Latch Apparatus

• US 20150145265A1
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Original Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Inventors: Weinerman, Lee S., Lugas, Grant A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,809,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/199
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/28 Linearly reciprocating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/34 of geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1079 Gear

Abstract

An actuator (24, 528, 606) is configured to cause a latch assembly (22, 322, 422, 522, 526, 604) to be changed from a closed condition in which an item is latched, to an open condition in which the item is unlatched. A catch jaw (30, 530) is operative in a first position to engage a member (106) connected to the item when the latch assembly is in the closed condition. The catch jaw in a second position enables the member to disengage from the catch jaw when the latch assembly is in the open condition. The actuator assembly includes a drive (152, 526, 608) and a gear system (157, 563, 610). The gear system is operative to move a release member (174, 538, 612). The release member is configured to be in operative connection with the catch jaw such that the movement of the release member causes the catch jaw to be enabled to move to the second position.

Claims

1. An actuator apparatus configured to change a latch assembly from a closed condition in which an item is latched and generally held immovable relative to the latch assembly, to an open condition in which the item is unlatched and movable relative to the latch assembly, and wherein the latch assembly includes a movable catch jaw, wherein the catch jaw in a first position is operative to engage a member operatively connected with the item when the latch assembly is in the closed condition, wherein the catch jaw in the second position is operative to enable the member to disengage from the catch jaw when the latch assembly is in the open condition,

the actuator apparatus comprising:

a drive and a gear system, wherein the gear system is in operative connection with the drive,

wherein the gear system includes a movable release member, wherein the release member is configured to move linearly straight along a first direction in response to operation of the drive, wherein the release member is configured to be in operative connection with the catch jaw such that movement of the release member in the first direction enables the catch jaw to be movable to the second position,

wherein the actuator apparatus is configured to be releasably engaged with the latch assembly.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing encloses the drive and the gear system.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising:

a switch, wherein the switch is configured to be in operative connection with the catch jaw,

and wherein the switch is operative to detect that the catch jaw is in at least one of the first position and the second position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3

wherein the switch extends in the housing, and wherein the switch includes a switch body and a plunger, wherein the switch body is housed within the housing and wherein the plunger extends outside the housing,

wherein the switch is configured such that the catch jaw is operatively engageable with the plunger and is operative to cause the plunger to move relative to the switch body responsive at least in part to movement of the catch jaw from the second position to the first position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3

wherein the latch assembly further includes a movable release pawl, wherein the release pawl includes a projection and a step surface, and wherein the catch jaw includes a projection engaging recess, wherein the projection engaging recess is configured to engage the projection, and wherein engagement of the projection and the projection engaging recess is operative to hold the catch jaw in the first position,

wherein movement of the release member in the first direction is operative to cause operative moving engagement of the release pawl and the step surface, wherein the release pawl is moved responsive to the release member to cause the projection to move relative to the projection engaging recess such that the catch jaw is enabled to move from the first position to the second position.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5

wherein the gear system includes

a linear gear rack, wherein the linear gear rack is in fixed operative connection with the release member.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6

wherein the release member includes a straight linear moving finger in operative connection therewith, wherein the finger extends outside the housing, and wherein the finger is configured to movably engage the step surface.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7

wherein the release pawl includes a release projection, wherein the release projection includes the step surface,

and wherein the release member includes a release projection engaging recess, wherein the release projection engaging recess is configured to accept the release projection therein.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7

wherein the gear system includes at least one pair of reduction gears, wherein the pair of reduction gears includes

a relatively larger arcuate gear portion and relatively smaller coaxial pinion gear portion in fixed operative connection with the relatively larger arcuate gear portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9

wherein the gear system includes at least two pairs of reduction gears.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9

wherein the drive includes a rotatable drive shaft and a drive pinion gear in operative connection with the drive shaft,

wherein the drive pinion gear is engaged directly with the relatively larger arcuate gear portion.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11

wherein the gear system includes two pairs of reduction gears,

wherein the drive pinion gear is directly engaged with the relatively larger arcuate gear portion of a first reduction gear pair,

wherein the relatively larger arcuate gear portion of a second pair is directly engaged with the relatively smaller pinion gear portion of the first reduction gear pair.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12

wherein the first pair of reduction gears is rotatable relative to the housing about a first axis of rotation,

wherein the second pair of reduction gears is rotatable relative to the housing about a second axis of rotation,

wherein the rotatable drive shaft extends perpendicular relative to the first axis of rotation that extends at an angle other than perpendicular to a line projecting through the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9

wherein the release pawl includes a further step surface, wherein the further step surface is configured to be movably engageable with a movable release lever,

wherein the release pawl is movable to cause release movement of the projection and the projection engaging recess of the catch jaw responsive to movement of the release lever.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14

wherein the release lever is movably mounted in supported operative connection with the actuator housing.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15

wherein the release lever includes an aperture, and wherein the further step surface is extendable in the aperture.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15

wherein the housing includes an externally accessible guide slot,

wherein the release lever is movable relative to the housing in the guide slot.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 and further comprising:

a trip release member, wherein the trip release member is movably mounted in supported operative connection with the housing,

wherein movement of the trip release lever relative to the housing is operative to cause release member movement in the first direction without operation of the drive.

19. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising:

a trip release member, wherein the trip release member is movably mounted in supported operative connection with the housing,

wherein movement of the trip release lever relative to the housing is operative to cause release member movement in the first direction without operation of the drive.

20. Apparatus comprising:

an actuator configured to operate a latch, wherein the latch is configured to be in a closed condition wherein the latch engages an item, and a open condition wherein the latch disengages the item, wherein the latch includes a movable catch jaw, wherein the catch jaw is operative in a first position to engage a member operatively connected to the item when the latch is in the closed condition, and wherein the catch jaw is operative in a second position to enable the member to disengage from the catch jaw when the latch is in the open condition,

wherein the actuator includes a drive and a release member, wherein the drive is in operative connection with the release member, wherein the release member is in operative connection with the catch jaw, wherein the release member is operative to linearly move along a straight line in a first direction in response to operation of the drive, wherein the linear movement of the release member in the first direction enables the catch jaw to be movable from the first position to the second position.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20

wherein the latch further includes a movable release pawl, wherein the release pawl is in operative connection with the catch jaw, wherein the release pawl is operative in a first pawl position to engagingly hold the catch jaw in the first position, and wherein movement of the release pawl to a second pawl position enables the catch jaw to be movable from the first position to the second position,

wherein the release pawl includes a release projection, wherein the release projection is movable in operative engagement with the release member.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21

wherein the release member includes a release projection engaging recess, wherein the release projection extends in the release projection engaging recess.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21

wherein the actuator includes a housing, wherein the housing generally surrounds the drive,

wherein the release pawl of the latch includes a further release projection,

a release lever, wherein the release lever is movably mounted in supported operative connection with the housing,

wherein the release lever is movably engageable with the further release projection, wherein movement of the release lever is operative to cause movement of the release pawl to enable the catch jaw to be movable from the first position to the second position without movement of the release member.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21

wherein the actuator further includes a housing, wherein the housing houses the drive,

and further including

a trip release member movably mounted in supported operative connection with the housing, wherein the trip release lever is configured to cause release member movement in the first direction responsive to movement of the trip release lever without operation of the drive.