DE102022122345A1 - Charging flap system with integrated sensor for a vehicle, in particular for an electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A tailgate system for a vehicle or electric vehicle, comprising a holding element (12) for fastening in a body element of a vehicle (15), the holding element (12) being movable on the holding element (12) for holding a connection element for connecting an external energy source attached hinge arm (14) to which a loading flap (11) is attached in order to move into an open and closed position and a sensor (17) attached to an inside of the loading flap (11) for detecting a manual touch on the outside of the Loading flap (11) to open the loading flap (11). A cable guide (19) is formed in the hinge arm (14), which is sealed from the interior (25) of the hinge arm (14) and for guiding a connecting cable (20) from the sensor (17) to the interior (21) of the vehicle (15). serves. A first sealing element (23) is provided for sealing the cable guide (19) at its sensor-side opening (22), and a second sealing element (24) is for sealing a feedthrough (27) for the connecting cable (20) to the interior (21) of the Vehicle (15) is provided.

Description

The invention relates to a tailgate system with a sensor for a vehicle, in particular for an electric vehicle. The invention further relates to a vehicle that is equipped with the tailgate system.

The invention is particularly suitable for use in electrically powered vehicles in which an external electrical energy source, such as a charging station, is connected to the vehicle in order to charge it with electricity as an energy source which is stored in an electrical storage unit of the vehicle.

However, the invention can also be used, for example, in vehicles with internal combustion engines, in which, for example, fuel is supplied to the vehicle as an energy source at a gas station. The invention can also be used for hybrid vehicles in which an external energy source is connected to the vehicle in order to load or refuel it with electrical energy and/or a fuel. The term loading flap system should therefore also be understood to mean systems that are designed for loading with fuel and are also referred to as tank flap systems.

Such loading flap systems or fuel filler flap systems usually have a pivoting loading flap or closure flap, which is opened to fill the vehicle with an energy source such as electric current or another type of fuel to drive the vehicle engine, and is closed again after filling to create a fuel tank behind it To seal the connection or filling unit or protect it against external influences.

Some tailgate systems are electrically powered and have a button for operation by the vehicle user, which emits an electrical signal when touched. The function must be reliably and safely displayed under environmental influences such as rain, splash water, snow, ice, dust, etc. In addition, the button should not affect the attractive design of a vehicle.

The object of the invention is to create a tailgate system with a button for opening the tailgate, which does not affect the exterior design of the vehicle and ensures safe and reliable function even in harsh environmental conditions.

• ein Halteelement zur Befestigung in einem Karosserieelement eines Fahrzeugs, wobei das Halteelement zum Halten eines Anschlusselements ausgebildet ist, um eine externe Energiequelle an das Fahrzeug anzuschließen; einen am Halteelement bewegbar befestigten Scharnierarm, an dem eine Ladeklappe befestigt oder befestigbar ist, um in eine geöffnete und in eine geschlossene Position zu gelangen; einen an einer Innenseite der Ladeklappe befestigten Sensor zum Detektieren einer manuellen Berührung der Außenseite der Ladeklappe, um die Ladeklappe zu öffnen; eine im Scharnierarm ausgebildete Kabelführung, die zum Innenraum des Scharnierarms hin abgedichtet ist, zur Führung eines Anschlusskabels vom Sensor zum Innenraum des Fahrzeugs; ein erstes Dichtungselement zum Abdichten der Kabelführung an ihrer sensorseitigen Öffnung; und ein zweites Dichtungselement zum Abdichten einer Durchführung für das Sensorkabel zum Innenraum des Fahrzeugs.

To solve the problem, the invention creates a loading flap system for a vehicle, in particular for an electric vehicle, comprising:

• a holding element for attachment in a body element of a vehicle, the holding element being designed to hold a connection element in order to connect an external power source to the vehicle; a hinge arm movably attached to the holding element, to which a loading flap is attached or attachable to move into an open and a closed position; a sensor attached to an inside of the tailgate for detecting a manual touch to the outside of the tailgate to open the tailgate; a cable guide formed in the hinge arm and sealed to the interior of the hinge arm for guiding a connecting cable from the sensor to the interior of the vehicle; a first sealing element for sealing the cable guide at its sensor-side opening; and a second sealing element for sealing a feedthrough for the sensor cable to the interior of the vehicle.

The invention in particular creates a loading flap system with an integrated sensor, which causes the loading flap to open by pressing buttons, which is not visible from the outside and whose cable routing runs completely in the drying room.

The cable guide preferably extends in a hinge box into which the hinge arm is moved when the loading flap is closed.

The feedthrough for the sensor cable to the interior of the vehicle is advantageously designed in the hinge box.

In particular, for example, an optical marking is provided on the outside of the loading flap, which identifies a tactile area for opening the loading flap.

The cable guide in the hinge arm is advantageously designed as a channel.

The sensor is preferably a capacitive sensor.

A roll-up receiving element is advantageously provided for the connecting cable in order to roll it up when closing the loading flap and unroll it when opening the loading flap.

Advantageously, the roll-up receiving element is arranged such that it holds the connecting cable between the hinge arm and the bushing rolls up to the interior of the vehicle.

In particular, the roll-up receiving element is designed, for example, as a cassette.

The roll-up receiving element advantageously comprises members that are movably attached to one another.

According to one aspect of the invention, a vehicle is created, in particular an electric vehicle, which comprises a loading flap system according to the invention.

• 1 ein Ladeklappensystem gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung als Ansicht von außen bzw. auf seine Vorderseite, wobei die Ladeklappe nicht dargestellt ist;
• 2 das in 1 gezeigte Ladeklappensystem mit geschlossener Ladeklappe in einer perspektivischen Schnittdarstellung;
• 3 das in 2 gezeigte Ladeklappensystems mit geöffneter Ladeklappe in einer perspektivischen Schnittdarstellung;
• 4 eine Darstellung der Kabelführung in dem Ladeklappensystem, in einer transparenten perspektivischen Schnittdarstellung;
• 5 das Ladeklappensystem in einer Ansicht von der Innenseite des Fahrzeugs;
• 6 ein Ladeklappensystem gemäß einer zweiten bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung bei geschlossener Ladeklappe, als perspektivische Schnittdarstellung;
• 7 das in 6 gezeigte Ladeklappensystem in einer ähnlichen Darstellung, jedoch gemäß einer zweiten bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung bei geöffneter Ladeklappe; und
• 8 ein aufrollbares Aufnahmeelement des in den 6 und 7 gezeigten Ladeklappensystems in vergrößerter perspektivischer Darstellung;

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show in it:

• 1 a loading flap system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention as a view from the outside or on its front, the loading flap not being shown;
• 2 this in 1 shown tailgate system with closed tailgate in a perspective sectional view;
• 3 this in 2 shown tailgate system with opened tailgate in a perspective sectional view;
• 4 a representation of the cable routing in the tailgate system, in a transparent perspective sectional view;
• 5 the tailgate system in a view from the inside of the vehicle;
• 6 a tailgate system according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention with the tailgate closed, as a perspective sectional view;
• 7 this in 6 tailgate system shown in a similar representation, but according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention with the tailgate open; and
• 8th a roll-up receiving element in the 6 and 7 tailgate system shown in an enlarged perspective view;

In the figures, identical or corresponding elements are each marked with the same reference numerals and will therefore not be described again unless this appears appropriate. The disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied analogously to parts with the same reference numbers or the same component names.

The terms “front”, “rear” etc. refer to the state of the tailgate system installed in the vehicle, viewed from the outside of the vehicle towards the interior of the vehicle. You can also refer to the tailgate system itself, looking from the front towards the rear and beyond.

Individual features or combinations of features from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can be combined with one another, as long as this is technically possible and they do not contradict one another.

The 1 to 3 show a tailgate system 10, which is designed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and is mounted in a vehicle 15. This shows 1 the tailgate system 10 in a view from the outside of the vehicle 15, with its tailgate 11 (see 2 ) is partially transparent for better display. The 2 and 3 show the tailgate system 10 with the tailgate 11 closed or open.

The tailgate system 10 includes a holding element 12, which is designed for attachment in a body element 13 of the vehicle 15. In this example, the body element 13 is a side frame of the vehicle 15. The holding element 12 is designed to hold a connection element, not shown here, in order to connect an external energy source to the vehicle. For example, the connection element is a charging socket or the like for connecting a charging plug, which forms an electrical connection between the vehicle 15 and an external charging station for charging the vehicle.

The tailgate system 11 is mounted on a hinge arm 14 which is movably attached to the holding element 12 to move the tailgate 11 to an open position (see 3 ) and into a closed position (see 2 ) to move.

On an inside 16 of the loading flap 11, a sensor 17 is attached, which is designed to detect a manual touch of the outside 18 of the loading flap 11 by a vehicle user in order to open it.

A cable guide 19 is formed in the hinge arm 14, which leads a sensor or connection cable 20 of the sensor 17 from the sensor 17 to the interior 21 of the vehicle 15. The cable guide 19 in the hinge arm 14 has an opening 22 on its side near the sensor 17, through which the connecting cable 20 enters the cable guide 19, wherein the opening 22 with the connecting cable 20 passed through is sealed by a first sealing element 23. A second sealing element 24 at the other end of the cable guide 19 is provided for sealing a feedthrough opening 27 with the sensor cable 20 passed through there, through which it enters the interior 21 of the vehicle 15.

To show further details shows 4 the hinge arm 14 and the loading flap system in a transparent representation. The sensor 17 is designed in particular as a capacitive sensor and is fastened in an area on the inside 16 or back of the loading flap 11, for example by a clip on the hinge arm 14.

At the sensor-side opening 22, the sensor cable 20 extending from the sensor 17 enters the interior 25 of the hinge arm 14, where it reaches the other end 26 of the hinge arm 14 by means of the cable guide 19, which is located near the inside of the vehicle 21. At the end 26, the sensor cable 20 emerges from the hinge arm 14. It then passes through the passage opening 27 sealed with the second sealing element 24 into the interior 21 of the vehicle 15.

A connector plug 28 for establishing an electrical connection with a wiring harness of the vehicle 15 is formed at the end of the sensor cable 20 located in the vehicle interior 21. The openings 22, 27 are preferably large enough for the plug 28 to fit through

In the interior 25 of the hinge arm 14 there are openings 45 for the cable guide 19, so that it can extend through internal structures 29 of the hinge arm 14.

Again referring to the 2 and 3 , a hinge box 30 is provided on the holding element 12 or as a part thereof, into which the hinge arm 14 is moved when the loading flap is closed. When the loading flap 11 is closed, most of the hinge arm 14 is located inside the hinge box 30 (see 2 ). When the loading flap 11 is opened, the hinge arm 14 is moved out of the hinge box 30 (see 3 ). The hinge arm 14 is pivotally mounted in the holding element 12, with its axis of rotation 31 and an adjacent section 32 of the hinge arm 14 still being located within the hinge box 30 after being moved out.

Within the hinge box 30, the sensor cable 20 emerges from the hinge arm 14 near the axis of rotation 31. As it continues, it reaches the passage opening 27 with the sealing element 24 fastened therein, through which it passes and is thereby guided into the interior 21 of the vehicle 15. For this purpose, the feedthrough opening 27 for the sensor cable 20 is formed in a wall 33 of the hinge box 30.

The sensor cable 20 guided in the hinge arm 14 with the cable guide 19 is curved according to the shape of the hinge arm 14, having several radii of curvature and being shaped in the manner of a gooseneck up to the feedthrough opening 27. The cable guide 19 is designed in the hinge arm 14 as a preferably closed channel.

To drive the hinge arm 14, a motor 34 is provided, the drive axis of which is coupled to the axis of rotation 31 of the hinge arm 14 or forms the axis of rotation 31.

Like in the 1 and 2 can be seen, an optical marking 35 is formed on the outside or front side 18 of the tailgate 11, which identifies a tactile area for opening the tailgate system 10 or the tailgate 11. The marking or the tactile area 35 is formed by or includes depressions and/or elevations so that it can be recognized haptically when touched. It is also visually recognizable thanks to the recesses without being particularly noticeable. It is preferably designed in the same color as the loading flap 11.

The marking or the touch area 35 is located at a position at which the sensor 17 attached to the back 16 of the loading flap 11 is arranged. The marking 35 shows a user of the vehicle 15 at which point the loading flap 11 must be touched in order to open it.

The touch is detected by the sensor 17, which then generates an electrical signal that represents an opening request and is guided via the sensor cable 20 to a control device, not shown. The control device then causes the motor 34 to be energized, which thereby drives the axis of rotation 31, whereby the hinge arm 14 with the loading flap 11 is pivoted into the open position.

Like in the 2 and 3 shown, the sensor cable 20 retains its shape when opening and closing the loading flap 11 due to the cable guide 19 within the hinge arm 14. Only in a section 36 of the sensor cable 20, which extends between the axis of rotation 31 and the second sealing element 24, does the opening and closing of the loading flap 11 cause a change Radius of curvature of the sensor cable 20 in the interior 37 of the hinge box 30.

The hinge box 30 is formed by a hinge box base part 42 and a hinge box cover 43 mounted thereon. A hinge box seal 44 is arranged to seal the two parts 42, 43 from the vehicle interior 21.

Additionally shows 5 a perspective view of the holding element 12 with its hinge box 30 seen from the inside of the vehicle. The hinge box 30 completely encloses its interior 37, through which the sensor cable 20 partially extends. The interior 37 of the hinge box 30 is separated from the interior 21 of the vehicle 15 by the closed hinge box 30.

The plug 28 is preferably attached to the hinge box 30 on its outside 41, which simplifies assembly and thereby reduces costs.

In the 6 to 8 a further preferred embodiment of the tailgate system 10 is described. This preferably has the same features as those above with reference to 1 to 5 described loading flap system 10, but a roll-up receiving element 38 is provided in which the sensor cable 20 is accommodated. The receiving element 38 is designed in such a way that it rolls up the sensor cable 20 when the loading flap 11 is closed and unrolls it when the loading flap 11 is opened.

By rolling up the sensor cable 20 with the help of the receiving element 38, mechanical stress on the sensor cable 20 when opening and closing the loading flap 11 is particularly effectively avoided, since its radius of curvature is always larger than a minimum value and therefore the sensor cable 20 is particularly well protected.

The rollable receiving element 38 is arranged in the interior 37 of the hinge box 30, so that the sensor cable 20 is rolled up or unrolled in the interior 37 when the loading flap 11 is closed or opened. The roll-up receiving element 38 is designed as a guide cassette for the sensor cable 20 in the interior 37 of the hinge box 30.

As in 8th clarified, the receiving element 38 comprises a plurality of links 39 which are movably connected to one another, similar to a chain, in order to enable rolling up and unwinding together with the sensor cable 20 arranged therein. A sliding bearing, not visible in the figure, is arranged in the center 40 of the receiving element 38 in the rolled-up state, similar to a garden hose. In the center 40, the sensor cable 20 is led out of the receiving element 38 and guided into the interior 21 of the vehicle 15 through the through or through opening 27 of the hinge box 30 and the seal located therein, which is formed by the second sealing element 24.

The invention, as described above, creates a tailgate system 11 in which the sensor 17 for operating the tailgate system 11 is not or not conspicuously visible from the outside and therefore has no effect on the exterior design of the vehicle. Its function is safe even in harsh environmental conditions such as rain, snow, ice, dust, etc.

In addition, when touching the tailgate 11, which is located in the wet area of the vehicle 15, an electrical signal is led into the interior of the tailgate system 10, which forms a drying room when the flap is closed, as well as into the interior 21 of the vehicle 15.

The tailgate system 11 according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the capacitive sensor 17 is positioned directly behind the tailgate 11 in order to correctly detect the environmental influences.

For example, the cable guide 19 initially seals the interior 25 of the hinge arm 14 through the first sealing element 23. In particular, the cable routing or cable guide 19 is guided into the hinge box 30 via the movable hinge arm 14. There the cable routing 15 is sealed for the second time to the interior 21 of the vehicle 15 via the second sealing element 24, which is designed in particular as a grommet, for example in the form of a plug.

List of reference symbols:

10

Tailgate system

11

loading flap

12

Holding element

13

Body element

14

Hinge arm

15

vehicle

16

Inside or back of the loading flap

17

sensor

18

Outside or front of the loading flap

19

Cable routing

20

Sensor or connection cable

21

Interior of the vehicle

22

sensor side opening

23

first sealing element

24

second sealing element

25

Interior of the hinge arm

26

End of the hinge arm

27

Passage opening

28

Connection plug

29

internal structures

30

hinge box

31

Axis of rotation

32

Part of the hinge arm

33

Wall of the hinge box

34

engine

35

Marking / touch area

36

Section

37

Interior of the hinge box

38

roll-up receiving element

39

Limbs

40

center

41

Outside of the hinge box

42

Hinge box base part

43

Hinged box lid

44

Hinge box seal

45

Breakthroughs

Claims (10)

Tailgate system for a vehicle, in particular for an electric vehicle, comprising: a holding element (12) for fastening in a body element of a vehicle (15), the holding element (12) being designed to hold a connection element in order to connect an external energy source to the vehicle (15), a hinge arm (14) movably attached to the holding element (12), to which a loading flap (11) is attached or can be attached in order to move into an open and a closed position. a sensor (17) attached to an inside of the loading flap (11) for detecting a manual touch to the outside of the loading flap (11) in order to open the loading flap (11); a cable guide (19) formed in the hinge arm (14), which is sealed to the interior (25) of the hinge arm (14), for guiding a connecting cable (20) from the sensor (17) to the interior (21) of the vehicle (15), a first sealing element (23) for sealing the cable guide (19) at its sensor-side opening (22), and a second sealing element (24) for sealing a passage (27) for the connecting cable (20) to the interior (21) of the vehicle (15). Loading flap system Claim 1 , characterized in that the cable guide (19) extends in a hinge box (30) into which the hinge arm (14) is moved when the loading flap (11) is closed. Loading flap system Claim 2 , characterized in that the bushing (27) for the connecting cable (20) to the interior (21) of the vehicle (15) is formed in the hinge box (30). Tailgate system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a marking (35) on the outside (18) of the tailgate (11), which identifies a tactile area for opening the tailgate (11). Loading flap system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable guide (19) is designed as a channel in the hinge arm (14). Loading flap system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (17) is a capacitive sensor (17). Tailgate system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a roll-up receiving element (38) for the connecting cable (20) in order to roll it up when closing the tailgate (11) and unroll it when opening the tailgate (11). Loading flap system Claim 7 , characterized in that the roll-up receiving element (38) is arranged such that it rolls up the connecting cable (20) between the hinge arm (14) and the feedthrough to the interior (21) of the vehicle (15). Loading flap system Claim 7 or 8th , characterized in that the roll-up receiving element (38) is designed as a cassette which comprises members (39) movably attached to one another. Vehicle, in particular electric vehicle, characterized by a loading flap system (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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