U.S. patent number 3,645,043 [Application Number 05/072,587] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-29 for movement sequencing means.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Alfonsas Velavicius, Bert R. Wanlass.
United States Patent |
3,645,043 |
Velavicius , et al. |
February 29, 1972 |
MOVEMENT SEQUENCING MEANS
Abstract
A predetermined operational sequence for a pair of closures
supported on a vehicle body for independent movement relative to an
opening in the vehicle body is maintained by movement sequencing
means including a latchbolt engageable on a striker supported on a
first of the two closures and operable in a latching position to
maintain the first closure in the closed position, a detent lever
movable between detenting and releasing positions and operable in
the detenting position to maintain the latchbolt in the latching
position, a bellcrank with stop means thereon which bellcrank is
supported on the vehicle body for movement between an unblocking
position and a blocking position in the path of motion of the
second of the two closures to prevent movement of the second
closure to the closed position, and a substantially inextensible
connecting member connecting the detent lever to the bellcrank so
that the bellcrank prevents movement of the detent lever from the
detenting to the releasing, position when the second closure is in
the closed position and the detent lever prevents movement of the
bellcrank from the blocking to the unblocking position when the
first closure is in the open position.
Inventors: |
Velavicius; Alfonsas (Warren,
MI), Wanlass; Bert R. (Warren, MI) |
Assignee: |
General Motors Corporation
(Detroit, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
22108567 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/072,587 |
Filed: |
September 16, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/370; 49/279;
296/106; 49/40; 296/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J
1/1861 (20130101); B60J 5/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60J
5/10 (20060101); E06b 003/44 (); E05f 011/54 () |
Field of
Search: |
;49/370,40,41,103,279,280,300 ;296/50,57,106 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
3337993 |
August 1967 |
Von Seggern et al. |
|
Primary Examiner: Machado; Reinaldo P.
Assistant Examiner: Kannan; Philip C.
Claims
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. In a station-wagon-type vehicle body having a rear opening
therein, the combination comprising, a first closure, means
supporting said first closure on said vehicle body for generally
vertical bodily shiftable movement between a closed position
closing a portion of said opening and an open position remote from
said opening, a second closure, means supporting said second
closure on said vehicle body for generally vertical bodily
shiftable movement independently of said first closure between a
closed position closing a portion of said opening and an open
position remote from said opening, and movement sequencing means on
said vehicle body and on each of said first and said second
closures responsive to the position of said first closure to
prevent movement of said second closure from the open to the closed
position when said first closure is in the open position.
2. In a vehicle body having an opening therein and two closures
each supported thereon for independent movement between open and
closed positions relative to said opening, the combination
comprising, latch means on said vehicle body and on a first of said
two closures movable between a latching position in the closed
position of said first closure maintaining the latter in the closed
position and an unlatching position in the open position of said
first closure, detent means, means supporting said detent means on
said vehicle body for movement between a detenting position
maintaining said latch means in the latching position and a
releasing position remote from said latch means, means maintaining
said detent means in the releasing position thereof when said latch
means is in the unlatching position thereof, blocking means, means
supporting said blocking means on said vehicle body for movement
between a blocking position in the open position of the second of
said two closures directly blocking movement of said second closure
to the closed position and an unblocking position permitting
movement of said second closure to the closed position, means
maintaining said blocking means in said unblocking position in the
closed position of said second closure, and means interconnecting
said blocking means and said detent means so that said blocking
means prevents movement of said detent means from the detenting to
the releasing position thereof when said second closure is in the
closed position thereof and said detent means prevents movement of
said blocking means from the blocking to the unblocking position
thereof when said first closure is in the open position
thereof.
3. In a vehicle body having an opening therein and two closures
each supported thereon for independent movement between open and
closed positions relative to said opening, the combination
comprising, latch means on said vehicle body and on a first of said
two closures movable between a latching position in the closed
position of said first closure maintaining the latter in the closed
position and an unlatching position in the open position of said
first closure, detent means, means supporting said detent means on
said vehicle body for movement between a detenting position
maintaining said latch means in the latching position and a
releasing position remote from said latch means, means maintaining
said detent means in the releasing position thereof when said latch
means is in the unlatching position thereof, a bellcrank, stop
means on said bellcrank, means supporting said bellcrank on said
vehicle body for pivotal movement between a blocking position in
the open position of the second of said two closures wherein said
stop means directly blocks movement of said second closure to the
closed position and an unblocking position permitting movement of
said second closure to the closed position, said stop means being
juxtaposed to said second closure in the closed position of the
latter so that said second closure in the closed position thereof
maintains said bellcrank in the unblocking position thereof, and
means interconnecting said bellcrank and said detent means so that
said bellcrank prevents movement of said detent means from the
detenting to the releasing position thereof when said second
closure is in the closed position thereof and said detent means
prevents movement of said bellcrank from the blocking to the
unblocking position thereof when said first closure is in the open
position thereof.
4. In a vehicle body having an opening therein and two closures
each supported thereon for independent movement between open and
closed positions relative to said opening, the combination
comprising, latch means on said vehicle body and on a first of said
two closures movable between a latching position in the closed
position of said first closure maintaining the latter in the closed
position and an unlatching position in the open position of said
first closure, a detent lever, means supporting said detent lever
on said vehicle body for pivotal movement between a detenting
position maintaining said latch means in said latching position and
a releasing position remote from said latch means, means
maintaining the detent lever in the releasing position thereof when
said latch means is in the unlatching position thereof, blocking
means, means supporting said blocking means on said vehicle body
for movement between a blocking position in the open position of
the second of said two closures directly blocking movement of said
second closure to the closed position and an unblocking position
permitting movement of said second closure to the closed position,
means maintaining said blocking means in the unblocking position in
the closed position of said second closure, a substantially
inextensible connecting member, means connecting a first end of
said connecting member to said blocking means, and means connecting
a second end of said connecting member to said detent lever said
connecting member interconnecting said blocking means and said
detent lever so that said blocking means prevents movement of said
detent lever from the detenting to the releasing position thereof
when said second closure is in the closed position thereof and said
detent lever prevents movement of said blocking means from the
blocking to the unblocking position thereof when said first closure
is in the open position thereof.
5. In a vehicle body having an opening therein and two closures
each supported thereon for independent generally vertical bodily
latchbolt movement between open and closed positions relative to
said opening, the combination comprising, striker means on a first
of said two closures, a latchbolt, means supporting said latchbolt
on said vehicle body for pivotal movement between a latching
position in the closed position of said first closure engaging said
striker means and maintaining said first closure in the closed
position and an unlatching position in the open position of said
first closure, a detent lever, means supporting said detent lever
on said vehicle body for pivotal movement between a detenting
position engaging said latchbolt and maintaining said bolt in the
latching position and a releasing position permitting movement of
said latchbolt to the unlatching position, said latchbolt in the
unlatching position thereof maintaining said detent lever in the
releasing position thereof, a bellcrank having stop means thereon,
means supporting said bellcrank on said vehicle body for pivotal
movement between a blocking position in the open position of the
second of said two closures wherein said stop means directly blocks
movement of said second closure to the closed position thereof and
an unblocking position in the closed position of said second
closure, said second closure in the closed position thereof
maintaining said bellcrank in the unblocking position, a
substantially inextensible cable, means connecting a first end of
said cable to said bellcrank, and means connecting a second end of
said cable to said detent lever, said cable interconnecting said
bellcrank and said detent lever so that said bellcrank prevents
movement of said detent lever from the detenting to the releasing
position thereof when said second closure is in the closed position
thereof and said detent lever prevents movement of said bellcrank
from the blocking to the unblocking position thereof when said
first closure is in the open position thereof.
Description
This invention relates generally to vehicle body closures and, in
particular, to means for insuring a predetermined sequence of
operation for two closures supported on the vehicle body for
movement relative to the latter and to each other.
A station-wagon-type vehicle on which the tailgate is supported for
generally vertical bodily shiftable movement between open and
closed positions relative to the rear opening is preferable to one
on which the tailgate is supported for conventional swinging
movement because a vehicle incorporating the bodily shiftable
tailgate can be positioned more closely to loading platforms and
the like to facilitate the transfer of cargo to and from the
vehicle through the rear opening. The copending application of Bert
R. Wanlass, Ser. No. 72,685 and assigned to the assignee of this
invention, discloses an arrangement for supporting a tailgate on a
vehicle body for such vertical bodily shiftable movement. Such a
tailgate arrangement, however, is not particularly well adapted to
the conventional vehicle design practice of mounting the vehicle
rear window on the tailgate for movement relative to the latter
between open and closed positions. The copending application of
Charles A. Stebbins, Ser. No. 72,330 and assigned to the assignee
of this invention, discloses a window panel support arrangement
particularly adapted for use with a vertically moving tailgate, the
window panel being supported on the vehicle body for generally
vertical bodily shiftable movement independent of the tailgate
between a closed position closing the upper portion of the rear
opening above the tailgate and an open position situated within the
vehicle roof structure remote from the rear opening. In a vehicle
embodying such a combination of tailgate and window panel it is
advantageous to provide means to limit the sequence of operation of
the tailgate and the window panel to only the single most desirable
sequence. Movement sequencing means according to this invention,
while being of general utility, are particularly adapted to perform
this tailgate and window panel sequencing function simply and
efficiently.
The primary feature of this invention is that it provides new and
improved movement sequencing means operable to insure a
predetermined sequence of movement between a pair of closures each
supported on a vehicle body for independent movement between open
and closed positions relative to respective portions of an opening
in the vehicle body. Another feature of this invention is that it
provides movement sequencing means including latching means
selectively operable to maintain a first of the two closures in a
closed position, blocking means selectively operable to directly
block movement of the second of the two closures, and means
interconnecting the latching means and the blocking means for
coincidental operation. Yet another feature of this invention
resides in the provision of blocking means including a bellcrank
pivotally supported on the vehicle body and carrying stop means
thereon, the bellcrank being movable between a blocking position in
an open position of the second closure and an unblocking position
in a closed position thereof wherein the second closure prevents
movement of the bellcrank to the blocking position. A still further
feature of this invention resides in the provision of latching
means including latch means and detent means, the detent means
being movable between a releasing position remote from the latch
means and a detenting position in the closed position of the first
closure and in a latching position of the latch means, the latch
means in an unlatching position thereof corresponding to an open
position of the first closure being operable to prevent movement of
the detent means to the detenting position. Still another feature
of this invention resides in the provision of interconnecting means
in the form of a substantially inextensible connecting member
attached at respective ends to the bellcrank and to the detent
means so that movement of the latter from the detenting to the
releasing position is accompanied by coincidental movement of the
former from the unblocking to the blocking position.
These and other features of this invention will be readily apparent
from the following specification and from the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of a
station-wagon-type vehicle body whereon a pair of closures are
supported for independent movement and which includes movement
sequencing means according to this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the
plane indicated by lines 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partially broken away front elevational view of the
latch means portion of the movement sequencing means;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partially broken away view taken generally
along the plane indicated by lines 4--4 in FIG. 1 and showing the
blocking means in unblocking position and the detent means in
detenting position;
FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the blocking means in
blocking position and the detent means in releasing position;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally
along the plane indicated by lines 6--6 in FIG. 1 and showing the
lost motion connection between the detent lever operating lever and
a key operated lock cylinder; and
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the
plane indicated by lines 7--7 in FIG. 4.
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a station-wagon-type
automobile vehicle body designated generally 10 includes a left
quarter panel structure 12 defining a vertical jamb panel portion,
not shown, and a right quarter panel structure 14 defining a
vertical jamb panel portion 15, FIGS. 4 and 5. A left body pillar
16 extends forwardly and up from the left quarter panel structure
12 in parallel relation to a right body pillar 18 extending
forwardly and up from the right quarter panel structure 14, the
left and right body pillars merging into a roof structure 20 of the
vehicle body. A pair of side window panels 22 are sealingly
received within respective ones of a pair of side window openings
between the roof structure and each quarter panel structure, each
window panel curving around the rear of the vehicle body and into
sealing engagement with respective ones of the body pillars 16 and
18, FIG. 2. A bumper member 24 extends transversely of the vehicle
body between the quarter panel structures and cooperates with the
jamb panel portions thereof, the body pillars and the roof
structure in defining a rear opening 26 of the vehicle body.
Referring now to FIG. 2, each body pillar is generally a hollow
strut fabricated from a pair of formed outer members 28 and 30
internally stiffened by a brace 32 having an aperture 33 extending
a limited distance therein. Each body pillar has an opening 34
extending generally the entire length thereof on the side of the
pillar facing the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body. A
main rubber seal 36 is affixed to each body pillar adjacent the
outboard edge of the opening 34 and merges generally at the top of
the body pillar with a similar transverse main seal 37 affixed to
the roof structure 20 and extending between the body pillars. A
complimentary rubber seal 38 is affixed to the inboard edge of the
opening 34 in each body pillar, the seal 38 cooperating with the
seal 36 to normally close the opening 34. An inner trim panel 40 is
affixed to the outer member 30 and generally conceals the body
pillar inside the vehicle body while an outer trim strip 42
generally conceals the seal between the body pillar and the
corresponding one of the side window panels 22.
As seen best in FIG. 1, a closure or tailgate 43 is supported on
the vehicle body for generally vertical bodily shiftable movement
between a raised or closed position, FIG. 1, closing the lower
portion of the rear opening 26 and a lowered or open position, not
shown, below the rear opening. For a full and complete description
of the tailgate supporting arrangement, reference may be made to
the aforementioned copending application of Bert R. Wanlass.
As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper portion of the rear
opening above the tailgate 43 is adapted to be closed by a second
closure or window panel 44 having a lower or leading edge 45, the
window panel being supported on the vehicle body for movement
independently of the tailgate 43 from a closed or lowered position
FIGS. 1 and 4, spanning the distance between the body pillars and
compressively engaging the main seals 36, the transverse main seal
37, and seals on the upper marginal edge of the tailgate, not
shown, in the raised position of the latter, while through an
intermediate open position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, to an
open or raised position, not shown, situated within the roof
structure 20 remote from the rear opening. For a full and complete
description of the window panel support arrangement, reference may
be made to the aforementioned copending application of Charles A.
Stebbins.
Generally, the window panel supporting arrangement includes a pair
of cam channels 46 and 48 suitably rigidly affixed to the vehicle
body within respective ones of the left and right body pillars and
projecting into the roof structure 20, only a bracket 50 affixed to
right cam channel 48 and fastened to right body pillar 18 by a
screw 52 being shown for such purpose in FIG. 2. Four roller
followers are rotatably supported on the window panel 44 at
respective ones of the four corners of the latter and the two
roller followers aligned on each vertical side of the window panel
are guidingly received in a corresponding one of the cam channels,
only roller follower 54 engaging right cam channel 48 and being
supported on a mounting plate 56 affixed to the window panel at the
lower right corner thereof by a pair of fasteners 58 being shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus supported on the cam channels, the window panel
projects through the opening 34 in each body pillar and spans the
distance therebetween and is bodily shiftable in a path of motion
defined by the cam channels between the open position, not shown,
and the closed position, FIGS. 1 and 4.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, latching means are provided on the
vehicle body and on the tailgate 43 to releasably maintain the
latter in the closed position, a full and complete description of
the latching means appearing in the copending application of Bert
R. Wanlass and Alfonsas Velavicius, Ser. No. 72,735 and assigned to
the assignee of this invention. Generally, the latching means
includes a striker 60 rigidly affixed to the right vertical side of
the tailgate near the upper marginal edge thereof and oriented
along a longitudinal axis thereof. As seen best in FIG. 3, the
latching means further includes a latch housing 62 rigidly affixed
to the right jamb panel portion 15 of the right quarter panel
structure 14, the latch housing having a downwardly opening slot 63
aligned along the vertical path of motion traversed by the striker
60 during movement of the tailgate between the open and the closed
positions for reception of the shank of the striker 60 in the
closed position of the tailgate. A rivet 64 projecting inwardly
from the latch housing 62 rotatably supports latch means in the
form of a bifurcated latchbolt 66 having a throat portion 68, a
pair of detent shoulders 70 and 72 and a side bearing surface 73. A
torsion spring 74 is supported on the rivet 64 and has a first leg
abutting the latch housing 62 and a second leg abutting the
latchbolt 66 to bias the latter clockwise, FIG. 3, from a latching
position capturing the shank of the striker 60 in the closed
position of the tailgate, FIG. 3, toward an unlatching position,
not shown, in the open position of the tailgate. In the unlatching
position, the throat portion 68 of the latchbolt is aligned with
the slot 63 so that as the tailgate approaches the closed position
from the open position the shank portion of the striker 60 enters
the throat portion and initiates pivotal movement of the latchbolt
from the unlatching to the latching position, the latter being
achieved when the tailgate reaches the closed position.
The latching means further includes detent means operable to
releasably maintain the latchbolt 66 in either the latching
position described hereinbefore or an intermediate latching
position, not shown, achieved slightly before the latching position
is reached and corresponding to a semiclosed position of the
tailgate which position is reached slightly before the closed
position is achieved. The detent means includes a detent lever 76
having an actuating arm 78, a detent 80 and a bearing pad 82. The
detent lever is supported on a rivet 84 rigidly affixed to the
latch housing 62 for pivotal movement between a detenting position,
FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the detent 80 underlies either of the detent
shoulders 70 and 72 on the latchbolt to prevent movement of the
latter from the latching or intermediate latching positions to the
unlatching position and a releasing position, FIG. 5, remote from
the latchbolt and permitting movement thereof to the unlatching
position. As seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the mounted position of
the detent lever 76 on the latch housing the actuating arm 78
thereof projects through an aperture 85 in jamb panel portion 15,
past a rubber boot 87, and into the interior of right quarter panel
structure 14. A guide pin 86 is supported at respective ends on the
latch housing 62 and on the jamb panel portion 15 and projects
through a clearance aperture 88 in the bearing pad 82 of the detent
lever. A compression spring 90 is disposed about the guide pin 86
and bears at one end against the jamb panel portion 15 and at the
other end against the bearing pad 82 to bias the detent lever 76
counterclockwise, FIGS. 4 and 5, from the releasing toward the
detenting position. When the tailgate is in the open position the
spring 74 biases the latchbolt 66 into the unlatching position and
the spring 90 biases the detent lever from the releasing position,
FIG. 5, to an intermediate position, not shown, wherein the detent
80 abuts the bearing surface 73 on the latchbolt. It will thus be
apparent that whenever the tailgate 43 is not in either the closed
or semiclosed positions the detent lever is held in the
intermediate position by the bearing surface 73 on the
latchbolt.
As seen best in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the movement sequencing means
further includes blocking means designated generally 92. The
blocking means 92 includes a bellcrank 94 supported on a pivot pin
96 rigidly affixed by conventional means to the bracket 50 for
pivotal movement between a blocking position, FIG. 5, in an open
position of the window panel and an unblocking position, FIG. 4, in
the closed position of the window panel. A stop pin 98 is rigidly
affixed to the bellcrank 94 and projects perpendicularly to the
plane of the latter while a torsion spring 100 coiled about pivot
pin 96 abuts both a stop 102 on bracket 50 and a tab 104 integral
with the bellcrank to bias the latter counterclockwise, FIGS. 4 and
5, from the blocking toward the unblocking position.
Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, an elongated striking plate 106 is
journaled on a rivet 107 rigidly secured to the mounting plate 56
and is rotatable about an axis defined by the rivet 107 in a plane
perpendicular to the rivet 107, the angular movement of the
striking plate being limited by a tab 109 integral therewith
projecting downward into a notch 111 in the mounting plate 56, FIG.
7. The striking plate 106 rotatably supports an auxiliary roller
follower 110, the latter being guidingly received in right cam
channel 48, FIG. 2. Movement of the window panel between the open
and closed positions is accompanied by corresponding bodily
shiftable movement of the striking plate 106 in a path of motion
above the right cam channel 48, the auxiliary roller follower 110
guiding the upper end of the striking plate while pivotal movement
of the latter about rivet 107 accommodates limited lost motion
between the window panel and the striking plate. In any position of
the window panel 44 between the closed position and the
intermediate position, shown respectively in solid and broken lines
in FIG. 1, the stop pin 98 is juxtaposed to the side edge of
striking plate 106, FIG. 4, which thus prevents movement of the
bellcrank from the unblocking to the blocking position. Between the
intermediate and open positions of the window panel when lower edge
45 thereof lies generally above the bellcrank 92 the latter is
movable between the unblocking position, FIG. 4, and the blocking
position, FIG. 5, wherein the stop pin lies directly in the path of
motion traversed by a bumper edge 112 on the mounting plate 56
during movement of the window panel between the open and closed
positions.
The blocking means and the detent means are interconnected by
connecting means in the form of a virtually inextensible cable 114
which, of course, might also be a rigid rod or the like. An end
fitting 116 pivotally connects one end of the cable 114 to the
bellcrank 94 at 117 while a second end fitting 118 pivotally
connects the other end of the cable 114 to the actuating arm 78 at
119 intermediate the ends of the arm.
The cable 114 interconnects the detent lever 76 and the bellcrank
94 for coincidental movement. More particularly, the length of the
cable 114 is predetermined to span the distance between pivots 117
and 119 when the bellcrank and detent lever assume, respectively,
the unblocking and the detenting positions. When the detent lever
is pivoted from the detenting to the releasing position, the cable
114 initiates coincidental pivotal movement of the bellcrank from
the unblocking to the blocking position. Similarly, when the
bellcrank is pivoted from the blocking to the unblocking position,
the cable 114 initiates coincidental pivotal movement of the detent
lever from the releasing to the detenting position under the urging
of spring 90. Conversely, when movement of the bellcrank from the
unblocking to the blocking position is prevented by the side edge
of striking plate 106, the cable 114 prevents movement of the
detent lever from the detenting to the releasing position and when
movement of the detent lever to the detenting position is prevented
by the latchbolt 66, the cable 114 prevents movement of the
bellcrank from the blocking to the unblocking position.
In the preferred embodiment, the tailgate 43 is manually movable
between the closed and the open positions while the window panel 44
is driven between the closed and the open positions by conventional
electric drive means, not shown, actuated by a key operated switch
designated generally 120 and mounted on the right quarter panel
structure 14 adjacent the rear opening. The switch 120 includes a
conventional lock cylinder 121 rotatable in a lock barrel, not
shown, by a conventional key inserted into a key slot 122 in the
lock cylinder. The lock cylinder 121 has a keying projection 123,
FIG. 6, rotatable as a unit therewith and the projection 123 is
received within a correspondingly shaped aperture in a bushing 124
having a circumferential groove 125 defining an actuating shoulder
126. The bushing 124 rotatably supports an eccentric operating
lever 128 having a tab 130 integral therewith, the tab 130
projecting into groove 125.
As seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5, a draft link 132 connected to
eccentric operating lever 128 at 134 and to actuating arm 78 of the
detent lever at 136 is operable in response to clockwise rotary
movement of the operating lever to depress the actuating arm and
pivot the detent lever from the detenting to the releasing
position.
Conventional spring means, not shown, normally bias the lock
cylinder 121 to a neutral position wherein the key slot 122 assumes
the position designated a, FIG. 5, and the bushing 124,
accordingly, assumes the position shown in FIG. 6. Clockwise
rotation, FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, of the lock cylinder to the position of
key slot 122 designated b actuates the electric drive means to
raise the window panel from the closed toward the open position and
simultaneously rotates the bushing 124 clockwise until in position
b of the key slot the actuating shoulder 126 is juxtaposed to the
side of tab 130. The operating lever 128 is held in the position
shown in FIG. 6 corresponding to the detenting position of the
detent lever by the detent lever 76 through the draft link 132.
Further clockwise rotation of the lock cylinder 121 to the position
of the key slot 126 designated c deactivates the electric drive
means while the shoulder 126 on the bushing 124 initiates unitary
clockwise rotation of the eccentric operating lever 124 from the
position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 5 during
which rotation the draft link 132 is bodily shifted downwardly to
pivot the detent lever from the detenting to the releasing
position.
When the key is released the spring means returns the lock cylinder
121 to a neutral a position of the key slot 122 while the bearing
surface 73 on the latchbolt 66 through the detent 80, the actuating
arm 78 and the draft link 132 holds the operating lever 128 in the
position shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to the intermediate position
of the detent lever, the lost motion between the lever 128 and the
bushing 124 being accommodated by groove 125. To close the window
panel the lock cylinder 121 is rotated counterclockwise, FIG. 4, to
a position of key slot 122 designated d wherein the electric drive
means is actuated in the opposite direction to lower the window
panel, the lost motion between the lock cylinder and eccentric
operating lever again being accommodated by groove 125.
A typical operational sequence of the tailgate and window panel
normally begins with each in the closed position, the striker 60 on
the tailgate being captured by the latchbolt 66 in the latching
position of the latter and the latchbolt being held in the latching
position by detent lever 76 in the detenting position thereof, FIG.
4. With the detent lever in the detenting position the spring 100
biases the bellcrank 94 to the unblocking position, FIG. 4. The
most desirable and efficient sequence of movement requires that the
window panel 44 first be raised at least to the intermediate
position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, before the tailgate is
unlatched for movement to the open position and that the tailgate
be latched in the closed position before the window panel is moved
to the closed position. If this predetermined operational sequence
is not followed and an attempt is made to rotate the lock cylinder
121 to the c position before the window panel is raised to at least
the intermediate position, the bellcrank 94 which is maintained in
the unblocking position by the striking plate 106 arrests movement
of the detent lever 76 by means of cable 114 before the releasing
position is achieved and thereby prevents any movement of the
latchbolt from the latching position.
If, however, the window panel 44 is opened at least to the
intermediate position beyond bellcrank 94, FIG. 5, the restraint on
the bellcrank 94 previously provided by the side of striking plate
106 is removed so that the lock cylinder 121 is operable through
operating lever 128 and draft link 132 as described to pivot the
detent lever to the releasing position. As the detent lever pivots
to the releasing position, the latchbolt 66 is released to permit
movement of the tailgate to the open position while cable 114
initiates coincidental movement of the bellcrank 94 to the blocking
position.
With both the window panel and the tailgate open, any attempt to
lower the window panel to the closed position before the tailgate
is latched in the closed position will result in interference
between the stop pin 98 and bumper edge 112, FIG. 5. The window
panel is thus physically prevented from reaching the closed
position. The bellcrank 94 is prevented from being cammed or forced
out of the blocking position by the bearing surface 73 on the
latchbolt 66 through detent lever 76 and the cable 114. When the
tailgate 43 is finally brought to the closed position, FIG. 7, the
detent lever 76 pivots to the detenting position under the urging
of spring 90 thus slackening the cable 114. With slack in the
cable, the spring 100 initiates coincidental pivotal movement of
the bellcrank to the unblocking position, the latter thus
permitting full closing movement of the window panel.
* * * * *