EP0688925B1 - Rotary latch adapted for improved assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rotary lock.

The invention relates in particular to a rotary lock for driving a lock mechanism fitted to a opening of a motor vehicle such as a vehicle tailgate automobile.

The invention relates to a rotary lock of the type comprising a stator, in the form of a socket, and a rotor cylindrical mounted for rotation in the stator and comprising an eccentric pin relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor and which projects axially beyond a radial face end of the stator, for example for training a lock mechanism.

An example of such a type of lock is described and represented in document FR-A-2,642,463 which describes and represents a disengageable mechanism for controlling a lock of the type comprising a lock which comprises a body bolt which receives in rotation a stator in the form of socket which is angularly indexed relative to the body bolt by elastic erasable means which rotatably receives a rotor which is immobilized in rotation relative to the stator in the absence of a key, or when a wrong key is inserted into the lock, and that is likely to cause a finger to rotate of the lock mechanism which is coaxial with rotor and socket when these elements rotate simultaneously, against erasable elastic means, so as not to entrain the mechanism of lock, and which is integral with a first lever which is articulated around a first axis integral with the socket and offset from the axis of rotation of the sleeve and the rotor and which is driven by a pin of the rotor eccentric with respect to the latter's axis of rotation, the drive finger cooperating with a second lever of the control of the articulated lock relative to the body of latch around a second axis offset from the axis sleeve and rotor rotation.

From a functional and reliability point of view, such a design is satisfactory insofar as it prevents fraudulent opening of the lock.

The object of the present invention is to provide a improvement to the rotary lock which enables simple and automated assembly of different components, including the assembly of elastic means for returning the rotor to rotation by report to the stator.

Indeed, these operations are particularly complex and performed manually, these operations being otherwise complicated by the assembly of others components of the lock such as for example glitter of the lock and the glitter springs.

To this end, the invention provides a rotary lock of the type mentioned above, characterized in that it includes a double-acting return spring of the rotor relative to the bush in a position angular median of rest which is arranged between a bottom radial end of sleeve and end face radial of the rotor, in that the spring is a spring hairspring with two end branches substantially parallel and each of which is likely to cooperate with one of the lateral drive faces of the nipple body and with a lateral abutment surface of a stop notch formed on the sleeve, and in that, in view of the assembly of these components, the spring, carried by the axial end of the rotor and the sleeve has means for automatic engagement of branches ends of the return spring with the surfaces lateral of the thrust notch, by rotation of the rotor by compared to the socket.

• l'extrémité axiale du cran comporte une rampe qui coopère avec une des deux branches d'extrémités du ressort ;
• le corps du ressort spiral est enroulé autour d'un noyau concentrique qui est formé à l'extrémité axiale du ressort et dont la face radiale d'extrémité s'étend en regard du front radial d'extrémité de la douille ;
• le téton d'entraínement est formé sur un prolongement axial excentré formé à l'extrémité axiale du rotor et la surface cylindrique interne de la douille comporte une rainure axiale pour le passage du téton et des branches d'extrémités du ressort lors de l'introduction axiale du rotor dans la douille ;
• le fond de la douille de stator comporte une lumière annulaire pour le passage axial et la rotation du téton ;
• le cran de butée est agencé angulairement au milieu de la lumière et les extrémités de la lumière définissent les positions angulaires extrêmes du rotor par rapport à la douille ;
• la rainure axiale débouche au voisinage de l'une des deux extrémités de la lumière annulaire ;
• en position de repos, le téton d'entraínement s'étend axialement vis-à-vis du cran de butée, radialement vers l'intérieur par rapport à ce dernier ;
• le téton d'entraínement comporte une surépaisseure en saillie radialement vers l'extérieur qui s'étend en regard d'un bord axial d'extrémité de la douille pour retenir axialement le rotor par rapport à la douille.

According to other advantageous embodiments of the invention:

• the axial end of the notch has a ramp which cooperates with one of the two end branches of the spring;
• the body of the spiral spring is wound around a concentric core which is formed at the axial end of the spring and the radial end face of which extends opposite the radial front end of the sleeve;
• the drive stud is formed on an eccentric axial extension formed at the axial end of the rotor and the internal cylindrical surface of the sleeve has an axial groove for the passage of the stud and spring end branches during introduction axial of the rotor in the sleeve;
• the bottom of the stator socket has an annular opening for the axial passage and the rotation of the stud;
• the stop notch is arranged angularly in the middle of the lumen and the ends of the lumen define the extreme angular positions of the rotor relative to the bush;
• the axial groove opens in the vicinity of one of the two ends of the annular opening;
• in the rest position, the drive stud extends axially with respect to the stop notch, radially inwardly relative to the latter;
• the drive stud has a thickening protruding radially outwardly which extends opposite an axial edge of the end of the sleeve to axially retain the rotor relative to the sleeve.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée des principaux composants d'un verrou rotatif selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective éclatée, à plus grande échelle, illustrant le stator, le ressort de rappel et le rotor avant leur assemblage ;
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 2 qui illustre le ressort de rappel en place sur l'extrémité axiale du rotor avant l'introduction axiale de ce dernier dans le stator ;
• les figures 4 à 9 sont des vues en perspectives illustrant successivement les positions relatives occupées par les trois composants illustrés aux figures 2 et 3, au cours de leur assemblage définitif et lors de l'utilisation du verrou.

Other qualities and advantages of the invention will appear on detailed reading which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of a rotary lock according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view, on a larger scale, illustrating the stator, the return spring and the rotor before their assembly;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 which illustrates the return spring in place on the axial end of the rotor before the axial introduction of the latter into the stator;
• Figures 4 to 9 are perspective views successively illustrating the relative positions occupied by the three components illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, during their final assembly and when using the lock.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the lock 10 according to the invention consists essentially of by a stator 14 in the form of a cylindrical socket, a rotor 12 and a return spring 16.

The stator 14 has a cylindrical wall internal 18 which delimits an open end 20 of the bush for axial insertion of rotor 12 and bottom axial end radial 22.

The rotor 12 is essentially constituted by a cylindrical body 24 which is intended to be introduced axially and rotatably mounted inside the sleeve forming stator 14.

The body 24 of the rotor 12 has a head 26 which is in particular intended to allow the introduction of a key (not shown) which controls the movements of a set of sequins 28 which are received in slots 30 formed in the rotor 12 and in slots 32 formed in the annular cylindrical wall of the stator 14.

The radial end face 34 of the rotor 12 which is intended to be received inside the stator 14 comprises a central extension in the form of a cylindrical core 36 which is concentric with the axis of rotation X-X of the rotor 12 relative to stator 14.

This core is designed to receive the body 38 of the return spring 16 which is a spring of the spiral type.

The spring 16 thus comprises a central body coiled 38 and two end branches 40A, 40B which extend radially outward and substantially parallel to each other.

The radial end face 34 of the rotor 12 also includes an eccentric drive stud 42.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the nipple 42 consists essentially of a body of nipple 44 which is offset radially outwards by relative to the external cylindrical surface of the body 24 of the rotor 12 and which extends axially from the surface radial end 34.

The body 44 thus defines an extra thickness 46 which extends radially outward from the surface 24 and which is rotated axially opposite the radial end face 34, while the free end of the body 44 of the drive stud has a spout 48 which is intended to cooperate with a component of a lock mechanism (not shown) in view of the rotational drive of the latter by the rotor 12.

The body 44 of the drive stud delimits two lateral drive sides 50A and 50B (see in particular Figures 6 and 7) each of which is likely to cooperate with an associated radial end branch 40A, 40B of the return spring 16.

When it is placed in position on the core 36, as illustrated in figure 3, the spring of reminder 16 is arranged so that the radial branches end 40A and 40B resiliently enclose the faces lateral drive 50A and 50B of the body 44 of the stud training 42.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the rotor 12 fitted with its return spring 16 constitutes a sub-assembly, which also includes the sequins 28, which can be inserted axially into the cylindrical bore 18 of stator 14 according to arrow I in FIG. 3.

To this end, and to allow the introduction axial of the drive stud 42 and the branches 40A, 40B of the spring 16, the bore 18 has an axial groove 52 which opens in the open end 20 of the bore 18 and which opens into the radial end bottom 22.

As we can see in particular in Figure 2, the axial groove 52 opens into an annular opening 54 which is formed in the cylindrical wall 56 of the socket 14.

The annular lumen 54 extends substantially over half a circumference and is delimited at its two ends by two abutment faces 58A and 58B.

The end faces 58A and 58B thus delimit the angular travel of the rotor 12 relative to the stator 14, the lateral drive faces 50A and 50B being likely to come in contact with end faces 58A and 58B of light 54, with interposition of the corresponding end branch 40A, 40B of the return spring 16.

As we can see in particular in Figure 2, the lumen 54 defines an annular radial end edge of the cylindrical wall of the stator 14 which is divided into two parts 60A and 60B offset axially, one by relative to each other and separated by a stop notch 62.

Part 60A is thus located further from the bottom radial end 22 as part 60B.

The stop notch 62 projects axially from the annular end edge 60A, 60B and extends substantially in the middle position, i.e. angularly in the middle of the light 54.

The stop notch 62 extends axially up to right from the radial end bottom 22 of the stator 14.

The stop notch 62 delimits two lateral surfaces 64A and 64B each of which, as will be explained later, is likely to cooperate with a corresponding end branch 40A, 40B of the spring 16.

The transverse end surface 64A is extends axially towards the free end edge 66 of the stop notch 62, by an inclined ramp 68.

Part 60A of the annular end edge of the socket 14 is provided to cooperate with the additional thickness 46, over a portion of the angular travel of the rotor 12, the latter also cooperating with a portion 70, located in the same plane as part 60A, of the wall cylindrical annular sleeve 14.

We will now describe the assembly of the different components starting from the position illustrated on the Figure 3 in which the spiral return spring 16 is already mounted on the end core 36 of the rotor 14.

In this position, the drive pin 42 is located angularly opposite the axial groove 52 and it is possible to introduce the rotor 12 and the spring 16 in stator 14. This introduction continues to the position illustrated in Figure 4 in which the radial end face 37 of the core 36 (see Figure 3) came into abutment against the radial bottom end 22 of the stator socket 14.

The driving pin 42 and the branches 40A and 40B ends which protrude axially beyond of part 60A of the annular end edge of the stator 14, is located opposite the face 58A end of light 54.

The assembly continues, causing a relative rotation of rotor 12 with respect to stator 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow R in Figure 4.

During this rotation, the end branch 40B of the return spring which is located axially the most close to the radial bottom 22 relative to the branch end 40A, comes into contact with the ramp 68 formed on the stop notch 62, as illustrated on the figure 5.

During this rotation, the nipple 42 also drives the industry end 40A.

Continuing the rotation of the rotor 12 relative stator 14 in the direction indicated by arrow R on the Figure 5, the cooperation of the end branch 40B with the ramp 68 will cause the passage of it beyond of the end face 66 of the stop notch 62 and its came in cooperation with the lateral stop surface 64B of the stop notch 62 while the end branch 40A comes opposite the lateral abutment surface 64A.

This assembled position is illustrated in the figures 6 and 7 in which the rotor 12 is in position median rest relative to stator 14, this position being defined by the cooperation of the end branches 40A and 40B respectively with the side faces 50A, 50B and the lateral abutment surfaces 64A and 64B.

The rotor 12 is also retained axially by report to stator 14 due to the cooperation of extra thickness 46 with the corresponding portions of the edge annular end of the stator socket 14.

In operation, and as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the rotor 12 and the drive stud 42 alternately drives either branch ends 40A, 40B, while the untrained branch remains in abutment against either surface lateral stop 64B, 64A of notch 62, thus causing an accumulation of force in the spring 16 which causes then the elastic return to the middle position of rest illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

The maximum angular positions of the rotor 12 by relative to stator 14 are delimited by the faces end 58A and 58B of the light 54.

Thus, the simple axial introduction according to the direction I of the rotor 12 fitted with the spring 16 then its rotation in the direction R ensures the establishment automatic in the operating position of the spring 16 and the relative axial immobilization of the rotor 12 relative to stator 14.

Even if this first relative rotation of the rotor 12 relative to stator 14 would not have been performed during assembly, the first use of the lock by driving the rotor 12 by means of a key will cause the spring 16 to be put in place according to the previously described procedure.

Claims (9)

1. A rotary lock (10) of the type comprising a stator (14) in the form of a sleeve, together with a cylindrical rotor (12) mounted for rotation in the stator (14) and including a head (42), which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation (X-X) of the rotor and which projects axially beyond a radial end face of the stator (14), for actuating a latch mechanism for example, characterised in that it includes a double-acting spring (16) for returning the rotor (12), in rotation with respect to the sleeve (14), into an angular rest position which is defined midway between a radial terminal base (22) of the sleeve (14) and a radial end face (34) of the rotor (12), in that the spring (16) is a spiral spring, the two terminal branches (40A, 40B) of which are substantially parallel, and each of which is arranged to cooperate with one of the lateral faces (50A, 50B) of the body (44) of the drive head (42) and with a lateral abutment surface (64A, 64B) of an abutment lug (62) formed on the sleeve (14), and in that, for the purposes of assembly of these components, the return spring (16), carried by the axial end (36) of the rotor (12) and the sleeve (14), has means (68) for automatic engagement of the terminal branches (40A, 40B) of the spring (16) with the lateral surfaces (64A, 64B) of the abutment lug (62) by rotation of the rotor (12) with respect to the sleeve (14).
2. A rotary lock according to Claim 1, characterised in that the axial end of the abutment lug (62) comprises a ramp (68) which cooperates with one (40A) of the two terminal branches of the return spring (16).
3. A rotary lock according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the body (38) of the spiral spring (16) is wound on a concentric core (36) which is formed at the axial end of the rotor, and of which the radial end face (37) lies facing the radial terminal base (22) of the sleeve (14).
4. A rotary lock according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the drive head (42) is formed on an eccentric axial extension (44) defined at the axial end (34) of the rotor (12), and in that the cylindrical internal surface (18) of the sleeve (14) has an axial groove (52) for passage of the head (42) and of the terminal branches (40A, 40B) of the spring through it during introduction of the rotor (12) axially into the sleeve (14).
5. A rotary lock according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the base (22) of the stator sleeve (14) has an annular rebate (54), for axial passage of the drive head (42), and rotation of the latter, therein.
6. A rotary lock according to Claim 5, characterised in that the abutment lug (62) is disposed circumferentially in the middle of the rebate (54), and in that the ends (58A, 58B) of the rebate (54) define the extreme angular positions of the rotor (12) with respect to the sleeve (14).
7. A rotary lock according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 taken in combination with Claim 4, characterised in that the axial groove (52) is open in the vicinity of one (58A) of the two ends of the annular rebate (54).
8. A rotary lock according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that in the rest position, the drive head (42) lies in axial facing relationship with the abutment lug (62), radially inwards with respect to the latter.
9. A rotary lock according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the drive head (42) includes a thickened portion (46) which projects radially outwards and which lies facing an axial terminal edge of the sleeve (14), so as to retain the rotor (12) axially in place with respect to the sleeve (14).

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