EMERGENCY ACCESS DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE DOOR HAVING A POSITION DETECTION COIL

Abstract

An emergency access device for an opening element of a vehicle, including: a body; a pull tab; a retention needle; a mechanical ejector; and an electric ejector which includes: a magnetic circuit surrounding the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle; an activation coil connected to an electric magnetization circuit, the activation coil being designed to magnetize the magnetic circuit and attract the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle; and a detection coil for detecting the position of the retention needle, the detection coil being connected to a detection circuit designed to measure the inductance of the detection coil.

Claims

1. An emergency access device for an opening element of a vehicle, comprising: a body; a grippable pull tab which is connected to a lock actuator and can move between: a retracted position in which the pull tab is withdrawn in the body; and a deployed position in which the pull tab protrudes out of the body; a retention needle which can move transversely to the pull tab and is designed to occupy: a blocking position in which it is arranged against the pull tab, keeping the pull tab in its retracted position; and a position in which the pull tab is released, the retention needle comprising a ferromagnetic core; a mechanical ejector designed to release the pull tab from its retracted position; and an electric ejector designed to release the pull tab from its retracted position, the electric ejector comprising an electromagnet designed to move the retention needle from its blocking position to its release position, this electromagnet comprising: a magnetic circuit surrounding the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle; an activation coil connected to an electric magnetization circuit, the activation coil being designed to magnetize the magnetic circuit and attract the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle; and a detection coil for detecting the position of the retention needle, the detection coil being connected to a detection circuit designed to measure an inductance of the detection coil.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection circuit comprises an indicator for indicating the position of the retention needle depending on the measurement of the inductance of the detection coil.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the detection circuit comprises a warning device for warning if the indicator indicates a position of the retention needle outside its blocking position.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retention needle is mounted so as to be able to slide in the body and comprises an end-of-travel stop for ending sliding relative to the body, and the retention needle is designed to occupy, in addition to the blocking position, an end-of-travel position in which the end-of-travel stop is against the body.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic circuit comprises an actuation finger arranged opposite the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein an airgap between the ferromagnetic core and the actuation finger, when the retention needle is in its blocking position, is at least equal to the distance separating the blocking position of the retention needle from another of its positions.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation coil and the detection coil are produced by one and the same solenoid arranged in the magnetic circuit, this solenoid being alternately connected to the electric magnetization circuit and to the detection circuit.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation coil and the detection coil are produced by one and the same solenoid arranged in the magnetic circuit, this solenoid being simultaneously connected to the electric magnetization circuit and to the detection circuit.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection coil is supplied with power by the detection circuit at a frequency close to 10 KHz.

10. A vehicle comprising: an opening element provided with a lock; and an emergency access device as claimed in claim 1, the lock actuator of which is connected to said lock.

11. A method for controlling an emergency access device for an opening element of a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, the method comprising: supplying, by the detection circuit, electric power to the detection coil; measuring, by the detection circuit, the inductance of the detection coil (39); and activating a warning device if the measured inductance relates to a position of the retention needle which is outside its blocking position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Other features and advantages of aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, an emergency access device according to an aspect of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in a first position during electrical ejection;

[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in a second position during electrical ejection;

[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in a first position during mechanical ejection;

[0048] FIG. 8 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in a second position during mechanical ejection;

[0049] FIG. 9 schematically shows the electric ejector of the device of FIG. 1, in a first position; and

[0050] FIG. 10 schematically shows the electric ejector of the device of FIG. 1, in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] FIG. 1 shows an emergency access device 5 for an opening element of a vehicle, in perspective. This device 5 comprises a body 1 on which an electric actuator 2 is mounted. A button 3 is accessible on the body 1 and an opening cable 4 protrudes from the body 1. Two cables 6 connect the electric actuator 2 on the one hand to an electric magnetization circuit and on the other hand to a detection circuit (these circuits will be described below).

[0052] The emergency access device 5 is, for example, intended to be housed in an emergency access box (which is not shown) of an opening element of a motor vehicle. This opening element is, for example, a door of the vehicle. This door of the vehicle is furthermore provided with an access device which opens the lock electrically on the basis of information from a sensor for sensing the presence of an identified user's hand. The emergency access device 5 housed in the emergency access box is not used in normal operation. This emergency access box is preferably arranged close to the opening handle.

[0053] The body 1 of the emergency access device 5 is preferably concealed in the emergency access box so that only the button 3 protrudes and is accessible by the user.

[0054] The emergency access device 5 makes it possible to actuate, through pulling, a lock actuator which is, in the present example, an opening cable 4 in the following two cases: [0055] in the event of a particular event, such as an accident, an electric ejector automatically releases a pull tab 10 so as to allow a person to open the door from the outside during an emergency operation; and [0056] in the event of a failure of the electrical system, a manual ejector for ejecting the pull tab 10 allows a user of the vehicle to open the vehicle by actuating the button 3.

[0057] The exploded view of FIG. 2 shows all the parts forming the emergency access device 5.

[0058] The electric ejector consists of the electric actuator 2, which here comprises an electromagnet 8 housed in a protective cover 7.

[0059] The mechanical ejector consists of a slide 9 which is mounted inside the body 1.

[0060] The pull tab 10 is also housed inside the body 1 and is intended to be handled after it has been ejected from the body 1 following the action of the electric ejector or of the mechanical ejector. The pull tab 10 comprises the button 3 at one of its ends. The cable 4 is threaded in the pull tab 10.

[0061] A first spring 11 is designed to act on the pull tab 10 with a view to it being ejected by either the electric ejector or the mechanical ejector.

[0062] The device 5 comprises a retention needle 12 which makes it possible to block the pull tab 10, this needle 12 being acted on by a second spring 13.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view depicting the arrangement of the parts which have just been described inside the body 1. In the position shown in FIG. 3, which corresponds to the position of FIG. 1, the device 5 is in the rest state and emergency access is not requested.

[0064] The pull tab 10 is mounted so as to be able to slide in a sheath 14 of the body 1 between a retracted position (that of FIG. 3) and a deployed position (that shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6). The pull tab 10 has a hollow body provided with a shoulder 15 which makes it possible to block a first tip 16 of the cable 4. The hollow body of the pull tab 10 is closed at its end by the button 3. The second tip 32 of the cable 4 is intended to be connected to the lock (which is not shown) of the vehicle so that pulling on the cable 4 causes the door of the vehicle to open.

[0065] On its outer surface, the pull tab 10 comprises a radial slot 17 formed by a recess extending in a radial direction of the pull tab. The slot 17 is bordered on one side by an annular stop surface 18, and on the other side by a conical surface 19.

[0066] The pull tab 10 further comprises a longitudinal groove 20 associated with a tongue 21 which is secured to the body 1 and makes it possible to maintain the angular orientation of the pull tab 10 in the sheath 14 while it slides in the sheath. At the opposite end from the button 3, the pull tab 10 comprises a pressure end 22 provided with a bevel 23. As a variant, the pull tab 10 can have a square or rectangular section, thus meaning it does not need the tongue 21 or the groove 20.

[0067] The needle 12 is mounted so as to be able to move translationally over the body 1 along an axis perpendicular to the axis along which the sheath 14 extends. At one of its ends, the needle 12 comprises a stop finger 24 designed to be housed in the slot 17 of the pull tab 10.

[0068] The needle 12 is also mounted so as to be able to slide in the electromagnet 8 so that electrical activation of the electromagnet 8 causes the needle 12 to be lifted until the end of the needle 12 comes into abutment against the electromagnet 8. The needle 12 can thus move between a position referred to as the position in which the pull tab is released, in which the electromagnet 8 attracts the needle 12, and an opposite end position referred to as the end-of-travel position, in which the needle 12 is in abutment on the body 1 by means of its flange 25. In the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the needle 12 is positioned between these two extreme positions, the stop finger 24 coming into abutment against the bottom of the slot 17 of the pull tab 10. This position is referred to as the position in which the pull tab 10 is blocked. This is because the pull tab 10 is blocked in its retracted position by the stop finger 24, which bears on the stop surface 18.

[0069] The second spring 13 is arranged between the electromagnet 8 and the flange 25 so as to force the needle 12 from its release position to its end-of-travel position, while the presence of the pull tab 10 makes the intermediate third position possible, which is the blocking position of the needle 12.

[0070] The needle 12 further comprises a stop shoulder 26 close to the stop finger 24.

[0071] The first spring 11 is mounted in the body 1 so that one of its legs forms an ejection leg 27 which bears on the pressure end 22 of the pull tab 10 and which elastically forces the pull tab 10 to its deployed position. In the rest position of FIG. 3, the action of the ejection leg 27 on the pull tab 10 causes the stop surface 18 to press against the stop finger 24 and the pull tab 10 is thus locked in its withdrawn position.

[0072] The slide 9 is a part which can move translationally in the body 1 in a direction parallel to the axis of the sheath 14. The slide 9 comprises a first portion provided with a first groove 28. The ejection leg passes through the groove 28 and can move freely in this groove 28 in a direction parallel to the axis of the sheath 14. This groove 28 is bordered by a lateral blocking surface 29 and by a lateral release surface 30 which are designed to interact with the ejection leg 27.

[0073] The slide 9 also comprises a second portion provided with a second groove 31 surrounding the needle 12 and comprising a blocking rim 33.

[0074] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device 5 and details, in particular, the arrangement of the longitudinal groove 20 of the pull tab 10 and its interaction with the tongue 21 of the body 1, and also the interaction of the stop finger 24 of the needle 12 against the bottom of the slot 17.

[0075] The first function of the device 5, that of implementing the electric ejector, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0076] From the rest position of FIG. 3, a control pulse is transmitted to the electromagnet. The electromagnet 8 is therefore first of all activated and the needle 12 is magnetically attracted in the direction of the electromagnet 8 in a lifting movement causing the stop finger 24 to retract from the slot 17. Since the pull tab 10 is no longer retained by the stop surface 18 pressing against the stop finger 24, the ejection leg 27 of the spring 11 then forces the pull tab 10 to be ejected and the pull tab is ejected from the sheath 14. As soon as the electromagnet 8 ceases to be activated, the second spring 13 brings the needle 12 back to an end-of-travel position in which the flange 25 comes into abutment against the body 1, the pull tab 10 already being in its deployment position. This position, resulting from an activation pulse of the electromagnet 8, is that shown in FIG. 5.

[0077] In accordance with FIG. 6, in its deployment position, the pull tab 10 then tilts around the first tip 16 of the cable 4 so that the cable 4 runs through the longitudinal groove 20 of the pull tab 10, making it possible to position the pull tab 10 horizontally so as to make it easier to grip with two fingers and allow the user to pull on the cable 4.

[0078] The pull tab 10 is thus advantageously sized so that its end bearing the button 3 is heavier than its opposite end in order to cause this tilting to go as far as the position of FIG. 6.

[0079] The second function of the emergency access device 5, which relates to implementing the mechanical ejector, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0080] When the user desires to manually open the door of the vehicle without resorting to the electrical means, he or she pushes the button 3 as far as possible into the sheath 14 as illustrated in FIG. 7. During this pressing movement, the translation of the pull tab 10 inside the sheath 14 causes the stop finger 24 to climb along the oblique path formed by the conical surface 19 of the pull tab 10. By virtue of this conical surface 19, the needle 12 is thus pushed toward the position in which it releases the pull tab 10 (the position of the needle 12 illustrated in FIG. 7) by compressing the second spring 13.

[0081] The position illustrated in FIG. 7 is an unlocking position occurring when the button 3 has been pushed as far as possible into the body 1. The stop finger 24 of the needle 12 has been extracted from the slot 17 and comes to be positioned against the outer surface of the pull tab 10 (see enlarged circle of FIG. 7).

[0082] During the movement in which the pull tab 10 is pressed into the sheath 14, two operations are performed sequentially: [0083] the needle 12 first of all reaches its release position (the stop finger 24 having reached the top of the conical surface 19); then [0084] the ejection leg 27 of the spring 11 comes into abutment against the lateral blocking surface 29 of the slide 9 and the continuation of the movement causes the slide 9 to be translated in the same direction of translation as the pull tab 10.

[0085] This final translational movement of the slide 9 leads the blocking rim 33 of the slide 9 to come to be positioned under the stop shoulder 26 of the needle 12 (this interaction is visible in the enlarged circle of FIG. 7).

[0086] In other words, when the user pushes the button 3 to its position of FIG. 7, the pull tab 10 lifts the needle 12 to its release position and the slide 9 is then translated to its immobilization position, in which the slide 9 immobilizes the needle 12 in the release position of the needle.

[0087] In the unlocking position of FIG. 7, the pull tab 10 is pressed as far as possible into the body 1, the pressure end 22 forcing the ejection leg 27 against the lateral blocking surface 29 of the slide 9.

[0088] From the unlocking position of FIG. 7, when the user releases the pressure on the button 3, the pull tab 10 is then ejected by the ejection leg 27 by virtue of the fact that the stop finger 24 can no longer interfere with the pull tab 10 (see FIG. 8).

[0089] At the end of the ejection movement, that is to say at the end of the travel of the ejection leg 27, which pushes the pull tab 10 out of the body 11, the ejection leg 27 moreover comes into abutment against the lateral release surface 30 of the slide 9 and then causes the slide 9 to be translated back toward the position in which it releases the needle 12. The needle 12 is then forced toward its end-of-travel position under the influence of the second spring 13, thus resulting in the position of FIG. 8. In this end-of-travel position, the flange 25 comes to bear against the body 1.

[0090] From the position of FIG. 8, the pull tab 10 in the deployed position tilts to the horizontal position in the same way as in FIG. 6. The emergency access device 5 is thus ready for the user to pull on the pull tab 10 and open the door of the vehicle.

[0091] In the position of FIG. 8, the device 5 is in a locking position in which the pull tab 10 is in its deployed position, the ejection leg 27 being forced against the lateral release surface 30 of the slide 9 and the slide 9 being in the position in which it releases the needle 12. This locking position of the device 5 corresponds to a position in which the device is ready to receive and lock the pull tab 10 once again in the body 1.

[0092] The ejection leg 27 comprises a curved portion 34 designed to come into abutment against the body 1 when the device 5 is in the position of FIG. 8.

[0093] Following the emergency access device being triggered by virtue of the electric ejector or by virtue of the mechanical ejector, the pull tab 10 can be put back in place in the body 1 by reintroducing this pull tab 10 into the sheath 14 and translating it into the body 1 so that the longitudinal groove 20 comes to interact with the tongue 21. The bevel 23 of the pressure end 22 forms an oblique path which then pushes the stop finger 24 of the needle 12 upward. After this lifting movement, the stop finger 24 then slides over the outer surface of the pull tab 10 until it comes to be inserted into the slot 17 under the influence of the second spring 13. The device 5 is then in its rest position of FIG. 3.

[0094] The spring 11 and its ejection leg 27 thus perform four functions: [0095] in the rest position of the device 5, the ejection leg 27 forces the stop surface 18 of the pull tab 10 against the stop finger 24 of the needle 12. The rest position of FIG. 3 is thus a stable position. This position is occupied by the device 5 throughout normal operation of the vehicle, that is to say apart from when the emergency device 5 is triggered; [0096] the ejection leg 27 makes it possible to transmit the movement in which the button 3 is pressed (see FIG. 7) to the slide 9. The translation of the pull tab 10 is transformed into translation of the slide 9 so as to make the slide move into its immobilization position (see FIG. 7); [0097] the ejection leg 27 ejects the pull tab 10 out of the body 1 as soon as the needle 12 is in its release position and does not retain the pull tab 10 in its withdrawn position; and [0098] the ejection leg 27 moves the slide 9 translationally back to its release position, when the ejection leg 27 reaches the end of its ejection travel (see FIG. 8).

[0099] FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic views illustrating the composition of the electric ejector 2, seen in section, in more detail. FIG. 9 illustrates the ejector with the retention needle 12 in its blocking position (corresponding, for example, to FIGS. 3 and 4) and FIG. 10 shows the needle 12 in its end-of-travel position (corresponding, for example, to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8).

[0100] The needle 12 comprises a ferromagnetic core 35 which makes it possible to control its movement by means of the electromagnet 8. The electromagnet 8 comprises: [0101] a magnetic circuit 36 conventionally made of ferromagnetic material, for example from laminated metal sheets; [0102] an activation coil 37 connected to an electric magnetization circuit 38; and [0103] a detection coil 39 which is connected to a detection circuit 40 designed to measure the inductance of this detection coil 39.

[0104] The magnetic circuit 36 comprises an actuation finger 41 arranged opposite the ferromagnetic core 35 and designed to magnetically attract the core 35 when the activation coil 37 is magnetized. When the needle 12 is in its blocking position of FIG. 9, the actuation finger 41 and the ferromagnetic core 35 have an airgap e.

[0105] The activation coil 37 is sized depending on the force required to make the needle 12 move from the blocking position (FIG. 9) to the release position (the core 35 coming into contact with the finger 41) by attracting the ferromagnetic core 35 despite the forces which are applied to the needle 12. The magnetization circuit 38 can be produced by any DC or AC electrical circuit which is designed for this electromagnet function.

[0106] The detection coil 39 here has the function of probing the magnetic circuit 36 so as to detect the position of the ferromagnetic core 35 and therefore of the needle 12. The inductance of the magnetic circuit 35, specifically, varies significantly depending on the airgap between the finger 41 and the core 35 (the inductance is inversely proportional to the airgap present between the activation finger 41 and the ferromagnetic core 35). The inductance in the position of FIG. 9 is therefore very different from the inductance in the position of FIG. 10. Since the detection coil 39 is associated with the magnetic circuit 35, the measurement of the inductance of this coil 39 is representative of the position of the needle 12.

[0107] The detection coil 39 thus does not participate in any mechanical movement and, as such, requires only very little energy. The detection circuit 40 is therefore intended to supply electric power to this detection coil 39 by delivering a voltage and a very low current to it. The detection coil 39 is preferably supplied with power at high frequency (for example around ten kilohertz), which produces a magnetic skin effect in the magnetic circuit and which makes it possible to overcome the quality of the magnetic material used in the magnetic circuit 36 and its history, that is to say its hysteresis.

[0108] The detection circuit 40 further comprises means for measuring the inductance of the detection coil 39. The detection circuit 40 is thus designed to deliver a measurement of the inductance of the detection coil 39 at any time. For example, each time the vehicle is started, the detection circuit 40 can supply power to the detection coil 39 and measure its inductance. The detection circuit 40 preferably in memory comprises thresholds which make it possible to differentiate between measured inductances which correspond to the blocking position of the needle 12 (FIG. 9) and to the end-of-travel position of the needle 12 (FIG. 10). Optionally, the detection circuit 40 also has in memory measured inductance threshold values which also make it possible to detect when the needle 12 is in the release position.

[0109] Preferably, the airgap e between the ferromagnetic core 35 and the finger 41 when the needle 12 is in its blocking position is at least equal to the movement distance which it is desired to detect for the needle 12. In other words, in the example of FIGS. 9 and 10, the airgap e is at least equal to the distance separating the needle 12 in its position of FIG. 9 from the needle 12 in its position of FIG. 10.

[0110] Thus, each time the vehicle is started, the reading of the inductance of the detection coil 39 by the detection circuit 40 indicates the position of the needle 12. If, during this check when the vehicle is started, the detection circuit 40 determines that the needle 12 is in its end-of-travel position of FIG. 10 (or in its release position), this means that the needle 12 is outside its normal position, in which it blocks the pull tab 10 in the retracted position. These abnormal positions can correspond, for example, for the release position, to the needle 12 being mechanically blocked against the finger 41 and, for the end-of-travel position, to the pull tab 10 being released by virtue of the mechanical ejector. In all these cases, the detection circuit 40 comprises an indicator for indicating the position of the needle 12 and comprises a warning means designed to transmit a warning to the system of the vehicle and which results in a message being displayed for the attention of the driver in the vehicle or by other remote communication means.

[0111] Variant embodiments of the emergency access device can be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the detection coil 39 and activation coil 37 can be grouped together in the form of one and the same solenoid, which is then supplied with power by the magnetization circuit 38 when it must act as an electromagnet and by the detection circuit 40 when it must act, in proportion to its impedance, so as to detect the position of the needle 12. Optionally, this solenoid can be supplied with power simultaneously or alternately depending on the performance of the magnetization circuit 38 and the detection circuit 40.

[0112] Furthermore, FIGS. 9 and 10 relate to a schematic example of the architecture of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit can, for example, alternatively comprise an actuation finger 41 located below the magnetic core, and not above it (with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10).