Lock actuator for a pair of locks

• US 4,702,117 A
• Filed: 03/31/1986
• Issued: 10/27/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kokusan Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ozawa, Takurou, Tsutsumi, Sunsaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Cornelius J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US06/846,157
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 74/89.17, 74/89.2, 74/471 R, 74/501 R, 74/501 A, 70/256, 70/257, 70/241, 292/201, 292/171, 292/172, 292/225, 292/226, 292/336.5, 292/DIG. 42, 254/230, 254/241
• US Class Current: 74/89.17
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/25 Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0993 Gear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1057 Flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/59 Rollback and spindle connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18808 with rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20012 Multiple controlled elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20462 Specific cable connector or guide

Abstract

A vehicle use-lock actuator is proposed comprising a stationary housing and a reversible drive motor for locking and unlocking successively two remotely positioned locks. In this actuator, the drive motor is mounted within the housing in a hidden position. There is a single control slide for keeping normally respective wire cables at their neutral position for keeping in turn the locks in their locked position. There is provided within the housing a three stage reduction and reversely accelerating gearing between the drive motor and the control slide. The first stage includes a crown gear, while the third stage includes rack teeth which is united rigidly with the control slide.

Claims

1. Lock actuator comprising:

a container housing;

a drive motor of reversible type and mounted in the container housing;

a remote ontrol switching unit for operation control of the said drive motor;

an operation control slide mounted in the container housing and translatable in a reciprocatable manner;

a first operation-transmitting wire cable leading from said slide to one of a pair of locks;

a second operation-transmitting wire cable leading from said slide to another of said pair of locks;

inner, motion-receiving enlarged heads of each of said operation-transmitting wire cables being arranged such that said enlarged heads face one another;

an at least two stage, reversible reduction gearing arranged between said drive motor and said operation control slide, the latter having three operating positions, one of which is offset relative to a neutral position for pullingly actuating the first wire cable;

a second one of which is said neutral position and a third one of which is offset oppositely from said one position for pullingly actuating the second wire cable.

2. Lock actuation of claim 1, wherein said drive motor is an electric motor.

3. Lock actuator of claim 1, wherein said at least two stage reduction gearing is a three stage gearing which comprises crown gear teeth at its first stage and where in rack teeth are provided at its final stage, and further wherein the rack teeth are made integral with said operation control slide.

4. Lock actuator of claim 2, wherein said switching unit is a slide switch having three operating positions for putting said drive motor into forward drive, turning said drive motor off and putting said drive motor into reverse drive.

5. Lock actuator of claim 1, wherein said remote control switching unit is mounted in close proximity of a driver'"'"'s seat of an automotive vehicle.