Electric door latch apparatus for vehicle

An electric door latch apparatus, comprising:

• a catching part mounted on a first base plate and configured to catch a striker configured to be mounted on a vehicle body to lock a door to the vehicle body or to be released from the striker to unlock the door from the vehicle body, the catching part including a catch rotatably mounted on the first base plate and a locking indentation configured to catch or release the striker;
• a pawl rotatably mounted on the first base plate while contacting the catch, and configured to stop rotation of the catch or to enable the catch to freely rotate;
• and
• a pawl release lever disposed between the pawl and the first base plate and rotatable integrally with the pawl, the pawl release lever including two seated protrusions;
• a door locking and unlocking part configured to apply a torque to the catching part through a main motor mounted on a second base plate such that the catching part is locked and unlocked to the striker, wherein the door locking and unlocking part includes the main motor mounted on the second base plate and including a main drive gear formed on a first rotation shaft rotatable in both directions, a main driven gear engaged with the main drive gear, and a main operation lever engaged with the main driven gear and configured to rotate the pawl release lever by being rotated by a torque from the main driven gear, wherein the main operation lever is formed with a pressurizing protrusion to be placed on the seated protrusions of the pawl release lever to press and rotate the pawl release lever;
• an electric emergency door unlocking part configured to enable the door to be released from the vehicle body when the main motor is inoperable, the electric emergency door unlocking part including:
• a sub-motor mounted on the second base plate at a position adjacent to the main motor, the sub-motor including a sub-drive gear formed on a second rotation shaft rotatable in both directions;
• a sub-driven gear engaged with the sub-drive gear;
• a master lock link rotatably installed on the first base plate and formed with a hook;
• and
• a pressurizing spring configured to press the master lock link to rotate in a predetermined direction;
• an inside emergency operation lever connected to an inside handle installed in the door, rotatable by an operational force of the inside handle, and configured to apply a torque to the catching part through the electric emergency door unlocking part;
• an outside emergency operation lever coupled to the master lock link and connected to an outside handle installed in the door, the outside emergency operation lever rotatable by an operational force of the outside handle and configured to apply a torque to the catching part through the electric emergency door unlocking part;
• and
• a manual emergency door unlocking part mounted on the second base plate, connected to the inside emergency operation lever, and configured to apply a torque to the catching part through the electric emergency door unlocking part by a torque of the inside emergency operation lever.

A vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body;
• a vehicle door;
• a striker mounted on the vehicle body;
• a catching part mounted on a first base plate and configured to catch the striker to lock the vehicle door to the vehicle body or to be released from the striker to unlock the vehicle door from the vehicle body;
• a door locking and unlocking part configured to apply a torque to the catching part through a main motor mounted on a second base plate such that the catching part is locked and unlocked to the striker;
• an electric emergency door unlocking part configured to enable the vehicle door to be released from the vehicle body through a sub-motor mounted on the second base plate when the main motor is inoperable;
• an inside emergency operation lever connected to an inside handle installed in the vehicle door, rotatable by an operational force of the inside handle, and configured to apply a torque to the catching part through the electric emergency door unlocking part;
• an outside emergency operation lever connected to an outside handle installed in the vehicle door, rotatable by an operational force of the outside handle, and configured to apply a torque to the catching part through the electric emergency door unlocking part;
• and
• a manual emergency door unlocking part mounted on the second base plate, connected to the inside emergency operation lever, and configured to apply a torque to the catching part through the electric emergency door unlocking part by a torque of the inside emergency operation lever;
• wherein the catching part comprises:
• a catch rotatably mounted on the first base plate, and formed with a locking indentation configured to catch or release the striker;
• a pawl rotatably mounted on the first base plate while contacting the catch, and configured to stop rotation of the catch or to enable the catch to freely rotate;
• and
• a pawl release lever disposed between the pawl and the first base plate and rotatable integrally with the pawl.