EP2526244B1 - Vehicle body shell and device for locking the door in a closed position - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle body comprising an opening, at least one door provided at said opening, adapted to close or open said box, and at least one locking device of the door in the closed position, electrically controlled .

In the field of vehicle bodies, particularly road transport, it is known from the document US 4083424 or the document US 4866963 to lock a rising door, thanks to an electrically controlled locking device. As taught in these documents, this locking device comprises a movable latch, constrained to lock by a spring, and controlled at the opening by an electromagnet. This electrically controlled assembly is secured to the body, the movable latch cooperating, locking or unlocking, with a corresponding locking element fixed on the lift door.

The document US 4866963 further provides a mechanical holding member for retaining the movable latch in its unlocked position. For this purpose the holding element can pass, under the action of resilient means, a release position in which the lock is in the locking position of the door, to a lock engagement position in which the holding member mechanically retains the latch in said unlocking position of the latch.

In the document US 4866963 the mechanism actuating said holding member to said engagement position is controlled by the physical opening of the door. In the document US. 4083424 or US 4866863 , the user enters a code on a keyboard that controls the electromagnet, thereby causing the lock to move from the lock position to the unlock position. Consecutively, the user must move to the door and lift at least partially so that the mechanism moves the holding member into a position where it holds the lock. As a result, the document holding element US 4866963 born does not retain the movable lock when the door of the body is in the closed position.

In the document US 4-083,424 or again US 4866963 an electrical solenoid solenoid control circuit implements a delay so that the solenoid is biased for a sufficient time necessary to allow the user to raise the door before the movable latch is constrained to lock again under the action of the spring. For example the document US 4866963 provides a time delay that can be between 60 seconds and 90 seconds giving sufficient time for the user to move to the door, before the moving latch locks again.

Also, the device of the document US 4083424 or the document US 4866963 has the disadvantage of the implementation of a solenoid solicited for a relatively long time, which can be several seconds, thus reducing its life.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a vehicle body equipped with a door and a locking device of the door in the closed position, using an electromagnetic means, such as an electro magnet, which allows easy opening of the door, while increasing the life of the electromagnetic means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for locking the door of a vehicle body equipped with a door using a single-action electric strike while mechanically memorizing the opening order in order to be able to raise the door without delay and to be able to self-lock when closing.

Also, the invention relates to a vehicle body comprising an opening, at least one door provided at said opening, adapted to close or open said box, and at least one locking device of the door in the closed position, said locking device of the door being integral with the body or the door and comprising a locking member movable between a locking position P1 and an unlocking position P2, cooperating in locking or unlocking with a corresponding blocking element secured to the other, the body or the door, an electromagnetic means for moving the locking member of said locking position P1 to said unlocking position P2, and elastic means for constraining the locking member of said unlocking position P2 to said locking position P1, the locking device of the door in the closed position comprising holding means, which, on the one hand, are movable to minus between a first release position P3, in which the locking member is in said locking position P1, towards a second stable engagement position P4, wherein said holding means cooperate with the locking member in said unlocking position P2 so as to oppose the stress of the elastic means by mechanically holding the locking member in said unlocking position P2, and secondly, are able to retract under the action of the locking element during movement of the door, said holding means being constrained from said first release position P3 to said second P4 engagement position by spring means.

According to the body according to the invention, the locking member is fugitive control and wherein said holding means are able to hold the locking member in said unlocking position P2 while the door is in the closed position and wherein when the locking member is actuated by said electromagnetic means of said locking position P1 to said unlocking position P2, the action of the spring means causes the simultaneous movement of the holding means of the first release position P3 to said second engagement position P4, while the door is in the closed position.

According to one embodiment, the locking member is constituted by a bolt adapted to move in translation between said locking position P1 and said unlocking position P2 and in which the holding means are constituted by a pivot finger, which in said first release position P3 presses on the lateral edge of the organ and which, when said locking member is controlled at the opening, escapes the side edge under the action of said spring means and pivots to said second engagement position P4 in which an engagement end of said finger comes support the end of the locking member at a concave portion of the locking member.

• l'organe de blocage et lesdits moyens de maintien sont solidaires de la caisse et ledit élément de blocage correspondant solidaire de la porte ;
• les moyens de maintien sont articulés de telle manière à s'escamoter sous l'action dudit élément de blocage lors de l'ouverture de la porte ;
• une fois escamotés sous l'action de l'élément de blocage, les moyens de maintien sont dans une position P5 et maintiennent l'organe de blocage dans une position intermédiaire P6 entre la position de verrouillage P1 et ladite position de déverrouillage P2 ;
• ledit élément de blocage coopère avec lesdits moyens de maintien lors du déplacement de la porte de telle façon à provoquer le retour des moyens de maintien dans la position de dégagement P3 ;
• le retour des moyens de maintien dans ladite position de dégagement P3 sous l'action de l'élément de blocage est provoqué lors de la fermeture de la porte ;
• l'organe de blocage présente un pan coupé destiné à coopérer avec ledit élément de blocage, lors de la fermeture de la porte, pour déplacer l'organe de blocage à l'encontre de la force de rappel des moyens élastiques ;
• ledit élément de blocage est constitué par une plaque pliée présentant une extrémité coopérant en butée avec ledit organe de blocage, par l'intermédiaire desdits moyens de maintien, lorsque la porte est en position de fermeture et ledit organe de blocage dans ladite position de verrouillage P1,
• ladite caisse présentant des rails, solidaires de la caisse, aptes à guider l'extrémité de ladite plaque pliée au voisinage de l'organe de blocage lors du déplacement de la porte à l'ouverture ou à la fermeture,
• ledit élément de blocage est solidaire de la porte par l'intermédiaire d'une articulation, un élément de verrouillage sécurisé, accessible de manière amovible sur l'extérieur de la porte permettant le blocage de l'articulation, ladite articulation lorsque libérée autorisant la libre ouverture de la porte lorsque l'organe de blocage est dans ladite position de verrouillage et la porte est fermée,
• la porte est une porte relevante, coulissante ou encore pivotante.

According to optional features:

• the locking member and said holding means are integral with the body and said corresponding locking element integral with the door;
• the holding means are articulated in such a way as to retract under the action of said locking element during the opening of the door;
• once retracted under the action of the locking element, the holding means are in a position P5 and keep the locking member in an intermediate position P6 between the locking position P1 and said unlocking position P2;
• said locking element cooperates with said holding means during the movement of the door so as to cause the return of the holding means in the release position P3;
• the return of the holding means in said release position P3 under the action of the locking element is caused during the closing of the door;
• the locking member has a cutaway intended to cooperate with said locking element, during closing of the door, to move the locking member against the restoring force of the elastic means;
• said locking element is constituted by a folded plate having an end cooperating in abutment with said locking member, via said holding means, when the door is in the closed position and said locking member in said locking position P1 ,
• said box having rails secured to the body, adapted to guide the end of said folded plate in the vicinity of the locking member during the movement of the door when opening or closing,
• said locking element is secured to the door by means of a hinge, a secure locking element removably accessible on the outside of the door for locking the hinge, said hinge when released allowing the free opening the door when the locking member is in said locking position and the door is closed,
• the door is a rising door, sliding or pivoting.

• la figure 1 est une vue illustrant le dispositif de verrouillage d'une porte relevante en position de fermeture,
• la figure 2 est une vue de détail de la figure 1, illustrant le dispositif de verrouillage, l'organe de blocage étant dans ladite position de verrouillage P1, lesdits moyens de maintien étant dans ladite position de dégagement P3, la porte relevante dans une position fermée,
• la figure 3 est une vue du dispositif, tel qu'illustré à la figure 2 lorsque la porte est fermée, l'organe de blocage étant actionné sous l'action du moyen électromagnétique dans la position de déverrouillage P2, les moyens de maintien étant dans la position d'engagement P4 avec l'organe de blocage,
• la figure 4 est une vue du dispositif tel qu'illustré à la figure 3 lorsque la porte initie un déplacement à l'ouverture,
• la figure 5 est une vue du dispositif tel qu'illustré à la figure 4 illustrant l'escamotage des moyens de maintien sous l'action de l'élément de blocage lors de l'ouverture de la porte,
• la figure 6 est une vue du dispositif tel qu'illustré à la figure 5, la porte étant actionnée à l'ouverture, l'élément de blocage ayant échappé lesdits moyens de maintien,
• la figure 7 est une vue faisant suite à la vue telle qu'illustrée à la figure 6, lorsque la porte est actionnée à la fermeture,
• la figure 8 est une vue du dispositif tel qu'illustré à la figure 7, l'élément de blocage coopérant avec les moyens de maintien de telle façon à provoquer le retour des moyens de maintien dans ladite position de dégagement P3, l'élément de blocage coopérant avec un pan coupé de l'organe de blocage, permettant l'escamotage de l'organe à l'encontre de la force de rappel des moyens élastiques,
• la figure 9 est une vue faisant suite à la vue de la figure 8 illustrant le retour des moyens de maintien dans la position de dégagement,
• la figure 10 est une vue faisant suite à la figure 9, l'élément de blocage ayant échappé les moyens de maintien, les moyens de maintien étant dans leur position de dégagement P3, l'organe de blocage dans la position de verrouillage P1,
• la figure 11 est une vue de l'élément de blocage lorsque l'élément de verrouillage sécurisé est retiré, l'ouverture de la porte provoquant la rotation de l'élément de blocage, et ainsi, la libre ouverture de la porte alors que l'organe de blocage est dans ladite position de verrouillage,
• la figure 12 est une vue consécutive de la figure 11.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by the appended drawings among which:

• the figure 1 is a view illustrating the locking device of a lifting door in the closed position,
• the figure 2 is a detail view of the figure 1 illustrating the locking device, the locking member being in said locking position P1, said holding means being in said release position P3, the lifting door in a closed position,
• the figure 3 is a view of the device, as shown in figure 2 when the door is closed, the locking member being actuated under the action of the electromagnetic means in the unlocking position P2, the holding means being in the engagement position P4 with the locking member,
• the figure 4 is a view of the device as illustrated in figure 3 when the door initiates a movement on opening,
• the figure 5 is a view of the device as illustrated in figure 4 illustrating the retraction of the holding means under the action of the locking element during the opening of the door,
• the figure 6 is a view of the device as illustrated in figure 5 the door being actuated on opening, the locking element escaping said holding means,
• the figure 7 is a view following the view as illustrated in figure 6 when the door is operated upon closing,
• the figure 8 is a view of the device as illustrated in figure 7 , the locking element cooperating with the holding means so as to cause the return of the holding means in said release position P3, the locking element cooperating with a cutaway of the locking member, allowing the retraction of the member against the restoring force of the elastic means,
• the figure 9 is a view following the view of the figure 8 illustrating the return of the holding means in the release position,
• the figure 10 is a view following the figure 9 , the locking element having escaped the holding means, the holding means being in their disengagement position P3, the locking member in the locking position P1,
• the figure 11 is a view of the locking element when the secure locking element is removed, the opening of the door causing rotation of the locking element, and thus, the free opening of the door while the locking member blocking is in said locking position,
• the figure 12 is a consecutive view of the figure 11 .

Also the invention relates to a vehicle body 1 comprising an opening, and at least one door 2 provided at said opening, adapted to close or open said body.

It may be in particular, as illustrated in the figures, a lifting door, consisting essentially of a curtain guided in translation at two amounts of said opening, through the wings. However, the invention is not limited to lifting doors and can also be implemented on a sliding door, or pivoting. The door can be operated manually when opening and closing, or with a motor.

According to the invention, the body also comprises a device 3 for locking the door 2 in the closed position, comprising an element locking 4 movable between a locking position P1 and an unlocking position P2 and cooperating with locking or unlocking with a corresponding locking member 5.

Preferably, the locking member is secured to the body (fixed part of the body), said corresponding locking element integral with the door (movable part of the body). However, it is possible to reverse the positions by providing the locking member on the door and the locking member subject to the body.

The locking device 3 further comprises an electromagnetic means 6, such as an electromagnet, for moving the locking member 4 from the locking position P1 to the unlocking position P2, as well as elastic means 7. to constrain the locking member 4 from the unlocking position P2 to the locking position P1.

According to the invention, the locking member 4 is fugitively controlled. In addition, the device 3 for locking the door in the closed position comprises holding means 8.

These holding means 8 are movable at least between a first release position P3, in which the locking member 4 is in said locking position P1, towards a second stable engagement position P4, in which the said holding means 8 cooperate with the locking member 4 in said unlocking position P2 so as to oppose the stress of the elastic means 7, mechanically maintaining the locking member 4 in said unlocking position P2.

On the other hand, these holding means 8 are able to retract under the action of the blocking element 5 during the displacement of the door 2, in particular translational movement in the case of a rising or sliding door, or displacement. pivoting in the case of a pivoting door.

We now describe in detail the exemplary embodiment, not limiting, of Figures 1 to 12 whose door is a rising door. As already developed, the invention is not limited to cases with lifting door and can be implemented on other types of doors, such as sliding door or pivot door.

As illustrated in figure 1 , the locking member 4, with the electromagnetic means 6 are integral with the body 1, the locking element 5 being integral with the door 5.

According to the example, the locking member 4 consists of a bolt which is guided in translation between the locking position P1 and the unlocking position P2.

The elastic means 7 are constituted by two compression springs constraining the locking member from the unlocking position P2 to the locking position P1. The holding means 8 are provided vis-à-vis the end of the locking member 4, fixed to the body near the member 4, and are provided pivotally between the release position P3 and the position P4 commitment. Spring means 9 constituted in particular by an extension spring, constrain the means for maintaining the release position P3 to the engagement position P4.

The direction of translation of the locking member 4 is substantially perpendicular to that of the translation of the door 2. The locking element 5, in particular consisting of a folded metal plate, has an end 51 cooperating in abutment with the locking member 4, through the means 8, when the door is closed, the member 4 being in its position P1 so that it is not possible to open the door.

Rails 52, 53 secured to the body 1 may further enable this end 51 to be guided in the vicinity of the locking member 4, during the movement of the door when opening or closing.

As illustrated in figure 3 , the locking member 4, in particular the bolt is actuated in translation by the electromagnetic means 6 to the unlocking position P2 by a fugitive control of the electromagnetic means 6.

Simultaneously, under the action of the spring means 9, of the spring in extension, the holding means 8 then move automatically from the release position P3 to the position P4 as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 .

In this position of engagement P4, stable, the holding means 8 oppose the stress of the elastic means 7 by mechanically maintaining the locking member 4 in the unlocking position P2.

As illustrated in the figures, the holding means 8 may in particular be constituted by a pivot pin, whose engagement end 81 cooperates in the P4 engagement position, stable position, particularly at a concave portion the bolt constituting the locking member 4, in order to maintain the latter in the P2 position.

More specifically, as illustrated in figure 2 , the finger is articulated via a pivot 82 on a support 83, U-section, itself attached to the body. The axis of rotation of the pivot 82 may be substantially perpendicular to the translation axis of the locking member 4, and the body wall on which the support 83 is fixed.

The finger is provided in the inner part of the support 83, pivotally mounted between the vertical wings of the U-shaped section of the support 83.

The finger has an L shape, one of the ends of the L constituting said engagement end 81 of the finger intended to make contact with the locking member 4 in the position P4 of the holding means 8, the other end of the L constituting a point of attachment to the end of a spring extension of the spring means 8. The other end of the spring is provided integral with the support 83 at a point of attachment of the support. As illustrated, the finger pivots, along the axis of rotation of the pivot 82 which is perpendicular to the plane of the L, the pivot axis located at the elbow formed by the two wings of L.

In the release position P3, the locking member 4 in the locking position P1, the finger bears on one of the lateral edges of the locking member 4 which is in particular parallel to the axis of translation of said member 4 When the locking member 4 is controlled at the opening, this finger escapes the lateral edge, and under the action of the spring extension, pivots to the position P4, stable, so that the engagement end 81 of the finger comes to support the end of the locking member 4 in the unlocking position P2, at a concave portion of the locking member 4.

This holding means 8 thus allows the blocking element 5 to pass during the opening of the door, as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 . At this opening, and as illustrated by Figures 4 to 6 , the locking element 5 engages with the holding means 8, in particular the pivoting finger causing its retraction. Once the pivoting finger holding means retracted, the locking member 5 escapes the finger and continues its translation, especially until the final opening of the door.

The holding means 8 are then, as illustrated in FIG. figure 6 or 7 , in a position P5, distinct from said clearance positions P3 and the P4 engagement position previously described. In position P5, as illustrated in figure 6 or 7 the finger makes contact with the end of the bolt of the locking member 4. In this position P5, the holding means 8, in particular the finger, hold the locking member 4 in an intermediate position P6 between the position P1 and P2 position previously described.

When closing the door as shown in figure 7 , the end 51 of the locking element 5 again enters between the guide rails 52, 53, this end 51 cooperating with a cut-off portion 10 of the locking member 4, situated at the end of the bolt, intended to cooperate with said locking element 5 when closing the door in translation.

This cut 10 allows, under the action of the locking element 5 to push the locking member 4 against the restoring force of the elastic means 7, thereby allowing the passage of said locking element 5. When of this return, the locking element 5 engages with the holding means 8, in particular the pivoting finger, to cause the return of the holding means of said position P5 to the release position P3, as illustrated to the Figures 8 to 10 . Once the door closed 10, the locking member 4 is thus in its locking position P1 and the holding means 8 in their initial release position P3.

Advantageously, the request may provide a security arrangement to open the door even in case of failure of the locking device 3 or even more simply in the case of a power supply failure of the electrical means 6, such as by example battery failure.

For this purpose, said locking element 5 may be provided integral with the door by means of a hinge 11, in particular a rotation axis pivot substantially perpendicular to the plane of the door when closed. A secure locking element, such as a custom fingerprint screw, or a pin secured by a padlock, removably accessible on the outside of the door, allows the locking of the joint by engaging in particular at the level of a bore of the blocking element 5.

The joint when released (secure locking element removed) then allows the free opening of the door 2 even when the locking member is in said locking position.

As illustrated by Figures 11 and 12 in particular, the opening of the door then causes the rotation of the locking element 5 along the pivot so as to allow the opening of the door.

Naturally, other embodiments could have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, defined by the claims below.

Claims (12)

1. Vehicle body shell (1) comprising an opening, at least one door (2) provided on said opening, able to close or open said body shell (1), as well as at least one device (3) for locking the door (2) in a closed position, said device for locking the door (2) being integral with the body shell (1) or with the door (2) and comprising a locking member (4) mobile between a locked position P1 and an unlocked position P2, interacting at locking or at unlocking with a corresponding locking element (5) integral with the other, with the body shell (1) or with the door (2), an electromagnetic means (6) in order to move the locking member (4) from said locked position P1 to said unlocked position P2, and resilient means (7) in order to stress the locking member (4) from said unlocked position P2 to said locked position P1, the device (3) for locking of the door (2) in a closed position comprising supporting means (8), which, on the one hand, are mobile at least between a first released position P3, wherein the locking member (4) is in said locked position P1, to a second engaged position P4, stable, wherein said supporting means (8) interact with the locking member (4) in said unlocked position P2 in such a way as to counter the stress of the resilient means (7) by mechanically maintaining the locking member (4) in said unlocked position P2, and on the other hand, are able to be retracted by the action of the locking element (5) during the movement of the door (2), said supporting means (8) being stressed from said first released position P3 to said second engaged position P4 via spring means (9) characterised in that the locking member (4) provides temporary control and in that said supporting means (8) are able to maintain the locking member (4) in said unlocked position P2 while the door is in a closed position and in that when the locking member (4) is actuated by said electromagnetic means from said locked position P1 to said unlocked position P2, the action of the spring means (9) causes the simultaneous moving of the supporting means (8) from the first released position P3 to said second engaged position P4, while the door is in a closed position.
2. Vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking member (4) is constituted by a bolt able to be moved in translation between said locked position P1 and said unlocked position P2 and wherein the supporting means (8) are constituted of a pivoting finger, which in said first released position P3 presses on the lateral section of the locking member (4) and which, when said locking member (4) is controlled to open, escapes from the lateral section by the action of said spring means (9) and pivots until said second engaged position P4 wherein an engaged end (81) of said finger comes to support the end of the locking member (4), on a concave portion of said locking member (4).
3. Vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking member (4) and said supporting means (8) are integral with the body shell (1) and said corresponding locking element (5) integral with the door (2).
4. Vehicle body shell (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the supporting means (8) are articulated in such a way as to be retracted by the action of said corresponding locking element (5) during the opening of the door.
5. Vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 4, wherein once retracted by the action of the locking element (5), the supporting means (8) are in a position P5 and maintain the locking member (4) in an intermediary position P6 between the locked position P1 and said unlocked position P2.
6. Vehicle body shell (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said locking element (5) interacts with said supporting means (8) during the movement of the door (2) in such a way as to cause the return of the supporting means (8) in said released position P3.
7. Vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 6, wherein the return of the supporting means (8) in said released position (P3) by the action of the locking element (5) is caused during the closing of the door (2).
8. Vehicle body shell (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the locking member (4) has an angled corner (10) intended to interact with said locking element (5), during the closing of the door, in order to move the locking member (4) against the retaining force of the resilient means (7).
9. Vehicle body shell (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said locking element (5) is constituted by a folded plate having an end (51) interacting through abutment with said locking member (4), by the intermediary of said supporting means (8), when the door is in a closed position and said locking member (4) in said locked position P1.
10. Vehicle body shell (1) according to claim 2 and 9 having rails (52, 53), integral with the body shell, able to guide the end (51) of said folded plate in the vicinity of the locking member (4) during the movement of the door when opening or when closing.
11. Vehicle body shell (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said locking element (5) is integral with the door by the intermediary of an articulation (11), a secure locking element, accessible in a removable manner on the exterior of the door making it possible to lock the articulation, said articulation when released authorising the free opening of the door when the locking member is in said locked position, with the door closed.
12. Vehicle body shell (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the door is a lift, sliding or swinging door.

Images