Abstract
Adjusting device for a front lid, with an actuator for raising the rear edge of the front lid, wherein the actuator is configured as a coupling mechanism having a first drive with a rotation-locked lever connected to a push rod in an articulated fashion and a second drive with a rotation-locked lever connected to a push rod in an articulated fashion, wherein the two push rods have a common attachment point, via which they are connected to the front lid.
Claims
1. An adjusting device for a front lid, with an actuator for raising a rear edge of the front lid, the actuator comprising: a coupling mechanism comprising a first drive having a rotation-locked lever connected to a first push rod in an articulated fashion and a second drive having a rotation-locked lever connected to a second push rod in an articulated fashion, wherein the first and second push rods are connected with one another at a common attachment point which is in turn connected to the front lid.
2. The adjusting device of claim 1, wherein the first and the second drive comprise an electric motor.
3. The adjusting device of claim 2, wherein the electric motor comprises a reduction gear.
4. The adjusting device of claim 1, further comprising a leg attached to the front lid, wherein the common attachment point of the first and second push rods is connected to the leg.
5. The adjusting device of claim 4, wherein the leg is constructed as a U-shaped profile.
6. The adjusting device of claim 1, further comprising a control device configured to control the first and the second drive in a coordinated fashion.
7. The adjusting device of claim 6, wherein the control device is configured to control the first and the second drive so as to move the front lid to a raised and horizontally rearward displaced pedestrian protection position or to an even further raised and even further horizontally rearward displaced type damage position.
8. The adjusting device of claim 6, wherein the control device is configured to control the first and the second drive so as to move the front lid to a service position where the rear end of the front lid is supported in an abutment that is fixed in relation to the vehicle body.
9. A motor vehicle comprising at least one adjusting device for a front lid, with an actuator for raising a rear edge of the front lid, the actuator comprising: a coupling mechanism comprising a first drive having a rotation-locked lever connected to a first push rod in an articulated fashion and a second drive having a rotation-locked lever connected to a second push rod in an articulated fashion, wherein the first and second push rods are connected with one another at a common attachment point which is in turn connected to the front lid.
10. The motor vehicle of claim 9, comprising two adjusting devices arranged at opposite sides of an engine compartment.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an adjusting device according to the present invention,
(3) FIG. 2 shows the rear side of the adjusting device shown in FIG. 1,
(4) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the adjusting device of FIG. 1,
(5) FIG. 4 shows the adjusting device mounted in a motor vehicle in a retracted position,
(6) FIG. 5 shows the adjusting device in the pedestrian protection position,
(7) FIG. 6 shows the adjusting device in the type damage position,
(8) FIG. 7 shows a diagram of the kinematics in the retracted position,
(9) FIG. 8 shows a diagram of the kinematics in pedestrian protection position,
(10) FIG. 9 shows a diagram of the kinematics in the type damage position,
(11) FIG. 10 shows a diagram of the kinematics when the front lid in a service position,
(12) FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary drive, and
(13) FIG. 12 shows a perspective illustration of a U-shaped leg.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(14) Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.
(15) Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown an adjusting device 1 in a perspective view. The adjusting device 1 includes an actuator which is formed as a coupling mechanism having a first drive 2 with a rotation-locked lever 3 connected to a push rod 4 in an articulated fashion. In addition, the adjusting device 1 includes a second drive 5 with a rotation-locked lever 6 connected to a push rod 7 in an articulated fashion.
(16) FIG. 1 shows that the two push rods 4, 7 have a common attachment point 8 at which they are connected to each other by a bolt. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the two drives 2, 5 are constructed substantially identically. Each drive 2, 5 includes, as indicated in FIG. 11, an electric motor 15 with an associated reduction gear 16. Accordingly, the two levers 3, 6 which are non-rotatably connected to the respective drive are rotated at a reduced speed with respect to the motor speed.
(17) FIG. 2 shows the adjusting device 1 from the opposite side, so that the drive 2 is located in front of the drive 5. The two drives 2, 5 are slightly inclined to one another with respect to their longitudinal axes, which is due to the installation situation.
(18) The plan view of. FIG. 3 shows that the two drives 2, 5 are arranged mutually parallel. Accordingly, the levers 3, 6 and the push rods 4, 7 are also arranged mutually parallel. The two levers and the two push rods therefore move substantially along a plane. The attachment point 8, which also serves as the connection to the front lid, can thus be moved by the adjusting device 1 along a plane. In a motor vehicle, two such adjusting devices 1 are mounted on opposite sides of the engine compartment, such that the attachment points 8 of the two adjusting devices are located on opposite sides near the rear end of the front lid.
(19) FIG. 4 is a side view showing the adjusting device 1 which is arranged in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle. It is evident from FIG. 4 that the attachment point 8 and/or the bolt located at this point is connected to a leg 9 in an articulated fashion. The leg 9 has essentially a U-shaped profile as shown in FIG. 12. In the installed state, the leg 9 is connected to the front lid 10, which is only schematically shown in FIG. 4.
(20) The adjusting device 1 also includes a schematically illustrated control device 11, which is configured to control of the two drives 2, 5 in a coordinated fashion. Due to the coupling of the two push rods 4, 7, the drives 2, 5 must be controlled in a coordinated fashion to avoid constraining forces.
(21) FIG. 4 shows the adjusting device 1 in the normal position where the front lid 10 is closed.
(22) FIG. 7 shows the corresponding kinematics. Particularly evident are the positions of the levers 3, 6 as well as the positions of the push rods 4, 7. Also shown is a circle 12, 13 for each drive 2, 5 which indicates the path of movement of the rotatable levers 3, 6.
(23) As can be seen in FIG. 7, in the initial position the lever 3 and the push rod 4 of the drive 2 are arranged approximately perpendicular to each other, whereas the lever 6 and the push rod 7 of the second actuator 5 enclose an acute angle.
(24) FIG. 5 shows the adjusting device 1 after it has been moved from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the so-called pedestrian protection position. To this end, the levers 3, 6 in the view of FIG. 5 were rotated counterclockwise. As a result, the leg 9 and accordingly also the front lid 10 were moved both vertically upwards and horizontally rearward, i.e. in the view of FIG. 5 to the left. In this pedestrian protection position, a free space is located underneath the front lid 10, which serves as a deformation space in the event of an impact with a pedestrian, so that a large portion of the kinetic energy can be absorbed through deformation of the front lid 10, so that less serious injuries to the pedestrian can be expected.
(25) It is evident from the associated kinematic representation of FIG. 8 that the lever 3 and the push rod 4, which operates like a connecting rod, form an angle which is somewhat greater than a right angle. Similarly, the lever 6 also forms with the push rod 7 approximately a right angle. It is also evident that the two push rods 4, 7 contacting each other at the attachment point 8 assume approximately a right angle relative to each other. While the control device 11 controls the two drives 2, 5, the front lid 10 can be moved from the initial position shown in FIG. 7 into the pedestrian protection position shown in FIG. 8 in less than half a second.
(26) FIG. 6 shows the adjusting device 1 after it has been moved from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 or from the pedestrian protection position shown in FIG. 5 to a so-called type damage position. In this type damage position, the leg 9 is shifted farther to the rear compared to the pedestrian protection position, i.e. to the left in the view of FIG. 6. The vertical position corresponds substantially to that of the pedestrian protection position shown in FIG. 5. In this position, the front edge of the front lid 10 is moved even farther rearward, thereby reducing the risk of damage.
(27) As can be seen in the associated kinematic diagram of FIG. 9, the lever 6 and the push rod 7 are “stretched”, i.e. the attachment point 8 is located as far away from the axis of rotation as possible. The lever 3 and the push rod 4 form approximately a right angle relative to each other. If environment sensors detect that an anticipated collision failed to materialize, then the front lid 10 can be moved again with the drives 2, 6 from the position shown in FIG. 9 back to the pedestrian protection position shown in FIG. 5 and still further to the initial position shown in FIG. 4, which is controlled by the control device 11.
(28) FIG. 10 shows that the front lid 10 can be raised by the drives 2, 5, and pushed into an abutment 14 disposed on the front lid. To this end, the front lid 10 is both raised and moved rearward (in the view of FIG. 10 to the left) by the drives 2, 5. When this tilted position is reached, a lock on the front lid 10 is released, and the front lid 10 is then pivoted by the drives 2, 5 into the service position shown by dashed lines. In this open position of the front lid 10, the engine compartment is accessible for maintenance or repair work.
(29) While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
(30) What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein:
