Opening control mechanism for a vehicle side door comprising an inertial locking weight with a fusible portion

Abstract

The invention relates to an opening control mechanism comprising a support bracket (10), a handle rotatably mounted on said bracket, a lever (30) rotatably mounted on said bracket and coupled to said handle so that said lever is rotated when the latter is pulled, a weight (40), rotatably mounted on said bracket and capable, in the event of a lateral impact, of assuming a locking position in which a stop portion (41) of this weight comes into contact with said lever so as to prevent its rotation, and non-return means (50) capable of retaining said weight in its locking position; said stop portion being attached to the main body (42) of said weight by a frangible weakening zone (43) configured to break when a tensile force of intensity greater than a predetermined threshold is exerted on said handle, while said weight is in the locking position. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: Opening control mechanism for a vehicle side door comprising an inertial locking weight with a fusible portion Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to opening control mechanisms intended to equip side doors of motor vehicles. It relates more particularly to such an opening control mechanism provided with an inertial locking device. Prior art

[0002] Generally speaking, the closing of a side door of a motor vehicle is carried out by engaging the bolt of the lock in a strike plate located on a pillar of this door. When opening from outside the vehicle, the bolt is released from the strike plate by actuating an opening control mechanism.

[0003] This mechanism comprises a support bracket designed to be rigidly fixed to the structure of said door, as well as a handle rotatably mounted on said support bracket and capable of being pulled manually from outside said vehicle by a user to open said door.

[0004] Such a mechanism also comprises a control lever mounted to rotate on said support bracket and coupled to said handle so that, when the latter is pulled, said lever is rotated by acting on a cable connected by a first end to this lever and the second end of which is connected to the bolt of the lock.

[0005] Thus, the action exerted on the handle results, through the kinematic chain of the exterior opening control, in the release of the bolt from the strike plate and therefore in the opening of the door. When the user releases the handle, it is returned to the rest position by a return spring.

[0006] When the vehicle suffers a side impact, the inertial force linked to the mass of the handle can reach, or even exceed, the traction force usually required to operate the lever and open the door. Such a side impact is in fact capable of developing instantaneous accelerations on the handle of a few hundred times the acceleration of gravity. The stiffness of the return spring of the handle is thus insufficient to oppose the opening force exerted by the inertial force in the event of a side impact.

[0007] In order to overcome this problem, it is known to equip such an opening control mechanism with an inertial locking device comprising a weight mounted so as to rotate on the support bracket and capable, in the event of a side impact and under the effect of the variation in acceleration, of taking a locking position in which a stop portion of this weight comes into contact with said lever so as to prevent its rotation. A return spring makes it possible to return the weight to its initial position at the end of the impact.

[0008] These inertial locking devices, of the reversible type, have the advantage of allowing manual opening of the door by means of the handle after the impact. However, they are particularly sensitive to lateral accelerations in both directions as well as to rebounds, so that there is a significant risk that they will return to their rest position during the impact so as to allow rotation of the handle and opening of the door.

[0009] Irreversible type inertial locking devices are also known which ensure that the rotational locking of the handle is maintained throughout the duration of the impact.

[0010] Document FR 3 133 873 A1 thus discloses such an inertial locking device provided with anti-return means, constituted in this case by a deformable tongue and capable of retaining said weight in its locking position so as to ensure that said lever is kept locked in rotation for the entire duration of the lateral impact.

[0011] These irreversible inertial locking devices have the advantage of not being sensitive to variations in acceleration during the impact or to rebounds so as to guarantee that the door cannot be opened. However, they have the disadvantage of no longer allowing the door to be opened voluntarily after the impact.

[0012] In order to combine the advantages of these two types of inertial locking devices, document EP2616616B1 proposes an advanced type inertial locking device provided with anti-return means and of which the portion of the lever abutting against the weight forms a mechanical fuse attached to the main body of this lever by a frangible weakening zone configured to break when a traction force whose intensity is greater than a predetermined threshold is exerted on said handle, so as to allow rotation of the lever and opening of the door when the weight occupies its locking position.

[0013] This type of mechanism, such as an advanced opening control mechanism, however requires special development leading to high design costs. Description of the invention

[0014] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0015] To this end, it proposes an opening control mechanism intended to equip a side door of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a support bracket designed to be rigidly fixed to the structure of said door; - a grip handle mounted to rotate on said support bracket and capable of being pulled manually from outside said vehicle by a user to open said door; - a control lever mounted so as to be rotatable on said support bracket and coupled to said handle so that, when the latter is pulled, said lever is rotated to cause said door to open; - an inertial locking device comprising a weight, mounted to rotate on said support bracket and capable, in the event of a lateral impact and under the effect of the variation in acceleration, of taking a locking position in which a stop portion of this weight comes into contact with said lever so as to prevent its rotation; - anti-return means capable of retaining said weight in its locking position so as to ensure that said lever is kept locked in rotation for the entire duration of a said lateral impact; characterized in that said stop portion of the weight forms a mechanical fuse attached to the main body of the latter by a frangible weakening zone configured to break when a tensile force whose intensity is greater than a predetermined threshold is exerted on said handle while said weight occupies its locking position.

[0016] This opening control mechanism thus allows the voluntary opening of the door after the vehicle has suffered a side impact.

[0017] Furthermore, the fact of positioning the fusible stop portion on the weight makes it possible to use a single control lever reference for the opening control mechanism according to the invention as well as for reversible (without a weight) and irreversible (equipped with a conventional weight without a fusible portion) type opening control mechanisms, the installation of which in the side doors is imposed by regulations in certain countries or marketing regions. The invention thus makes it easier to develop the different versions of such an opening control mechanism.

[0018] According to preferred characteristics of said opening control mechanism according to the invention: - said predetermined threshold is between 100 and 300 Newtons; - said stop portion is in the form of a tab attached by one of its ends to the main body of said weight; - said tongue extends along a mean plane parallel to the axis of rotation of said weight; - said frangible weakening zone has a thickness less than that of said fusible stop portion; - the thickness of said frangible weakening zone is at least twice in- lower than that of said fusible stop portion; - the main body of said weight is hollowed out at the periphery of said fusible stop portion so as not to interfere, whatever the position of said weight, with the rotary stroke of said lever, so as to systematically authorize the opening of said door as soon as said fusible stop portion has become detached from said main body of the weight; and / or - said non-return means comprise a metal blade elastically deformable in flexion, fixed by a first of its ends on said support bracket and capable of deforming during a said lateral impact to retain said weight in its locking position.

[0019] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a side door of a motor vehicle comprising such an opening control mechanism.

[0020] Finally, the invention aims, in a third aspect, at a motor vehicle comprising at least one such side door. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically represents, in a sectional view in a horizontal plane, an opening control mechanism according to the invention intended to equip a side door of a motor vehicle; - [Fig.2] and [Fig.3] are enlargements of part of the mechanism of [Fig.l] illustrating two successive stages of its operating kinematics when the vehicle undergoes a side impact; and - [Fig.4] is an enlargement similar to those of figures 2 and 3 but illustrating the rupture of the frangible weakening zone of the weight when the handle is pulled manually by a user after the occurrence of such a side impact. Description of the embodiments

[0022] [Fig.l] represents an opening control mechanism according to the invention 1 intended to equip a side door (not shown) of a motor vehicle.

[0023] By convention, we define with respect to this opening mechanism 1 in its configuration mounted on a side door of such a motor vehicle, an orthogonal reference frame XYZ comprising three axes perpendicular two by two, namely: - an X axis, defining a horizontal longitudinal direction, parallel to the ground and coincident with the general direction of movement of this vehicle; - a Y axis, defining a horizontal transverse direction, also parallel to the ground and which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane; and - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal XY plane.

[0024] In the remainder of the description and with reference to the reference defined above, the terms “longitudinal” or “longitudinally” will refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, the terms “transverse” or “transversely” will refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms “vertical” or “vertically” will refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0025] On the other hand, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used to specify the longitudinal positioning of certain elements relative to the orientation of the X axis pointing by convention towards the front.

[0026] Finally, the term "substantially" will indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining included within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially longitudinal" indicates that a deviation of the order of 15 to 20° from a strictly longitudinal orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0027] With reference to this [Fig.l], the opening control mechanism according to the invention 1 comprises a support bracket 10 intended to be rigidly fixed to the structure of a side door of a motor vehicle, between its outer panel and its inner lining.

[0028] This opening control mechanism 1 also comprises a grip handle 20, capable of being pulled manually by a user from outside the vehicle to open the side door, and mounted to rotate by a first of its longitudinal ends (in this case its front end) on the support bracket 10 around a first vertical axis Ab. The second longitudinal end of this grip handle 20 extends inside the opening control mechanism 1 by a transverse extension 21.

[0029] The opening control mechanism 1 further comprises a control lever 30 mounted to rotate on the support bracket 10 around a second vertical axis A2 parallel to the axis Ai and elastically returned by a first spring (not visible) to its rest position illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0030] The control lever 30 comprises an arm 31 (see figures 2 to 4) whose free end is coupled to the transverse extension 21 of the grip handle 20, so that this transverse extension 21 causes the rotation of this control lever 30 when a user pulls on this handle 20 from its rest position illustrated by [Fig.l] and in a transverse direction oriented towards the outside of the vehicle.

[0031] The lever 30 is, in addition, coupled to one end of a traction cable not shown and connected by its other end to the bolt of a lock, so that the rotation of this lever 30 caused by the actuation of the handle 20 causes the release of this bolt from the strike plate of this lock and therefore the opening of the side door.

[0032] When the user releases the handle 20, the lever 30 and the handle 20 are returned to their rest position by the first return spring.

[0033] Still with reference to [Fig.l], the opening control mechanism 1 further comprises an inertial locking device comprising a weight 40 mounted to rotate on the support bracket 10 around a third vertical axis A 3 parallel to the axes Ai and A2.

[0034] Advantageously molded in a single piece from a thermoplastic polymer possibly reinforced with natural and / or synthetic fibers, this weight 40 is elastically returned by a second spring, not visible in the figures, to its rest position illustrated by [Fig.l] and in which it does not disturb the travel of the lever 30, so as to allow it, when the handle 20 is actuated by a user, to freely rotate to a position causing the door to open.

[0035] In the event of a lateral impact suffered by the vehicle, the weight 40 is capable, due to the intensity of the inertial force linked to its mass, of leaving its rest position to occupy a blocking position illustrated by [Fig.2] and in which a stop portion 41 of this weight 40 comes into contact with the lever 30 so as to prevent its rotation requested by the handle 20 itself undergoing an inertial force pulling it towards the outside of the vehicle.

[0036] This stop portion 41 is in this case in the form of a flat tongue attached by one of its ends to the main body 42 of the weight and advantageously extending along a mean plane parallel to the vertical axis of rotation A3 of the weight 40.

[0037] It will be understood that the conformation of this weight 40 will be adapted according to the minimum intensity of the inertial force from which it is desired to block the rotation of the lever 30.

[0038] The inertial locking device also comprises anti-return means capable of retaining the weight 40 in its locking position so as to ensure that the rotational locking of the lever 30 is maintained throughout the duration of the lateral impact.

[0039] These non-return means comprise in this case an elastically deformable metal blade in flexion 50, fixed by a first of its ends on the support stirrup 10 and extending substantially longitudinally as far as the weight 40.

[0040] In the initial rest position of this weight 40 and as illustrated by [Fig.l], the blade 50 occupies a constrained position slightly bent towards the outside of the vehicle in which its second end rests against a support wall of this weight 40.

[0041] In the event of a lateral impact suffered by the vehicle and causing the weight 40 to move towards its locking position, this support wall moves longitudinally away from the blade 50 which returns to its unstressed rest position as can be seen in [Fig.2].

[0042] As illustrated by [Fig.3], the free end of this blade 50 then constitutes a stop for the weight 40 preventing it from returning to its initial rest position during and after the lateral impact.

[0043] According to the invention and in order to allow the voluntary opening of the door after such a lateral impact, the stop portion 41 of the weight forms a mechanical fuse attached to the main body 42 of the latter by a frangible weakening zone 43.

[0044] As illustrated by [Fig. 4], this frangible weakening zone 43 is configured to break when a tensile force whose intensity is greater than a predetermined threshold is manually exerted on the handle 20 by a user while the weight 40 occupies its locking position.

[0045] The investment required to implement the opening control mechanism according to the invention 1 proves to be limited,3 since it differs from an irreversible type opening control mechanism only by the particular design of its weight 40.

[0046] Furthermore, the fact of positioning the fusible stop portion 41 on the weight 40 makes it possible to use a single control lever reference 30 for the advanced opening control mechanism 1 according to the invention, as well as for reversible (without a weight) and irreversible (equipped with a conventional weight without a fusible portion) type opening control mechanisms, the installation of which in the side doors is imposed by regulations in certain countries or marketing regions. The invention thus makes it possible to facilitate the development of such an opening control mechanism.

[0047] The predetermined threshold ensuring the rupture of this frangible weakening zone 43 will be chosen so as to avoid any risk of untimely opening of the door under the effect of the inertial movement of the handle 20 during the lateral impact, while allowing a user to be able to voluntarily open this door by manually pulling on this handle 20.

[0048] In practice, and in order to meet these two opposing constraints, this predetermined threshold will advantageously be between 100 and 300 Newtons.

[0049] As can be seen in the figures, this frangible weakening zone 43 has a thickness less than that of the fusible stop portion 41, this thickness being advantageously at least twice less than that of this fusible stop portion 4L.

[0050] It will be noted, furthermore, that the main body 42 of the weight 40 is hollowed out at the periphery of the fusible stop portion 41 so as not to interfere, whatever the position of this weight 40, with the rotary travel of the lever 30, so as to systematically authorize the opening of the door, as soon as this fusible stop portion 41 has become detached from this main body 42 of the weight 40.

[0051] According to embodiment variants not shown, the anti-return means capable of retaining the weight in its locking position may differ.

[0052] The latter may, for example, comprise an elastically deformable metal blade in flexion fixed, not on the support stirrup, but on the weight, and capable for example of cooperating with a corresponding element arranged on this support stirrup.

Claims

Claims

1. Opening control mechanism (1) intended to equip a side door of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a support bracket (10) intended to be rigidly fixed to the structure of said door; - a grip handle (20) mounted so as to be able to rotate on said support bracket (10) and capable of being pulled manually from outside said vehicle by a user to open said door; - a control lever (30) mounted so as to be able to rotate on said support bracket (10) and coupled to said handle (20) so that, when the latter is pulled, said lever (30) is rotated to cause said door to open;- an inertial locking device comprising a weight (40), mounted so as to rotate on said support bracket (10) and capable, in the event of a lateral impact and under the effect of the variation in acceleration, of taking a locking position in which a stop portion (41) of this weight (40) comes into contact with said lever (30) so as to prevent its rotation; - non-return means (50) capable of retaining said weight (40) in its locking position so as to ensure that the rotational locking of said lever (30) is maintained throughout the duration of a said lateral impact;characterized in that said stop portion (41) of the weight (40) forms a mechanical fuse attached to the main body (42) of the latter by a frangible weakening zone (43) configured to break when a tensile force whose intensity is greater than a predetermined threshold is exerted on said handle (20) while said weight (40) occupies its locking position.;

2. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said predetermined threshold is between 100 and 300 Newtons.

3. Opening control mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said stop portion is in the form of a tongue (41) attached by one of its ends to the main body (42) of said weight (40).

4. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said tongue (41) extends along a mean plane parallel to the axis of rotation of said weight (40).

5. Opening control mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said frangible weakening zone (43) has a thickness less than that of said fusible stop portion (41).

6. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the thickness of said frangible weakening zone (43) is at least twice less than that of said fusible stop portion (41).

7. Opening control mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the main body (42) of said weight (40) is hollowed out at the periphery of said fusible stop portion (41) so as not to interfere, whatever the position of said weight (40), with the rotary stroke of said lever (30), so as to systematically authorize the opening of said door as soon as said fusible stop portion (41) has become detached from said main body (42) of the weight (40).

8. Opening control mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said non-return means comprise an elastically deformable metal blade in flexion (50), fixed by a first of its ends on said support bracket (10) and capable of deforming during a said lateral impact to retain said weight (40) in its locking position.

9. Motor vehicle side door comprising an opening control mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle comprising at least one side door according to claim 9.

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