The present invention relates to a locking mechanism operating a plurality of luggage compartment auxiliary drivers in vehicles and more particularly relates to a luggage compartment locking mechanism that enables a remote-control operation especially in buses.
Devices for operating a plurality of luggage compartment flap locks in buses are known in the art. Those devices are designed in the manner to operate a plurality of locks at the same and to enable access to operate the mechanism from inside the compartment.
It is known in the art that luggage compartment locking mechanisms are used to lock or unlock a handle of the luggage compartment. Among others, a prior art patent publication relevant to the technical field of the present invention can be referred to as US2008134734 (A1), disclosing an opening and closing apparatus of a luggage compartment door of a vehicle includes: a case mounted to the door; a handle in the case; a rod connected to the handle; a first plate mounted to the case, and rotatable in response to movement of the rod; a first link, movable m response to rotation of the first plate to unlatch the door; and a keyhole in the case.
In any case, the user has to go the handle of the locking mechanism to operate it. Further, the user has to completely open the handle to operate the locking system to bring to an “opened state”. Since a plurality of the connection rods has to be controlled, a significant amount of force to be need for operating the handle can also be challenging. Moreover, there is no fully automated locking system for a luggage compartment.
EP2325423 (A1) proposes locking mechanism body with a housing having a recess within which a front handle body extends in a manner to be rotatable to lock and unlock said locking mechanism. A transmission element extending to the rear side of said front handle body is joined to the front handle body so as to slidably drive a rear side actuator element on a guiding body, the actuator element being connected to a main rotary driver by means of a connection lever.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,799 B2 proposes a recreational vehicle (RV) with a central actuator that controls locking and unlocking of a plurality of access doors. Each of the access doors has a locking member that is interconnected to the central actuator. Thus, the central actuator may be configured to lock or unlock selected group of doors simultaneously. The central actuator is located inside the RV, and controlling input to the central actuator may be from a remote transmitter, or by direct manipulation of the central actuator. The locking members and the central actuator may be linked mechanically, electromagnetically, hydraulically, pneumatically, or in any number of ways.
EP2011939 (A1) proposes a lock mechanism used in association with pneumatic bus doors so as to enable inside and outside control of the door. The mechanism is essentially comprised of an internal handle for effecting unlocking from inside, an external handle along with an axial locking slot for receiving a key and inner mechanisms arranged to receive and transmit rotary movement of handles to latching elements via control rods. Linearly extending control rods are driven linearly through an adaptor region thereof, which is arranged to receive rotary movement of inner mechanisms and convert the same to linear movement without requiring additional bearing.
JPS6261860 (U) relates to a vehicle door lock device. According to the document, linking means and electromagnetic means are provided for preventing the linkage of the linkage means. A door can be opened and closed by operating a stopper with an operation member when the electromagnetic lock means allows the linkage of the linkage means, and when the linkage is blocked with the electromagnetic lock means.
Primary object of the invention is to provide a remote-control option in a luggage compartment locking mechanism such that the user can operate the connection rods of the axillary drivers only by pushing a button from outside the locking mechanism without any interference with the locking mechanism.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a luggage compartment locking mechanism in which manual operation is fully eliminated by providing a remote-control option.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a luggage compartment locking mechanism which is sufficient to operate the locking mechanism by only slightly pressed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a luggage compartment locking mechanism which allows to be operated by a remote-control device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a luggage compartment locking mechanism suitable for operating up to six locks from inside and outside the compartment respectively, ensuring a flexible locking mechanism adaptable to a variety of configurations required by different bus models.
The desired arrangement is also to be simple to handle and, with regard to its other functional characteristics, is to fully satisfy the existing requirements.
The present invention proposes a locking mechanism for luggage compartment doors of vehicles for operating a plurality of connection rods associated with auxiliary drivers, comprising: a main body; a rotary driver for driving the plurality of connection rods;
a handle body associated with a transmission element rigidly joined to said handle body to transmit displacement of said handle body to the rotary driver; and a longitudinal lock guide arranged to displace to selectively enable a retaining means associated with a guiding member bear against a tip portion of said transmission element to drive said rotary driver; and an elevator element slidably movable on said guiding member by said transmission element, wherein the elevator element is connected to a connection lever for rotating said rotary driver. Said locking mechanism comprises a remote actuation means which is arranged to move, in use, the rotary driver to control the plurality of connection rods from outside the locking mechanism; and a micro switch in relation with a micro switch protrusion for triggering the remote actuation means when the micro switch protrusion is moved away, wherein the micro switch protrusion is arranged on said elevator element.
Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a locking mechanism for a luggage compartment whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in detail hereinafter:
FIG. I I demonstrates a rear view of the locking mechanism body with an actuator assembly where the locking mechanism is in a “closed state” according to the present invention.
1. Main body
2. Front plate
3. Micro switch
3
a. Micro switch pin
4. Fastening plate
5. Attachment member
6. Movable part
7. Remote actuation means
8. Fastening member
9. Abutment portion
10
a, 10b Actuator assembly
11. Elevator element
12. Connection member
13. Handle body
14. Rotary driver
16. Connection lever
17. Actuator plate
18. Guiding member
19. Longitudinal lock guide
20. Tongue
21. Transmission element
22. Retaining means
23. Spring
25. Cavity
L. Tongue protrusion
27. Spring element
28. Elevator element housing
29. Closed region
30. Auxiliary drivers
31. Abutting portion
32. Locking protrusion
33. Housing of remote actuation means
34. Connection rod
35. Connection slot
36. Recess
38. Key hole device protrusion
39. Micro switch protrusion
40. Lock hole
100. Locking mechanism
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
Referring now to the figures outlined above, the present invention proposes a locking mechanism (100) for luggage compartment doors of vehicles for operating a plurality of connection rods (34) associated with auxiliary drivers (30), comprising: a main body (1); a rotary driver (14) arranged to drive, in use, the plurality of connection rods (34); a handle body (13) associated with a transmission element (21) rigidly joined to said handle body (13) to transmit displacement of said handle body (13) to the rotary driver (14); and a longitudinal lock guide (19) arranged to displace to selectively enable a retaining means (22) associated with a guiding member (18) bear against said transmission element's (21) tip portion to drive said rotary driver (14). Said locking mechanism (100) comprises a remote actuation means (7) which is arranged to move a portion of the rotary driver (14) for a rotational movement of the rotary driver (14) to operate the plurality of connection rods (34). An elevator element (11) has an elevator element housing (28) in which the retaining means (22) is kept when the locking mechanism (100) is brought into a closed position. Said elevator element (11) is slidably moved on said guiding member (18) by said transmission element (21), said elevator element (11) being connected to a connection lever (16) for rotating said rotary driver (14).
According to the present invention, the locking mechanism (100) can be moved by an actuator assembly (10a, 10b) or a keyhole device (not shown). Referring to the
In a possible embodiment, the actuator assembly (10b) can be a pneumatic linear actuator having a piston inside a hollow cylinder and wherein the longitudinal lock guide (19) has an abutting portion (31) arranged to be pushed by said piston of the pneumatic linear actuator as shown in
Referring to the
In a possible embodiment, referring to the
The present invention proposes a locking mechanism (100) for luggage compartment doors of vehicles for remote control. Even though, said key hole device and/or the actuator assembly (10a) can brought the locking mechanism (100) to an “open” or a “closed” state, a plurality of connection rods (34) associated with auxiliary drivers (30) are still kept in locked position. Only way to open said doors is to rotate said rotary driver (14) for actuation of the connection rods (34) by pressing the handle body (13) after the locking mechanism is brought into the “open” state.
Referring now to the
Referring to the
Said locking mechanism (100) further comprises a micro switch (3) having a micro switch body in which a micro switch pin (3a) extending partially outside, said micro switch pin (3a) being arranged to be pressed by a micro switch protrusion (39) with respect to the movement of the micro switch (3). Said micro switch protrusion (39) is arranged in the proximity of the micro switch (3), more preferably is arranged on said elevator element (11) that moves with said elevator element (11). The micro switch (3) is configured such that when the micro switch protrusion (39) moves away from said micro switch pin (3a), said micro switch (3) sends signal to said remote actuation means (7) to actuate such that as the user presses the handle body (13), the connection between the micro switch protrusion (39) and the micro switch pin (3a) is lost which results in that the remote actuation means is triggered for rotating the rotary driver (14). With this arrangement, the user can easily open the doors just only pressing the handle body (13). The present invention provides a locking system in which the user can easily control the locking system from outside, a special can be arranged at an interior area of the vehicle (i.e., dashboard). Further, when the user wants to control the locking mechanism (100) by using the handle body (13), said micro switch (3) sense the motion and triggers to remote actuation means to control and easily over the rotary member (14) said micro switch (3) sense the motion as the connection is lost due to micro switch protrusion (39) is moved away from the micro switch pin (3a).
Said transmission element (21) is pivotally coupled to the rotatable front plate (2) through a spring element (27) such that while pushing an upper planar region inwardly displaces said. transmission element (21) in the downward direction, pushing a lower planar region has no effect on the same as its displacement is prevented by a longitudinal lock guide (19).
Said longitudinal lock guide (9) is arranged such that it longitudinally displaces to enable said transmission element's (21) tip bear against a retaining means (22). Referring to the
When the locking protrusion (32) of the retaining means (22) is aligned to face said transmission element (21), displacement of said transmission element (21) moves the elevator element (11) which is guided on the guiding member (18). Said elevator element (11) being pivotally connected to a connection lever (16) therefore rotates the rotary driver (14) itself around a rotation axis of the rotary driver (14). The rotary driver (14) has a plurality of connection slots (35) being placed around the rotary driver (14) which are used for connection with auxiliary drivers (30) by means of connection rods (34). Said rotary driver (14) is rotated by said connection lever (16) against the force of a helical restoring spring (not shown) set up on the axis of said rotary driver (14).
The locking mechanism (100) according to the present invention is also suitable for operating up to six locks from inside and outside the compartment. It therefore provides a flexible locking mechanism adaptable to a variety of configurations required by different bus models with a remote-control option where the user can only press one button to operate said locking mechanism (100).
This application is the national phase entry of international Application No. PCT/TR2019/050107, filed on Feb. 15, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/TR2019/050107 | 2/15/2019 | WO | 00 |