Opening apparatus for a motor vehicle door element

Abstract

An opening apparatus for a motor vehicle door element, the opening apparatus having an electric drive and an actuator, wherein the actuator can be displaced by the drive and a gear mechanism arranged between the actuator and the drive, such that a movement of the door element can be made possible by displacement of the actuator, and a sensor for detecting the door element movement, wherein at least one gear mechanism component of the gear mechanism is pivotably received in the opening apparatus, and the pivoting movement of the gear mechanism component can be detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. An opening apparatus for a motor vehicle door element, the opening apparatus comprising: an electric drive; an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to be displaced by the electric drive and a gear mechanism arranged between the actuator and the electric drive to displace the actuator to move the door element; a sensor for detecting movement of the motor vehicle door element, wherein the gear mechanism includes at least one gear mechanism component pivotably accommodated in the opening apparatus, and wherein the at least one gear mechanism component comprises a gear mechanism carrier; and a spring mounted on the gear mechanism carrier, wherein the gear mechanism carrier is biased by the spring toward a neutral position when the spring is loaded by pivoting of the gear mechanism carrier, wherein the gear mechanism carrier is configured to pivot from the neutral position in the opening apparatus in response to displacement of the actuator, and wherein the pivoting movement of the gear mechanism carrier from the neutral position is detected by the sensor.

2. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a force measuring device accommodated in the opening apparatus.

3. The opening apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is configured to detect pivot angles of the gear mechanism carrier from the neutral position of less than 5.

4. The opening apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the pivot angles of the gear mechanism carrier from the neutral position of less than 3.

5. The opening apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the pivot angles of the gear mechanism carrier from the neutral position of less than 1.

6. The opening apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the force measuring device is coupled to the electric drive.

7. The opening apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a first gear stage of the gear mechanism is connected to the gear mechanism carrier, wherein the first gear stage rotates about an axis fixedly arranged in the opening apparatus, wherein the axis of the first gear stage and a pivot axis of the gear mechanism carrier are the same, wherein the first gear stage interacts with the electric drive.

8. The opening apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a second gear stage of the gear mechanism is accommodated in the gear mechanism carrier so as to be pivotable about the axis of the first gear stage.

9. The opening apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second gear stage includes a rack gear, wherein the actuator has a toothed rack that is engageable with the rack gear for actuating the actuator by operation of the second gear stage.

10. The opening apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pivoting of the gear mechanism carrier is further cushioned by the spring.

11. The opening apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a first end of the spring is attached to the gear mechanism carrier and a second end of the spring is attached to the opening apparatus.

12. The opening apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

13. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gear mechanism has at least two gear stages.

14. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric drive acts directly on the gear mechanism via an output shaft of the electric drive.

15. The opening apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a worm arranged on the output shaft, wherein a first gear stage of the gear mechanism includes a worm gear, wherein the worm is engageable with the worm gear.

16. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the door element is held by the actuator.

17. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a Hall-effect sensor.

18. The opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric drive is arranged in a housing and the actuator is movable into and out of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to the attached drawings on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment. However, the principle applies that the exemplary embodiment does not limit the invention, but merely represents an embodiment. The features shown can be implemented individually or in combination with further features of the description.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of an opening apparatus according to the invention with an extended actuating means,

(4) FIG. 2 is a side view of the opening apparatus with a retracted actuating means,

(5) FIG. 3 is a view of the opening apparatus from a view according to the arrow III in FIG. 2, wherein the actuating means is shown in the extended state and with the locking means in engagement,

(6) FIG. 4 is the view of the opening apparatus according to the arrow III in FIG. 2 with a released locking lever,

(7) FIG. 5 is a view of the opening apparatus according to the arrow III in FIG. 2 with an actuating means extended out of the body,

(8) FIG. 6 is a view of the opening apparatus from the direction of the arrow II in FIG. 1, wherein a position of the opening apparatus is shown in which a tensile load acts on the opening apparatus and

(9) FIG. 7 is a view of the opening apparatus according to the arrow II in FIG. 1 in the event of a pressure load, that is to say a load in the direction of the body which acts on the opening apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an opening apparatus 1 with the components essential for explaining the invention. The opening apparatus 1 is arranged in a motor vehicle door element 2, wherein an actuating means 3 engages with a body 4. What is shown is the extended position of the actuating means 3, so that in this state the opening apparatus 1 has moved the door element 2 over the control path S and has positioned it. Consequently, in the position shown, the vehicle door element 2 can be grasped by an operator and can be further opened manually.

(11) The opening apparatus has an electric drive 5, a gear mechanism 6, a force measuring device 7, a housing 8 and the actuating means 3. The drive 5 is preferably formed by an electric direct current motor with an output shaft 9 and a gear wheel 10 located on the output shaft 9. In this exemplary embodiment, the gear mechanism 6 has a multi-stage design, wherein a first gear stage 11 is in direct engagement with the output of the electric drive 5. A second gear stage 12 is driven by means of the first gear stage 11, wherein the second gear stage 12 is in engagement with a rack 13 on the actuating means 3. Consequently, the actuating means 3 can be displaced in the direction of the arrow P1 via the drive 5 and the two gear stages 11, 12. The actuating means 3 can be moved out of the housing 8 and into the housing in the direction of the arrow P1.

(12) A gear mechanism carrier 14 forms a first fixed mounting for the first gear stage 11, wherein the second gear stage 12 is accommodated in the opening apparatus 1 in a pivotable manner by means of the gear mechanism carrier 14. In this exemplary embodiment, a leaf spring 15 is fastened to the gear mechanism carrier 14, wherein the leaf spring 15 is firmly connected to the gear mechanism carrier 14 on one side and is arranged in a fixed mounting 16 on the side opposite the gear mechanism carrier 14. To detect a pivoting movement of the gear mechanism carrier 14, a sensor 17, in particular a Hall-effect sensor, is arranged in a stationary manner in the opening apparatus 1 and is connected to a control device (not shown) by means of electrical contacts 18.

(13) A guide means 19 is arranged in the opening apparatus 1 on the opposite side of the actuating means 3 from the toothed rack 13 in order, on the one hand, to enable smooth actuation of the actuating means 3 and at the same time to provide stable guidance for the actuating means 3. The guide means 19 can be, for example, a mounting or a roller or a combination of a mounting, roller and/or damping means.

(14) The actuating means 3 has an electric drive 20, the output shaft 21 of which drives a spindle 22 in this exemplary embodiment, wherein the spindle 22 extends into a locking slide 23 and interacts with the locking slide 23. The locking slide 23 is slidably accommodated in the actuating means 3. The locking slide 23 cooperates with a locking lever 24, the effect of which is explained in more detail below.

(15) An emergency actuator 25 can also be seen in FIG. 1, which in this embodiment is designed as a shaft contour, wherein the locking slide 23 can be actuated manually by means of the emergency actuator 25, so that the locking lever 24 can be disengaged manually from the body 4 and in particular from a locking contour 26.

(16) The electrical contacting of the drives 5, 20 and the sensor 17 are not explicitly shown, wherein the electrical components 5, 17, 20 are electrically connected to a control unit (not shown) within the opening apparatus 1 and/or the motor vehicle itself.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the opening apparatus 1 according to the arrow II in FIG. 1, in which the actuating means 3 is shown in a retracted position. The same components are provided with the same reference signs. The axis 27 of the first gear stage 11 can be clearly seen, the axis 27 being fixedly arranged in the opening apparatus 1 and at the same time forming a pivot axis 27 for the gear mechanism carrier 14. The gear mechanism carrier 14 contains a mounting point 28 for the second gear stage 12, wherein the second gear stage 12 and in particular the mounting point 28 are shown in an initial position A. The gear mechanism carrier 14 can be pivoted about the initial position A in both directions via the axis 27 in the direction of the arrow P2. The gear mechanism carrier 14 is held in the initial position A and is secured in a spring-loaded manner by means of the leaf spring 15.

(18) The retracted position of the actuating means 3 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to a closed door element 2, wherein the actuating means is shown moved into the opening apparatus 1 in the direction of the arrow P3. The door element 2 is held in the closed position by means of a motor vehicle lock, for example.

(19) A view of the opening apparatus 1 from the direction of the arrow III in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 the actuating means 3 is shown in a maximally extended position in which the opening apparatus 1 has moved the door element 2 over the travel path or control path S. In this case the locking means 29 secures the door element 2 in the holding position. In this exemplary embodiment the locking means 29 is formed by the drive 20, the spindle drive 22, the locking slide 23 and the locking lever 24. The locking lever 24 is accommodated in the actuating means 3 so as to be pivotable about the axis 30. The locking lever 24 engages with an extension 31 in an undercut 32 of the locking contour 26. The locking lever 24 is pivoted into the locking contour 26 by the locking slide 23, wherein the locking lever 24 executes a pivoting movement about the axis 30. At the end, the actuating means 3 can have a damping means 33 in order to enable a low-noise interaction between the opening apparatus 1 and the body 4.

(20) In FIG. 4, the position of the locking slide 23 is shown, in which, for example, the operator has manually grasped the door element 2 and applies a force F to the opening apparatus or the door element 2 in the direction of the arrow P4. This actuation of the opening apparatus 1 or the door element 2 can be detected by means of the sensor 17, as will be explained in more detail below. The movement of the opening apparatus 1 in the direction of the arrow P4 causes the electric drive 20 to be activated, so that the locking slide 23 is retracted within the actuating element 3 in the direction of the arrow P5. When the locking slide 23 is pulled back, the locking lever 24 is released and can be pivoted about the axis 30.

(21) FIG. 5 now shows the position of the locking lever 24 at which the locking lever 24 arrives when the door element 2 is actuated further or moved. The locking lever 24 pivots in the direction of the arrow P6 around the axis 30 in the actuating means 3 and thus disengages from the locking contour 26. The door element 2 can now be moved freely and the actuating means 3 can be moved into the opening apparatus 1.

(22) FIG. 6 again shows a side view from the direction of the arrow II in FIG. 1 onto the opening apparatus 1. A position of the gear mechanism carrier 14 is shown which the gear mechanism carrier 14 assumes when a tensile force FZ acts on the actuating means 3. This tensile force FZ acts when the locking means 29 is engaged with the locking contour 26 and a movement in the direction of the arrow P7 is also initiated in the opening apparatus 1, for example by manually grasping and opening the door element 2. This pivoting of the gear mechanism carrier 14 can be detected by means of the stationary sensor 17. The gear mechanism carrier 14 is pivoted by the angle 1, whereby a displacement of the gear mechanism carrier 14 by the angle 1 takes place, wherein the displacement angle 1 is provided clockwise around the initial position A. In this case a pivot angle 1 of a few degrees, preferably less than 2 and even more preferably less than or equal to 1 can be set. The high-resolution sensor, which is preferably a Hall-effect sensor, can detect this pivot angle 1 and can provide it as a control signal for a control unit (not shown).

(23) A curvature 34 of the leaf spring 15 around the rest position R can also be clearly seen. The leaf spring 16 is accommodated in a stationary but pivotable manner in the fixed mounting 16. FIG. 6 thus shows the situation in which the opening apparatus 1 arrives when the opening apparatus has moved the door element 2 and the door element 2 is, for example, gripped and opened by an operator. The sensor 17 detects this tensile force FZ of the operator and initiates unlocking of the locking means 29 in the form described above.

(24) FIG. 7 now shows the situation in which a compressive force FD is introduced into the opening apparatus 1. Due to the compressive force FD, the gear mechanism carrier 14 is pivoted counterclockwise in the direction of the angle 2 around the axis 27, which in turn can be detected by means of the sensor 17 and the relative movement between the sensor 17 and the gear mechanism carrier 14. The leaf spring 15 in turn undergoes a curvature 35. In this case, the drive 5 of the actuating means 3 would be activated by the controller and the actuating means 3 would be moved into the opening apparatus 1. This case can occur, for example, if the operator wants to manually close the motor vehicle again immediately after opening and positioning. In this case, manual closing can be supported or automatic closing can be initiated by means of the opening apparatus 1. The opening apparatus 1 then acts as a closing device for the door element 2, wherein the door element 2 is drawn into a closed position by means of the electric drive 5, the gear mechanism 10, 12, the actuating means 3 and the locking means 29. For closing, the extension 31 of the locking means 29 engages behind the locking contour 26 on the body 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(25) 1 opening apparatus 2 motor vehicle door element 3 actuating means 4 body 5, 20 drive 6 gear mechanism 7 force measuring device 8 housing 9, 21 output shaft 10 gear wheel 11 first gear stage 12 second gear stage 13 rack 14 gear mechanism carrier 15 leaf spring 16 fixed mounting 17 sensor 18 electrical contacts 19 guide means 22 spindle drive 23 locking slide 24 locking lever 25 emergency actuator 26 locking contour 27, 30 axis 28 mounting point 29 locking means 31 extension 32 undercut 33 damping means 34, 35 curvature S control path P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 arrow A initial position F force FZ tensile force FD compressive force R rest position 1, 2 angle