DOOR COMPONENT COMPRISING A CONTROLLABLE DAMPING SYSTEM

Abstract

A door component has a damper device with two connection units that can be moved relative to each other for damping a door movement of a door of a vehicle. The damper device contains a magnetorheological fluid, as an operating fluid, and a cylinder unit having a first chamber and a second chamber. The two chambers are separated from each other by a piston which is provided with a damping valve. The damper device has a connection which is constructed for coupling to a drive. The damper device can be moved in an active manner at least from a first position into a second position by the drive which is coupled via the connection.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A door component, comprising: a damper device having two connection units that are movable relative to one another for damping a movement of a door of a vehicle; said damper device including a cylinder unit with a first chamber and a second chamber; a piston separating said first and second chambers from one another and being movable between a first position and a second position, said piston having a damping valve; a drive and a connection device configured for coupling said piston to said drive, said drive being configured for actively supporting a movement of said piston relative to said cylinder unit at least from the first position into the second position.

22. The door component according to claim 21, wherein said drive is configured to actively support the movement of said piston so that, regardless of an orientation of the vehicle, the same activation force is required to move said piston.

23. The door component according to claim 21, wherein said damper device can be actively moved from the second position into the first position.

24. The door component according to claim 21, wherein the second position represents an open position of the vehicle door and the first position represents a closed position of the vehicle door.

25. The door component according to claim 21, wherein said damper device is formed with an air chamber that is operationally connected to said piston.

26. The door component according to claim 25, wherein said connection device includes a fluid connection at said air chamber.

27. The door component according to claim 25, wherein said air chamber is a compensation chamber for a volume of a piston rod of said piston to be introduced into said cylinder unit.

28. The door component according to claim 27, comprising a compensation piston disposed to separate said compensation chamber from said first or second chambers.

29. The door component according to claim 21, which comprises at least one of a pump or a controllable valve associated with said damper device and connected to said connection device.

30. The door component according to claim 21, which comprises at least one pressure reservoir associated with said damper device.

31. The door component according to claim 30, wherein said pressure reservoir is to be charged by the vehicle.

32. The door component according to claim 21, which comprises a resilient device disposed to preload said damper device into one of the first or second positions.

33. The door component according to claim 32, wherein said drive is configured to move said damper device counter to a resilient force of said resilient device in a direction toward another position.

34. The door component according to claim 21, wherein said drive is a motor.

35. The door component according to claim 34, wherein said motor is a device to be driven electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically or piezoelectrically.

36. The door component according to claim 34, comprising a converter coupling said motor to said damper device, said converter converting a rotary movement into a translatory movement.

37. The door component according to claim 36, wherein said converter comprises a toothed rod and a toothed wheel disposed to meshes with said toothed rod.

38. The door component according to claim 21, wherein said drive comprises a solenoid.

39. The door component according to claim 34, wherein said motor is coupled to a piston rod of said damper device.

40. The door component according to claim 21, which further comprises: a magnetorheological fluid forming an operating fluid in said damper device; said damper device being formed with a flow channel through which the magnetorheological fluid flows; a magnetic field source configured to subject said flow channel to a variable magnetic field so as to influence a flow resistance of said flow channel and consequently a damping of said damper device.

Description

[0053] Other advantages and features of the present invention will be appreciated from the embodiments which are explained below with reference to the appended Figures.

[0054] In the Figures:

[0055] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a motor vehicle having a door component according to the invention;

[0056] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the door component according to FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of the door component according to FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a door component according to the invention;

[0059] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a door component according to the invention;

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a variant of the door component according to FIG. 5;

[0061] FIG. 7 shows a variant of the door component according to FIG. 6; and

[0062] FIG. 8 shows another variant of the door component according to FIG. 6.

[0063] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a motor vehicle 100 which is stopping at the edge of a road and in which in this instance there are provided two door devices 53 which are constructed as doors and which are both open. The doors 53 are each located approximately in an angular position 13. The doors are each part of a door component 50 which in this instance comprises the doors 53. It is equally possible for a door to be fitted to the door component 50. The door component 50 in any case comprises connection units 51 and 52 (cf. FIG. 2) for connection to the carrier construction 101 of the vehicle 100 or to the door 53 in order to receive the door in a pivotable manner on the carrier construction 101. In this instance, the door may comprise a plurality of units which are each pivotable and which are connected to each other in an articulated manner. The door may be pivotably received on one or two or more pivot axes. Illustrated with shading is a door 53 in the closed position 2 in which the door terminates in this instance flush with the vehicle.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows as an enlarged illustration an exploded view of the door component 50, wherein the door component 50 comprises a damper device 1 which has a magnetorheologically based damper.

[0065] The door component 50 in FIG. 2 has connection units 51 and 52 for connection to the carrier construction 101 and the door 53. A defined and controlled pivoting of the door when moving from the open position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the closed position 2 also illustrated in FIG. 1 is possible.

[0066] The damper device 1 comprises a piston/cylinder unit 90 having a cylinder unit 31 and a piston unit 30. The piston 38 of the piston unit 30 divides the cylinder volume 32 in a variable manner into a first chamber 33 and a second chamber 34 (cf., for example, FIG. 3). A compensation volume 36 of a compensation chamber 37 serves to compensate for the piston rod 43 which is introduced into the cylinder unit 31.

[0067] A connection device 71 is formed at the end of the piston rod 43. The connection device 71 comprises in this instance a tooth arrangement or a toothed rod 72 which is constructed in this instance on the piston rod 43. Furthermore, there is provided a drive device 70 which in this instance comprises an electric motor 80 with a toothed wheel 81. The toothed wheel 81 meshes with the toothed rod 72 on the piston rod 43. The teeth of the toothed rod 72 begin with such a spacing from the piston 38 of the piston unit that the desired travel can be carried out. In particular, the piston rod may also be constructed to be longer than illustrated in FIG. 2 in order to enable adequate travel and adequate length of the toothed rod 72.

[0068] Via the drive device 70, the piston unit 30 can be introduced into or accordingly removed from the damper device 1 in a manner controlled by the control device 4. The toothed wheel 81 and the toothed rod 72 act as gear mechanisms so that the motor 80 can be rotated at a correspondingly high rotation speed in order to achieve the desired movement speed.

[0069] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of a portion of the door component 50 from FIG. 2, wherein in this instance a different drive device is schematically illustrated, but also a drive on the piston rod (or on the cylinder unit 30) as may be implemented in FIG. 2.

[0070] In the damper device 1 which is illustrated in cross-section in FIG. 3 it is possible to see on the piston/cylinder unit 90 the piston unit 30 with the piston 38 in which the magnet device 9 is arranged with the electric coil 10. The piston 38 divides the cylinder volume 32 of the cylinder unit 31 into a first chamber 33 and a second chamber 34. The damping valve 5 is arranged on the piston 38.

[0071] In the cylinder unit 31, the compensation device is illustrated with the compensation chamber 37 and the compensation volume 36. The compensation chamber 37 is separated from the second chamber 34 by a separation piston or compensation piston 37a which slides in a variable manner inside the cylinder unit 31. It is also possible for the compensation chamber 37 to be placed at the other side, wherein a sealing with respect to the continuous piston rod and the first chamber 33 has to be carried out. The compensation chamber 37 is filled with a gaseous medium and in this instance with air under a relatively low pressure. The introduction volume of the piston rod 43 can be compensated for.

[0072] In this instance, the compensation chamber 37 is constructed as an air chamber 77 and further has an air line as a fluid line 86. The fluid line acts as a connection device 71 or is part of the connection device 71. The air line leads to a pump 73 which is driven by means of a motor 80. The pump is controlled by means of the control device 4. Via the pump 73, the internal pressure in the air chamber 77 can be selectively increased in order to bring about a deployment of the piston unit 30. In order to return to a lower pressure again from the high pressure, there is provided a switchable valve 74 by means of which air can be discharged from the air chamber 77, for example, into the environment or an (intermediate) store.

[0073] The damping valve 5 is connected to a power supply and the control device 4 by means of connection cables 41.

[0074] The damper device 1 from FIGS. 2 and 3 may selectively be moved in an active manner by means of an adjustment of the pressure in the air chamber 77. It is also possible to provide an external motor which, for example, via a toothed wheel and a toothed rod actively retracts or deploys the damper device.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a variant in which a continuous piston rod or in which two piston rods 43, 44 is/are provided. The inner side of the cylinder unit 31 is divided by the piston 38 into two chambers 33 and 34 again. In this instance, the two piston rods 43 and 44 at the respective ends are guided outward from the first and second chamber, respectively. Whilst the first piston rod is guided completely outward, the second piston rod 44 enters the air chamber 77 here so that at the entrance of the piston rod 44 into the air chamber 77 the volume available for the air is reduced and consequently the internal pressure in the air chamber 77 is increased. As a result of the pump 73 or the valve 74, the pressure inside the air chamber 77 can be selectively increased or decreased in order to be able to bring about a selective deployment of the piston unit 30. The provision of a separate air chamber for active enables better functional configuration than, for example, in the construction according to FIG. 3, where the air chamber has a dual function (active and pressure support in the retraction direction).

[0076] Illustrated with dashed lines is another variant having a control piston 78 which then separates a control chamber 87 which can be acted on via the fluid line 86 with air or a hydraulic fluid in order to adjust the volume of the air chamber and the pressure in the air chamber.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows another schematically illustrated variant of a damper device 1 of a door component 50 having connection units 51 and 52. The damper device has a magnetorheological fluid 6 as operating fluid. A piston unit 30 having a piston 38 separates a first chamber 33 from the second chamber 34. At least one flow channel 7 leads through the piston. There is provided in the flow channel 7 a one-way valve 15 which enables flow of the magnetorheological fluid only from the second chamber 34 into the first chamber 33. From there, the operating fluid is directed through the return channel 35 to the in this instance external damping valve 5 with which a magnet device 9 and an electric coil 10 are associated in order to adjust the desired damping. The damping valve 5 is in turn connected in terms of flow via a line 49 and a second one-way valve 16 to the second chamber 34. Both when the piston rod 43 is immersed in the cylinder unit 31 and when the piston rod 43 is removed from the cylinder unit 31, the operating fluid 6 flows in the same direction in accordance with the arrows which are drawn. Depending on whether the piston rod is introduced or removed, magnetorheological fluid is directed to the compensation chamber 37 or magnetorheological fluid is removed from the compensation chamber 37. In the compensation chamber 37, a compensation volume 36 which is filled with a gas is provided.

[0078] One or more sensor devices 12 may be provided in order to detect a relative position of the two connection units 51 and 52 with respect to each other in order to derive therefrom an angular position of the door 53. However, it is also possible in all embodiments for other angle sensors to be provided, for example, on the rotary joint, so that an angular position is directly output.

[0079] In this instance, an electric coil 10 is also used to produce a magnetic field.

[0080] The motor 80 acts on the piston rod 43. In this instance, there may be formed on the piston rod 43 a tooth arrangement or a toothed rod 72 which meshes with a toothed wheel 81 of the motor 80. In this instance, the compensation volume 36 may also be acted on with more or less pressure, whereby as a result of piston surface differences an active deployment (or also retraction, depending on the construction) of the piston rod is produced, as also described with reference to the embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 4. The air line as a fluid line 86 then acts as a connection device 71 for connection to a compressor 73 (which may be driven by means of a motor 80). Via the valve which can be controlled with the control device 4, the pressure can be reduced.

[0081] Illustrated with dashed lines is a flexible bellows as a control chamber 87 which can be acted on via the fluid line with air or a hydraulic fluid. By introducing fluid, the volume of the control chamber 87 is increased and by discharging it is reduced, whereby a corresponding pressure is adjusted in the compensation chamber 37 in each case.

[0082] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a variant of the damper device 1 from FIG. 5, wherein in this instance there is additionally drawn a resilient device 82 which preloads the piston unit 30 into the retracted position. Furthermore, in the compensation chamber 37 there is drawn a compensation piston 37a which separates the compensation chamber 37 from an air chamber 77. The air chamber 77 is in turn delimited at the other side by an adjustment piston 78. The adjustment piston 78 may be moved in a controlled manner by means of a lifting/spindle drive and the electric motor 80 via the control device 4 in order to further retract or deploy the adjustment piston 78. The volume of the air chamber 77 which acts as a resilient device 83 is thereby varied. If the adjustment piston 78 is retracted further, the air chamber 77 is compressed and the pressure on the compensation piston 37a is increased, whereby the force of the resilient device 82 can be overcome and the piston unit 30 can be deployed from the cylinder unit 31. Conversely, if the volume of the air chamber 77 is increased by the adjustment piston 78 being retracted, the pressure acting on the compensation chamber 37 is accordingly reduced and the piston unit 30 is moved from the deployed open position into the closed position.

[0083] In a corresponding manner, with the other embodiments illustrated above, the volume of the air chamber 77 can also be varied in order to achieve a selective retraction or deployment of the piston rod.

[0084] Illustrated with dashed lines is a fluid line 86 which in this instance acts as a hydraulic line and is provided where applicable. In such embodiments, the motor and the spindle can be omitted. The fluid line 86 can be connected to a (local or central) hydraulic unit and be used to supply and discharge hydraulic fluid to/from the control chamber 87. Via the supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid to/from the chamber 87, the position of a movable wall, such as, for example, the adjustment piston 78, can be influenced and consequently the pressure in the air chamber can be adjusted. In this and all other embodiments, the air chamber does not have to contain air, but instead can contain any gases. It is also possible for the hydraulic fluid to be directed into a flexible bellows which during supply reduces the volume in the air chamber and consequently increases the air pressure. It is also possible for the movable wall or the adjustment piston to act on a spring, such as a helical spring.

[0085] FIGS. 7 and 8 show variants which can be produced in principle in all previous embodiments. In this instance, the air chamber 77 is adjacent to the compensation piston 37a of the compensation chamber 37. In FIG. 7, a pump 73 which is driven by means of an electric motor 80 is connected via fluid connections as a connection device 71 to the air chamber 77. Via the pump 73, the air pressure in the air chamber 77 can be accordingly increased, whilst air can also be discharged externally via the controllable valve 74.

[0086] FIG. 8 finally shows a variant in which a magnetic material or a permanent magnet 84 is connected, for example, to the compensation piston 37a. The permanent magnet 84 cooperates with a solenoid 85 which in this instance is arranged on the connection unit 52. By activating the magnetic field of the solenoid 85, the magnetic material or the permanent magnet 84 is attracted (or repelled). A low-wear adjustment of the first position and the second position can thus be carried out.

[0087] On the whole, the invention provides an advantageous door component in which a blocking of a door is enabled in any position. At the same time, the door can be opened and/or closed by means of a drive device 70, whereby the comfort is increased. During the opening or closing operation, it is possible to stop the movement operation at any time, for example, when an obstacle is identified, in order to prevent damage or injury.

[0088] In all embodiments, the force required to move the door and in particular the piston unit 30 can be selectively adjusted. The activation force required by the user is then controlled and adjusted in a predefined range. The activation force is always adjusted in an identical manner regardless of the changing external circumstances. On a slope, the same activation force then has to be applied as in the event of wind from the front or rear. In order to determine the orientation, there is preferably provided a position sensor which detects an orientation relative to the horizontal in the longitudinal and transverse direction. Sensors may also take into account a current wind load. The drive device is then controlled by the control device 4 in such a manner that an (almost) identical activation force always has to be applied by the user in order to open and/or close the door. The control/regulation of the activation force can also take place only during the opening operation. During the closure operation, the movement can be damped in such a manner that a full closure takes place. The user then always has the same effort during opening, regardless of whether the car is on a slope or not. The support force may be positive or negative so that a support or braking force can be applied. The present invention can also be used for a rear hatch, an engine hood or a loading hatch on other devices and in particular on motor vehicles. In the context of the present invention, such hatches or hoods are also door components or comprise such a component.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0089] 1 Damper device

[0090] 2 First position, closed position

[0091] 3 Second position, open position

[0092] 4 Control device

[0093] 5 Damping valve

[0094] 6 MRF

[0095] 7 Flow channel

[0096] 8 Magnetic field

[0097] 9 Magnet device

[0098] 10 Electric coil

[0099] 11 Electric coil

[0100] 12 Sensor device

[0101] 13 Angular position

[0102] 14 Predetermined angular position

[0103] 15 First one-way valve

[0104] 16 Second one-way valve

[0105] 18 Magnetic pulse

[0106] 19 Period of time

[0107] 20 Changing speed

[0108] 21 Delay

[0109] 22 Rotation speed

[0110] 23 Limit value of 20

[0111] 24 Lower damping

[0112] 25 Greater damping

[0113] 26 Maximum damping

[0114] 27 Damping

[0115] 28 Closure speed

[0116] 29 Second compensation channel

[0117] 30 Piston unit

[0118] 31 Cylinder unit

[0119] 32 Cylinder volume

[0120] 33 First chamber

[0121] 34 Second chamber

[0122] 35 Rear channel

[0123] 36 Compensation volume

[0124] 37 Compensation chamber

[0125] 37a Compensation piston

[0126] 38 Piston

[0127] 39 Compensation device

[0128] 40 Electrical connection unit

[0129] 41 Connection cable

[0130] 42 Slot

[0131] 43 First piston rod

[0132] 44 Second piston rod

[0133] 45 Diameter of 43

[0134] 46 Pipe

[0135] 47 Valve

[0136] 48 Valve

[0137] 49 Line

[0138] 50 Door component

[0139] 51 Connection unit

[0140] 52 Connection unit

[0141] 53 Door

[0142] 54 Angular position

[0143] 60 Obstacle

[0144] 70 Drive device

[0145] 71 Connection device

[0146] 72 Toothed rod

[0147] 73 Pump

[0148] 74 Valve

[0149] 75 Pressure store

[0150] 76 Converter

[0151] 77 Air chamber

[0152] 78 Adjustment piston

[0153] 80 Motor

[0154] 81 Toothed wheel

[0155] 82 Resilient device

[0156] 83 Resilient device

[0157] 84 Permanent magnet

[0158] 85 Solenoid

[0159] 86 Fluid line

[0160] 87 Control chamber

[0161] 90 Piston/cylinder unit

[0162] 100 Vehicle

[0163] 101 Carrier construction