Closure latch assembly with dual pawl mechanism

Abstract

A closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door and a method of constructing the closing latch assembly are provided. The closing latch assembly has at least one ratchet, a main pawl, and an auxiliary pawl. The at least one ratchet is movable between a pin-capture position and a pin-release position. The main pawl is movable between a closed position and an open position. The auxiliary pawl is movable between a closed position and an open position. An auxiliary pawl release lever is movable between a rest position and an engaged position, wherein in the rest position, the auxiliary pawl is in its closed position and the main pawl is in its closed position; in the engaged position, the auxiliary pawl moves to its open position and the main pawl moves to its open position.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application filed on December 2, 2020, with application number 202080083548.0 (PCT / CA2020 / 051653) and entitled "Closed latch assembly with double pawl mechanism".

[0002] Cross-reference to related applications

[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 951,993, filed December 20, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 943,073, filed December 3, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] This disclosure generally relates to a closing latch assembly for use in a motor vehicle closing system. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a closing latch assembly for a vehicle door equipped with a latching mechanism having a main pawl and an auxiliary pawl. Background Technology

[0005] This section provides background information relating to the content of this disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.

[0006] It is known to provide latching assemblies with a main pawl and a secondary pawl for vehicle closing panels to reduce the release effort of the ratchet from the pin-captured position to the pin-released position. Typically, in such a "dual-pawl" arrangement, a clearance, also known as "playback," exists in at least one of the following situations: between the main pawl and the main ratchet, between the secondary pawl and the secondary ratchet, and between the secondary pawl and the release lever. This playback creates free play. In the case of free play, the time response for releasing the ratchet from the pin-captured position to the pin-released position may be delayed, and furthermore, the predictability of the release timing may be reduced; for example, it is uncertain to know to what extent the corresponding component, such as the release lever, needs to be moved to ensure ratchet release. Furthermore, it is usually necessary to drive the secondary pawl to engage with the main pawl to move the main pawl to the open position, which may result in a "bang" noise due to the sudden, abrupt release.

[0007] Therefore, although commercially available powered closure latch assemblies satisfactorily meet all operational and regulatory requirements, there is a recognized need to advance this technology and provide powered closure latch assemblies that provide both desired and timely powered operation and timely emergency release while offering optimized, reliable and repeatable performance, reduced complexity, and simplified packaging. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This section provides a general overview of the disclosure and is not intended to be construed as a full and exhaustive enumeration of the entire scope of the disclosure or of all its aspects, features and structured configurations.

[0009] One aspect of this disclosure is to provide a closing latch assembly for a vehicle door, the closing latch assembly having: a latching mechanism including a double pawl mechanism having a main pawl and an auxiliary pawl; and a latch release mechanism.

[0010] A relevant aspect of this disclosure is that a latching mechanism having a main ratchet and an auxiliary ratchet is provided.

[0011] One aspect of this disclosure is to provide a closing latch assembly for a vehicle door, the closing latch assembly having: a latching mechanism including a double pawl and a double ratchet mechanism, the double pawl and double ratchet mechanism including a main pawl, an auxiliary pawl, a main ratchet, and an auxiliary ratchet; and a latch release mechanism.

[0012] A relevant aspect of this disclosure is to minimize the clearance between the operable components within the latching mechanism, thereby providing repeatable, reliable, and accurate predictability for the movement of the operable components required to release the main ratchet from the pin-capture position to the pin-release position.

[0013] A relevant aspect of this disclosure is to minimize the number of operable parts within the latching mechanism constructed according to this disclosure.

[0014] A relevant aspect of this disclosure is to minimize the number of operable parts within the double pawl and double ratchet closing latch assembly constructed according to this disclosure, so as to ensure the movement of the operable parts required to release the main ratchet from the pin capture position to the pin release position.

[0015] A relevant aspect of this disclosure is that, when needed—including when the latch release lever of the latch release mechanism moves to the actuated position—the main pawl is ensured to move to the main ratchet release position, so as to provide repeatable, reliable, and accurate predictability for the movement of the operable components required to release the main ratchet from the pin capture position to the pin release position.

[0016] According to these and other aspects, a closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door is provided. The closing latch assembly includes a latching mechanism having a main ratchet, a main pawl, and an auxiliary pawl. The main ratchet is movable between a pin-captured position and a pin-released position, in which the main ratchet holds the pin to keep the door in a closed position, and in the pin-released position, the main ratchet releases the pin to allow the door to move to an open position. The main pawl is movable between a closed position (also referred to as a main ratchet locked position) and an open position (also referred to as a main ratchet released position), in which the main pawl holds the main ratchet in its pin-captured position, and in the open position, the main pawl is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move to its pin-released position. The auxiliary pawl is movable between a closed position (also referred to as an auxiliary ratchet locked position) and an open position (also referred to as an auxiliary ratchet released position), in which the main pawl is held in its closed position, and in the open position, the main pawl is allowed to move to its open position. The latching assembly also includes a latch release mechanism with an auxiliary pawl release lever connected to an auxiliary pawl. The auxiliary pawl release lever is movable between a rest position and an engaged position (also referred to as an actuated position). In the rest position, the auxiliary pawl is biased against a spring and is in a closed position, while the main pawl is biased against a spring and is in a closed position. In the engaged position, the auxiliary pawl moves to an open position under spring bias, and the main pawl moves to an open position under spring bias.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the closing latch assembly may further include an auxiliary ratchet operably coupled to the main pawl. The auxiliary ratchet is movable between an engaged position and an unengaged position. In the engaged position, the auxiliary ratchet holds the main pawl in a closed position; in the unengaged position, the auxiliary pawl allows the main pawl to move to an open position. The auxiliary ratchet is spring-biased to move to the unengaged position when the auxiliary pawl moves to the open position.

[0018] On the other hand, the auxiliary pawl is biased by the spring member to the closed position of the auxiliary pawl to engage with the auxiliary ratchet.

[0019] According to another aspect, the auxiliary pawl release lever engages with the auxiliary pawl when it is in the rest position, and the auxiliary pawl engages with the auxiliary ratchet when it is in the closed position.

[0020] According to another aspect, the closing latch assembly may also include an actuator and an actuator release lever. The actuator release lever is configured to engage with the auxiliary pawl release lever when the auxiliary pawl release lever is in the rest position of the auxiliary pawl release lever, and the actuator release lever can be moved by selectively controlled movement of the actuator to move the auxiliary pawl release lever to the engaged position of the auxiliary pawl release lever.

[0021] On the other hand, the auxiliary pawl release lever is biased by the spring member to engage with the actuator release lever.

[0022] On the other hand, the auxiliary pawl is biased by the auxiliary pawl spring member to engage with the main pawl.

[0023] On the other hand, the main pawl is biased by the main pawl spring member to engage with the auxiliary pawl.

[0024] On the other hand, the main pawl spring component biases the main pawl toward the open position of the main pawl.

[0025] Based on these and other aspects, a closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door is provided. The closing latch assembly includes a latching mechanism having a main ratchet, a main pawl, an auxiliary ratchet, and an auxiliary pawl. The main ratchet is movable between a pin-captured position and a pin-released position, in which the main ratchet holds the pin to keep the door in a closed position, and in the pin-released position, the main ratchet releases the pin to allow the door to move to an open position. The main pawl is movable between a main ratchet locked position and a main ratchet released position, in which the main pawl holds the main ratchet in the pin-captured position, and in the main ratchet released position, the main pawl is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move toward the pin-released position. The auxiliary pawl is movable between an auxiliary ratchet locked position and an auxiliary ratchet released position, in which the main pawl is held in the main ratchet locked position, and in the auxiliary ratchet released position, the main pawl is allowed to move to the open position. The latch release lever is configured to have an auxiliary pawl release lever connected to an auxiliary pawl. One of the latch release lever or the auxiliary pawl has an engaging leg. The latch release lever is movable between a rest position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position. In the rest position, the auxiliary pawl is in its auxiliary ratchet locked position, and the main pawl is in its main ratchet locked position. In the first actuated position, the auxiliary pawl release leg moves the auxiliary pawl to its auxiliary ratchet released position. In the second actuated position, the engaging leg ensures that the main pawl moves to its main ratchet released position.

[0026] According to another aspect of this disclosure, when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position, the main pawl is intended to move to the open position of the main pawl under the action of spring bias.

[0027] According to another aspect of this disclosure, when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position, the engaging leg engages with the main pawl in an operable manner to ensure that the main pawl moves to the main ratchet release position.

[0028] According to another aspect of this disclosure, when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position, the engaging leg disengages from the main pawl.

[0029] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the engaging leg has a drive member and the main pawl has a driven member, whereby when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position, the drive member engages with the driven member to ensure that the main pawl moves to the main ratchet release position, and whereby when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position, the drive member and the driven member are spaced apart.

[0030] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the driven member extends laterally outward from a surface of the main pawl that is generally parallel to the pivot axis of the main pawl.

[0031] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the drive member may be formed as an integral material with the latch release lever, and the drive member extends radially away from the pivot axis of the latch release lever to engage with the driven member when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position.

[0032] According to another aspect of this disclosure, when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position, the driven member is received in a recessed notch of the engaging leg adjacent to the drive member.

[0033] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the latch release lever pivots in a first plane and the main pawl pivots in a second plane, wherein the first and second planes are parallel to each other, such that the engaging leg and the main pawl pivot in a gap relationship relative to each other.

[0034] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the auxiliary pawl release leg and the engagement leg may extend radially outward from the pivot axis of the latch release lever in a spaced-apart relationship.

[0035] According to another aspect of this disclosure, when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position, the engaging leg can be operably engaged with the auxiliary ratchet to move the main pawl to the main ratchet release position.

[0036] According to another aspect of this disclosure, when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position, the engaging leg remains disengaged from the auxiliary ratchet.

[0037] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the engaging leg has a drive member, and the auxiliary ratchet can be configured to have a driven member, whereby, when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position, the drive member engages with the driven member to move the auxiliary ratchet from an engaged position in which the auxiliary ratchet holds the main pawl in the closed position of the main pawl to a disengaged position in which the auxiliary ratchet allows the main pawl to move to the main ratchet release position of the main pawl, and whereby, when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position, the drive member and the driven member are spaced apart.

[0038] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the engaging leg can be formed as an integral material with the latch release lever.

[0039] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the engaging leg can be formed as an integral material part with the auxiliary pawl.

[0040] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle is provided, the vehicle being movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein a sealing load is normally applied to the closing latch assembly when the door is in its closed position. The closing latch assembly includes a latching mechanism having a main ratchet, a main pawl, and an auxiliary pawl. The main ratchet is biased by a ratchet spring from a pin-captured position toward a pin-released position, in which the main ratchet holds the pin, and in which the main ratchet releases the pin. The main pawl is biased by a pawl spring from an open position toward a closed position, in which the main pawl is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move to the pin-released position, and in the closed position, the main pawl holds the main ratchet in the pin-captured position. The auxiliary pawl is movable between a closed position and an open position, in which the main pawl is held in the closed position, and in the open position, the main pawl moves to the open position. The power latch release mechanism is operably coupled to the auxiliary pawl so that the auxiliary pawl can move from the closed position to the open position, allowing the main pawl to move to the open position without the auxiliary pawl applying a biasing force to the main pawl.

[0041] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the combined bias applied by the sealing load and the ratchet spring is designed to overcome the bias applied by the pawl spring in normal operation (hereinafter, normal operation means that the closed latch assembly operates as intended under power operation without the need for mechanical actuation assistance), so as to allow the main pawl to move to the open position of the main pawl by the combined bias when the auxiliary pawl moves to the open position of the auxiliary pawl via the power latch release mechanism.

[0042] According to another aspect of this disclosure, at least one mechanical latch release mechanism is operably coupled to an auxiliary pawl to move the auxiliary pawl to engage with the main pawl, thereby forcibly biasing the main pawl from its closed position to its open position (this is used when power operation cannot move the main pawl to its open position, for example, perhaps due to excessive friction and / or power failure).

[0043] According to another aspect of this disclosure, at least one mechanical latch release mechanism includes at least one of the following: an outer mechanical release mechanism connected to an outer door handle and / or an inner mechanical release mechanism connected to an inner door handle.

[0044] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the power latch release mechanism includes a power release gear having a drive cam fixed thereon, wherein the power release gear is configured to be powered by an electric motor to rotate the drive cam against an actuator release lever to pivot the actuator release lever past a first length, such as a first arc length (defined by the angle of pivoting motion) to an actuated position, thereby moving the auxiliary pawl from a closed position to an open position, thereby allowing the main pawl to move to the open position of the main pawl without the auxiliary pawl applying a biasing force to the main pawl.

[0045] According to another aspect of this disclosure, selective actuation of the at least one mechanical latch release mechanism causes the actuator release lever to pivot across a second length, such as a second arc length greater than the first arc length (defined by the angle of pivoting motion), so that the auxiliary pawl moves to engage with the main pawl to forcibly bias the main pawl from the closed position to the open position.

[0046] According to another aspect of this disclosure, during selective actuation of at least one mechanical latch release mechanism, the actuator release lever moves to disengage from the drive cam.

[0047] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided for operating a closing latch assembly with a double pawl mechanism to open a vehicle door. The method includes: actuating an electric motor to drive a power release gear with a fixed drive cam, and moving the drive cam against an actuator release lever to pivot the actuator release lever past a first arc length to an actuated position, thereby moving an auxiliary pawl from a closed position to an open position. This allows the main pawl to move to the open position against a bias of the pawl spring that tends to bias the main pawl toward the closed position of the main pawl, without the auxiliary pawl applying a biasing force to the main pawl. This allows a ratchet to move to a stop pin release position under the bias of the ratchet spring when the main pawl moves to the open position of the main pawl, thereby allowing the vehicle door to be opened. In related aspects, the closing latch assembly may have a double pawl single ratchet mechanism or a double pawl double ratchet mechanism.

[0048] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: applying a combined bias on the main pawl to pivot the main pawl to an open position against a bias applied by a pawl spring, the combined bias including a bias from the sealing load of the door when it is in the closed position and a bias from the ratchet spring.

[0049] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method further includes: selectively actuating at least one mechanical latch release mechanism to cause the actuator release lever to pivot across a second arc length greater than the first arc length if the combined bias fails to pivot the main pawl to the open position after the auxiliary pawl is moved to the open position of the auxiliary pawl.

[0050] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method further includes moving an actuator release lever to disengage from a drive cam during selective actuation of at least one mechanical latch release mechanism.

[0051] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include selectively actuating at least one mechanical latch release mechanism via at least one of an outer door handle and / or an inner door handle.

[0052] According to another aspect, a method is provided for constructing a closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door. The method includes providing a housing and arranging a main ratchet, a main pawl, and an auxiliary pawl within the housing. The main ratchet is arranged to move between a pin-capture position and a pin-release position, wherein in the pin-capture position, the main ratchet holds the pin, and in the pin-release position, the main ratchet releases the pin. The main pawl is arranged to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the main pawl holds the main ratchet in the pin-capture position, and in the open position, the main pawl is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move to the pin-release position. The auxiliary pawl is arranged to move between the closed position and the open position, wherein in the closed position, the main pawl is held in the closed position, and in the open position, the main pawl moves to the open position. Furthermore, the auxiliary pawl release lever is configured to be connected to the auxiliary pawl, and the auxiliary pawl release lever is arranged to move between a rest position and an engaged position. In the rest position, the auxiliary pawl resists spring bias and is located in the closed position of the auxiliary pawl, and the main pawl resists spring bias and is located in the closed position of the main pawl. In the engaged position, the auxiliary pawl moves to the open position of the auxiliary pawl under the action of spring bias, and the main pawl moves to the open position of the main pawl under the action of spring bias.

[0053] According to another aspect, the method may further include: operably connecting an auxiliary ratchet to a main pawl, and arranging the auxiliary ratchet for movement between an engaged position and an unengaged position, wherein in the engaged position, the auxiliary ratchet holds the main pawl in a closed position, and in the unengaged position, the auxiliary ratchet allows the main pawl to move to an open position, and arranging the auxiliary ratchet to be biased by a spring to move to the unengaged position when the auxiliary pawl moves to the open position.

[0054] According to another aspect, the method may further include: biasing the auxiliary pawl to a closed position where the auxiliary pawl engages with the auxiliary ratchet via a spring member.

[0055] According to another aspect, the method may further include: arranging the auxiliary pawl release lever to engage with the auxiliary pawl when in the rest position of the auxiliary pawl release lever, and arranging the auxiliary pawl to engage with the auxiliary ratchet when in the closed position of the auxiliary pawl.

[0056] According to another aspect, the method may further include: providing an actuator and an actuator release lever, and arranging the actuator release lever to engage with the auxiliary pawl release lever when the auxiliary pawl release lever is in a stationary position, and arranging the actuator release lever to be moved by the actuator to move the auxiliary pawl release lever to the engaged position of the auxiliary pawl release lever.

[0057] According to another aspect, the method may further include: biasing the auxiliary pawl release lever and the actuator release lever into engagement with each other by means of a spring member.

[0058] According to another aspect, the method may further include: biasing an auxiliary pawl to engage with a main pawl via an auxiliary pawl spring member.

[0059] According to another aspect, the method may further include: biasing the main pawl into engagement with the auxiliary pawl via the main pawl spring member.

[0060] According to another aspect, the method may further include: arranging the main pawl spring member to bias the main pawl to the open position when the auxiliary pawl is biased to the open position of the auxiliary pawl by movement of the auxiliary pawl release lever toward the engagement position of the auxiliary pawl release lever.

[0061] According to another aspect, the method may further include: providing a first arm for an auxiliary pawl, the first arm being biased to engage with the main pawl when the main pawl is in its closed position, and arranging the auxiliary pawl to be movable to the open position of the auxiliary pawl via engagement of the auxiliary pawl release lever with the first arm of the auxiliary pawl.

[0062] According to another aspect, the method may further include: providing a second arm spaced apart from the first arm for an auxiliary pawl, and arranging the main pawl to engage with the second arm when in the closed position of the main pawl.

[0063] According to another aspect, the method may further include: arranging the auxiliary pawl release lever to engage only with the auxiliary pawl and not with the main pawl.

[0064] According to another aspect, the method may further include: arranging the auxiliary pawl to remain continuously engaged with the auxiliary pawl release lever to minimize backlash within the closed latch assembly.

[0065] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided for constructing a closure latch assembly for a vehicle closing panel, the closure latch assembly having a latch release lever, a main ratchet, a main pawl, an auxiliary ratchet, and an auxiliary pawl. The method includes the step of configuring the latch release lever to have an auxiliary pawl release leg. The method further includes the step of configuring one of the latch release lever and the auxiliary pawl to have an engagement leg. The method further includes the steps of: configuring the latch release lever for movement between a rest position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position, wherein in the rest position, the auxiliary pawl is in an auxiliary ratchet locked position and the main pawl is in a main ratchet locked position; in the first actuated position, the auxiliary pawl release leg engages with the auxiliary pawl to move the auxiliary pawl to the auxiliary ratchet released position; and in the second actuated position, the engagement leg ensures that the main pawl is moved to the main ratchet released position.

[0066] The construction method may also include the following steps: configuring the main pawl to move to the open position under the action of spring bias when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position.

[0067] The construction method may further include the following steps: configuring the engaging leg to have a drive member and configuring the main pawl to have a driven member, configuring the drive member to engage with the driven member when the latch release lever moves to the second actuated position to move the main pawl to the main ratchet release position, and configuring the drive member to remain spaced apart from the driven member when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position.

[0068] The construction method may also include the following step: setting the engaging leg to form an integral material with the latch release lever.

[0069] The construction method may also include the following steps: configuring the engaging leg to engage with the auxiliary ratchet when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position, so that the main pawl moves to the main ratchet release position.

[0070] The construction method may also include the following steps: setting the engaging leg to form an integral material part with the auxiliary pawl.

[0071] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided for moving a closing latch assembly of a vehicle closing panel from a latched position to a unlocked position. The closing latch assembly has a latch release lever, a main ratchet, a main pawl, an auxiliary ratchet, and an auxiliary pawl. The method includes: configuring the latch release lever with an auxiliary pawl release leg that engages with the auxiliary pawl; additionally, configuring one of the latch release lever and the auxiliary pawl with an engagement leg; furthermore, configuring the latch release lever for movement between a rest position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position, wherein in the rest position, the auxiliary pawl is in an auxiliary ratchet locked position and the main pawl is in a main ratchet locked position; in the first actuated position, the auxiliary pawl release leg moves the auxiliary pawl to the auxiliary ratchet released position; and in the second actuated position, the engagement leg moves the main pawl to the main ratchet released position.

[0072] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: configuring the main pawl to move to the open position under spring bias when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position.

[0073] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: configuring the engaging leg to engage with the main pawl when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position, so that the main pawl moves to the main ratchet release position.

[0074] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: configuring the engaging leg to remain disengaged from the main pawl when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position.

[0075] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: configuring the engaging leg to have a drive member and configuring the main pawl to have a driven member, and configuring the drive member to engage with the driven member to move the main pawl to the main ratchet release position when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position, and configuring the drive member to remain spaced apart from the driven member when the latch release lever is in the first actuated position.

[0076] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: configuring the engaging leg to form an integral material part with the latch release lever.

[0077] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: configuring the engaging leg to engage with the auxiliary ratchet when the latch release lever is in the second actuated position, so as to move the main pawl to the main ratchet release position.

[0078] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: configuring the engaging leg portion as an integral material part with the latch release lever.

[0079] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the method may further include: configuring the engaging leg to form an integral material part with the auxiliary pawl.

[0080] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door movable between an open position and a closed position is described. The latch includes: a latching mechanism having a main ratchet and a main pawl; the main ratchet having a pin-capture position and a pin-release position, wherein the main ratchet holds a pin in the pin-capture position and releases the pin in the pin-release position; and the main pawl having an open position and a closed position, wherein the main pawl in the open position is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move to the pin-release position, and the main pawl in the closed position holds the main ratchet in the pin-release position. The system includes: a striker capture position; a release lever operably connected to a main pawl; a power latch release mechanism for operably moving the release lever within a second travel range to move the main pawl from a closed position to an open position; and at least one mechanical latch release mechanism for operably moving the release lever within a second travel range greater than a first travel range, wherein the second travel range forcibly biases the main pawl from a closed position to an open position.

[0081] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method is described for operating a closed latch assembly having a double-pawl single ratchet mechanism to open a vehicle door, the method comprising the steps of: actuating a power latch release mechanism to move an auxiliary pawl from a closed position to an open position, thereby allowing the main pawl to move to the open position without applying a spring bias toward the open position of the main pawl, thereby allowing the ratchet to move to a stop pin release position under the bias of the ratchet spring when the main pawl moves to the open position of the main pawl to allow the vehicle door to open.

[0082] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method of operating a closed latch assembly having a dual-pawl single ratchet mechanism to open a vehicle door is described. The method includes the steps of: actuating a power latch release mechanism to move an auxiliary pawl from a closed position to an open position to allow a main pawl to move to the open position; and actuating at least one mechanical latch release mechanism to move the auxiliary pawl from the closed position to the open position and apply force against the main pawl to push the main pawl to the open position. According to another aspect of this disclosure, a closed latch assembly (10, 110) for installation in a vehicle door is provided, the closed latch assembly having a latch mechanism having a main ratchet, a main pawl, and an auxiliary pawl. The main ratchet is movable between a pin-capture position and a pin-release position, wherein in the pin-capture position, the main ratchet holds the pin, and in the pin-release position, the main ratchet releases the pin; the main pawl is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the main pawl holds the main ratchet. In the pin-capturing position, in the open position, the main pawl is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move to the pin-release position of the main ratchet; the auxiliary pawl is movable between the closed position and the open position. In the closed position, the main pawl is held in the closed position of the main pawl by contact between the auxiliary pawl and the main pawl at the main contact area. In the open position, the main pawl moves to the open position of the main pawl, and wherein the auxiliary pawl is positioned in the closed position of the auxiliary pawl by contact between the auxiliary pawl and the main pawl at the second contact area.

[0083] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a closing latch assembly is provided for installation in a vehicle door movable between an open position and a closed position. The closing latch assembly includes: a latching mechanism having a main ratchet, a main pawl, and an auxiliary pawl; the main ratchet being biased by a ratchet spring from a pin-captured position toward a pin-released position, wherein the main ratchet holds the pin in the pin-captured position and releases the pin in the pin-released position; and the main pawl being biased by a pawl spring from an open position toward a closed position, wherein the main pawl in the open position is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move to the pin-released position of the main ratchet, and the main pawl in the closed position holds the main ratchet... In the pin-capture position of the main ratchet, the auxiliary pawl is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the auxiliary pawl holds the main pawl in the closed position, and in the open position the auxiliary pawl allows the main pawl to move to the open position; a release lever is movable within a first travel range during non-powered actuation to move the auxiliary pawl from the closed position to the open position, and wherein the release lever is movable within a second travel range greater than the first range, wherein the second travel range forcibly biases the main pawl from the closed position to the open position. Attached Figure Description

[0084] Other advantages of this disclosure will become readily apparent and better understood by referring to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0085] Figure 1 It is an isometric view of a motor vehicle having doors equipped with closing latch assemblies constructed according to various aspects of this disclosure;

[0086] Figure 2 It is constructed according to one aspect of this disclosure for use in Figure 1 An isometric view of the closing latch assembly used in the door shown, arranged to receive the striker therein;

[0087] Figure 3A It shows the state as being in latch mode. Figure 2 Isometric view of some internal components of the latching mechanism and the release mechanism of the closing latch assembly;

[0088] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A Isometric front view of the release mechanism and latching mechanism;

[0089] Figure 4 It is in latching mode. Figure 2 A plan view of the closed latch assembly, wherein the cover has been removed to show some of the internal components of the latch mechanism;

[0090] Figure 4A It's a diagram. Figure 4 An enlarged view of a portion of the closed latch assembly;

[0091] Figure 4B It is illustrated based on the illustrative example. Figure 4 Enlarged view of the engagement and positioning of the locking lug of the auxiliary pawl of the closed latch assembly with the drive lug of the auxiliary ratchet.

[0092] Figure 4C yes Figure 4B A partial enlarged schematic diagram illustrating the engagement positioning and contact surface of the locking lug segment of the auxiliary pawl and the drive lug of the auxiliary ratchet, according to an illustrative example.

[0093] Figure 5 The diagram illustrates how the auxiliary pawl of the latching mechanism moves from the closed position to the open position via the auxiliary pawl release lever, thereby triggering the closing of the latching mechanism of the latching assembly. Figure 4 A plan view showing the movement from the latching mode to the opening mode;

[0094] Figure 6 Is with Figure 5A similar view illustrates the continued movement of the auxiliary pawl toward the open position, wherein the locking lug of the auxiliary pawl disengages from the drive lug of the auxiliary ratchet.

[0095] Figure 7 Is with Figure 6 A similar view illustrates the continued movement of the auxiliary pawl to the open position, wherein the auxiliary ratchet is biased counterclockwise by the spring member;

[0096] Figure 8 Is with Figure 7 A similar view illustrates the continued offset movement of the auxiliary ratchet in a counterclockwise direction, wherein the main pawl moves from the closed position to the open position to release the main ratchet from the pin-capture position to the pin-release position;

[0097] Figure 9 Is with Figure 8 A similar view illustrates the auxiliary pawl being in the open position and the auxiliary ratchet returning to the rest position via the auxiliary pawl release lever, with the main ratchet in the ram release position;

[0098] Figure 10 Is with Figure 9 A similar view illustrates the auxiliary ratchet returning to a stationary position by abutting against a hard stop via an auxiliary pawl release lever, wherein the main ratchet is in the ram release position and the auxiliary pawl returns to the closed position, with the locking lug of the auxiliary pawl engaging with the drive lug of the auxiliary ratchet.

[0099] Figure 11 Is with Figure 10 A similar view illustrates the main ratchet returning to the pin-capture position by placing the pin in the ratchet groove of the main ratchet, and wherein the main pawl returns to the closed position in the main closing recess of the main ratchet.

[0100] Figure 12 This is a rear isometric view showing some internal components of the latching mechanism and the release mechanism of a closed latching assembly in latching mode, constructed according to another aspect of this disclosure.

[0101] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 Front plan view of the release mechanism and latching mechanism;

[0102] Figure 14 yes Figure 12 Side elevation view of the release mechanism and latching mechanism;

[0103] Figure 15 It's a diagram. Figure 13 An enlarged view of a portion of the closed latch assembly;

[0104] Figure 16yes Figure 12 An isometric view of the auxiliary pawl of the closed latch assembly;

[0105] Figure 17 Is with Figure 13 A similar view illustrates the state in latched mode. Figure 12 Front plan view of the release mechanism and latching mechanism shown;

[0106] Figure 18 It's a diagram. Figure 17 The auxiliary pawl of the latching mechanism moves from the closed position to the open position via the auxiliary pawl release lever to trigger the latching mechanism of the closed latching assembly from... Figure 12 A plan view showing the movement from the latching mode to the opening mode;

[0107] Figure 18A yes Figure 18 An enlarged view of a portion of the latching mechanism;

[0108] Figure 19 Is with Figure 18 A similar view illustrates the continued movement of the auxiliary pawl toward the open position, wherein the arm of the auxiliary pawl is disengaged from the arm of the main pawl.

[0109] Figure 19A yes Figure 19 An enlarged view of a portion of the latching mechanism;

[0110] Figure 20 Is with Figure 19 A similar view illustrates the continued movement of the auxiliary pawl towards the open position;

[0111] Figure 20A yes Figure 20 Isometric view;

[0112] Figure 20B Is with Figure 19 A similar view, but it illustrates the auxiliary pawl in the open position;

[0113] Figure 21 and Figure 21-1 The illustration shows a flowchart of a method for constructing a closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

[0114] Figure 22 and Figure 23 The flowcharts illustrate a method for operating a double-pawl single-ratchet mechanism for a closing latch assembly according to another aspect of the present disclosure, and a method for operating a double-pawl double-ratchet mechanism for a closing latch assembly, respectively.

[0115] Figure 24 yes Figure 1The diagram shows an isometric view of a closed latch assembly arranged to receive a striker therein.

[0116] Figure 25A It indicates that it is in latching mode. Figure 24 Rear isometric view of a portion of the release mechanism of the closed latch assembly and some internal components of the latch mechanism;

[0117] Figure 25B yes Figure 25A Isometric front view of the release mechanism and latching mechanism shown;

[0118] Figure 26 yes Figures 24 to 25B The rear plan view of the closed latch assembly shown illustrates some of the internal components of the latch mechanism in latch mode;

[0119] Figure 27 Is with Figure 26 A similar view illustrates the latching mechanism's auxiliary pawl moving from the closed position to the open position via the auxiliary pawl release leg of the latch release lever, thereby triggering the closing of the latching mechanism's latching assembly. Figure 26 The latching pattern shown moves to the open position, wherein the locking lug of the auxiliary pawl disengages from the drive lug of the auxiliary ratchet.

[0120] Figure 28 Is with Figure 27 A similar view illustrates the continued movement of the auxiliary pawl beyond the open position via engagement with the auxiliary pawl release leg, wherein the drive member of the main pawl engagement leg of the latch release lever is shown engaged with the driven member of the main pawl.

[0121] Figure 29 Is with Figure 28 A similar view illustrates the continued movement of the auxiliary pawl beyond the open position via engagement with the auxiliary pawl release leg, wherein the drive member of the main pawl engagement leg is shown to force the driven member of the main pawl to move the main pawl from the main ratchet locked position to the main ratchet release position, wherein the internal components of the latching mechanism are shown in the open mode.

[0122] Figure 30 This is a partial view of a closed latch assembly according to another aspect of this disclosure;

[0123] Figure 31 This is a partial view of a closed latch assembly according to another aspect of this disclosure;

[0124] Figure 32This is a flowchart of a method for moving a closed latch assembly, which has a latch release lever, a main ratchet, a main pawl, an auxiliary ratchet, and an auxiliary pawl, of a vehicle closing panel from a latched mode to an open mode;

[0125] Figure 33 This is a flowchart of a method for constructing a closing latch assembly for a vehicle closing panel, comprising a latch release lever, a main ratchet, a main pawl, an auxiliary ratchet, and an auxiliary pawl;

[0126] Figure 34 This is a perspective view of a closing latch assembly according to another aspect of the invention, where the covering is removed, for example... Figure 2 and Figure 24 With the covering removed, the illustration shows the internal components of the latching mechanism of the closed latch assembly;

[0127] Figure 35 yes Figure 34 A side plan view of the closed latch assembly, showing some of the internal components of the latch mechanism in latch mode;

[0128] Figure 35A Is with Figure 35 A similar view, which illustrates Figure 34 The ratchet, main pawl, and auxiliary pawl of the closing latch assembly;

[0129] Figure 36 yes Figure 35 Opposite side perspective view of the closed latch assembly;

[0130] Figure 37 yes Figure 34 Side elevation view of the release mechanism and a portion thereof of the closing latch assembly;

[0131] Figure 38 This is an enlarged plan view illustrating the engagement of the blocking lug of the auxiliary pawl with the leg of the main pawl, according to an illustrative example, to keep the latching mechanism in a latched mode.

[0132] Figure 39 yes Figure 34 Enlarged perspective view of the auxiliary pawl of the closing latch assembly;

[0133] Figure 40 Is with Figure 34 A similar view, which illustrates Figure 34 The initial stage of power release of the closed latch assembly;

[0134] Figure 41It is a side view showing the auxiliary pawl's blocking lug moving into disengagement from the leg of the main pawl and schematically illustrating the biasing force applied to the main pawl by the ratchet and the sealing load of the vehicle's closing panel in the closed position.

[0135] Figure 42 Is it like this? Figure 41 A magnified partial plan view of the auxiliary pawl and the main pawl shown;

[0136] Figure 43 Is with Figure 40 A similar view, which illustrates Figure 34 The final stage of power release of the closed latch assembly;

[0137] Figure 44 The diagram illustrates the ratchet, main pawl, and auxiliary pawl in their respective positions. Figure 43 A side view of the final stage of power release, in which the main pawl is shown moved to the release position;

[0138] Figure 45 Is with Figure 34 A similar view illustrates the closing latch assembly in Figure 43 The power is restored after the power is released;

[0139] Figure 46 The diagram illustrates the ratchet, main pawl, and auxiliary pawl in their respective positions. Figure 45 Side view of the dynamic reset point;

[0140] Figure 47 Is with Figure 45 A similar view illustrates the closing latch assembly after the vehicle closing panel has been moved to the closed position.

[0141] Figure 48 It is a side view showing the main pawl returning to the latching mode with the ratchet after moving the vehicle closing panel to the closed position, and schematically illustrating the biasing force applied to the main pawl via the ratchet and the sealing load of the vehicle closing panel.

[0142] Figure 49 Is with Figure 47 A similar view illustrates a closed latch assembly in latch mode while in a stationary position;

[0143] Figure 50 yes Figure 49 A side plan view of the closed latch assembly, showing the ratchet, main pawl, and auxiliary pawl of the latch mechanism in latch mode;

[0144] Figure 51 yes Figure 34A side plan view of the closed latch assembly, illustrating the blocking lug of the auxiliary pawl moving to disengage from the leg of the main pawl during power release, and schematically illustrating that the biasing force applied to the main pawl by the ratchet and sealing load of the vehicle's closed panel is insufficient to drive the main pawl to the release position.

[0145] Figure 52 Is with Figure 34 A similar view, illustrating the execution Figure 51 The initial stage of mechanical release following the power release of the closed latch assembly;

[0146] Figure 53 The following is a side view: This side view shows the locking lug of the auxiliary pawl moving to engage with the drive lug of the main pawl, and schematically illustrates the arrows of the biasing force applied to the drive lug of the main pawl and the arrows of the direction of the driven movement of the main pawl during mechanical release.

[0147] Figure 54 Is with Figure 52 A similar view, which illustrates Figure 34 The final stage of mechanical release of the closed latch assembly;

[0148] Figure 55 The diagram illustrates the ratchet, main pawl, and auxiliary pawl in their respective positions. Figure 54 A side view of the final stage of mechanical release, in which the main pawl is shown moved to the release position;

[0149] Figure 56 Is with Figure 54 A similar view illustrates the closing latch assembly upon completion. Figure 54 The static phase during mechanical release;

[0150] Figure 57 yes Figure 56 Side view of the ratchet, main pawl, and auxiliary pawl; and

[0151] Figure 58 This is a flowchart of another method for moving a closed latch assembly with a latch release lever, ratchet, main pawl, and auxiliary pawl of a vehicle closing panel from a latched mode to an open mode.

[0152] Throughout all the accompanying drawings, use the corresponding reference numerals to identify common components. Detailed Implementation

[0153] In general, exemplary embodiments of closing latches constructed according to the teachings of this disclosure for use in vehicle door closing systems will now be disclosed. Exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. Numerous examples of specific details, such as particular components, devices, and methods, are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of this disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details are not required, exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known techniques have not been described in detail, as they will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure herein.

[0154] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of the said feature, part, step, operation, element, and / or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, parts, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein, unless specifically specified as to be performed in a particular order, should not be construed as requiring them to be performed in the specific order discussed or illustrated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0155] When an element or layer is referred to as “on,” “joined to,” “connected to,” or “attached to” another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on, joined to, connected to, or attached to the other element or layer, or there may be intermediate elements or layers present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as “directly on,” “directly joined to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly attached to” another element or layer, there may be no intermediate elements or layers present. Other terms used to describe relationships between elements should be interpreted in the same manner (e.g., “between” vs. “directly between,” “adjacent” vs. “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0156] Although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or portions, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or portions should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or portion from another. For example, the terms “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless explicitly indicated by the context. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments, the first element, component, region, layer, or portion discussed below may be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or portion.

[0157] For ease of description, spatially related terms such as “inside,” “outside,” “below,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element or feature as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and another element(s). In addition to the orientations depicted in the figures, spatially related terms may be intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, an element described as being “below” or “below” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both above and below orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotation angles or other orientations), and the spatially related descriptions used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0158] First refer to Figure 1 A closing latch assembly 10 for a door of motor vehicle 14—shown by way of example and not limitation as a rear door 12—is positioned along the closing face portion 16 of the door 12, and the closing latch assembly 10 is configured to releasably engage and capture a strike pin 18 fixed within a door opening 20 formed in the vehicle body 22 in response to movement of the door 12 from an open position to a closed position. The door 12 is shown including an outer door handle 24 and an inner door handle 26, both of which are operatively (i.e., electrically and / or mechanically) connected to the closing latch assembly 10. Although not shown, it should be understood that a similar closing latch assembly is provided associated with the front door 13 of vehicle 14, which is shown including its own outer door handle 25.

[0159] Now refer to Figures 2 to 11 A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the closed latch assembly 10 and its internal components are shown as generally comprising a latch mechanism 31 and a powered latch release mechanism, which is hereinafter simply referred to as latch release mechanism 33. Figure 3A and Figure 3BBy way of example and not limitation, the latching mechanism 31 is shown as a double-pawl double-ratchet configuration, which has a main ratchet, also referred to as the main ratchet 32, a main pawl, also referred to as the main pawl 36, a secondary ratchet, also referred to as the auxiliary ratchet 38, and a secondary pawl, also referred to as the auxiliary pawl 40. The main ratchet 32 ​​is pivotally mounted to the plate section 28 of the latch housing 29 and has a ratchet groove 34 that can align with a fish-mouth-shaped groove 30 formed in the latch housing 29. The main ratchet 32 ​​can be in the main closed position or the "pin-capture" position ( Figures 4 to 7 and Figure 11 ) and the open position or "bolt release" position ( Figures 8 to 10 The main ratchet 32 ​​moves between the ratchet groove 34 and the fish-mouth groove 30. In the main closed position or the "pin-capture" position, the pin 18 is held within the fish-mouth groove 30 by the ratchet groove 34. In the open position or the "pin-release" position, the pin 18 is released from the ratchet groove 34 and the fish-mouth groove 30. The main ratchet 32 ​​is supported by the main ratchet spring 32'. Figure 3A and Figure 3B The ram release position is offset toward the main ratchet 32, as indicated by arrow "E". Figure 8 The main pawl 36 is pivotally supported by the secondary ratchet 38 for use in the fixed main ratchet locked position or the "closed" position (Figures 3 to 4). Figure 7 ) and the unsecured main ratchet release position or "open" position ( Figure 8 The main pawl 36 moves between the main ratchet lock position and the "closed" position. In the fixed main ratchet lock position or "closed" position, the main pawl 36 positions and holds the main ratchet 32 ​​in the pin-captured position. In the unsecured main ratchet release position or "open" position, the main pawl 36 is positioned to allow the main ratchet 32 ​​to move to the pin-released position. A main pawl biasing spring (not shown) is operable to bias the main pawl 36 toward the open position of the main pawl 32 under normal conditions. Figure 4A and Figure 5 The secondary ratchet 38 is pivotally mounted to the plate section 28 of the latch housing 29 for use in the first position or "engaged" position (Figures 3 to 4). Figure 7 ) and the second position or "disengaged" position ( Figure 8 The ratchet 38 moves between the primary pawl 36 and the secondary pawl 38. In the first position or "engaged" position, the secondary ratchet 38 holds the primary pawl 36 in the closed position. In the second position or "disengaged" position, the secondary ratchet 38 allows the primary pawl 36 to be biased to the open position. A secondary ratchet biasing member (such as a spring member, not shown) is configured to bias the secondary ratchet 38 toward the engaged position of the secondary ratchet 38 under normal conditions, as in... Figure 8The arrow "G" indicates this. Finally, the secondary pawl 40 is mounted to the plate section 28 in a manner that allows it to pivot about the pivot axis PA for use in the auxiliary ratchet locking position, also known as the first position or "closed" position (Figures 3 to 4). Figure 5 ) and the auxiliary ratchet release position, also known as the second position or "open" position ( Figures 6 to 8 The pawl 40 moves between the two positions. In the auxiliary ratchet locked position, the secondary pawl 40 holds the secondary ratchet 38 in the engaged position. In the auxiliary ratchet released position, the secondary pawl 40 is positioned to allow the secondary ratchet 38 to move to the disengaged position. Figure 4A The secondary pawl biasing member, indicated by the arrow "H", is configured under normal conditions to bias the secondary pawl 40 toward the closed position of the secondary pawl 40 to engage with the auxiliary ratchet 38 or to be biased to the auxiliary ratchet 38 in a blocking position.

[0160] The secondary pawl 40 is shown as including a pivot section 50, a locking lug section 52, and an engagement section 54. When the secondary pawl 40 is in its closed position, the locking lug section 52 engages with the drive lug 56 on the secondary ratchet 38 and holds the secondary ratchet 38 in the engaged position. Conversely, the movement of the secondary pawl 40, indicated by arrow "R," in the direction opposite to arrow "H" to its open position is used to release the locking lug section 52 of the secondary pawl 40 from engagement with the drive lug 56 on the secondary ratchet 38, thereby allowing the secondary ratchet 38 to move automatically to its disengaged position, for example, as caused by allowing the primary pawl 36 to move in response to the disengagement of the locking lug section 52 from the drive lug 56. The primary pawl 36 is allowed to move due to: the rotation of the ratchet 38 caused by the bias E of the primary ratchet spring 32'; and / or, a door fastener load acting on the ratchet 38 and the primary pawl 36 via the striker 18, for causing the secondary ratchet 38 to rotate in the direction opposite to arrow "G."

[0161] Latch release mechanism 33 Figure 3A and Figure 3BThe latching mechanism 31 is best illustrated as comprising: an actuator, shown as an electric motor 41, which includes a motor shaft having a turbine WG fixed thereon; and a power release gear 43 driven by the turbine WG of the electric motor 41, which drives an actuator release lever 58, which in turn drives a latch release lever, also referred to as a release lever or auxiliary pawl release lever 60, which in turn moves a secondary pawl 40 from a closed position to an open position to provide a power release function for the latching mechanism 31. Rotation of the power release gear 43 in a first direction or "release" direction results in the release of the latching mechanism 31, and rotation of the power release gear 43 in the opposite direction or "reset" direction results in the reset of the latching mechanism 31. Actuator release lever 58 engages with auxiliary pawl release lever 60 when the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 is in the rest position, and actuator release lever 58 can be moved by actuator 41 to move auxiliary pawl release lever 60 to the engaged position. As is known, actuation of the remote key or the switch on the door handle 25 on door 13 provides a signal to the ECU associated with the closing latch assembly 10, indicating a request to release latch mechanism 31. Therefore, the ECU controls the operation of motor 41 to rotate power release gear 43.

[0162] The auxiliary pawl release lever 60 is connected to the auxiliary pawl 40, and is illustratively shown as being opposed by an arrow H acting on the auxiliary pawl 40. Figure 4A The biasing component is biased to be with the auxiliary pawl 40 (in) Figure 4A The contact point "X" directly engages, and the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 is connected to the auxiliary ratchet 38 and is shown as being opposed by the arrow I acting on the auxiliary pawl release lever 60. Figure 3A The biasing member is biased to be with the auxiliary ratchet 38 (in) Figure 4A The contact point "Y" is directly joined. For example... Figure 4A As shown, the buffer 68 disposed on the housing 29 provides a hard stop against further clockwise rotation. The auxiliary pawl release lever 60, in addition to being biased by the spring member I, is also biased by the actuator release lever 58, thus biasing the actuator release lever spring 59. Figure 3A The bias is further adjusted under the action of the bias indicated by the arrow "J" shown in the diagram. The auxiliary pawl release lever 60 can be in the rest position ( Figure 4 and Figure 11 ) and fully engaged position ( Figure 6The auxiliary pawl 40 moves between its closed and main pawl 36 positions. In the stationary position, the auxiliary pawl 40 is in its closed position, and the main pawl 36 is in its closed position. In the fully engaged position, the auxiliary pawl 40 moves to its open position, and the main pawl 36 moves to its open position under the action of a spring biased on the main pawl 36, indicated by arrow "F". Figure 8 ).

[0163] An auxiliary ratchet 38 is operably coupled to a main pawl 36, wherein the main pawl 36 is shown to be held in a pivoting position within a cylindrical recess of the auxiliary ratchet 38. As described above, the auxiliary ratchet 38 is movable between its engaged position and its disengaged position. In the engaged position, the auxiliary ratchet 38 holds the main pawl 36 in its closed position, and in the disengaged position, the auxiliary ratchet 38 moves the main pawl 36 to its open position. The auxiliary ratchet 38 moves to the disengaged position against the spring bias indicated by arrow G, and the auxiliary pawl 40 is forced to move to the open position against the spring bias H under the driving influence of the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 and the actuator release lever 58—which is due to the driving influence of the actuator release lever 58 acting on the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 against the spring bias J when the power release gear 43 rotates to the release position.

[0164] exist Figures 5 to 10 The sequence of releasing the closed latch assembly 10 to its open position is shown in the diagram. Figure 11 In the middle, the closing latch assembly 10 is reset to its closed position by setting the strike pin 18 into the main ratchet strike pin capture position.

[0165] exist Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the initial stage of releasing the closed latch assembly 10, in which the electric motor 41 is energized to drive the power release gear 43, thereby moving the actuator release lever 58 to simultaneously move the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 from its rest position to its engagement position where it engages with the auxiliary pawl 40. As shown in the initial stage, the arm extension of the engagement segment 54 forming the auxiliary pawl 40 begins to move upward in the direction of arrow A, causing the auxiliary pawl 40 to pivot clockwise about the pivot axis PA against the bias H of the biasing member.

[0166] exist Figure 6The diagram shows further clockwise movement of the auxiliary pawl 40 about the rotation axis PA, causing the locking lug section 52 of the auxiliary pawl 40 to disengage from the leg extension of the drive lug 56 forming the auxiliary ratchet 38. With the locking lug section 52 disengaged from the drive lug 56, or in other words, with the locking lug section 52 moving from a blocking relationship with the drive lug 56 to a released relationship, the auxiliary ratchet 38 moves freely under the pushing action of the main pawl 36, and now, under the influence of the rotation of the ratchet 32, it moves freely counterclockwise against the biasing member G. Figure 7 As shown in the diagram, when the auxiliary ratchet 38 pivots counterclockwise, the main pawl 36 is allowed to rotate thereby disengage from its main locked position from the locking engagement with the main locking recess 64 of the main ratchet 32 ​​by at least one of pulling or rotation, allowing the main ratchet 32 ​​to move under the bias of the bias spring member 32' and / or the sealing load of pulling the strike pin 18 counterclockwise, to move to one of the partially open strike pin release position or the fully open strike pin release position of the main ratchet 32, such as... Figure 8 As shown in the diagram. It will be appreciated that the main pawl 36 can be configured to receive within the secondary locking recess 66 to position the main ratchet 32 ​​in a partially open position (not shown).

[0167] exist Figure 9 In the middle, the electric motor 41 is reversed to move along with... Figures 5 to 8 The drive power release gear 43 shown is used to move the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 in the opposite direction, so that the actuator release lever 58 moves to move the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 simultaneously from its engaged position along arrow B. Figure 9 The auxiliary ratchet 38 moves downward toward the rest position of the auxiliary pawl release lever 60. Therefore, the auxiliary ratchet 38 is driven clockwise until it abuts against the hard stop member 68. After the auxiliary ratchet reaches the hard stop member 68, the drive lug 56 moves sufficiently to allow the locking lug section 52 to pivot back under the bias H of the spring member to engage with the drive lug 56. Figure 10 In this static position, a direct engagement is established between the auxiliary pawl 40 and the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 (in... Figure 4A The contact point "X" and the direct engagement of the auxiliary ratchet 38 with the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 (at the contact point "X") and the direct engagement of the auxiliary ratchet 38 with the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 (in Figure 4AAt the contact point “Y”, and therefore, there can be no gap between at least one of the auxiliary pawl 40 and / or auxiliary ratchet 38 and the auxiliary pawl release lever 60. This achieves stable and repeatable precise positioning of the auxiliary ratchet 38, the auxiliary pawl release lever 60, and the auxiliary pawl 40 relative to each other. Therefore, as will be described herein, the release travel force and stroke for each release operation are consistent. With the drive lug 56 of the auxiliary ratchet 38 positioned abutting against the locking lug section 52, the auxiliary ratchet 38 holds the main pawl 36 in place to reset the main ratchet 32 ​​in the pawl-capture position after the pawl 18 is fully placed in the ratchet groove 34 of the main ratchet 32. Figure 11 After the main ratchet 32 ​​is reset in its pin-capturing position and the drive lug 56 of the auxiliary ratchet 38 is positioned to abut against the locking lug section 52, the auxiliary ratchet 38 is prevented from rotating due to the blocking positioning of the locking lug section 52 in the path of the drive lug 56. Therefore, the main pawl 36 is prevented from moving away from the pin-capturing position of the ratchet 32 ​​due to the sealing load that tends to move the pin 18 out of the fish mouth groove 30 under the influence of the spring 32' and / or between the door and the body.

[0168] Reference Figure 4B and Figure 4CAfter the auxiliary pawl 40 returns from its open position to its closed position, for example, by moving counterclockwise about the pivot axis PA from its open position to its closed position, the locking lug segment 52 of the auxiliary pawl 40 moves into its blocking position to engage with the leg extension of the drive lug 56 forming the auxiliary ratchet 38 at a contact area known as the main contact area. At least a portion of the locking lug segment surface 53 is positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the drive lug surface 59, and, for example, a contact area 199 defined by the area engaging with both at least a portion of the locking lug segment surface 53 and at least a portion of the drive lug surface 59 is established when the drive lug 56 of the auxiliary ratchet 38 is positioned to abut against the locking lug 52. The coefficient of friction (e.g., the coefficient of friction resulting from the amount of surface contact established between the drive lug surface 59 and the locking lug segment surface 53) may affect the release force required to slide the drive lug surface 59 and the locking lug segment surface 53 away from each other and to disengage them during a release operation—e.g., during the actuation of the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 as described above. Since the contact area 199 is precisely established by controlling the stop position 201 of the locking lug segment 52 during each reset operation, for example after the auxiliary pawl 40 returns from its open position to its closed position, for example by controlling the stop position of the engagement segment 54 or by abutting the control surface 260—illustratively shown as another latching component such as the auxiliary pawl release lever 60, also referred to as the secondary contact area, which is illustratively shown as being located between the auxiliary pawl 40 and the auxiliary ratchet 38, and which is different from the primary contact area between the locking lug segment 52 and the drive lug segment 56—to control the stop position 201 of the locking lug segment 52, the coefficient of friction (e.g., the coefficient of friction resulting from the amount of surface contact established at the contact area 199 between the locking lug segment 52 and the drive lug segment 56) will be the same for each subsequent release operation, and thus a consistent release stroke, release force, and release time are achieved for each release operation. Since the reset position of the auxiliary pawl 40 is controlled by contact with another component of the release chain manufactured with higher tolerances (rather than with a component manufactured with lower tolerances, such as a component formed on the latch housing, or a component formed on the latch housing by overmolding), for example, by direct contact with the main pawl 136, or by indirect contact with the auxiliary ratchet 38 via the auxiliary pawl release lever 60, the amount of surface contact established at the contact area 199 between the locking lug segment 52 and the drive lug 56 will be the same for each subsequent release operation, and this amount of surface contact can be designed and implemented without the contact area 199 changing due to manufacturing tolerances affecting the controlled reset position.Furthermore, providing direct contact between the auxiliary pawl 40 and components with higher tolerances, such as the main pawl 136, or only with intermediate components with higher tolerances, such as the auxiliary pawl release lever 60, reduces the accumulation of tolerance overlap between the control surface and the main pawl 136. Therefore, there is no separate buffer formed on the latch housing, such as on the overmolded stop surface, manufactured to lower tolerances, to stop and control the reset or original position of the main pawl 136. The positions of the auxiliary pawls 40 and 540 are not controlled by contact with dedicated stops formed on the housing. Figure 8 As illustrated in the diagram, the secondary contact area between the auxiliary pawl 40 and the auxiliary ratchet 38 is shown as an indirect contact area located between the auxiliary pawl 40 and the auxiliary ratchet 38, through an intermediate element serving as the auxiliary pawl release lever 60. Figure 15 The secondary contact area between the auxiliary pawl 40 and the auxiliary ratchet 38, as illustrated in the diagram, is shown as the direct contact area between the auxiliary pawl 140 and the main pawl 136. This example of the secondary contact area and the secondary pawls 40 and 540 illustrates a position control feature on the secondary pawls 40 and 540 that serves as a control surface. This control surface does not function as a blocking surface to prevent the latches 31 and 110 from releasing, but rather operates to repeatedly and precisely control the main contact area that affects the release features (e.g., the frictional forces acting accordingly on the surfaces where the locking lug segment 52 of the secondary pawl 40 engages with the drive lug 56 and the surfaces where the ends of the second arm 86 and arm 88 of the secondary pawl 540 engage). Furthermore, the strength of the component can be enhanced by avoiding misalignment of the weaker area of ​​the locking lug segment 52 relative to the leg extension forming the drive lug 56. Figure 4C The diagram illustrates an example of such misalignment without controlled stop positioning (e.g., where the control surface 260, illustratively shown as the auxiliary pawl release lever 60, is not configured for the engagement section 54), illustrating that the weaker tip portion 61 of the locking lug section 52 is aligned with the engagement section 54, for example, the weaker tip portion 61 is not positioned. Figure 4BThe stop position 201 is illustrated, and the smaller contact area 199 reduces the contact area size between the drive lug surface 59 and the locking lug segment surface 53, and thus reduces the coefficient of friction between the drive lug surface 59 and the locking lug segment surface 53. Therefore, the weaker tip portion 61 of the locking lug segment 52 may be damaged during the upward movement of the drive lug 56, thus allowing the drive lug 56 to move further upward and release the latch—for example, during a collision, or the auxiliary pawl 40 may experience some free play movement, and due to the lower coefficient of friction resulting from the smaller contact area 199, resulting in lower release effort, the auxiliary pawl 40 may be more easily, for example, unintentionally moved to the disengaged position with the drive lug 56 during non-release operations, due to inertial forces acting on the auxiliary pawl 40 during a collision.

[0169] exist Figures 12 to 14 The diagram illustrates a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a closing latch assembly 110 and its internal components, wherein similar features are identified using reference numerals that are identical to but differ by 100 from those used above. The closing latch assembly 110 includes a latching mechanism 131 and a powered latch release mechanism, hereinafter simply referred to as latch release mechanism 133. By way of example and not limitation, the latching mechanism 131 is shown as a double-pawl single-ratchet configuration having a main ratchet, also referred to as the main ratchet 132, a main pawl, also referred to as the main pawl 136, and a secondary pawl, also referred to as the auxiliary pawl 140. The main ratchet 132 is pivotally mounted to a plate section (not shown) of the latch housing and has a ratchet groove 134 configured to receive the strike pin 18 in a captured manner—as discussed above regarding the ratchet groove 34 of the main ratchet 132. The main ratchet 132 is capable of being in a primary closed position or a “strike pin captured” position (…). Figures 12 to 14 , Figure 17 , Figure 18 , Figure 20 and Figure 20A The main ratchet 18 moves between the open position and the "pin released" position. In the main closed position or the "pin captured" position, the pin 18 is held within the fish-mouth groove 30 by the ratchet groove 134. In the open position or the "pin released" position, the pin 18 is released from the ratchet groove 134 and the fish-mouth groove 30. The main ratchet 132 is supported by the main ratchet spring 132'. Figure 3A and Figure 3B The release position of the ram pin towards the main ratchet 132 is offset, as indicated by arrow "E". Figure 13 (Instructions)

[0170] The auxiliary pawl 140 is biased to engage with the main pawl 136 via the auxiliary pawl spring member 80, such that the auxiliary pawl 140 is aligned with arrow C ( Figure 13 and Figure 17 The main pawl 136 is biased in the direction of arrow D, and the main pawl 136 is biased to engage with the auxiliary pawl 140 via the main pawl spring member 82, such that the main pawl 136 is biased in the direction of arrow D. Figure 13 and Figure 17 The direction of the main pawl 136 is biased, wherein the main pawl spring member 82 biases the main pawl 136 from the closed position toward the open position of the main pawl 136.

[0171] The auxiliary pawl 140 has a first arm 84 providing a first engagement surface 85, which is biased to engage with a protrusion 70 extending outward from the pivot axis P2 of the main pawl 136 when the main pawl 136 is in its closed position, thereby holding the auxiliary pawl 140 in a rest position. The auxiliary pawl 140 can be moved to an open position via engagement between a drive lug 72 extending laterally outward from the auxiliary pawl release lever 160 and a second engagement surface 87 of the first arm 84. Therefore, the first arm 84 of the auxiliary pawl 140 serves as a stop for abutting the auxiliary pawl 140 against the main pawl 136, and also as a driven surface engaged by the auxiliary pawl release lever 160 to move the auxiliary pawl 140 from its closed position to its open position.

[0172] The auxiliary pawl 140 has a second arm 86 spaced apart from the first arm 84, wherein the first arm 84 and the second arm 86 are shown as being from the pivot axis P1 of the auxiliary pawl 140. Figure 13 They extend in a direction inclined relative to each other. The end of the arm 88 of the main pawl 136 is biased to engage with the second arm 86 of the auxiliary pawl 140 so that the main pawl 136 is held in the closed position, in other words, the second arm 86 of the auxiliary pawl 140, when in its closed position—for example, as Figure 13 As shown—the end of the arm 88 of the main pawl 136 is prevented from rotating, and referenced Figure 13 For example, a clockwise rotation is used to prevent the main pawl 136 from moving from its closed position toward its open position. Therefore, the main pawl 136 acts as a positive stop for the auxiliary pawl 140, positioning the auxiliary pawl 140 in its rest position, while the auxiliary pawl 140 acts as a positive stop for the main pawl 136, holding the main pawl 136 in its closed position. During release, for example, during the rotation R of the auxiliary pawl release lever 160 of the closed latch assembly 110, such as... Figure 12 and Figure 13As shown, the auxiliary pawl release lever 160 can engage only with the auxiliary pawl 140 via a drive lug 72 that interacts with the second engagement surface 87 of the auxiliary pawl 140, while remaining disengaged from the main pawl 136, such that the auxiliary pawl 140 does not act on the main pawl 136 or otherwise bias the main pawl 136 toward the open position of the main pawl 136. Instead, the main pawl 136 is moved to the open position by the biasing member D alone. When the main pawl 136 is in its closed position, the distance between the auxiliary pawl 140 and the main pawl 136 (in Figure 15 A direct engagement is established at the contact point "Z" observed in the diagram, and in other words, there may be no gap between the auxiliary pawl 140 and the main pawl 136. This achieves stable and repeatable positioning of the second arm 86 relative to the end of the arm 88. Therefore, due to the repeatable similar positioning of the end of the arm 86 relative to the arm 88 when the main pawl 136 returns from its open position to its closed position and when the auxiliary pawl 140 is in its closed position, for each release operation, the force required to move the second arm 86 along the end of the arm 88 during release to overcome the coefficient of friction (e.g., the coefficient of friction resulting from the same amount of surface contact established between the second arm 86 and the arm 88 at region 199') will be consistent.

[0173] According to another aspect of this disclosure, such as Figure 21 and Figure 21-1As shown, a method 1000 is provided for constructing a closing latch assembly 10, 110 for installation in vehicle doors 12, 13. The method 1000 includes the step 1050 of providing a housing 29 and arranging main ratchet wheels 32, 132, main pawls 36, 136, and auxiliary pawls 40, 140 within the housing 29. Additionally, the method 1000 includes the step 1100 of arranging the main ratchet wheels 32, 132 for moving between a pin-capture position and a pin-release position, wherein in the pin-capture position, the main ratchet wheels 32, 132 hold the pin 18, and in the pin-release position, the main ratchet wheels 32, 132 release the pin 18. The method 1000 further includes the following step 1150: arranging the main pawls 32, 132 for movement between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the main pawls 32, 132 hold the main ratchet 32, 132 in a pin-captured position, and in the open position, the main pawls 32, 132 are positioned to allow the main ratchet 32, 132 to move to a pin-released position. Additionally, step 1200 includes: arranging the auxiliary pawls 40, 140 for movement between a rest position, also referred to as a closed position, and an open position, wherein in the rest position, the main pawls 32, 132 are held in their closed position, and in the open position, the main pawls 32, 132 move to their open position. Furthermore, step 1250 includes: setting the auxiliary pawl release levers 60 and 160 to be connected to the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140, and arranging the auxiliary pawl release levers 60 and 160 for moving between a rest position and an engaged position. In the rest position, the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 are in the closed position against spring bias, and the main pawls 32 and 132 are in the closed position against spring bias. In the engaged position, the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 move to the open position under the action of spring bias, and the main pawls 32 and 132 move to the open position under the action of spring bias.

[0174] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may further include the following steps 1300: operably engaging an auxiliary ratchet 38 to a main pawl 36, and arranging the auxiliary ratchet 38 for movement between an engaged position and an unengaged position, wherein in the engaged position, the auxiliary ratchet 38 holds the main pawl 36 in a closed position, and in the unengaged position, the auxiliary ratchet 38 allows the main pawl 36 to move to an open position; and arranging the auxiliary ratchet 38 for movement to an open position when the auxiliary pawl 40 moves to the open position of the auxiliary pawl 40.

[0175] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may further include the following step 1350: biasing the auxiliary pawl 40 to a closed position where the auxiliary pawl 40 engages with the auxiliary ratchet 38 by means of the spring member H.

[0176] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may further include the steps 1400 of: arranging the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 to engage the auxiliary pawl 40 when it is in its rest position, and arranging the auxiliary pawl 40 to engage the auxiliary ratchet 38 when it is in its closed position.

[0177] According to another aspect, the method 1000 further includes the following steps 1450: setting the actuator 41 and the actuator release lever 58, arranging the actuator release lever 58 to engage with the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 when the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 is in its rest position, and arranging the actuator release lever 58 to be moved by the actuator 41 to move the auxiliary pawl release lever 60 to the engagement position of the auxiliary pawl release lever 60.

[0178] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may also include the following step 1500: biasing the auxiliary pawl release lever and the actuator release lever into engagement with each other by means of a spring member.

[0179] According to another aspect, such as Figure 21-1 As shown, the method 1000 may further include the following step 2000: biasing the auxiliary pawl 140 to engage with the main pawl 136 by means of the auxiliary pawl spring member 80.

[0180] According to another aspect, the method may also include the following step 2050: biasing the main pawl 136 into engagement with the auxiliary pawl 140 by means of the main pawl spring member 82.

[0181] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may further include the step 2100 of: arranging the main pawl spring member 82 such that when the auxiliary pawl 140 moves to the open position of the auxiliary pawl 140 by movement of the auxiliary pawl release lever 160 toward the engagement position of the auxiliary pawl release lever 160, the main pawl 136 is biased to the open position of the main pawl 136.

[0182] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may further include the following steps 2150: providing a first arm 84 for the auxiliary pawl 140, the first arm 84 being biased to engage with the main pawl 136 when the main pawl 136 is in its closed position; and arranging the auxiliary pawl 136 to be movable to the open position of the auxiliary pawl via engagement of the auxiliary pawl release lever 160 with the first arm 84 of the auxiliary pawl 140.

[0183] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may further include the following steps 2200: providing a second arm 86 spaced apart from the first arm 84 for the auxiliary pawl 140; and arranging the main pawl 136 to engage the second arm 86 in an offset manner when in its closed position.

[0184] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may further include: arranging the auxiliary pawl release levers 60 and 160 to engage only with the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140, and not with the main pawls 36 and 136.

[0185] According to another aspect, the method 1000 may further include: arranging auxiliary pawls 40, 140 to remain continuously engaged with auxiliary pawl release levers 60, 160 to minimize play within the closed latch assemblies 10, 110.

[0186] Now refer to Figure 22 The illustration depicts a method 2000 for operating a double-pawl single-ratchet mechanism for use in a closing latch assembly 10, 110 installed in doors 12, 13. The method 2000 includes the steps of: providing a housing 29 and arranging a double-pawl mechanism within the housing 29, comprising main ratchet wheels 32, 132, main pawls 36, 136, and auxiliary pawls 40, 140; arranging the main ratchet wheels 32, 132 for movement between a pin-capture position and a pin-release position, wherein the pin... In the capture position, main ratchet wheels 32 and 132 hold the stop pin 18; in the stop pin release position, main ratchet wheels 32 and 132 release the stop pin 18. Main pawls 36 and 136 are arranged to move between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, main pawls 36 and 136 hold main ratchet wheels 32 and 132 in the stop pin capture position; in the open position, main pawls 36 and 136 are positioned to allow main ratchet wheels 32 and 132 to move to the main ratchet wheel 32. 2. The ram pin release position of 132; The auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 are arranged to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the main pawls 36 and 136 are held in their closed position, and in the open position, the main pawls 36 and 136 are moved to their open position; The auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 are moved from their closed position to their open position to allow the main pawls 36 and 136 to move to their open position; The auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 are moved from their closed position to their open position to allow the main pawls 36 and 136 to move to their open position; 0 moves from its open position to its closed position; and configures the auxiliary pawls 40, 140 to abut against the control surface during the movement of the auxiliary pawls 40, 140 from their open position to their closed position to control the alignment of the auxiliary pawls 40, 140 with the main pawls 36, 136, and establishes a predetermined friction engagement area between the auxiliary pawls 40, 140 and the main pawls 36, 136 when the auxiliary pawls 40, 140 are in their closed position and the main pawls are in their closed position.

[0187] Now refer to Figure 23 A method 3000 is provided for operating a double-pawl double-ratchet mechanism for use in a closing latch assembly 10, 110 installed in vehicle doors 12, 13. The method 3000 includes the steps of: providing a housing 29 and arranging a double-pawl mechanism within the housing 29, comprising main ratchet wheels 32, 132, main pawls 36, 136, auxiliary pawls 40, 140, and auxiliary ratchet wheel 38; arranging the main ratchet wheels 32, 132 for movement between a pin-capture position and a pin-release position, wherein in the pin-capture position... The main ratchet wheels 32 and 132 hold the stop pin 18; in the stop pin release position, the main ratchet wheels 32 and 132 release the stop pin 18; the main pawls 36 and 136 are arranged to move between a closed position and an open position; in the closed position, the main pawls 36 and 136 hold the main ratchet wheels 32 and 132 in the stop pin capture position; in the open position, the main pawls 36 and 136 are positioned to allow the main ratchet wheels 32 and 132 to move to the stop pin release position; the auxiliary ratchet wheel 38... Arranged to be operably connected to the main pawl 36 for movement between an engaged position and an unengaged position, wherein in the engaged position, the auxiliary ratchet 38 holds the main pawl 36 in a closed position, and in the unengaged position, the auxiliary ratchet 38 allows the main pawl 36 to move to an open position; and allows the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 to move from their closed positions to their open positions to allow the auxiliary ratchet 38 to move to the unengaged position and to allow the main pawls 36 and 136 to move to their respective open positions. The auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 are configured to abut against a control surface during the return of the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 from their open positions to their closed positions to control the alignment of the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 with the main pawls 36 and 136, and to establish a predetermined friction engagement area between the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 and the main pawls 36 and 136 when the auxiliary pawls 40 and 140 are in their closed positions and the main pawls are in their closed positions.

[0188] Now refer to Figures 24 to 29 Non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the latch assembly 210 and its various internal components are shown as generally including a latch mechanism 231 and a powered latch release mechanism, which is hereinafter simply referred to as latch release mechanism 233. Figure 25A and Figure 25B The latching mechanism 231 is shown as a double-pawl, double-ratchet configuration, which has a main ratchet, also referred to as the main ratchet 232, a main pawl, also referred to as the main pawl 236, a secondary ratchet, also referred to as the auxiliary ratchet 238, and a secondary pawl, also referred to as the auxiliary pawl 240. The main ratchet 232 is mounted to the plate section 228 of the latch housing 229. Figure 24 The main ratchet 232 is designed for pivoting on plate segment 228 and has a ratchet groove 234 that aligns with a fish-mouth groove 230 formed in latch housing 229. The main ratchet 232 can be in the main closed position or the "pin-capture" position. Figures 26 to 28 ) and the open position or "bolt release" position ( Figure 29 The ratchet 18 moves between the main closed position and the "pin-capture" position. In the main closed position, the pin 18 is held within the fish-mouth groove 230 by the ratchet groove 234. In the open position or the "pin-release" position, the pin 18 is released from the ratchet groove 234 and the fish-mouth groove 230. The main ratchet 232 is supported by the main ratchet spring 232'. Figure 25A and Figure 25B The ram release position of the main ratchet 232 is offset, as indicated by arrow "E". Figure 29 The main pawl 236 is carried and supported by the secondary pawl 238 for use in a fixed position or a "closed" position. Figures 25A to 27 ) and unfixed position or "open" position ( Figure 28 and Figure 29 The main pawl 236 moves between the fixed position and the "closed" position, positioning and holding the main ratchet 232 in the pin-captured position, and in the unfixed position or the "open" position, positioning the main ratchet 232 to allow it to move to the pin-released position. The main pawl bias spring 235 is operable to bias the main pawl 236 toward the open position under normal conditions, such as... Figure 26 The secondary ratchet 238 is mounted to the plate section 228 of the latch housing 229 for use in the first position or "engaged" position. Figures 25A to 27 ) and the second position or "disengaged" position ( Figure 28 and Figure 29 The ratchet 238 pivots between two positions. In the first position, or "engaged" position, the secondary ratchet 238 holds the primary pawl 236 in the closed position. In the second position, or "disengaged" position, the secondary ratchet 238 allows the primary pawl 236 to be biased by the spring member 235 to the open position. The secondary ratchet biasing member (e.g., a spring member, indicated by arrow "G") is configured to bias the secondary ratchet 238 toward the disengaged position of the secondary ratchet 238 under normal conditions, as in... Figure 28 As shown in the diagram. Finally, the secondary pawl 240 is mounted to the plate segment 228 for use about the pivot axis PA in the first position or the "closed" position. Figures 25A to 27 ) and the second position or "open" position ( Figure 28 and Figure 29The pawl 240 pivots between the two positions. In the first position or "closed" position, the secondary pawl 240 holds the secondary ratchet 238 in the engaged position. In the second position or "open" position, the secondary pawl 240 is positioned to allow the secondary ratchet 238 to move to the disengaged position under the bias of the spring member G. Figure 26 The secondary pawl biasing member, indicated by the arrow "H", is configured to bias the secondary pawl 240 toward the closed position of the secondary pawl 240 to engage with the auxiliary ratchet 238 or to be in a blocking position with the auxiliary ratchet 238 under normal conditions, thereby releasably holding the auxiliary ratchet 238 in the engaged position of the auxiliary ratchet 238.

[0189] The secondary pawl 240 is shown as including a pivot section 250, a locking lug section 252, and an engagement section 254. When the secondary pawl 240 is in its closed position, the locking lug section 252 engages with the drive lug 256 on the secondary ratchet 238 and holds the secondary ratchet 238 in its engaged position. Conversely, the secondary pawl 240 moves along the path indicated by the arrow "R" (…). Figure 27 The movement in the direction indicated by the arrow "H", i.e., in the direction opposite to its open position, is used to release the locking lug section 252 of the secondary pawl 240 from its blocking engagement with the drive lug 256 on the secondary ratchet 238, thereby allowing the secondary ratchet 238 to automatically move to its disengaged position via a bias applied by the spring member 235. Under normal and expected conditions, for example, as caused by allowing the primary pawl 236 to move in response to the disengagement of the locking lug section 252 from the drive lug 256, the primary pawl 236 is allowed to move due to: the rotation of the ratchet 232 on the secondary ratchet 238 under the bias E of the primary ratchet spring 232'; and / or, a door sealing load acting on the secondary ratchet 238 and the primary pawl 236 via the striker 18, for causing the secondary ratchet 238 to rotate in the direction opposite to the arrow "G".

[0190] Latch release mechanism 233 Figure 25A and Figure 25B The best-illustrated configuration includes: an actuator, shown as an electric motor 241, which includes a motor shaft having a worm gear WG fixed to the motor shaft; and a power release gear 243 driven by the worm gear WG of the electric motor 241, which drives an actuator release lever 258, which in turn drives or moves a latch release lever 260 in the direction of arrow S. Figures 27 to 29(As described in more detail below), this forces the auxiliary pawl release leg 261 of the latch release lever 260 into engagement with the engagement section 254 of the secondary pawl 240, thereby moving the secondary pawl 240 from its closed position to its open position to provide the power release function of the latch mechanism 231. Rotation of the power release gear 243 in the first direction or "release" direction results in the release of the latch mechanism 231, and rotation of the power release gear 243 in the opposite direction or "reset" direction results in the reset of the latch mechanism 231. The actuator release lever 258 can be configured to engage with the latch release lever 260 in its rest position, and as described above, the actuator release lever 258 can be moved by the actuator 241 to move the latch release lever 260. As is well known, actuation of the remote key or the switch on the door handle 25 on door 13 provides a signal to the ECU associated with the closed latch assembly 210, indicating a request to release the latch mechanism 231. Therefore, the ECU controls the operation of the motor 241 to rotate the power release gear 243.

[0191] The latch release lever 260 is connected to the auxiliary pawl 240, and it is illustratively shown that the auxiliary pawl release leg 261 is biased by an anti-biasing member to engage with the engagement section 254 of the auxiliary pawl 240 (in Figure 26 The contact point "X" is directly joined. For example... Figure 25A and Figure 25B As shown, in addition to the bias applied by spring member I, latch release lever 260 also biases spring 259 in actuator release lever via engagement of actuator release lever 258. Figure 25B The latch release lever 260 is further biased under the bias indicated by arrow "J". The latch release lever 260 can move, for example, in the rest position ( Figure 26 ) and the first actuation position ( Figure 27 Within a first travel range, at a stationary position, the auxiliary pawl 240 is in the auxiliary ratchet locked position, and the main pawl 236 is in its main ratchet locked position. In the first actuated position, the auxiliary pawl release leg 261 moves the auxiliary pawl 240 to its auxiliary ratchet release position. In the auxiliary ratchet release position, unless there is excessive friction, such as excessive friction between the main pawl 236 and the main ratchet 232, the auxiliary ratchet 238 normally moves freely to the main pawl release position, and the main pawl 236 normally moves freely to its main ratchet release position. This is by example and not a limitation, and the latch release lever 260 can further move beyond the first travel range, for example, it can move within a second travel range to the second actuated position. Figure 29In the second actuated position, regardless of any previously mentioned excessive friction, the engaging leg, referred to in this embodiment as the main pawl engaging leg 263, moves the main pawl 236 to the main ratchet release position of the main pawl 236 during the second travel range. Therefore, the closed latch assembly 210 ensures that after the latch release lever 260 moves to the second actuated position, it moves to the open mode of the closed latch assembly 210, as discussed further below. The latch release lever 260 is capable of moving within the first travel range only by a power release operation of the latch (e.g., actuation based on an electric motor) so that only the secondary pawl 240 moves, while the latch release lever 260 does not contact the main pawl 236 and does not move the main pawl 236. The latch release lever 260 may be configured only when the latch is configured as described herein. Figure 44 A manual release operation (e.g., a non-motorized drive of the latch release lever 260) in a similar manner to the described example engages the master pawl 236 and moves it, for example, as further described herein, thereby relating to... Figure 29 Compared to the release lever 260 shown, which is configured to contact and move the main pawl 236, the auxiliary pawl 540 is configured to contact and move the main pawl 536 only during manual operation and solely due to a manual release operation. Therefore, a motor-driven power release operation cannot move the latch release lever 260 to the position where it contacts and moves the main pawl 236; rather, only a latching operation during a manual release (non-motorized configuration) can move the latch release lever 260 to the position where it contacts and moves the main pawl 236.

[0192] An auxiliary ratchet 238 is operably coupled to a main pawl 236, wherein the main pawl 236 is shown being held and carried for pivoting movement within a cylindrical recess 262 of the auxiliary ratchet 238. As described above, the auxiliary ratchet 238 is movable between its engaged position and its disengaged position. In the engaged position, the auxiliary ratchet 238 holds the main pawl 236 in its closed position, and in the disengaged position, the auxiliary ratchet 238 allows the main pawl 236 to move to its open position. When the auxiliary pawl 240 is forced to move to the open position against the spring bias H under the driving influence of the latch release lever 260 and the actuation release lever 258—which is due to the driving influence of the actuator release lever 258 moving against the spring bias J when the power release gear 243 rotates to the release position and acting on the latch release lever 260—the auxiliary ratchet 238 moves to the disengaged position under the spring bias indicated by arrow G.

[0193] exist Figures 26 to 29The diagram shows the sequence of releasing the closing latch assembly 210 to its open position, and then resetting the closing latch assembly 210 to its closed position by arranging the strike pin 18 into the main ratchet strike pin capture position.

[0194] exist Figure 26 In the diagram, the closed latch assembly 210 is shown in its latched mode. Therefore, the main pawl 236 is in its closed main ratchet locked position, holding the main ratchet 232 in its pin-captured position. Additionally, the latch release lever 260 is in its rest position, while the auxiliary pawl 240 is in its auxiliary ratchet locked position. Thus, the locking lug section 252 and the drive lug 256 face each other in locked abutment.

[0195] exist Figure 27 In the diagram, latch release mechanism 233 is shown in the initial stage of releasing closed latch assembly 210, wherein electric motor 241 is energized to drive power release gear 243, thereby moving actuator release lever 258 to simultaneously move latch release lever 260 from its rest position to a first actuated position where it engages with auxiliary pawl 240. As shown in the first actuated position, auxiliary pawl release leg 261 engages with arm extension of engagement segment 254 forming auxiliary pawl 240, thereby moving engagement segment 254 upward in the direction of arrow A, causing auxiliary pawl 240 to pivot clockwise against bias H of biasing member about pivot axis PA of auxiliary pawl 240. Locking lug segment 252 of auxiliary pawl 240 is pivotally moved to disengage from leg extension of drive lug 256 forming auxiliary ratchet 238. When the locking lug segment 252 is disengaged from the drive lug 256, or in other words, when the locking lug segment 252 moves from being in a blocking relationship with the drive lug 256 to being in a disengaged relationship with the drive lug 256, the auxiliary ratchet 238 is disengaged and disengaged from the auxiliary pawl 240 by the bias applied by the spring member G. As a result, the auxiliary ratchet 238 moves freely under the push of the main pawl 236, and now also moves freely under the influence of the ratchet 232 rotating in the counterclockwise direction. When the auxiliary ratchet 238 pivots counterclockwise, the main pawl 236 is allowed to rotate thereby to disengage from its main locked position from the main locking notch 264 of the main ratchet 232 by at least one of pulling or rotation, allowing the main ratchet 232 to move under the bias of the bias spring member 232' and / or the sealing load of pulling the strike pin 18 counterclockwise, to move to one of the partially open strike pin release positions or the fully open strike pin release positions of the main ratchet 232, such as... Figure 29As shown in the diagram. It will be appreciated that the main pawl 236 can be configured to receive within the secondary locking recess 266 to position the main ratchet 232 in a partially open position (not shown). However, according to this disclosure, it is contemplated that the main pawl 236 may be prevented from moving out of its main ratchet locked position, thus tending to remain in the main locking recess 264. These reasons for the main pawl 236 remaining in the main locking recess 264 can be attributed to excessive friction, contamination, wear, or other causes of the components. As discussed below, regardless of the reasons for preventing the main pawl 236 from moving out of the main locking recess 264, according to another aspect of the invention, the closing latch assembly 210 ensures movement from its latched mode to its open mode when needed.

[0196] exist Figure 28 In this process, the electric motor 241 continues to be energized to continue driving the power release gear 243, thus the actuator release lever 258 moves the latch release lever 260 from its first actuated position to its second actuated position. In the second actuated position (…), the latch release lever 260… Figure 29 During movement, with the main pawl 236 held in its main ratchet locked position, the main pawl engagement leg 263 of the release lever 260 operably engages with the main pawl 236 (indirectly) or directly with the main pawl 236, so that the main pawl 236 moves to the main ratchet released position of the main pawl 236. Figure 29 The rotational force applied to the main pawl 236 by the main pawl engaging leg 263 is sufficient to overcome any unintentional force that initially inhibits the main pawl 236 from moving to the main ratchet release position.

[0197] The auxiliary pawl release leg 261 and the main pawl engagement leg 263 extend radially outward from the pivot axis PA of the latch release lever 60 in a spaced-apart relationship, wherein the auxiliary pawl release leg 261 and the main pawl engagement leg 263 of the latch release lever 260 are shown extending away from each other from opposite sides of the pivot axis PA. The main pawl engagement leg 263 has a drive member 270, and the main pawl 236 has a driven member 272, wherein, when the latch release lever 260 is in the second actuated position, the drive member 270 engages with the driven member 272 to move the main pawl 236 to the main ratchet release position. Thus, it should be understood that when the latch release lever 260 is in the first actuated position, the main pawl engagement leg 263 is disengaged from the main pawl 236, and therefore, when the latch release lever 260 is in the first actuated position, the drive member 270 and the driven member 272 are spaced apart. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, when the latch release lever 260 is in the first actuated position, the driven member 272 is received in a recessed notch 273 of the main pawl engaging leg 263 with a clearance relationship adjacent to the drive member 270.

[0198] In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the driven member 272 extends laterally outward from a surface 274 shown as the main pawl 236, which is normally parallel to the pivot axis PA of the main pawl 236. The drive member 270 extends radially away from the pivot axis PA' of the latch release lever 260 to engage with the driven member 272 when the latch release lever 260 is in the second actuated position.

[0199] Figure 30 A portion of a closed latch assembly 310 constructed according to another aspect of this disclosure is illustrated, wherein similar features are identified using reference numerals that are the same as but differ by 300 from those used above.

[0200] The latching assembly 310 has a latching mechanism 331, shown as a double-pawl double-ratchet configuration, which has a main ratchet (also referred to as the main ratchet 332), a main pawl (also referred to as the main pawl 336), a secondary ratchet (also referred to as the auxiliary ratchet 338), and a secondary pawl (also referred to as the auxiliary pawl 340). The latch release lever 360 is movable between a rest position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position: in the rest position, the auxiliary pawl 340 is in the auxiliary ratchet locked position, and the main pawl 336 is in its main ratchet locked position; in the first actuated position, the auxiliary pawl release leg 361 moves the auxiliary pawl 340 to the auxiliary ratchet release position, in which the auxiliary ratchet 338 normally moves freely unless excessive friction, such as excessive friction between the main pawl 336 and the main ratchet 332. The main pawl 336 is moved to the main pawl release position and, under normal circumstances, moves freely to its main ratchet release position, as an example and not a limitation; in the second actuated position, regardless of any of the previously mentioned excessive friction, the auxiliary pawl 340, referred to in this embodiment as the auxiliary ratchet engagement leg 363 and shown as an engagement leg formed as an integral material piece with the auxiliary pawl 340, is operably engaged with the auxiliary ratchet 338 to forcibly push the auxiliary ratchet 338 to rotate in the release direction, thereby moving the main pawl 336 to the main ratchet release position of the main pawl 336. The engaging leg 363 has a drive member 370, and the auxiliary ratchet 338 has a driven member 372. Thus, when the latch release lever 360 is in the second actuated position, the drive member 370 directly engages with the driven member 372 or is operably engaged with the driven member 372 to move the auxiliary ratchet 338 from an engaged position in which the auxiliary ratchet 338 holds the main pawl 336 in a closed position to a disengaged position in which the auxiliary ratchet 338 allows the main pawl 336 to move to the main ratchet release position of the main pawl 336. And thus, when the latch release lever 360 is in the first actuated position, the drive member 370 and the driven member 372 are spaced apart. Therefore, after the latch release lever 360 moves to the second actuated position, the closing latch assembly 310 ensures movement to the open mode of the closing latch assembly 310.

[0201] Figure 31 A portion of a closed latch assembly 410 constructed according to another aspect of this disclosure is illustrated, wherein similar features are identified using reference numerals that are the same as but differ by 400 from those used above.

[0202] The closing latch assembly 410 has a latching mechanism 431, which is shown as a double pawl double ratchet configuration, having a main ratchet also referred to as the main ratchet, a main pawl also referred to as the main pawl, a secondary ratchet also referred to as the auxiliary ratchet 438, and a secondary pawl also referred to as the auxiliary pawl. The latch release lever 460 is movable between the following rest position, first actuated position, and second actuated position: In the rest position, the auxiliary pawl is in the auxiliary ratchet locked position, and the main pawl is in its main ratchet locked position; In the first actuated position, the auxiliary pawl release leg moves the auxiliary pawl to the auxiliary ratchet release position of the auxiliary pawl, where, unless there is excessive friction, such as excessive friction between the main pawl and the main ratchet, the auxiliary ratchet 438 normally moves freely to the main pawl release position and the main pawl normally moves freely to its main ratchet release position, as an example and not a limitation; In the second actuated position, regardless of any of the previously mentioned excessive friction, the auxiliary ratchet engagement leg 463, referred to in this embodiment as an engagement leg formed as an integral material with the latch release lever 460, directly engages with the auxiliary ratchet 438 to force the auxiliary ratchet 438 to rotate in the release direction, thereby moving the main pawl to the main ratchet release position of the main pawl. The engaging leg 463 has a drive member 470, and the auxiliary ratchet 438 has a driven member 472. Thus, when the latch release lever 460 is in the second actuated position, the drive member 470 engages with the driven member 472 to move the auxiliary ratchet 438 from an engaged position in which the auxiliary ratchet 438 holds the main pawl in a closed position to a disengaged position in which the auxiliary ratchet 438 allows the main pawl to move to the main ratchet release position of the main pawl. And thus, when the latch release lever 460 is in the first actuated position, the drive member 470 and the driven member 472 are spaced apart. Therefore, after the latch release lever 460 moves to the second actuated position, the closing latch assembly 410 ensures movement to the open mode of the closing latch assembly 410.

[0203] The closing latch assembly 410 has a latching mechanism 431, which is shown as a double pawl double ratchet configuration, having a main ratchet also referred to as the main ratchet, a main pawl also referred to as the main pawl, a secondary ratchet also referred to as the auxiliary ratchet 438, and a secondary pawl also referred to as the auxiliary pawl. The latch release lever 460 is movable between the following rest position, first actuated position, and second actuated position: In the rest position, the auxiliary pawl is in the auxiliary ratchet locked position, and the main pawl is in its main ratchet locked position; In the first actuated position, the auxiliary pawl release leg moves the auxiliary pawl to the auxiliary ratchet release position of the auxiliary pawl, where, unless there is excessive friction, such as excessive friction between the main pawl and the main ratchet, the auxiliary ratchet 438 normally moves freely to the main pawl release position and the main pawl normally moves freely to its main ratchet release position, as an example and not a limitation; In the second actuated position, regardless of any of the previously mentioned excessive friction, the auxiliary ratchet engagement leg 463, referred to in this embodiment as an engagement leg formed as an integral material with the latch release lever 460, directly engages with the auxiliary ratchet 438 to force the auxiliary ratchet 438 to rotate in the release direction, thereby moving the main pawl to the main ratchet release position of the main pawl. The engaging leg 463 has a drive member 470, and the auxiliary ratchet 438 has a driven member 472. Thus, when the latch release lever 460 is in the second actuated position, the drive member 470 engages with the driven member 472 to move the auxiliary ratchet 438 from an engaged position in which the auxiliary ratchet 438 holds the main pawl in a closed position to a disengaged position in which the auxiliary ratchet 438 allows the main pawl to move to the main ratchet release position of the main pawl. And thus, when the latch release lever 460 is in the first actuated position, the drive member 470 and the driven member 472 are spaced apart. Therefore, after the latch release lever 460 moves to the second actuated position, the closing latch assembly 410 ensures movement to the open mode of the closing latch assembly 410.

[0204] According to another aspect of this disclosure, such as Figure 32As shown, a method 4000 is provided to move a closing latch assembly 210, 310, 410 of a vehicle closing panel from a latched mode to an open mode. The closing latch assembly 210, 310, 410 has latch release levers 260, 360, 460, main ratchet 232, 332, main pawl 236, 336, auxiliary pawls 238, 338, 438, and auxiliary pawls 240, 340. The method 4000 includes a step 4100 of configuring the latch release levers 260, 360, 460 to have auxiliary pawl release legs 261, 361. The method also includes a step 4200 of configuring one of the latch release levers 260, 460 and the auxiliary pawls 240, 340 to have engaging legs 263, 363, 463. The method 4000 further includes the following step 4300: configuring latch release levers 260, 360, 460 for movement between a rest position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position: in the rest position, auxiliary pawls 240, 340 are in their auxiliary ratchet locked positions and main pawls 236, 336 are in their main ratchet locked positions; in the first actuated position, auxiliary pawl release legs 261, 361 move auxiliary pawls 240, 340 to their auxiliary ratchet release positions; in the second actuated position, engaging legs 263, 363, 463 move main pawls 236, 336 to their main ratchet release positions.

[0205] The method 4000 may further include the following step 4400: configuring the main pawls 236, 336 to move to the open position of the main pawls 236, 336 under the action of spring bias when the latch release lever 260 is in the first actuated position.

[0206] The method 4000 may further include configuring the engaging leg 263 to engage with the main pawl 236 when the latch release lever 260 is in the second actuated position, so that the main pawl 236 moves to the main ratchet release position.

[0207] The method 4000 may further include configuring the engaging leg 263 to remain disengaged from the main pawl 236 when the latch release lever 260 is in the first actuated position.

[0208] The method 4000 may further include the following steps 4500: configuring the engaging leg 263 to have a drive member 270 and configuring the main pawl 236 to have a driven member 272, configuring the drive member 270 to engage with the driven member 272 when the latch release lever 260 is in the second actuated position to move the main pawl 236 to the main ratchet release position, and configuring the drive member 270 to remain spaced apart from the driven member 272 when the latch release lever 260 is in the first actuated position.

[0209] The method 4000 may further include the following step 4600: configuring the engaging leg 263 as an integral material with the latch release lever 260.

[0210] The method 4000 may further include the following step 4700: configuring the engaging legs 363, 463 to engage with the auxiliary ratchet 338, 438 when the latch release lever 360, 460 is in the second actuated position to move the main pawl 336 to the main ratchet release position, and the method 4000 may further include the step 4800 of setting the engaging leg 463 to form an integral material with the latch release lever 460, or the step 4900 of setting the engaging leg 363 to form an integral material with the auxiliary pawl 340.

[0211] According to another aspect of this disclosure, such as Figure 33 As shown, a method 5000 is provided for constructing a closure latch assembly 210, 310, 410 for a vehicle closure panel 12, 13, the closure latch assembly 210, 310, 410 having latch release levers 260, 360, 460, main ratchet 232, 332, main pawl 236, 336, auxiliary ratchet 238, 338, 438, and auxiliary pawls 240, 340. The method 5000 includes the step 5100 of configuring the latch release levers 260, 360, 460 to have auxiliary pawl release legs 261, 361 connected to the auxiliary pawls 240, 340. The method 5000 further includes the step 5200 of configuring one of the latch release levers 260, 460 and the auxiliary pawls 240, 340 to have engaging legs 263, 363, 463. The method 5000 further includes the following step 5300: configuring latch release levers 260, 360, 460 for movement between a rest position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position, wherein in the rest position, auxiliary pawls 240, 340 are in their auxiliary ratchet locked positions and main pawls 236, 336 are in their main ratchet locked positions; in the first actuated position, auxiliary pawl release legs 261, 361 engage with auxiliary pawls 240, 340 while engaging legs 263, 363 are spaced apart from main pawls 236, 336 to move auxiliary pawls 240, 340 to their auxiliary ratchet released positions; and in the second actuated position, engaging legs 263, 363, 463 move active pawls 236, 336 to their main ratchet released positions.

[0212] The method 5000 may further include the following step 5400: configuring the main pawls 236, 336 to move to the open position of the main pawls 236, 336 under the action of spring bias when the latch release levers 260, 360, 460 are in the first actuated position.

[0213] The method 5000 may further include the following step 5500: configuring the engaging leg 263 to engage with the main pawl 236 when the latch release lever 260 is in the second actuated position, so that the main pawl 236 moves to the main ratchet release position.

[0214] The method 5000 may further include the step 5600 of: configuring the engaging leg 263 to remain disengaged from the main pawl 236 when the latch release lever 260 is in the first actuated position.

[0215] The method 5000 may further include the following steps 5700: configuring the engaging leg 263 to have a drive member 270 and configuring the main pawl 236 to have a driven member 272, configuring the drive member 270 to engage with the driven member 272 when the latch release lever 260 moves to the second actuated position to move the main pawl 236 to the main ratchet release position, and configuring the drive member 270 to remain spaced apart from the driven member 272 when the latch release lever 260 is in the first actuated position.

[0216] The method 5000 may further include the following step 5800: configuring the engaging leg 263 as an integral material with the latch release lever 260.

[0217] The method 5000 may further include the following step 5900: configuring the engaging legs 363, 463 to engage with the auxiliary ratchet 338, 438 when the latch release levers 360, 460 are in the second actuated position, so as to move the main pawl 336 to the main ratchet release position.

[0218] The method 5000 may further include the following step 6000: configuring the engaging leg 463 as an integral material with the latch release lever 460.

[0219] The method 5000 may further include the following step 6100: configuring the engaging leg 363 to form an integral material part with the auxiliary pawl 340.

[0220] exist Figures 34 to 57 The diagram illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a closing latch assembly 510 according to another aspect of this disclosure, as well as the internal components of the closing latch assembly 510, wherein similar features are identified using reference numerals that are the same as but differ by 500 from those used above. The closing latch assembly 510 includes a latching mechanism 531; a main latch release mechanism configured as a powered latch release mechanism 533; and an additional latch release mechanism, also referred to as a backup latch release mechanism, configured as a mechanical latch release mechanism. Figure 34 and Figure 52For example, an outer mechanical latch release mechanism 533' and / or an inner mechanical latch release mechanism 533'. Latch mechanism 531 is shown as a double-pawl single-ratchet configuration, by way of example and not limitation, which has a main ratchet hereinafter referred to as ratchet 532, a main pawl also referred to as main pawl 536, and a secondary pawl also referred to as auxiliary pawl 540. Ratchet 532 is mounted to be used relative to, for example, in... Figure 2 The plate segment of the latch housing shown at 29 pivots, and, as discussed above with respect to the ratchet groove 34 of the ratchet 32, the ratchet 532 has a ratchet groove 534 configured to receive the strike pin 18 in a capturing manner. The ratchet 532 can be in the main closed position or the "strike pin captured" position ( Figures 34 to 35 A and Figures 40 to 41 ) and the open position or "bolt" release position ( Figures 41 to 44 The ratchet 18 moves between the ratchet groove 534 and the fish-mouth groove 30 in the main closed position or the "pin-capture" position. In the open position or the "pin-release" position, the pin 18 is released from the ratchet groove 534 and the fish-mouth groove 30. The ratchet 532 is supported by the ratchet spring 532'. Figure 37 The release position of the striker pin toward ratchet 532 is offset, as indicated by arrow E'. Figure 35A ).

[0221] The auxiliary pawl 540 is biased to engage with the main pawl 536 by combining the main pawl / auxiliary pawl spring member 580, such that the auxiliary pawl 540 is along arrow C ( Figure 35A The main pawl 536 is biased in the direction of arrow D'. The main pawl 536 is biased to engage with the ratchet 532 via the main pawl / auxiliary pawl spring member 580, such that the main pawl 536 is biased in the direction of arrow D'. Figure 35A The main pawl / auxiliary pawl spring assembly 580 biases the main pawl 536 from its open position toward its resting closed position.

[0222] The auxiliary pawl 540 has a first arm 584 extending toward the main pawl 536 via a protrusion 570. This protrusion 570 extends outward from the pivot axis P2 of the main pawl 536 when the main pawl 536 is in its closed position. The first arm 584 provides a plane from the auxiliary pawl 540 that is perpendicular to the pivot axis P2. Figure 35A The driven lugs 585 extend laterally outward in a parallel manner. Figure 37The auxiliary pawl 540 can be moved to the open position by engaging the driven lug 572, which extends laterally outward from the auxiliary pawl release lever 560, with the driven lug 585 of the auxiliary pawl 540. Therefore, the driven lug 585 of the first arm 584 of the auxiliary pawl 540 serves as a driven surface that is engaged by the auxiliary pawl release lever 560 to move the auxiliary pawl 540 from the closed position to the open position.

[0223] The auxiliary pawl 540 has a second arm 586 spaced apart from the first arm 584, wherein the first arm 584 and the second arm 586 are shown as pivoting from the pivot axis P1 of the auxiliary pawl 540. Figure 35A Extending in a direction inclined relative to each other. The end of the arm 588 of the main pawl 536 engages with the second arm 586 of the auxiliary pawl 540 to hold the main pawl 136 in the closed position. Thus, for example, as Figure 35 As shown, the second arm 586 of the auxiliary pawl 540, when in the closed position, blocks the rotation of the end of the arm 588 of the main pawl 536, for example, referring to... Figure 35 To prevent the main pawl 536 from moving from its closed position to its open position, thus keeping doors 12 and 13 in their closed position, the main pawl 536 serves as a positive stop to the auxiliary pawl 540 against the bias of the main pawl / auxiliary pawl spring member 580 to position the auxiliary pawl 540 in its rest position. The auxiliary pawl 540, in turn, serves as a positive stop to the main pawl 536 against the bias of the ratchet spring 532' and against the bias of the sealing force generated between doors 12 and 13 and the vehicle body when doors 12 and 13 are in their closed position, thereby keeping the main pawl 536 in its closed position. It should be understood that the sealing force SF tends to be applied via a biased sealing load SL on the ratchet 532. Figure 35 , Figure 35A The clasping pin 18 is used to offset the ratchet 532 toward the clasping pin release position of the ratchet 532.

[0224] The latch release mechanism 533 includes an actuator, such as an electric motor (not shown), as discussed above with respect to electric motor 41, configured to drive a power release gear 543, as discussed above with respect to power release gear 43, which has a drive cam 543' fixed thereto. During the power release of the closed latch assembly 510, as is well known, actuation of a remote key or a switch on the door handle 25 on door 13 provides a signal to the ECU associated with the closed latch assembly 510, instructing a request to release the latch mechanism 531. Therefore, the ECU controls the operation of motor 41 to rotate the power release gear 543. Figure 40 As shown, the motor drives the power release gear 543 counterclockwise, thereby causing the drive cam 543' to pivotally drive the actuator release lever 558 against spring bias, so that the release lug 558' of the actuator release lever 558 forces engagement with the driven lug 560' of the auxiliary pawl release lever 560. This, in turn, forces engagement with the drive lug 572 of the auxiliary pawl release lever 560 and the driven lug 585 of the secondary pawl 540, causing the secondary pawl 540 to pivot about the pivot axis P1 and move the second arm 586 from a blocked or closed position where the second arm 586 and the arm 588 of the main pawl 536 are in an open position where the second arm 586 and the arm 588 are disengaged. Figure 41 This activates the power release function of the latching mechanism 531. Although the power actuation moves the second arm 586 to disengage from the arm 588, the second arm 586 is not forcibly engaged with the main pawl 536 by a force sufficient to drive and rotate the main pawl 536. Therefore, the main pawl 536 is not forcibly driven via a force chain directly generated by the power actuation and by the power of the motor (during which the motor provides power). With the second arm 586 moved to its open position, the arm 588 of the main pawl 536 is no longer blocked by the second arm 586 of the auxiliary pawl 540, thereby allowing the main pawl 536 to move in an offset manner to the ratchet release position of the main pawl 536. Under normal operating conditions, as expected, along arrow A ( Figure 41 An opening bias force is applied in the direction of ), wherein direction A is offset relative to the pivot axis P2 of the main pawl 536 to apply a rotational torque M on the main pawl 536 via a combination of the following bias forces: a bias force applied by the ratchet bias member 532' on the ratchet 532, which tends to move the ratchet 532 clockwise, and a bias force applied by the sealing force SF between the doors 12, 13 and the vehicle body, which tends to move the strike pin 18 along the sealing load SL. Figure 35AThe biasing forces that move the ratchet 532 in the direction of the pivot point P2 under normal conditions cause the main pawl 535 to rotate clockwise about the pivot axis P2 to the ratchet release position, thereby allowing the ratchet 532 to move to the pawl release position. Figure 44 Without producing a "bang" noise, the energy given by the combined force is utilized and directed to move the main pawl 536 against the bias applied by the main pawl spring 580 to the open position. Then, an electric motor (not shown) drives the power release gear 543 clockwise during the power reset of the closed latch assembly 510, as... Figure 45 As shown, this causes the drive cam 543' to pivotally move away from the forced engagement with the actuator release lever 558, allowing the actuator release lever 558 to move under spring bias to disengage the release lever lug 558' of the actuator release lever 558 from the driven lug 560' of the auxiliary pawl release lever 560. This, in turn, disengages the drive lug 572 of the auxiliary pawl release lever 560 from the driven lug 585 of the secondary pawl 540. With the auxiliary pawl 540 rotating clockwise without obstruction from the drive lug 572, the ratchet 532, after being forced back into the ratchet groove 534 by the pin 18 fixed to the doors 12 and 13, freely returns to the pin-captured position of the ratchet 532 and to the closed position of the ratchet 532. Figure 48 When ratchet 532 rotates counterclockwise, the main pawl 536, which is counterclockwise biased by the main pawl / auxiliary pawl spring member 580, returns to the ratchet locked position of the main pawl 536. Figure 50 ).

[0225] If, for any reason, after the motor's power actuation is completed, the biasing force applied to the ratchet 532 by the ratchet biasing member 532' and the biasing force applied by the sealing force SF are insufficient to pivot the main pawl 536 to the ratchet release position as described above ( Figure 51As an example rather than a limitation, manual actuation, such as via the outer door handle 24 / inner door handle 26, can be performed to move the main pawl 536 to the ratchet-release position via a mechanically interconnected force chain. The power latch release mechanism 533 is configured not to apply a biasing force to the main pawl 536 during the power release operation of the latch 510—during which the motor is actuated. For example, the power release chain (the component interconnecting the electric motor and the main pawl 536) cannot apply a biasing or moving force to the main pawl 536 that tends to push the main pawl 536 toward the open position, wherein such moving force originates from the electric motor 41 and not from a spring bias or sealed load bias acting on the main pawl 536. For example, the power latch release mechanism 533 cannot move the main pawl 536 directly, for example, by applying a moving force to the main pawl 536; or, the power latch release mechanism 533 cannot move the main pawl 536 indirectly, for example, by applying a moving force to the auxiliary ratchet supporting the pawl 536. This moving force is used to move the main pawl 536 in the opening direction, and this moving force is different from the force used to move another pawl, such as the blocked auxiliary pawl 540, to the unblocked position. During the manual release operation of latch 510, during which the electric motor is not actuated, at least one mechanical latch release mechanism 533', 533" is manually moved (non-electric or non-motorized operation), for example by the user forcibly moving one of the outer door handle 24 and / or the inner door handle 26 or by other external power. The manual release chain (the component that interconnects, for example, the at least one mechanical latch release mechanism 533', 533" with the main pawl 536) is able to apply a biasing or moving force on the main pawl 536 that tends to push the main pawl 536 toward the open position. This moving force is derived from the force applied by the user on the outside, not by the electric motor, and not by the force acting on the main pawl 533'. Actuation of, for example, the at least one mechanical latch release mechanism 533', 533" is achieved by spring biasing or sealing biasing on 6. Therefore, the power-release configuration of the latch 510 in the exemplary configuration allows the release lever 588 to move only within a certain range of travel so that the auxiliary pawl 540 travels within the corresponding range of travel without contacting the main pawl 536 and without pushing the main pawl 536 toward its open position. In other words, during the first range of travel of the auxiliary pawl 540 controlled by the power-release configuration of the latch 510, the auxiliary pawl 540 cannot move to a position in which it could contact the main pawl 536 to push the main pawl away from its closed position under the action of power transmitted from the electric motor.In a possible configuration, only manual (non-electric) actuation of the latch 510 can apply force to the main pawl 536 during a manual release operation of the latch 510, causing the main pawl 536 to move toward the open position. In other words, during the second travel range of the auxiliary pawl 540 controlled by the non-powered release configuration or manual release operation of the latch 510, the auxiliary pawl 540 can move to a position where it can contact the main pawl 536 to push the main pawl 536 away from the closed position under the action of power transmitted by the user's manual actuation of the latch 510, rather than from an electric motor. Therefore, in the manual release configuration of the latch 510, the auxiliary pawl 540 can travel a greater distance than it can in the powered release configuration of the latch 510. Illustratively, the first and second travel ranges of the auxiliary pawl 540 can be defined by the travel range of the release lever 558. The first and second travel ranges illustratively share a common first phase during which the auxiliary pawl 540 can be moved via a power-release configuration of the latch or a manual-release configuration of the latch 510. The second travel range illustratively has a second travel phase that is appended to, but not part of, the first travel range. Therefore, the second travel range of the release lever 558 or the auxiliary pawl 540 is greater than the first travel range. The power-release configuration of the latch 510 prevents the release lever 558 from moving through the second travel phase, during which the main pawl 536 can be forcibly biased to its open position, for example, by driving the auxiliary pawl 540 a further distance using a non-powered force to contact the main pawl 536 and further push the main pawl 536 toward the release position. Therefore, the power latch release mechanism 533 can be configured to not apply a biasing force, such as the biasing force acting on the main pawl 536 via the auxiliary pawl 530, when the main pawl 536 moves to the open position without responding to the power release operation of the latch 510 (e.g., when the biasing of the combination of the sealing load SL and the ratchet spring 532' after the auxiliary pawl 540 is moved to the open position by the electric motor 41). The auxiliary pawl 540 is illustrated to be forcibly engaged with the main pawl 536 during a manual release configuration of the latch 510 (e.g., during a portion or the entire second travel phase of the auxiliary pawl 540). However, as another example of a manual release configuration of the latch 510, the release lever 558 may be configured to drive or move the main pawl 536 during the second travel phase.

[0226] like Figure 52As shown, after the second arm 586 or the secondary pawl 540 is moved to disengage from the blocking engagement of the arm 588 of the main pawl 536 via a power release, manual actuation of at least one of the outer door handle 24 and the inner door handle 26 causes a corresponding engagement of the outer release lever (schematically shown at 590') of the outer mechanical latch release mechanism 533' and the inner release lever (schematically shown at 590') of the inner mechanical latch release mechanism 533' with the outer release lever engagement portion of the actuation release lever 558, also referred to as the outer drive member 592', and also referred to as... The corresponding one of the inner release lever engagements of the inner drive member 592” engages to rotate the actuator release lever 558 counterclockwise. The driven rotation of the actuator release lever 558 has a sufficient angle—greater than the angle of rotation during power actuation—to drive the secondary pawl 540 counterclockwise enough to force the second arm 586 of the secondary pawl 540 into engagement with the protrusion 594 of the main pawl 536, causing the main pawl 536 to rotate clockwise from its ratchet locked position to its ratchet released position. Figure 55 Then, after the latch assembly 510 is released to its open state, the corresponding one of the outer door handle 24 and the inner door handle 26 is released, thereby allowing the actuator release lever 558 to return to its non-actuated rest position or initial position under spring bias. Figure 56 and Figure 57 )--and Figure 43 The position described and shown corresponds to the position for power reset. Therefore, the closing latch assembly 510 is configured to return to the closed latch position of the closing latch assembly 510 after the doors 12 and 13 are closed.

[0227] According to another aspect of this disclosure, such as Figure 58 As shown, a method 6000 is provided for operating a closed latch assembly 510 with a double pawl single ratchet configuration to open vehicle doors 12, 13. The method 6000 includes the following steps 6100: actuating an electric motor to drive a power release gear 543 with a fixed drive cam 543' and moving the drive cam 543' against an actuator release lever 558 to pivot the actuator release lever 558 past a first arc length to an actuated position, so that the auxiliary pawl 540 moves from a closed position to an open position, thereby allowing the main pawl 536 to move to an open position against the bias of the pawl spring 580 toward the closed position of the main pawl 536 without the auxiliary pawl 540 applying a biasing force on the main pawl 536, thereby allowing the ratchet 532 to move to a ram release position under the bias of the ratchet spring 532' when the main pawl 536 moves to its open position, so as to allow the doors 12, 13 to open.

[0228] According to another aspect, the method 6000 may further include the step 6200 of applying a combined bias to the main pawl 536—the combined bias including a bias from the sealing load SL of the doors 12, 13 in the closed position and a bias from the ratchet spring 532'—to cause the main pawl 536 to pivot to the open position against the bias applied by the pawl spring 580.

[0229] According to another aspect, if the combined bias of the sealing load SL and the ratchet spring 532' after the auxiliary pawl 540 has moved to its open position fails to pivot the main pawl 536 to the open position, the method 6000 further includes the step 6300 of selectively actuating at least one mechanically actuated latch release mechanism 533', 533' to pivot the actuator release lever 558 across a second arc length greater than the first arc length, thereby forcibly engaging the auxiliary pawl 540 with the main pawl 536 to forcibly bias the main pawl 536 from the closed position to the open position.

[0230] According to another aspect, the method 6000 further includes the step 6400 of moving the actuator release lever 558 to disengage from the drive cam 543' and beyond its potential reach during selective actuation of at least one mechanical latch release mechanism 533', 533''. Thus, the mechanical actuation of the actuator release lever 558 causes it to pivot to a greater extent than is possible with power actuation via the drive release lever 543' and drive cam 543' driven by the electric motor 41.

[0231] According to another aspect, the method 6000 further includes the step 6500 of selectively actuating at least one mechanical latch release mechanism 533', 533" via at least one of the outer door handle 24 and / or the inner door handle 26.

[0232] The foregoing description of embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of this disclosure. Various elements, components, and / or sub-components, or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but rather, even if not specifically shown or described, are interchangeable where applicable and can be used in selected embodiments. Various elements, components, and / or sub-components, or features of a particular embodiment may also vary in many ways. Such variations are not considered to depart from this disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door movable between an open position and a closed position, the closing latch assembly comprising: A latching mechanism having a main ratchet, a main pawl, an auxiliary ratchet, and an auxiliary pawl, the auxiliary pawl being capable of engaging the auxiliary ratchet. The main ratchet is biased by a ratchet spring from a pin-capture position toward a pin-release position, wherein the main ratchet holds the pin in the pin-capture position and releases the pin in the pin-release position. The main pawl is biased by a pawl spring from an open position toward a closed position. In the open position, the main pawl is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move to the pin-release position. In the closed position, the main pawl holds the main ratchet in the pin-capture position. The auxiliary pawl is movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the main pawl is held in the closed position, and in the open position, the main pawl moves to the open position. A position control feature is operable during a latch reset operation while the auxiliary pawl moves from the open position to the closed position to repeatedly and precisely control the contact area affecting the release feature, which is a frictional force acting on the surface where the locking lug of the auxiliary pawl engages with the drive lug of the auxiliary ratchet, or a frictional force acting on the surface where the first arm of the main pawl engages with the second arm of the auxiliary pawl.

2. The closing latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The auxiliary pawl is movable between a closed position engaged with the auxiliary ratchet and an open position disengaged from the auxiliary ratchet. When the auxiliary pawl is in the closed position, a contact area is established between the auxiliary pawl and the auxiliary ratchet. The position control feature is operable to control the contact area that affects the frictional force acting on the surface where the locking lug of the auxiliary pawl engages with the driving lug of the auxiliary ratchet.

3. The closing latch assembly according to claim 2, wherein, The position control feature is configured to establish the same amount of surface contact for each latch reset operation.

4. The closing latch assembly according to claim 2, wherein, The contact area is established between the locking lug surface of the locking lug segment and the driving lug surface of the driving lug.

5. The closing latch assembly according to claim 2, wherein, The position control feature includes a control surface configured to abut against the closing latch assembly.

6. The closing latch assembly according to claim 5, wherein, The control surface is disposed on the auxiliary pawl.

7. The closing latch assembly according to claim 6, wherein, The component in question is the auxiliary pawl release lever.

8. The closing latch assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The auxiliary pawl release lever is adapted to abut against the auxiliary ratchet when the auxiliary pawl is in the closed position.

9. The closing latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The position control feature is configured to establish the same control over the contact area.

10. The closing latch assembly according to claim 9, wherein, The auxiliary pawl is movable between a closed position engaged with the main pawl and an open position disengaged from the main pawl. When the auxiliary pawl is in the closed position, a contact area is established between the auxiliary pawl and the main pawl. The position control feature is operable to control the contact area that affects the frictional force acting on the surfaces where the first arm of the main pawl engages with the second arm of the auxiliary pawl.

11. The closing latch assembly of claim 10, wherein, The contact area is established between the first arm and the second arm.

12. A closing latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door movable between an open position and a closed position, the closing latch assembly comprising: A latching mechanism having a main ratchet, a main pawl, and an auxiliary pawl, the auxiliary pawl being capable of engaging the main pawl, the main ratchet being biased by a ratchet spring from a pin-captured position toward a pin-released position, wherein the main ratchet holds the pin in the pin-captured position and releases the pin in the pin-released position, the main pawl being biased by a pawl spring from an open position toward a closed position, wherein in the open position, the main pawl is positioned to allow the main ratchet to move to the pin-released position, and in the closed position, the main pawl holds the main ratchet in the pin-captured position, the auxiliary pawl being movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the main pawl is held in the closed position, and in the open position, the main pawl moves to the open position. A position control feature is operable during a latch reset operation while the auxiliary pawl moves from the open position to the closed position to repeatedly and precisely control the contact area affecting the release feature, which is a frictional force acting on the surface where the arm (84) of the auxiliary pawl engages with the protrusion (70) of the main pawl or a frictional force acting on the surface where the first arm of the main pawl engages with the second arm of the auxiliary pawl.

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