Door lock actuator
OwnerBert R. Wanlassinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a power door lock actuator for use on a standard door lock system. The actuator operates quietly, has zero back drive and can be mounted on all vehicle types without retooling for each vehicle. The door lock has an arcuately mounted output arms, an attaching portion on the arm, a power source and a clutch to selectively couple the output arm and the motor.
Claims12
A door lock actuator for use on a vehicle having a door lock system which includes a manual lock means, a locking mechanism and a connecting rod, said acutator comprising:
- an output member movable between first and second positions corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of said door lock mechanism, said output member having first and second ends;
- power means for driving said output member between said first and second positions, said power means being operatively coupled to one end of said output member;
- and
- attaching means at said opposite end of said output member for attaching said output member to said connecting member, said attaching means including a bore extending through said output member and a slot intersecting said bore at an acute angle to the center line of said bore, said slot being adapted to receive said connecting rod, thereafter said bore being adapted to receive said rod upon rotation of said actuator to thereby retain said connecting rod within said output member.
A door lock actuator for use in a vehicle having a door lock, a manual lock control and a connecting arm interconnecting the door lock and the manual lock control so that upon manual operation of said manual lock control, said door lock is locked and unlocked, said actuator comprising:
- a housing;
- a power means;
- an output member pivotally mounted to said housing, said output member having first and second ends with said first end being adapted for connection to said connecting arm and said second end having a first gear means thereon;
- a clutch means having a clutch plate formed of non-magnetic material having first and second sides and a second gear means, said second gear means extending outwardly from said first side of said clutch plate for coupling said clutch means to said first gear means of said output member;
- said second side of said clutch plate having a magnetic means thereon, said clutch means being slidable with respect to said output member;
- a worm gear connected to said power means;
- a driven gear formed of non-magnetic material operatively coupled to said worm gear and being driven thereby, said driven gear having an open central portion facing said clutch plate for receipt of an electro-magnet;
- an electro-magnet mounted within said central portion of said driven gear;
- said driven gear and said clutch means being coaxially mounted, said clutch plate being magnetically drawn to said driven gear upon actuation of said electro-magnet to couple said output member to said power means upon actuation of said door lock actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.