Vehicle door latch device and associated vehicle door

Abstract

To provide a vehicle door latch device equipped with an electric release mechanism that can open the door in a short time and apply sufficient force to open the door under all conditions. [Solution] The vehicle door latch 1 comprises an engagement mechanism 3 configured to engage with a striker, and an electric release mechanism 13 comprising a release motor 15 having an output shaft and a worm positioned on the output shaft, wherein the worm is configured to mesh with a gear wheel, and the gear wheel is configured to actuate the engagement mechanism between a closed position in which the striker is held by the engagement mechanism and an open position in which the striker is released, and the vehicle door latch further comprises an additional electric release mechanism comprising an additional release motor 25, wherein the additional electric release mechanism is configured to operate in parallel with the electric release mechanism and supply additional torque force to the gear wheel.

Description

Technical Field

[0007] , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle door latches for ensuring the closing of vehicle doors, and particularly to latches equipped with an electric release mechanism.

Background Art

[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch device equipped with an electric release mechanism, also known as an E-release mechanism.

[0003] Such an electric release mechanism must be able to open the door under all conditions encountered during the life of the vehicle.

[0004] In particular, the vehicle may be exposed to low temperatures, resulting in the seal hardening and requiring sufficient force to open the door.

[0005] Thus, the electric release mechanism needs to be able to open the door quickly while having sufficient force to open the door under all conditions.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door latch device equipped with an electric release mechanism that can open the door in a short time and apply sufficient force to open the door under all conditions.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch, and the vehicle door latch includes: - An engagement mechanism configured to engage with a striker, - The system comprises a release motor having an output shaft and an electric release mechanism having a worm positioned on the output shaft, wherein the worm is configured to mesh with a gear wheel, and the gear wheel is configured to actuate the engagement mechanism between a closed position in which the striker is held by the engagement mechanism and an open position in which the striker is released. The vehicle door latch is characterized by comprising an additional electric release mechanism having an additional release motor, the additional electric release mechanism being configured to operate in parallel with the electric release mechanism and supplying additional torque force to the gear wheel.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, the additional electric release mechanism comprises a release mechanism or freewheel mechanism having degrees of freedom of angle, characterized in that the additional electric release mechanism can rotate the gear wheel and operate the engagement mechanism from the closed position to the open position without imposing mechanical constraints on the additional release motor.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, the electric release mechanism is configured to rotate the gear wheel at a first speed, and the additional electric release mechanism is configured to rotate the gear wheel at a second speed slower than the first speed.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the additional torque force that the additional electric release mechanism applies to the gear wheel of the electric release mechanism is greater than the torque force that the electric release mechanism applies to the gear wheel.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, the release mechanism comprises a first gear configured to mesh with a worm located on the output shaft of the additional release motor, and a second gear configured to mesh with the gear wheel of the electric release mechanism, wherein the first gear is connected to the second gear.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the first gear comprises a first gear wheel and a second gear wheel arranged coaxially with the first gear wheel, wherein the second gear wheel includes a lever configured to be displaceable between a first stopper and a second stopper of the first gear wheel, thereby providing an angular degree of freedom between the first gear wheel and the second gear wheel, and the second gear comprises a first gear configured to mesh with the second gear wheel of the first gear and a second gear configured to mesh with the gear wheel of the electric release mechanism.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the first stopper and the second stopper are spaced apart at an angle in the range of 90° to 180°, for example, 120°, and provide a degree of freedom of angle in the range of 90° to 180°, for example, 120°.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, the additional release motor is configured to be activated when the release motor is activated.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the additional release motor is configured to operate when a malfunction is detected in the electric release mechanism.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with the aforementioned vehicle door latch. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a vehicle door latch according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view of an electric release mechanism and an additional electric release mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a second perspective view of an electrically operated release mechanism and an additional release mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a magnified view of the release mechanism. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the release mechanism.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] The following achievements are illustrative. Although this specification refers to one or more embodiments, each reference does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it mean that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Other embodiments can also be provided by combining the simple features of different embodiments.

[0019] The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch device 1 configured to ensure the closing of a vehicle door, particularly a side door or a trunk lid.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows an example of such a vehicle door latch 1.

[0021] The vehicle door latch 1 includes an engagement mechanism 3 configured to engage with a striker (not shown). The striker is disposed on the vehicle body close to the vehicle door and is configured to be introduced into a recess 5 of the vehicle door latch 1 when the vehicle door is closed. The engagement mechanism 3 includes a claw 7, and the claw 7 is at least partially disposed within the recess 5 and is configured to move between a closed position where the striker is held within the recess 5 by the claw 7 and an open position where the striker can be disengaged from the vehicle door latch 1. The engagement mechanism 3 also includes a pole 9. The pole 9 is configured to rotate between a blocking position (shown in FIG. 1) that prevents rotation of the claw 7 and holds the striker by the claw 7 and a release position that allows rotation of the claw 7 to release the striker and open the door.

[0022] The engagement mechanism 3 also includes a driver 11 that engages with the pole 9 and rotates the pole 9 between its blocking position and its release position.

[0023] The vehicle door latch 1 also includes an electric release mechanism 13. The vehicle door latch 1 may include an electric release mechanism 13 in combination with a mechanical release mechanism (not shown), or may include only the electric release mechanism 13.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the electric release mechanism 13 includes a release motor 15 having an output shaft 15a. The worm 17 is disposed on the output shaft 15a of the release motor 15 and is configured to mesh with the gear wheel 19. The gear wheel 19 is configured to engage directly or indirectly with the driver 11 in order to operate the engagement mechanism 3. In particular, the gear wheel 19 can be configured to rotate an intermediate lever 21 that rotates the driver 11 so that the engagement mechanism 3 is in the release position.

[0025] Thus, the rotation of the release motor 15 leads to the rotation of the gear wheel 19 via the worm 17. The rotation of the gear wheel 19 leads to the rotation of the intermediate lever 21, and as a result, the driver 11 rotates to guide the pole 9 to the release position, and as a result, the striker is released by the claw 7. Other configurations of the electric release mechanism are possible.

[0026] The vehicle door latch 1 also includes an additional electric release mechanism 23 that operates in parallel with the electric release mechanism 13 to supply additional torque force. Such additional torque force may be required to open the door, for example, when the door seal is frozen.

[0027] The additional electric release mechanism 23 includes an additional electric release motor 25 having an output shaft 25a.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the additional electric release mechanism 23 includes a release mechanism 31 disposed between the additional release motor 25 and the gear wheel 19. This release mechanism 31 provides freedom of angle, so that the electric release mechanism 13 can rotate the gear wheel 19 to operate the engagement mechanism 3 from the closed position to the open position without imposing mechanical constraints on the additional release motor 25.

[0029] In this embodiment, the release mechanism 31 comprises a first gear 33 positioned on a first shaft 34 (indicated by an axis in Figure 5) and a second gear 35 positioned on a second shaft 36 (indicated by an axis in Figure 5) which is different from the first shaft 34, with the first gear 33 connected to the second gear 35.

[0030] The release mechanism 31 is associated with the first gear 33 and includes a first gear wheel 33a, and is configured to mesh with a worm 27 located on the output shaft 25a of an additional release motor 25.

[0031] The release mechanism 31 also includes a second gear wheel 33b associated with the first gear 33. The second gear wheel 33b is positioned coaxially with the first gear wheel 33a and includes a lever 39 (see Figure 3) configured to be displaced between a first stopper 41 and a second stopper 43 (see Figure 4) of the first gear wheel 33a, thereby providing an angular degree of freedom between the first gear wheel 33a and the second gear wheel 33b.

[0032] The first gear 33 can be configured to allow the lever 39 to rotate within an angular range of 90° to 180°, for example, within an angular range of 120°, thereby providing a similar degree of freedom of angle. This degree of freedom of angle can be reduced depending on the angular width of the lever 39. The degree of freedom of angle can be selected according to the rotation angle of the gear wheel 19 required to open the engagement mechanism 3.

[0033] The second gear 35 comprises a first gear 35a configured to mesh with a second gear wheel 33b associated with the first gear 33, and a second gear 35b configured to mesh with the gear wheel 19 of the electric release mechanism 13.

[0034] The different gear and gear wheel sizes (number of teeth) of the release mechanism can be selected so that the electric release mechanism 13 rotates the gear wheel 19 at a first speed, and the additional electric release mechanism 23 rotates the gear wheel 19 at a second speed slower than the first speed. If the additional release motor 25 is a motor similar to the release motor 15, the torque supplied to the gear wheel 19 by the additional electric release mechanism 23 can be greater than the torque supplied by the release motor 15 (in practice, the additional release motor 25 may have a lower output than the release motor 15 (to limit power consumption), but the release mechanism 31 makes it possible to reduce the speed supplied to the gear wheel 19 by the additional release motor 25 and increase the torque). Differences in rotational speed or torque can also be obtained by the additional release motor 25, which is a different motor from the release motor 15.

[0035] With this configuration, the electric release mechanism 13 transmits power to the gear wheel 19 at high speed, allowing the vehicle door latch 1 to open quickly under normal conditions. The additional electric release mechanism 23, with additional torque supplied to the gear wheel 19, allows the latch to open under harsh or abnormal conditions. Even when opening the vehicle door latch 1 is slower than under normal conditions, the latch 1 can be opened without user assistance, thus improving user comfort without requiring a large release motor 15.

[0036] Furthermore, this configuration of the additional release motor 25 and release mechanism 31 is compact, and therefore the bulkiness of the vehicle door latch 1 is suppressed.

[0037] Other configurations of the release mechanism 31 that provide angular degrees of freedom are also possible. Alternatively, instead of the release mechanism 31 with angular degrees of freedom, a release mechanism 31 based on a freewheel (not shown) can be used. The freewheel is configured such that an additional electric release mechanism 23 can transmit torque to the gear wheel 19, but not the other way around, thereby preventing the electric release mechanism 13 from imposing mechanical constraints on the additional release motor 25.

[0038] According to a particular embodiment, the additional release motor 25 is configured to operate when the release motor 15 is activated, for example, when the user presses a button or pulls a handle to open the door. Both motors operate simultaneously. However, since the release motor 15 is configured to rotate the gear wheel 19 at a faster speed than the additional release motor 25, the gear wheel is initially driven by the single release motor 15. The release mechanism ensures that the additional electric release mechanism 23 does not interfere with the drive of the gear wheel 19 by the release motor 15.

[0039] If the torque supplied by the release motor 15 is sufficient to open the vehicle door latch 1, the vehicle door latch 1 will be opened by the release motor 15 alone, even if the additional release motor 25 is operating. After the vehicle door latch 1 is opened, both the release motor 15 and the additional release motor 25 stop.

[0040] If the torque supplied by the release motor 15 is insufficient to open the vehicle door latch 1, for example, because the door seal is frozen, after a short time, the additional release motor 25 will rotate the first gear wheel sufficiently so that the lever 39 makes contact with either the stopper 41 or 43. The additional release motor 25 then supplies additional torque to the gear wheel 19 via the release mechanism 31, allowing the vehicle door latch 1 to open. After the vehicle door latch 1 is open, both the release motor 15 and the additional release motor 25 stop.

[0041] Thus, in this particular embodiment, both the release motor 15 and the additional release motor 25 are operational from the start of the opening process, but in most cases, only the release motor 15 is useful for opening the vehicle door latch 1.

[0042] In another embodiment, when the user opens the door by pressing a button or pulling a handle, only the release motor 15 operates. An additional release motor 25 is configured to operate only when a malfunction is detected in the electric release mechanism 13. This malfunction may result from the release motor 15 becoming inoperable due to the resistance of the door, for example, by a frozen seal. When such a malfunction is detected, the additional release motor 25 operates, supplying additional torque to the gear wheel to open the vehicle door latch 1. In this embodiment, the time required to open the door under harsh conditions (such as a frozen seal) is longer, but energy consumption is reduced because the additional release motor 25 operates only when necessary.

[0043] Thus, by using the release motor 15 and the additional release motor 25, the vehicle door latch 1 can be opened quickly under normal conditions, and therefore the vehicle door can be opened quickly, while the vehicle door latch can be opened slowly under harsh conditions, so that in most situations the door can be opened without the user's assistance. Furthermore, the additional release motor can be made low power consumption by a release mechanism that obtains high torque through a gear ratio. Power consumption can be further reduced by operating the additional release motor 25 only when necessary (which increases the time it takes to open). Moreover, the miniaturization of the additional release motor 25 and the release mechanism 31 means that this feature hardly increases the volume of the vehicle door latch 1.

[0044] The present invention further relates to a vehicle equipped with the vehicle door latch 1 disclosed above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1. Vehicle door latch 3. Engagement mechanism 5 recesses 7 claws 9 Pole 11 Drivers 13 Electric release mechanism 15 Release motor 15a Output shaft 17 Warm 19 gear wheel 21 Intermediate Lever 23 Additional electric release mechanism 25 Additional release motor 25a Output shaft 27 Warm 29 Gear Wheel 31 Release mechanism 33 First gear 33a First gear wheel 33b Second gear wheel 34 1st axis 35. Second gear 35a First gear 35b Second Gear 36 2nd axis 39 Lever 41 First Stopper 43 Second Stopper

Claims

1. A vehicle door latch (1), wherein the vehicle door latch (1) is - An engagement mechanism (3) configured to engage with the striker, - The device comprises a release motor (15) having an output shaft (15a) and an electric release mechanism (13) having a worm (17) positioned on the output shaft (15a), wherein the worm (17) is configured to mesh with a gear wheel (19), and the gear wheel (19) is configured to operate the engagement mechanism (3) between a closed position in which the striker is held by the engagement mechanism (3) and an open position in which the striker is released. The vehicle door latch (1) is characterized by comprising an additional electric release mechanism (23) having an additional release motor (25), wherein the additional electric release mechanism (23) is configured to operate in parallel with the electric release mechanism (13) and to supply additional torque force to the gear wheel (19).

2. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the additional electric release mechanism (23) is equipped with a release mechanism (31) or a freewheel mechanism having degrees of freedom of angle, thereby allowing the additional electric release mechanism (23) to rotate the gear wheel (19) and operate the engagement mechanism (3) from the closed position to the open position without imposing mechanical constraints on the additional release motor (25).

3. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electric release mechanism (13) is configured to rotate the gear wheel (19) at a first speed, and the additional electric release mechanism (23) is configured to rotate the gear wheel (19) at a second speed slower than the first speed.

4. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the additional torque force applied by the additional electric release mechanism (23) to the gear wheel (19) of the electric release mechanism (13) is greater than the torque force applied by the electric release mechanism (13) to the gear wheel (19).

5. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the release mechanism (31) comprises a first gear (33) configured to mesh with a worm (27) located on the output shaft (25a) of the additional release motor (25), and a second gear (35) configured to mesh with the gear wheel (19) of the electric release mechanism (13), wherein the first gear (33) is connected to the second gear (35).

6. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first gear (33) comprises a first gear wheel (33a) and a second gear wheel (33b) arranged coaxially with the first gear wheel (33a), the second gear wheel (33b) comprises a lever (39) configured to be displaceable between a first stopper (41) and a second stopper (43) of the first gear wheel (33a), thereby providing an angular degree of freedom between the first gear wheel (33a) and the second gear wheel (33b), and the second gear (35) comprises a first gear (35a) configured to mesh with the second gear wheel (33b) of the first gear (33) and a second gear (35b) configured to mesh with the gear wheel (19) of the electric release mechanism (13).

7. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first stopper (41) and the second stopper (43) are spaced apart at an angle in the range of 90° to 180°, for example, 120°, providing a degree of freedom of angle in the range of 90° to 180°, for example, 120°.

8. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the additional release motor (25) is configured to operate when the release motor (15) is activated.

9. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the additional release motor (25) is configured to operate when a malfunction is detected in the electric release mechanism (13).

10. A vehicle comprising the vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

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