POWER STRUT WITH DIFFERENT ROTATIONAL FRICTION TORQUE

Abstract

A power strut includes anisotropic damping device that provides different frictional torque on a rotatable member in response to rotation in opposite rotational directions. The anisotropic damping device includes a shell, the rotatable member, and a torsion spring. The shell includes a through hole, and the rotatable member extends through the through hole and is rotatably connected to the shell. The torsion spring is sleeved on the rotatable member and is in interference fit with the rotatable member, and the torsion spring is provided with a first leg fixedly connected to the shell. The rotatable member may include a shaft sleeve fixed to a rotating shaft, with the torsion spring in interference fit with the shaft sleeve.

Claims

1. An anisotropic damping device for providing rotational friction, the damping device comprising: a shell (1), a rotatable member (2), and a torsion spring (3), wherein the shell (1) defines a through hole (11), wherein the rotatable member (2) extends through the through hole (11) and is rotatably connected to the shell (1) for rotation relative to the shell (1), wherein the torsion spring (3) is sleeved on the rotatable member (2) and is in interference fit relative to the rotatable member (2), and wherein the torsion spring (3) includes a first leg (31) fixedly connected to the shell (1); wherein a frictional torque provided by the torsion spring (3) to the rotatable member (2) differs depending on the direction of rotation of the rotatable member (2) relative to the shell (1).

2. The anisotropic damping device of claim 1, wherein the shell (1) comprises a first notch (12), the first leg (31) is disposed in the first notch (12), and side walls of the first notch (12) are fixedly connected to the first leg (31).

3. The anisotropic damping device of claim 2, wherein the torsion spring (3) further comprises a second leg (32), the shell (1) further comprises a second notch (13), and an opening width of the first notch (12) is less than an opening width of the second notch (13); and wherein the second leg (32) is disposed in the second notch (13), and the second leg (32) has a first state in which the second leg (32) abuts a first side wall (131) of the second notch (13) and a second state in which the second leg (32) abuts a second side wall (132) of the second notch (13), wherein the first side wall (131) is opposite to the second side wall (132).

4. The anisotropic damping device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable member (2) comprises a rotating shaft (21) and a shaft sleeve (22), wherein the shaft sleeve (22) is sleeved on the rotating shaft (21) and is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft (21), the torsion spring (3) is sleeved on the shaft sleeve (22) and is in interference fit with the shaft sleeve (22), and the shaft sleeve (22) extends through the through hole (11) and is rotatably connected to the shell (1) for rotation relative to the shell (1); wherein the frictional torque provided by the torsion spring (3) to the rotatable member (2) is provided via the connection between the shaft sleeve (22) and the rotating shaft (21)

5. The anisotropic damping device of claim 4, wherein the rotating shaft (21) is provided with an external spline, the shaft sleeve (22) is provided with an internal spline, the shaft sleeve (22) is sleeved on the rotating shaft (21), and the internal spline is connected to the external spline.

6. The anisotropic damping device of claim 5, wherein the shaft sleeve (22) is in interference fit with the rotating shaft (21).

7. The anisotropic damping device of claim 4, wherein a diameter of the through hole (11) is less than an outer diameter of the torsion spring (3).

8. The anisotropic damping device of claim 7, wherein the rotatable member (2) further comprises a driving ring (23), the rotating shaft (21) extends through the through hole (11) and is fixedly connected to the driving ring (23), the driving ring (23) is disposed spaced away from the shell (1), and a diameter of the driving ring (23) is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the torsion spring (3).

9. The anisotropic damping device of any one of claim 1, wherein the shell (1) includes a weight reduction groove (14).

10. A power strut (510) comprising: a housing (512, 514): a drive mechanism (552) disposed within the housing; a lead screw (554) operatively connected to the drive mechanism, wherein rotation of the drive mechanism causes rotation of the lead screw (554); an extensible member (516) operatively coupled to the lead screw, wherein rotation of the lead screw causes extension of the extensible member; an anisotropic damping device (550) disposed between the drive mechanism and the lead screw, wherein rotation of the drive mechanism is transmitted to the lead screw via the damping device; wherein the anisotropic damping device comprises: a shell (1) having a through hole (11), a rotatable member (2) extending through the through-hole, wherein the rotatable member is rotatable relative to the shell, and a torsion spring (3) fixedly connected to the shell and extending around the rotatable member, the torsion spring in an interference fit relative to the rotatable member, wherein the torsion spring provides a frictional torque on the rotatable member in response to rotation of the rotatable member relative to the shell; wherein a frictional torque provided by the torsion spring (3) to the rotatable member (2) differs depending on the direction of rotation of the rotatable member (2) relative to the shell (1).

11. The power strut of claim 10, wherein the torsion spring (3) includes a first leg (31) fixedly connected to the shell (1).

12. The power strut of claim 10, wherein rotation of the rotatable member in a first rotational direction tightens the torsion spring on the rotatable member and increases the frictional torque, and rotation of the rotatable member in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotational direction loosens the torsion spring on the rotatable member and decreases the frictional torque.

13. The power strut of claim 11, wherein the torsion spring includes a second leg (32) connected to the shell and moveable relative to the shell in response to rotation of the rotatable member.

14. The power strut of claim 13, wherein the first leg is disposed within a first notch of the shell and the second leg is disposed within a second notch of the shell, wherein the second notch is larger than the first notch, and where rotation of the rotatable member in opposite rotation directions causes the second leg to contact opposing sides of the second notch.

15. The power strut of claim 10, wherein the rotatable member includes a shaft sleeve extending around a rotational shaft portion and rotationally fixed thereto, wherein the torsion spring is in interference fit with the shaft sleeve.

16. A method of providing different frictional torque to a rotatable member, the method comprising: rotating a rotatable member (2) relative to a shell (1), wherein the rotatable member (2) extends through a through hole (11) of the shell; during rotation of the rotatable member, providing frictional torque to the rotatable member by a torsion spring (3) that surrounds the rotatable member, wherein the torsion spring is in an interference fit relative to the rotatable member and fixedly connected to the shell; tightening the torsion spring on the rotatable member and providing a first frictional torque in response to rotating the rotatable member in a first rotational direction; loosening the torsion spring on the rotatable member and providing a second frictional torque in response to rotating the rotatable member in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, wherein the second frictional torque is less than the first frictional torque.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the torsion spring includes a first leg (31) fixedly disposed in a first notch (12) of the shell (1).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the torsion spring includes a second leg (32) disposed in a second notch (13) of the shell (1), wherein the second notch is larger than the first notch.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second leg slides within the second notch during rotation of the rotatable member.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second notch has opposite sides (131, 132), wherein the second leg contacts the opposite sides (131, 132) in response to rotation in opposite rotational directions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a vehicle having a power strut in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 1B is a front view of the power strut illustrating a motor housing and a lead screw in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 1C is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1B, illustrating a damping device disposed between a planetary gearset and the leadscrew in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 1D is an end view of an anisotropic damping device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating a shell, a spring, and a shaft sleeve, with a leg of the spring disposed within a notch of the shell;

[0036] FIG. 2 is an end view of the shell of the anisotropic damping device in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along A-A of FIG. 1D;

[0038] FIG. 4 is an end view of an anisotropic damping device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, including a second leg of a spring disposed within a second notch of the shell; and

[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of operating the damping device according to an aspect of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The details and benefits of the present disclosure are clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings. It will be appreciated that the embodiments described herein are part, not all, of the embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure. Based on the embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the present disclosure

[0041] In the below description of the present disclosure, it is to be noted that the orientations or position relations indicated by terms such as “center”, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “inside”, “outside” and the like are based on orientations or positions shown in the drawings. These orientations or positions are intended merely to facilitate and simplify the description of the present disclosure, and not to indicate or imply that a device or element referred to must have such specific orientations or must be configured or operated in such specific orientations. Thus, these orientations or position relations are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, terms such as “first” and “second” are used only for the purpose of description and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Terms “first position” and “second position” are two different positions. Moreover, when the first feature is described as “on”, “above”, or “over” the second feature, the first feature is right on, above, or over the second feature or the first feature is obliquely on, above, or over the second feature, or the first feature is simply at a higher level than the second feature. When the first feature is described as “under”, “below”, or “underneath” the second feature, the first feature is right under, below, or underneath the second feature or the first feature is obliquely under, below, or underneath the second feature, or the first feature is simply at a lower level than the second feature.

[0042] In the description of the present disclosure, it is to be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the term “mounting”, “connected to each other”, or “connected” is to be construed in a broad sense, for example, as securely connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; mechanically connected or electrically connected; directly connected to each other or indirectly connected to each other via an intermediary; or internally connected between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, specific meanings of the preceding terms in the present disclosure may be understood based on specific situations.

[0043] The embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure are described below in detail. Examples of the embodiments and aspects are shown in the drawings. The same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar elements or components having the same or similar functions. The embodiments and aspects described below with reference to the drawings are exemplary, merely used to explain the present disclosure, and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of an electromechanical strut 510, also referred to as a power strut, is shown mounted to a motor vehicle. Electromechanical strut 510 includes a lower housing 512, an upper housing 514, and an extensible shaft 516. A first pivot mount 518, located at an end of lower housing 512, is pivotally mounted to a portion of the vehicle body that defines an interior cargo area in the vehicle. A second pivot mount 520 is attached to the distal end of extensible shaft 516 and is pivotally mounted to a lift gate 521 of the vehicle. It will be appreciated that the illustrated electromechanical struts 510, also referred to as a power strut, may be used in other areas where similar linear actuators are used. It will be further appreciated that other types of power struts with extensible members may also be used in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0045] FIGS. 1B and 1C further illustrate one example of the present disclosure, including power strut 510, which includes damping device 550 disposed between planetary gear reduction mechanism 552 and lead screw 554 of the power strut 510. The damping device 550 may be used with other rotation-translation mechanisms and drive mechanisms in which frictional damping is desirable.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 1D to 3, the anisotropic damping device 550 is shown in further detail, the damping device 550 usable with power strut 510 to provide different rotation friction as further described below. The anisotropic damping device includes a shell 1, a rotatable member 2 and a torsion spring 3. The shell 1 is provided with a through hole 11, the rotatable member 2 is inserted through the through hole 11, and is rotatably connected to the shell 1, the torsion spring 3 is sleeved on the rotatable member 2 and is in interference fit with the rotatable member 2, and the torsion spring 3 is provided with a first leg 31 fixedly connected to the shell 1. In a case where a direction of turning of the installed torsion spring 3 is right-handed, when the rotatable member 2 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1D, the torsion spring 3 rotates counterclockwise along with the rotatable member 2 because the torsion spring 3 is in interference fit with the rotatable member 2. In this case, because the first leg 31 is fixedly connected to the shell 1, the torsion spring 3 slightly expands radially outward, thereby reducing an interference amount between the torsion spring 3 and the rotatable member 2 and generating a relatively small friction torque. When the rotatable member 2 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1D, the torsion spring 3 rotates clockwise along with the rotatable member 2 because the torsion spring 3 is in interference fit with the rotatable member 2. In this case, because the first leg 31 is fixedly connected to the shell 1, the torsion spring 3 is slightly tightened in a radially inward direction against the rotatable member 2, thereby increasing the interference amount between the torsion spring 3 and the rotatable member 2 and generating a relatively large friction torque. This device may thereby generate different torque values in different rotation directions.

[0047] In one aspect, the shell 1 may include a first notch 12 (shown in FIGS. 1D and 2) in which the first leg 31 of the torsion spring 3 is disposed, and side walls of the first notch 12 are fixedly connected to the first leg 31. It will be appreciated that the figures may illustrate a gap on either side of the first leg 31 for illustrative purposes. In this aspect, the first notch 12 serves to fix the first leg 31. In other embodiments, the first leg 31 may also be fixed directly to the shell 1 by welding or the like.

[0048] In one aspect, the rotatable member 2 includes a rotating shaft 21 (shown in cross-section in FIG. 3) and a shaft sleeve 22, where the shaft sleeve 22 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 21 (such that the rotating shaft 21 extends through the shaft sleeve 22) and is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 21, the torsion spring 3 is sleeved on the shaft sleeve 22 (such that the shaft sleeve 22 extends through the torsion spring 3) and is in interference fit with the shaft sleeve 22, and the shaft sleeve 22 is inserted through the through hole 11 (FIG. 2) and is rotatably connected to the shell 1 (such that the shaft sleeve 22 and rotating shaft 21 rotate together relative to the shell 1). In this embodiment, the shaft sleeve 22 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 21, and the shaft sleeve 22 is in interference fit with the torsion spring 3. In a case where the rotating shaft 21 rotates, the shaft sleeve 22, rotationally fixed with the rotating shaft 21, slides relative to the torsion spring 3, which may cause the shaft sleeve 22 to be worn in long-term use. As a result, the shaft sleeve 22 may be easily replaced regularly, and thus the design of the shaft sleeve 22 can reduce the maintenance and replacement cost of the overall device. FIG. 3 illustrates in cross-section the interface between the shaft sleeve 22 and the rotating shaft 21 of the rotatable member 2. The illustrated interface, shown in cross-section may represent both a splined connection or interference fit connection or other connection in which the shaft sleeve 22 is rotatably fixed to the rotating shaft 21 such that rotation of shaft causes rotation of shaft sleeve 22, and vice versa.

[0049] In one aspect, the rotating shaft 21 is provided with an external spline, the shaft sleeve 22 is provided with an internal spline, the shaft sleeve 22 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 21, and the internal spline and the external spline are pin-joined. In this embodiment, since the shaft sleeve 22 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 21, the pin joint is performed by the external spline and the internal spline in this embodiment. In other embodiments, the shaft sleeve 22 and the rotating shaft 21 are key-joined by a flat key, such as the inner profile of shaft sleeve 22 illustrated in FIG. 1D.

[0050] In one aspect, the shaft sleeve 22 is in interference fit with the rotating shaft 21. In this aspect, to prevent the shaft sleeve 22 from sliding along an axis of the rotating shaft 21, the shaft sleeve 22 is interference fit with the rotating shaft 21. In other embodiments, the shaft sleeve 22 may also be fixed to the rotating shaft 21 by a bolt which penetrates through the shaft sleeve 22 and is screwed to the rotating shaft 21. Other fixing mechanisms of the shaft sleeve 22 to the rotating shaft 21 may also be used.

[0051] In one aspect, the diameter of the through hole 11 is less than the outer diameter of the torsion spring 3, as shown in FIG. 3. In this aspect, the diameter of the through hole 11 is provided to be less than the outer diameter of the torsion spring 3 so as to prevent the torsion spring 3 from moving axially (to the left in FIG. 3) along the axis of the rotating shaft 21 during use.

[0052] In one aspect, the rotatable member 2 further includes a driving ring 23 (shown in FIG. 3), the rotating shaft 21 extends into the through hole 11 and is fixedly connected to the driving ring 23, the driving ring 23 is disposed apart from the shell 1, and a diameter of the driving ring 23 is not less than (put another way, is greater than or equal to) the outer diameter of the torsion spring 3. In this aspect the driving ring 23 can play a role of transmitting power, and the driving ring 23 can also restrict the torsion spring 3 from moving axially in the other direction (to the right in FIG. 3, away from the through hole 11) along the axis of the rotating shaft 21. The driving ring 23 may be attached or connecting to the rotating shaft 21 integrally, such as being formed together as part of the same machining process, or they may be separate pieces that are fixed together

[0053] In one aspect, the shell 1 is provided with a weight reduction groove 14. In this embodiment, the weight reduction groove 14 can reduce the material cost, and can also reduce the weight of the device.

[0054] In another aspect, as shown in FIG. 4, a further embodiment differs from the above-described first embodiment in that the torsion spring 3 further includes a second leg 32, the shell 1 further includes a second notch 13, and an opening width of the first notch 12 is less than an opening width of the second notch 13. The second leg 32 is disposed in the second notch 13, and the second leg 32 has a first state in which the second leg 32 abuts a first side wall 131 of the second notch 13 and a second state in which the second leg 32 abuts a second side wall 132 of the second notch 13. The first side wall 131 is opposite to the second side wall 132.

[0055] The second leg 32 therefore may slide in the second notch 13. In this embodiment, the second notch 13 plays a role of limiting, and an initial position of the second leg 32 is at a midpoint of a space between the first side wall 131 and the second side wall 132. In a case where the second leg 32 is in the first state, the rotating shaft 21 is at a maximum counterclockwise rotation angle, and in a case where the second leg 32 is in the second state, the rotating shaft 21 is at a maximum rotation angle at which the rotating shaft 21 rotates clockwise.

[0056] The above-described embodiments, as mentioned previously, may be used with an electric telescopic mechanism, such as an electromechanical strut or a power strut, which includes the anisotropic damping device 550 that provides different rotational friction in different rotational directions.

[0057] With reference to FIG. 5, a method 1000 for operating the damping device 550, for example with a power strut 510 or the like, for providing a different frictional torque to the rotatable member 2 of the damping device 550 is provided. The method 1000 includes the steps of: at step 1002, rotating a rotatable member 2 relative to a shell 1, wherein the rotatable member 2 extends through a through hole 11 of the shell; at step 1004, during rotation of the rotatable member, providing frictional torque to the rotatable member by a torsion spring 3 that surrounds the rotatable member, wherein the torsion spring is in an interference fit relative to the rotatable member and fixedly connected to the shell; at step 1006, tightening the torsion spring on the rotatable member and providing a first frictional torque in response to rotating the rotatable member in a first rotational direction; at step 1008, loosening the torsion spring on the rotatable member and providing a second frictional torque in response to rotating the rotatable member in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, wherein the second frictional torque is less than the first frictional torque.

[0058] It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure are merely example embodiments for clearly illustrating the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the implementations of the present disclosure. For those of ordinary skill in the art, changes or alterations in other different forms may also be made based on the preceding description. Implementations of the present disclosure cannot be and do not need to be all exhausted herein. Any modification, equivalent, improvement and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure shall be understood to be within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure.