Patent Publication Number: US-11384563-B2

Title: Spring retaining assembly for vehicle latch actuator mechanism

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Chinese Patent Application No. 201720206424.2 filed on Mar. 3, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates to vehicle latches and, more particularly, to a spring retaining assembly for an actuator mechanism for such vehicle latches. 
     Latches will typically require locking, and certain latches require certain security statuses. Central door locking (CDL) refers to a system of remotely locking the latch, typically by using an electric motor. A spring may be employed to assist in determining an angular position, and therefore a condition, of a gear arrangement by being coupled to a gear and to a fixed reference point. Unfortunately, the spring is often prone to unintended removal from the holes in which it is disposed. This can occur during assembly, thereby making the assembly process quite difficult. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment, an actuator mechanism of a vehicle latch assembly includes an electric motor having an output shaft. Also included is a worm coupled to the output shaft. Further included is a worm gear driven by the worm. Yet further included is a spring operatively coupled to the worm gear and to a latch housing, the spring having a first leg extending through an aperture defined by the worm gear and a second leg extending into a receiving hole defined by the housing, the first leg including a first segment extending along a first leg axis and a second segment oriented at a non-parallel angle to the first leg axis, the second segment contacting a face of the worm gear to prevent removal of the spring. 
     According to another embodiment, a vehicle latch assembly includes a fork bolt. Also included is a pawl selectively engageable with the fork bolt to move the assembly between a first latch condition and a second latch condition. Further included is a housing for at least partially retaining the fork bolt and the pawl. Yet further included is an actuator mechanism for moving the pawl between the first latch condition and the second latch condition. The actuator mechanism includes an electric motor having an output shaft. The actuator mechanism also includes a worm coupled to the output shaft. The actuator mechanism further includes a worm gear driven by the worm. The actuator mechanism yet further includes a spring operatively coupled to the worm gear and to the housing, the spring having a first leg extending through an aperture defined by the worm gear and a second leg extending into a receiving hole defined by the housing, the first leg including a first segment extending along a leg axis and a second segment oriented at a non-parallel angle to the leg axis. 
     These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       Referring now to the figures, which are exemplary embodiments, and wherein like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a latch assembly in a first position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the latch assembly in a second position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of an actuator mechanism of the latch assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a spring of the actuator mechanism; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a first leg of the spring coupled to a worm gear of the actuator mechanism; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second leg coupled to the worm gear according to another aspect of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an aperture of the worm gear; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a receiving hole of a fixed structure for receiving a second leg of the spring; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the second leg inserted in the receiving hole. 
     
    
    
     The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments, without limitation. Illustrated are portions of a latch or latch assembly  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the latch or latch assembly  10  may be a compartment latch. Latch  10  may be configured to keep a trunk lid latched, can keep a lift gate of a vehicle latched or a sliding door of vehicle closed, such as a van door. Still further the latch  10  can be used with any vehicle door or movable component that needs to be latched and unlatched with respect to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the latch or latch assembly  10  may include central door locking (CDL) which refers to a system of remotely locking the latch, typically by using an electric motor. 
     As described above, the latch  10  is applicable to any environment where the features of various embodiments of the invention are desired. For example, the latch assembly can be attached to a vehicle structure such that a fork bolt is moved between an open position and a closed position of the latch  10  when a hood, door, window, lift gate, etc. is opened and closed and the fork bolt engages a striker that is attached to the hood, door, window, lift gate, etc. Alternatively, the latch or latch assembly  10  can be secured to the hood, door, window, lift gate, etc. and the striker is secured to the vehicle body at an opening into which the hood, door, window, lift gate, etc. is received. 
     Latch  10  is located on a first element or first vehicle component which is either a frame (e.g., body member surrounding or proximate to an opening the movable member covers) or movable member (e.g., door, window, lift gate, hood, etc.) and includes a fork bolt or claw  12  and a detent lever or pawl  14 , each of which may be pivotally or movably mounted to a housing  16  or another portion, or other housing portion of the latch  10 . In some embodiments, the fork bolt  12  is capable of rotation about first stud or pin  18 , while detent lever  14  is a capable of rotation about a second stud or pin  20 . During operation, a striker is attached to a second element or second vehicle component, which is either the frame or movable member depending on which one has the latch  10  secured thereto. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the fork bolt  12  is capable of movement between a first or latched position or closed position ( FIG. 1 ) wherein the striker is engaged by a throat  19  of the fork bolt and a second or open position ( FIG. 2 ) wherein the striker is free to be released from the throat  19  of the fork bolt  12 . The housing  16  of the latch  10  will also have a complimentary opening  21  for receipt of the striker therein when it is engaged or latched by the fork bolt. In one non-limiting embodiment, the fork bolt  12  may be spring biased into the second or open position by a spring or biasing member  23 . 
     During operation and in order to retain the latch  10  or fork bolt  12  in the latched position, the detent lever or pawl  14  is pivotally secured to the latch  10  for movement between an engaged position or latched position ( FIG. 1 ) and a disengaged position or released position ( FIG. 2 ). When the detent lever  14  is in the engaged position, a surface  22  of the fork bolt  12  is engaged by a surface  24  of the detent lever  14  and the fork bolt  12  is prevented from moving toward the unlatched position from the latched position. In one configuration engagement of surface  22  by surface  24  of the detent lever  14  occurs when the fork bolt is in the primary or latched position and the detent lever  14  is in the engaged position. In order to provide a secondary latched position the fork bolt  12  may be configured to have a surface  25  that is engaged by surface  24  of the detent lever  14  when the fork bolt  12  is a secondary latched position (e.g. between the primary latched position and the open position) and when the detent lever is close enough to the engaged position such that surface  24  will be in a position to engage surface  25 . 
     In addition, the latch  10  further comprises a lever or bell crank lever  28  also movably mounted to the latch  10  for movement between a first position ( FIG. 1 ) and a second position ( FIG. 2 ). As the lever or bell crank lever  28  moves from the first position to the second position, a contact portion  30  of the bell crank lever  28  makes contact with a contact portion  32  of the detent lever  14  and moves the detent lever  14  from the engaged position or latched position to the disengaged position or released position. In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, contact portion  30  of the bell crank lever or lever  28  is not directly or physically secured to contact portion  32  of the detent lever  14  such that the bell crank lever or lever  28  can push the detent lever  14  however bell crank lever or lever  28  cannot pull the detent lever  14 . Similarly, detent lever  14  can push the bell crank lever or lever  28  but cannot pull the bell crank lever or lever  28 . As illustrated and in some embodiments, contact portion  30  of the bell crank lever or lever  28  may be configured to have curved surface that is received within a complimentary curved receiving surface  32  of the detent lever  14  when contact portion  30  of the bell crank lever or lever  28  contacts portion  32  of the detent lever  14 . Alternatively, the bell crank lever or lever  28  may be fixedly (e.g. pivotally or otherwise) secured to the detent lever  14 . 
     In order to provide the desired movement of the detent lever  14  from the engaged position to the disengaged position, and actuator or actuator system  48  is provided. In one embodiment the actuator or actuator system  48  comprises a motor  50  configured to drive a worm  52  for rotating a worm gear  54  rotatably mounted to the latch or latch assembly  10 . Worm gear  54  is also operatively coupled to the bell crank lever or lever  28  also pivotally mounted to the latch or latch assembly  10 . In one embodiment, rotation worm gear  54  will cause movement of the bell crank lever or lever  28  from its first position to its second position via a plurality of gears  56  located on bell crank lever or lever  28 . Gears  56  are configured to mesh with a plurality of gears  55  of the worm gear  54 . As mentioned above, movement of the bell crank lever or lever  28  from the first position to the second position will cause the detent lever  14  to move from its engaged position to its disengaged position. 
     When the actuator  48  is activated worm  52  is driven by a motor  50  such that worm gear  54  is rotated and bell crank lever or lever  28  is rotated until bell crank lever or lever  28  is in the second position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a spring  80  is fixed to the worm gear  54  and to a fixed point. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed point that the spring  80  is fixed to is the housing  16 . The spring  80  may be any suitable spring, such as a torsion spring, for example. Torque is transferred to spring  80  from the motor  50  via the worm gear  54 , as the spring is in direct contact with the worm gear  54  and when the worm gear  54  rotates, the spring  80  is deflected. Deflection of the spring  80  may be monitored to provide feedback to a door ECU to inform of the current state of the latch  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-9 , the spring  80  is coupled to the worm gear  54  and the fixed point (e.g., housing  16 ) by inserting legs of the spring  80  into respective apertures or holes of the worm gear  80  and fixed point, as described herein. The spring  80  includes a first leg  82  that is insertable into an aperture  84  defined by the worm gear  54 . A second leg  85  of the spring  80  is insertable into a receiving hole  86  defined by the housing  16 . The first leg  82  has at least two segments that are angularly oriented relative to each other. In particular, the first leg  82  includes a first portion  88  and a second portion  90 . The first portion  88  extends along a first leg axis and the second portion  90  is oriented at a non-parallel angle from the first leg axis. In some embodiments, the non-parallel angle is substantially perpendicular to the first leg axis. In other embodiments, the non-parallel angle is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees. In other embodiments, the non-parallel angle is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees. By angling the first and second portions  88 ,  90  from each other, the second portion  90  acts as a retaining portion of the first leg  82  when fully inserted through the aperture  84  of the worm gear  54 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a block segment  91  of a first face  92  of the worm gear  54  that the second portion  90  of the first leg  82  is in close proximity to or in contact with. The block segment  91  is a thicker segment of the worm gear  54  that is a surface that the second portion  90  interacts with. In a fully assembled position, the second portion  90  may be in abutment with the face  92  or may be slightly spaced therefrom. Irrespective of whether a space is present, if a force acting on the spring  80  biases the first leg  82 , the second portion  90  contacts the block segment  91  to prevent withdrawal of the first leg  82  from the aperture  84 , thereby retaining the spring  80  in the assembled position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 , the aperture  84  is partially defined by a block  94  on a face  95  of the worm gear  54  that opposes face  92 . The block  94  includes a block cutout portion  98  that eases assembly by providing an opened insertion location for the first leg  82  that includes the second portion  90 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the receiving hole  86  is defined by a wall  100  of the housing  16 . The wall  100  includes a wall cutout portion  102  that eases assembly by providing an opened insertion location for the second leg  85  of the spring  80 . In some embodiments, the second leg  85  is substantially parallel to the first leg axis. Further, the second leg  85  may be parallel to the first leg  82  along an entirety of the second leg  85  in some embodiments. 
     As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. In addition, it is noted that the terms “bottom” and “top” are used herein, unless otherwise noted, merely for convenience of description, and are not limited to any one position or spatial orientation. 
     The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity) 
     While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.