Patent Application
20230034544
The present disclosure relates generally to automotive door latches, and more particularly, to a power door latch assembly equipped with a power release motor driving a multistage gear reduction to provide a normal output force and an increased output force of the power release motor.
This section provides background information related to automotive door latches and is not necessarily prior art to the concepts associated with the present disclosure.
A vehicle closure panel, such as a side door for a vehicle passenger compartment, is hinged to swing between open and closed positions and includes a latch assembly mounted to the door. The latch assembly functions in a well-known manner to latch the door when it is closed and unlatch and release the door to permit subsequent movement of the door to its open position. As is also well known, the latch assembly is configured to include a latch mechanism for latching the door and a release mechanism for unlatching the door. The release mechanism can be power-operated to unlatch the door.
During powered actuation of latch mechanism, it is known to actuate a gear mechanism to move a pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position, thereby allowing a ratchet to move from a striker capture position to a striker releasing position, whereat the door can be moved from a closed position to an open position. In order to ensure the pawl is able to be moved from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, the motor must be provided having a sufficient output force to overcome any friction build-up between the pawl and the ratchet. In some cases, high seal loads are present between the door and the vehicle body, such as in an accident scenario, for example. In other cases, ice may increase the release force needed to move the pawl to the ratchet releasing position. As such, it is known to incorporate a motor having an output force well in excess of that needed during normal use so as to be able to ensure the door can be opened in an increased seal load and/or ice build-up condition. The need to provide the motor having an increased output force well in excess of that needed during normal use, although generally suitable for its intended use, comes with an increased cost, increased size, and increased weight.
Additionally, it is known to provide a secondary motor in addition to the motor used to move a pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position, such as secondary motors come at an increased cost, while also increasing the size of the closure latch assembly.
Thus, there remains a need to develop alternative arrangements for latch mechanisms for use in vehicular door latches which optimize the ability to move a pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position, while also providing a cinching function to a ratchet, under the power of a powered motor without having to provide the powered motor having a size in excess of that needed during normal use conditions, and without having to provide multiple motors to accomplish the desired functions.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not intended to be a comprehensive and exhaustive listing of all of its features or its full scope.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a power latch assembly for motor vehicle closure applications that overcomes at least those drawbacks discussed above associated with known power latch assemblies.
It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a power latch assembly for motor vehicle closure applications that has a motor that is optimized in size and output force.
It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a power latch assembly for motor vehicle closure applications that has a motor capable of moving a pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position under a high seal load condition, including a seal load condition produced during an accident condition, with the motor being minimized in size and output force.
In accordance with the above objects, one aspect of the disclosure provides a power latch assembly for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle including a ratchet configured for movement between striker capture and striker release positions and being biased toward the striker release position. The power latch assembly includes a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl releases the ratchet to the striker release position. A powered actuator is energizable to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, wherein a multistage reduction mechanism operably connects an output of the powered actuator to the pawl.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the multistage reduction mechanism has at least two power takeoffs, with each power takeoff being configured to apply a different torque output to the pawl.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, one of the power takeoffs can be configured to drive a closure panel presenter function.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, one of the power takeoffs is provided by a first gear reduction and another of the power takeoffs is provided by a second gear reduction, wherein the first and second gear reductions are different from one another.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, one of the power takeoffs is actuated by rotating the output of the power actuator in a first direction and the other of the power takeoffs is actuated by rotating the output of the power actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first gear reduction is employed by rotating an output of the power actuator in a first direction and the second gear reduction is employed by rotating the output of the power actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a first power takeoff is utilized during normal use conditions of the motor vehicle and a second power takeoff is utilized during an increased seal load condition, such as in an accident condition of the motor vehicle, wherein the second power takeoff produces a higher output force on the pawl compared to the first power takeoff.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a transition between actuation of the first power takeoff and actuation of the second power takeoff can be signaled via a control unit configured in operable communication with a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect an increased seal load condition.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sensor can be configured to signal the control unit upon detecting an accident condition.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sensor can be configured to detect when load between the pawl and the ratchet has been increased from a normal use load, wherein the sensor is configured in operable communication with the power release actuator, such as via ECU, to automatically reverse the direction of movement of the power release actuator after, thereby increasing the output force on the pawl to overcome the increased load between the pawl and the ratchet to move the pawl to the ratchet releasing position.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first gear reduction includes a first number of gears and the second gear reduction includes a second number of gears, wherein the first number of gears is less than the second number of gears.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first gear reduction includes a first stage gear having a first driven gear configured in meshed engagement with the output of the power release actuator and a first pinion gear fixed to the first driven gear, and a second stage gear having a second driven gear configured in meshed engagement with the first pinion gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first pinion gear is coaxial with a rotational axis of the first driven gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a first drive member can be fixed to the second driven gear, with the first drive member being configured in operable driving communication with the pawl to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a pawl release link can be coupled to the pawl and biased into engagement with the first drive member, with the pawl release link being configured to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position in response to movement of the second driven gear in a first direction and to return the pawl to the ratchet holding position in response to movement of the second driven gear in a second direction opposite the first direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the pawl release link can be provided having a slot and a pin extending from the pawl can be received in the slot for lost motion movement of the pin in the slot.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second gear reduction includes the first driven gear configured in meshed engagement with the output of the power release actuator and the second driven gear configured in meshed engagement with the first pinion gear, and further includes a second pinion gear fixed to the second driven gear and a third driven gear configured in meshed engagement with the second pinion gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second pinion gear is coaxial with a rotational axis of the second driven gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a second drive member is fixed to the third driven gear, the second drive member being configured in operable driving communication with the pawl to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second drive member is configured for direct engagement with the pawl.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first drive member extends from a first side of the second driven gear and the second pinion extends from a second side of the second driven gear opposite the first side.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first gear reduction causes the pawl to move from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position in X seconds upon actuating the power actuator in the first direction and the second gear reduction causes the pawl to move from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position in X+Y seconds upon actuating the power actuator in the second direction, wherein X seconds is less that X+Y seconds.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of increasing the output torque of a latch power release actuator of a power latch assembly from a first output torque to an increased second output torque is provided. The method includes configuring the power release actuator to rotate an output in a first direction to drive a first power takeoff in a first direction to generate the first output torque, and configuring the power release actuator to rotate the output in a second direction to drive a second power takeoff in a second direction opposite the first direction to generate the second output torque.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes configuring the first power takeoff having a first gear reduction and configuring the second power takeoff having a second gear reduction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include providing the first gear reduction having a first driven gear configured in meshed engagement with the output of the power release actuator and a first pinion gear fixed to the first driven gear, and a second driven gear configured in meshed engagement with the first pinion gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include configuring the second gear reduction having the first driven gear arranged in meshed engagement with the output of the power release actuator and the second driven gear arranged in meshed engagement with the first pinion gear, and a second pinion gear fixed to the second driven gear and a third driven gear arranged in meshed engagement with the second pinion gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include configuring the second driven gear for operable driving engagement with a pawl of the power latch assembly to move the pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position upon movement of the first power takeoff in the first direction, and configuring the third driven gear for operable driving engagement with the pawl of the power latch assembly to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position upon movement of the second power takeoff in the second direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include configuring the second driven gear in operable driving engagement with a pawl via a pawl release link and configuring the pawl release link to move the pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position upon movement of the first power takeoff in the first direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include configuring the pawl to move in a lost-motion connection with the pawl release link upon movement of the second power takeoff in the second direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include configuring an electronic control unit (ECU) in operable communication with the power release actuator and configuring the ECU to signal the power release actuator to change the direction of rotation of the output of the power release actuator from the first direction to the second direction when increased torque is needed to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include configuring the power release actuator to change the direction of rotation of the output of the power release actuator from the first direction to the second direction automatically when the torque applied to the pawl while the output of the power release actuator is moving in the first direction is insufficient to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of releasing a power latch assembly of a closure panel of a motor vehicle is provided. The method includes: detecting a command to power release the power latch assembly; operating a motor of the power latch assembly in a first mode; detecting whether the power latch assembly has been released; stopping the motor if the detecting indicates the power latch assembly has been released; operating the motor of the power latch assembly in a second mode if the detecting indicates the power latch assembly has not been released; detecting whether the power latch assembly has been released; and stopping the motor if the detecting indicates the power latch assembly has been released.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include providing the first mode to include rotating an output of the motor in a first direction and providing the second mode to include rotating an output of the motor in a second direction opposite the first direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a power latch assembly for a closure panel comprises: a ratchet configured for movement between a striker capture position and a striker release position and being biased toward the striker release position; a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl releases the ratchet for movement of the ratchet to the striker release position; a power release actuator configured to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position; and a multistage mechanism operably connecting an output of the power release actuator to at least one of the pawl and the ratchet, the multistage mechanism having at least two power takeoffs, with each power takeoff being configured to apply a different torque output to at least the pawl and/or the ratchet.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the power release actuator is configured to rotate an output in a first direction to apply a first torque to the pawl to cause the pawl to move from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and to rotate the output in a second direction to apply a second torque to the ratchet to cinch the ratchet toward the striker capture position, wherein the second torque is greater than the first torque.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the output drives a first driven gear to apply the first torque to the pawl and drives a second driven gear to apply the second torque to the ratchet.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a pawl release link can operatively connect the first driven gear to the pawl and a cinch link can operatively connect the second driven gear to the ratchet.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the pawl release link can directly connect the first driven gear to the pawl and the cinch link can directly connect the second driven gear to the ratchet.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a pinion gear can be operably coupled to the first driven gear, with the pinion gear being in meshed engagement with the second driven gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the pinion gear can remain substantially stationary when the output is driven in the first direction and can be rotatably driven when the output is driven in the second direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second driven gear can remain substantially stationary when the output is driven in the first direction and can be rotatably driven when the output is driven in the second direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the power release actuator is configured to rotate a first driven member from a home position in a first direction to apply a first torque to the pawl to cause the pawl to move from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and to apply a second torque to the ratchet after applying the first torque to the pawl, wherein the second torque is greater than the first torque.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first torque is generated by a first gear train and the second torque is generated by a second gear train.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first gear train is provided by a drive gear couple to an output of the power release actuator and the first driven gear, wherein the drive gear is configured to drive the first driven gear in the first direction to generate the first torque, and the second gear train is provided by a pinion gear fixed to the first driven member and a second driven gear, wherein the pinion gear is configured to drive second driven gear as the first driven gear rotates in the first direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the drive gear is in meshed engagement with the first driven gear and the pinion gear is in meshed engagement with the second driven gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a first link coupling the second driven gear to the ratchet.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the first link is detachably coupled to the second driven gear.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a second link operably coupling the first driven gear to the first link.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a central hub assembly coupled to the first driven gear for lost-motion with the first driven gear, with the second link being coupled to the central hub assembly.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the central hub assembly is configured to remain substantially stationary when the first driven member rotates in the first direction.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the central hub assembly includes a central lever coupled to a crash unlock lever, wherein the central lever and the crash unlock lever are configured for lost-motion with one another.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second link is coupled to the crash unlock lever.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the power release actuator is configured to rotate the first driven member in a second direction opposite the first direction toward the home position, whereupon the first link is configured to move the ratchet in a cinching operation to the striker capture position.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the power release actuator is configured to rotate the first driven member in the second direction opposite the first direction toward the home position, whereupon the crash unlock lever rotates concurrently with the first driven member causing the second link to decouple the first link from the second driven member and to decouple the power release actuator from the ratchet.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the pawl is configured to be manually moved by a manual release lever from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position while the first link is decoupled from the second driven member and the power release actuator is decoupled from the ratchet.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of releasing a power latch assembly and cinching the power latch assembly of a closure panel of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprising: operating a motor of the power latch assembly in a first mode to rotate an output in a first direction to move a pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position and causing a ratchet to move from a striker capture position to a striker release position until the power latch assembly is released; and operating the motor of the power latch assembly in a second mode to rotate the output in a second direction opposite the first direction to move the ratchet toward the striker capture position until the power latch assembly is cinched.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include detecting whether the power latch assembly has been released and stopping the motor if the detecting indicates the power latch assembly has been released and detecting whether the power latch assembly has been cinched and stopping the motor if the detecting indicates the power latch assembly has been cinched.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include coupling a first driven member to the pawl and coupling a second driven member to the ratchet, and applying a first torque from the first driven member on the pawl upon operating the motor in the first mode and applying a second torque from the second driven member on the ratchet upon operating the motor in the second mode, with the second torque being greater than the first torque.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include coupling the first driven member to the pawl with a pawl release link and coupling the second driven member to the ratchet with a cinch link, and applying a first torque from the first driven member through the pawl release link on the pawl upon operating the motor in the first mode and applying the second torque from the second driven member through the cinch link on the ratchet upon operating the motor in the second mode.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method can further include configuring the first driven member to rotate from a home position in a first direction to apply a first torque to the pawl to cause the pawl to move from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and, if the ratchet remains in the striker capture position, to apply a second torque to the ratchet after applying the first torque to the pawl, wherein the second torque is greater than the first torque.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of releasing a power latch assembly and presenting a closure panel of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprising: operating a motor of the power latch assembly in a first mode to rotate an output in a first direction to move a pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position and causing a ratchet to move from a striker capture position to a striker release position until the power latch assembly is released; and operating the motor of the power latch assembly in a second mode to drive a presenter to move the closure panel to at least a partially open position.
According to yet another aspect, a power latch assembly for a closure panel includes a ratchet configured for movement between a striker capture position and a striker release position and being biased toward said striker release position, a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat said pawl maintains said ratchet in said striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat said pawl releases said ratchet for movement of said ratchet to said striker release position, a power actuator having an output, and a multistage mechanism operably connected to the output of the power actuator, the multistage mechanism configured to actuate a primary latch function during a normal operating mode and actuate the secondary latch function during an extended operating mode.
According to yet another aspect, a method of operating a power latch assembly of a closure panel of a motor vehicle includes operating a motor of the power latch assembly in a first normal mode to actuate a multistage mechanism to control a primary latch function and operating the motor of the power latch assembly in an extended mode to actuate a multistage mechanism to control a secondary latch function.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Corresponding reference numerals are used throughout all of the drawings to indicate corresponding parts.
One or more example embodiments of a powered latch assembly of the type well-suited for use in motor vehicle closure systems will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings. However, these example embodiments are only provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail, as they will be readily understood by a skilled artisan.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” “top”, “bottom”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptions used herein interpreted accordingly.
Referring initially to
Referring to
Pawl release link 36 is operatively (directly or indirectly via another component, such as an intermediate or secondary pawl release lever, and shown as directly, by way of example and without limitation) coupled, also referred to as connected, to pawl 34 and is movable between a deployed position, also referred to as pawl release position, whereat pawl release link 36 moves pawl 34 against the bias of pawl biasing member 42 to its ratchet releasing position (
Pawl release link 36 can be moved to its pawl release position via selective actuation of power release actuator 30. Power release actuator 30 has an output, shown as being provided by an output member, also referred to as output shaft 48, which is operably connected or coupled to pawl 34 via a multistage reduction mechanism 50. Multistage reduction mechanism 50, when driven by power release actuator 30, is configured to move pawl release link 36 to its pawl release position, whereat pawl 34 is moved to its ratchet releasing position.
Pawl release link 36, under normal use conditions (pawl 34 and ratchet 32 are configured as manufactured and have retained an “as manufactured” force of friction therebetween), is moved to its pawl release position via a first power takeoff of multistage reduction mechanism 50. First power takeoff is provided by a first gear reduction GR1 including a first number of gears, shown, by way of example and without limitation, as including a first driven gear 52 configured in meshed engagement with an output gear, also referred to a main drive gear or drive gear 53, wherein drive gear 53 is shown as a worm gear mounted on output shaft 48 and fixed for conjoint rotation with the output shaft 48 of power release actuator 30, and a first pinion gear 54 fixed to the first driven gear 52, shown as being fixed concentrically therewith for rotation about a common first axis A1 (
Pawl 34, under an emergency use condition (pawl 34 and ratchet 32 are have an unusually high, increased amount of friction therebetween as compared to the normal use condition), is moved to its pawl release position via a second power takeoff of multistage reduction mechanism 50, wherein the second power takeoff is different from the first power takeoff. Second power takeoff is provided by a second gear reduction GR2 including a second number of gears, wherein the second number of gears of the second power takeoff is different from the first number of gears of the first power takeoff. The second gear reduction GR2 is shown, by way of example and without limitation, as including the first driven gear 52 configured in meshed engagement with the drive gear 53 and the second driven gear 56 configured in meshed engagement with the first pinion gear 54, and further including a second pinion gear 58 fixed to the second driven gear 56, shown as being fixed concentrically therewith for rotation about the common second axis A2 (
When desired to move pawl 34 from the ratchet holding positon to the ratchet releasing position during normal use conditions, such as when a person approaches motor vehicle 14 with electronic key fob 28 (
During normal operation, as output shaft 48 is rotated in the first direction, drive gear 53 causes first driven gear 52 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in
Then, upon release of power latch assembly 10, ECU 64, upon receiving a signal from a position sensor 67, which can be configured to detect the relative position of ratchet 32 and/or pawl 34, signals power release motor 30 to rotate in an opposite direction, thereby causing a reversal in motion of first gear reduction GR1 to ultimately cause second driven gear 56 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in
During emergency operation, including any time normal operation fails to cause pawl 34 to be moved from its ratchet holding position to its ratchet releasing position, as can be detected by position sensor 67, ECU signals power release motor 30 to rotate output shaft 48 in the second direction, opposite the first direction of normal operation, thereby activating the second gear reduction GR2. As such, drive gear 53 causes first driven gear 52 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in
Under normal use condition, the first gear reduction GR1 causes the pawl 34 to move from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position in X seconds upon actuating the power actuator in the first direction and the second gear reduction GR2 causes the pawl 34 to move from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position in X+Y seconds upon actuating the power actuator in the second direction, wherein X seconds is less that X+Y seconds.
In
Power latch assembly 110 includes a first gear reduction GR1 and a second gear reduction GR2 as discussed above for power latch assembly 10, wherein first gear reduction GR1 includes: a drive gear 153, a first driven gear 152 meshed with drive gear 153, a first pinion gear 154, a second driven gear 156 meshed with first pinion gear 154, a second pinion gear 158, and a third driven gear 160 meshed with second pinion gear 158, each structured and interacting as discussed above for power latch assembly 10.
As discussed above, a first drive member 146 is shown fixed to second driven gear 156 for conjoint movement therewith, with first drive member 146 shown being fixed between an outer periphery and a second axis A2 about which second driven gear 156 rotates for operable communication with pawl 34 via a pawl release link 136 during a normal use condition. A second drive member 172 is fixed to the third driven gear 160 for operable driving communication with pawl 34 to move pawl 34 from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position during an emergency release condition, as discussed above for second drive member 72. Pawl release link 136 is operably coupled to pawl 34 via a pin 170; however, rather than being pivotably fixed to pawl 34 as discussed above for latch assembly 10, pawl release link 136 is configured for lost motion movement with pawl 34 during an emergency release condition.
To provide the lost motion movement between pawl release link 136 and pawl 34, pawl release link 136 has a slot 74 and pin 170, fixed to pawl 34 against relative translation movement therewith, is received in slot 74 for lost motion movement of pin 170 in slot 74 between opposite ends 74a, 74b of slot 74. Pawl release link 136 is supported by pin 170 and is biased by a release link biasing member 144 toward and into engagement with first drive member 146, wherein a hook member 168 at one end of pawl release link 136 is engaged with pin 179 and an opposite end 76 of pawl release link 136 is engaged by a fixed support member 78 fixed to latch housing, such as to latch frame plate 29, by way of example and without limitation. During a normal release operation, pawl release link 136 functions generally the same as discussed above for pawl release link 36, wherein hook member 168 of pawl release link 136 is driven by first drive member 146, thereby causing pawl release link 136 to move from its home position to its pawl release position, whereat end 74a of pawl release link 36 engages pin 170 and moves pawl 32 against the bias of pawl biasing member 42 to its ratchet releasing position (shown in transparency in
Then, in an emergency release condition, second drive member 172, fixed to the third driven gear 160, is driven into operable driving communication with pawl 34 to move pawl 34 from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position. Second drive member 172 can be configured for direct engagement with pawl 34 or pin 170, as discussed above, thereby directly driving pawl 34 to the ratchet release position (
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, as shown in
In accordance with a further aspect, the method 1000 can further include a step 1300 of configuring the first power takeoff having a first gear reduction GR1 and configuring the second power takeoff having a second gear reduction GR2.
In accordance with a further aspect, the method 1000 can further include a step 1400 of providing the first gear reduction GR1 having a first driven gear 52 arranged in meshed engagement with the output 48 of the power release actuator 30 and a first pinion gear 54 fixed to the first driven gear 52, and a second driven gear 56 arranged in meshed engagement with the first pinion gear 54.
In accordance with a further aspect, the method 1000 can further include a step 1500 of configuring the second gear reduction GR2 having the first driven gear 52 arranged in meshed engagement with the output 48 of the power release actuator 30 and the second driven gear 56 arranged in meshed engagement with the first pinion gear 54, and a second pinion gear 58 fixed to the second driven gear 56 and a third driven gear 60 arranged in meshed engagement with the second pinion gear 58.
In accordance with a further aspect, the method 1000 can further include a step 1600 of configuring the second driven gear 56 for operable driving engagement with a pawl 34 of the power latch assembly 10 to move the pawl 34 from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position upon movement of the first power takeoff in the first direction, and configuring the third driven gear 60 for operable driving engagement with the pawl 34 of the power latch assembly 10 to move the pawl 34 from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position upon movement of the second power takeoff in the second direction.
In accordance with a further aspect, the method 1000 can further include a step 1650 of configuring the second driven gear in operable driving engagement with a pawl via a pawl release link and configuring the pawl release link to move the pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position upon movement of the first power takeoff in the first direction.
In accordance with a further aspect, the method 1000 can further include a step 1700 of configuring the pawl to move in a lost-motion connection with the pawl release link upon movement of the second power takeoff in the second direction.
In accordance with a further aspect, the method 1000 can further include a step 1800 of configuring an electronic control unit (ECU) in operable communication with the power release actuator 30 and configuring the ECU to signal the power release actuator 30 to change the direction of rotation of the output 48 of the power release actuator 30 from the first direction to the second direction when increased torque is needed to move the pawl 34 from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing direction.
In accordance with a further aspect, the method 1000 can further include a step 1900 of configuring the power release actuator 30 to change the direction of rotation of the output 48 of the power release actuator 30 from the first direction to the second direction automatically when the torque applied to the pawl 34 while the output 48 of the power release actuator 30 is moving in the first direction is insufficient to move the pawl 34 from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing direction.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, as shown in
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method 2000 can further include providing the first mode to include rotating an output 48, 148 of the motor 30 in a first direction and providing the second mode to include rotating the output 48, 148 of the motor 30 in a second direction opposite the first direction.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, as shown in
Referring to
As will be detailed, latch assembly 210 is configured to be power-operated via selective actuation of a power release actuator, such as an electric motor 230. For reasons discussed hereafter, power release actuator 230 is able to be minimized in size, weight and power output, thereby enhancing the flexibility of design of the closure panel, while also reducing the cost associated therewith. Further yet, as discussed in further detail below, the power release actuator 230 is configured to move a latch mechanism 216 from a latched state to an unlatched state in quick fashion, and is further configured having sufficient power to move a latch mechanism 216 to a cinched state from a partially latched state, though having a compact size.
Latch mechanism 216 (
Pawl release link 236 can be moved to its pawl release position via selective actuation of power release actuator 230. Power release actuator 230 has an output, shown as being provided by an output member, also referred to as output shaft 248, which is operably connected or coupled to pawl 234 via a multistage reduction mechanism 250. Multistage reduction mechanism 250, when driven by power release actuator 230, is configured to move pawl release link 236 to its pawl release position, whereat pawl 234 is moved to its ratchet releasing position.
Pawl release link 236 is moved to its pawl release position via a first power takeoff of multistage reduction mechanism 250. Illustratively, multistage reduction mechanism 250 is formed using a geartrain of interconnected gears transferring upstream power from the motor 330 downstream to gears 353, 352, 356. Of course, other numbers of interconnected gears may be provided. First power takeoff is provided by a first gear train 2GR1 including a first driven gear 252 configured in meshed engagement with an output gear, also referred to a main drive gear or drive gear 253, wherein drive gear 253 is shown as a worm gear mounted on output shaft 248 and fixed for conjoint rotation with the output shaft 248 of power release actuator 230. Pawl release link 236 is operably coupled to first driven gear 252 for conjoint movement therewith, as first driven gear 252 is driven from its home position (
Multistage reduction mechanism includes a second power takeoff configured to drive a power cinch mechanism 90 (
To provide a lost motion relationship between first driven gear 252 and pinion gear 254, first driven gear 252 has at least one drive tab 98 and pinion includes at least one driven lug 99. When drive gear 253 drives first driven gear 252 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in
When desired to cinch power latch assembly 210, motor 230 is selectively powered to rotate drive gear 253 in a direction opposite that driven during a release of power latch assembly 210, thereby causing first driven gear 252 to be driven counterclockwise, as viewed in
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method 3000 of releasing a power latch assembly 210, 310 and cinching the power latch assembly 210, 310 of a closure panel 12 of a motor vehicle 14 is shown in
The method 3000 can further include a step 3300 of detecting whether the power latch assembly 210, 310 has been released and stopping the motor 230, 330 if the detecting indicates the power latch assembly 210, 310 has been released and detecting whether the power latch assembly 210, 310 has been cinched and stopping the motor 230, 330 if the detecting indicates the power latch assembly 210, 310 has been cinched.
The method 3000 can further include a step 3400 of coupling a first driven member 252, 352 to the pawl 234, 334 and coupling a second driven member 256, 356 to the ratchet 232, 332, and applying a first torque from the first driven member 252, 352 on the pawl 234, 334 upon operating the motor 230, 330 in the first mode and applying a second torque from the second driven member 256, 356 on the ratchet 232, 332 upon operating the motor 230, 330 in the second mode, with the second torque being greater than the first torque.
The method 3000 can further include a step 3500 of coupling the first driven member 252, 352 to the pawl 234, 334 with a pawl release link 236, 336 and coupling the second driven member 256, 356 to the ratchet 232, 332 with a cinch link 100, 106, and applying a first torque from the first driven member 252, 352 through the pawl release link 236, 336 on the pawl 234, 334 upon operating the motor 230, 330 in the first mode and applying the second torque from the second driven member 256, 356 through the cinch link 100, 106 on the ratchet 232, 332 upon operating the motor 230, 330 in the second mode.
The method 3000 can further include a step 3600 of configuring the first driven member 352 to rotate from a home position in a first direction to apply a first torque to the pawl 334 to cause the pawl 334 to move from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and, if the ratchet 332 remains in the striker capture position, to apply a second torque to the ratchet 332 after applying the first torque to the pawl 334, wherein the second torque is greater than the first torque.
Referring to
As will be detailed, latch assembly 310 is configured to be power-operated via selective actuation of a power release actuator, such as an electric motor 330. For reasons discussed hereafter, power release actuator 330 is able to be minimized in size, weight and power output, thereby enhancing the flexibility of design of the closure panel, while also reducing the cost associated therewith. Further yet, as discussed in further detail below, the power release actuator 330 is configured to move a latch mechanism 316 from a latched state to an unlatched state in a normal powered mode of operation; to move latch mechanism 316 from a latched state to an unlatched state in an ice break powered mode of operation; to move latch mechanism in a power cinch mode, and is further configured to move a latch mechanism 316 from a cinched/latched state to allow manual actuation from the latched state to an unlatched state in a crash unlock/cinch disengage mode, all with the single motor 330. Latch functions such as a latch power release function, a latch cinch function, a latch present/ice break function are illustrative examples of primary latch functions which can cause immediate action on the closure panel 12 such as movement of the closure panel 12 via the cinch and ice breaking/presenting function or allow for the movement of the closure panel 12 through unlatching of the power latch assembly via the power release function. Such primary functions may occur during the usual or regular operation of the power latch assembly e.g. during the normal operating mode of the power latch assembly. Accordingly, the single motor 330 is operable to provide power release actuator 330 having multiple functions for both normal, relative low force release; high force release, such as in ice build-up conditions; cinching, and emergency operations requiring manual release.
Latch mechanism 316 is configured to be contained in a housing (not shown) as discussed above for latch mechanism 216. Latch mechanism 316 includes a ratchet 332 and a pawl 334, and a release lever, also referred to as pawl release link, pawl release lever, secondary pawl or auxiliary pawl 336. Ratchet 332 is movable about a ratchet pin or rivet 332′ between a striker capture position, whereat ratchet 332 retains striker 18 with a striker slot of ratchet 332 and swing door 12 in closed position, and a striker release position, whereat ratchet 332 permits release of striker 18 from a fishmouth provided by latch housing of latch assembly 310 to allow movement of swing door 12 to the open position. As discussed above for latch assembly 10, a ratchet biasing member 340, such as a suitable spring, normally biases ratchet 332 toward its striker release position, and pawl 334, in response to movement of auxiliary pawl 336, is movable about a pawl pin or rivet 334′ between a ratchet holding position, whereat pawl 332 holds ratchet 332 in its striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position whereat pawl 334 permits ratchet 332 to move to its striker release position. In addition to ratchet biasing member 340, should increased resistance be acting on ratchet 332, such as from a build-up of ice, by way of example and without limitation, a first link, also referred to as cinch/ice brake link 106, is provided to act on ratchet 332 to overcome any such increased force on ratchet 332 to facilitate forcible movement of ratchet 332 to the striker release position, as discussed further below. A pawl biasing member 342, such as a suitable spring, is provided to normally bias pawl 334 toward its ratchet holding position.
To affect power release of latch mechanism 316, auxiliary pawl 336 can be moved to a pawl release position via selective actuation of power release actuator 330. Power release actuator 330 has an output, shown as being provided by an output member, also referred to as output shaft 348, which is operably connected or coupled to pawl 334 via auxiliary pawl 336 and a multistage reduction mechanism 350. Multistage reduction mechanism 350, when driven by power release actuator 330, is configured to move auxiliary pawl 336 to its pawl release position, whereat pawl 334 is moved to its ratchet releasing position, as discussed in more detail below.
Auxiliary pawl 336 is moved to its pawl release position via a first power takeoff of multistage reduction mechanism 350. First power takeoff is provided by a first gear set, also referred to as first gear train 3GR1, including first stage gear set having a first driven gear 352, configured in meshed engagement with an output gear, also referred to a main drive gear or drive gear 353, wherein drive gear 353 is shown as a worm gear mounted on output shaft 348 and fixed for conjoint rotation with the output shaft 348 of power release actuator 330. Auxiliary pawl 336 is operably coupled to first driven gear 352 for driven movement of auxiliary pawl 336, thereby driving pawl 334 toward the ratchet releasing position, as first driven gear 352 is driven from its home position (
In more detail, in
The free movement of ratchet 332 to the striker release position is facilitated by a lost-motion connection between cinch/ice break link 106 and ratchet 332 via a slot 121 and pin 122 coupling at the attachment location to ratchet 332 (
With the closure latch assembly 310 in the open position (
Accordingly, the actuation of the single motor 440, as discussed above, results in a “normal” mode of power release; an “ice break” mode of power release (under an increased torque relative to the normal mode when needed to move ratchet 332 to the striker release position), and a “power cinch” mode of power latching. The ice break/present function operates to move the closure panel 12 from the closed position to a partially presented position, for example between 35 to 75 mm distance away from the fully closed position of the closure panel 12, using an extendable and retractable member, such as a plunger as one example, or by powered action upon the ratchet in a manner as described herein in accordance with another illustrative example. Ice break/present function maybe operated to assist with the door opening during low temperatures, when ice build-up prevents normal opening of the closure panel 12, following a crash, or to assist with overcoming high seal loads as non-limiting examples.
In accordance with a further aspect, when manual release of closure latch assembly 310 is desired and/or needed, such as in a crash condition, by way of example and without limitation, motor 330 can be energized, such as in response to a signal detecting a crash condition, to transition latch mechanism 316 to a manual release mode (
To facilitate movement of cinch disengage link 126 in response to movement of first driven gear 352 in the clockwise direction, a central hub assembly 128 is provided in a lost-motion coupled arrangement with first driven gear 352, such that hub assembly is driven conjointly with first driven gear 352 in the clockwise direction, thereby driving cinch disengage link 126 and causing cinch/ice break link 106 to become decoupled from pin 117 providing a disengagement function of the cinch/ice break link 106 from the motor 330 and geartrain. In contrast, while first driven gear 352 is driven in the counterclockwise direction during normal use, central hub assembly 128 remains stationary or substantially stationary, whereby cinch disengage link 126 allows cinch/ice break link 106 to remain coupled with pin 117 in order to perform ice break and cinch functions, as discussed above.
Central hub assembly 128 includes a central lever 129 (
When first driven gear 352 is driven clockwise, a lug or lugs 138 (
Still referring to
Upon cinch disengage link 126 being uncoupled from pin 117, as shown in
Now referring back to
In accordance with a further aspect of the disclosure, a method of releasing a power latch assembly and presenting a closure panel of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprising: operating a motor of the power latch assembly in a first mode to rotate an output in a first direction to move a pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position and causing a ratchet to move from a striker capture position to a striker release position until the power latch assembly is released; and operating the motor of the power latch assembly in a second mode to drive a presenter from a retracted state to an extended state to move the closure panel to at least a partially open position.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/270,946, filed Oct. 22, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/226,167, filed Jul. 27, 2021, which are both incorporated herein by way of reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63226167 | Jul 2021 | US | |
| 63270946 | Oct 2021 | US |
