EP1116849B1 - Driving assembly for swingable parts on vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an actuating arrangement for pivotable parts on vehicles, especially for the operation of rear, trunk or top covers or top parts itself, with at least one indirectly or directly on the pivotal part attacking fluid drive which has a linear cylinder, the piston rod in its linear stroke over a a gear rack and a pinion comprehensive mechanical gear moves a rotary shaft, wherein the rotary shaft is located in the pivot axis of the pivotable member, is rotatably connected to the pivotable member and at least partially supports the pivotable part.

For the actuation of movable, in particular also of pivotable vehicle parts fluid drives in the form of working cylinders are conventionally used, which are articulated at one end to the body of the vehicle and engage the other end, usually the outer end of the piston rod, on the moving part. This solution is common for the rear and engine compartment cover, for the cover of cabriolet covers, but also for the mutually pivotable sections of the tops themselves, especially in hard tops or similar constructions. However, this solution has some disadvantages, such as that due to the kinematics of the pivotal parts at the beginning and at the end of their movement, the largest forces are needed, but this requirement can not be done due to the possible arrangement of the working cylinder in the pivot axes. Due to the deflection and the moment generated during the rotational movement is not constant. Moreover, these drives can be practically used only for swivel angle smaller than 180 ° and require a relatively large installation space. This last disadvantage is especially evident in providing a cover of the entire drive assembly to avoid injury or trapping debris and comes particularly to bear. But even with folding roofs in the headspace is relatively little space for Actuator arrangements available, so that multiply foldable variants, especially with stable and therefore heavy parts were not so operable so far, because the necessary strong and at the same time large pivoting movements causing cylinder just could not be installed there

The DE 1291222 discloses a, in particular hydraulically acting, actuation device for opening windows of motor vehicles with a displaceable piston which acts on the axis of the Ausstellfensters with the interposition of a rack and a pinion. The rack is supported by a sliding carriage, which is guided by elimination of special guide means on walls of the housing of the actuator.

In the US-A-4,489,640 a door operating device is described in which a power transmission mechanism connected to the door is actuated via a gear drive which itself is driven by a pneumatic linear cylinder. For this purpose, a portion of the piston rod of the working cylinder is designed as a rack, which engages in lying within the working cylinder gear which is rotatably mounted on a shaft on which outside of the working cylinder, the gear is fixed, which cooperates with the power transmission mechanism. The carrying function for the door is completely decoupled from its drive. A similar construction is also in the US-A-1 957 697 disclosed. Here, a rotary shaft for further coupling with the door operating lever is rotated by a gear-rack mechanism in which the rack is clamped between two single-acting pneumatic actuators These drives are equipped with membranes instead of the usual working cylinders pistons.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to form an actuating arrangement of the type described above in such a way that particularly high Precision requirements are sufficient.

To solve this problem, the actuating arrangement is characterized in that the rack is guided in a longitudinal direction in a guide track, wherein the guide track is preferably mounted adjustable in the direction of the pinion, preferably by means of screws. Thus, the game in the gearing can be set exactly, if necessary, minimized or even completely avoided. By the rotary shaft is located in the pivot axis of the pivotable member, rotatably connected to the pivotable part and at least partially also carries the pivotable part, the actuator assembly according to the invention can also be used to replace conventional hinges and a constant moment can be generated with a small volume in principle allows any angle of rotation. In addition to the smaller footprint compared to conventional hinges with lever mechanisms and their often unfavorable force curve can be avoided and a better and more uniform motion for the pivotal part can be achieved.

Nevertheless, it can of course be provided according to an embodiment of the invention that the rotary shaft carries the pivotable part via a fixedly connected to this part lever. This lever of the arrangement according to the invention merely represents an extension of the component facilitating the extension. With the smallest construction volume - and therefore also, for example, in the head area of the cover - pivotal movements of the actuated vehicle part can be made over a substantially arbitrary angular range.

According to a very simple and reliable designed, preferred embodiment, the piston rod is formed at least at its outer end in the form of a rack or stands with a rack in tension and pressure-resistant connection, and engages a pinion in the teeth of the rack, which pinion rotation is mounted on the rotary shaft.

For an arrangement of the above actuating arrangement in an outer edge or corner region of the component to be moved, such as the hinged to the vehicle corners of a rear or top lid, is advantageously provided that the pinion fixed to one end of the rotary shaft and the second end of the rotary shaft the rotatable part is connected to the movable part. This allows a coupling of the movable part from only one direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the actuating arrangement and thus their installation in the side regions of the vehicle.

The optimal protection of the actuator assembly itself and thus unhindered and trouble-free operation and the protection of users from injury or other objects from damage by the actuator assembly is given when the piston rod, the cooperating portion of the rotary shaft and all shaded parts are under a cover ,

Such protection by a cover can be made in a simple manner, when the cover is an extension of the housing or tube of the working cylinder.

Advantageously, the actuator assembly according to the invention can be used for the actuation of at least part of a convertible top, in which case the fluid drive forms the main bearing of the top. This space is saved and the movement of the hood can be improved.

According to a further feature of the invention, a rotation sensor is provided and coupled to the rotary shaft, so that determines the movements of actuated by the actuator assembly in a simple and accurate manner and used, for example, for controlling the pressure medium or other, dependent on the actuated component and its position of movement can be.

In the following description, the invention will be explained with reference to preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

It shows the Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a fluid drive according to the invention in the application for a trunk lid, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of two fluid drives according to the invention in a convertible roof, Fig. 3 is a plan view of a specific, preferred embodiment of a fluid actuator according to the invention with linear cylinder, rack and pinion, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the fluid drive of Fig. 3 , and Fig. 5 shows a sectional view transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder of Fig. 3 at the height of the rotary shaft.

In Fig. 1 is attached to the body of the vehicle F at least one fluid drive D, in the example shown in the region of the upper front end of the rear fender, the rotational shaft W of the fluid drive D is located in the pivot axis A of the boot lid K and at the same time carries its weight. A the boot lid K directly supporting and the force of the fluid drive D transmitting lever H is rotatably connected to the rotary shaft W. The fluid drive D advantageously replaced the conventional hinges, which often have an unfavorable storage, and takes up less space, since the hinge can be completely replaced by the fluid drive. Of course, the actuator assembly according to the invention can also od without supporting function in addition to conventional hinges. Like. Be used.

The fluid drive according to the invention can also be used for the operation of a convertible roof, as the Fig. 2 schematically shows. In this case, for example, a first fluid drive D1 in the fender of the vehicle F is attached to the body as the main bearing for the hood V1, V2 and moves via its rotary shaft W1 a first top part V1 about the pivot axis A1, which coincides with the axis of the rotary shaft W1. A second top part V2, here the actual roof of the vehicle, is pivotable about the pivot axis A2 at the upper, front end of the first top part V1, for which advantageously a second fluid drive D2 is provided over the entire angular range of pivoting due to the small construction volume and the constant moment , Whose rotation shaft W2 is exactly in the pivot axis A2 for the second top part V2. In convertibles, the fluid drive can advantageously form the main bearing of the top and all related moving parts, in which case the advantages of saving space and favorable torque curve are particularly important.

An embodiment of a fluid drive D according to the invention with a linear fluid motor is in the Fig. 3 to 5 and is explained below. In a cylinder tube 1 of preferably circular cross section, a cover 2 of a fluid cylinder is formed in a central region. The cylinder tube 1 further advantageously has an extension 3, which forms a subsequent to the lid 2 housing. On the side opposite the extension 3 side of the lid portion 2, a cylinder base 4 is provided and connected to the cylinder tube 1, said bottom 4 may possibly also be made in one piece with the cylinder tube 1. Via passages 5 in bottom 4 and cover area 2, the working spaces of the fluid cylinder can be fed with or withdrawn from pressure medium, preferably hydraulic oil. By this pressure medium, the piston 6 is axially displaced within the cylinder tube 1 and thus also with the Piston 6 firmly connected piston rod 7, which is sealed passed through the lid portion 2 and projects into the housing 3 formed by the extension.

This extension 3 is at the same time a guide or includes a guideway 8 for a rack 9, which is connected to the piston rod 7 and pressure-resistant manner, for example via a releasable connection 10 in the form of a plate-shaped end of the piston rod 7, in a groove with a narrow Slot in the rack 9 is held transversely to the longitudinal direction displaceable. Also tensions between these two parts are avoided.

The teeth 11 of the rack 9 are engaged with teeth 12 of a pinion 13 which is rotatably mounted on the rotary shaft W. The rotary shaft W is rotatable in two tab-like parts 14 of the extension 3 and mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder tube 1 and thus also the piston rod 7 and has at its outer end preferably a toothing 15, so that a lever H in a simple manner rotatably with the Rotary shaft W can be connected. The rotationally fixed connection could also be made in any other positive and / or non-positive manner.

Another advantage of the fluid drive is - in any application - the simple connection with a rotary sensor 21, which may be connected to control and monitor the movement of the pivotal parts on the vehicle with the control electronics of the actuator assembly. This rotation sensor 21 is, as in Fig. 3 shown, coupled directly to the rotary shaft W or to the output shaft of any fluid motor or cooperates with these parts together.

In the cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 is a coupled to the rotary shaft W lever H to recognize, as well as the rotatable mounting in the tab-like parts 14. Furthermore, the guideway 8 can be seen, which has an open to the rack 9 trapezoidal cross-section and cooperates with the trapezoidal underside of the rack 9 in order to securely prevent twisting or tilting of the rack and to keep the rack 7 in engagement with the pinion 13. The guideway 8 is pulled out of the extension 3, whereby the rack 9 is lowered, so the releasable Connection 10 can be solved and the rack 9 can be separated from the piston rod 7. In operation, the guideway 8 is held and fixed in the extension 3 by a plurality of worm screws 16. By means of the screws 16, the guideway 8 can also be adjusted in a direction predetermined by the longitudinal axis of the screws 16 - and also the bearing of the guideway 8. Thus, the game between the guideway 8 and pinion 13 can be accurately adjusted and advantageously minimized.

Of course, the guide track for the rack 9 can also be formed from the inside of the extension 3 itself or from an insertable guide together with a part of the inner surface of the extension 3. The cross-sectional and tooth shape of rack 9 and / or pinion 13 can be modified according to the respective requirements. Other mechanical translations between rack 7 and rotary shaft W are possible, such as worm gear or bevel gear, which are especially advantageous if the rotational shaft W should not be exactly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder, but angles not equal to 90 ° or displacements between the piston rod 7 and rotary shaft W are required.

In addition to the variants described above and illustrated in the drawings, other types of fluid motors can be used in principle, for example, linear-acting piston engines, even without a piston rod, but acting on a lever that converts the implementation into a rotational movement of a rotatably connected to this lever shaft. The output shafts of the fluid motors can be connected to the rotary shaft (W) for the pivotable part (V) via the worm or bevel gear and / or via lower or gear transmission, preferably on a mechanical basis, but they can also be directly connected to this rotary shaft (FIG. W) represent.

Of course, not only a fluid drive can act on the rotary shaft W, but several parallel drives can be provided in order to be able to generate, for example, larger torques. For example, two linear drives can act on the rotary shaft via separate gears or on the same gearbox Increase increase of the generated moment. As a further example, it would be conceivable that on a pinion 13, a rotary shaft W on mutually opposite sides racks 9 are provided, preferably parallel to each other, each of the piston rod 7 each a linear working cylinder, which are also preferably parallel to each other, moves.

Claims (9)

1. An actuating arrangement for swivellable parts on vehicles, in particular for the actuation of rear lids, boot lids or covers for convertible tops or convertible top parts themselves, with at least one fluid drive engaging indirectly or directly on the swivellable part, which fluid drive has a linear working cylinder (1-7), the piston rod (7) of which on its linear working stroke moves a rotation shaft (W) via a mechanical gear (9, 13) comprising a rack and a pinion, wherein the rotation shaft (W) lies in the swivel axis (A) of the swivellable part (V), is connected with the swivellable part (V) in a torque-proof manner, and also at least partially carries the swivellable part (K, V), characterized in that the rack (9) is guided in longitudinal direction in a guide track (8), wherein the guide track (8) is preferably mounted so as to be adjustable in the direction towards the pinion (13), preferably by means of screws (16).
2. The actuating arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rotation shaft (W) carries the swivellable part (K, V) via a lever (H) which is securely connected with this part (K, V).
3. The actuating arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the piston rod (7) is constructed at least at its outer end in the form of the rack (9) or is in traction- and pressure-resistant connection with the rack, and that the pinion (13) engages into the toothing of the rack, which pinion is fastened in a torque-proof manner on the rotation shaft (W).
4. The actuating arrangement according to Claim 3, characterized in that the pinion (W) is fastened on one end of the rotation shaft (W), and the second end of the rotation shaft is connected in a torque-proof manner with the movable part (V).
5. The actuating arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the end of the piston rod (7) is held on the rack (9) displaceably transversely to the longitudinal axis, whereby tensions between the parts are prevented.
6. The actuating arrangement according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the piston rod (7), the section of the rotation shaft (W) cooperating therewith, and all interposed parts are situated under a cover.
7. The actuating arrangement according to Claim 6, characterized in that the cover is an extension (3) of the housing or of the tube (1) of the working cylinder.
8. The actuating arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 7 for the actuation of at least one part of a cabriolet top, characterized in that the fluid drive (D) forms the main bearing of the top.
9. The actuating arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a rotation sensor (21) is provided and is coupled with the rotation shaft (W).

Images