Rotary-latch lock

• US 20040232706A1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Witte-Velbert GmbH & Company KG (Witte Automotive GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Witte-Velbert GmbH & Company KG (Witte Automotive GmbH)
• Inventors: Kurten, Ralf, Ruckert, Edvard
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0016 with linearly reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0023 Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0031 of the elastic type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/15 with means preventing the detent to return to its latching position before the bolt has moved to the unlatched position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/25 Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/40 Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/22 Inertia operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1092 Swinging catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary-latch lock (1) having a rotary latch (6) which is retained in a locked position by a catch (9), and having an actuating member (19) which can be displaced by an electric motor from a starting position into an actuating position and is intended for pivoting the catch (9) into a release position, in which the rotary latch (6) can pivot into an open position. In order to optimize the functioning of the rotary-latch lock, the invention proposes to provide a release member (24) which by means of the rotary latch (6), as the latter rotates into the open position, releases the actuating member (19) for the catch (9) for return displacement into the starting position.

Claims

1. A rotary-latch lock (1) having a rotary latch (6) which is retained in a locked position by a catch (9), and having an actuating member (19) which can be displaced by an electric motor from a starting position into an actuating position and is intended for pivoting the catch (9) into a release position, in which the rotary latch (6) can pivot into an open position, characterized by a release member (24) which by means of the rotary latch (6), as the latter rotates into the open position, releases the actuating member (19) for the catch (9) for return displacement into the starting position.

2. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 1 or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the actuating member (19) can be displaced from the starting position into the actuating position counter to the restoring force of a spring (20).

3. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the actuating member (19) is an axially displaceable worm which is arranged in a non-rotatable manner on a shaft (15) which is driven in rotation by a motor, a protrusion (23) of the release member (24) engaging in the worm helix (22).

4. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the spring (20) is a helical compression spring which is seated on the shaft (15).

5. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the actuating member (19) acts on a disengaging section of a catch arrangement.

6. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the shaft (15) engages through the fork interior (14) of a fork-like end (13) of the catch (9), said end forming the disengaging section.

7. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the release member (24) is a lever which can be pivoted about a lock-housing-mounted pin (25).

8. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the protrusion (23) is assigned to one lever arm (26) and another lever arm (27), in particular of the same release member (24), follows the rotary latch (6), in contact therewith.

9. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by a disengaging protrusion (28) which projects radially from the rotary latch (6) and is intended for the other lever arm (27) of the release member (24).

10. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the shaft (15) runs up against a block when the release position of the catch (9) is reached.

11. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by a stop (30) which is assigned in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft (15), in particular at the end thereof, and strikes against a mating stop (31) when the release position of the catch (9) is reached.

12. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or in particular as claimed therein, characterized by the fact that the stop (30) is a radial protrusion and the mating stop (31) is assigned to the disengaging section.