Vehicle door latch equipment and associated vehicle door
The vehicle door latch device employs a planetary gear mechanism and spring system to achieve a compact, high-torque electrical release, addressing the challenge of opening doors in diverse conditions.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025096868
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-06-11
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle door latches with electrical release mechanisms face challenges in achieving a compact size while applying sufficient force to open doors in various conditions, including cold temperatures and collisions.
A vehicle door latch device incorporating a planetary gear arrangement with a release motor, worm, and gear wheel mechanism, along with a spring system, to provide a high-torque mechanical release capable of opening doors under adverse conditions.
The device ensures doors can be opened effectively in all weather conditions and collision scenarios, maintaining a compact design with a high gear ratio and torque application.
Smart Images
Figure 2025186211000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle door latches for securing the closure of vehicle doors, and in particular to latches with electrical release mechanisms. [Background technology]
[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle door latching apparatus with an electric release mechanism, also known as an E-release mechanism.
[0003] Such electrical release mechanisms are typically deployed in combination with a manual backup release mechanism, requiring both release mechanisms to be packed into a small space.
[0004] Furthermore, the electrical release mechanism must open the door in all conditions encountered during vehicle use.
[0005] In particular, the vehicle may be exposed to cold temperatures that may harden the seals and require significant force to open the door, and such force may be required if the vehicle is involved in a collision. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle door latching device with an electric release mechanism that has a compact size and is capable of applying a large force, e.g., greater than 600N, to compress the seal. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch device, an engagement mechanism configured to engage with the striker; a rotatable release lever configured to rotate between a rest position and an activated position to release said engagement mechanism; - an electric release mechanism comprising: a release motor having an output shaft; and a worm disposed on the output shaft of the release motor and configured to engage a gear wheel to displace the rotatable release lever; The electrical release mechanism also includes a planetary gear arrangement disposed between the release motor and the rotatable opening lever.
[0008] By using a planetary gear device, a high-torque mechanical release mechanism can be realized in a limited space.
[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, the planetary gear set comprises at least a sun gear rotatably coupled to the gear wheel configured to mesh with the worm arranged on the output shaft of the release motor, a ring gear, planet gears configured to mesh with the sun gear on one side and with the ring gear on the other side, and a planet carrier configured to displace the rotatable release lever between its rest position and its actuated position.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the ring gear is configured to be fixed relative to a housing of the vehicle door latch device.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the worm includes a single-start, double-start, or triple-start thread depending on the desired gear ratio of the electrical release mechanism.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the gear ratio of the set comprising the gear wheel-worm mechanism and said planetary gear set is between 150 and 300.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the vehicle door latch device includes a spring disposed between the rotatable opening lever and a component fixed relative to a housing of the vehicle door latch device to return the rotatable opening lever to the rest position.
[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle door latch device includes a mechanical release mechanism including a rotatable mechanical lever mechanically coupled to a handle and configured to rotate between a rest position and an open position, the rotatable opening lever being displaced by the rotatable mechanical lever, and the rotatable opening lever being in an actuated position when the rotatable mechanical lever is rotated to the open position.
[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the rotatable mechanical lever is coupled to a return spring configured to return the rotatable mechanical lever to the rest position.
[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, the vehicle door latch device also includes a lock mechanism, the lock mechanism including a lock motor having an output shaft, a worm disposed on the output shaft of the lock motor, a lock gear wheel configured to mesh with the worm and rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a lock lever, wherein the lock lever is configured to be displaced by the lock gear wheel between a first position associated with the locked position of the lock gear wheel (where the lock lever prevents the engagement mechanism from being released) and a second position associated with the unlocked position of the lock gear wheel (where the engagement mechanism can be released).
[0017] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door comprising the vehicle door latch device described above and a handle configured to be mechanically coupled to the rotatable mechanical lever of the vehicle door latch device.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, the handle is an inside handle.
[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, the rotatable mechanical lever is connected to the handle by a Bowden cable or rod. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a first perspective view of an internal component of a vehicle door latch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the internal components of the vehicle door latch device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a planetary gear unit of an electrical release mechanism. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a dynamic linkage diagram of the planetary gear set of the electrical release mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The following examples are illustrative. Although this specification refers to one or more embodiments, this does not imply that each reference refers to the same embodiment or that a feature applies only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may be combined to provide other embodiments.
[0022] The present invention relates to a vehicle door latching device 1 configured to ensure the closure of a vehicle door, in particular a side door or a trunk lid.
[0023] 1 shows an example of such a vehicle door latch device 1. In the following description, the presented vehicle door latch device 1 includes an electrical release mechanism 9 combined with a mechanical release mechanism 19, however, the present invention is also applicable to vehicle door latches that include only an electrical release mechanism 9.
[0024] The vehicle door latch device 1 includes an engagement mechanism 3 configured to engage with a striker (not shown). The striker is disposed on a vehicle body adjacent to the vehicle door and configured to be introduced into a recess 31 of the vehicle door latch device 1 when the vehicle door is closed. The engagement mechanism 3 includes a pawl 32 disposed at least partially within the recess 31 and configured to move between a closed position (shown in FIG. 1 ) in which the striker is retained within the recess 31 by the pawl 32 and an open position in which the striker can be disengaged from the vehicle door latch device 1. The engagement mechanism 3 also includes a pawl 33. The pawl 33 is configured to rotate between a blocking position (shown in FIG. 1 ) in which the pawl 32 prevents rotation of the pawl 32, thereby retaining the striker by the pawl 32, and a release position in which the pawl 32 can rotate, thereby releasing the striker and opening the door.
[0025] 2, the engagement mechanism 3 also includes a driver 34 that rotates about a first axis 35 and engages with the pole 33 to rotate the pole 33 between its blocking and unlocking positions. The driver 34 may include a notch 36 that receives the lever 33a of the pole 33.
[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the vehicle door latch device 1 also includes an electric release mechanism 9. The electric release mechanism 9 includes a release motor 11 having an output shaft 11a. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the release motor 11 is a reversible motor (the output shaft 11a of the release motor 11 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise). A worm 13 is disposed on the output shaft 11a of the release motor 11 and is configured to mesh with a gear wheel 15.
[0027] The electrical release mechanism 9 also includes a planetary gear set 14. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the planetary gear set 14 according to the invention, and Figure 5 shows a dynamic linkage diagram of the planetary gear set 14.
[0028] The planetary gear set 14 comprises at least one sun gear 141 rotatably coupled to the gear wheel 15. In this case, the sun gear 141 and the gear wheel 15 are arranged in a common part. Furthermore, the gear wheel 15 may be provided with teeth only on a part of its circumference, depending on the required angular amplitude. The planetary gear set 14 also comprises a ring gear 143 and three planet gears 144 configured to mesh with the sun gear 141 on one side and with the ring gear 143 on the other side. The planet gears 144 are rotatably arranged on three shafts 145 of a planet carrier 146, respectively.
[0029] The planetary gearing 14 also comprises a rotatable opening lever 5 which is configured to be displaced by the planet carrier 146 from a rest position to an operating position in which the rotatable opening lever 5 presses against the protruding element 37 of the driver 34 to release the engagement mechanism 3 and open the door.
[0030] The planetary gear set 14 may also include a spring 147 having a first end contacting the rotatable opening lever 5 and a second end contacting a housing portion of the vehicle door latch device (e.g., ring gear 143) to restrain the rotatable opening lever 5 toward a rest position. Alternatively, the rotatable opening lever 5 may be located outside the planetary gear set 14.
[0031] Thus, the release motor 11 is configured to rotate the gear wheel 15 and therefore the sun gear 141, which is the input of the planetary gear set 14. The ring gear 143 is part of the housing of the planetary gear set 14 (the cover 142 includes the shaft of the planetary gear set 14) and is therefore stationary (relative to the housing of the vehicle door latch device 1), and rotation of the sun gear 141 leads to rotation of the planet gears 144 and therefore to rotation of the planet carrier 146, which is the output of the planetary gear set 14. The planet carrier 146 comprises an axial protrusion 146a configured to engage with the rotatable release lever 5, such that rotation of the planet carrier 146 leads to rotation of the rotatable release lever 5 and thereby to release of the engagement mechanism 3.
[0032] Alternatively, or in combination, the rotatable opening lever 5 can be provided with an axial protrusion.
[0033] The gear ratio of the set comprising the gear wheel 15-worm 13 mechanism and the planetary gear set 14 can be between 150 and 300. In particular, the worm 13 can be provided with a double-start or triple-start thread, depending on the desired gear ratio of the electrical release mechanism 9.
[0034] In this way, the combination of the gear wheel 15-worm 13 mechanism with the planetary gear set 14 provides a compact mechanism with a large gear ratio, allowing high torque to be applied to the pawl 33 to ensure the door can be opened even when the seal has hardened due to low temperature and cold weather conditions.
[0035] Different configurations of planetary gearing may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example, different configurations of input, output, and stationary portions, and / or a number of planet gears 144 other than three.
[0036] The vehicle door latch device 1 may also include a mechanical release mechanism 19. As shown in FIG. 3, the mechanical release mechanism 19 includes a rotatable mechanical lever 21 configured to be mechanically coupled to a handle, such as an interior vehicle handle. The rotatable mechanical lever 21 is coupled to the handle by a Bowden cable 23 (see FIG. 3) or a rod. The rotatable mechanical lever 21 is configured to rotate between a rest position and an open position. Rotation of the rotatable mechanical lever 21 toward the open position rotates the rotatable release lever 5 toward the actuated position.
[0037] A return spring may be disposed between the rotatable mechanical lever 21 and the housing of the vehicle door latch device 1 to return the rotatable mechanical lever 21 to its rest position when the user releases the handle connected to the rotatable mechanical lever 21.
[0038] Thus, rotation of the rotatable mechanical lever 21 from its rest position towards its release position rotates the rotatable release lever 5 to its actuated position, thereby disengaging the engagement mechanism 3. The rotatable mechanical lever 21 may be disposed around the same shaft 7 as the planetary gear set 14.
[0039] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle door latch device 1 includes a lock mechanism 60 that locks a vehicle door to prevent a user from entering the vehicle from outside. The lock mechanism 60 includes a lock motor (not shown) having an output shaft, a worm disposed on the output shaft of the lock motor, a lock gear wheel configured to mesh with the worm and rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a lock lever 67, wherein the lock lever 67 is configured to be displaced by the lock gear wheel between a first position associated with the locked position of the lock gear wheel (where the lock lever 67 prevents the engagement mechanism 3 from being released) and a second position associated with the unlocked position of the lock gear wheel 65 (where the engagement mechanism 3 can be released).
[0040] The vehicle door latch device 1 may also include an additional mechanical lever 71 configured to be coupled to a handle, such as the outside handle, which may be coupled to the outside handle by a Bowden cable 73 (shown in FIG. 3) or a rod.
[0041] The vehicle door latch device 1 can also include an override feature that unlocks the locking mechanism 60 when a mechanical release from the inside handle is triggered (to prevent a user from being left outside the vehicle after a mechanical release from the inside handle). The vehicle door latch device 1 can include an override lever disposed between the rotatable mechanical lever 21 and the lock lever 67. The override lever is configured to displace the lock lever 67 toward a second position when the rotatable mechanical lever 21 rotates toward its open position. Displacement of the lock lever 67 to the second position also rotates the lock gear wheel to its unlocked position. A contactor can be disposed adjacent to the lock lever to detect displacement to the second position and trigger rotation of the lock motor to return the lock gear wheel to its unlocked position.
[0042] Furthermore, to prevent the override function when the outer handle is pulled by the user, the engagement mechanism 3 can include a clutch paddle 39 disposed between the lock lever 67 and the driver 34. In this embodiment, the driver 34 is composed of a first portion 34a having a protruding element 37 and a second portion 34b. The clutch paddle 39 is configured to be moved from the retracted position to the engaged position by the lock lever 67 (when the lock lever 67 moves from the first position to the second position), and the clutch paddle 39 is disposed between the first portion 34a and the second portion 34b of the driver 34. Furthermore, an additional mechanical lever 71 is configured to rotate the second portion 34b of the driver 34 when the user pulls the outer handle.
[0043] As a result, when the lock lever 67 is in the first position, the clutch paddle 39 is in its retracted position, so that displacement of the additional mechanical lever 71 via the outer handle rotates the second portion 34b of the driver 34 toward the first portion 34a of the driver 34, but the first portion 34a of the driver 34 does not rotate, so the pawl 33 remains in its blocking position. Therefore, the door remains closed. Conversely, when the lock lever 67 is in the second position, the clutch paddle 39 is in its engaged position, so that displacement of the additional mechanical lever 71 via the outer handle rotates the second portion 34b, which in turn rotates the first portion 34a of the driver 34 via the clutch paddle 39, which is engaged between the second portion 34b and the first portion 34a. The pawl 33 then rotates to the release position, and the door opens.
[0044] The vehicle door latch device 1 may also include additional springs to hold different parts of the vehicle door latch device 1 in place.
[0045] In this manner, the vehicle door latch device 1 shown in the various figures provides a compact device with an electrical release mechanism that allows the door to be opened in all weather conditions, and can also provide a compact sized mechanical release mechanism with various options, such as an override feature that prevents the user from being left outside the vehicle when the door is opened from the inside handle.
[0046] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door comprising the aforementioned vehicle door latch device 1 and a handle configured to be mechanically coupled to a rotatable mechanical lever 21, for example by a rod or a Bowden cable. The handle can be an inside handle. The vehicle door can also comprise an outside handle mechanically coupled to the vehicle door latch device 1, for example connected to an additional mechanical lever 71 via a rod or a Bowden cable. [Explanation of symbols]
[0047] 1. Vehicle door latch device 3 Engagement mechanism 5 Rotatable release lever 7 shaft 9 Electric release mechanism 11 Release motor 11a Output shaft 13 Warm 14 Planetary gear unit 141 Sun Gear 142 Cover 143 Ring Gear 144 Planetary Gear 146 Planetary Carrier 146a Axial projection 147 Spring 15 Gear Wheel 19 Mechanical release mechanism 21 Rotatable mechanical lever 31 Recess 32 Nails 33 Paul 33a Lever 34 Driver 34a Part 1 34b Part 2 35 1st axis 36 notches 37 Protruding elements 39 Clutch paddle 60 Locking mechanism 65 Lock Gear Wheel 67 Lock lever 71 Additional mechanical levers 73 Bowden Cable
Claims
1. an engagement mechanism (3) configured to engage with the striker; a rotatable release lever (5) adapted to rotate between a rest position and an operating position, disengaging said engagement mechanism (3); A vehicle door latch device (1) comprising: a release motor (11) having an output shaft (11a); and an electric release mechanism (9) comprising a worm (13) arranged on the output shaft (11a) of the release motor (11) and configured to mesh with a gear wheel (15) to displace the rotatable opening lever (5), The vehicle door latch device (1) is characterized in that the electric release mechanism (9) also comprises a planetary gear set (14) disposed between the release motor (11) and the rotatable opening lever (5).
2. The planetary gear device (14) comprises a sun gear (141), a ring gear (143), planet gears (144), and a planet carrier (146); the sun gear (141) is rotatably coupled to the gear wheel (15) configured to mesh with the worm (13) disposed on the output shaft (11a) of the release motor (11); The planetary gear (144) is configured to mesh with the sun gear (141) on one side and with the ring gear (143) on the other side; 2. The vehicle door latch device (1) of claim 1, wherein the planet carrier (146) is configured to displace the rotatable opening lever (5) between its rest position and its actuated position.
3. 3. The vehicle door latch device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ring gear (143) is configured to be fixed to a housing of the vehicle door latch device (1).
4. 3. The vehicle door latch device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the worm (13) has a single-start, double-start, or triple-start thread depending on the desired gear ratio of the electric release mechanism (9).
5. The vehicle door latch device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gear ratio of the set comprising the gear wheel (15)-worm (13) mechanism and the planetary gear set (14) is between 150 and 300.
6. 3. The vehicle door latch device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a spring (147) arranged between the rotatable opening lever (5) and a part fixed relative to the housing of the vehicle door latch device (1) to return the rotatable opening lever (5) to the rest position.
7. The vehicle door latch device (1) comprises a mechanical release mechanism (19) including a rotatable mechanical lever (21) mechanically coupled to a handle and configured to rotate between a rest position and an open position, wherein the rotatable opening lever (5) is displaced by the rotatable mechanical lever (21), and when the rotatable mechanical lever (21) is rotated to the open position, the rotatable opening lever (5) is in an actuated position. The vehicle door latch device (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
8. 8. The vehicle door latch device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the rotatable mechanical lever (21) is connected to a return spring configured to return the rotatable mechanical lever (21) to the rest position.
9. The vehicle door latch device (1) also includes a lock mechanism (60), the lock mechanism (60) including a lock motor having an output shaft, a worm disposed on the output shaft of the lock motor, a lock gear wheel configured to mesh with the worm and rotate between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a lock lever (67).
3. The vehicle door latch device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lock lever (67) is configured to be displaced by the lock gear wheel between a first position associated with the locked position of the lock gear wheel (where the lock lever (67) prevents the engagement mechanism (3) from being released) and a second position associated with the unlocked position of the lock gear wheel (where the engagement mechanism (3) can be released).
10. A vehicle door comprising a vehicle door latch device (1) according to claim 1 or 2 and a handle configured to be mechanically coupled to a rotatable mechanical lever (21).
11. 11. The vehicle door of claim 10, wherein the handle is an inside handle.
12. 11. The vehicle door according to claim 10, wherein the rotatable mechanical lever (21) is connected to the handle by a Bowden cable (23) or a rod.