Passive entry side door latch release system

• US 7,926,385 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Papanikolaou, Kosta, Merideth, Marcus Edward, Patel, Bhupendra, Krishnan, Venky, Loschiavo, James Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERLINO, ALYSON MARIE
• Application Number:
  US11/733,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20080250718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 74/530
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/0046 Ratchet mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/30 allowing opening by means of an inner door handle, even if the door is locked
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/25 Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/01 Mechanical arrangements specially adapted for hands-free locking or unlocking handles with means for initiation of a hands-free locking or unlocking process E05B81/78
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1967 Rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20654 Gear

Abstract

A vehicle passive entry side door latch release system engageable with a release cable connected a door latch includes a moveable linkage assembly engageable with the cable, and a motor including an output shaft engaged with a tensioning gear for driving a ratcheting gearwheel rotatably affixed to a coil spring, with the gearwheel including external teeth engageable with a rack affixed to the linkage to move the cable to unlatch the door latch. A pivotable ratcheting pawl may be engageable with the gearwheel to allow or prevent rotation of the gearwheel. Operation of the motor may drive the gear to drive the gearwheel in a rotary direction to energize the spring, and disengagement of the pawl from the gearwheel may allow stored energy in the spring to drive the gearwheel in an opposite rotary direction to thereby drive the rack to move the cable to unlatch the door latch.

Claims

1. A vehicle passive entry side door latch release system engageable with a release cable connected a door latch, said door latch release system comprising:

a movable linkage assembly engageable with the release cable; and

a motor including an output shaft having a first gear engaged with a second gear affixed to or formed with a third gear engaged with at least one ratcheting pawl engaged with internal gear teeth of a ring gear rotatably affixed to a coil spring, said ring gear including external teeth engageable with a rack affixed to or formed with said linkage assembly to move the release cable to unlatch the door latch,

wherein operation of said motor in a first motor rotary direction drives said first, second and third gears in a first gear rotary direction to rotatably engage said at least one ratcheting pawl against said internal gear teeth of said ring gear to rotate said ring gear in said first gear rotary direction to energize said coil spring, and operation of said motor in a second opposite motor rotary direction drives said first, second and third gears in a second opposite gear rotary direction to rotatably disengage said at least one ratcheting pawl from said internal gear teeth of said ring gear to allow stored energy in said coil spring to drive said ring gear in said second opposite gear rotary direction and to thereby drive said rack to move the release cable to unlatch the door latch.

2. A door latch release system according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic control unit for controlling said motor, and a freewheeling plate having at least one pin for rotatable attachment of said at least one ratcheting pawl.

3. A door latch release system according to claim 1, wherein said linkage assembly includes at least one aperture, and further includes a lever contiguously engaged with a leaf spring and attachable at one end thereof to a first cable attachable to said rack, attachable at a second opposite end thereof to a second cable attachable to an inside door handle, and attachable at an intermediate location thereof to the release cable.

4. A door latch release system according to claim 1, wherein said linkage assembly is spring biased towards the release cable to maintain the door latch in a latched configuration.

5. A door latch release system according to claim 1, wherein said linkage assembly includes a lever attachable at a first location thereof to a first cable attachable to said rack, attachable at a second location thereof to a second cable attachable to an inside door handle, and attachable at a third location thereof to the release cable.

6. A door latch release system according to claim 1, wherein said third gear includes external teeth for engaging with said at least one ratcheting pawl and said at least one ratcheting pawl is pivotable.