Closure device for a charging or tank flap of an automotive vehicle

Abstract

The invention is based on a closure device for a charging or tank flap of an automotive vehicle, comprising a flap element, comprising a drive unit including an electrical actuator for traversing the flap element between a closed position and an open position and a guide unit disposed within a body of the automotive vehicle, wherein the guide unit includes two guide rails extending in parallel to one another and two carriages arranged to be traversable on the guide rails, on which the flap element is arranged.

The drive unit may include at least one gear unit for the synchronous transmission, to both carriages, of a drive movement generated by the actuator.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A closure device for a charging or tank flap of an automotive vehicle, comprising a flap element, comprising a drive unit including an electric actuator for traversing the flap element between a closed position and an open position and a guide unit disposed within a body of the automotive vehicle, wherein the guide unit includes two guide rails extending in parallel to one another and two carriages arranged to be traversable on the guide rails, on which the flap element is arranged, wherein the drive unit includes at least one gear unit for the synchronous transmission, to both carriages, of a drive movement generated by the actuator.

17. The closure device according to claim 16, wherein each of the carriages comprises a rack, wherein each of the racks is in mesh with a pinion gear directly or indirectly driven by the actuator and provided to transform a rotary movement of each of the pinion gears to a movement of each of the carriages along one of the guide rails.

18. The closure device according to claim 17, wherein the drive unit includes a cross shaft, driven by the at least one gear unit, extending between the two guide rails and rotatably supported in the guide rails, wherein the cross shaft carries a pinion gear on each of its ends, which meshes with a rack of a carriage.

19. The closure device according to claim 16, wherein the drive unit includes two gear units arranged at each of the guide rails and provided to synchronously transmit a drive movement of the actuator to both carriages.

20. The closure device according to claim 19, wherein each of the gear units directly drives at least one pinion gear each meshing with a rack of a carriage.

21. The closure device according to claim 19, wherein the drive unit includes a cross shaft driven by a first one of the said gear units, which transmits a rotary movement of a gear of the first gear unit to an input gear of the second gear unit.

22. The closure device according to claim 21, wherein the cross shaft extends between the guide rails and is rotatably supported in the guide rails.

23. The closure device according to claim 21, wherein the cross shaft driven by the first gear unit includes a pinion gear on the actuator side which meshes with the rack of the actuator-side carriage as a function of a traversing position of the actuator-side carriage.

24. The closure device according to claim 16, wherein the drive unit has a cross shaft extending between the two carriages and the ends of which are rotatably supported in the carriages, wherein driving of the cross shaft is caused by a movement of at least one carriage.

25. The closure device according to claim 24, wherein each of the guide rails of the guide unit has a rack and the cross shaft has a pinion gear on each of its ends, each meshing with a rack of one of the guide rails.

26. The closure device according to claim 16, wherein each of the guide rails has a traversing region in which the flap element performs a traversing movement at least essentially in parallel to the body, and a lifting region in which the flap element performs a lifting movement at least essentially perpendicular to the traversing movement.

27. The closure device according to claim 16, wherein the flap element is arranged between the guide rails and is linked to the carriages via pivotable connecting elements.

28. The closure device according to claim 16, wherein each of the guide rails has a guide groove.

29. The closure device according to claim 28, wherein the flap element includes guiding pins engaging in the guide grooves of the guide rails.

30. The closure device according to claim 29, wherein each of the guide rails has a traversing region in which the flap element performs a traversing movement at least essentially in parallel to the body, and a lifting region in which the flap element performs a lifting movement at least essentially perpendicular to the traversing movement, wherein the guide grooves of the guide rails have a change in direction of at least essentially 90° at the transition from the traversing region to the lifting region.

Description

DRAWING

[0018] Further advantages can be derived from the following description of the drawings. In the drawings, two examples of the invention are shown. The drawings, the description and the claims comprise numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will suitably also regard the features in isolation and combine them to further sensible combinations.

[0019] In the drawings:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a closure device for a charging or tank flap;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the closure device;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a further perspective view of the closure device without an actuator;

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a cross shaft of the closure device;

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the flap element of the closure device;

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a further perspective view of the flap element of the closure device;

[0026] FIG. 7 shows a further perspective view of the closure device without flap element;

[0027] FIG. 8 shows a further perspective view of the closure device without flap element and without carriage;

[0028] FIG. 9 shows a further perspective view of the closure device without flap element and without carriage;

[0029] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an alternative closure device for a charging or tank flap;

[0030] FIG. 11 shows a further perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 10;

[0031] FIG. 12 shows a further perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 10 without actuator;

[0032] FIG. 13 shows a further perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 10 without actuator and without flap element;

[0033] FIG. 14 shows a further perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 10 without actuator and without flap element;

[0034] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the flap element of the closure device of FIG. 10;

[0035] FIG. 16 shows a further perspective view of the flap element of the closure device of FIG. 10;

[0036] FIG. 17 shows a further perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 10 without actuator, without flap element, and without carriage; and

[0037] FIG. 18 shows a further perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 10 without actuator, without flap element, and without carriage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES

[0038] FIGS. 1 to 9 show various views, or partial views, of a closure device 10a for a charging or tank flap of an automotive vehicle. The closure device 10a includes a flap element 12a for closing a body opening of the automotive vehicle, behind which the charging connection or a tank connector of the automotive vehicle is situated. To traverse the flap element 12a between a closed position and an open position, the closure device 10a includes a drive unit 14a. FIGS. 1 to 3 show the flap element 12a in the closed position. The drive unit 14a comprises an electric actuator 16a and a guide unit 18a. In a state of the closure device 10a installed in the automotive vehicle, the guide unit 18a is entirely accommodated within a body of the automotive vehicle. The guide unit 18a includes two guide rails 20a, 22a extending in parallel to one another. The actuator 16a of the drive unit 14a is arranged at one guide rail 20a. The guide rails 20a, 22a extend within the body of the automotive vehicle, in particular, at least essentially parallel to a contour of the body. Moreover, the guide unit 18a comprises two carriages 24a, 26a which are arranged to be traversable on the guide rails 20a, 22a and on which the flap element 12a is arranged. The flap element 12a is arranged between the guide rails 20a, 22a and is linked to the carriages 24a, 26a via three pivotable connecting elements 64a, 66a, 68a.

[0039] The drive unit 14a includes a gear unit 28a in addition to the actuator 16a. The gear unit 28a is provided to synchronously transmit a drive movement generated by the actuator 16a to both carriages 24a, 26a. The gear unit 28a is arranged at the guide rail 20a at which the actuator 16a is also arranged. To transform a rotatory movement generated by the actuator 16a to a movement of the carriages 24a, 26a, each of the carriages 24a, 26a has a rack 30a, 32a. Each of the racks 30a, 32a of the carriages 24a, 26a meshes with a gear 34a, 36a driven by the actuator 16a, in particular via the gear unit 28a. The racks 30a, 32a of the carriages 24a, 26a are provided to convert a rotatory movement of each of the gears 34a, 36a driven by the actuator 16a to a movement of each of the carriages 24a; 26a along each of the guide rails 20a, 22a.

[0040] To achieve synchronous operation of the carriages 24a, 26a, the drive unit 14a includes a cross shaft 40a driven by the gear unit 28a. The cross shaft 40a extends between the two guide rails 20a, 22a. The cross shaft 40a is rotatably supported in the guide rails 20a, 22a. The cross shaft 40a bears a pinion gear 34a, 34b at each of its ends, which meshes with a rack 30a, 32a of a carriage 24a, 26a.

[0041] During opening or closing of a charging or tank flap, the guide rails 20a, 22a define the traversing path of the flap element 12a. Each of the guide rails 20a, 22a has a traversing region 60a and a lifting region 62a. During traversal of the flap element 12a along the traversing regions 60a of the guide rails 20a, 22a, the flap element 12a performs a traversing movement extending essentially in parallel to the body of the automotive vehicle. In the lifting region 62a, the flap element 12a performs a lifting movement extending essentially perpendicular to the traversing movement. To guide the flap element 12a and to generate the traversing movement and the lifting movement of the flap element 12a, each of the guide rails 20a, 22a has a guide groove 70a, 84a. Two guiding pins 72a, 74a of the flap element engage in the guide grooves 70a, 84a. This achieves rail-guiding of the flap element 12a along the guide rails 20a, 22a, or along the guide grooves 70a, 84a of the guide rails 20a, 22a. The guiding pins 72a, 74a of the flap element 12a are passed through openings 76a in two connecting elements 64a, 66a through these two connecting elements 64a, 66a into the guide grooves 70a, 84a of the guide rails 20a, 22a. The two connecting elements 64a, 66a are pivotable about the passed-through guiding pins 72a, 74a of the flap element 12a. The third connecting element 68a is pivotably arranged at the flap element 12a via a pin 80a arranged on the third connecting element 68a in a torque-resistant manner. The carriages 24a, 26a comprise pivoting axles 82a protruding into corresponding openings 78a of the connecting elements 64a, 66a, 68a. The connecting elements 64a, 66a, 68a are pivotably arranged on the carriages 24a, 26a via the pivoting axles 82a.

[0042] The guide grooves 70a, 84a of the guide rails 20a, 22a, in the transition from the traversing region 60a to the lifting region 62a of the guide rails 20a, 22a, have a change in direction of at least essentially 90°. The path of the guide grooves 70a, 84a in the lifting region 62a is thus at least essentially perpendicular to the path of the guide grooves 70a, 84a in the traversing region 60a. During a closing operation, the guiding pins 72a, 74a of the flap element 12a follow the guide grooves 70a, 84a, wherein the change in direction of the guide grooves 70a, 84a causes pivoting of the connecting elements 86a, 66a, 68a about the pivoting axles 82a of the carriage elements 24a, 26a. Pivoting of the connecting elements 64a, 66a, 68a, in turn, causes a lifting movement of the flap element 12a linked to the connecting elements 64a, 66a, 68a. In the closed position of the flap element 12a, the connecting elements 64a, 66a assume a toggle-joint position, thus achieving self-locking of the flap element 12a in the closed position.

[0043] During a closing operation, the flap element 12a, due to the guiding by the guide rails 70a, 84a, is first displaced in parallel to a body of the vehicle toward an access opening by a traversing movement, and is subsequently lifted into the access opening by a lifting movement, thus closing it. During an opening operation, the flap element 12a is first displaced in an almost perpendicular direction by a lowering movement opposing the lifting movement so that the flap element 12a is offset in parallel toward the interior of the body of the automotive vehicle. The subsequent traversing movement causes the flap element 12a to be displaced in a direction almost parallel to the body, thus exposing an access opening.

[0044] FIGS. 10 to 18 show a further example of the invention. The following description and the drawings are essentially limited to the differences between the examples, wherein, with reference to similarly-designated components, in particular in relation to components having the same reference numerals, reference can basically be made to the drawings and/or the description of the other example. To differentiate between the examples, the letter a has been appended to the reference numerals of the examples of FIGS. 1 to 9. In the example of FIGS. 10 to 18, letter a has been replaced by letter b.

[0045] FIGS. 10 to 18 show various views or partial views of an alternatively formed closure device 10b for a charging or tank flap of an automotive vehicle. The closure device 10b includes a flap element 12b for closing a body opening of the automotive vehicle, behind which a charging connector or a filler pipe of the automotive vehicle is arranged. To traverse the flap element 12b between a closed position and an open position the closure device 10b has a drive unit 14b. In FIGS. 10 to 12 the flap element 12b is shown in the closed position. The drive unit 14b comprises an electric actuator 16b and a guide unit 18b. In a state of the closure device 10b installed in an automotive vehicle, the guide unit 18b is entirely accommodated within the body of the automotive vehicle. The guide unit 18b includes two guide rails 20b, 22b extending in parallel to one another. The actuator 16b of the drive unit 14b is arranged at a guide rail 20b. The guide rails 20b, 22b extend within a body of the automotive vehicle, in particular at least essentially parallel to a contour of the body. Furthermore, the guide unit 18b includes two carriages 24b, 26b arranged to be traversable on the guide rails 20b, 22b, and on which the flap element 12b is arranged. The flap element 12b is disposed between the guide rails 20b, 22b and linked to the carriages 24b, 26b via three pivotable connecting elements 64b, 66b, 68b.

[0046] In contrast to the closure device 10a shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the drive unit 14b of the closure device 10b includes two gear units 28b, 38b. The gear units 28b, 38b are provided for synchronous transmission of a drive movement generated by the actuator 16b to both carriages 24b, 26b. Each of the gear units 28b, 38b is arranged at one of the guide rails 20b, 22b. To convert a rotatory movement generated by the actuator 16b to a movement of the carriages 24b, 26b, each of the carriages 24b, 26b has a rack 30b, 32b. Each of the gear units 28b, 38b directly drives at least one pinion gear 34b, 36b, 42b each of which meshes with a rack 30b, 32b of a carriage 24b, 26b. The racks 30b, 32b of the carriages 24b, 26b are provided to convert a rotatory movement of each of the pinion gears 34b, 36b, 42b to a movement of each carriage 24b, 26b along each of the guide rails 20b, 22b.

[0047] To achieve synchronous operation of the gear units 28b, 38b and thus synchronous operation of the carriages 24b, 26b, the drive unit 14b includes a first cross shaft 44b driven by a first one of said gear units 28b. The first cross shaft 44b extends between the guide rails 20b, 22b and is rotatably supported in the guide rails 20b, 22b. The first cross shaft 44b transmits a rotatory movement of a gear 46b of the first gear unit 28b to an input gear 48b of the second gear unit 38b. The first cross shaft 44b has an actuator-side pinion gear 42b which meshes with the rack 30b of the actuator-side carriage 24b as a function of a traversing position of the actuator-side carriage 24b. The actuator-side gear 42b of the first cross shaft 44b is provided to perform driving of the carriage 24b when it is traversed out of the engagement region of a first gear 34b driving the carriage 24b.

[0048] Furthermore, the drive unit 14b has a second cross shaft 50b. The second cross shaft 50b extends between the two carriages 24b, 26b. The ends of the second cross shaft 50b are rotatably supported in the carriages 24b, 26b. The cross shaft 50b is driven by a movement of the carriage 24b. The movement of the carriage 24b is transmitted to the second carriage 26b by the second cross shaft 50b. Each of the guide rails 20b, 22b of the guide unit 18b has a rack 52b, 54b. The second cross shaft 50b has a pinion gear 56b, 58b at each of its ends, wherein each of the pinion gears 56b, 58b meshes with a rack 52b, 54b of one of the guide rails 20b, 22b.

[0049] During opening or closing of a charging or tank flap, the guide rails 20b, 22b define the traversing path of the flap element 12b. Each of the guide rails 20b, 22b has a traversing region 60b and a lifting region 62b. During traversal of the flap element 12b along the traversal ranges 60b of the guide rails 20b, 22b, the flap element performs a traversing movement at least essentially parallel to the body of the automotive vehicle. In the lifting region 62b, the flap element 12b performs a lifting movement at least essentially perpendicular to the traversing movement. To guide the flap element 12b and to generate the traversal movement and the lifting movement of the flap element 12b, each of the guide rails 20b, 22b has a guide groove 70b, 84b. Two guiding pins 72b, 74b of the flap element 12b engage in the guide grooves 70b, 84b. This achieves rail-guiding of the flap element 12b along the guide rails 20b, 22b, or along the guide grooves 70b, 84b of the guide rails 20b, 22b. The guiding pins 72b, 74b of the flap element 12b are passed through openings 76b in two connecting elements 64b, 66b through these two connecting elements 64b, 66b into the guide grooves 70b, 84b of the guide rails 20b, 22b. The two connecting elements 64b, 66b are pivotable about the passed-through guiding pins 72b, 74b of the flap element 12b. The third connecting element 68b is arranged on the flap element 12b to be pivotable about a pin 80b arranged on the third connecting element 68b in a torque-resistant manner. The carriages 24b, 26b include pivoting axles 82b protruding into corresponding openings of the connecting elements 64b, 66b, 68b. The connecting elements 64b, 66b, 68b are pivotably arranged on the carriages 24b, 26b via the pivoting axles 82b.

[0050] At the transition from the traversing region 60b to the lifting region 62b of the guide rails 20b, 22b, the guide grooves 70b, 84b of the guide rails 20b, 22b have a change in direction of at least essentially 90°. The path of the guide grooves 70b, 84b in the lifting region 62b is thus at least essentially perpendicular to the path of the guide grooves 70b, 84b in the traversing region 60b. During a closing operation, the guiding pins 72b, 74b of the flap element 12b follow the guide grooves 70b, 84b, the change in direction of the guide grooves 70b, 84b causing pivoting of the connecting elements 64b, 66b, 68b about the pivoting axles 82b of the carriage elements 24b, 26b. Pivoting of the connecting elements 64b, 66b, 68b, in turn, causes a lifting movement of the flap element 12b linked to the connecting elements 64b, 66b, 68b. In the closed position of the flap element 12b, the connecting elements 64b, 66b assume a toggle-joint position thus achieving self-locking of the flap element 12b in the closed position.

[0051] During a closing operation, the flap element 12b, due to the guiding by the guide rails 70b, 84b, is first displaced in parallel to a body of the vehicle toward an access opening by a traversing movement, and is subsequently lifted into the access opening by a lifting movement, thus closing it. During an opening operation, the flap element 12b is first displaced in an almost perpendicular direction by a lowering movement opposite the lifting movement so that the flap element 12b is offset in parallel into the interior of the body of the automotive vehicle. The subsequent traversing movement causes the flap element 12b to be displaced in a direction almost parallel to the body, thus exposing an access opening.

[0052] To traverse the flap element 12b from a closed position into an open position even in a deenergized state of the actuator 16b, an emergency unlocking device 86b is provided. To operate the emergency unlocking device 86b, the latter includes an emergency unlocking pull 88b. Pulling on the emergency unlocking pull 88b acts on a further element 90b connected to emergency unlocking pull 88b of the emergency unlocking device 86b on the carriage 24b in such a manner that it is displaced along the guide rail 20b by a certain distance. This moves the connecting elements 64b, 66b from the toggle joint position and releases the self-locking action of the flap element 12b.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals 10 closure device 12 flap element 14 drive unit 16 actuator 18 guide unit 20 guide rail 22 guide rail 24 carriage 26 carriage 28 gear unit 30 rack 32 rack 34 pinion gear 36 pinion gear 38 gear unit 40 cross shaft 42 pinion gear 44 cross shaft 46 gear 48 input gear 50 cross shaft 52 rack 54 rack 56 pinion gear 58 pinion gear 60 traversing region 62 lifting region 64 connecting element 66 connecting element 68 connecting element 70 guide groove 72 guiding pin 74 guiding pin 76 opening 78 opening 80 pin 82 pivoting axle 84 guide groove 86 emergency unlocking device 88 emergency unlocking pull 90 element