Passive entry side door latch release system

• US 7,270,029 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Venky, Papanikolaou, Kosta, Loschiavo, James Joseph, Merideth, Marcus Edward, Patel, Bhupandra
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERLINO, ALYSON MARIE
• Application Number:
  US11/460,279
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/279, 292/280, 292/DIG.23, 292/22, 292/39, 292/51, 292/112, 292/160, 292/172, 292/142, 292/199, 745/02, 745/30, 745/33, 744/22, 744/25, 492/80, 242/388.2, 242/396.4, 192/223.1, 185/37
• 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 to a door latch, said door latch release system comprising:

a moveable linkage assembly engageable with the release cable;

a motor including an output shaft selectably engageable with a tensioning gear selectably engageable to drive a ratcheting gearwheel rotatably affixed to a coil spring, said ratcheting gearwheel 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; and

at least one pivotable ratcheting pawl selectably engageable with said ratcheting gearwheel to one of allow and prevent rotation of said ratcheting gearwheel,

wherein operation of said motor in a first motor rotary direction selectably drives said tensioning gear to drive said ratcheting gearwheel in a first gear rotary direction to energize said coil spring, and operation of said motor in a second opposite motor rotary direction selectably disengages said ratcheting pawl to allow stored energy in said coil spring to drive said ratcheting gearwheel in a second opposite gear rotary direction 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, wherein said linkage assembly includes at least one aperture for insertion of at least one cable, 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. A door latch release system according to claim 1, wherein said motor output shaft is selectably engageable with said tensioning gear or with said ratcheting pawl respectively by a first clutch plate engageable with a second clutch plate to drive said tensioning gear and by said first clutch plate engageable with a third clutch plate to disengage said ratcheting pawl from said ratcheting gearwheel.

6. A door latch release system according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic control unit for controlling said motor.

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

a moveable linkage assembly engageable with the release cable;

a motor including an output shaft engaged with a tensioning gear for driving a ratcheting gearwheel rotatably affixed to a coil spring, said ratcheting gearwheel 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; and

at least one pivotable ratcheting pawl selectably engageable with said ratcheting gearwheel to one of allow and prevent rotation of said ratcheting gearwheel,

wherein operation of said motor drives said tensioning gear to drive said ratcheting gearwheel in a first gear rotary direction to energize said coil spring, and disengagement of said ratcheting pawl from said ratcheting gearwheel allows stored energy in said coil spring to drive said ratcheting gearwheel in a second opposite gear rotary direction to thereby drive said rack to move the release cable to unlatch the door latch.

8. A door latch release system according to claim 7, wherein said linkage assembly includes at least one aperture for insertion of at least one cable, 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.

9. A door latch release system according to claim 7, wherein said linkage assembly is spring biased towards the release cable to maintain the door latch in a latched configuration.

10. A door latch release system according to claim 7, 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.

11. A door latch release system according to claim 7, wherein said motor output shaft is engageable with said tensioning gear or with said ratcheting pawl respectively by a first clutch plate engageable with a second clutch plate to drive said tensioning gear and by said first clutch plate engageable with a third clutch plate to disengage said ratcheting pawl from said ratcheting gearwheel.

12. A door latch release system according to claim 7, wherein said ratcheting pawl is disengageable from said ratcheting gearwheel by one of an actuator, a further motor and a solenoid.

13. A door latch release system according to claim 7, further comprising an electronic control unit for controlling said motor.