Device for unlocking doors

• US 5,992,194 A
• Filed: 11/05/1996
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Baukholt, Theo, Rathmann, Klaus-Peter, Lubben, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US08/744,205
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 70/275, 70/279, 70/277, 70/264, 292/144, 292/201, 292/216, 292/336.3, 292/DIG. 23
• US Class Current: 70/279.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 51/023 actuated in response to external pressure, blast or explosion E05B65/102 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/12 Automatic locking or unlocking at the moment of collision
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/10 Hydraulic or pneumatic hydraulic or pneumatic circuits E05B81/52
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/16 operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/34 of geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/66 the bolt position, i.e. the latching status
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/243 with a bifurcated bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/65 Central control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

A lock including a device for unlocking the door of a motor vehicle in case of a malfunction of the lock, as in the event of an accident of the motor vehicle, to open the lock or allow the lock to be reliably opened manually. The unlocking is triggered by a setting device which can be operated during a malfunction independently of a supply of electric current for unlocking the door. Also included in the lock is a rotary latch for engaging a closure wedge upon a locking of the door, and a pawl which holds the latch in a locked position during normal locking of the door, but releasing the latch upon operation of the setting device in the event of a sensed malfunction.

Claims

1. A vehicular door lock including a device for unlocking the door of a motor vehicle in the event of a malfunction of the door lock, comprising:

a setting device which unlocks the door, the setting device being operable without the feeding of current thereto in the event of the malfunction;

a rotary latch, a closure wedge, and a pawl, the wedge being engagable by the latch during a locking of the door, and the latch being held in a locking position by the pawl during the locking of the door;

wherein upon the actuation of the pawl, the rotary latch is movable into at least one open position, and the pawl is movable by a setting movement of said setting device directly or indirectly from the locking position into an open position;

said setting device is a pneumatic setting device which has a setting element which is functionally connectable with the pawl in the event of a malfunction for direct actuation of the pawl; and

wherein

said pneumatic setting device comprises a housing, and a membrane which is prestressed against an enclosed space within the housing and is connected to said setting element, the setting element being arranged within the housing.

2. A vehicular door lock including a device for unlocking the door of a motor vehicle in the event of a malfunction of the door lock, comprising:

a setting device which unlocks the door, the setting device being operable without the feeding of current thereto in the event of the malfunction;

a rotary latch, a closure wedge, and a pawl, the wedge being engagable by the latch during a locking of the door, and the latch being held in a locking position by the pawl during the locking of the door;

wherein upon the actuation of the pawl, the rotary latch is movable into at least one open position, and the pawl is movable by a setting movement of said setting device directly or indirectly from the locking position into an open position;

said setting device is a pneumatic setting device which has a setting element which, in the event of a malfunction, functionally connects said transmission device with the pawl to enable indirect manual actuation of the pawl; and

wherein

said pneumatic setting device comprises a housing, and a membrane which is prestressed against an enclosed space within the housing and is connected to said setting element, the setting element being arranged within the housing.

3. A vehicular door lock including a device for unlocking the door of a motor vehicle in the event of a malfunction of the door lock, comprising:

a setting device which unlocks the door, the setting device being operable without the feeding of current thereto in the event of the malfunction;

a rotary latch, a closure wedge, and a pawl, the wedge being engagable by the latch during a locking of the door, and the latch being held in a locking position by the pawl during the locking of the door;

wherein upon the actuation of the pawl, the rotary latch is movable into at least one open position, and the pawl is movable by a setting movement of said setting device directly or indirectly from the locking position into an open position;

a pyrotechnic or gas generator; and

wherein the setting movement of said setting device can be brought about by a pressure which is produced by said pyrotechnic or gas generator upon ignition of the pyrotechnic or gas generator.

4. A vehicular door lock including a device for unlocking the door of a motor vehicle in the event of a malfunction of the door lock, comprising:

a setting device which unlocks the door, the setting device being operable without the feeding of current thereto in the event of the malfunction; and

a rotary latch, a closure wedge, and a pawl, the wedge being engagable by the latch during a locking of the door, and the latch being held in a locking position by the pawl during the locking of the door;

wherein upon the actuation of the pawl, the rotary latch is movable into at least one open position, and the pawl is movable by a setting movement of said setting device directly or indirectly from the locking position into an open position;

said setting device comprises means for sensing a malfunction, and trigger means for triggering the setting movement of said setting device upon a sensing of said malfunction, said trigger means being an ignitable pyrotechnic or gas generator.

5. The lock according to claim 4, wherein

said setting device comprises at least one electromechanically operating sensor for detecting the malfunction, said sensor giving off, directly or with time delay, a signal for igniting the pyrotechnic or gas generator whereby the movement of the setting element is triggered.