Patent Application
20070245780
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent when reading the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, given as an example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:
The invention provides an assembly including a lock and a door module. The door module forms a separation between a dry zone and a wet zone. The door module includes a lock attachment interface, the attachment interface being the only passage for the lock between the two zones. This allows for simpler assembly of the lock on the door module, and in particular a simpler configuration of the door module because the number of points of contact between the door module and the lock is reduced. This also simplifies the mounting of the door.
A wet zone W of the vehicle door 10 is between the outer skin 12 and the inner skin 14 (the shell 18). The wet zone W is not insulated from external moisture. The inner skin 14 separates the wet zone W from the inside of the vehicle. The inside of the vehicle is considered to be a dry zone. D. The components of the vehicle door 10 situated in the dry zone D are protected from external moisture. In one example, the components of the vehicle door that are moisture-sensitive are situated in the dry zone D. In one example, the inner skin 14 is covered with a door trim covering (not shown).
The vehicle door 10 can include different components. As an example, the window regulator already referred to above can be included. The window regulator can be electric, with the movement of the slide 22 and the window 16 being provided by an electric motor. In one example, the electric motor is in the dry zone D to be insulated from the stresses of external moisture. As an example of other components of the vehicle door 10, a door lock 28 can also be included.
The vehicle door 10 can include a door module. The door module 14 is partly the inner skin 14. The door module 14 is in the plane of the vehicle. The shell 18 is delimited transversely partly by the door module 14. The door module 14 can create a separation between the wet zone W and the dry zone D. The door module 14 can also allow for the holding of at least some of the aforementioned components in the vehicle door 10, mounted in the vehicle door 10, and/or be used to carry others. The advantage is in particular in the mounting of the aforementioned components directly on the door module 14, then mounting the door module 14 on the vehicle door 10. The door module 14 and the vehicle door 10 components together thus form an assembly mounted as a unit on the vehicle door 10. This makes it possible to simplify the assembly of the door components on the vehicle door 10. Thus, the window regulator and the lock 28 can be mounted on the door module 14 before attachment of the door module 14 to the vehicle door 10. The mounting of the door module 14 on the vehicle door 10 makes it possible to close the door shell 18 and to separate the wet zone W and the dry zone D.
According to
The lock 28 makes it possible to immobilize the vehicle door 10 relative to the vehicle in the closed position of the vehicle door 10. In one example, the lock 28 is mounted on an edge of the vehicle door 10. When the vehicle door 10 is closed, a latch of the lock 28 is hooked to a striker mounted on the vehicle.
In one example, the lock 28 is mounted in the shell 18 of the vehicle door 10 for aesthetic purposes. Thus, in
A passage for the lock 28 can be provided through the door module 14. The passage for the lock 28 is in particular provided through the inner skin 14 of the vehicle door 10. In particular, the door module 14 can be formed to include an attachment interface 32 for attachment of the lock 28 to the door module 14, the attachment interface 32 ensuring the passage for the lock 28 between the wet zone W and the dry zone D. This makes it possible to take advantage of the configuration of the door module 14 that is provided for the attachment of the lock 28 to provide a passage for the lock 28 through the door module 14. This makes it possible to reduce the number of points of contact between the lock 28 and the door module 14, which facilitates the construction of the door module 14. In particular, this makes it possible to reduce the number of openings for passage of the lock 28 through the door module 14, which makes it possible to reduce the use of seals on these openings. This makes it possible to reduce the production costs of the door module 14. In one example, the attachment interface 32 is the only passage for the lock 28 between the wet zone W and the dry zone D. The attachment interface 32 is the only passage for the lock 28 through the door module 14. This makes it possible to produce only one opening for passage of the lock 28, which further facilitates the production of the door module 14. In particular, as there is only one opening for the lock 28 through the door module 14, this makes it possible to provide only one seal is provided between the lock 28 and the door module 14. The production costs for the assembly of the lock 28 to the door module 14 are reduced.
The attachment interface 32 includes a passage through the door module 14 for the lock 28, making it possible to pass components of the lock 28 from one zone to the other zone. For example, these components are the lock control components 30. The lock control components 30 can also be structural components of the lock 28, such as a fastener 34 attaching the lock 28 to the door module 14. As a result of the attachment interface 32 allowing the passage of the lock 28, it is possible to avoid having to form the door module 14 at one point for the passage of the component inner lock release cable 302, at one point for the passage of the wiring harness 304, and at another point for the attachment of the lock 28. There is only one point of contact between the lock 28 and the door module 14.
The fastener 34 described allows for the attachment of the lock 28 to the door module 14.
However, the lock 28 is also attached by other conventional ways to the vehicle door 10, and in particular on the edge of the vehicle door 10. Thus, the fastener 34 allows for provisional and preliminary attachment of the lock 28 to the door module 14 before mounting in the vehicle door 10. Once the door module 14 is attached to the vehicle door 10, and in particular once the door module 14 is attached to the shell 18 of the vehicle door 10, the lock 28 is also attached to an edge of the vehicle door 10. Clearance can be provided between the fastener 34 and the door module 14 to allow for permanent attachment to the edge of the vehicle door 10. The fastener 34 thus makes it possible to facilitate the mounting in the vehicle door 10 of the lock 28 and of the door module 14.
The lock 28 includes a casing. In
The lock 28 and door module 14 assembly can also include a seal 36. The seal 36 allows for sealing between the dry zone D and the wet zone W at the point of attachment of the lock 28 to the door module 14. When the lock 28 is in place on the door module 14, the seal 36 is on the attachment interface 32, the fastener 34 is in the dry zone D and the casing is in the wet zone W. The seal 36 is, for example, a gaiter seal. It may also be envisaged that the fastener 34 is not in a single piece with the casing of the lock 28, but rather is attached to the casing by the seal 36. Moreover, the lock control components 30 can extend from one zone to the other zone through the seal 36. The inner lock release cable 302 and the wiring harness 304 do not then extend through the fastener 34.
Furthermore, the lock 28 can also include another seal for ensuring sealing between the two zones W and D. The lock seal is, for example, in the passage opening in the fastener 34. The lock control components 30 can extend from one zone to the other zone through the fastener seal. This seal can be provided with holes through which the lock control components 30 are drawn.
Thus, the lock control components 30 can extend through the interface from one zone to the other zone through the seal 36 situated between the door module 14 and the lock 28 or through the seal situated in the fastener 34. One or other of the solutions is adopted according to the space available and according to the shape to be given to the seal. The lock control components 30 can also each pass through one of the seals.
Of course, this invention is not limited to the embodiments described as an example. Thus, it is not limited to the components of the lock described and which extend from one zone to the other zone.
The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than using the example embodiments which have been specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06 03 659 | Apr 2006 | FR | national |
