Patent ID: 6105459
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: B60T,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
A cable lock and release apparatus comprising:a cable actuator rotatably disposed on a cable actuator shaft and having a cable attached thereto, said cable actuator being operative to displace said cable between low tension and high tension positions;a sector disposed on said cable actuator, said sector including a plurality of sector teeth;a pawl member having a pawl aperture disposed in a first end thereof and being slotted along a longitudinal axis, said pawl aperture allowing rotation and translation of said pawl member about a pawl member shaft;a pawl tooth disposed on said pawl member for engagement with said plurality of sector teeth;a release actuator for maintaining said pawl tooth in an engaged relationship with said plurality of sector teeth with said cable in said high tension position and releasing said pawl tooth from said engaged relationship with said plurality of sector teeth allowing said cable to return to said low tension position, said release actuator including a follower disposed on a second end of said pawl member;a cam engaging said follower and being operative to rotate between an apply position and a release position, such that in said apply position said pawl member can translate along said longitudinal axis allowing said cable to be displaced into said high tension position and in said release position said pawl member can rotate to disengage said pawl tooth from said plurality of sector teeth allowing said cable to return to said low tension position, wherein said follower is constantly urged into engagement with said cam; anda release actuator urging mechanism constantly urging said release actuator into said apply position and allowing said release mechanism to be displaced into said release position upon application of a predetermined release effort.