Electromechanical push to close latch

• US 7,731,250 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southco Incorporated (South Chester Tube Company)
• Original Assignee: Southco Incorporated (South Chester Tube Company)
• Inventors: Garneau, Gregory Gilbert, Speers, Robert Benson
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Application Number:
  US12/116,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20090001733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 292/144, 292/244, 292/279, 292/341.16, 292/DIG.11, 492/80
• US Class Current: 292/144
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/004 Lost motion connections
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/002 Geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0024 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0065 Operating modes; Transformable to different operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/12 with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the latch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/11 Cover fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0969 Spring projected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1097 Reversible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/307 Sliding catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled

Abstract

An electromechanical push to close latch has a pawl positioned for linear movement in a housing, with the pawl being biased to the outward extended position. An electric motor operates a cam to change the position of the pawl thereby retracting it into the housing. An electronic circuit board controls the operation of the electric motor under the direction of an outside control signal. The circuit board also senses the position of the pawl to stop the operation of the motor when the pawl is fully retracted. The pawl mounting can be reconfigured for the pawl to extend and thereby operate in a plurality of selectable directions.

Claims

1. An electromechanical latch having a pawl for engaging a striker, comprising:

a housing having a first and second portions;

wherein said pawl is mounted to and is operable within said second housing portion between a first latching and second unlatched positions, wherein said pawl is biased to said first position;

an electromotive assembly mounted in said first housing portion and including a motor operatively connected to a gear having a mounting surface;

a cam having a mounting surface connected to said gear mounting surface and rotated therewith, said cam having an engaging surface, opposed to said gear mounting surface, being engageable with said pawl to move said pawl to said second position; and

a circuit connected to control said electromotive assembly operation;

wherein said second housing portion is interchangeably mountable with respect to said first housing portion in any one of several different mounting combinations of rotational orientation by having said cam is interchangeably mountable with respect to said gear in any one of several different mounting combinations of rotational orientation whereof said cam is mounted on said gear in one said orientation.

2. The latch of claim 1 , wherein said motor has an output shaft, wherein said pawl biasing includes a spring member biasing said pawl, wherein said gear is connected to said motor output shaft, and wherein said first housing portion holds said motor and said control circuit, and said second housing portion holds said pawl, said spring member, and said gear.

3. The latch of claim 2, wherein said pawl second position is an extended position, wherein said housing second portion mounting orientation to said housing first portion is selectable to provide for one of several different pawl extension directions, these pawl extension directions being oriented with respect to said housing first portion.

4. The latch of claim 3, wherein said several pawl extension directions include the right side direction, left side direction and the end of said housing direction.

5. The latch of claim 2, wherein said pawl second position is an extended position, wherein said housing second portion is selectively mountable in different orientations to said housing first portion to provide one of a plurality of pawl extension directions, said directions being oriented with respect to said housing first portion.

6. The latch of claim 5, wherein said plural pawl extension directions include at least two of the right side of said housing direction, left side of said housing direction and end of said housing direction.

7. An electromechanical latch assembly comprising:

a housing having a first and second portions;

a pawl for engaging a striker, wherein said pawl is movable within said housing second portion between an latch and an unlatch position;

an electrical motor and a circuit mounted in said first housing portion, said circuit controlling said electrical motor operation;

a connection between said electrical motor and said pawl enabling pawl movement by said electrical motor;

wherein said connection permits said second housing portion to be selectively reoriented with respect to said first housing portion to enable said pawl to operate in any one of alternate movement operating directions selected with respect to said electrical motor orientation;

wherein said connection includes a gear with a cam mounted thereon for cam rotation with said gear rotation, and wherein said pawl includes a cam follower cavity to which said cam is engageable, wherein the gear and cam are reorientable with respect to said cam engagement with the cam follower cavity depending upon the pawl operation direction selected.

8. The electromechanical latch of claim 7, also including:

a biasing member urging said pawl to an extended position with respect to said housing,

wherein said gear has a hub, and

wherein said cam is mounted on said gear hub and positioned to engage said pawl.

9. The electromechanical latch of claim 7, wherein said pawl is selectively reorientable to selectively extend in one of several directions.

10. An electromechanical latch assembly comprising:

a housing having a first and second portions;

a pawl for engaging a striker, wherein said pawl is movable within said second housing portion;

an electrical motive member, and a circuit controlling said electrical motive member operation, said electrical motive member and said circuit both being mounted to said first housing portion, said electrical motive member being an electrical motor having a shaft extension;

a connection between said electrical motive member and said pawl enabling pawl movement by said electrical motive member;

wherein said connection permits said second housing portion to be selectively reoriented with respect to said first housing portion to enable said pawl to operate in any one of alternate movement operating directions selected with respect to said electrical motive member orientation;

wherein said pawl is selectively reorientable to selectively extend in a direction selected from right hand, left hand and forward directions with respect to the motor shaft extension;

wherein said connection includes a gear with a cam mounted thereon for cam rotation with said gear rotation, and wherein said pawl includes a cam follower cavity to which said cam is engageable, wherein the gear and cam are reorientable with respect to said cam engagement with the cam follower cavity depending upon the pawl operation direction selected.

11. The latch assembly of claim 10, wherein said cam follower camming surface has a curved portion and a straight portion.

12. The latch assembly of claim 10, wherein said cam rotates in only one direction.

13. The latch assembly of claim 12, wherein said cam rotation is stopped after 180 degrees of rotation under said control circuit control of said electrical motive member.

14. The latch assembly of claim 13, wherein when said cam rotation is continued to 360 degrees of rotation, said pawl is free to move free of said cam and cam follower camming surface engagement.