Motor vehicle door

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door comprising a door leaf with a drive, a magnetic device as a component of the drive, and at least one sensor which is associated with the door leaf. According to the invention, said magnetic device also comprises a magnetorheological element and/or a magnetohydrodynamic element which can be actuated by at least one magnet.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle door comprising a door leaf with a magnetic device and a hinge shaft that pivotally couples the door leaf to a motor vehicle, the magnetic device containing at least one magnet and a magnetorheological element, arranged around and acting on the hinge shaft, which is provided as a damping element allowing adjustable damping and can be actuated by the at least one magnet with the magnetorheological element, at least one sensor assigned to the door leaf for transmitting a door position via sensor signals, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one magnet are connected to a control unit, said control unit actuating the magnet depending on the sensor signals, wherein the magnet varies a damping of the magnetorheological element depending on an acceleration of the door leaf as monitored by the at least one sensor, and wherein the control unit actuates the magnet and varies the damping depending on an external temperature monitored by the at least one sensor.

2. Motor vehicle door according to claim 1, where the control unit actuates the magnet and varies the damping depending on potential end stops of the door leaf.

3. Motor vehicle door according to claim 1, where the control unit actuates the magnet and varies the damping depending on latch functional states of the door latch associated to the door leaf selected from the group consisting of a pre-ratchet position, an anti-theft position, and a child lock position.

4. Motor vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein the magnetorheological element includes a chamber that contains a magnetorheological fluid or a magnetorheological elastomer and wherein the hinge shaft extends through the chamber, wherein the magnet is a ring that surrounds the chamber, wherein the shaft follows a rotary movement of the door leaf in relation to the motor vehicle body, wherein in contrast, the magnet and also the chamber surrounded by the magnet are fixed.

5. Motor vehicle door according to claim 4, further comprising paddles connected to the hinge shaft and positioned inside the chamber.

6. Motor vehicle door according to claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor assigned to the door leaf includes a rotary sensor or a rotary encoder connected to the hinge shaft.

7. Motor vehicle door according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of paddles connected to the hinge shaft, wherein paddles are inside the chamber.

8. Motor vehicle door according to claim 4, wherein the hinge shaft extends both above and below the chamber.

9. Motor vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein the control unit actuates the magnet and varies the damping of the magnetorheological element depending on both the speed and an acceleration of the door leaf as monitored by the at least one sensor.

10. Motor vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor assigned to the door leaf includes a rotary sensor or a rotary encoder connected to the hinge shaft.

11. Method for actuating a door leaf of a motor vehicle door, wherein actuating the door leaf includes one or more actions from the group consisting of braking, fixing, closing and opening the door leaf, in which the motor vehicle door contains the door leaf, a hinge shaft that pivotally couples the door leaf to the motor vehicle and a magnetic device containing at least one magnet and a magnetorheological element, arranged around the hinge shaft, which is provided as a damping element allowing adjustable damping and can be actuated by the at least one magnet, at least one sensor assigned to the door leaf for transmitting a door position via sensor signals, in which the at least one sensor determines individual functional states of the door leaf in relation to the motor vehicle body and transmits them to a control unit and in which the control unit energizes the magnetic device containing the magnetorheological element and actuatable by the magnet in such a way that the door leaf is either stopped, retained or closed, opened or pushed out, the method further comprising actuating the magnet thereby varying the damping of the magnetic device depending on an external temperature monitored by the at least one sensor.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein alternative or additional latch functions of a door latch can be provided by means of the magnetorheological element.

13. Motor vehicle door comprising a door leaf with a magnetic device and a hinge shaft that pivotally couples the door leaf to a motor vehicle, the magnetic device containing at least one magnet and a magnetorheological element, arranged around and acting on the hinge shaft, which is provided as a damping element allowing adjustable damping and can be actuated by the at least one magnet with the magnetorheological element, at least one sensor assigned to the door leaf for transmitting a door position via sensor signals, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one magnet are connected to a control unit, said control unit actuating the magnet depending on the sensor signals, wherein the magnet varies a damping of the magnetorheological element depending on a speed of the door leaf as monitored by the at least one sensor, and wherein the control unit actuates the magnet and varies the damping depending an external temperature monitored by the at least one sensor.

14. Motor vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein the control unit actuates the magnet and varies the damping depending on potential end stops of the door leaf.

15. Motor vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein the control unit actuates the magnet and varies the damping depending on latch functional states of a door latch associated to the door leaf selected from the group consisting of a pre-ratchet position, an anti-theft position, and a child lock position.

16. Motor vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein the magnetorheological element includes a chamber that contains a magnetorheological fluid or a magnetorheological elastomer and wherein the hinge shaft extends through the chamber, wherein the magnet surrounds the chamber.

17. Motor vehicle door according to claim 16, further comprising a plurality of paddles connected to the hinge shaft, wherein paddles are inside the chamber.

18. Motor vehicle door according to claim 16, wherein the hinge shaft extends both above and below the chamber.

19. Motor vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor assigned to the door leaf includes a rotary sensor or a rotary encoder connected to the hinge shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic section of the motor vehicle door of the invention

(2) FIG. 2 shows the magnetic device in detail and

(3) FIG. 3 shows the motor vehicle door of FIGS. 1 and 2 in different functional states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) The figures show a motor vehicle door containing a door leaf 1 that can be pivoted around a hinged axis 3 in relation to a motor vehicle body 2 in a manner shown in FIG. 3. During this operation, said leaf moves by a pivoting angle cc. The pivoting angle ? indicates the maximum pivoting angle of the door leaf 1. For this purpose, the position of the door leaf 1 can contain an end stop on the opening end side, determined by magnetic device 4, described in more detail below.

(5) In addition to said pivoting angle ? or the associated pivoting range, FIG. 3 also shows a braking range with the respective braking angle ?. The figure also shows a closing/opening range with the respective closing/opening angle ?. The closing/opening angle ? can be an angle of up to approx. 20? in relation to the motor vehicle body 2. The brake angle ? following the closing/opening angle ? can have a value of between 50? and 70?. The resulting total maximum pivoting angle ? is thus approx. 90?, which is naturally only an example and does not limit the invention to this value.

(6) A comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 shows that apart from the door leaf 1, the motor vehicle door contains the magnetic device 4. The magnetic device 4 is in this case a component of a drivenot shown in detailor can assume the function of this drive. The magnetic device 4 is also able to carry out the function of a damping element for damping the movement of the door leaf 1. Lastly, the magnetic device 4 can also contain one or several end stops.

(7) For this purpose, the magnetic device 4 first of all contains at least one magnet 5. According to FIG. 2, the magnet 5 is a torroid 5 around a chamber 6. This chamber 6 predominantly contains a magnetorheological fluid 7. Said chamber 6 can, however, also contain a magnetorheological elastomer instead of a magnetorheological fluid 7.

(8) An axis 8 or a respective shaft 8 extends through the chamber 6. In the embodiment, the shaft 8 is mechanically connected to the door leaf 1 and carries out respective clockwise or counter-clockwise rotary movements in relation to the motor vehicle body 2 depending on the movement of the door leaf 1 in closing or opening direction. As a result, the paddles 9 connected to the shaft or axis 8 inside the chamber 6 rotate in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction in relation to the fixed chamber 6. Depending on the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 7 inside the chamber 6, the pivoting movement of the shaft 8 is dampened accordingly and can even be stopped completely in case of a large magnetic field generated by the magnet 5. The door leaf 1 is in this case fixed. An end stop can, for instance, correspond to this.

(9) From FIG. 2 it is apparent that the (ring) magnet 5, surrounding chamber 6, like a ring or that the respectively designed coil or torroid 5 generates magnetic field lines essentially extending in axial direction in relation to the axis or shaft 8. This is indicated by respective arrows in FIG. 2. When a respective magnetic field is applied, the particles contained in the magnetorheological fluid 7 are aligned along these magnetic field lines. This increases the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 7 and it becomes more or less difficult to move the paddles 9. The shaft or axle 8 and at the same time the door leaf 1, is respectively dampened.

(10) For this purpose, the entire magnetic device 4 shown in FIG. 2 can be integrated in a hinged axis or in the hinge 3 of the door leaf 1. As already explained, the shaft 8 follows the rotary movements of the door leaf 1 in relation to the motor vehicle body 2, taking into consideration pivot angle cc. In contrast, the magnet 5 and also the chamber 6 surrounded by the magnet 5 are fixed. In the embodiment, the shaft 8 extends through the chamber 6 filled with magnetorheological fluid 7 with the aid of respective ring seals or rotary unions 10.

(11) In addition, the figure shows a sensor 11 and a control unit 12, schematically indicated in FIG. 1. The sensor 11 is, in this case, connected to shaft 8 and is designed as a rotary sensor or rotary encoder. In this way, the sensor 11 can transmit the position of the door leaf 1for instance expressed by the pivoting angle ?to the connected control unit 12. The control unit 12 can also deduce the speed of the door leaf 1 from the respective changes in position and the elapsed time. Depending on the determined speed of the door leaf 1 in relation to the motor vehicle body 2, the control unit 12 can then act on the magnetic device 4 or magnet 5 contained therein. This means that the control unit 12 controls the magnet 5 depending on the signals of the sensor 11 or on respective sensor signals.

(12) In the embodiment, the magnetorheological element 7 is designed as a damping element providing adjustable damping. Alternatively or in addition to the magnetorheological element 7 also a magnetohydrodynamic element can be used at this point, which is, however, not shown in detail.

(13) The magnetorheological element or the damping element 7 does indeed vary its damping depending on the functional states 10 of the door leaf 1 controlled by means of the sensor 11. Where the sensor 11 detects, for instance, a fast closing movement of the door leaf 1, the control unit 12 supplied with respective sensor signals by the sensor 11 ensures on the output side that the magnet 5 is, for instance, acted upon by a strong magnetic field. As a result, the magnetorheological fluid 7 or the respective magnetorheological element 7 has a high viscosity thus producing considerable damping with which the door leaf 1 is braked in the described scenario. Depending on the proximity of the door leaf 1 to the motor vehicle body 2 or depending on the braking angle ? and proximity to the closing/opening angle ?, the damping can even be varied by the control unit 12 applying less energy to the magnet 5 in the example.

(14) It is even feasible that the door leaf 1 has a regulated speed in relation to the motor vehicle body 2 within the braking angle ?, so that the closing drive effective within the closing/opening angle ? in the embodiment can effectively grip and close the door leaf 1. No mechanical damage from a respectively designed closing aid does therefore have to be expected.Instead of the speed of the door leaf 1, the sensor 11 can naturally also detect and evaluate other functional states of the door leaf 1. These include, for instance, acceleration of the door leaf 1, a direction of movement of the door leaf 1, etc. In this way, also variable end stops of the door leaf 1 can be provided.

(15) When the door leaf 1 reaches, for instance, its maximum opening or pivoting angle ?, the respective signal of the sensors 11 can be translated by the control unit 12 in such a way that the magnetic device 4 or the magnetorheological element or damping element 7 is acted upon in such a way that the door leaf 1 is respectively blocked as by means of an end stop.

(16) It is also possible to determine the external temperature using another sensornot shown. The signals of this temperature sensor are also processed in the control unit 12. The invention makes use of the fact that the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 7 and thus of the magnetorheological element 7 changes depending on the temperature. In general, the principle applies that the viscosity increases as the temperature reduces so that as a consequence, in case of for instance lower temperatures, generally less strong magnetic fields of the magnet 5 can be used, in order to provide comparative viscosities during the described damping process of the door leaf 1. According to the invention, the external temperature can, in any case, also be used for the described damping or driving processnot shownwith the aid of the magnetohydrodynamic element.

(17) There is also the option of using the magnetic device 4 in order to take into consideration or provide alternative or additional latch function states of a door latch 13 assigned to the door leaf 1. The respective door latch 13 can actually assume, for instance, a functional position such as a pre-ratchet position, an anti-theft position or a child lock position. According to the invention, it is possible to produce, for instance, the pre-ratchet position by the door leaf 1 being stopped precisely in this pre-ratchet position with the aid of a magnetorheological element or damping element 7, which may correspond to a certain braking angle ?. Beyond this braking angle ? (in the area of the closing/opening angle ?) the door leaf 1 is, in the example, moved by a closing aid into the motor vehicle body or into its closed position. In a similar manner, the damping element 4 can be used to produce an anti-theft position or also a child lock position and other securing positions of the door leaf 1 or of the door latch 13.

(18) The door latch 13 or the door leaf 1 in the main ratchet position can, for instance, also be retained with the aid of the damping element 4 or blocked in such a way that the door leaf 1 cannot be opened. In this way, a child lock function can, for instance, be provided without a child lock device. In this arrangement, actuation of the internal actuating lever is, for instance, not translated into the desired opening of the door leaf 1 as long as the damping element 4 blocks the door leaf 1. Only when a vehicle user releases the damping element 4 by actuating, for instance, a switch, thus switching off the simulated child lock, can the door leaf 1 also be opened from the inside.