EP1738994A2 - Opening device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a gas spring (1) hinged at a rear flap of a vehicle body with a piston rod (3) and a pressure pipe (2) at a distance to a swivel axis. An energy storage (4) force impinges the flap in its clamping position during its opening strokes from a closing position until reaching a release position of the storage. The storage is arranged in the rod, and the pipe movably and forcibly impinges in the driving direction of the piston rod.

Description

The invention relates to an opening device for a flap of a vehicle, in particular for a tailgate, which is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis at the upper edge of an opening of the body of the vehicle from a downward closed position in an upward open position, with a Gas spring, which is articulated to the free end of the piston rod at a distance from the pivot axis on the flap or the body and with its pressure tube at a distance from the pivot axis on the body or the flap, wherein the gas spring in the extension force the flap in the opening direction, and with an arranged on the body actuator through which a torque in the opening direction on the flap is acted upon.

In such an opening device, it is known that in addition to the gas spring driven by a reversibly driven motor pivot lever acts as an actuator on the flap. By the gas spring, a support of the rotary actuator to be done by the pivot lever.

Such training is complicated and expensive.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an opening device of the type mentioned, whose structure is simple and requires little installation space.

This object is achieved in that the actuator is an energy storage, the force from its clamping position, the flap during its opening stroke from the closed position to a reaching a relaxed position of the energy storage force.

Since the actuator is required only during an opening movement, this can be designed to be simple and only acting in one direction. The closing movement receives its opposite effect of the gas spring support by the weight of the flap. This results in that the flap can be closed with little hand force.

The relaxation position is preferably achieved when the flap has reached an opening angle, from which the gas spring can automatically open the flap further.

To provide the force of the energy storage device, this is preferably after reaching the relaxation position by a clamping device movable into its clamping position.

His power does not oppose a closing movement of the flap.

The achievement of the relaxation position can be detected by a sensor, which can then initiate a movement of the clamping device in the clamping position.

To reduce the sizes and the required installation space of the energy storage can be arranged on the piston rod and the pressure tube in the extension direction of the piston rod movable force.

But it is also possible that the energy accumulator is arranged on the body and the force applied to the valve via one or more pressure elements.

In simple, defektunauffälliger training, the pressure element may be a guided in a shell pressure cable or a push rod.

Also simple in construction and defect-susceptible, it is when the energy storage is a spring accumulator.
The spring accumulator may have a helical compression spring.
For tensioning the tensioning device, this can be driven by an electric motor,
wherein the tensioning device can be driven by a reversible electric motor in the tensioning direction and in the tensioning direction.

If in this case the tensioning device can be driven by the electric motor via a gear, then the energy accumulator can be held in its pretensioned position by the self-locking of the gearbox, so that no separate device is required therefor.

A small size is achievable that of the electric motor, a threaded rod is rotatably driven, which engages in a threaded bore of a rotationally fixed, axially movable nut, which is arranged at one end of the threaded rod and axially supported with its other end firmly supported helical compression spring, said the nut can be supported by a spring cup on the helical compression spring.

Save space, it is also when the pressure tube of the gas spring of the energy storage in the extension direction of the piston rod is displaceable kraftbeaufschlagbar.

In this case, the protruding from the pressure tube end of the piston rod can be firmly connected to a guide member in which the energy storage opposite end portion of the pressure element is guided axially displaceable axially to the longitudinal extension of the gas spring, wherein the pressure tube in the extension direction of the piston rod is displaceable kraftbeaufschlagbar through the end region of the pressure element ,

For this purpose, the pressure tube may have a radially protruding pressure piece, which can be pressurized by the pressure element in the extension direction of the piston rod.

A further embodiment is that at the hinged to the body or the flap pressure tube of the gas spring at a distance to the body on the or hinged to the flap end a einarmiger pivot lever is pivotally connected at one end about an axis parallel to the pivot axis, which is supported with its free other end to a body-mounted part and which is pivotally kraftbeaufschlagbar of the energy storage at a distance from the axis,
wherein the hinged to the body end of the pressure tube is fixedly connected to a guide member in which the energy storage opposite end portion of the pressure element is guided axially displaceable to the longitudinal extent of the gas spring,
wherein the gas spring in the opening direction of the flap is movable kraftbeaufschlagbar by the end region of the pressure element of the pivot lever.

The protruding from the pressure tube end of the piston rod is preferably fixedly connected to a guide member in which the energy storage opposite end portion of the pressure element is guided axially displaceable axially to the longitudinal extent of the gas spring, being movable in the opening direction of the flap by the end region of the pressure element, the pivot lever of the gas spring can be acted upon.

For support and good relative movement, the free end of the pivot lever can be supported on a fixedly connected to the body slide.

Another simple design and space-saving training is that the energy storage is arranged on the gas spring, wherein the spring accumulator supported with its one end to the pressure tube of the gas spring and with its other end to the free end of the piston rod and wherein the spring accumulator through the Clamping device can be tensioned and locked in its clamping position.

In this case, the spring accumulator forming the helical compression spring surround the piston rod and be supported with its first end via a displaceably arranged on the piston rod support pot on the pressure tube, resulting in a compact design.

In this case, the spring accumulator can be arranged coaxially to the piston rod in a housing pot and with its second end to the bottom of the housing pot coaxially having an opening through which the piston rod is passed.

For tensioning the spring accumulator while a traction cable is attached to the support pot, which extends parallel to the piston rod and is movable driven by the clamping device in the compression direction of the spring accumulator.
So that the spring accumulator remains in its clamping position, it can be locked in its clamping position by a locking device.

Another also simple construction and small space-requiring training of the opening device is that the energy storage device has a arranged on the tailgate torsion spring, by pivoting on the flap about a pivot axis to the axis coaxial or parallel pivoting pivot lever pivotally driven from the plane of the flap is, wherein the pivot lever with its opposite end of the pivot axis is supported on the body of the vehicle.

For this purpose, the pivot lever can be attached to a drive shaft rotatably driven about the axis radially wegragend, arranged on the at least partially enclosed by a pull rope drum and which is acted upon by the torsion spring in a rotational direction, wherein the pull rope of the tensioning device rotating the cable drum and the Torsion spring exciting movable driven.

Figur 1

eine Querschnittsansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Öffnungseinrichtung

Figur 2

eine vergrößerte Querschnittsansicht der Spanneinrichtung der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 1

Figur 3

eine vergrößerte Querschnittsansicht des Gasfederbereichs der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 1

Figur 4

eine Querschnittsansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Öffnungseinrichtung

Figur 5

eine vergrößerte Ansicht des Gasfederbereichs der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 4

Figur 6

eine Querschnittsansicht des Gasfederbereichs der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 5

Figur 7

eine Seitenansicht eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Öffnungseinrichtung

Figur 8

eine Querschnittsansicht der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 7

Figur 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 7

Figur 10

eine Stirnansicht der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 7

Figur 11

eine Ansicht eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Öffnungseinrichtung

Figur 12

eine Seitenansicht der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 11

Figur 13

eine Draufsicht der Öffnungseinrichtung nach Figur 11

Figur 14

eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Linie XIV - XIV in Figur 11.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it

FIG. 1

a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an opening device

FIG. 2

an enlarged cross-sectional view of the clamping device of the opening device of Figure 1

FIG. 3

an enlarged cross-sectional view of the gas spring region of the opening device of Figure 1

FIG. 4

a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an opening device

FIG. 5

an enlarged view of the gas spring region of the opening device of Figure 4

FIG. 6

a cross-sectional view of the gas spring region of the opening device of Figure 5

FIG. 7

a side view of a third embodiment of an opening device

FIG. 8

a cross-sectional view of the opening device of Figure 7

FIG. 9

a perspective view of the opening device of Figure 7

FIG. 10

an end view of the opening device of Figure 7

FIG. 11

a view of a fourth embodiment of an opening device

FIG. 12

a side view of the opening device of Figure 11

FIG. 13

a top view of the opening device of Figure 11

FIG. 14

a cross-sectional view along the line XIV - XIV in Figure 11.

The opening devices shown in the figures are arranged on a tailgate of a motor vehicle, not shown, which is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis at the upper edge of an opening of the body of the motor vehicle from a downward closed position in an upward open position.

The opening means comprise a gas spring 1 with a pressure tube 2 and a filled in the pressure tube 2 this in two under pressure gas Working chambers separating piston. On the piston, a piston rod 3 is arranged, which is guided out of the pressure pipe 2 on one side sealed.

Furthermore, the opening means have force memory 4, which are movable by clamping means 5, 5 'in their clamping position and by which the flap during its opening stroke from the closed position in addition to the gas spring 1 are kraftbeaufschlagbar.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the tensioning device 5 has a reversible electric motor 6 which rotatably drives a threaded rod 8 via a gear 7, which engages in a rotationally fixed, axially movable nut 9.

At the nut 9, a spring cup 10 is arranged, on which the one end of a helical compression spring 11 is supported. The helical compression spring 11 surrounds the nut 9 and the threaded rod 8 and is firmly supported in the region of the transmission 7 with its other end.

In the figure 1, the clamping device 5 is shown in its clamping position, before the power storage 4 has supported an opening movement of the flap.

For this purpose, in the nut 9 facing away from the end of the spring cup 10 firmly inserted inner pot 12 with its bottom on the front side of a slidably guided in a shell 13 Druckkabeis 14, through the other end of a pressure piece 15 can be acted upon. The pressure piece 15 is mounted radially projecting on the pressure tube 2.

The protruding from the pressure tube 2 end of the piston rod 3 is fixedly connected to a guide member 16 in which the pressure cable 14 is guided displaceably parallel to the piston rod 3.

The free end of the piston rod 3 is at a distance from the pivot axis of the tailgate on the body and the free end of the piston rod 3 opposite end of the pressure tube 2 is articulated at a distance from the pivot axis of the tailgate.

If the tailgate to be moved from its closed position to its open position, drives the electric motor 6 via the gear 7, the threaded rod 8 such that the nut 9 and the spring cup 10 move in the direction of relaxation of the helical compression spring 11. In this case, the compressed in the closed position helical compression spring 11 relaxes and pushes the pressure cable 14 through the inner pot 12 from the clamping device 5 out.

As a result, the other end of the pressure cable 14 acts on the pressure piece 15 and moves the pressure tube 2 out of the position shown in FIG. 3 in the extension direction relative to the piston rod. This is done in addition to the gas spring 1 own extension force, so that initially an opening movement of the tailgate with increased force is effected.

If, in this movement, a horizontal position of the tailgate is run over, the helical compression spring reaches its maximum releasable position, so that the further opening movement of the tailgate is effected only by the gas spring 1. This is easily possible because now reduces the effective lever of the tailgate and thus less force is required for the opening movement.

When the helical compression spring 11 has reached its maximum relaxed position, as shown in Figure 2, the electric motor 6 reverses its direction of rotation, so that via the spring cup 10, the helical compression spring 11 is brought back into its clamping position (Figure 1).

If now the tailgate to be closed again, their weight possibly supported with a small manual action causes a closing of the tailgate against the force of the gas spring. 1

The structure of the opening device illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 largely corresponds to the opening device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and is provided with the corresponding reference numbers.

In contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 but no pressure piece but a one-armed pivot lever 17 is disposed on the pressure tube 2.

This pivot lever 17 is articulated with its one end at a distance to the hinged at the tailgate end of the pressure tube 2 about an axis parallel to the pivot axis 18 on the pressure tube 2.

Of the pressure cable 14 of the pivot lever 17 is kraftbeaufschlagbar at a distance from the axis 18 and thereby from its illustrated, parallel to the gas spring position, swung out.

With its free end, the pivoting lever 17 is supported on a body-fixed slideway, not shown, which is e.g. can be arranged in the rain channel in the side region of the opening to be closed by the tailgate.

When opening the tailgate, the pressure cable 14 is acted upon by the tension of the helical compression spring 11 against the pivot lever 17, so that it is pivoted away from the gas spring 1. Since he is supported with its free end to the body, there is also a pivotal movement of the gas spring 1 in the opening direction of the tailgate and thus support the effect caused by the gas spring 1 opening movement of the tailgate.

In the embodiment of Figures 7 to 10, a support pot 19 is slidably disposed on the piston rod 3, on which one end of the piston rod 3 enclosing a helical compression spring 11 'of a clamping device 5' is supported. The other end of extending in the direction of the free end of the piston rod 3 toward the helical compression spring 11 'is based on the bottom 20 of a tubular part of the piston rod 3 and the piston rod end portion of the pressure tube 2 of the gas spring 1 coaxially enclosing housing pot 21 from.

The piston rod 3 is passed through a coaxial opening 22 in the bottom 20 and has near its free end a radially projecting locking projection 23 of a locking device.

On the support pot 19, one end of a pull cable 24 is fixed, which is guided parallel to the piston rod 3 through a passage opening 25 to the outside to a clamping device, not shown.

In the figures 7 to 9, the helical compression spring 11 'is shown in a relaxed two-thirds position and can still clamp to near the mouth opening of the housing pot 21.
For tensioning the helical compression spring 11 ', the support pot 19 is pulled by the tensioning device driven by the traction cable 24 close to the bottom 20. There, the locking projection 23 engages in a arranged on the support pot 19 retaining element 26 of the locking device, so that the support pot 19 and the helical compression spring 11 'are locked in this position, which is taken even with the tailgate closed.

This locking device works on the so-called. Ballpoint pen principle.

If the tailgate to be opened from its closed position, a release of the locking device takes place by briefly tightening the pull cable 24. Thereafter, a release of the tension cable 24, so that the helical compression spring 11 'is relaxed until it has reached its relaxation position. It is supported on the bottom 20 of the connector 27 at the free end of the piston rod 3 and the Abstütztopf 19 on the pressure tube 2, so that the extension movement of the piston rod 3 by the gas spring now by the helical compression spring 11 'is supported.

If the helical compression spring 11 'reaches its final clamping position, the piston rod 3 moves on, solely through the gas spring, into its end position, in which the tailgate is completely open.

At the same time takes place by the tensioning device again a tensioning of the helical compression spring 11 ', so that this causes no counter-force in a subsequent closing of the tailgate.

In the opening device shown in Figures 11 to 14, the gas spring is located at a different location than the force accumulator 4 and operated by the force storage mechanism 4.

This mechanism consists of a about the pivot axis of the tailgate coaxial or parallel axis 28 rotatably mounted drive shaft 29, at one end of a pivot lever 30 projects radially. With its free end, the pivot lever 30 is supported on a body-mounted slideway 31, which can be arranged for example in the rain channel in the side region of the opening to be closed by the tailgate.
The other end of the drive shaft 29 protrudes into a fixedly arranged on the tailgate drive housing 32 and carries a fixed to the drive shaft 29 arranged cable drum 33. An end portion of a pull cable 24 encloses at least partially the cable drum 33, the end of the pull cable 24 fixed to the cable drum 33 is connected.

The pull cable 24 is guided through a passage opening 25 out of the drive housing 32 to a tensioning device, not shown.

A arranged on the drive housing 32, not shown torsion spring of a force accumulator 4 is supported on the drive housing 32 and acts on the drive shaft 29 against the unwinding of the pull cable 24 of the cable drum 33rd

When the tailgate is closed, the torsion spring is stretched and is e.g. held by the pull rope in its cocked position.

If the tailgate to be opened, there is a release of the pull cable 24, so that the torsion spring rotates the drive shaft 29 and the pivot lever 30 is pivoted.

By supporting the free end of the pivot lever 30 via the slide 31 on the body, a torque acts in the opening direction on the tailgate, which supports the opening force of the gas spring on the first part of the opening path of the tailgate.

Has the torsion spring reached its relaxation position, the further opening movement of the tailgate is caused by the gas spring alone and the Torsion spring tensioned by a pull drive of the pull cable 24 by means of the clamping device again.

At the tailgate, a single opening device may be arranged in a side region of the opening of the body to be closed. In order to achieve a uniform loading of the tailgate, but an opening device is preferably arranged on each side edge of the opening of the body.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

gas spring

2

pressure pipe

3

piston rod

4

power storage

5

tensioning device

5 '

tensioning device

6

electric motor

7

transmission

8th

threaded rod

9

mother

10

spring cup

11

Helical compression spring

11 '

Helical compression spring

12

inner pot

13

shell

14

pressure cable

15

Pressure piece

16

guide part

17

pivoting lever

18

axis

19

working pot

20

ground

21

housing pot

22

opening

23

latching shoulder

24

rope

25

Through opening

26

retaining element

27

joint

28

axis

29

drive shaft

30

pivoting lever

31

slipway

32

drive housing

33

cable drum

Claims (28)

Opening device for a flap of a vehicle, in particular for a tailgate, which is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis at the upper edge of an opening of the body of the vehicle from a downward closed position in an upward open position, with a gas spring, with the free End of its piston rod at a distance from the pivot axis of the flap or the body and is articulated with its pressure pipe at a distance from the pivot axis of the body or the flap, wherein the gas spring in the extension force the flap force in the opening direction, and with an actuator by a torque in the opening direction on the flap can be acted on, characterized in that the actuator is a force accumulator, the force from its clamping position, the flap during its opening stroke from the closed position until reaching a relaxed position of the force accumulator. Opening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy storage device after reaching the relaxation position by a clamping device (5, 5 ') is movable into its clamping position. Opening device according to claim 2, characterized in that the reaching of the release position can be detected by a sensor. An opening device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the force accumulator is disposed on the piston rod (3) and the pressure tube (2) in the extension direction of the piston rod (3) movable force. Opening device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the energy accumulator is arranged on the body and the force applied to the valve via one or more pressure elements. Opening device according to claim 5, characterized in that the pressure element is a pressure cable (14) guided in a casing (13). Opening device according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the pressure element is a pressure ram. Opening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy accumulator is a spring accumulator. Opening device according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring accumulator has a helical compression spring (11, 11 '). Opening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping device (5, 5 ') can be driven by an electric motor. Opening device according to claim 10, characterized in that the tensioning device (5, 5 ') can be driven by a reversible electric motor (6) in the tensioning direction and in the tensioning direction. Opening device according to claim 11, characterized in that the tensioning device (5, 5 ') can be driven by the electric motor (6) via a gear (7). Opening device according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that of the electric motor (6) a threaded rod (8) is rotatably driven, which engages in a threaded bore of a rotationally fixed, axially movable nut (9), which at one end of the axially to Threaded rod (8) is arranged and supported at its other end firmly supported helical compression spring (11). Opening device according to claim 13, characterized in that the nut (9) via a spring cup (10) is supported on the helical compression spring (11). Opening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure tube (9) of the gas spring (1) can be displaced by force from the force accumulator in the extension direction of the piston rod (3). Opening device according to claim 15, characterized in that the end of the piston rod (3) protruding from the pressure pipe (2) is fixedly connected to a guide part (16) in which the end region of the pressure element opposite the energy accumulator is axially aligned with the longitudinal extension of the gas spring (1). slidably guided, wherein by the end of the Pressure element, the pressure tube (2) in the extension direction of the piston rod (3) is displaceable kraftbeaufschlagbar. Opening device according to claim 16, characterized in that the pressure tube (2) has a radially protruding pressure piece (15), which can be subjected to force from the pressure element in the extension direction of the piston rod (3). Opening device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that on the articulated on the body or the flap pressure tube (2) of the gas spring (1) at a distance to its hinged to the body or the flap end a one-armed pivot lever (17) with its one end about an axis parallel to the pivot axis (18) is pivotally articulated, which is supported with its free other end to a body-mounted part and the power storage at a distance from the axis (18) is pivotally kraftbeaufschlagbar. Opening device according to claim 18, characterized in that the hinged to the body end of the piston rod (3) is fixedly connected to a guide member (16) in which the energy storage opposite end portion of the pressure element axially to the longitudinal extent of the gas spring (1) is displaceably guided , wherein by the end region of the pressure element of the pivot lever (17), the gas spring (1) is movable kraftbeaufschlagbar in the opening direction of the flap. Opening device according to claim 18, characterized in that the end of the piston rod protruding from the pressure pipe is fixedly connected to a guide part, in which the end region of the pressure element opposite the energy accumulator is displaceably guided axially to the longitudinal extension of the gas spring, wherein by the end region of the pressure element, the pivot lever of the gas spring in the opening direction of the flap is movable kraftbeaufschlagbar. Opening device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the free end of the pivot lever (17) is supported on a fixedly connected to the body slide. Opening device according to one of claims 1 to 3 and 8 to 10, characterized in that the spring accumulator is arranged on the gas spring (1), wherein the spring accumulator with its one end to the pressure tube (2) of the gas spring (1) and with its other End at the free end of the piston rod (3) can be supported and the spring accumulator by the clamping device (5 ') can be tensioned and locked in its clamping position. Opening device according to Claim 22, characterized in that the helical compression spring (11 ') forming the spring accumulator surrounds the piston rod (3) and can be supported on the pressure tube (2) with its first end via a support pot (19) displaceably mounted on the piston rod (3) is. Opening device according to one of claims 22 and 23, characterized in that the spring accumulator is arranged coaxially with the piston rod (3) in a housing pot (21) and is supported with its second end on the bottom (20) of the housing pot (21), which is coaxial an opening (22) through which the piston rod (3) is passed. Opening device according to one of claims 23 to 24, characterized in that a pull cable (24) is attached to the support pot (19) extends parallel to the piston rod (3) and from the tensioning device (5 ') in the compression direction of the spring accumulator is driven to move. Opening device according to one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that the spring accumulator can be locked in its clamping position by a locking device. Opening device according to one of Claims 1 to 3 and 8 and 10, characterized in that the force accumulator (4) has a torsion spring arranged on the tailgate, by means of which a swiveling lever pivotable on the flap about an axis (28) which is coaxial or parallel to the pivot axis (Fig. 30) can be driven in a pivotable manner from the plane of the flap, wherein the pivoting lever (30) can be supported with its end (28) opposite the body of the vehicle. Opening device according to claim 27, characterized in that the pivoting lever (30) is fastened radially projecting on a drive shaft (29) rotatably drivable about the axis (28), on which a cable drum (33) surrounded at least partially by a pull cable (24) and which is acted upon by the torsion spring in a rotational direction, wherein the pull cable (24) of the tensioning device, the cable drum (33) rotating and the torsion spring is driven to be driven exciting.

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