Multi-pull latch and lock systems for compartment closure assemblies of motor vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007972-B2
Application number	US-201715712218-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2017
Priority date	Sep 22, 2017
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed are lock mechanisms for latch assemblies of vehicle compartment hoods, methods for making or using such lock mechanisms, and motor vehicles equipped with a multi-pull latch and lock system for releasably locking a hood assembly. A lock mechanism includes a gear that couples a closure latch to a latch release mechanism. The gear moves between a latched position, whereat the closure latch secures the closure in a closed position, and an unlatched position, whereat the gear transfers activation forces from the release mechanism to disengage the closure latch from the closure. A pawl is movable between a locked position, whereat the pawl engages and locks the gear in the latched position, and an unlocked position, whereat the pawl disengages the gear. An actuator is operatively engaged with a vehicle door to automatically move the pawl to the unlocked position responsive to movement of the door to an open position.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A lock mechanism for a latch system of a closure assembly movably mounted to a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a vehicle body and a vehicle door, the latch system including a closure latch releasably securing the closure assembly in a closed position, and a release mechanism operable to disengage the closure latch, the lock mechanism comprising:
a toothed gear rack configured to movably attach to the vehicle body and couple the closure latch to the release mechanism, the toothed gear rack being slidable between a latched position, whereat the closure latch secures the closure assembly in the closed position, and an unlatched position, whereat the toothed gear rack transfers an activation force from the release mechanism to the closure latch to disengage the closure latch from the closure assembly;
a pawl configured to movably attach to the vehicle body, the pawl being rotatable between a locked position, whereat the pawl engages and thereby locks the toothed gear rack in the latched position, and an unlocked position, whereat the pawl disengages the toothed gear rack; and
a lock actuator coupled to the pawl and configured to operatively engage the vehicle door, the lock actuator being configured to detect opening of the vehicle door and responsively pull on and thereby rotate the pawl to the unlocked position.

2. The lock mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a lock housing configured to mount to the vehicle body, wherein the toothed gear rack and the pawl are movably mounted to the lock housing.

3. The lock mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the lock housing includes a shell and a cover attached to the shell to enclose the toothed gear rack and the pawl within the lock housing.

4. The lock mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the lock housing includes a guide rail seating thereon the toothed gear rack such that the toothed gear rack translates rectilinearly between the latched and unlatched positions.

5. The lock mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the lock housing includes a post hole, and the pawl includes a swing post mounted within the post hole such that the pawl rotates between the locked and unlocked positions.

6. The lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lock actuator further includes a biasing member mating with and urging the pawl towards the locked position.

7. The lock mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the biasing member includes a helical torsion spring.

8. The lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the toothed gear rack includes a plurality of teeth that meshingly engage with the pawl, when in the locked position, to thereby lock the toothed gear rack in the latched position.

9. The lock mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the toothed gear rack includes an elongated body integrally formed with the plurality of gear teeth projecting transversely from a lateral side of the elongated body.

10. The lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the latch system further includes a first cable connected to the release mechanism and a second cable connected to the closure latch, and wherein the toothed gear rack includes first and second anchor slots disposed at opposing first and second ends of the toothed gear rack, respectively, the first and second anchor slots each being configured to receive therein an anchor of a respective one of the first and second cables.

11. The lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lock actuator includes:
a sensing device operable to detect opening of the vehicle door and responsively generate a door open command signal; and
an electronic solenoid mechanically coupled to the pawl and operable, responsive to the door open command signal, to move the pawl to the unlocked position.

12. The lock mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lock actuator includes:
a plunger-style mechanical actuator configured to engage the vehicle door; and
a lock cable mechanically coupled at a first end thereof to the pawl and at a second end thereof, opposite the first end, to the plunger-style mechanical actuator,
wherein the plunger-style mechanical actuator is configured, responsive to the vehicle door being opened, to expand and pull on the lock cable such that the lock cable pulls the pawl to the unlocked position.

13. A motor vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body with passenger compartment and an engine compartment;
a hood assembly movably mounted to the vehicle body and covering an opening to an engine compartment, the hood assembly being movable between open and closed positions;
a vehicle door movably mounted to the vehicle body and covering an opening to the passenger compartment;
a primary latch releasably securing the hood assembly in the closed position;
a release mechanism located within the passenger compartment and operable to disengage the primary latch; and
a lock mechanism, including:
a housing attached to the vehicle body;
a toothed gear rack slidably mounted inside the housing and coupling the primary latch to the release mechanism, the toothed gear rack being slidable between a latched position, whereat the primary latch secures the hood assembly in the closed position, and an unlatched position, whereat the toothed gear rack transfers an activation force from the release mechanism to the primary latch to disengage the primary latch from the hood assembly;
a pawl rotatably mounted inside the housing and rotatable between a locked position, whereat the pawl presses against and thereby locks the toothed gear rack in the latched position, and an unlocked position, whereat the pawl disengages the toothed gear rack such that the toothed gear rack is free to slide within the housing; and
a lock actuator coupled to the pawl and operatively engaged with the vehicle door, the lock actuator being configured to detect opening of the vehicle door and responsively pull on and thereby rotate the pawl to the unlocked position.

14. A method of assembling a lock mechanism for a latch system of a closure movably mounted to a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a vehicle body and a vehicle door, the latch system including a closure latch releasably securing the closure in a closed position, and a release mechanism operable to disengage the closure latch, the method comprising:
coupling a toothed gear rack to the closure latch and the release mechanism;
attaching the toothed gear rack to the vehicle body such that the toothed gear rack is slidable between a latched position, whereat the closure latch secures the closure in the closed position, and an unlatched position, whereat the toothed gear rack transfers an activation force from the release mechanism to the closure latch to disengage the closure latch from the closure such that the closure is openable;
attaching a pawl to the vehicle body such that the pawl is rotatable between a locked position, whereat the pawl engages and thereby locks the toothed gear rack in the latched position, and an unlocked position, whereat the pawl disengages the toothed gear rack; and
attaching a lock actuator to the pawl, the lock actuator being configured to operatively engage the vehicle door and to detect opening of the vehicle door and responsively pull on and thereby rotate the pawl to the unlocked position.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein attaching the toothed gear rack and the pawl to the vehicle body includes mounting a lock housing to the vehicle body, and movably mounting the toothed gear rack and the pawl to the lock housing.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lock housing includes a guide rail seating thereon the toothed gear rack such that the toothed gear rack translates rectilinearly between the lat

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Miller Jason M
• Nelsen James N

Classifications

• E05B79/20 Primary

  using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables · CPC title

• E05B79/00

  Mounting or connecting vehicle locks or parts thereof · CPC title

• E05B81/46

  Clutches · CPC title

• E05B83/24

  for car bonnets · CPC title

• E05B81/25

  Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections · CPC title