ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LOCK FOR APPLICATION ON MOTOR VEHICLES

Description

TITLE INV. DES. GILARDINI SPA IN TURIN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LOCK FOR APPLICATION ON MOTOR VEHICLES CARLO PACHETTI AND GIACOMO GROTTI THE DIRECTOR fio / ηβ, *·*· A · N. prot..........A. / SC PROVINCIAL OFFICE OF INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND CRAFTS OF TURIN Minutes of filing of patent application for industrial invention The year ^86________________________________________________ The day TREN]_A,.. „ ____________„ of the month of. DECEMBER Mr - ____, ls Company of nationality _JiaJJ_.fljD.a_ doro to II tot 4. β 101 21 1 ORJ.NO ln Cff£ so Gol ileo Ferrarls*. 24 / A with registered office .5_______ d3 I Mr. PRATO Rolicrto e olir j._cΖΐ',.5ύώίΓ_3ιΐ3<ι.,ΤίίΐΣΐί)_ο J4oiJjO-IQRTA^ with elective domicile e. J.fìl.21 .JQRJNfi.______________™ In via y.LPÌÌJ.............. ..—----------n._9..„... at ..........„....„.............................-...........has...... _. presented, to me, the undersigned. a stamped application for the granting of an industrial invention patent for the invention entitled:_______________________________________....______________________ ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLE APPLICATION Inventor, designated;,....CfìrJj?„JbA_CHETTJ. c Giacomo GROTT I .·__________._____„ ^Priority: State claimed - The right - of priority deriving from: model. flppreccdente'dornandH-di--------n, .................... deposited In=·. =____________. patent = _____ Various notes; ϊΐν·'•.smooth Attached documentation: a) description, in duplicate, of n.. pages of writing; b) drawings, in duplicate, of n..........5........tables; c) letter of appointment, obtained reference and general power of attorney; d) priority documents=with^=Italian translation; e) authorization to etto =dl transfer; ACT OF DESIGNATION OF THE INVENTOR (j designation mvemere; , g) proof of payment (on postal account η. όθ65βθθ<> made out to the Tax and Concession Registry Office of Rome) of lire ..........issued by the post office of ---On date ,.,JÌL.IH££tiiLce_JLS.86, h) revenue stamp of L. _-l>-Q.Q0*.~ ~ The application, description and drawings listed above have been signed by the interested party and countersigned by me and stamped with the office stamp. A copy of this report has been signed by me and delivered to the interested party, p, / {.depositor zffóiTx The declaring officer M ί r hi ~......I GOOD téMunivo / -.{Cone cycles / I ( \. (,· z MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND CRAFTS PATENT OFFICE ROME The undersigned, ; GUARDINI SpA, { :of Italian nationality, ' ο 10121 TURIN, Corso Gol ileo Ferraris 24 / A, I appoint Messrs. BOGGIO Luigi, RONGIOVANNI Guido, JORIO Paolo, MODUGNO Corrado, PIANO Anna Moria, DEEBANI Rinaldo and PRATO Roberto of the Carlo and Morio TORTA Engineering Firm at 10121 1 ORINO, Via Viotti nr. 9 / as their representatives and request a PATENT CERTIFICATE FOR Industrial Invention entitled: LOCK OPERATED BY ELLΤ1RI GAME NT E FOR APPLICATION ON MOTOR VEHICLES Inventors: Carlo PACHE11 I and Giacomo CROI 1 II with the object of acquiring the right under the terms of ! law to use the said invention in industry as well as to manufacture and sell it exclusively. The plaintiff declares to have his domicile at 10121 TURIN, Via Viotti nr. 9. ì | |Uniscc the following documents: j1. - This question | >2, - Description in duplicate (pages no. EIGHTEEN) | 3. - Drawings of tables no. FIVE in duplo 4. - Letiero of Assignment 5. - Act of designation of the Inventor 6. - One moreo do boi I give it Lit. 3,000.= 7. - Certificate of payment NR.}|0}A TORINO VR of Ut. 254-000.= (December 30, 1986) lori no, December 30, 1986 pi: Gl LARDI NI SpA DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled: ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LOCK FOR APPLICATION ON MOTOR VEHICLES of GILARDINI SpA, of Italian nationality, with headquarters in 10121 TURIN, Corso Galileo Ferraris 24 / A INVENTOR: Carlo PACHETTI, Giacomo CROTTI FILED ON 3 DEC. 1966 APPLICATION NO. β 5 A / 3P 4*4 4* * 4 4 4 SUMMARY The lock (1) comprises a crank mechanism (25,44) controlled by an electric motor (23) and operating a „ cl· ί lever (47) which cooperates with a fork (6) to determine its closing, and a release element (66) to determine the disengagement of a catch (7) from the fork (6) itself; the lock (1) also comprises lever operating means (57, suitable for allowing the manual operation of the lock (1) itself, in the event of an electrical failure, in any stop position. (Figure 1). 4 4 4k 1k * 44 4 The present invention relates to an electrically operated lock for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles. There are known vehicle locks in which one or 1more electric actuators, generally direct current motors, operate appropriate kinematic mechanisms to move the lock from a partially closed position, obtained by manual approach, to a fully closed position, and to cause it to open following a command given, for example, by key, handle or button. The known locks, of the type briefly described, have some drawbacks. First, they are generally quite expensive, both due to the actual cost of the electrical components and the greater complexity required for the mechanical parts (leverage, transmission, etc.), which translates into higher production, assembly, and inspection costs. Furthermore, these locks must allow for emergency mechanical operation in the event of a failure of the vehicle's electrical system; this requires the use of additional mechanisms that can appropriately exclude the electric actuators and their kinematic chains from the locking mechanisms themselves (fork and lock). These mechanisms generally do not allow for the restoration of mechanical operating conditions if the electrical failure occurs in an intermediate operating position, i.e., between the aforementioned positions. -2PìsAìO Roberto partial and complete closing positions. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lock which does not have the drawbacks associated with known locks specified above. The above-mentioned purpose is achieved with the present invention since it relates to an electrically operated lock for application on vehicles, of the type comprising: an external casing attached to a movable part of a vehicle body; a fork rotating around a pin fixed to said external casing and provided with a cavity suitable for being engaged by a contact element integral with a fixed part of the vehicle, in a closed position of said fork; a catch capable of cooperating with the said fork to maintain it in the said closed position; actuating means suitable for cooperating with the said fork and with the said catch to determine an opening or a closing of the said lock; drive means comprising a unidirectional electric motor and a reduction unit for controlling said drive means; and control means for said drive means suitable for -3determine successive rotations of an output shaft of the said reduction unit with an amplitude substantially equal to half a complete rotation; a first of said rotations determining a closing of the lock, a second of said rotations determining an opening of the said lock; characterized in that said actuating means comprise a crank angularly coupled to said output shaft of said reduction unit and a rod articulated on an eccentric end of said crank; said rod controlling during said first rotation a lever cooperating with said fork to bring said fork into a closed position, and controlling during said second rotation a release element cooperating with said catch to determine a disengagement of said catch from said fork. For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described below, purely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation view of a rear hatch lock of j·· o ( ; CL -4a motor vehicle, constructed in accordance with the dictates of the present invention; Figures 2,3,4 and 5 are partial views of the lock in figure 1, in different operating positions. With particular reference to figure 1, the reference numeral 1 denotes a lock for the rear door of a motor vehicle as a whole. The lock 1 comprises, in a known manner, an external casing 2 fixed to a rear edge 3 of the tailgate of a motor vehicle. A fork 6 and a catch 7 are hinged to this casing 2 by means of respective fixed pins 4, 5. The fork 6 has a first tooth 8 provided with an end covering 9 made of plastic material, and a second tooth 10 defining with the first a cavity 11 suitable for being engaged by a cylindrical striker 13, of a known type, fixed to the bodywork 14 of the vehicle by means of a supporting bracket 15. The catch 7 is provided with a terminal tooth 16 suitable for cooperating with a projection 17 of the fork, to lock it in the closed position, as will be described further on. The fork 6 is subjected to the action of a helical spring 18, wrapped around the pin 4, which tends to keep it in the counterclockwise rotated position. PRATO Roberto -5<3i figure 1 (open lock), so that a projection 63 of the fork 6 itself cooperates with a fixed stop 62 integral with the casing 2 of the lock 1; a second helical spring 19, wrapped around the pin 5 of the catch, pushes it in a clockwise direction so as to keep the tooth 16 of the catch 7 itself in contact with the fork 6. The lock 1 comprises a unidirectional electric motor 23 which, via a reduction unit 24, drives a crank 25 integral with one end of an output shaft 26 of the reduction unit 24 itself. This reduction unit 24 comprises, in particular, a worm wheel 27 and a gear wheel 28, of larger and smaller diameters respectively, keyed onto a return shaft 29 and meshing respectively with a worm screw 30 obtained on an output shaft 31 of the electric motor and with a driven wheel 32 keyed onto the output shaft 26, The driven wheel 32 has on its lateral face 33 a peripheral annular projection 34, provided with an external cavity 35, on which slide the movable blades 36,37 of a pair of microswitches 38,39 arranged on diametrically opposite sides and connected to a circuit of -6 conventional type electric power supply, and therefore not illustrated, of the engine 23. A rod 44, of elongated shape, is hinged to the eccentric end 40 of the crank 25 and is constrained by a pin 45, near an opposite end 46 with an inclined profile, to a lever 47. The rod 44 has, on its upper lateral edge 48, a cam profile 49 whose function will be described below. The lever 47 is provided with a slot 50, made towards the end opposite the pin 45 which slides on the pin 4; the pin 45 is constrained to the fixed pin 4 by a tensioned helical spring 53, so that the pin 4 occupies one upper end of the slot 50. The lever 47 also has, in a central position, a curved projection 54, suitable for cooperating with a cylindrical pin 55 carried by the fork 6. The projection 54 includes an end portion 54a, profiled like a cam, for the purpose described below. A control lever 57, having a substantially J-shaped shape, comprising a substantially vertical elongated arm 58 and a curved arm 59 (better visible in figure 3) capable of cooperating with its own portion, is hinged onto the casing 2 by means of a fixed pin 56, positioned close to the pin 4. -7 terminal 60 with a cylindrical projection 61 of the strand 7. The arm 58 is hinged upwards to a connecting rod 64 which connects it to an upper end 65 of an element 66 provided with a lower end 67 shaped like a hook and suitable for cooperating with the cylindrical projection 61 of the catch 7. The element 66 centrally carries a pin 68 which slides along a vertical slot 69 of the casing 2. The lock 1 is completed by a pin 70 fixed to the casing 2 on the outside of the lever 57, towards the rear edge 3 of the tailgate, and a microswitch 71 fixed to the bodywork 14 and provided with a piston 72 extending upwards and suitable for cooperating with the aforementioned lower edge 3. The operation of lock 1 is as follows. Figure 1 shows the lock 1 in the open position. By manually moving the tailgate, i.e. by bringing the rear edge 3 of the tailgate itself close to the portion of the bodywork 14 facing it, the covering 9 of the tooth 8 cooperates with the stop 13, determining a first partial PRATO λ ob erto rotation of the fork 6 clockwise around the pin 4 and against the action of the spring 18. At the same time, as is clearly visible in figure 2, the edge 3 of the tailgate activates the -8microswitch 7] which powers the electric motor 23 which, via the reduction unit 24, controls the counterclockwise rotation of the crank 25. This crank 25 pushes the rod 44 (to the right in the figure 2), which rotates the lever 47 around the pin 4, restoring the engagement of the projection 54 of the lever 47 itself against the pin 55 of the fork 6. By continuing the rotation, the lever 47 determines the complete closing of the fork 6, which engages the stop 13 in its cavity 11, so that the second tooth 10 of the fork 6 itself prevents the lifting of the portei Ione. This position of the 'oc : fork 6 is held stably by the O < effect of the snap-on engagement of the catch 7 (figure 3) against a lateral edge of the projection 17 of the fork 6. In particular, in figure 3 an overtravel position is shown in dotted lines, suitable for promoting the correct engagement of the catch 7, in which the fork 6 is in a position rotated clockwise more than would be necessary to ensure such engagement. In the aforementioned overtravel position, the inclined profile terminal edge 46 of the rod 44 meets the fixed pin 70. A further rotation of the motor 23 up to a stop position, shown in solid lines in figure 3 and determined -9by switching the microswitch 39 whose blade 37 engages the cavity 35 of the annular projection 34, leads to a disengagement of the projection 54 from the pin 55 of the fork 6; this occurs because the rod 44, sliding with its inclined profile 46 on the pin 70, causes a translation of the lever 47 (upwards and to the right in figure 3) against the action of the spring 53, at the end of which the pin 4 occupies the lower end of the slot 50 of the lever 47 itself. Consequently, when the contact of the pin 55 on the projection 54 is lost, the fork 6 rotates slightly in a counterclockwise direction by the action of the spring Iti, until the projection 17 stops against the tooth 16 of the catch 7. The opening of the lock 1 can be obtained by electrical operation by activating the motor 23 in a known manner, starting from the closed position of figure 3, for example by means of a button located on the dashboard of the vehicle, or by means of a key, or by means of a button on the handle of the tailgate. The motor 23, always turning in the same direction, rotates the crank 25 again, which operates the rod 44, whose inclined terminal profile 46 is still kept in contact with the pin 70 by the action of the spring 53. The rod 44 cooperates by means of its own ΐ or O f ; t- : Pl U -10 cam profile 49 with the pin 68 of the element 66, and causes it to move upwards (from the dotted position to the solid line position in figure 4); the lower end 67 of the element 66, shaped like a hook, pulls upwards the projection 61 of the catch 7, which rotates in an anti-clockwise direction, freeing the fork 6, which returns to the open position under the action of the spring 18. The rotation of the motor 23 continues, bringing all the elements of the lock 1 back to the position illustrated in figure 1, until the cavity 3S of the annular projection 34 reaches the microswitch 38, which interrupts the electrical supply to the motor 23 itself, In the event of a fault in the vehicle's electrical system, even during an electrically operated closing or opening operation, all functions of lock 1 can be performed with manual control. The lock 1 is closed manually by simply slamming the door, which causes a clockwise rotation of the fork 6, due to the engagement of the tooth 8 on the stop 13, of sufficient amplitude to cause the catch 7 to snap against the projection 17 of the fork itself. Since the moment in which the failure occurs cannot be predicted, the lever 47 could be in a position other than that illustrated in figure 1 (for example in figure 2), in a position such that its projection 54 prevents the passage of the pin 55 and therefore the complete closing rotation of the fork 6. In this case, the pin 55 itself cooperates with the portion 54a of the projection 54, causing it to move upwards against the action of the spring 53. The opening of lock 1 is obtained, starting from the fully closed position (figure 3) or from any intermediate position, by acting via the key or handle on the lever 57, and causing it to rotate r> clockwise around pin 56, as illustrated in T t figure 5. The aforementioned rotation moves the curved arm 59 of the lever 57 upwards, which cooperates with the projection 61 of the catch 7, causing the catch to be released. This single operation would be sufficient to open the lock 1 if it were in the fully closed position illustrated in solid lines in figure 3. Therefore, the curved arm 59 cooperates with its internal edge with the lower end of the lever 47, bringing it -12 «Τι *,UÙA'· in the position <3ί figure 5, if it is not already there. In this way, since the moment in which the electrical fault occurred is unknown, and therefore the actual position of the lever 47, the pin 53 is released from the stop of the projection 54 and the fork can rotate towards the open position. At the same time, the arm 5B of the lever 57 actuates the element 66 via the read cycle 64 which, similarly, could be in a position other than that illustrated in figure 5 (for example in the position of figure 4), and therefore prevent the restoration of the normal position of the jammer 7, making subsequent closing of the lock 1 impossible. An examination of the features of lock 1 constructed according to the present invention clearly demonstrates its advantages. First of all, electrically operated locking and unlocking are simple and space-saving. Furthermore, manually operated emergency maneuvers can be performed in any intermediate stop position of lock 1 itself. Finally, it is clear that changes and variations can be made to the lock 1 described. PPATO Roberto without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, such lock 1 can be conveniently applied to a car door.

Claims

1. CLAIMS 1.- Electrically operated lock for application on vehicles, of the type comprising: an external casing fixed to a movable part of a vehicle body; a fork rotating around a pin fixed to said external casing and provided with a cavity suitable for being engaged by a striker element integral with a fixed part of the vehicle, in a closed position of said fork; 'or': a catch suitable for cooperating with said fork f? to maintain it in said closed position; actuation means suitable for cooperating with said fork and with said catch to cause an opening or a closing of said lock; motor means comprising a unidirectional electric motor and a reduction unit for controlling said actuation means;and means for controlling said motor means capable of determining successive rotations of an output shaft of said reduction unit of an amplitude substantially -14equal to half a complete circle; a first of said rotations determining a closing of the lock, a second of said rotations determining an opening of said lock characterised in that said operating means (25,44,47,57) comprise a crank (25) angularly coupled to said output shaft (26) of said reduction unit (24) and a rod (44) articulated on an eccentric end (40) of said crank (25); said rod (44) controlling during said first rotation a lever (47) cooperating with said fork (6) to bring said fork (6) into a position? closing, and controlling during the said second rotation a release element (66) cooperating with the said catch (7, to determine a disengagement of the said catch (7) from the said fork (6).; 2.- Lock according to claim 1, characterised in that said lever (47) is articulated at one end, by means of a pin (45), to one end (46) of said rod (44, opposite to said crank (25), and is constrained at one end opposite to said fixed pin (4) of said fork (6, by means of a slot (50, slidably engaged by said pin (4, . -153, - Lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said lever (47, comprises a central projection (54) cooperating with a corresponding pin (55) of said fork (6,. 4, - Lock according to claims 2 or 3, characterised by the fact that it comprises elastic means (53) constraining the said articulation pin (45) between the said rod (44) and the said lever (47) and the said fixed pin (4) of the said fork (6). 5, - Lock according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that it comprises a further fixed pin (70) capable of cooperating with the said end (46) of the said rod (44) to determine a disengagement of the said projection (54) of the said lever (47) from the said pin (55, of the said fork (6), against the action of the said elastic means (53). 6, - Lock according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the said release element (66, has a central pin (68, sliding along a rectilinear guide (69, , and a lower end (67) shaped like a hook and cooperating with a projection (61) of the said catch (7). 7, - Lock according to claim 6, characterised in that said rod (44) has an edge (48, provided with a cam profile (49, suitable for cooperating with said pin (68) of said release element (66). 8, - Lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said operating means (25,44,47,57) comprise a manual control lever (57) hinged on a fixed pin (56), 9, - Lock according to claim 8, characterised in that said manual operating lever (57) comprises a first arm (58) constrained by a connecting rod (64) to an upper end (65, of) said release element (66), and a second curved arm (59), capable of cooperating simultaneously with said projection (Cl) of said catch (7) to determine a disengagement from said fork (6) and with said lever (47, to determine a disengagement of said projection (54) of the lever (47, *-? Ir' itself from said pin (55) of the fork (6). 10, - Lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said control means (38,39,71) comprise a pair of microswitches (38,39) arranged on diametrically opposed sides with respect to an output gear (32) of said reduction unit (24) and provided with respective plates (36,37) cooperating with an annular projection (34, of said gear (32); said projection ob**» -17(34) presenting an external cavity (35) suitable for cooperating with said plates (36,37) to determine a commutation of said microswitches (38,39).

11. - Lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said control means (38,39,71) comprise a further microswitch (71) fixed to said fixed part (14) and operable from said mobile part (3) of the bodywork.

12. - Electrically operable lock, substantially as described and illustrated in the attached drawings. for: GlLARDINI SpA -18•. τ ττ.-L , · / \ 1 Fig.1 ι---<-~ ___1___J- -er J for: Gl LANDINI SpA V ' 15 ι ) / Άν — . Fig. 3 pi: Gl LARI!IN I SPA ,7... · .. / '|.·ΛΙί*4' Fig. 3 pi: Gl LARO IN I SPA f 67385'_1 _I ι 1 le ^63 θ ,' / 14 \V __Λ___S.- ρ i ​​. A110 01 DESIGN OF THE INVENTERS Messrs. Bogio Louis, Bongiovanni Guido, Jorius Paul, Modugno Corredo, PIANO Anne Marie, Plebani Rineldo and PRATO Roberto of the Studio INGG CARLO AND MARIO GALRO.of nnz ί o ria I it à ita I ianaa 10121 TORINO Corso Galileo Ferraris 24 / A for the filing in Italy of the application for a Patent for an Industrial Invention entitled: ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED LOCK FOR APPLICATION ON MOTOR VEHICLES and for the quo I ev Patent - for reseller no. cat - T ; f>r ior jt A di) =de II corre sponde nt - = ^ = = application of ΊP designate with the above application: this deed, which 1 inventors in Carlo PACHETTI Giaeomo CROT TI PRATO Roberto Turin, 23 June 1986 II Mondai ario.