Solenoid operated door lock

Claim 2

In an actuator for the locking mechanism of an automotive door latch, a housing, a shaft supported by said housing, a pair of solenoids within said housing, a pair of plungers movable into and out of said solenoids, a crank on said shaft connected to said locking mechanism, and means for rocking said crank between locking and unlocking positions comprising connections between each of said plungers and said crank, each connection having a variable moment arm with respect to said crank which decreases as the plunger descends into its solenoid.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1, said connections comprising a lever mounted on said shaft, Said lever having a pair of oppositely extending arms, said solenoid plungers having convex arcuate cams engaging said arms in such manner that each cam engages the outer end of its arm at the beginning of the plunger stroke and the inner end at the end of the stroke.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2, said arms extending into slots formed in said plungers, said cams being carried within said slots.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 2, the surfaces on said oppositely extending arms engaged by said cams being spaced from the rotational axis of said lever whereby frictional forces exerted by said cams on said lever during the beginning of each plunger stroke will assist lever rotation.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 2, further provided with a switch mounted in said housing, and spaced shoulders on said lever engageable with said switch whereby the switch will be operated in response to rocking of said lever.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 1, said housing being of flat shape, and a plurality of mounting holes formed around the edges of said housing whereby the housing may be mounted in a variety of positions on the door latch.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 1, said shaft having a portion of circular cross section, a bushing in said housing supporting said last-mentioned shaft portion, said crank being outside said housing, and an annular seal having a first portion engaging said bushing and a second portion engaging said circular shaft portion outside the bushing.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 7, said seal comprising an annular rubber-like boot having a first seal portion which may be snapped over a shoulder on said bushing and a second seal portion engaging said circular shaft portion.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 1, said shaft having a portion of square cross-sectional shape within said housing, said connections between the crank and plungers comprising a double-armed lever mounted on said last-mentioned shaft portion, whereby the angular orientation between said lever and crank may be varied in order to mount the housing in different positions with respect to door latches.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 9, said housing being provided with a blind socket into which said square shaft portion extends and is rotatably supported.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 10, the end of said blind socket having an indented portion engaging the end of said shaft to reduce said axial play.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 9, said shaft further having a portion of circular cross section, a bushing carried by said housing and supporting said last-mentioned shaft portion, and a rubber-like snap-on boot seal engaging said bushing and circular shaft portion.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 12, said plungers carrying convex cams engaging said double-armed lever, each cam engaging the outer end of its lever at the beginning of the plunger stroke and the inner end at the end of the stroke, whereby the moment arm of the solenoid force on the lever decreases as the plunger descends into the solenoid coil.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 1, said shaft being rotatably supported by said housing, said connections being between said plungers and said shaft.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 2, said door latch being mounted at the edge of an automobile door having inner and outer panels and a sliding window descending therebetween, said door latch having a frame, said actuator housing being substantially flat, secured directly to said door latch frame, and disposed between the sliding glass and the inside door panel.

Claim 17

In combination, an automobile door having inner and outer panels and a sliding window descending therebetween, a door latch having a frame mounted at the edge of said door, a locking mechanism on said door latch shiftable between locking and unlocking positions, and an electric actuator for said locking mechanism comprising a substantially flat housiNg mounted within said door between the sliding glass and the inside panel thereof, said actuator having a pair of alternately energizable solenoids within said housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly therefrom, a crank on said shaft linked to said locking mechanism, plungers for said solenoids, and connections within said housing between said plungers and shaft, said last-mentioned connections comprising a double-armed lever mounted on said shaft and convex cams carried by said plungers, whereby each plunger will be connected to the outer end of its lever arm at the beginning of the plunger stroke and to the inner end at the end of the stroke so as to decrease the moment arm of the solenoid forces on the lever as each plunger descends into its solenoid coil.

Claim 18

In combination, an automobile door having inner and outer panels and a sliding window descending therebetween, a door latch having a frame mounted at the edge of said door, a locking mechanism on said door latch shiftable between locking and unlocking positions, and an electric actuator for said locking mechanism comprising a substantially flat housiNg mounted within said door between the sliding glass and the inside panel thereof, said actuator having a pair of alternately energizable solenoids within said housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly therefrom, a crank on said shaft linked to said locking mechanism, plungers for said solenoids, and connections within said housing between said plungers and shaft, said last-mentioned connections comprising a double-armed lever mounted on said shaft and convex cams carried by said plungers, whereby each plunger will be connected to the outer end of its lever arm at the beginning of the plunger stroke and to the inner end at the end of the stroke so as to decrease the moment arm of the solenoid forces on the lever as each plunger descends into its solenoid coil.

Claim 19

The combination according to claim 16, said housing being mounted directly to said door latch frame, mounting holes on said housing whereby the housing can be mounted on frame in any of a variety of positions, said double-armed lever being mounted on a portion of said shaft having a square cross-sectional shape, whereby the angular orientation of said lever with respect to said crank may be varied.