Motor vehicle hinge

Abstract

A motor vehicle hinge is provided. The motor vehicle hinge includes a first hinge half which can be fastened to one of motor vehicle door and door frame, and a second hinge half which can be fastened to the other of motor vehicle door and door frame, and a hinge pin which connects the two hinge halves in an articulated manner. At least one of the two hinge halves has a supporting structure and an insert and the supporting structure and the insert are fixed with respect to one another. The hinge pin is mounted on at least one eye of the supporting structure.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle hinge comprising a first hinge half that can be fastened to one of a motor vehicle door and a door frame; a second hinge half that can be fastened to the other of the motor vehicle door and the door frame; and a hinge pin which connects the two hinge halves in an articulated manner, at least one of the two hinge halves having a supporting structure and an insert, the supporting structure and the insert being fixed in respect of one another, and the hinge pin being mounted on at least one eye of the supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure is formed as one of an L-shaped and an U-shaped bent part made of sheet metal and has a base and at least one leg which is perpendicular to the base, the at least one leg being pierced by the hinge pin, the base having at least one through-hole for fastening to the motor vehicle door or door frame, the insert being configured as one piece, wherein the insert is introducible into the supporting structure in a direction toward the base of said supporting structure, the supporting structure having an indexing means which penetrates a recess of the insert and clips the insert to the supporting structure.

2. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 1 wherein the insert is formed as a plastics part, the insert being fixed to the supporting structure.

3. A motor vehicle hinge comprising a first hinge half that can be fastened to one of a motor vehicle door and a door frame; a second hinge half that can be fastened to the other of the motor vehicle door and the door frame; and a hinge pin which connects the two hinge halves in an articulated manner, at least one of the two hinge halves having a supporting structure and an insert, the supporting structure and the insert being fixed in respect of one another, and the hinge pin being mounted on at least one eye of the supporting structure, wherein the eye is lined with a bushing, the supporting structure axially delimiting a continuous opening provided in the insert.

4. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 3 wherein the at least one of the two hinge halves comprises a locking device which releasably fixes the two hinge halves in at least certain pivoting angles in respect of one another, the locking device acting in the insert.

5. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 4 wherein the locking device has a locking sleeve assigned to the hinge pin, wherein the locking sleeve has a locking segment projecting radially in respect of the remaining circumference of the locking sleeve in the manner of an angular segment, wherein the locking device has a brake member interacting with the locking segment, wherein the brake member is preloaded radially against an outer circumferential surface of the locking segment by a spring member, wherein the outer circumferential surface extends over an angle range which corresponds to an opening angle of the motor vehicle door.

6. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 5 wherein the locking sleeve has a central bore which allows an attachment to the hinge pin, when the hinge pin turns, the locking segment is rotated along the brake member, the insert including the continuous opening through which the hinge pin passes at least partially, having a first section with a small radius in which the locking sleeve is enclosed circumferentially, and a second section with a larger radius, in which the locking segment can be pivoted over an angle, the insert having a locating channel in which the brake member is axially guided, the locating channel connecting the second section of the opening to a front side of the insert facing away from the first section of the opening.

7. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 5 wherein a support for the end of the spring member facing away from the brake member is adjustable in an axial position thereof in the insert and is fixable via a prolongation facing away from the spring member to a through-hole of the supporting structure, the prolongation being as well a fastening means for the hinge half to the motor vehicle door or door frame.

8. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 3 wherein the supporting structure is formed as one of an L-shaped and an U-shaped bent part made of sheet metal and has a base and at least one leg which is perpendicular to the base, the at least one leg being pierced by the hinge pin, the base having at least one through-hole for fastening to the motor vehicle door or door frame, the insert being configured as one piece.

9. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 3 wherein the motor vehicle hinge is designed as a single-pivot hinge.

10. A motor vehicle hinge, comprising a first hinge half fastenable to one of a motor vehicle door and a door frame; a second hinge half fastenable to the other of the motor vehicle door and the door frame; a hinge pin which connects the two hinge halves in an articulated manner; and a locking device arranged in one of the two hinge halves, the locking device releasably fixing the two hinge halves in at least certain pivoting angles in respect of one another, the locking device having a locking sleeve assigned to the hinge pin and a brake member interacting with the locking sleeve, the locking sleeve having a locking segment which projects in the manner of an angular segment radially over the remaining circumference of the locking sleeve, and the brake member being preloaded radially against the outer circumferential surface of said locking segment, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the locking segment exhibits a plurality of holding positions, the holding positions being likewise provided radially further outwards beyond the locking segment in respect of the circumference of the locking sleeve.

11. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 10 wherein the brake member is preloaded radially against an outer circumferential surface of the locking segment by a spring member, the outer circumferential surface extending over an angle range which corresponds to an opening angle of the motor vehicle door.

12. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 10 wherein hollow spaces for at least partially receiving the locking device are received in a plastics insert of the first hinge part.

13. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 10 wherein grooves are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the locking segment which a roller of the brake member can penetrate, in order to define preferred holding positions of the hinge.

14. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 10 wherein a part of the locking device is simultaneously a fastening means for the hinge half to one of the motor vehicle door and the door frame.

15. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 14 wherein the fastening means passes through a through-hole in the one hinge half, the through-hole being aligned with a locating channel receiving at least part of the locking device.

16. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 14 wherein the part of the locking device forming a fastening means is a support for a spring member of the locking device acting on the brake member, and where the support is adjustable relative to a through-hole in the one hinge half.

17. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 14 wherein an axis of the hinge pin and an axis of the through-hole receiving the fastening means span a plane.

18. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 17 wherein the locking sleeve is arranged in an opening of the one hinge half, there being at least one position of the locking sleeve in which the radial circumference of the locking sleeve exhibits a gap relative to the opening.

19. A motor vehicle hinge, comprising a first hinge half fastenable to one of a motor vehicle door and a door frame; a second hinge half fastenable to the other of the motor vehicle door and the door frame; a hinge pin which connects the two hinge halves in an articulated manner; and a locking device arranged in one of the two hinge halves, the locking device releasably fixing the two hinge halves in at least certain pivoting angles in respect of one another, the locking device having a locking sleeve assigned to the hinge pin and a brake member interacting with the locking sleeve, the locking sleeve having a locking segment which projects in the manner of an angular segment radially over the remaining circumference of the locking sleeve, and the brake member being preloaded radially against the outer circumferential surface of said locking segment, wherein the hinge half in which the locking device is arranged has an opening which has a first section with a small radius, in which the locking sleeve is surrounded circumferentially by the hinge half, and which has a second section with a larger radius, in which the locking segment is arranged in a pivotable manner over an angle.

20. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 19 wherein the hinge half has a locating channel in which the brake member is axially guided, the locating channel opening out in the second section of the opening.

21. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 19 wherein the second section of the opening is of such dimensions that the locking segment is always engaged with the brake member, irrespective of an opening angle of the two hinge halves.

22. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 19 wherein the opening is at least partially closed at least at one end by a part of the hinge half.

23. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 19 wherein the locking sleeve has a central bore which allows an attachment to the hinge pin, when the hinge pin turns, the locking segment being rotated along the brake member, the locking segment having side legs at an acute angle, which legs can abut against limits of the opening.

24. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 19 wherein an axis of a through-hole for a fastening means of the one hinge half spans a plane in space with an axis of the hinge pin.

25. The motor vehicle hinge as recited in claim 19 wherein the circumference of the opening in the first section is provided closer to the hinge axis than in the second section.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings with the help of preferred exemplary embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a first hinge half of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle hinge according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the hinge half according to FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view from above of the hinge half according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view from the direction of a fastening plane of the hinge half according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the hinge half according to FIG. 4 along the line V-V.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the hinge half according to FIGS. 1 to 5 with the insert left out.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the hinge half according to FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) A hinge 1 is partially depicted in FIGS. 1 to 7 exhibiting a first hinge half 10 and a second hinge half 20 only depicted schematically, wherein the first hinge half 10 can be fastened to a door frame 10a indicated by a dotted line and the second hinge half 20 can be fastened to a motor vehicle door 20a indicated by a dotted line. The two hinge halves 10, 20 are connected to one another in an articulated manner by a hinge pin 30 which is rotatably mounted in the first hinge half 10 and which is fixed in a torque-proof manner in an opening in the second hinge half 20.

(10) The first hinge half 10 comprises a supporting structure 11 configured as a U-shaped bent sheet-metal part and an insert 12 that can be introduced into the supporting structure 11. The supporting structure 11 comprises a base 110 from which a lower leg 112 and an upper leg 114 project at an angle of approx. 90. A first through-hole 110a is provided in the base 110, which through-hole is covered by the insert 12, and a second through-hole 110b is provided which is adjacent to and spaced apart from the insert 12. The side of the base 110 facing away from the insert 12 rests against the bearing edge of the door frame 10a in this case and fastening means such as screws, bolts or rivets pass through the through-holes 110a, 110b, something that will be explained in greater detail below. The supporting structure 11 is of angular configuration overall, wherein the one leg of the angle is folded in a U-shape and points in the extension direction of the base 110 and the other leg of the angle is formed by the two legs 112, 114, cf. also in particular FIG. 3.

(11) On either side of the legs 112, 114 there is a stop 112a, 114a, 112b, 114b angled at 90 and closing a plane perpendicular to the legs 112, 114 and perpendicular to the base 110 angled at 90 in each case, said stops, when taken in pairs, creating a lateral delimitation for the insert 12, the stops 112a, 114a on one side of the insert 12 and the stops 112b, 114b on the other side of the stop, cf. in particular also FIG. 2. Between each stop 112a, 112b, 114a, 114b and the flat extension of the legs 112, 114 are four bent metal sections which connect the stops 112a, 112b, 114a, 114b to the legs 112, 114, which project inwards opposite an exact right angle and thereby form indexing means which can move into corresponding recesses 122 in the insert 12 which will be explained later.

(12) The insert 12 is produced as a one-piece part from an either transparent or opaque plastic by injection molding and has a box-shaped section 120 which is turned towards the base 110 and a projecting section 121 which is turned away from the base 110, which are configured as a one-piece injection-molded part. A front side 120a of the box-shaped section 120 turned away from the projecting section 121 has a rounded transition 120r to the parallel upper and lower delimiting surfaces 120b, 120c of the box-shaped section 120 and of the projecting section 121 of the insert 12 which is adapted to the radius between the base 110 and the legs 112, 114. The lateral delimiting surfaces 120d, 120e of the box-shaped section 120 are spaced apart in such a manner that they can be introduced between the stops 112a, 114a, on the one side, and 112b, 114b, on the other side, wherein recesses 122 are made in the insert 12 at the height of the stops with metal sections connecting the legs 112, 114, which recesses allow the connections to snap in and therefore facilitate a form-fitted fixing of the insert 12 in the supporting structure 11.

(13) The projecting section 121 of the insert 12 has an opening 123 passing through the wide delimiting surfaces 120b, 120c which exhibits a first section 123a which has a radius about the hinge axis A depicted as a dotted line and a second section 123b with a radius which is approx. 40-60% larger than that of the first section 123a, wherein the first section represents an opening angle of slightly more than 180 and the second section 123b of slightly less than 180, as can be seen from the sectional depiction in FIG. 5. A cylindrical locating channel 124 connects the front side 120a and the second section 123b of the opening 123, wherein the locating channel 124 has a diameter representing more than half the distance of the wide delimiting surfaces 120b, 120c.

(14) A locking arrangement 40 is housed entirely or at least predominantly in the insert 12. The locking arrangement 40 comprises a locking sleeve 41 with a central bore 41a and a locking segment 410 which projects in the manner of an angular segment radially over the remaining circumference 41b of the locking sleeve 41. The locking sleeve 41 is produced from steel and has a knurl in the region of its central bore 41a, which knurl allows pressing onto a section 30a of the hinge pin 30. In this case, the outer circumferential surface 41b in the first section 123a is received with a radial gap, while the locking segment 410 is received in the second section 123b with a radial gap.

(15) The two legs 411, 412 of the locking segment 410 limit the pivotability of the locking sleeve 41 in the opening 123 when said legs abut against the planes or steps 123c, 123d roughly directed at the hinge axis at the transition of the greater section 123b to the smaller section 123a. Four vertical grooves 413a are made facing away from the axis A in the circumferential surface 413 pointing outwardly radially from the axis A, which grooves allow a preferred indexing position of the brake member 42 of the locking device 40 and thereby set preferred opening angles of the vehicle door 20a attached to the hinge 1.

(16) The locking configuration 40 further comprises a brake member 42 which is preloaded by a spring member 44 supported against a support 43 in the direction of the opening 123 in the locating channel 124, which parts 43, 44 are likewise housed in the locating channel of the insert 12. For sealing purposes, on the brake member 42 or on the support 43 in each case, O-rings 42a and 43a made of plastic are arranged radially in each case in corresponding grooves 42b in the brake member 42 or 43b of the support 43. The brake member 42 has a centering pin 42c turned away from the opening 123 which passes through a flat washer 42d and penetrates the central hollow space of the spring member 44 configured as a helical spring. The spring member 44 rests against a front plate of the support 43 and tensions the brake member 42 in the direction of the opening 123 within the locating channel 124. In a front side of the brake member 42 facing the opening 123, a roller 42e made of steel is inserted in a corresponding groove in the front side facing the opening 123, which roller is adjusted to the width of the groove 413a of the locking segment 410 configured as an indexing segment and interacts therewith and defines a preferred opening position of the hinge 1. In order to achieve an improved adjustment to the outer contour of the indexing segment 410, the front side of the brake member 42 facing the locking segment 410 is folded in a V-shape along the vertically running groove to receive the indexing roller 42e, with the groove as the deepest line, as is shown most clearly in FIG. 1. The brake member 42, the spring 44 and the support 43 are each formed from steel.

(17) Bores 116, 117 which are aligned with one another are provided in the legs 112, 114, wherein the bore 116 in the leg 112 exhibits a slightly larger diameter than the bore 117 in the upper leg 114. The bores 116, 117 are each lined with a collar bushing 116a, 117a, wherein the collars are each arranged on the side of the leg 112, 114 projecting from the other leg. The inner diameters of the collar bushings 116a, 117a are adapted to sections 30b, 30c of the hinge pin 30 and allow a rotation of the hinge pin 30 about the axis A. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the hinge pin 30 has a collar adjacent to the section 30b, which collar is then turned towards the outwardly facing side of the leg 112, wherein the collar of the collar bushing 116a facilitates or allows the pivoting of the two surfaces in respect of one another.

(18) On the side of the support 43 facing away from the brake member 42, said support has a prolongation 43c which exhibits an external thread at least in sections and which can be guided through the bore 110a. In this case, the prolongation 43c largely projects beyond the bearing plane of the base 110 with the door configuration part 10a and is therefore simultaneously a connection means with the door frame 10a. Along the threaded section, the prolongation 43c may be locked in the bore 110a, in order to adjust the preloading force of the spring member 44 on the brake member 42. A further fastening means 50 passes through the other bore 110b. The ends of the fastening means 43c, 50 each have a rivet head which can be fixed by riveting to the door frame 10a on the side thereof facing away from the hinge half 10, as a result of which the adjustment of the support 43 is also fixed. It can be seen that the support 43 which penetrates the locating channel 124 of the insert 12 and is fixed to the base 110 via the prolongation 43c likewise fixes the insert 12 and the supporting structure 11 with one another, cf. also FIGS. 5 and 7. It can be seen from FIG. 4, for example, that the fastening means created by the extension 43c stands perpendicularly on the hinge axis A, so that there is no lateral displacement between the perpendicular plane of the hinge axis on the base and the perpendicular plane of the fastening means 43c on the base.

(19) The hinge half 10 is assembled as follows:

(20) The locking sleeve 41 is initially arranged in the bore 123, in addition the brake member 42 in the locating channel 124 along with the spring 44 and the support 43. Alternatively, the support 43 is fixed to the base 110 via the prolongation 43c in such a manner that it only projects slightly beyond the inside of the base 110. The collar bushes 116a, 117b are inserted into the eyes 116, 117. The insert 12 fitted with the corresponding parts is therefore introduced into the receiving space of the supporting structure 11 delimited by the legs and the base, wherein in the end phase of the introductory movement the threaded section of the support 43 is tightly screwed in the through-hole 110a and/or the support 43 comes to bear against the spring member 44 and causes a preloading of the brake member 42 in the direction of the outer circumferential area 413 of the locking segment 410 of the locking sleeve 41hence the metal sections engage with the recesses 122 of the insert 12 and fix the insert 12 in a form-fitted manner on the supporting structure 11, from which the insert 12 can no longer simply slide out.

(21) The hinge pin 30 is then guided from below through the eye 116 fitted with the collar bushing 116a, the bore 41a of the locking sleeve 41 and the eye 117 fitted with the collar bushing 117a and the projecting riveting section 30d is riveted on the collar bushing 117a. For this purpose, the locking sleeve 41 can be aligned with the eyes 116, 117 using auxiliary means and held in an angular position relative to the hexagon head 30a.

(22) Using a tool which grips a hexagon head 30e of the hinge pin 30, the hinge pin 30 with the sleeve 41 attached thereto is brought into an angular position which corresponds to the opening angle in which the second hinge half 20 is placed on the hexagon head 30e. Consequently, the hinge pin 30 is turned by the pivoting movement of the second hinge half 20 about the hinge axis A.

(23) The hinge 1 then functions at a reduced weight and size like a hinge known in the art with an integrated door locking function.

(24) The invention has been explained above with the help of an exemplary embodiment which is configured as a door hinge capable of being unhinged for a side motor vehicle door. It has to be understood that other motor vehicle doors or lids can also be fitted in a comparable way with a corresponding locking device.

(25) The invention has been explained above with the help of an exemplary embodiment in which there is indexing locking of the vehicle door; it has to be understood that non-indexing, continuous locking of the vehicle door can also be achieved with a correspondingly designed locking sleeve.

(26) The invention has been explained above with the help of an exemplary embodiment in which locking is achieved by a radial feed of the brake member to the locking sleeve. It has to be understood that an axial feed of a correspondingly designed brake member towards a correspondingly formed front side of the locking sleeve is also possible.

(27) The invention has been explained above with the help of an exemplary embodiment in which the hinge part 10 is attached with the locking device 40 to the door frame 10a; it has to be understood that the hinge part can also be attached with the locking device to the door.

(28) The invention has been explained above with the help of an exemplary embodiment in which the hinge part 10 has a U-shaped supporting structure 11 with two legs 112, 114. It has to be understood that an L-shaped supporting structure with only one leg 112 is also possible, if the opening 123 is not continuous, for example, or a cover which limits the front side of the opening turned away from the leg 112.