POWER STRIKER MECHANISM WITH BACKDRIVE PREVENTION

MECANISME DE GACHE ELECTRIQUE AVEC SYSTEME DE RETENUE

English Abstract

A power striker mechanism (10) has a housing (22). A striker (18) is mounted
on a striker plate (20) that is mounted
on the housing for sliding movement between an inboard and an outboard
position. A driver plate (44) is mounted to the housing for
sliding movement in a direction orthogonal to the movement of the striker
plate (20). An actuator (16) effects movement of the driver
plate (44) to thereby effect movement of the striker plate (20) between the
inboard and outboard positions. The striker plate (20) has a
pin (36) and the driver plate has an S-shaped slot (42). The pin slidably
engages the S-shaped slot. The S-shaped slot has end regions
extending generally parallel to each other and in the orthogonal direction and
is interconnected by a diagonally extending section.
When the pin (36) is in the end regions of the S-shaped slot, forces imparted
on the striker plate (20) are transmitted to the housing
(22) and thereby preventing backlash of the actuator (16). When the pin (36)
is in the diagonally extending section, movement of
the drive plate (44) effects movement of the striker plate (20).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un mécanisme de gâche électrique (10) comprenant un logement (22). Une gâche (18) est montée sur une plaque (20) elle-même montée sur le logement et pouvant coulisser entre une position rentrée et une position sortie. Une plaquette d'entraînement (44) montée sur le logement peut coulisser dans une direction orthogonale par rapport au mouvement de la plaque (20). Un actionneur (16) permet de mettre en mouvement la plaquette d'entraînement (44) afin de déplacer la plaque (20) entre une position rentrée et une position sortie. La plaque (20) comprend une broche (36) et la plaquette d'entraînement comprend une fente en forme de S (42). La broche est en prise de manière coulissante avec la fente en forme de S. La fente en forme de S possède des extrémités qui s'étendent parallèlement en direction orthogonale et interconnectées par une section diagonale. Lorsque la broche (36) se trouve dans les extrémités de la fente en forme de S, les forces appliquées sur la plaque (20) sont transmises au logement (22), ce qui permet d'éviter tout jeu de l'actionneur (16). Lorsque la broche (36) se trouve dans la section diagonale, le mouvement de la plaquette d'entraînement (44) met la plaque (20) en mouvement.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A power striker mechanism comprising:
a housing,
a striker mounted on a striker plate, said striker plate mounted on said
housing for
sliding movement between an inboard and an outboard position,
a driver plate mounted to the housing for sliding movement in a direction
orthogonal to said sliding movement of said striker plate and operably
connected
therewith in a camming relation, said driver plate having a series of teeth,
and
an actuator having a drive gear in driving engagement with said series of
teeth of
said driver plate for effecting movement thereof to thereby effect movement of
said
striker plate between said inboard and outboard positions, said camming
relation
comprising end phases corresponding to said inboard and outboard positions
wherein said
striker plate and said driver plate are coupled to the housing and comprising
an
intermediate phase intermediate said end phases wherein said striker plate and
said driver
plate are uncoupled from said housing enabling said sliding movement of said
striker
plate and said drive plate.
2. A power striker mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said striker
plate
and said driver plate has a pin and the other of said striker plate and said
driver plate
having an S-shaped slot, said pin in sliding engagement with said S-shaped
slot, said S-
shaped slot having end regions extending in said orthogonal direction and
interconnected
by a diagonally extending section, whereby when said pin is in said end
regions of said S-
shaped slot, forces imparted to the striker are transmitted to the housing and
when said
pin moves along said diagonally extending section, said driver plate effects
movement of
said striker plate.
3. A power striker mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said driver plate
is in a
geared relation with said actuator.
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4. A power striker mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said housing has a
sector gear mounted thereon, said sector gear operably extending between said
series of
teeth of said driver plate and said drive gear of said actuator.
5. A power striker mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said housing
comprises
a backplate engaging a cover plate defining a cavity therebetween, said
backplate having
an aperture receiving said pin, said cover plate having an aperture through
which said
striker extends, said cavity having bushings defining a first slide channel,
said striker
plate slidably received in said slide channel.
6. A power striker mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein said housing
further
comprises a driver housing engaging a driver cover defining a cavity
therebetween, said
driver cover having an aperture receiving said pin, said driver housing having
an aperture
providing access for said operative engagement between said drive plate and
said
actuator, said cavity having bushings defining a second slide channel, said
drive plate
slidably received in said slide channel.
7. A power striker mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said driver cover
and
said backplate engage in a back to back relation with said respective
apertures aligning
enabling said pin to extend therethrough.
8. A power striker mechanism comprising:
a housing having a backplate engaging a cover plate defining a cavity
therebetween, said backplate having an aperture,
a striker mounted on a striker plate, said striker plate mounted on said
housing for
sliding movement between an inboard and an outboard position,
a driver plate mounted to the housing for sliding movement in a direction
orthogonal to said sliding movement of said striker plate and operably
connected
therewith in a camming relation, said driver plate having a pin received in
said aperture in
said backplate, said cover plate having an aperture through which said striker
extends,
said cavity having bushings defining a first slide channel wherein said
striker plate is
slidably received in said slide channel, and
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an actuator operatively engaging said drive plate for effecting movement
thereof
to thereby effect movement of said striker plate between said inboard and
outboard
positions, said camming relation comprising end phases corresponding to said
inboard
and outboard positions wherein said striker plate and said driver plate are
coupled to the
housing and comprising an intermediate phase intermediate said end phases
wherein said
striker plate and said driver plate are uncoupled from said housing enabling
said sliding
movement of said striker plate and said drive plate.
9. A power striker mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein said housing
further
comprises a driver housing engaging a driver cover defining a cavity
therebetween, said
driver cover having an aperture receiving said pin, said driver housing having
an aperture
providing access for said operative engagement between said drive plate and
said
actuator, said cavity having bushings defining a second slide channel, said
drive plate
slidably received in said slide channel.
10. A power striker mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein said driver cover
and
said backplate engages in a back to back relation with said respective
apertures aligning
enabling said pin to extend therethrough.
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Description

CA 02395248 2002-06-20
WO 01/63075 PCT/CA01/00182
POWER STRIKER MECHANISM WITH
BACKDRIVE PREVENTION
Field of Invention
The subject invention relates to a power striker mechanism for use with a
closure panel of a motor vehicle.
Background of the Invention
A vehicle closure panel, such as a door, hood or deck, typically includes a
seal
to prevent exterior environmental elements from intrudina into a passenger
compartment. The seal also reduces the amount of exterior noise.transmitted
into the
passenger compartment. Seals with higher stiffness coefficients and Qreater
seal
pressures are being used to accommodate consunier demand for a quieter
passenger
compamnent. In other words, new seals are becomin- mtich stiffer than those
traditionally used. As appreciated, a stiffer seal translates into an increase
in force
required to completely close the closure panel.
One solution to this problem is the use of a power striker, including the
power
strikers disclosed in United States patent nos. 5,172,947; 4,739,585;
4,982,984;
5,716,085; 5,755,468; 4,842,313; 4,775,178; 4,707,007; 5,765,886; and
5,066,056.
During operation of these typical devices, the closure panel is moved to an
initial
closed position such that the latch engages the striker. The striker is then
moved
inboard by a power actuator to cinch the closure panel to a final closed
position
compressing the seals.
One shortcoming of such a mechanism is the vulnerability to damage of the
power striker by excessive slamming of the closure panel, typically a door. A
slammed door causes damage because the striker is driven inboard of the
vehicle and
inertial forces of the door are subsequently transmitted through the striker
to the
power actuator. Repair and replacement of power actuator is complicated by the
confined mounting locations required of such mechanisms.
It is thus desirable to develop a powered striker mechanism that is not
susceptible to damage by a slamming vehicle closure panel.
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Summary of Invention
The disadvantages of the prior art may be overcome by providing a power
striker that isolates the actuator from slamming loads imparted to the striker
assembly.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a power striker
mechanism having a housing. A striker is mounted on a striker plate that is
mounted
on the housing for slidable movement between an inboard and an outboard
position.
A driver plate is mounted to the housing for slidable movement is a direction
orthogonal to the striker plate. An actuator effects movement of the driver
plate to
thereby effect movement of the striker plate between the inboard and outboard
positions. The striker plate has a pin and the driver plate has an S-shaped
slot
defining a camming relation. The pin slidably engages the S-shaped slot. The S-
shaped slot has end regions extending in the orthogonal direction and is
interconnected by a diagonally extending section. When the pin is in the end
regions
of the S-shaped slot, forces imparted on the striker plate are transmitted to
the housing
and thereby preventinQ backlash of the actuator. When the pin is in the
diagonally
extending section, movement of the driver plate effects movement of the
striker plate.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a power
striker
mechanism. The striker plate and the driver plate are connected together in a
camming relation having end phases corresponding to inboard and outboard
positions
of the striker plate. In the end phases, corresponding to the inboard and
outboard
positions, the striker plate and the driver plate are coupled to the housing
of the
mechanism. In an intermediate phase intermediate the end phases, the striker
plate and
the driver plate are uncoupled from the housing enabling the relative sliding
movement of the striker plate and the drive plate.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description
when
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a powered striker mechanism of the present
invention;
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Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled powered striker mechanism of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the striker assembly
of
Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a driver assembly for
the
powered striker mechanism of Figure 1.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to the Figures wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding
parts throughout the several views, a power closure panel striker mechanism is
generally shown at 10 in Figures 1 and 2. The power striker mechanism 10
comprises
a striker assembly 12, a driver assembly 14 and an actuator 16.
Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the striker assembly 12 includes a striker plate
20. The striker plate 20 has three aligned holes, with a center hole sized for
mounting
a driver pin 36. A striker 18, which is U-shaped with outboard 17 and inboard
19
legs, is fixedly attached in the outermost holes of the striker plate 20. The
striker plate
is slidingly disposed within a cavity 24 of a striker housing cover 22. The
striker
correspondingly 18 extends through a rectangular opening 25 in the striker
housing
cover 22.
20 The striker housing cover 22 fits within a peripheral rim 26 of a backplate
28.
The striker housing cover 22 has two countei-sunk mounting holes 30 through
wtiich
two mounting screws (not shown) are inserted to secure the striker assemblv 12
to the
vehicle. The backplate 28 secures the striker housing cover 22 at a top and
bottom
portion by a lip 32 folded over the striker housing cover 22. The pin driver
36 extends
through a slot 38 in the backplate 28. Further, the backplate 28 cooperates
with the
striker housing plate 22 to define a first cavity therebetween. Preferably,
striker
housing cover 22 has a transverse embossment which receives and secures
striker
bushings 34 above and below the striker plate 20 within the striker housing
cover 22
defining a first channel. The striker bushings 34 are held firmly between the
striker
housing cover 22 and the backplate 28. The striker bushings 34 allow an
inboard and
outboard sliding movement of the striker plate 20 in the direction of arrows
A, B. As
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appreciated, the driver pin 36 and striker 18 are also limited to horizontal
movement
along with the striker plate 20.
The driver pin 36 fits within a roller 40 disposed within the driver assembly
14, which is also shown in Figure 4. The roller 40 follows within a cam slot
42 of a
driver plate 44 in a camming relation.
The driver plate 44 is rectangular having the cam slot 42 and a set or series
of
gear teeth 46. The cam slot 42 has an S-shaped profile defined by three
phases. The
end phases comprise outboard 41 and inboard 43 ends and an intermediate phase
comprising a diagonal connection therebetween. Outboard end 41 and inboard end
43
extend parallel to each other and generally orthogonal to the inboard outboard
movement of the striker plate 20.
A driver housing plate 48 has rectangular aperture 49 which enables the
operative engagement between the actuator 16 and the drive plate 42.
Preferably,
driver housing plate 48 has a rectangular embossment.
The cover 50 includes upper and lower tabs 54 that are folded over the driver
housing plate 48 to secure the driver assembly 14 and define a second cavity
tllerebetween. The cover 50 has an aperture 51 through which the pin 36
extends. A
pair of driver bushings 56 are mounted within the second cavity to define a
second
channel. The driver plate 44 slides within the second channel defined by the
driver
bushings 56 in a direction perpendicular to the inboard outboard movement of
the
striker plate 20.
The gear teeth 46 of the driver plate 44 enQage a sector gear 58. The sector
gear 58 is mounted to the support bracket 66 and has a first set of gear teeth
60 that
engages the driver plate 44 and a second set of gear teeth 62 that engages a
pinion 64
of the actuator 16.
Referring to Figure 2, the actuator 16 is mounted to an internal support
within
the vehicle. A support bracket 66 is a rectangular plate having an opening for
the
drive gear 64 and is secured to the actuator 16 to provide a mounting location
for the
sector gear 58. The sector gear 58 is pivotally attached to the support
bracket 66. The
sector gear 58 transmits rotary motion of the drive gear 64 to the driver
plate 44 and
acts as a lever arm to multiply torque provided by the motor 16. The position
of the
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striker 18 may be adjusted laterally while maintaining engagement of the
driver plate
44 to the sector gear 58 due to extra width provided in the driver gear teeth
46.
The subject power striker mechanism 10 is configured to prevent transmission
of impact forces on the striker 18, by a slammed closure panel, back through
the
driver assembly 14 and to the gear motor 16. An impact force imparted on the
striker
18 will be in an inboard outboard direction.
The operation of the power striker mechanism 10 begins once the vehicle
closure panel is moved to an initial closed position and the latch on the
vehicle
closure panel, typically a door, hood or deck, has latched onto the striker
18. The
actuator 16 is energized to rotate the drive gear 64 that in turn rotates the
sector gear
58. The rotation of the sector gear 58 forces the driver plate 44 to slide.
The driver
plate 44 engages the roller 40, responsively moves the roller 40 along the
outboard
end 41 and then diagonally towards the inboard end 43 and then along the
inboard end
43. The drive pin 36, which engages the roller, responsively transmits the
inboard
movement to the striker plate 20 and striker 18, causing the striker 18 to
move
inboard (Arrow A) and pull the vehicle closure panel to a final closed
position.
When the closure panel is opened, the process is reversed to move the striker
18 back to the initial closure panel closed or outboard position (Arrow B).
When a closure panel is slammed shut or other external force applied, such as
a collision, a force is exerted on the striker 18 in an inboard direction
(Arrow A). As
appreciated the force is transmitted from the striker 18 through the striker
plate 20 and
thereby to the driver pin 36. The driver pin 36 then impacts a side of the cam
slot 42
of the driver plate 44. When the driver plate 44 is at either end of travel,
pin 36 will
be positioned at either the outboard end 41 or the inboard end 43. The
outboard end
41 and the inboard end 43 both extend transversely to the direction of
movement of
the striker plate 20. Thus, when pin 36 is in either of the inboard end 43 or
the
outboard end 41, the striker plate 20 and the driver plate 44 are coupled to
the
housing. Intermediate of the inboard end 43 and the outboard end 41, the
driver plate
44 and the striker plate are uncoupled from the housing enabling the sliding
movement of both and thereby effect the inboard and outboard movement of the
striker plate 20. Therefor, forces applied to the striker 18 will not be
converted to
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movement of the driver plate 44. The S-shaped profile of the cam slot 42
prevents
impact forces from being transmitted to the actuator 16. Impact loads are
ultimately
transmitted to the vehicle. The result is the atctuatorl6 being insulated from
impact
forces exerted on the striker 18.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be
understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the
nature
of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and
variations
of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is,
therefore, to
be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically
described.
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Representative Drawing