Locking Pivot Actuator

Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to automobile locks and/or latches and more specifically to a vehicle lock controlled by a shape memory alloy actuator.

Background of the Invention Automobiles often include child locks for preventing doors, especially rear doors, from being opened from within the passenger compartment. Powered child locks typically require an actuator and a lockout control mechanism that is located on the door latch. The main problem with these types of locks is the lack of packaging space in the door to facilitate the actuator and the lockout mechanism. As the costs associated with a power child lock are high when compared to the value this feature adds to a vehicle, it is desirable to provide such a child lock at a minimum cost.

In addition, another desirable feature to include in a vehicle door latching or locking system is a "double lock", wherein, when engaged, both the inside and outside release levers are simultaneously inactive. This feature has conventionally been incorporated into the design of the latch itself, which can often necessitate a very expensive redesign of a pre-existing latch. Since the functions of a child lock and a "double lock" feature are quite similar, it would be desirable to provide a single structure that could provide both functions and thus further reduce costs.

One alternative to using power actuators is use a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire to toggle the locking feature. SMA wires have the ability to contract when supplied with an electric current, and can be used to engage or disengage the lock. However, these systems are not without their own drawbacks. For example, existing linear toggle mechanisms require too much travel, requiring considerable lengths of SMA wire (an expensive component). In addition, depending on the arrangement of the latch

components, it can be difficult to supply electrical power to the shape memory actuator. Finally, rotation of the electrical wires in linear toggle mechanisms may cause premature failure of the mechanism, therefore there is high demands on those systems for durability and reliability.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an actuator. The actuator comprises a housing; a first lever, pivotally mounted to the housing; a second lever, pivotally mounted to the housing; a link pin, slidably mounted to the housing; a pair of spaced-apart selectively contractible wires, each of the pair of selectively contractible wires connected to the link pin and the housing, and operable to slide the link pin in one of two directions; and where sliding the link pin in a first direction kinematically couples the first and second levers and where sliding the link pin in a second direction kinematically decouples the first and second levers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost actuator for selectively coupling or decoupling two levers together that is simple, reliable and compact. The actuator can be used for multiple functions such as a child lock and a double lock.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

Figure 1 shows an isolated view of a portion of a latch featuring a locking pivot actuator in the locked position, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 shows an isolated view of the latch shown in Fig.l where the locking pivot actuator is in the unlocked position.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a portion of a latch having a locking pivot actuator is shown generally at 10. Latch 10 is adapted to mount to a side door on a motor vehicle. Latch 10 includes a latch housing 11, a portion of which is illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. While the locking pivot actuator described herein is mounted directly to latch housing 11, it is contemplated that the locking pivot actuator could be mounted to an insert made to retrofit an existing latch. A first lever, namely release lever 12 is pivotally mounted around an axis 14 formed by lever rivet 15, and is movable between a "resting" position where a depending tab 16 on the lever rests against a post 17 and an "actuated" position where depending tab 16 is displaced away from post 17. When release lever 12 is moved to its actuated position, depending tab 16 actuates another lever (not shown) to engage a pawl (also not shown) release latch 10.

A second lever, namely auxiliary release lever 18 is also pivotally mounted around axis 14 adjacent to release lever 12, and is also movable between a "resting" position where it abuts against a post 19 formed in latch housing 11, and a "release" position where it is displaced away from post 19. A depending tab 20 on auxiliary release lever 18 abuts against depending tab 16 on release lever 12 when in the resting position. An aperture 21 is provided near an end of auxiliary release lever 18 to mount a door rod or cable (not shown) that is connected to the inner door handle (also not shown). Thus, actuating the door handle actuates the auxiliary release lever 18 towards the release position. A spring 22, mounted around a post 24 formed in latch housing 11, biases auxiliary release lever 18 towards its resting position. Spring 22 includes arms 26 and 28. Arm 26 abuts against post 17 formed in latch housing 11, and arm 28 terminates in a hook that is inserted into a slot 30 on auxiliary release lever 18.

A link pin 32 selectively couples auxiliary release lever 18 and release lever 12 together. A collar 34 rotatably mounted to link pin 32 is rotatable around axis 14. A locking pin 36 extends outwards from a radial arm 38 on collar 34, and extends through a hole 40 in release lever 12, kinematically coupling the pivoting motion of release lever 12 and link pin 32 around axis 14. As mentioned previously, link pin 32 is slidable along axis 14 and moves between a "locked" position and an "unlocked" position. A detente mechanism (not shown) constrains link pin 32 to motion along axis 14. When link pin 32 is in its unlocked position (Fig. 2), locking pin 36 extends through hole 40 and through the path of rotation of auxiliary release lever 18, thereby coupling the auxiliary release lever 18 and the release lever 12. Thus, actuating auxiliary release lever 18 pivots locking pin 36, and moves release lever 12 to release the latch. When link pin 32 is in its locked position (Fig. 1), auxiliary release lever 18 and release lever 12 are decoupled, and locking pin 36 does not extend through the path of rotation of auxiliary release lever 18. Moving auxiliary release lever 18 does not actuate locking pin 36, leaving release lever 12 unmoved in its resting position.

Link pin 32 slides between its locked and unlocked position via a pair of selectively contractible wires, namely SMA wires 42 and 44. SMA wires 42 and 44 are preferably formed from a either a binary or ternary shape memory alloy. Preferably, a ternary shape memory alloy comprising nickel, titanium and either palladium or hafnium could be used to form SMA wires 42. Each of SMA wires 42 and 44 is mounted to latch housing 11 by a pair of electrical terminals 46 and 48 respectively so that each SMA wire forms part of a circuit. In their rest state each of the terminals 46 and 48 are connected to a voltage source (typically the vehicle battery). In order to actuate link pin 32, a controller (not shown) selectively connects one of the terminals 46 or 48 to ground, causing the connecting SMA wire to contract.

SMA wires 42 and 44 are threaded through a slot 50 formed in link pin 32. Slot 50 is located between the centerline formed between the two terminals 46 and the two terminals 48, so that the two SMA wires 42 and 44 are routed along generally V-shaped paths like drawn bowstrings. When one of SMA wires 42 and 44 contracts, the

contracting wire attempts to straighten, sliding link pin 32 closer to the centerline formed between the two terminals 46 or 48. Link pin 32 thus slides into or out of the locked position. While the leading SMA wire 42 or 44 contracts, the trailing SMA wire 42 or 44 stretches back to its original shape. Since link pin 32 uses the same axis of rotation as the release lever 12 and auxiliary release lever 18, the required displacement of link pin 32 to couple or decouple the two levers is less then existing linear toggle mechanisms, and a minimum of force is required.