CN113829870A

CN113829870A - Closure assembly for closing a fuel filler opening of a body of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN113829870A
Application number: CN202011473117.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: W·蓬皮利; J·萨莱夫斯基
Original assignee: BOS GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: BOS GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-06-23
Filing date: 2020-12-15
Publication date: 2021-12-24
Also published as: DE102020209609B4; DE102020209609A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure assembly for closing a fuel filler opening of a body of a motor vehicle. There are known closure assemblies of this type which comprise a cover element which is displaceable in a guided manner on the on-board guide device between a closed position in which the cover element closes the refueling opening and an open position in which the cover element opens the refueling opening, and comprise a drive device with an electric drive motor which is operatively connected to the cover element in a force and motion transmitting manner, by means of which the cover element is displaced in a driven manner between the closed position and the open position. According to the invention, the drive device is assigned a coupling device which can be switched by means of manual actuation of the actuating device between a coupled state, in which the drive motor is operatively connected to the cover element by means of the coupling device in a force and motion transmitting manner, and a decoupled state, in which the operative connection between the drive motor and the cover element is decoupled. The invention can be used in passenger cars.

Description

Closure assembly for closing a fuel filler opening of a body of a motor vehicle

Technical Field

The invention relates to a closure assembly for closing a fuel filler opening of a body of a motor vehicle, comprising a cover element which is displaceable in a guided manner on an on-board guide device between a closed position in which the cover element closes the fuel filler opening and an open position in which the cover element opens the fuel filler opening, and comprising a drive device having an electric drive motor which is operatively connected to the cover element in a force and motion transmitting manner and by means of which the cover element is displaceable in a driven manner between the closed position and the open position.

Background

Such a closure assembly is known from DE 102014016911B 4 in the form of a fuel tank flap arrangement and provides a fuel filler opening for closing the body of a motor vehicle. Known fuel tank flap arrangements comprise a closing element in the form of a fuel tank flap which is displaceable on an on-board guide between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the fuel tank flap closes the fueling neck. In the open position, the fuel tank flap opens the refueling nozzle. For the driven displacement of the fuel tank flap between the closed position and the open position, a drive device with an electric drive motor is provided. The drive motor is operatively connected to the fuel tank flap in a force and motion transmitting manner. To this end, the drive means of the known closing assembly comprise a pull wire which is fixedly operatively connected at one end to the fuel tank flap and at the other end to a drive motor.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure assembly of the initially mentioned kind, the construction of which allows manual displacement of the cover element as required and in particular overcomes damage to the drive means during such manual displacement of the cover element.

This object is achieved in that the drive device is assigned a coupling device which can be switched by means of manual actuation of the actuating device between a coupled state, in which the drive motor is operatively connected to the cover element by means of the coupling device in a force and motion transmitting manner, and a decoupled state, in which the operative connection between the drive motor and the cover element is decoupled. The solution according to the invention makes it possible to disconnect the force-transmitting and motion-transmitting operative connections between the electric drive motor and the cover element when required. Such an operative connection may also be referred to as a drive connection. The disconnection allows the cover element to be manually displaced while being separated from the electric drive motor. Such manual displacement may be particularly desirable when no electrical operating energy or insufficient electrical operating energy is available for driving the electrically driven motor. Without a disconnection of the drive connection by means of the coupling device, a manual displacement of the cover element may lead to an improper or excessive loading of the drive motor and/or further components of the drive device. In order to counteract this, according to the invention, a coupling device for disconnecting and connecting the drive connection as required is provided between the electric drive motor and the cover element. The coupling means are preferably positive-acting (positive-acting) positive-fitting couplings or non-positive-acting (non-positive-acting) friction couplings. The coupling means act between different parts and/or portions of the drive means. The coupling device can be switched between a coupled state and a decoupled state by means of the actuating device. In this respect, the coupling device may also be referred to as a "switchable" or "releasable" coupling. In order to transmit forces and movements from the electric drive motor to the cover element, the drive means preferably comprise a shaft assembly, a wire assembly, a linkage assembly or the like, wherein the coupling means are configured to couple and decouple different parts and/or portions of said assembly. The actuation means is provided for manual actuation and preferably comprises an actuation portion, for example in the form of a handle, a handgrip or the like. In a state in which the actuating portion is ready to be operatively mounted on the motor vehicle, the actuating portion is preferably arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle, for example below and/or to the side of the steering wheel. Alternatively, the actuating portion may be accessible from the luggage compartment of a motor vehicle arranged at the front or rear. In a state in which the drive motor is mounted on the vehicle, the drive motor is supplied with electrical operating energy via an electrical system of the motor vehicle. The cover element is preferably displaceable on the guide device between a closed position and an open position in a manner that enables a linear and/or rotational movement. The cover element can also be referred to in particular as a cover, flap, slide or closure. The guide means is preferably an integral part of the closure assembly, although this is not absolutely necessary. The refueling opening can be considered to be a region of the vehicle body in which a filler neck for filling a fuel tank of the motor vehicle or a charging socket for charging a traction battery of the motor vehicle is arranged. For this reason, the refueling port may also be referred to as a charging port or a charging receptacle port.

In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling means is a form-fitting coupling. This allows a particularly robust and at the same time simple construction. Furthermore, the form-fitting coupling preferably functions in a slip-resistant manner. This is in contrast to conventional friction couplings. In the coupled state, it is therefore possible to transmit the driving force via the coupling means in as loss-free a manner as possible. In contrast, a loss-causing sliding of the coupling device can lead to a defective displacement of the cover element, in which the closed and/or open position (if any) is not completely reached. This is overcome by configuring the coupling device as a form-fitting coupling.

In another embodiment of the invention, the actuating means comprises at one end an actuating portion provided for manual actuation and at the other end mechanically interacts with the coupling means. This makes possible in particular a particularly ergonomic manual actuation of the actuation device. At the other end of the actuating device, a control portion is preferably provided which provides for controlling and thus transferring or displacing the coupling device between the coupled state and the uncoupled state. In order to transmit forces and movements between the actuation part and the control part, pull wires, links or the like may be provided in particular. The actuating device is preferably configured as an integrated actuating rod on which the actuating part and/or the control part are integrally formed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the actuating device comprises a drive portion which, during the displacement of the coupling device from the coupled state into the uncoupled state, forms an operative connection with the cover element for force and motion transmission and leads to a manually driven displacement of the cover element in the direction of the open position. This particularly preferred embodiment of the invention allows at least partial opening of the cover element by means of manual actuation of the actuation means. This is particularly advantageous when the cover element in the closed position is oriented flush with the body portion of the vehicle body adjacent to the fuel port and therefore cannot be directly manually displaced, or in any case cannot be ergonomically displaced, due to the lack of suitable engagement surfaces. In this embodiment of the invention, the actuating means has a number of functions which are particularly advantageous. In one aspect, an actuating device is used to transition the coupling device to the uncoupled state. On the other hand, the actuating device is additionally used here for at least partially displacing the cover element in the direction of the open position. The drive section is provided for this purpose. If the actuating means is actuated to disconnect the drive connection, the drive part functions as a kind of drive for the cover element (expressed in a very simplified manner). Here, the drive portion may act directly or indirectly on the cover element. Insofar as the actuating device comprises an actuating portion, the drive portion is preferably arranged at an end region of the actuating device directed away from the actuating portion.

In another embodiment of the invention, the drive portion is a rack portion which, during displacement of the coupling device into the disconnected state, is brought into meshing engagement with a gearwheel operatively connected to the cover element in a torque-locking manner. If the actuating device is manually actuated starting from the coupled state, the rack portion is brought into driving meshing engagement with the gearwheel. As a result, the cover element, which is connected to the gear wheel in a torque-locked manner, is at least partially displaced in the direction of the open position. The configuration of the drive portion as a rack portion allows a particularly robust and structurally simple configuration. Furthermore, it is possible to provide an increased ratio between the actuating movement of the actuating means and the displacing movement of the cover element in a structurally simple manner, which provides additional advantages.

In another embodiment of the invention, the drive motor is operatively connected to the cover element via a shaft assembly, which is divided into at least two parts and comprises an input-side input shaft operatively connected to the drive motor in a torque-locked manner and an output-side output shaft operatively connected to the cover element in a torque-locked manner, and the coupling means acts between the input shaft and the output shaft. Thus, the shaft assembly serves to transmit the driving force to the cover member. By means of the coupling device, it is possible to selectively couple or decouple the input shaft and the output shaft. In the coupled state, the input shaft and the output shaft are operatively connected to each other in a torque-locked manner by means of a coupling device. In the disconnected state, the operative connection is cancelled or disconnected. The input shaft and the output shaft are preferably oriented coaxially with each other. This embodiment of the invention allows a robust and at the same time structurally simple construction.

In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling device comprises at least two coupling claws, each of which is mounted on the input shaft in a torque-locked manner and has a limited movability in the radial direction, which coupling claws in the coupled state are placed against the output shaft in the radial direction by forming a form fit and in the decoupled state are lifted from the output shaft in the radial direction by cancelling the form fit. The coupling jaws can be displaced in the radial direction by means of the actuating device. Depending on the displacement state of the coupling claw, the input shaft and the output shaft are operatively connected to one another or disconnected from one another via the coupling claw in a form-fitting manner. In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling pawl is not mounted on the input shaft, but on the output shaft and is placed on or lifted from the input shaft depending on the state of the coupling device.

In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling pawls each comprise an inner profile and the output shaft comprises a complementary outer profile. In the coupled state, the inner profile engages in the outer profile of the output shaft in the radial direction. This ensures a form-fit and finally torque-locking operative connection between the input shaft and the output shaft. In the disconnected state, the inner profile is lifted away from the outer profile of the output shaft in the radial direction, as a result of which the form fit is cancelled. The outer profile can in particular be configured as a polygonal profile, as an outer toothing or as some other non-rotationally symmetrical circumferential profile. The inner profile of the coupling jaws is configured to be complementary to the outer profile.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the coupling pawls are preloaded outwards in the radial direction with respect to the input shaft and/or the output shaft by means of a spring assembly. The spring assembly thus generates a preload in the direction of the off-state. The spring arrangement preferably comprises a plurality of spring elements which are each assigned to one of the coupling claws. The spring elements are preferably each supported at one end on the input shaft and at the other end on the respective coupling claw. The spring elements are preferably each designed as a leaf spring, a helical spring or the like.

In another embodiment of the invention, the actuating device comprises a control housing which engages around the coupling jaws in the circumferential direction and has a limited movability with respect to the coupling jaws, said control housing having an inner contour which, during a displacement of the coupling device between the coupled state and the uncoupled state, interacts with an outer contour of the coupling jaws and controls a radial displacement of the coupling jaws. By means of manual actuation of the actuating device, the control housing and thus also the inner contour can be displaced relative to the coupling pawl. This relative displacement is used to control the radial displacement of the coupling jaws for coupling and uncoupling. The coupling pawl is disposed within the control housing. Depending on the displacement state of the actuating device, different parts of the inner contour act on the outer contour of the coupling jaws. This embodiment of the invention particularly allows a simple and robust construction.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the inner contour comprises a clamping contour portion which closes the outer contour of the coupling jaws in the coupled state in a form-fitting manner in the radial direction and presses the coupling jaws radially inward, in particular against the action of the spring assembly. In the coupled state, the clamping contour parts engage around the coupling claws on the outer side faces of the coupling claws which are located on the outer side in the radial direction, that is to say on the outer contour which surrounds the coupling claws. Relative to the disengaged state, the coupling pawls are thereby displaced inwardly in the radial direction of the input shaft and/or the output shaft. As a result, the coupling pawl is placed against the output shaft, and a form fit for transmitting the driving force to the input shaft is generated. In order to switch the coupling device into the disconnected state, the contact between the clamping profile section and the outer contour is cancelled. This occurs by displacing the control housing relative to the coupling jaws.

In another embodiment of the invention, the inner contour comprises a latching contour portion which is adjacent to the clamping contour portion and latches onto the outer contour of the coupling pawl during the displacement between the coupled state and the uncoupled state. The latching contour partially counteracts an unintentional displacement of the control housing relative to the coupling pawl. For this purpose, the latching contour portion is preferably placed elastically against the outer contour of the coupling claw. This is the case in any case in the coupled state. The latching profile section is configured to be elastically movable in the radial direction and can therefore also be referred to as spring profile section.

Drawings

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which is illustrated with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows, in a sectional perspective view, an electrically driven motor vehicle with an embodiment of a closing assembly according to the invention, which is provided for closing a charging socket opening of a body of the motor vehicle,

fig. 2 shows in an enlarged detail the region of the charging socket mouth according to fig. 1, the cover element of the closing assembly assuming an open position,

fig. 3 shows in a schematic perspective view the closure assembly according to fig. 1 and 2, with a drive motor operatively connected to the cover element for driving force transmission,

figure 4 shows in isometric detail the parts of the drive means of the closure assembly according to figures 1 to 3,

figure 5 shows an isometric exploded view of the components shown in figure 4,

fig. 6 shows the cover element and the guide carriage in an isometric exploded view, which guide carriage is provided for guiding the cover element on the on-board guide,

figures 7, 8 show the assembly as apparent from figures 4 and 5, in which the various parts and/or portions are graphically faded out, the coupling device assuming a coupled condition (figure 7) and a uncoupled condition (figure 8),

figures 9, 10 and 11 show different detailed views of the coupling device in the coupled state,

fig. 12, 13, 14 show views of the coupling device in the disconnected state corresponding to fig. 9 to 11, and

fig. 15, 16 show views according to fig. 9 and 12, viewed in the direction of the spring assembly, wherein further components and/or parts are faded out in the figure.

Detailed Description

According to fig. 1, a motor vehicle F is provided with a closing assembly 1 (fig. 3). The closure assembly 1 serves to close a fuel port T, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is arranged in the left front region of the body K of the motor vehicle F.

In the present example, the motor vehicle F is an electrically driven passenger vehicle. Thus, the fueling port T may also be referred to as a charging receptacle port. In the region of the fueling or charging socket opening T, a charging socket L is arranged in a manner known in principle, which charging socket L provides for charging a traction battery of an electrically driven passenger car.

The closure assembly 1 comprises a cover element 2, which cover element 2 may also be referred to as a fuel tank cover or a charging socket cover. The cover element 2 is displaceable in a guided manner between a closed position (fig. 1, 3) and an open position (fig. 2), on-board guiding means being provided for guiding the cover element 2. In this case, the guide is not illustrated in further detail. In the closed position, the cover member 2 closes the charging socket port T. Here, the cover member 2 is oriented flush with those body portions of the body K surrounding the charging socket port T. In the open position, the cover member 2 opens the charging socket port T. The charging socket T is thus freely accessible. Thus, in the open position, a charging cable with a corresponding charging plug can be connected to the charging socket L.

In the illustrated embodiment, in the open position, the cover element 2 is displaced outwardly in the vehicle transverse direction Y and downwardly in the vehicle vertical direction Z. This is to be understood by way of example only. Depending on the partial installation of the charging socket opening T and/or the configuration of the on-board guide, in the open position the cover element can alternatively be displaced upwards, inwards and forwards and/or backwards in the vehicle longitudinal direction X.

For the driven displacement of the cover element 2 between the closed position and the open position, the closure assembly 1 comprises a drive means a, which can be seen partly or in some parts with reference to fig. 4. The drive means a comprise an electric drive motor 3 which is operatively connected to the cover element 2 in a force and motion transmitting manner. The operative connection serves for transmitting a driving force and/or a driving movement from the drive motor 3 to the cover element 2 and may also be referred to as a drive connection. In order to be supplied with electrical operating energy, the electric drive motor 3 is connected to the electrical system of the motor vehicle F in a manner not shown in further detail.

In particular in the case of an interruption of the energy supply of the drive motor 3, a manual displacement of the cover element 2 between the closed position and the open position may be required. During such a manual displacement of the cover element 2, in which the user of the motor vehicle F acts directly on the cover element 2 using the fingers of one hand and moves the cover element 2, an overload of components and/or parts of the drive device a may in principle occur. For example, the drive motor 3 may be damaged or destroyed.

In order to counteract such damage or damage, the closure assembly 1 comprises a coupling device 4, which coupling device 4 is assigned to the drive device a and can be transferred between a coupled state (fig. 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15) and a decoupled state (fig. 8, 12, 13, 14, 16) by means of manual actuation of the actuating device 5. In the coupled state, the drive motor 3 is operatively connected to the cover element by means of the coupling means 4 in a force and motion transmitting manner. In the disconnected state, the operative connection is disconnected. In other words, said driving connection between the drive motor 3 and the cover element 2 is present in the coupled state of the coupling means 4. In the disconnected state, the drive connection is cancelled.

In the embodiment shown, the drive a comprises axle assemblies 6, 7, the axle assemblies 6, 7 having an input-side input shaft 6 and an output-side output shaft 7 (fig. 5). The input shaft 6 is permanently operatively connected to the drive motor 3 in a torque-locked manner. For this purpose, in the present case, the input shaft 6 comprises a drive gear 8, which drive gear 8 meshes in a manner not shown in further detail with a pinion driven by the drive motor 3. The output shaft 7 is permanently operatively connected to the cover element 2 in a torque-locked manner. For this purpose, the output shaft 7 comprises, at its end directed away from the input shaft 6, a connecting portion 9, which connecting portion 9 is joined together in a torque-locked manner with an output pinion 10. The output pinion 10 meshes with an output gear 11. The output gear 11 is engaged in a rack portion 12, which rack portion 12 is visible with reference to fig. 6 and is arranged on a guide carriage 13. The guide carriage 13 is guided on the on-board guide via the kinematic link elements 14 and supports the cover element 2 on the upper side, for the sake of illustration an alternative cover element 2a is shown with reference to fig. 6. In this case, the cover element 2a is screwed onto the upper side of the guide carriage 13 by means of two screws 15.

It is to be understood that the drive connection which is mounted downstream of the output shaft 7 in the direction of the cover element 2 and which is provided via the output pinion 10, the output gear 11 and the rack portion 12 is considered merely as an example and is not absolutely necessary for the invention. The guide carriage 13 visible in connection with fig. 6 is also not absolutely necessary for the invention. It is possible for the cover element itself instead to be guided directly on the on-board guide and to be driven by a drive transmission other than the rack portion shown.

In the coupled state, the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 are operatively connected to each other in a torque-locked manner via the coupling device 4. In the disconnected state, the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 are disconnected from each other and can rotate independently of each other.

In the embodiment shown, the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 are oriented coaxially to each other and are mounted so as to be able to rotate about an axis of rotation 16 on a support structure of the closure assembly 1, which support structure is not further indicated in detail.

In the present case, the coupling device 4 forms a form-fitting connection between the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 about the axis of rotation 16 and is therefore configured as a form-fitting coupling 17.

In the embodiment shown, the coupling device 4 or the form-fitting coupling 17 comprises two coupling

claws

18, 19, which may also be referred to as a first coupling claw 18 and a second coupling claw 19. The

coupling jaws

18, 19 are mounted on the input shaft 6 with limited movability in the radial direction of the axis of rotation 16 and are permanently connected to the shaft in a torque-locked manner. For this purpose, the

coupling jaws

18, 19 each comprise two latching

pins

181, 191 which extend axially in the direction of the input shaft 6. In order to lock the mounting

coupling jaws

18, 19 in the radial direction with a limited displaceability torque, the input shaft 6 comprises a bearing disk 20, which bearing disk 20 is constructed in two parts in the axial direction in this case and is provided with

receptacles

201, 202. In the mounted state, the plug 181 of the first coupling claw 18 is inserted into the socket 201 in the axial direction. The pin 191 of the second coupling claw 19 is inserted in the axial direction into the socket 202. The

sockets

201, 202 are each configured in the form of a slot. This ensures the required limited radial movability of the

coupling jaws

18, 19. In the coupled state, the

coupling claws

18, 19 are disposed inwardly in the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation 16 and thus also with respect to the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 and lie against said output shaft 7, forming a form fit therewith. In contrast, in the disengaged state, the

coupling claws

18, 19 are arranged outward in the radial direction and are lifted from the output shaft 7 without positive fit.

In order to form a positive fit between the coupling

jaws

18, 19 and the output shaft 7, the output shaft 7 comprises an outer profile 21. The

coupling jaws

18, 19 are each provided with an

inner profile

182 or 192. The

inner profiles

182, 192 are configured to complement the outer profile 21. As can be seen from fig. 9, 10 and 12, 13, the

inner profiles

182, 192 are each designed in this case in the form of an internal toothing. The outer profile 21 is formed at the end region of the output shaft 7 facing the input shaft 6 by external teeth complementary to this outer profile.

The actuating means 5 is provided for switching the coupling means 4 between the coupled state and the uncoupled state and comprises an actuating portion 22 arranged at one end. In this example, the actuating portion 22 is configured as a grip eye. In the mounted state on the motor vehicle, the actuating portion 22 is arranged above the charging socket T in the vehicle vertical direction Z and in the interior of the vehicle body K, which interior is manually accessible, for example, through an opening of a front hood of the motor vehicle F, which opening is not labeled in further detail. For controlling the coupling device 4, the actuating device 5 comprises a control section 23 at the other end of the actuating section 22, which control section 23 is configured in the present case as a control housing 24. The control portion 23 and the actuation portion 22 are connected to each other via a handle portion 25 of the actuation means 5. In the embodiment shown, the actuating device 5 is constructed integrally as a plastic injection-molded part.

The control housing 24 engages around the

coupling jaws

18, 19 in the circumferential direction and is movable relative to the

coupling jaws

18, 19 by means of actuation of the actuating portion 22, during which the shank portion 25 is moved upwards or downwards relative to the plane of the drawing of fig. 4. During such actuation, the control housing 24 interacts in a contacting manner with the outer contours 183, 193 (fig. 5) of the

coupling jaws

18, 19 via the inner contour. This contact allows the

coupling jaws

18, 19 to be placed against the output shaft 7 and lifted from the output shaft 7. In the present example, the

outer contour

183, 193 is composed of a semicircular first outer contour section of the first coupling claw 18 and a semicircular second outer contour section 193 of the second coupling claw 19 and thus has a generally circular shape.

As can be seen from fig. 9 and 10, in the coupled state, the

coupling claws

18, 19 are received in a form-fitting manner in the radial direction on the clamping contour section 26 of the control housing 24 and are closed tightly in the circumferential direction. The clamping profile section 26 is complementary in shape to the

outer profiles

183, 193 and is adapted in size with tight tolerances. As a result, the

coupling pawls

18, 19 are held in a state of being placed against the output shaft 7 in the radial direction. Here, the

inner profiles

182, 192 engage radially and in the circumferential direction in the outer profile 21 of the output shaft 7 in a form-fitting manner.

To disconnect the drive connection, starting from the coupled state shown in fig. 4, the actuating portion 22 is pulled upwards, whereby the control housing 24 is displaced to the right relative to the plane of the drawing of fig. 9 to 14 relative to the

coupling pawls

18, 19. As a result, the

coupling jaws

18, 19, more precisely their

outer contours

183, 193, are out of contact with the clamping contour portion 26. Here, the control housing 24 can be moved to the right to such an extent that the

coupling jaws

18, 19 come into contact with a stop profile section 27 of the inner contour of the control housing 24. The stop profile section 27 is arranged opposite the clamping profile section 26. In the region of the stop contour portion, the

coupling claws

18, 19 are not pressed inward in the radial direction. Instead, the

coupling jaws

18, 19 are preloaded outward in the radial direction by means of

spring assemblies

33, 34, as can be seen in detail in fig. 15, 16. The

spring assembly

33, 34 comprises a first spring element 33 and a second spring element 34. The first spring element 33 is supported at one end on the input shaft 6 and at the other end on the first coupling claw 18 via a latch 181. The second spring element 34 is supported at one end on the input shaft 6 and at the other end on the second coupling claw 19 via a bolt 191. As can be seen from fig. 15 and 16, the

spring elements

33, 34 are each designed as leaf springs. The

spring assemblies

33, 34 allow the

coupling jaws

18, 19 to be displaced outwards in the radial direction when they leave the clamping profile section 26 and thus to be lifted from the output shaft 7. As a result, the form fit between the

inner profiles

182, 192 and the outer profile 21 is cancelled and the coupling device 4 is transferred to the disconnected state.

The inner contour of the control housing 24 additionally comprises a latching contour section 28 which adjoins the clamping contour section 26 and in the present case comprises two spring legs 29 which merge tangentially in the clamping contour section 26. At its end directed away from the clamping profile section 26, the spring leg 29 comprises a continuous bevel, not indicated in greater detail. This chamfer facilitates the entry of the

coupling jaws

18, 19 into the region of the clamping profile 26. In the coupled state, the spring legs 29 act in the radial direction on the

coupling claws

18, 19 and prevent an inadvertent switching to the decoupled state.

As can be seen in particular from fig. 10, 11 and 14 to 16, the actuating device 5 additionally comprises a drive portion 30. During the displacement of the coupling device 4 from the coupled state to the uncoupled state, said drive portion forms a force-transmitting and motion-transmitting operative connection with the cover element 2. As a result, a displacement of the cover element 2, which is driven indirectly manually via the actuating means 5, takes place in the direction of the open position.

In the present example, the drive part 30 is arranged in the region of the control housing 24 and is configured as a rack part 31. During the transition of the coupling device 4 to the disconnected state, the rack portion 31 is engaged in the gear 32 of the output shaft 7. The gear 32 may also be referred to as an unlocking gear and is arranged between the outer profile 21 and the connecting portion 9 in the axial direction. The meshing engagement between the rack portion 31 and the gear 32 only occurs when the

coupling pawls

18, 19 are not in contact with the clamping profile portion 26. The coupling device 4 is thus in the disconnected state, as a result of which the engagement does not result in any torque being transmitted to the input shaft 6. The meshing engagement of the rack portion 31 causes the gear 32 to rotate about the axis of rotation 16. The resulting movement is transmitted via the output pinion 10 and the output gear 11 to the guide carriage 13 and finally to the cover element 2. Thereby, upon actuation of the actuation means 5 (fig. 2), the cover element 2 is displaced from the closed position (fig. 1) in the direction of the open position. The actuating device 5 and the coupling device 4 thus form an emergency unlocking mechanism, by means of which the drive connection between the drive motor 3 and the cover element can be disconnected on the one hand, while a manually induced displacement in the direction of the open position can be achieved. This displacement does not have to occur until the open position is fully reached. Instead, the cover element 2 can only be displaced in the direction of the open position to such an extent that the edge of the cover element 2 is accessible for further manual displacement acting directly on the cover element 2.

Claims

1. Closure assembly (1) for closing a refueling port (T) of a body (K) of a motor vehicle (F), comprising a cover element (2), which cover element (2) is displaceable in a guided manner on an on-board guide device between a closed position, in which the cover element (2) closes the refueling port (T), and an open position, in which the cover element (2) opens the refueling port (T), and comprising a drive device (A), which has an electric drive motor (3), which electric drive motor (3) is operatively connected to the cover element (2) in a force and motion transmitting manner, and by means of which the cover element (2) is displaceable in a driven manner between the closed position and the open position, wherein the drive device (A) is assigned a coupling device (4), the coupling device (4) is switchable by means of manual actuation of an actuating device (5) between a coupled state, in which the drive motor (3) is operatively connected to the cover element (2) by means of the coupling device (4) in a force and motion transmitting manner, and a decoupled state, in which the operative connection between the drive motor (3) and the cover element (2) is decoupled.

2. Closure assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means (4) is a form-fitting coupling (17).

3. Closure assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said actuation means (5) have an actuation portion (22) at one end provided for manual actuation and at the other end mechanically interact with said coupling means (4).

4. A closure assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating means (5) comprises a drive portion (30), the drive portion (30) forming a force and motion transmitting operative connection with the cover element (2) during displacement of the coupling means (4) from the coupled condition to the uncoupled condition and causing a manually driven displacement of the cover element (2) in the direction of the open position.

5. A closure assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the drive portion (30) is a rack portion (31), the rack portion (31) forming a meshing engagement with a gear wheel (32) operatively connected to the cover element (2) in a torque-locking manner during the displacement of the coupling means (4) into the disconnected state.

6. Closure assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive motor (3) is operatively connected to the cover element (2) via a shaft assembly (6, 7), the shaft assembly (6, 7) being divided into at least two parts and comprising an input-side input shaft (6) operatively connected to the drive motor (3) in a torque-locked manner and an output-side output shaft (7) operatively connected to the cover element (2) in a torque-locked manner, and the coupling means (4) acting between the input shaft (6) and the output shaft (7).

7. A closure assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the coupling device (4) comprises at least two coupling claws (18, 19), which coupling claws (18, 19) are each mounted on the input shaft (6) in a torque-locked manner and have a limited movability in a radial direction, the coupling claws (18, 19) in the coupled state being placed in the radial direction against the output shaft (7) by forming a form fit and in the uncoupled state being lifted in the radial direction from the output shaft (7) by cancelling the form fit.

8. Closure assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the coupling jaws (18, 19) each comprise an inner profile (182, 192) and wherein the output shaft (7) comprises a complementary outer profile (21).

9. Closing assembly (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the coupling jaws (18, 19) are preloaded in a radial direction outwards with respect to the input shaft (6) and/or the output shaft (7) by means of a spring assembly (33, 34).

10. Closure assembly (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the actuating means (5) comprise a control housing (24), the control housing (24) being engaged in a circumferential direction around the coupling jaws (18, 19) and having a limited movability with respect to the coupling jaws (18, 19), the control housing having an inner contour (26, 27, 28) which interacts with an outer contour (183, 193) of the coupling jaws (18, 19) and controls the radial displacement of the coupling jaws (18, 19) during the displacement of the coupling means (4) between the coupled condition and the uncoupled condition.

11. Closure assembly (1) according to claim 10, wherein the inner contour (26, 27, 28) comprises a clamping contour portion (26), the clamping contour portion (26) closing the outer contour (183, 193) of the coupling jaw (18, 19) in the coupled state in a form-fitting manner in a radial direction and pressing the coupling jaw (18, 19) radially inwards, in particular against the action of the spring assembly (33, 34).

12. Closure assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the inner profile (26, 27, 28) comprises a latching profile section (28), which latching profile section (28) is adjacent to the clamping profile section (26) and which latches onto the outer profile (183, 193) of the coupling pawl (18, 19) during the displacement between the coupled state and the uncoupled state.