EP0571249B1 - Bolt with disconnectable rotor, especially for a motor vehicle lock - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a disengageable rotor lock intended in particular to equip a lock for a motor vehicle.

It relates more particularly to a lock of the type comprising a rotor swiveling in an intermediate stator, itself pivoting in a fixed stator generally constituted by the body of the lock.

The lock comprises, in a manner known per se, locking members such as pairs of pistons or flakes cooperating with the rotor and the intermediate stator to secure them in rotation in the absence of a key or in the presence of a non-conforming key and release the rotor relative to the intermediate stator after insertion of the conforming key.

The bolt further comprises a control member for a lock such as a lever or thresher and means making it possible to make the rotor of said control member only after rotation of the rotor independently of the intermediate stator, that is to say only in the presence of a compliant key.

Such locks with disengageable rotor have the important advantage, from the point of view of safety, of not being able to be forced into rotation, the force rotation having the result, on the one hand, of leaving the rotor and the intermediate stator integral and , on the other hand, to make inactive the means for securing the rotor with the control member of the lock and therefore not to cause its actuation.

To make such locks, it has already been proposed, for example, to slide the rotor or a part of it, relative to the intermediate stator, during the introduction of the conforming key so that after sliding the rotor is in taken with the control member of the lock.

Such a design has several drawbacks.

The sliding of the rotor, at each closing or opening of the lock, causes significant wear of the assembly.

In addition, it requires high precision of the locking members and a very small clearance between the rotor and the intermediate stator to satisfy the safety conditions. Finally, such a lock has an increased axial size for the sliding of the rotor.

Document FR-A-2 631 067 describes a lock in which it is no longer the rotor which slides axially but a part integral in rotation with said rotor. Such a part is of a complex design because it must not only be integral with the rotor but include cam means so as to cause its axial sliding by rotation of the rotor.

In addition to an equally large axial size, such a lock must include erasable indexing means of the intermediate stator with the body, indexing means which require additional parts and therefore increase the cost of the assembly.

The present invention solves these problems and proposes for this purpose a disengageable rotor lock of the type comprising a rotor swiveling in an intermediate stator, itself pivoting in a fixed body, locking members such as pairs of pistons or flakes cooperating with the rotor and the intermediate stator to secure them in rotation in the absence of a key or in the presence of a non-conforming key and release the rotor relative to the intermediate stator after introduction of the conforming key, the lock further comprising a control member a lock, such as a lever or thresher and means for securing the rotor to said control member capable of securing only after rotation of the rotor independently of the intermediate stator, lock characterized in that the means for securing comprise a pusher integral in rotation with the intermediate stator and capable of sliding radially in said stator under the action of cam means provided on the rotor, the pusher cooperating by a rib with a control finger which can slide radially in the control member, it is integral in rotation.

• le doigt de commande comporte, d'une part, des moyens de solidarisation du corps avec l'organe de commande en l'absence de clé ou en présence d'une clé non conforme et, d'autre part, des moyens d'indexation angulaires effaçables dudit corps avec le stator intermédiaire
• les moyens de solidarisation du corps avec l'organe de commande sont constitués d'une clavette ménagée sur un téton axial du doigt de commande coopérant avec une rainure du corps
• les moyens d'indexation angulaires effaçables sont constitués par une protubérance axiale ménagée sur une patte du doigt de commande coopérant avec une encoche axiale du poussoir
• la patte coulisse radialement dans une rainure de l'organe de commande et est agencée de manière à former avec ladite rainure un logement pour un ressort de rappel du poussoir
• le doigt de commande comporte deux nervures verticales diamétralement opposées destinées à coopérer avec des rainures de forme complémentaire ménagées dans le stator intermédiaire
• les nervures présentent des faces externes dont la distance est au plus égale au diamètre externe du stator intermédiaire
• les moyens de came du rotor comportent deux pattes latérales dont les faces inférieures sont planes de manière à constituer un diamètre du rotor
• les faces inférieures des moyens de came coopèrent avec des faces supérieures de nervures horizontales ménagées sur le poussoir
• le stator intermédiaire comprend des moyens de guidage en rotation des moyens de came constitués d'évidements circulaires ménagés à l'intérieur d'ailes latérales agencées à l'arrière dudit stator intermédiaire.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• the control finger comprises, on the one hand, means for securing the body to the control member in the absence of a key or in the presence of a non-conforming key and, on the other hand, indexing means angular erasable from said body with the intermediate stator
• the means for securing the body to the control member consist of a key formed on an axial stud of the control finger cooperating with a groove in the body
• the erasable angular indexing means consist of an axial protuberance formed on a tab of the control finger cooperating with an axial notch of the pusher
• the tab slides radially in a groove of the control member and is arranged so as to form with said groove a housing for a return spring of the pusher
• the control finger comprises two diametrically opposite vertical ribs intended to cooperate with grooves of complementary shape formed in the intermediate stator
• the ribs have external faces the distance of which is at most equal to the external diameter of the intermediate stator
• the rotor cam means comprise two lateral tabs, the lower faces of which are planar so as to constitute a diameter of the rotor
• the undersides of the cam means cooperate with upper faces of horizontal ribs formed on the pusher
• the intermediate stator comprises means for guiding the rotation of the cam means constituted by circular recesses formed inside lateral wings arranged at the rear of said intermediate stator.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée des principaux éléments constitutifs du verrou selon l'invention ;
• les figures 1a,1b,1c sont des vues en perspective suivant les flèches F de la figure 1 de certains éléments du verrou afin de mieux illustrer leur constitution ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe radiale du verrou illustrant les positions des différents éléments en position de repos c'est-à-dire en l'absence d'une clé ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe radiale identique à la figure 2 en présence d'une clé non conforme ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective avec arrachement partiel de l'ensemble du verrou, les positions relatives des éléments correspondants à celle de la figure 3 ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des coupes radiales identiques à la figure 2 montrant les positions relatives successives des différents éléments en présence d'une clé conforme ;
• les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues en perspective avec arrachement partiel de l'ensemble du verrou, les positions relatives des éléments correspondants à celles des figures 5 et 6.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the lock according to the invention;
• Figures 1a, 1b, 1c are perspective views along the arrows F of Figure 1 of certain elements of the lock to better illustrate their constitution;
• Figure 2 is a radial sectional view of the latch illustrating the positions of the various elements in the rest position, that is to say in the absence of a key;
• Figure 3 is a radial sectional view identical to Figure 2 in the presence of a non-conforming key;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view with partial cutaway of the latch assembly, the relative positions of the elements corresponding to that of Figure 3;
• Figures 5 and 6 are radial sections identical to Figure 2 showing the successive relative positions of the different elements in the presence of a conforming key;
• FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views with partial cutaway of the bolt assembly, the relative positions of the elements corresponding to those of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, the lock, according to the invention, comprises a fixed stator or body 10 generally having the shape of a cylinder comprising a central bore 22.

The rear of the body 10 (on the left in FIG. 1) has a cylindrical flange 24, in which a radial slot 26 is formed, delimited by two recesses 28, 28 ′ formed of material on the flange 24.

The bore 22 of the body 10 is intended to receive an intermediate stator 12 which can rotate in the body 10. The stator 12 is also generally in the form of a cylindrical barrel with a central bore 30. The rear face 32 of the stator 12 is extended by two lateral wings 34,34 'having inside two circular recesses 36,36' symmetrical and diametrically opposite.

On the rear face 32 are formed two radial grooves 38,40 also diametrically opposite.

The bore 30 of the intermediate stator is intended to receive a rotor 14 which can rotate in said intermediate stator 12. The rotor 14 generally has a cylindrical shape extending at the rear by a cylindrical part 42 of smaller diameter. On its rear part, the rotor 14 also comprises cam means 44 constituted in the example represented by two lateral tabs 46,46 'symmetrical and diametrically opposite and whose lower faces 48,48' are planar and constitute a diameter of the rotor 14. The ends 50.50 ′ are rounded so as to be fitted into the circular recesses 36.36 ′ of the intermediate stator 12, which will constitute guide surfaces for the cam means 44 during the rotation of the rotor (see figure 2).

Of course, the intermediate stator 12 and the rotor 14 include locking members such as pairs of pistons or flakes to secure them in rotation in the absence of a key or in the presence of a non-conforming key and release the rotor 14 in rotation relative to the intermediate stator 12 after introduction of the conforming key. These locking members, which are not part of the present invention, have not been shown.

As shown, for example in FIG. 3, the rotor 14 includes a key channel 52.

According to the invention, the lock comprises means for disengaging the rotor 14 consisting, on the one hand, of a pusher 16 and, on the other hand, of a control finger 18.

The plunger 16 is generally in the form of a washer with an oblong central hole 54 for the passage of the rear part 42 of the rotor.

For reasons which will be explained further on, the pusher 16 must not only be integral in rotation with the intermediate stator 12, but must be able to slide radially therein.

To this end, the pusher 16 comprises two parallel sides 56, 56 ′ intended to cooperate with the internal surfaces of the lateral wings 34, 34 ′ located behind the intermediate stator 12.

On the front face 58 (FIG. 1a) of the pusher 16, two vertical ribs 60,62 are formed as a matter of material, the vertical rib 62 being connected by two cylindrical ribs 64,64 ′ adjacent to the oblong hole 54 with two horizontal ribs 66,66 ', whose upper faces 68,68' are aligned along the diameter corresponding to the lower faces 48,48 'of the cam means 44 of the rotor 14 (Figures 2 and 5).

It goes without saying that the terms horizontal, vertical are understood in particular for a latch in the rest position as shown for example in FIG. 2.

When mounting the lock, the front face 58 of the pusher 16 comes into contact with the rear face 32 of the intermediate stator 12 and the vertical ribs 60,62 penetrate into the grooves 38,40 respectively.

Thus, on the one hand, the cooperation of the parallel flanks 56, 56 ′ of the pusher 16 with the internal surfaces of the wings 34, 34 ′ of the intermediate stator 12 constitute the means of securing them in rotation, and, on the other hand, the cooperation of the ribs 60, 62 with the grooves 38, 40 constitute the means of radial sliding of the pusher 16 in the intermediate stator 12.

The rib 62 of the pusher 16 has, relative to the outer periphery, a projection 70 with an end 72 having an axial notch 74 whose role will be explained further.

It should be noted that the radial size of the pusher 16, that is to say the distance D, between the external faces 76,72 of the ribs 60,62, is at most equal to the external diameter of the intermediate stator 12.

The control finger 18 has in its central part a shape generally identical to the pusher 16. An oblong hole 78 allows the passage of the rear part of the rotor 42. Parallel radial sides 80, 80 'constitute, with the internal surfaces of the lateral wings 34, 34 ′ of the intermediate stator 12, the means for securing it in rotation as for the pusher 16.

The control finger 18 has at its upper part, an axial stud 82 of generally parallelepiped shape, the end of which comprises a key 84 (FIG. 1c).

The lower part of the control finger 18 comprises a tab 86, in the form of a square, the upper face 88 of which has an axial protuberance 90 of shape complementary to the axial notch 74 of the pusher 16.

On the rear face 92 is provided a housing 94 which, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, is intended to receive a return spring 96.

Of course, during the mounting of the lock, the control finger 18 comes to bear on the pusher 16 so that its protuberance 90 comes to cooperate with the notch 74 of the pusher 16 (FIG. 2) to constitute means of erasable angular indexing of the intermediate stator 12, rotor 14 relative to the body 10.

The lock also includes a control member or lever 20 in the general form of a cylindrical barrel having at its center a hole 98 intended to allow the rear part 42 of the rotor 14 to pass.

The cylindrical barrel is extended radially by a wing 100 of triangular shape at the end of which is formed an orifice 102 intended to receive, for example, the end of a mechanism for controlling a lock (not shown).

The lever 20 has two diametrically opposite grooves 104, 106 (FIG. 1b) intended to receive the axial stud 82 respectively, and the tab 86 of the control finger 18. In particular the groove 106 contains the return spring 96 (see FIG. 2 for example) .

Thus the control finger 18 is integral in rotation with the lever 20.

All the components of the lock being nested one inside the other, the assembly is immobilized in translation and therefore made integral with the lever 20, for example by a circlip or stop ring 108 (FIG. 4) located on the rear part 42 of the rotor 14 projecting from lever 20.

The operation of such a lock is as follows.

Firstly, reference is made to FIG. 2 which illustrates the various components of the latch in the rest position.

In this configuration, the cam means 44 of the rotor 14 are supported on the horizontal ribs 66, 66 'of the plunger 16, said plunger 16 being inscribed in the external diameter of the intermediate stator 12 and integral with that in rotation.

The key 84 of the axial stud 82 of the control finger 18 is inside the radial groove 26 of the body 10 (FIG. 4). Thus, the finger 18 and therefore the lever 20 are immobilized in rotation relative to the body 10.

During the introduction of a non-conforming key (Figures 3 and 4), the rotor 14 is integral in rotation with the intermediate stator 12 by its locking members such as pistons or flakes. Any force on the rotor 14 rotates the intermediate stator 12 and therefore the pusher 16, the notch 74 of which escapes the protuberance 90 of the control finger 18. No drive in rotation of the lever 20 and therefore no actuation of the lock can take place, the key 84 of the finger 18 still being inside the groove 26 of the body 10. There is simply an angular deindexing of the rotor 14, intermediate stator 12 relative to the body 10.

In the case where a conforming key is introduced, the operation of the lock is illustrated in particular in FIGS. 5 to 8.

In this configuration, the rotor 14 is released in rotation relative to the intermediate stator 12.

From the rest position (FIG. 2), a rotation of the conforming key, counterclockwise in the figures, causes rotation of the rotor 14 and therefore of its cam means 44, including one of the legs 46 ' causes the pusher 16 to slide radially from top to bottom in the figures, so that its rib 62 also pushes down the control finger 18 against the return spring 96. The rib 62 by penetrating the groove 106 of lever 20 makes integral in rotation with the intermediate stator 12 and said lever 20.

Simultaneously, the movement of the control finger 18 causes the key 84 to exit from the groove 26 of the body 10, which is thus no longer integral in rotation with the rotor 14 and the intermediate stator 12.

A complementary rotation of the conforming key rotates the intermediate stator 12, rotor 14, plunger 16 and lever 20 assembly: the lock opening mechanism is actuated.

When the key is turned clockwise to return to the rest position, the wings 46, 46 ′ of the cam means 44 of the rotor 14 no longer exert any action on the pusher 16, which returns to its initial position under the action of the return spring 96.

Thanks to its reduced number of parts, the construction of such a lock is particularly simple, economical and safe.

It will be appreciated that all the joining functions between the different elements are carried out using only two parts: the pusher 16 and the control finger 18 which are arranged in material such that they simultaneously provide the erasable indexing means .

Finally, all the aforementioned functions are achieved by radial displacements, which significantly reduces the axial size of the entire lock and facilitates its installation.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown but encompasses any variant that a person skilled in the art could make.

Claims (10)

1. A bolt with a disconnectable rotor, of the type comprising a rotor (14) rotatable in an intermediate stator (12) which itself pivots in a fixed body (10), locking members, such as pairs of pistons or pallets, cooperating with the rotor (14) and the intermediate stator (12), for locking them together in rotation in the absence of a key or in the presence of an incorrect key, and for releasing the rotor (12) with respect to the intermediate stator (12) after the correct key has been introduced, the bolt further comprising a control member such as a lever (20) or striker for controlling a lock, together with securing means adapted to secure the rotor (14) and the said control member (20) together, but only after rotation of the rotor (14) independently of the intermediate stator (12), the bolt being characterised in that the securing means comprise a pusher member (16) which is fixed for rotation with the intermediate stator (12) and able to slide radially in the said stator (12) under the action of cam means (44) formed on the rotor (14), the pusher member (16) cooperating, by means of a rib (62), with a control finger (18) which is able to slide radially in the control member (20), to which it is coupled in rotation.
2. A bolt according to Claim 1, characterised in that the control finger (18) comprises, firstly, coupling means (26, 84) for coupling the body (10) with the control member (20) in the absence of a key or in the presence of an incorrect key, and secondly, withdrawable means (74, 90) for the angular indexing of the said body (10) with the intermediate stator (12).
3. A bolt according to Claim 2, characterised in that the means for coupling the body (10) with the control member (20) comprise a key element (84), formed on an axial lug (82) of the control finger (18) and cooperating with a groove (26) in the body (10).
4. A bolt according to Claim 2, characterised in that the disengageable angular indexing means consist of an axial projecting element (90) formed on a lug (86) of the control finger (18) and cooperating with an axial notch (74) of the pusher member (16).
5. A bolt according to Claim 4, characterised in that the lug (86) slides radially in a groove (106) of the control member (20), and is adapted so as to define, with the said groove (106), a housing for a return spring (96) for the pusher member (16).
6. A bolt according to Claim 1, characterised in that the control finger (18) includes two diametrically opposed vertical ribs (60, 62) which are adapted to cooperate with complementary grooves (38, 40) formed in the intermediate stator (12).
7. A bolt according to Claim 6, characterised in that the ribs (60, 62) have external faces (76, 72), the distance (D) between which is at least equal to the external diameter of the intermediate stator (12).
8. A bolt according to Claim 1, characterised in that the cam means (44) of the rotor (14) comprise two lateral lugs (46, 46'), the lower faces (48, 48') of which are flat and lie on a diameter of the rotor (14).
9. A bolt according to Claim 8, characterised in that the lower faces (48, 48') of the cam means (44) cooperate with upper faces (68, 68') of horizontal ribs (66, 66') formed on the pusher member (16).
10. A bolt according to Claim 8, characterised in that the intermediate stator (12) includes guide means, for guiding the cam means (44) in rotation and comprising circular guide recesses (36, 36') formed within lateral wing portions (34, 34'), which are disposed at the rear end of the said intermediate stator (12).

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