Opening apparatus for a motor vehicle door

Abstract

An opening apparatus for a motor vehicle door, having an electric drive and an actuating means, wherein the actuating means can be adjusted by means of the drive and wherein the motor vehicle door can be opened by means of the actuating means and at least one sensor for detecting the actuating movement (S), wherein continuous detection of the actuating movement (S) can be rendered possible by means of the sensor.

Claims

1. An opening apparatus for a motor vehicle door, the opening apparatus comprising: an electric drive; an actuator configured to be adjusted by the electric drive, wherein the actuator is configured to engage the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle door being configured to be opened by the actuator, and at least one sensor for detecting actuating movement (S), wherein the at least one sensor is configured to provide continuous detection of the actuating movement (S), wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to detect engagement of the actuator with the motor vehicle door and to halt actuating movement (S) when the actuator is no longer in contact with the motor vehicle door; wherein the actuator is constructed in at least two parts and has a drive region and a sliding member, wherein the sliding member is spring biased to extend out from the drive region; wherein the sensor is retained in the drive region, wherein the sensor comprises a switching member, wherein the sliding member is configured to close the switching member when the sliding member is in engagement with the motor vehicle door, wherein the sliding member is further configured to move out of engagement with the switching member via the spring bias when the sliding member is not in engagement with the motor vehicle door, and wherein the engagement or disengagement of the sliding member and the switching member is used to detect engagement or disengagement of the actuator with the motor vehicle door.

2. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is integrated in the actuator.

3. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding member is movably accommodated in the actuator.

4. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is operable by the sliding member.

5. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured as a rack at least in the drive region.

6. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is made of plastics material at least in some regions.

7. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is driven by a gearing.

8. The opening apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the gearing is configured a three-stage gearing.

9. The opening apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the gearing includes a first gearing stage including a worm arranged on an output shaft of the electric drive and a worm wheel that is engageable with the worm.

10. The opening apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the gearing includes a second gearing stage including a pinion that is connected to the worm wheel in a rotatably fixed manner by a first spindle, the pinion being meshingly engageable with a gearwheel.

11. The opening apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the gearing includes a third gearing stage including a pinion arranged on a second spindle and engageable with teeth of the actuator.

12. The opening apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the teeth form an axially extending rack on the actuator.

13. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening apparatus is arranged in a body of the motor vehicle.

14. The opening apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the actuator is extensible out of the body of the motor vehicle.

15. The opening apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the actuator is flush with the body of the motor vehicle.

16. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding member is linearly displaceable.

17. The opening apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the sliding member is linearly displaceable along a central axis of the actuator.

18. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator has a recess configured to receive the sliding member and including a stop for the sliding member.

19. The opening apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the recess includes the sensor that is engageable by the sliding member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of an opening apparatus configured according to the invention, the opening apparatus being shown in part without a housing and separately from the motor vehicle,

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of an opening apparatus according to FIG. 1 equipped with a gearing housing, in an initial or starting position, and

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of an opening apparatus according to FIG. 2 with the actuating means in a moved-out position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of an opening apparatus 1, shown separately from the motor vehicle. The opening apparatus has a drive 2, a gearing 3 and an actuating means 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the electric drive 2 and the actuating means 4 are arranged substantially at right angles to one another in relation to the central axes M.sub.M and M.sub.S.

(5) The electric drive 2 is preferably a DC motor that can be fastened to a body of the motor vehicle by means of an accommodation flange 5, by which, for example, a gearing housing 6 can also be connected to the electric drive 2. Both the electric drive and the gearing 3 are fastened immovably in a motor vehicle body (not shown).

(6) The gearing stage 3 is configured as a three-stage gearing 3 in the exemplary embodiment shown. A worm 8 is arranged on an output shaft 7 of the electric drive 2 and engages in a worm gear 9 mounted in the gearing housing 6. The worm gear 9 is connected to a pinion 11 in a rotatably fixed manner by means of a first spindle 10. The pinion 11 in turn meshes with a gearwheel 12 and thus forms the second gearing stage. In turn, a pinion 14 is arranged on a second spindle 13 and engages in teeth of the actuating means 4, said teeth being designed as a rack 15. The pinion 14 and the rack 15 thus form the third gearing stage.

(7) The gearing stage 3 is configured as a three-stage gearing 3 in the exemplary embodiment shown. A worm 8 is arranged on an output shaft 7 of the electric drive 2 and engages in a worm wheel 9 mounted in the gearing housing 6. The worm wheel 9 is connected to a pinion 11 in a rotatably fixed manner by means of a first spindle 10. The pinion 11 in turn meshes with a gearwheel 12 and thus forms the second gearing stage. In turn, a pinion 14 is arranged on a second spindle 13 and engages in teeth of the actuating means 4, said teeth being designed as a rack 15. The pinion 14 and the rack 15 thus form the third gearing stage

(8) In this exemplary embodiment, the actuating means is constructed substantially in two parts and comprises a drive region 16 and a sliding member 17. The sliding member 17 is accommodated so as to be displaceable in the actuating means 4 in the direction of the arrow P. The sliding member 17 is thus linearly displaceable along the central axis MS of the actuating means 4. The actuating means 4 has a recess 18, which has a plurality of functions. Firstly, the recess 18 is used to integrate the sliding member 17 and a switching member 19, and at the same time it is used as a cable guide for contacting the microswitch 19. Simultaneously, the recess 18 is used as a stop 20 for the sliding member 17. By means of a cover (not shown), the sliding member 17 and the switching means 19 can be protected against moisture, in which case screw connections 21 can be used to fasten the cover.

(9) FIGS. 2 and 3 now illustrate the functioning of the opening device 1 by way of example. In FIG. 1, the opening apparatus 1 is in a starting or initial position. The actuating means 4 is positioned substantially flush with a body 22 of the motor vehicle. The actuating means 4 is thus in a starting or initial position. The closure system is locked and/or latched, and a motor vehicle door 23 is in its closed position. If the motor vehicle latch is now unlatched and thus opened, by means of a sensor and preferably electrically, the drive 2 simultaneously receives a control signal so that the gearing is initiated and the actuating means can be moved out of the starting or initial position.

(10) FIG. 3 shows the position in which the actuating means 4 has been entirely moved out of the gearing housing 6 or out of the body 22. As can be clearly seen, during the movement the actuating means 4 performs a linear movement along the central axis MRSR of the actuating means 4. As a result of the movement of the actuating means 4, the motor vehicle door 23 is moved such as to produce a gap S, into which the operator can, for example, manually reach in order to completely open the motor vehicle door. The movement of the actuating means 4 or the gap dimension S to be achieved is dependent on the length and the stroke of the actuating means 4 and can vary according to the embodiment. Preferably, actuating movements of 20-150 mm, even more preferably of 40-90 mm, and most preferably of approximately 70 mm, are carried out.

(11) At the beginning of the actuating movement of the actuating means, the sliding member is in contact with the motor vehicle door and is moved into the drive region 16 in the direction of the arrow P. This movement can act counter to a compression spring, for example, and simultaneously causes the switching means 19 to be operated. As long as the sliding member 17 is in contact with the motor vehicle door 23, the switching means 19 remains closed. If, for example, the motor vehicle door 23 is opened further by an operator, the sliding member 17 is moved out of the drive region 16 of the actuating means, for example by a compression spring, and a signal can in turn be generated, which can be analyzed as to whether the electric drive 2 can be switched off. It goes without saying that the spring of the switching means can also be used for counterforce for the sliding member 17.

(12) Advantageously, alternative bearings for the actuating means 4 or a linear sliding bearing for the sliding member 17 can of course also be used. By means of the opening apparatus according to the invention, it is now possible to detect a continuous detection of the actuating movement so that economical operation of the actuating means can be made possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(13) 1 Opening apparatus 2 Drive 3 Gearing 4 Actuating means 5 Accommodation flange 6 Gearing housing 7 Drive shaft 8 Worm 9 worm wheel 10 First spindle 11, 14 Pinions 12 Gearwheel 13 Second spindle 15 Rack 16 Drive region 17 Sliding member 18 Recess 19 Switching means 20 Stop 21 Screw connection 22 Body 23 Motor vehicle door M.sub.S Actuating means central axis M.sub.M Drive central axis P Arrow S Gap