EP1026344A1 - Vehicle lock with means for adjusting the play of its driver - Google Patents

Abstract

The lock for a motor vehicle (10) has a rotor (50) mounted in a casing (12) and actuating a locking lever (66) placed axially between the front end (42) of the casing and a front spigot (60) of the rotor. Coil springs (90) to take up play press on the rotor spigot to pinch the output lever between the spigot and casing.

Description

The present invention relates to a lock, and in particular a lock of the disengageable rotor type.

The invention relates more particularly to a lock intended to be used for the control of a lock fitted to a motor vehicle allowing by example the locking of a window of the vehicle such as a door.

The invention thus relates to a lock of the type comprising at least one rotor mounted journalling in a fixed body of lock in the shape of a cylindrical annular jacket closed at its front axial end by a transverse bottom element, locking members such as glitter or couples pistons, carried by the barrel rotor body, intervening between the rotor and the fixed lock body for the secure in rotation in the absence of a key or in the presence of a non-conforming key, and to release the rotating rotor after insertion of a compliant key through an opening formed in the rear axial end face of the body lock, and of the type in which the lock comprises a cross-plate outlet, also called threshing machine, arranged axially between the front bottom of the body lock and a front end of the rotor which crosses the plate and drives it in rotation.

In the case of a disengageable rotor lock, the latter has an intermediate stator in the form of a socket which is pivotally mounted relative to the fixed lock body, of which the free front end constitutes the front rotor end piece which drives the threshing machine in rotation and in which the body of the barrel rotor is mounted journalled, and includes retractable angular indexing means of the stator intermediate to the fixed lock body.

Whatever the type of lock, with disengageable rotor or no, thresher assembly on the front rotor end is carried out by introducing the latter into a profile hole complementary to the thresher then retaining the axially thresher on the nozzle for example by means of a ring split elastic also called a circlip mounted in a throat the mouthpiece.

Once this assembly has been carried out, we see that it there is a significant axial clearance for mounting the thresher on the front end of the rotor, which generates noise detrimental to the comfort of vehicle occupants.

When the front end of the trunnion rotor drive driver protrudes axially at the outside of the fixed body of the lock to pass through the thresher which is also external to the fixed lock body, it is possible to make a local plastic overmolding around the rotor tip and the central part of the thresher to make up for all the games between these two elements.

However, such a solution has the disadvantage increase the axial size of the lock, make the non-removable thresher and require operation after assembly.

The object of the invention is to propose a design for lock which overcomes these disadvantages by ensuring a compensation for axial clearances between the front rotor end piece and the thresher without the need for additional operation after mounting the thresher.

To this end, the invention proposes a lock of the type comprising at least one rotor mounted journalled in a fixed cylindrical liner-shaped latch body closed at its front axial end by a bottom element transverse, locking members such as glitter or pairs of pistons, carried by the rotor body, intervening between the rotor and the fixed lock body for the secure in rotation in the absence of a key or in the presence of a non-conforming key, and to release the rotating rotor after insertion of a compliant key through an opening formed in the rear axial end face of the body lock, and of the type in which the lock comprises a cross-shaped outlet axially arranged between the front end of the fixed lock body and a front end of the rotor which crosses the plate and drives it in rotation, characterized in that elastic means for taking up games act axially on the tip of the rotor so as to elastically apply from back to front to pinch axially the transverse outlet plate between a radial shoulder of the rotor tip facing forward and a portion of the surface facing the rear internal face from the front end of the fixed lock body.

• dans le cas d'un verrou du type à rotor débrayable, les moyens élastiques de rattrapage de jeux interviennent axialement entre le corps du rotor et le stator intermédiaire ;
• le corps du rotor est en appui axial par son extrémité arrière contre un épaulement radial du corps fixe de verrou orienté axialement vers l'avant ;
• l'épaulement radial du corps fixe de verrou est constitué par la surface interne de la face transversale arrière du corps fixe de verrou ;
• les moyens élastiques de rattrapage de jeux comportent au moins un ressort de compression porté par le corps du rotor et dont l'extrémité libre avant agit sur le bord d'extrémité axiale arrière du stator intermédiaire ;
• le corps fixe de verrou est réalisé en deux parties axiales arrière et avant liées entre elles par un montage du type à baïonnette.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• in the case of a lock of the disengageable rotor type, the elastic clearance take-up means operate axially between the body of the rotor and the intermediate stator;
• the rotor body is in axial support by its rear end against a radial shoulder of the fixed lock body axially oriented towards the front;
• the radial shoulder of the fixed lock body is formed by the internal surface of the rear transverse face of the fixed lock body;
• the elastic clearance take-up means comprise at least one compression spring carried by the rotor body and the front free end of which acts on the rear axial end edge of the intermediate stator;
• the fixed lock body is made of two rear and front axial parts linked together by a bayonet type mounting.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée qui illustre les principaux composants d'un verrou d'ouvrant de véhicule automobile réalisé conformément aux enseignements de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en section axiale du verrou en position assemblée de ses composants et qui est illustré monté sur une porte de véhicule ; et
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du verrou qui est représenté assemblé.

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

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view which illustrates the main components of a motor vehicle window lock produced in accordance with the teachings of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic view in axial section of the lock in the assembled position of its components and which is illustrated mounted on a vehicle door; and
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lock which is shown assembled.

There is shown in the figures a lock 10 of the type to disengageable rotor.

The latch 10 has a fixed latch body 12, also called housing, which is illustrated here in the mounted position on a motor vehicle door with two parallel sheets 14 and 15, one of which 14 constitutes the outer skin of body.

The fixed lock body 12 is associated with an element of handle 16 which has a housing 18 in which is mounted the rear part or head 20 of the fixed lock body 12 which is made here in two parts.

The rear part 20 of the lock body 12 is fixed by mounting means 100, 102 of the bayonet type, at a rear part 24 generally in the form of a cylindrical pot.

The fixed lock body 12 with its two rear parts 20 and before 24 is mounted axially from back to front, i.e. from left to right considering the figures in a circular opening 26 cut from the sheet 14 and which has four notches 28, 30 which receive parts complementary 32 and 34 of the front sheath 24, the axial immobilization being ensured, in a known manner, by an elastic fork 36 received in slots 38 of the scabbard.

The notch 28 and the pad 32 are different from the notches 30 and studs 34 so as to constitute a means of polarization of the angular orientation of the fixed lock body 12 on the sheet 14.

The two rear 20 and front 24 parts of the body fixed lock 12 together form a cylindrical jacket annular which internally delimits a cylindrical housing 40 in two parts.

The front sleeve 24 is closed at its axial end front by a transverse bottom element 42 here in the form of vertical bar with the internal transverse face 44 oriented axially towards the rear has two studs 46 whose faces transverse rear delimit a transverse support plane axial in the bottom 42 of the fixed lock body 12. The panel front 24 has a flange at its rear axial end 37.

The cylindrical housing 40 receives a stator in rotation intermediate 50 of the disengageable lock which presents itself generally in the form of an annular cylindrical sleeve which is guided in rotation in the housing 40 by its surface cylindrical peripheral 52.

The intermediate stator 50 extends axially towards the front beyond its front end transverse face 54 by an annular cylindrical veil 56 which houses a spiral spring 58 intervening between the intermediate stator and the front sleeve 24 and which is also extended centrally by a nozzle front end 60 of the intermediate stator 50 of shape general tubular.

The front rotor tip 60 has two lugs diametrically opposed radials 62.

In the mounted axial position of the intermediate stator 50 in the fixed lock body 12, as can be seen in the Figure 2, the front end transverse face 64 of the nozzle rotor 60 extends opposite the internal transverse face 44 of the transverse bottom element 42 and the end piece 60 can rotate between elements 46.

The rotor tip 60 is provided to drive in rotation in both directions an output member 66 of the lock for the latter's control of a lock mechanism (not shown).

The output member 66 which is also commonly called the thresher, is a plate-shaped element which extends in a transverse plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation A of the intermediate stator.

The threshing machine 66 comprises, for its drive in rotation, a central part 68 of generally circular outline which has a circular opening 70 with two cutouts diametrically opposed 72 so as to receive the end piece rotor 60 with its two transverse pins 62 which are received in cutouts 72 to drive the thresher 66 in rotation in both directions when the intermediate stator 50 rotates around axis A in either direction.

In the assembled position, the rear transverse face 74 of the central part 68 of the threshing machine 66 is in axial support backwards against the front transverse shoulder 76 of the intermediate stator 50 which delimits axially towards the rear the rotor tip 60.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention, and in order to prevent the thresher from being able to move axially by relative to the lock end piece 60 and to the fixed lock body 12, that is to say to make up for the assembly games, the part central 68 of the threshing machine 66 is pinched elastically between the shoulder 76 of the intermediate stator 50 and the faces rear transverse 48 of the elements 46 against which support the front transverse face 78 of the central part 68 of thresher 66.

The cylindrical sleeve-shaped body of the stator intermediate 50 receives in rotation, in known manner, the body main 80 of the disengageable rotor which is also called barrel and which receives, in known manner, pistons 81 intended for cooperate with a key (not shown) to secure or not the barrel 80 in rotation with the intermediate stator 50.

According to a known arrangement, provision is also made for retractable angular indexing means of the stator intermediate 50 relative to the fixed latch body 12, 20.24 which will not be described here in more detail.

Barrel 80 is rotatably mounted in a housing cylindrical 82 partly formed inside the sleeve tubular 50 and partly inside the head 20.

The body of the barrel 80 is delimited transversely towards the rear by an annular transverse face 86 which, with interposition of a washer 84 integral with the barrel, is in backward axial support against a radial shoulder 85 facing forward which is the internal transverse face of a radially inner flange 88 arranged at the end axial rear of head 20.

In particular to ensure the elastic clamping of the central part 68 of the thresher between surfaces 76 and 48, it at least one helical compression spring 90 is provided which is interposed axially between the fixed lock body 12, 20, 24 and the intermediate stator 50 of the disengageable rotor of the lock.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the compression helical spring 90 bears axially by its rear end turn 92 against a portion opposite of the front transverse face of the washer 84 and, by its coil of axial end before 94 against a portion opposite of the annular transverse edge of the rear axial end 96 of the sleeve 50 with interposition of a support ball 98.

In the assembled position, the spring 90 therefore pushes back axially the barrel 80 with the washer 84 which is linked to it in translation, backwards against the shoulder 85 while it pushes the sleeve 50 axially forward with rotor tip 60.

In order to obtain the desired elastic pinching effect of the threshing machine 66, 68, it is of course provided for an axial clearance between the facing faces 44 of the bottom 42 and 64 of the end piece rotor 60, as well as an axial clearance between the transverse face annular front end 51 of the sleeve 50 and the shoulder rear transverse 25 of the sleeve 24 which delimits axially forward the cylindrical housing 40.

The thresher is mounted in lock 10 by transversely introducing its central part 68 into the free front end section of the sleeve 24 for sliding it with axial clearance between (see Figure 1) a transverse face annular front end 23 of the sleeve 24 and the surfaces 48 of the bottom element 42.

Then inserting the rotor tip 60 into the hole 70, the threshing machine 66 is linked in rotation to the intermediate stator 50 and it can no longer be extracted transversely outside the lock 10.

Final assembly of the other components of lock 10 is achieved by joining the head 20 and the sheath 24 by bayonet means 22 ensuring the final assembly of all the components of the lock 10, operation during which the spring 90 is compressed axially to ensure the function of catching up on games explained above.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is possible to center the transverse bottom element 42 between items 46.

Claims (6)

Lock (10) of the type comprising at least one rotor (50, 80) mounted journalling in a fixed body (12, 20, 24) of lock in the form of a cylindrical annular jacket closed at its front axial end by a transverse bottom element ( 42), locking members (81) such as flakes or pairs of pistons, carried by the body (80) of the rotor, acting between the rotor and the fixed lock body to secure them in rotation in the absence of key or in the presence of a non-conforming key, and to release the rotating rotor after introduction of a conforming key through an opening formed in the rear axial end face (88) of the lock body (80), and of the type in which the bolt comprises an outlet member (66, 68) in the form of a transverse plate (68) arranged axially between the front bottom (42, 46, 48) of the fixed bolt body (12, 24) and a nozzle front (60) of the rotor which passes through the plate (68) and causes it to rotate,
characterized in that elastic means (90) for taking up play act axially on the end piece of the rotor (60) so as to elastically urge it from back to front to axially pinch the transverse outlet plate (66, 68) between a radial shoulder (76) of the tip of the rotor oriented towards the front and a facing surface portion (48) of the rear internal face (44, 46) of the front transverse bottom (42) of the body fixed lock (12, 24). Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that that it is of the disengageable rotor type comprising a stator intermediate (50) in the form of a socket which is pivotally mounted relative to the fixed lock body (20, 24, 40), of which the free front end constitutes the front end piece (60) of the rotor and in which the body (80) of the rotor is journalled and comprising retractable angular indexing means of the intermediate stator (50) relative to the fixed lock body (12, 20, 24), and in that the elastic means (90) of backlash occurs axially between the body of the rotor (80) and the intermediate stator (50). Lock according to claim 2, characterized in that that the rotor body (80) is axially supported by its end rear (84, 86) against a radial shoulder (85) of the fixed body bolt (12, 20) oriented axially forward. Lock according to claim 3, characterized in that that the radial shoulder (85) of the fixed latch body is consisting of the internal surface of the rear transverse face (88) of the fixed lock body (12, 20). Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the elastic take-up means of games include at least one compression spring worn (90) by the rotor body (80) and the front free end of which (94, 98) acts on the rear axial end edge (96) of the intermediate stator (50). Lock according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the fixed lock body (12) is made in two rear axial parts (20) and front (24) linked together by a bayonet type mounting (22).

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