ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A FLAP ASSEMBLY AND MOTOR VEHICLE WITH AN ADJUSTMENT DEVICE OF THIS TYPE

Abstract

An adjustment device for a flap assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis, two mounting spots spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis, an energy storage unit acting along the longitudinal axis and a friction damping unit acting serially in relation to the energy storage unit.

Claims

1. An adjustment device for a flap assembly, the adjustment device having a. a housing having a longitudinal axis, b. two mounting spots spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis, c. an energy storage unit acting along the longitudinal axis, d. a friction damping unit acting serially in relation to the energy storage unit.

2. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the friction damping unit is fixed to the housing.

3. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy storage unit is arranged at least partly in the housing such as to be displaceable along the longitudinal axis.

4. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the energy storage unit is arranged at least partly in the housing such as to be displaceable relatively in relation to the friction damping unit.

5. Adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the friction damping unit has a friction member.

6. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the friction member is arranged between the housing and the energy storage unit in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis to provide a friction damping effect between the housing and the energy storage unit.

7. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the friction member is held axially in the housing.

8. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy storage unit is configured as a gas spring.

9. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is formed in one piece.

10. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing is formed of a plastic material.

11. The adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy storage unit and the friction damping unit are coupled to one another serially and steplessly.

12. A motor vehicle with a flap assembly and with an adjustment device as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle with a flap assembly and with an adjustment device according to a first exemplary embodiment,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a view according to arrow II in FIG. 1,

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the adjustment device according to the invention in an arrangement when the flap assembly is closed,

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 3, in a standard extension arrangement for a service position of the flap assembly,

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 3, in a maximum extension position of the adjustment device for a mounting position of the flap assembly.

[0025] Details of the exemplary embodiment explained in more detail in the following sections may also constitute an invention or part of an inventive subject matter on their own.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] A motor vehicle 1 configured as an automobile shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 has a flap assembly 2. The flap assembly 2 comprises a flap 3, which is hinged to a car body 4, forming a casing, in such a way as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 5. The flap assembly 2 further comprises an adjustment device 6, which supports the pivoting movement of the flap 3 in relation to the car body 4. The adjustment device 6 in particular supports an opening movement of the flap 3 to overcome gravity. The adjustment device 6 in particular prevents an inadvertent closing of the flap 3 due to gravity.

[0027] A first end 7 of the adjustment device 6 is hinged to the flap 3. A second end 8, which is arranged opposite the first end 7, of the adjustment device 6 is hinged to the car body 4. It is conceivable to provide several, in particular two, adjustment devices 6 for the flap assembly 2, the adjustment devices 6 being spaced from one another in a direction parallel to the pivot axis 5.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment shown, precisely one adjustment device 6 is provided, which, as shown in FIG. 2, is arranged in a left-hand edge region of the flap 3. In an opposing lateral edge region shown on the right of FIG. 2, a standard energy storage member 9 is provided, which is hinged to the flap 3 or to the car body 4 with a respective end thereof. The standard energy storage member 9 is in particular a gas spring.

[0029] In FIG. 1, the flap assembly 2 is shown in three different positions.

[0030] In a closed position, the flap assembly 2 is closed. In the closed position, an opening angle between the flap 3 and the car body 4 is 0. The flap 3 abuts the car body 4. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the flap 3 is disposed in a horizontal arrangement. Depending on the design of the car body 4, the flap 3 may naturally also be arranged in a position that is tilted in relation to the horizontal when in the closed position. In the closed position, the adjustment device 6 is in a retracted arrangement. In the retracted arrangement, the adjustment device 6 is retracted maximally. In the retracted arrangement, the adjustment device 6 has a minimum extension length.

[0031] In a service position of the flap assembly 2, the flap 3 is arranged at a first open angle a.sub.1 in relation to the car body 4 and the pivot axis 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the opening angle a.sub.1 is 45.

[0032] It is advantageous if the first opening angle a.sub.1 is between 30 and 75, in particular between 40 and 60. Depending on the actual installation of the flap assembly 2 or the adjustment device 6, the first opening angle a.sub.1 may also be selected such as to smaller than 30 or greater than 75. In the service position of the flap assembly, the engine compartment of the motor vehicle 1 is easily accessible. Service works in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle 1 can be performed comfortably.

[0033] In the service position of the flap assembly 2, the adjustment device 6 is in a standard extension arrangement. In the standard extension arrangement, the adjustment device 6 has a maximum standard extension length.

[0034] In a mounting position of the flap assembly 2, the flap 3 is pivoted in relation to the car body 4 even more. A second opening angle a.sub.2 in the mounting position is greater than the first opening angle a.sub.1 in the service position. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second opening angle a.sub.2 is approximately 90. It is advantageous if the second opening angle a.sub.2 is slightly smaller than 90 to avoid an inadvertent excess pivoting movement of the flap 3 about the pivot axis 5, in other words beyond a pivot angle of 90. Advantageously, the second opening angle a.sub.2 is between 80 and 90. Depending on the actual installation of the flap assembly 2 or the adjustment device 6, the second opening angle a.sub.2 may also be selected such as to be smaller than 80 or greater than 90.

[0035] In the mounting position of the flap assembly 2, the adjustment device 6 is in a maximum extension arrangement. In the maximum extension arrangement, the adjustment device 6 has a maximum extension length.

[0036] The design and function of the adjustment device 6 will be explained in more detail in the following sections, taken in conjunction with FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0037] The adjustment device 6 has a housing 10 with a longitudinal axis 11. The housing 10 is also referred to as holding sleeve. The housing 10 is formed in one piece of a plastic material.

[0038] In the housing 10, an energy storage unit 12 is arranged for displacement along the longitudinal axis 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the energy storage unit 12 is configured as a gas spring with an energy storage unit housing 13 and an energy storage unit piston rod 14. In the housing 10, the energy storage unit 12 is guided for displacement in relation to the longitudinal axis 11. In particular, the outer contour of the energy storage unit housing 13 essentially corresponds to the inner contour of the housing 10. The housing 10 is hollow cylindrical. The energy storage unit housing 13 is cylindrical. The energy storage unit housing 13 is acted upon by a compressed fluid, in particular a compressed gas. When the energy storage unit piston rod 14 is retracted into the energy storage unit housing 13, a counter pressure develops, which acts counter to the retraction movement of the energy storage piston rod 14. The counter pressure assists an extension movement of the energy storage unit piston rod 14 out of the energy storage unit housing 13, for example when opening the flap assembly 2.

[0039] The adjustment device 6 has a first mounting spot 15 at its first end 7 near the piston rod and a second mounting spot 16 at the second end 8 near the housing. The mounting spots 15, 16 allow the adjustment device 6 to be hinged to the flap 3 or the car body 4. The mounting spots 15, 16 define the respective extension length of the adjustment device 6.

[0040] The adjustment device 6 further has a friction damping unit 17. The friction damping unit 17 is fixed to the housing. The friction damping unit 17 has at least one friction member arranged in a groove-like recess provided for this purpose, said recess being formed circumferentially on the housing 10.

[0041] In an axial direction, in other words in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, 11, the recess 19 is in each case delimited by an integral annular shoulder 10. The annular shoulders 20 are axial stop surfaces for the friction member 18.

[0042] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the friction member 18 is made of a friction material. The friction member 18 is configured as a friction strip with a strip length that essentially corresponds to the circumference around the energy storage unit 12, in particular the energy storage unit housing 13. The strip length may in particular also be selected such as to be shorter than the circumference around the energy storage unit 12. What is important is that the friction member 18 is arranged around the energy storage unit 12 at least partly in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis 11. It is in particular conceivable for the energy storage unit 12 to be exposed at least partly in the region of the friction damping unit 17 when seen in the circumferential direction.

[0043] The friction member 18 is arranged between the energy storage unit 12 and the housing 10 in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis 11. The function of the adjustment device, in particular for use in the flap assembly 2, will be explained in more detail in the following sections.

[0044] In the retracted arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the adjustment device has a minimum extension length l.sub.0. In the retracted arrangement, the energy storage unit 12 has a minimum energy storage unit length l.sub.K min. The energy storage unit 12 is retracted maximally in the housing 10. The energy storage unit 12 abuts a lower housing bottom 21.

[0045] When it is desired to open the flap assembly 2, the flap 3 is unlocked and is then able to be pivoted in relation to the car body 4. Said pivoting movement is assisted by the adjustment device 6, in particular by the energy storage unit 12. The pressure that has developed in the energy storage unit 12 is used to move the energy storage unit 12 to the standard extension arrangement shown in FIG. 4. In the standard extension arrangement, the adjustment device 6 has a maximum standard length 11. In the standard extension arrangement, the energy storage unit 12 is still maximally retracted in the housing 10 and abuts the housing bottom 21.

[0046] The energy storage unit 12 is in a maximum extension position with a maximum energy storage unit length l.sub.K max. The difference in length between the minimum extension length l.sub.0 and the maximum standard extension length l.sub.1 is equal to the travel distance h.sub.K of the energy storage unit 12, with h.sub.K=l.sub.K maxl.sub.K min. Displacing the adjustment device 6 from the retracted arrangement into the standard extension arrangement may in particular take place automatically as a result of the internal pressure in the gas spring. In order to extend the adjustment device 6 even further, said adjustment device 6 can be moved from the standard extension arrangement in FIG. 4 into the maximum extension position as shown in FIG. 5 by pulling the energy storage unit 12, which is already extended maximally, out of the housing 10. In the maximum extension position, the adjustment device 6 has a maximum extension length l.sub.2, wherein in particular l.sub.2>1.05.Math.l.sub.1, in particular l.sub.2>1.1.Math.l.sub.1, in particular l.sub.2>1.2.Math.l.sub.1, and in particular l.sub.2>1.25.Math.l.sub.1. The maximum extension length l.sub.2 is obtained from the standard extension length l.sub.1 and the additional travel distance h.sub.V along which the energy storage unit 12 has been pulled out of the adjustment device 6. The maximum energy storage unit length l.sub.K max has not changed in the maximum extension arrangement as shown in FIG. 5.

[0047] During the displacement of the adjustment device 6 between the standard extension arrangement as shown in FIG. 4 and the maximum extension arrangement as shown in FIG. 5, the relative movement between the energy storage unit 12 and the friction damping unit 17 generates a frictional force, which acts counter to the relative displacement. The frictional force prevents an automatic displacement of the flap counter to the opening movement. The magnitude of the frictional force is in particular such that a stable arrangement of the flap 3 is ensured, irrespective of the opening angle.