Power release latch with impact reducer feature
A vehicle latch, including: a power release mechanism for transitioning the vehicle latch from a latched state to an unlatched state, the power release mechanism includes a motor that rotates a worm that meshingly engages a power release gear, which is operably coupled to a pawl of the latch; and a spring provided to reduce a speed of the gear as it is back driven into a home position.
1 . A vehicle latch, comprising:
a power release mechanism for transitioning the vehicle latch from a latched state to an unlatched state, the power release mechanism includes a motor that rotates a worm that meshingly engages a power release gear, which is operably coupled to a pawl of the vehicle latch, the power release gear having a cam portion; and
a spring operably coupled to a cover of the vehicle latch, the spring having a leg portion that terminates at a free end, the leg portion of the spring defining a curved portion configured to define a curved receiving portion that is configured to receive a portion of the cam portion therein when the power release gear is back driven into a home position by the motor, the spring being configured to reduce a speed of the power release gear as it is back driven into the home position when the portion of the cam portion is received in the curved receiving portion of the leg portion of the spring and the spring is deflected by rotation of the power release gear into the home position, wherein an axis of rotation of the power release gear is not parallel to an axis of rotation of the pawl.
2 . The vehicle latch as in claim 1 , wherein the spring is operably coupled to a cover of the vehicle latch.
3 . The vehicle latch as in claim 2 , wherein the cover is configured to be secured to a complimentary housing of the vehicle latch.
4 . The vehicle latch as in claim 1 , wherein the portion of the cam portion is a corner portion of the cam portion.
5 . The vehicle latch as in claim 1 , wherein the power release gear is operably coupled to a power release lever, the power release lever being operably coupled to a pawl release lever which is operably coupled to a pawl lifter that is operably coupled to the pawl.
6 . The vehicle latch as in claim 1 , wherein the curved receiving portion is spaced from the free end of the leg portion.
7 . A method of slowing rotation of a gear of a power release mechanism of a vehicle latch, comprising:
rotating the power release gear of the power release mechanism into a home position; and
contacting and deflecting a spring secured to a cover of the vehicle latch with a cam of the power release gear as the power release gear is rotated into the home position by a motor, the spring having a leg portion that terminates at a free end, the leg portion of the spring defining a curved portion configured to define a curved receiving portion that is configured to receive a portion of the cam therein when the power release gear is back driven into the home position by the motor, the spring being configured to reduce a speed of the power release gear as it is back driven into the home position when the portion of the cam is received in the curved receiving portion of the leg portion of the spring and the spring is deflected by rotation of the power release gear into the home position, wherein the leg portion of the spring has a linear portion located between the curved receiving portion and the free end of the leg portion.
8 . The method as in claim 7 , wherein the spring is operably coupled to the cover of the vehicle latch.
9 . The method as in claim 8 , wherein the cover is configured to be secured to a complimentary housing of the vehicle latch.
10 . The method as in claim 7 , wherein the portion of the cam is a corner portion of the cam.
11 . The method as in claim 7 , wherein the power release gear is operably coupled to a power release lever, the power release lever being operably coupled to a pawl release lever which is operably coupled to a pawl lifter that is operably coupled to a pawl of the vehicle latch.
12 . The method as in claim 7 , wherein the curved receiving portion is spaced from the free end of the leg portion and an axis of rotation of the power release gear is not parallel to an axis of rotation of a pawl of the vehicle latch and the power release gear is operably coupled to a power release lever, the power release lever being operably coupled to a pawl release lever which is operably coupled to a pawl lifter that is operably coupled to the pawl.
13 . A vehicle latch, comprising:
a power release mechanism for transitioning the vehicle latch from a latched state to an unlatched state, the power release mechanism includes a motor that rotates a worm that meshingly engages a power release gear, which is operably coupled to a pawl of the vehicle latch, the power release gear having a cam portion; and
a spring operably coupled to a cover of the vehicle latch, the spring having a leg portion that terminates at a free end, the leg portion of the spring defining a curved portion configured to define a curved receiving portion that is configured to receive a portion of the cam portion therein when the power release gear is back driven into a home position by the motor, the spring being configured to reduce a speed of the power release gear as it is back driven into the home position when the portion of the cam portion is received in the curved receiving portion of the leg portion of the spring and the spring is deflected by rotation of the power release gear into the home position, wherein the leg portion of the spring has a linear portion located between the curved receiving portion and the free end of the leg portion.
14 . The vehicle latch as in claim 13 , wherein the curved receiving portion is spaced from the free end of the leg portion.
15 . The vehicle latch as in claim 14 , wherein an axis of rotation of the power release gear is not parallel to an axis of rotation of the pawl.
16 . The vehicle latch as in claim 15 , wherein the power release gear is operably coupled to a power release lever, the power release lever being operably coupled to a pawl release lever which is operably coupled to a pawl lifter that is operably coupled to the pawl.
17 . The method as in claim 7 , wherein the curved receiving portion is spaced from the free end of the leg portion.
18 . The method as in claim 7 , wherein an axis of rotation of the power release gear is not parallel to an axis of rotation of a pawl of the vehicle latch.