EP0854260B1 - Locking/unlocking means comprising a low cost actuator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for locking and, more specifically, a device for maintaining closed position of an opening flap.

It is known to use locking devices comprising an actuator implementing a. electric motor for lock and unlock opening elements. The actuators known at present usually develop a significant power and since they include a motor low power cheap electric, they should also include a reduction module, which makes them expensive (see DE 44 29 475).

The applicant has found that locking devices with electric actuator could be used in many applications if one supplied an actuator less more expensive than those currently available on the market. A interesting application consists in particular in ensuring the blocking of a locking / unlocking control, i.e. ensuring mechanical blocking preventing the use of the normal means of locking / unlocking of any opening flap. Such a lock / unlock control can, for example, prevent the movement of a flap opening or mechanically blocking the movement of the control member of said opening flap.

In the case of a motor vehicle, such a device locking / unlocking could be implemented to condemn the opening of the fuel flap or the glove box or to cooperate, in a side door lock, with the function child conviction or the super-conviction function.

According to the invention, the locking device / unlocking will simply be used to position a latch so as to prevent the opening of the opening flap which does not require low power since the movement of the latch is carried out without whether there is to overcome any significant resistance or to drive a mechanism, only the inertia of the latch opposing the movement.

To this end, the invention therefore provides a device for locking device comprising an actuator using a motor electric, characterized in that said electric motor is of low power and carries on its output shaft a latch, which it rotates between two positions called locking and unlocking, positioning means ensuring the maintenance of the latch in each of said two positions.

The locking device according to the invention is also remarkable in that the positioning means can be consist of an elastic tongue secured to the latch and a finger fixed, or vice versa, with a fixed elastic tongue and a finger secured to the latch.

The tongue can advantageously be in abutment against the finger in each of the locking and unlocking positions of the latch, said tab being, for each of said positions of the latch, arranged on the suitable side of the finger, so that said finger is on the path of said tongue or vice versa, when one passes from the locking position to the unlocking position or vice versa.

When the tongue is secured to the latch, the tongue may consist of a thin-walled loop connected to the latch by its two ends; a notch can be made in the wall of the tongue in order to facilitate the deformation of said tongue, said notch which may have a V shape; according to another embodiment, the positioning means comprise at least one spring.

Advantageously, the latch carries a boss intended to allow external mechanical action in the event of a failure electrical installation or motor.

Preferably, the motor turns in both directions according to its power supply; a quarter turn rotation of the motor ensures the passage of the latch from one to the other of its positions locking and unlocking.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the description which will follow given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the drawing Annex.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus, partiellement en coupe horizontale, d'un dispositif selon l'invention,
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues selon II-II de la figure 1 avec le loquet représenté respectivement en position de verrouillage et en position de déverrouillage.

On this drawing :

• FIG. 1 is a top view, partially in horizontal section, of a device according to the invention,
• Figures 2 and 3 are views along II-II of Figure 1 with the latch shown respectively in the locked position and in the unlocked position.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, a electric motor 1 is arranged in a housing 2 fixed on a support 20. The attachment of the housing 2 to the support 20 is ensured by pins 21 of the housing, which are crimped into holes in the support 20.

The electric motor 1 receives its electric power on metal tabs 10 and can rotate in both directions according to his diet.

The output shaft 11 of said motor 1 carries a latch 3 which it rotates between the two positions shown respectively in Figures 2 and 3. The position shown in the Figure 2 is the latch locking position 3, in which it maintains the flap 4 in the closed position, while the position shown in Figure 3 is its unlocked position. Engine 1 drives the latch in the direction symbolized by the arrow V for bring it from its unlocking position to its lock and in the opposite direction represented by arrow D to bring it to its unlocked position.

A quarter-turn rotation of the motor ensures passage of the latch 3 from one to the other of its positions.

The locking device according to the invention can be used on any support of any orientation.

According to the invention, positioning means ensure so keeping the latch in each of its two positions so to ensure the stability of these positions. The positioning means are consist of an elastic tongue 31 secured to the latch and a finger 32 fixed carried by the housing 2.

The tongue 31 consists of a thin-walled loop connected to latch 3 by its two ends. A V 34 notch is made in the thin wall of the tongue 31 in order to facilitate its deformation.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tongue 31 is in press against finger 32 in each of the locking positions and for unlocking the latch 3. The tongue 31 is, for each position of the latch, arranged on the suitable side of finger 32 so that said finger 32 either on the path of said tongue 31, if the latch tends to turn towards its other position.

When the motor is powered to pass the latch from one position to another, the tongue 31 deforms in order to pass over it of finger 32 and resumes its initial shape as soon as it has exceeded said finger.

The electric motor used in the device lock according to the invention is a low power motor: the only one effort it has to provide is that allowing the deformation of the tongue 31 and enabling the inertia of the latch 3 to be overcome. For this purpose an engine developing a mechanical power of at most 10 watts is sufficient. Such motors are very inexpensive and the device for locking according to the invention can thus be offered on one side reasonable since, in addition, it does not require a housing gear.

The latch 3 also carries a boss 33 intended to allow external mechanical action on the latch in the case of failure of the electrical installation or the engine. This boss can be arranged so as to be accessible from inside the vehicle, for example from inside the luggage compartment if the device locking device according to the invention is used on the fuel door. he can also be arranged so that it is accessible from a lock cylinder.

Other provisions could of course be proposed without departing from the scope of the present invention, according to the appended claims. As example, the elastic tab can be fixed while the latch wears a finger. The tongue could also be a simple flat tongue arranged perpendicular to the latch surface. Other forms of positioning means can also be implemented, such as springs.

Claims (10)

1. A locking device comprising an actuator controlling an electric motor (1), characterised by the fact that the said electric motor (1) is of low power and carries on its shaft (11) a latch (3) which it rotates between two positions namely a locking and an unlocking position, with positioning means (31, 32) holding the latch (3) in each of the said two positions.
2. A locking device according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the positioning means consist of an elastic tongue (31) and a finger (32) co-operating with the said tongue, one of these being fixed and the other being joined to the latch (3).
3. A locking device according to Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the tongue (31) is in engagement against the finger (32) in each of the locking and unlocking positions of the latch (3), the tongue (31) being, for each of the said positions of the latch, disposed on the appropriate side of the finger (32), whereby the said finger (32) is in the path of the said tongue (31) or vice versa, when the latch passes from the locking position to the unlocking position or vice versa.
4. A locking device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the tongue (31) is fixed with respect to the latch (3), characterised by the fact that the said tongue (31) consists of a thin-walled loop element joined to the latch (3) at each end.
5. A locking device according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterised by the fact that a notch (34) is formed in the wall of the tongue (31) to facilitate its deformation.
6. A locking device according to Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the said notch (34) is V-shaped.
7. A locking device according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the positioning means comprise at least one spring.
8. A locking device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised by the fact that the latch (3) carries a boss (33) adapted to permit external mechanical actuation in the event of failure of either the electrical installation or the motor.
9. A locking device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised by the fact that the motor (1) is rotatable in both directions, according to its electrical supply.
10. A locking device according to Claim 9. characterised by the fact that rotation of the motor through a quarter turn causes the latch to shift from one of its positions to the other.

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