초록 ▼

An electromechanical push to close latch has a pawl positioned for linear movement in a housing, with the pawl being biased to the outward extended position. An electric motor operates a cam to change the position of the pawl thereby retracting it into the housing. An electronic circuit board contro

An electromechanical push to close latch has a pawl positioned for linear movement in a housing, with the pawl being biased to the outward extended position. An electric motor operates a cam to change the position of the pawl thereby retracting it into the housing. An electronic circuit board controls the operation of the electric motor under the direction of an outside control signal. The circuit board also senses the position of the pawl to stop the operation of the motor when the pawl is fully retracted. The pawl mounting can be reconfigured for the pawl to extend and thereby operate in a plurality of selectable directions.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A latch, comprising: a housing; a pawl operable within said housing between a retracted and extended positions; a spring member for urging said pawl to said extended position; a motor; a gear connected to said motor to be rotated thereby, said gear having a concentric hub ext

What is claimed is: 1. A latch, comprising: a housing; a pawl operable within said housing between a retracted and extended positions; a spring member for urging said pawl to said extended position; a motor; a gear connected to said motor to be rotated thereby, said gear having a concentric hub extending from one face thereof, said hub having four-quadrant ribs; a cam connected to said gear to be rotated thereby to retract said pawl, said cam having a base flange and a hollow hub extending from the base flange with four-quadrant slots extending into the interior wall of said hub hollow interior said slots being engaged with said gear ribs; and a control circuit connected to control said motor rotation between an initial position and a pawl retraction position; wherein said cam is selectively reorientable with respect to said motor. 2. The latch of claim 1, also including a first sensor to determine when said pawl is in said retracted position, wherein said cam rotation is stopped and said cam holds said pawl in said retracted position. 3. The latch of claim 2, also including wherein said motor is also controlled to place said cam in a non-operative position, including a second sensor to determine when said cam has reached said non-operative position, said non-operative position permitting said pawl to move freely between said retracted and extended positions. 4. The latch of claim 3, wherein said housing has a first portion and a second, separable portion, said first portion containing said motor and said control circuit, said second portion containing said pawl and said spring member, wherein said spring member is a coil spring, wherein said control circuit is a microprocessor, and also including a circuit board to which said motor and said microprocessor are mounted. 5. A latch, comprising: a housing; a pawl having a ramped outer end operable within said housing between an inward retracted and outward extended positions, wherein when in said extended position said pawl extends beyond said housing for engaging a striker surface; a biasing member urging said pawl to said extended position; a motor; a control circuit connected to said motor to control the operation thereof; a gear connected to said motor to be rotated thereby; and a cam connected to said gear and being rotated thereby to retract said pawl; wherein said pawl includes an elongate cam cavity having a curved face adjacent the pawl outward end and a straight face adjacent the pawl inward end; wherein said cam includes a finger which extends into said pawl cam cavity to operate against the flat face thereof to retract the pawl inward; wherein said pawl cam cavity curved face is deep enough such that said cam finger does not contact it; and wherein said cam is selectively reorientable with respect to its connection to said gear after it has first been connected to said gear in a first orientation. 6. The latch of claim 5, also including a first sensor to determine when said pawl is in said inward retracted position, wherein said cam rotation is stopped and said cam holds said pawl in said inward retracted position with said finger against said cam cavity flat face. 7. The latch of claim 6, also including wherein said motor is also controlled to place said cam in a non-operative position thereby permitting said pawl to move between said retracted and extended positions, including a second sensor to determine when said cam is in said non-operative position with said finger adjacent to said cam cavity curved face. 8. The latch of claim 7, wherein said cam rotates in only one direction. 9. A latch, comprising: a housing; a striker-engagable pawl mounted within said housing and operable between a retracted and extended positions; a spring member urging said pawl to said extended position; a motor; a microprocessor control circuit connected to control said motor operation; a gear connected to said motor to be rotated thereby; and a cam having a base flange and an upstanding hub extending therefrom and being connected to said gear to be rotated thereby in a single direction to retract said pawl; wherein said cam is reorientable with respect to its connection to said gear; wherein said housing has a first portion and a second portion, said second portion being mounted onto said first portion at its said second portions bottom face, said first portion holding said motor, said gear and said cam, and said microprocessor control circuit, said second portion holding said pawl and said spring member in an elongate slot-like interior thereof; wherein said cam base flange and upstanding hub extend into the bottom of said second portion; and wherein said bottom of said second portion opens into said elongate slot-like interior, said opening having two step out cavities for about said cam base flange and said upstanding hub. 10. The latch of claim 9, also including a first sensor to determine when said pawl is in said retracted position, wherein said cam rotation is stopped and said cam holds said pawl in said retracted position. 11. The latch of claim 10, also including wherein said motor is also controlled to place said cam in a non-operative position, including a second sensor to determine when said cam has reached said non-operative position, said non-operative position permitting said pawl to move between said retracted and extended positions. 12. The latch of claim 11 wherein said housing has a first portion and said housing second portion are separable with said housing second portion being re-mountable on said housing first portion in a different orientation.