DEVICE FOR DAMPING THE MOVEMENT OF A PIVOTABLY MOUNTED COMPONENT

Abstract

A device for damping the movement of a pivotably mounted component, in particular of a flap which is mounted pivotably in a vehicle, the device including a rotation damper and a transmission element which is connectable to the component in such a manner that a pivoting movement of the component brings about a rotation of the transmission element, wherein the transmission element has a toothing at least in sections on its circumference, and wherein a toothed gearing is provided which is in engagement with the toothing of the transmission element and multiplies a rotational speed of the transmission element into a higher rotational speed of the rotation damper.

Claims

1. A device for damping the movement of a pivotably mounted component, the device comprising a rotation damper and a transmission element which is connectable to the component in such a manner that a pivoting movement of the component brings about a rotation of the transmission element, wherein the transmission element has a toothing at least in sections on its circumference, and wherein a toothed gearing is provided which is in engagement with the toothing of the transmission element and multiplies a rotational speed of the transmission element into a higher rotational speed of the rotation damper.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothed gearing is a spur gearing.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothed gearing comprises a gear wheel which is connected to the rotation damper for conjoint rotation.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the toothing of the gear wheel has a smaller reference diameter than the toothing of the transmission element.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the toothed gearing furthermore has an intermediate gear wheel with a first toothing which is in engagement with the toothing of the transmission element and a second toothing which is in engagement with the gear wheel and is arranged coaxially with respect to the first toothing, wherein the first toothing has a smaller reference diameter than the second toothing.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first toothing of the intermediate gear wheel has a smaller reference diameter than the toothing of the transmission element.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the toothing of the gear wheel has a smaller reference diameter than the second toothing of the intermediate gear wheel.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission element, the toothed gearing and the rotation damper are arranged in a common housing of the device.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rotation damper has a rotor which is rotatable in a damper portion of the housing, said damper portion being filled with a viscous liquid.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the transmission element has a latching portion with which said transmission element can be latched to the component.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the latching portion is formed on a guide projection which projects out of the housing and is guided in a guide groove of the housing during pivoting of the component.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission ratio of the toothed gearing is at least 1:15, preferably at least 1:18.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation damper is a rotation damper with freewheeling in one direction of rotation.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the transmission element and the toothed gearing are composed of a plastic.

15. A system consisting of a pivotably mounted component and a device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component is connected to the transmission element of the device.

16. A device for damping the movement of a flap that pivotably mounted in a vehicle, the device comprising a rotation damper and a transmission element which is connectable to the flap such that a pivoting movement of the flap brings about a rotation of the transmission element, wherein the transmission element has a toothing at least in sections on a periphery of the transmission element, and wherein a toothed gearing is provided which is in engagement with the toothing of the transmission element and multiplies a rotational speed of the transmission element into a higher rotational speed of the rotation damper.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the toothed gearing is a spur gearing.

18. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the toothed gearing comprises a gear wheel which is connected to the rotation damper for conjoint rotation.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the toothing of the gear wheel has a smaller reference diameter than the toothing of the transmission element.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the toothed gearing furthermore has an intermediate gear wheel with a first toothing engaged with the toothing of the transmission element and a second toothing engaged with the gear wheel and is arranged coaxially with respect to the first toothing, wherein the first toothing has a smaller reference diameter than the second toothing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures, in which, schematically:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the device from FIG. 1 in a perspective exploded illustration,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the device from FIG. 1 in a partially sectioned perspective illustration in a first operating state,

[0025] FIG. 4 shows the illustration from FIG. 3 in a second operating state,

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a system according to the invention in a first operating state, and

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the view from FIG. 5 in a second operating state.

[0028] Unless stated otherwise, the same reference signs denote identical objects in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] A housing 10 of the device according to the invention can be seen in FIG. 1. In the example shown, the housing 10 is composed of a plastics material. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the housing 10 comprises a basic body 12 and a housing cover 14. The basic body 12 has a cup-shaped damper portion 16 which, in the mounted state, is filled with a viscous liquid, for example an oil. In the mounted state, a rotor 18 of a rotation damper is arranged rotatably in the damper portion 16. At an end facing away from the rotor, the rotation damper also has a spur gear 20 which, in the example shown, is formed integrally on the rotation damper. The axis of rotation of the spur gear 20 at the same time forms the axis of rotation of the rotor 18. The rotation damper can be formed integrally overall. However, it can also be constructed from a plurality of components, in particular if it is a rotation damper with freewheeling in one direction of rotation. Such rotation dampers with freewheeling are known per se and will not be explained in more detail here. The rotation damper can likewise be composed of a plastic. In addition, latches 15 of the housing cover 14, with which the housing cover 14 latches to corresponding latching projections 17 of the basic body 12 or damper portion 16 for simple installation can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0030] The device also comprises a transmission element 22 which is mounted rotatably in the basic body 12 of the housing. For this purpose, a first rotary shaft 24 is arranged in the basic body 12 and is received in a shaft receptacle 26 of the transmission element 22. The transmission element 22 also has a spur toothing 28 in sections on its circumference. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the transmission element 22 is in the shape of a piece of pie. Furthermore, in FIG. 2, a guide projection 30 is formed on the lower side of the transmission element 22 and serves for connection to a pivotably mounted component, in particular a flap mounted pivotably on a vehicle. The guide projection 30 is arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the transmission element 22, the axis of rotation being defined by the shaft receptacle 26. Furthermore, the device comprises an intermediate gearwheel 32 with a first toothing 34, in particular spur toothing 34, and a second toothing 36 arranged coaxially with respect to the first toothing 34, in particular spur toothing 36. A second rotary shaft 38 is arranged in the basic body 12 of the housing 10 and, in the mounted state, is received in a rotary receptacle 40 of the intermediate gearwheel 32. The intermediate gearwheel 32 is thereby mounted in the basic body 12 of the housing 10 so as to be rotatable about the second rotary shaft 38. In the mounted state, the first toothing 34 of the intermediate gearwheel 32 is in engagement with the spur toothing 28 of the transmission element 22. In the mounted state, the second toothing 36 of the intermediate gearwheel 32 is in engagement with the spur gearwheel 20 of the rotation damper. It can also be seen in particular in FIG. 2 that the toothing of the spur gearwheel 20 has a smaller reference diameter than the spur toothing 28 of the transmission element 22. In addition, it can be seen that the first toothing 34 of the intermediate gearwheel 32 has a smaller reference diameter than the second toothing 36. A two-stage multiplication of a rotational speed during a rotational movement of the transmission element 22 into a higher rotational speed of the spur gearwheel 20, and therefore of the rotation damper, thereby takes place, with a corresponding reduction in torque. As explained at the beginning, the transmission ratio can be, for example, at least 1:15, preferably at least 1:18. The transmission element 22 and the intermediate gearwheel 32 can also be composed of plastic.

[0031] The lower side (concealed in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the basic body 12 of the housing 10 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. For illustrative reasons, parts of the housing 10 have been cut away here. It can also be seen here that a third rotary shaft 42 is arranged in the damper portion 16, which is filled with the viscous liquid during operation, said rotary shaft being received in a corresponding rotary shaft receptacle of the rotor 18 of the rotation damper. The rotatable mounting of the rotation damper and in particular of the rotor 18 thereof in the damper portion 16 takes place in this manner.

[0032] On account of the eccentric arrangement of the guide projection 30 with respect to the axis of rotation, which is defined by the first rotary shaft 24, of the transmission element 22, a pivoting movement of the component connected to the guide projection 30, for example via a latching connection, for example of a pivot arm of the component, leads to rotation of the transmission element 22 about the first rotary shaft 24, wherein the guide projection 30 protruding from the basic body 12 of the housing 10 is guided in a guide groove 44 running along a section of a circular path. The rotational movement of the transmission element 22 can readily be seen with reference to a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4. For example, FIG. 3 can correspond to a closed state of the component, for example of a flap, and FIG. 4 to an open state of the component, for example of a flap. The rotational movement of the transmission element 22 is transmitted via the intermediate gearwheel 32 and the spur gearwheel 20 into a rotational movement of the rotor 18 in the viscous liquid in the damper portion 16 with greater rotational speed and lower torque. The rotation of the rotor 18 in the viscous liquid leads to a braking action which, in turn, brings about a corresponding damping of the pivoting movement of the component.

[0033] On account of its compact construction, the device according to the invention, in particular the housing 10, can be fastened in the direct vicinity of the component, in particular of a pivot axis of the component, in a stationary manner to a carrier component of the vehicle, for example a body part or paneling part. The construction space taken up is minimized. This can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 where a component 46, here a flap 46, is shown in a closed state (FIG. 5) and an open state (FIG. 6). The pivot axis of the flap 46 is shown at the reference sign 48. It can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 that the device according to the invention is arranged with its housing 10 directly in the region of the pivot axis 48. At reference sign 50, a compartment can also be seen, here a glove compartment 50 of a vehicle, which compartment can either be closed or opened by the flap 46.

[0034] Features of the invention include features A-O as follows:

[0035] A. A device for damping the movement of a pivotably mounted component (46), in particular of a flap (46) which is mounted pivotably in a vehicle, the device comprising a rotation damper and a transmission element (22) which is connectable to the component (46) in such a manner that a pivoting movement of the component (46) brings about a rotation of the transmission element (22), wherein the transmission element (22) has a toothing (28) at least in sections on its circumference, and wherein a toothed gearing is provided which is in engagement with the toothing (28) of the transmission element (22) and multiplies a rotational speed of the transmission element (22) into a higher rotational speed of the rotation damper.

[0036] B. The device of A, wherein the toothed gearing is a spur gearing.

[0037] C. The device of A or B, wherein the toothed gearing comprises a gear wheel (20) which is connected to the rotation damper for conjoint rotation.

[0038] D. The device of C, wherein the toothing of the gear wheel (20) has a smaller reference diameter than the toothing (28) of the transmission element (22).

[0039] E. The device of C or D, wherein the toothed gearing furthermore has an intermediate gear wheel (32) with a first toothing (34) which is in engagement with the toothing (28) of the transmission element (22) and a second toothing (36) which is in engagement with the gear wheel (20) and is arranged coaxially with respect to the first toothing (34), wherein the first toothing (34) has a smaller reference diameter than the second toothing (36).

[0040] F. The device of E, wherein the first toothing (34) of the intermediate gear wheel (32) has a smaller reference diameter than the toothing (28) of the transmission element (22).

[0041] G. The device E or F, wherein the toothing of the gear wheel (20) has a smaller reference diameter than the second toothing (36) of the intermediate gear wheel (32).

[0042] H. The device of any of A-G, wherein the transmission element (22), the toothed gearing and the rotation damper are arranged in a common housing (10) of the device.

[0043] I. The device of H, wherein the rotation damper has a rotor (18) which is rotatable in a damper portion (16) of the housing (10), said damper portion (16) being filled with a viscous liquid.

[0044] J. The device of any of I-J, wherein the transmission element (22) has a latching portion with which said transmission element can be latched to the component.

[0045] K. The device of J and either of H or I, wherein the latching portion is formed on a guide projection (30) which projects out of the housing (10) and is guided in a guide groove (44) of the housing (10) during pivoting of the component.

[0046] L. The device of any of A-K, wherein the transmission ratio of the toothed gearing is at least 1:15, preferably at least 1:18.

[0047] M. The device of any of A-L, wherein the rotation damper is a rotation damper with freewheeling in one direction of rotation.

[0048] N. The device of any of A-M, wherein at least the transmission element (22) and the toothed gearing are composed of a plastic.

[0049] O. A system consisting of a pivotably mounted component (46), preferably a flap (46) mounted pivotably in a vehicle, and the device of any of A-N, wherein the component (46) is connected to the transmission element (22) of the device.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 10 Housing [0051] 12 Basic body [0052] 14 Housing cover [0053] 16 Damper portion [0054] 18 Rotor [0055] 20 Spur gearwheel [0056] 22 Transmission element [0057] 24 First rotary shaft [0058] 26 Shaft receptacle [0059] 28 Spur toothing [0060] 30 Guide projection [0061] 32 Intermediate gearwheel [0062] 34 First toothing [0063] 36 Second toothing [0064] 38 Second rotary shaft [0065] 40 Rotary receptacle [0066] 42 Third rotary shaft [0067] 44 Guide groove [0068] 46 Component [0069] 48 Pivot axis [0070] 50 Compartment