Vehicle lock controlled by a shape memory alloy actuator

• US 20050146147A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures, Inc.
• Inventors: Daniels, Andrew R., Mrkovic, Dragan, Niskanen, Jason David
• Granted Patent: US 7,364,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/336.300
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/26 specially adapted for child safety
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/28 for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/12 Inner door handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0908 Emergency operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A contractible shape memory alloy (SMA) wire is used to throw a lever in a latch. The SMA actuator provides weight and space savings. In one embodiment, the SMA actuator is incorporated in the handle of the latch in order to provide a child lock or double lock function. The handle has a lever which includes a relatively short slot leg and a relatively long slot leg. A toggle sits in the slot. At least one SMA wire is connected to the toggle to move it between the relatively short slot leg, wherein the lever is prevented from pivoting, and the relatively long slot leg, where the lever is enabled to pivot. In another embodiment, the SMA actuator is embedded in the latch itself, and used to throw a lever that controls the child lock function.

Claims

1. A handle assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a door handle lever pivotably mounted in the housing, the lever having a slot formed therein which includes a first short slot leg and a comparatively longer second slot leg;

a toggle mounted to the housing, the toggle including a tab seated in said lever slot;

at least one selectively contractible wire connected to said toggle in order to move said tab between the short slot leg, wherein the lever is prevented from pivoting, and the long slot leg, wherein the lever is enabled to pivot.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wire is formed from a shape memory alloy.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein said toggle is pivotably mounted to the housing and includes an arm having said tab depending therefrom.

4. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein a first section of said wire is electrically connected between a first terminal and the toggle and a second section of said wire is electrically connected between a second terminal and the toggle, and further including a controller for selectively contracting the first section of wire and selectively contracting the second section of wire, thereby selecting moving said tab between said first and second legs of said lever slot.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said toggle includes a spring connected to the housing for biasing the toggle arm to first and second positions required to situate the tab into the first and second slot legs.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the long slot leg is situated generally orthogonal to the short slot leg.

7. A handle assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a door handle lever pivotably mounted in the housing, the door handle lever having a slot and therein which includes a first short slot leg and a comparatively longer second slot leg;

an intermediate latch release lever, having a slot therein, pivotably mounted to the housing;

a link/toggle lever, having a slot therein, pivotably mounted to the housing and movable between first and second positions;

a pin floatingly disposed in the slots of the door handle lever, the intermediate latch release, and the link/toggle lever; and

at least one selectively contractible wire connected to the link/toggle lever in order to move it between said first position, wherein the pin is forced into said short slot leg so as to kinematically couple the door handle lever to the intermediate latch release lever, and said second position, wherein the pin is forced into the long slot leg and the door handle lever is not kinematically coupled to the intermediate latch release lever.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the wire is formed from a shape memory alloy.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, including a spring connected between the link/toggle lever and the housing for biasing the lever to said first or second positions.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein a first section of said wire is electrically connected between a first terminal and the link/toggle lever and a second section of said wire is electrically connected between a second terminal and the link/toggle lever, and further including a controller for selectively contracting the first section of wire and selectively contracting the second section of wire, thereby selecting moving the link/toggle lever between said first and second positions.

11. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the long slot leg is situated generally orthogonal to the short slot leg.

12. In a latch which is activated by throwing a lever, an improvement comprising at least two separate contractible wires for throwing the lever, wherein each contractible wire is linearly routed between the lever and an electrical contact terminal without contacting any other part of the latch.

13. The latch according to claim 12, wherein one of the contractible wires throws the lever into a first position and the other contractible wire throws the lever into a second position.

14. The latch according to claim 13, wherein a first end in each said wire is electrically connected to a terminal and a second end of each said wire is electrically connected to a conductive metal crimp, thereby forming a circuit.

15. The latch according to claim 14, wherein each said contractible wire is formed from a shaped memory alloy.

16. The latch according to claim 15, wherein the shaped memory alloy is a ternary shaped memory alloy.