Locking bolt assembly with double pawl locking mechanism

Abstract

A locking latch assembly for a closure component of a motor vehicle includes a locking mechanism including a ratchet, a primary pawl, and an auxiliary pawl. The ratchet is movable between a primary striker catch position, a secondary striker catch position, and a striker release position.The primary pawl is movable between a primary ratchet holding position in which the primary pawl holds the ratchet in its primary striker catch position and the auxiliary pawl holds the primary pawl in its primary ratchet holding position, a secondary ratchet holding position in which the primary pawl holds the ratchet in its secondary striker catch position and the auxiliary pawl holds the primary pawl in its secondary ratchet holding position, and a ratchet release position in which the primary pawl permits movement of the ratchet to its striker release position and the auxiliary pawl holds the primary pawl in its ratchet release position.

Description

AREA

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to locking latches for a passenger door of a vehicle. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a locking latch equipped with a double-pawl locking mechanism. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Many modern automotive tailgate latches provide various features to hold the latch in different states, such as fully closed, partially closed, and fully open. One known method is to use two pawls to hold a latch ratchet in a primary striker catch position corresponding to the fully closed state and a secondary striker catch position corresponding to the partially closed state. One pawl, a primary pawl, engages the ratchet while it is in the primary striker catch position, and another pawl, a secondary pawl, engages the ratchet while it is in the secondary striker catch position.Although such dual pawl assemblies are well-suited for releasably holding the ratchet in the primary and secondary striker catch positions, they also have disadvantages. For example, complex mechanisms are typically used to control the movement of the individual pawls, while additional space is required to accommodate their positioning relative to the ratchet. Furthermore, the interaction of the individual pawls must be precisely coordinated to prevent inadvertent movement of the ratchet, and furthermore, the interaction of the pawls with the ratchet is generally not adjustable. Accordingly, improvements are continually being sought to address at least the aforementioned disadvantages, and others are known to those skilled in the locking latch art. SUMMARY

[0003] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a locking latch assembly for a vehicle closure door, the locking latch assembly having a double pawl mechanism that overcomes at least the aforementioned disadvantages of known double pawl mechanisms.

[0004] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a locking latch assembly for a vehicle closure door, the locking latch assembly having a dual pawl mechanism that allows a single one of the two pawls to releasably hold a ratchet in a primary striker catch position and a secondary striker catch position.

[0005] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a locking latch assembly for a vehicle closure door, the locking latch assembly having a dual pawl mechanism that allows contact surfaces of one or both of the pawls to be "tuned" to provide different desired release forces.

[0006] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a locking latch assembly for a vehicle closure door, the locking latch assembly having a dual pawl mechanism operable by a single actuator to release the ratchet from both the primary and secondary striker catch positions.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a locking latch assembly for a vehicle closure door, the locking latch assembly having a dual pawl mechanism that eliminates the need for a special lever for holding the ratchet in the secondary striker catch position.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a locking latch assembly for a vehicle closure door, the locking latch assembly having a dual pawl mechanism that provides the ability to adjust a distance between the primary striker catch position and the secondary striker catch position for reverse engagement arrangements with a primary pawl.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a locking latch assembly for a vehicle closure door, the locking latch assembly having a dual pawl mechanism that provides a hard stop of the ratchet gear without requiring special levers / components / features on a housing component, such as a frame plate and / or back plate of the locking latch assembly.

[0010] A locking latch assembly for a locking component of a motor vehicle is provided, comprising the features of claim 1. Furthermore, a door locking system having the features of claim 9 is provided.

[0011] Further areas of application will become apparent from the description provided herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings described herein have been provided to illustrate selected embodiments and their specific features and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle having a vehicle door equipped with a locking latch assembly constructed in accordance with the disclosure; Fig. 2 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly, showing a ratchet of the locking mechanism in a fully open, striker-releasing position with preloaded springs; Fig. 3 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly, showing the ratchet in a secondary striker catch position (the ratchet is held in the secondary position by the main pawl with the tooth neutral or positively reset); Fig. 4 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly, showing the ratchet between the secondary striker catch position and a primary striker catch position (the ratchet between the secondary and primary positions holds the main pawl and the auxiliary pawl open); Fig. Figure 5 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly, showing the ratchet gear moving to the primary striker catch position of Fig. 4 moves forward (the locking gear between the secondary and primary positions pushes the main pawl and the auxiliary pawl open); Fig. 6 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly, with the ratchet gear shown in the primary striker catch position and an auxiliary pawl biased toward a primary pawl retaining position (the dual pawl mechanism is partially closed, the auxiliary pawl is spring biased toward the closed position); Fig. 7 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly, with the ratchet gear shown in the primary striker catch position and the auxiliary pawl shown in the primary pawl retaining position (fully closed, primary locked position; the primary position notch of the main pawl has eccentricity to reduce opening forces when opening the auxiliary pawl); Fig. 8 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly, with the ratchet gear shown in an overtravel position and the auxiliary pawl shown in the primary pawl holding position (this overtravel hard stop eliminates the need for an additional rivet, the frame plate is curved to absorb the high-energy impact - the ratchet gear is stopped at the interface of the main pawl since the main pawl cannot rotate any further); Fig. 9 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly, showing the ratchet gear returned from the overtravel position to the primary striker catch position and the auxiliary pawl in the primary pawl holding position (as above, the primary position notch of the main pawl has an eccentricity to reduce the opening forces when opening the auxiliary pawl); Fig. 10 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly with the primary pawl being moved by the auxiliary pawl from one of the primary ratchet holding position or the secondary ratchet holding position to allow the ratchet to move to the striker release position; Fig. 11 is a similar view to Fig. 3; Fig. 12 is a side view of a locking mechanism of the locking latch assembly with the primary pawl being moved from the secondary ratchet holding position by the auxiliary pawl to allow the ratchet to move to the striker release position; and Fig. 13 is a similar view to Fig. 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE DESIGNS

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of a locking latch for use in automotive door locking systems are provided so that this disclosure is comprehensive and will fully convey the scope of protection to those skilled in the art.

[0014] With reference first to Fig. 1, a latch assembly, also referred to as a latch bolt or latch assembly 10, for a closure component, also referred to as a closure panel, such as a swinging door, shown as a rear door 12, of a motor vehicle 14 is shown, by way of example and without limitation, positioned along a closure surface portion 16 of the door 12 and is configured to releasably engage and capture a striker 18 attached to a vehicle body 22 to extend into 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 to include an exterior door handle 24 and an interior door handle 26, both of which are operatively (i.e., electrically and / or mechanically) connected to the latch assembly 10.Although not shown, it will be understood that a similar locking latch assembly is provided in association with a front door 13 of a vehicle 14, which is shown to include its own exterior door handle 25.

[0015] With reference to the Fig. 2 to 13, a non-limiting example embodiment of internal components of the locking latch assembly 10, including a locking mechanism 28 thereof, is shown, wherein the locking mechanism 28 of the locking latch assembly 10 is Fig. 2 in a fully released, open position and in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is shown in a fully closed, primary locked position.

[0016] The locking latch assembly 10 includes an electric latch release mechanism (not shown) with an actuator operatively connected to move the latch mechanism 28 between the primary locked and open positions. The latch mechanism 28 is shown as having a ratchet gear 30, a primary pawl 32, and a secondary pawl, also referred to as an auxiliary pawl 34. The ratchet gear 30 is pivotally mounted via a ratchet pin 38 on a plate segment of a latch housing 36 ( Fig. 1) and thus enables pivoting movement about a ratchet pin axis 38a. The ratchet 30 has a ratchet slot, also referred to as a striker slot 40, which is alignable with a fish-mouth slot 42 formed in the bolt housing 36.

[0017] The locking gear 30 is movable between a primary closed or “primary striker catch” position ( Fig. 7 and Fig. 9), in which the striker 18 is held in the fish mouth slot 42 by being caught in the striker slot 40, a secondary striker catching position ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 11), in which the striker 18 is held in the fish mouth slot 42 by being captured in the striker slot 40 to hold the closure member 12 in a partially open position, also referred to as a partially closed position, and an open or "striker release" position ( Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 12 and Fig. 13), in which the striker 18 can be freely released from the striker slot 40 and the fish mouth slot 42, whereby the closure member 12 can be moved into an open position.

[0018] The ratchet 30 is biased toward its striker release position by a ratchet biasing member 30a, such as a primary ratchet spring. A pawl biasing member 32a, such as a pawl spring, is operable to normally bias the primary pawl 32 toward its open position. An auxiliary pawl biasing member 34a, such as a pawl spring, is operable to normally bias the auxiliary pawl 34 toward its closed position.

[0019] The primary pawl 32 is pivotally mounted and can thus be moved by a primary pawl pin 44 between a secured, primary ratchet holding position, also referred to as the “closed” position ( Fig. 7), in which the primary pawl 32 fixes and holds the locking gear 30 in its primary striker catch position, a secondary locking gear holding position ( Fig. 3), in which the primary pawl 32 fixes and holds the ratchet 30 in its secondary striker catch position, and a ratchet release position, also referred to as the "open" position ( Fig. 2), in which the primary pawl 32 is positioned to permit movement of the locking gear 30 into its striker release position, such as under a preload exerted on the locking gear 32 by the locking gear spring 30a.

[0020] The auxiliary pawl 34 is pivotally mounted and can thus be moved by an auxiliary pawl pin 46 between a secured, primary pawl holding position ( Fig. 7 to 9), in which the auxiliary pawl 34 fixes and holds the primary pawl 32 in its primary ratchet holding position so that the ratchet 30 is locked in its primary striker catch position, a secondary pawl holding position ( Fig. 3, Fig. 11), in which the auxiliary pawl 34 fixes and holds the primary pawl 32 in its secondary ratchet holding position so that the ratchet 30 is locked in its secondary striker catch position, and a secondary pawl release position ( Fig. 5), in which the secondary pawl 34 is positioned to permit movement of the primary pawl 32 into its ratchet release position so that the ratchet 30 can move freely into its striker release position, such as under a preload exerted on the ratchet 32 ​​by the ratchet spring 30a.

[0021] The primary pawl 32 has a primary notch 48 and a secondary notch 50. The locking gear 30 is positioned in the primary notch 48 while in the primary striker catch position ( Fig. 7), and set up in the secondary notch 50 while in the secondary striker catch position ( Fig. 3). The primary notch 48 and the secondary notch 50 extend along a common side S1 ( Fig. 2) the primary pawl 32. A projection 52 defines a portion of the primary notch 48 and a portion of the secondary notch 50, the projection 52 separating the primary notch 48 from the secondary notch 50.

[0022] The primary pawl 32 has an auxiliary pawl pocket 54 on a side S2 of the primary pawl 32 opposite the primary notch 48 and the secondary notch 50. The auxiliary pawl pocket 54 is configured to receive an arm 56 of the auxiliary pawl 34 while the ratchet gear 30 is in the secondary striker catch position ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 11). The auxiliary pawl pocket 54 is bounded or flanked by opposing first and second legs 58 and 60, respectively. The arm 56 of the auxiliary pawl 34 engages, opposes, and blocks the first leg 58 while the ratchet 30 is in the primary striker catch position, and the arm 56 of the auxiliary pawl 34 acts on the second leg 60 to move the primary pawl 32 from the primary ratchet hold position to one of the secondary ratchet hold position and the ratchet release position during a release operation by selective actuation of an actuator (not shown).

[0023] The locking gear 30 has a primary retention feature 62 on one side of the striker slot 40 and a secondary retention feature 64 on a side of the striker slot 40 opposite the primary retention feature 62. The primary retention feature 62 is configured to be received in the primary notch 48 of the primary pawl 32 while the locking gear 30 is in the primary striker catch position ( Fig. 7). The secondary retention feature 64 is configured to be received in the secondary notch 50 of the primary pawl 32 while the locking gear 30 is in the secondary striker catch position ( Fig. 3). The secondary retaining feature 64 exerts a force F ( Fig. 3) on the projection 52 while the ratchet gear 30 is in the secondary striker catch position, with the force F extending generally toward the pawl pivot axis 44a. The secondary retention feature 64 is configured to be received in the primary notch 48 of the primary pawl 32 while the ratchet gear 30 is in the striker release position to maintain the ratchet gear 30 in the desired open position ( Fig. 2).

Claims

[1] Locking latch assembly (10) for a locking component (12) of a motor vehicle (14), comprising: a locking mechanism (28) including a locking gear (30), a primary locking pawl (32) and an auxiliary locking pawl (34), the locking gear (30) being movable between a primary striker catch position, a secondary striker catch position and a striker release position, the primary locking pawl (32) being movable between a primary ratchet holding position in which the primary pawl (32) holds the ratchet (30) in its primary striker catch position and the auxiliary pawl (34) holds the primary pawl (32) in its primary ratchet holding position, a secondary locking gear holding position in which the primary pawl (32) holds the locking gear (30) in its secondary striker catch position, and a ratchet release position in which the primary pawl (32) allows the ratchet (30) to move into its striker release position and the auxiliary pawl (34) holds the primary pawl (32) in its ratchet release position. [2] The locking latch assembly (10) of claim 1, wherein the primary pawl (32) has a primary notch (48) and a secondary notch (50), the ratchet gear (30) being disposed in the primary notch (48) while in the primary striker catch position and being disposed in the secondary notch (50) while in the secondary striker catch position. [3] The locking latch assembly (10) of claim 2, wherein the ratchet gear (30) includes a striker slot (40) configured to receive the striker (18) therein while in the primary and secondary striker catch positions, the ratchet gear (30) including a primary retention feature (62) on one side of the striker slot (40) and a secondary retention feature (64) on a side of the striker slot (40) opposite the primary retention feature (62), the primary retention feature (62) configured to be received in the primary notch (48) of the primary pawl (32) while the ratchet gear (30) is in the primary striker catch position, and the secondary retention feature (64) configured to be received in the secondary notch (50) of the primary pawl (32) while the Locking gear (30) is in the secondary striker catch position. [4] The locking latch assembly (10) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the primary notch (48) and the secondary notch (50) extend along a common side (S1) of the primary pawl (32), a projection (52) defining a portion of the primary notch (48) and a portion of the secondary notch (50) separating the primary notch (48) from the secondary notch (50). [5] The locking latch assembly (10) of claim 3 or 4, wherein the ratchet gear (30) pivots about a ratchet pivot axis (38a) during movement between the primary striker catch position and the striker release position, the secondary retention feature (64) applying a force to the projection (52) while the ratchet gear (30) is in the secondary striker catch position, the force extending generally toward the pawl pivot axis (44a). [6] The locking latch assembly (10) of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the primary retention feature (62) engages a primary locking surface on a first side of the primary retention notch while the ratchet gear (30) is in the primary striker catch position, and wherein the primary retention feature (62) engages an override stop surface on a second side of the primary retention notch opposite the first side when the ratchet gear (30) moves past the primary striker catch position to an override position. [7] The locking latch assembly (10) of any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the primary pawl (32) includes an auxiliary pawl pocket (54) on a side (S2) of the primary pawl (32) opposite the primary notch (48) and the secondary notch (50), the auxiliary pawl pocket (54) being configured to receive an arm (56) of the auxiliary pawl (34) while the ratchet gear (30) is in the secondary striker catch position. [8] The locking latch assembly (10) of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary pawl pocket (54) is defined by opposing first and second legs (60), the arm (56) of the auxiliary pawl (34) opposing the first leg (58) while the ratchet gear (30) is in the primary striker catch position, and the arm (56) of the auxiliary pawl (34) acting on the second leg (60) to move the primary pawl (32) from the primary ratchet holding position to one of the secondary ratchet holding position and the ratchet release position. [9] A door locking system for a motor vehicle (14), comprising a locking member (12) having attached thereto a locking latch assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, configured to releasably engage and capture a striker (18) attached to a body (22) of the motor vehicle (14).

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