Opening apparatus for a tailgate of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A tailgate of a motor vehicle has an opening apparatus configured to avoid overshooting during opening of the tailgate. The opening apparatus is connected to a silicone damper to bring about a damping action in the opening direction and a freewheeling action in the closing direction. Additionally, the opening apparatus is configured so that closing of the tailgate and lock actuation are not impeded.

Claims

1. An opening apparatus for a tailgate of a motor vehicle, the tailgate being movable between a closed position and an open position relative to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle, the opening apparatus comprising: a housing fixedly mounted on the tailgate; an actuating piston having a first end in the housing and a second end projecting from the housing and contacting the vehicle body when the tailgate is in the closed position, the actuating piston being movable in the housing so that a projecting distance of the second end from the housing is variable; a compression spring element disposed in the housing and biasing the actuating piston in a direction to increase a projecting distance of the second end of the actuating piston from the housing, the compression spring element being prestressed in the closed position of the tailgate, the actuating piston having a force-transmitting toothed segment; and a silicone brake having a gearwheel that is in engagement in a positively locking manner with the toothed segment of the actuating piston, the silicone brake being configured to act as a damping means when the compression coil spring is biasing the actuating piston out of the housing and to act as a decoupling freewheel when the actuating piston is being urged into the housing.

2. The opening apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toothed segment is arranged on the actuating piston so as to extend axially on the actuating piston and the gearwheel is arranged on a rotational axis normal to the actuating piston and is in meshing engagement with the toothed segment.

3. The opening apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuating piston of the opening apparatus has an anti-rotation protection means for preventing rotation of the actuating piston relative to the housing.

4. The opening apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a latching means for adjusting a height of the tailgate, the latching means being arranged on in proximity to the second end of the actuating piston, and having an axial toothing system that is guided in a receptacle of the actuating piston.

5. The opening apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a rubber buffer adjoining the latching means and supported on the vehicle body in the closed position of the tailgate and during opening of the tailgate.

6. A motor vehicle, comprising: a body; a tailgate that movable between a closed position and an open position relative the body of the motor vehicle; and an opening apparatus that includes: a housing fixedly mounted on the tailgate; an actuating piston having a first end in the housing and a second end projecting from the housing and contacting the vehicle body when the tailgate is in the closed position, the actuating piston being movable in the housing so that a projecting distance of the second end from the housing is variable; a compression spring element disposed in the housing and biasing the actuating piston in a direction to increase a projecting distance of the second end of the actuating piston from the housing, the compression spring element being prestressed in the closed position of the tailgate, the actuating piston having a force-transmitting toothed segment; and a silicone brake having a gearwheel that is in engagement in a positively locking manner with the toothed segment of the actuating piston, the silicone brake being configured to act as a damping means when the compression coil spring is biasing the actuating piston out of the housing and to act as a decoupling freewheel when the actuating piston is being urged into the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a view of the installation location of the opening apparatus on one side of the tailgate of a motor vehicle.

(2) FIG. 2 is an outer view x according to FIG. 1 of the opening apparatus.

(3) FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the opening apparatus in the extended position of the tailgate with silicone brake and an integrated freewheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) An opening apparatus 1 for a tailgate 2 of a motor vehicle comprises a functional housing 3 that is held in a stationary manner on the tailgate 2 via fastenings 3a. A compression spring element 4 is arranged in the functional housing 3 and is held prestressed in a closed position I of the tailgate 2. The compression spring element 4 is connected in a pressure-loaded manner to an opener 5.

(5) The compression spring element 4 is prestressed between the functional housing 3 and an actuating piston 6 of the opener 5 in the closed position I of the tailgate 2 and is relieved during opening of the tailgate 2. The actuating piston 6 comprises a force-transmitting toothed segment 7 that is in positively locking engagement with a gearwheel 8 of a silicone brake 9. This causes a damping action in the arrow direction 11 to act in the opening direction 10 of the tailgate 2 and a decoupling freewheel in the arrow direction 14 to act in the closed position I of the tailgate 2. The corresponding arrow directions 11 and 14 for the damping action and the freewheel are shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.

(6) The toothed segment 7 extends axially on the actuating piston 6. To this end, the gearwheel 8 of the silicone brake 9 is arranged on a horizontal rotational axis 15 and is in meshing engagement with the gearwheel 8.

(7) The extending actuating piston 6 has an anti-rotation protection means 16, such as at least one axially extending element that suppresses rotational adjustment of the actuating piston 6.

(8) A latching means 17 for a height adjustment of the tailgate 2 is arranged on the end side of the actuating piston 6. The latching means 17 comprises an axial toothing system 18 on an inner telescoping component at the lower end of the piston 6 that is guided adjustably in a corresponding receptacle 19 of the actuating piston 6 to vary the length of the actuating piston 6 and hence to adjust the height position of the tailgate 2.

(9) The actuating piston 6 has a rubber buffer 20 that adjoins the latching means 17 and that is supported on the vehicle body 21.