predetermined release position, and an operating bringing the engaging pin to operate between the engaging position and the release position. The first lever, the second lever, the engaging member, and the operating member are arranged on one side of the base member. The base member includes a restricting projection portion on the one side for restricting a movement of the engaging pin as in the release position in a peripheral direction relative to the pivot shaft.

A lock, particularly a boot or tailgate lock for a motor vehicle having a drive (14) and a lock mechanism operated by the drive (14), the drive (14) being in the form of an electric motor of reversible construction, wherein the drive (14) acts on a gear wheel (16) operatively connected to at least two clutches (18, 19), while when the drive (14) is actuated in a first driving direction a first clutch (18) couples the drive to first components (20, 22, 24, 30) of the lock mechanism in order to activate at least a first function of the lock mechanism, and when the drive (14) is actuated in a second driving direction a second clutch (19) couples the drive (14) to second components (40, 28, 24) of the lock mechanism in order to activate at least a second function of the lock mechanism.

A door system includes a front door and a rear door that are configured to shut together a continuous opening in a vehicle body; a striker configured to be inserted in both the front door and the rear door so as to couple the front door and the rear door when the continuous opening is shut by the front door and the rear door. When at least one of the front door and the rear door is opened, the striker is drawn out from one of the front door and the rear door so as to cancel the coupling between the front door and the rear door.