Closure latch assembly with latch mechanism having roller pawl assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12024930-B2
Application number	US-202217990792-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2022
Priority date	Feb 8, 2018
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

A closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism is provided. The latch mechanism includes a ratchet and a pawl assembly pivotally supported for movement between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in its striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl assembly is located to permit movement of the ratchet to its striker release position. The pawl assembly has a carrier and a pawl configured for rotation relative to one another about a pawl pin and a roller carried by the carrier. The roller is disposed between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling movement therebetween. The roller is disposed into abutment with a closing surface of the ratchet while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet holding position and is spaced from closing surface while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet releasing position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A closure latch assembly comprising:
a frame plate with a ratchet pivotally supported by a ratchet pivot pin, wherein the ratchet is pivotally moveable between a striker release position, whereat the ratchet is positioned to release a striker, and a striker capture position, whereat the ratchet is positioned to retain the striker, with the ratchet being biased toward the striker release position and having a closing notch; and
a pawl assembly pivotally supported on the frame plate by a pawl pin for pivotal movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl assembly is located to permit pivotal movement of the ratchet to the striker release position, wherein the pawl assembly is biased toward the ratchet holding position;
the pawl assembly comprising a carrier plate and a pawl configured for pivotal movement relative to one another about the pawl pin and a roller carried by the carrier plate for rotation thereon, the carrier plate for positioning the roller between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling contact with the pawl and the ratchet;
wherein the carrier plate is adapted to move radially relative to the pawl pin.

2. The closure latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the carrier plate and the pawl pin have a clearance fit with one another.

3. The closure latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the carrier plate comprises a non-circular through opening in the carrier plate.

4. The closure latch assembly of claim 3 , wherein the through opening in the carrier plate is elliptical.

5. The closure latch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the elliptical through opening has a major axis and a minor axis, wherein the major axis is substantially aligned with a direction of a force acting on the roller by the ratchet during initial movement of the ratchet from the striker capture position toward the striker release position.

6. The closure latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein loading between the ratchet and the pawl is solely through the roller.

7. The closure latch assembly of claim 6 , wherein the loading between the ratchet and the pawl is not imparted to the carrier plate.

8. The closure latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the roller is cantilevered from the carrier plate via a pin extending from the carrier plate.

9. The closure latch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a retaining barrier opposite the carrier plate to retain the roller in position between the ratchet and the pawl.

10. The closure latch assembly of claim 9 , wherein the retaining barrier is provided on the pawl.

11. The closure latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pawl comprises a through opening having a first diameter for receiving the pawl pin, and the carrier plate comprises a through opening having a second diameter for receiving the pawl pin, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter.

12. The closure latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the carrier plate has a through opening for receiving the pawl pin.

13. A closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism is provided, wherein the latch mechanism includes:
a frame plate with a ratchet pivotally supported by a ratchet pivot pin, wherein the ratchet is pivotally moveable between a striker release position, whereat the ratchet is positioned to release a striker, and a striker capture position, whereat the ratchet is positioned to retain the striker, with the ratchet being biased toward the striker release position and having a closing notch; and
a pawl assembly pivotally supported on the frame plate by a pawl pin for pivotal movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to permit pivotal movement of the ratchet to the striker release position, with the pawl assembly being biased toward the ratchet holding position,
the pawl assembly comprising a carrier plate and a pawl configured for pivotal movement relative to one another about the pawl pin and a roller mounted to the carrier plate for rotation thereon, the carrier plate for positioning the roller between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling contact with the pawl and the ratchet;
wherein the carrier plate supports the roller for allowing radial and tangential motion of the roller relative to the pawl pin during pivotal movement of the pawl towards a release position.

14. The closure latch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the carrier plate is adapted to pivotally move in opposite directions towards and away from the ratchet.

15. A closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism is provided, wherein the latch mechanism includes:
a frame plate with a ratchet pivotally supported thereon by a ratchet pivot pin, wherein the ratchet is pivotally moveable between a striker release position, whereat the ratchet is positioned to release a striker, and a striker capture position, whereat the ratchet is positioned to retain the striker, with the ratchet being biased toward the striker release position and having a closing notch; and
a pawl assembly pivotally supported on the frame plate by a pawl pin for pivotal movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to permit pivotal movement of the ratchet to the striker release position, the pawl assembly being biased toward the ratchet holding position,
the pawl assembly comprising a carrier and a pawl configured for pivotal movement relative to one another about the pawl pin and a roller mounted to the carrier for rotation thereon, the carrier for positioning the roller between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling contact with the pawl and the ratchet;
wherein loading imparted on the roller by the ratchet is not imparted to the pawl pin via the carrier.

16. The closure latch assembly of claim 15 , wherein the carrier includes a through opening for receiving the pawl pin, and wherein the carrier is adapted to pivotally move about the pawl pin to prevent the pawl pin being radially loaded by the carrier.

17. The closure latch assembly of claim 16 , wherein the carrier is a plate.

18. The closure latch assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a roller pin extending from the carrier, wherein the roller is a cylinder having a central bore for receiving the roller pin.

19. The closure latch assembly of claim 18 , wherein the roller pin does not experience torsion imparted by the roller thereon.

Assignees

• Magna Closures Inc

Inventors

• Cetnar Roman
• Ottino Franco Giovanni
• Tomaszewski Kris

Classifications

• E05Y2900/531

  Doors · CPC title

• E05B85/243

  with a bifurcated bolt · CPC title

• E05B17/007

  Devices for reducing friction between lock parts (E05B17/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05B79/10

  Connections between movable lock parts · CPC title

• E05B85/26 Primary

  Cooperation between bolts and detents · CPC title