EP1195494A1 - Antiebssystem für die Heckklappe eines Fahrzeuges - Google Patents

Antiebssystem für die Heckklappe eines Fahrzeuges Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1195494A1
EP1195494A1 EP01203294A EP01203294A EP1195494A1 EP 1195494 A1 EP1195494 A1 EP 1195494A1 EP 01203294 A EP01203294 A EP 01203294A EP 01203294 A EP01203294 A EP 01203294A EP 1195494 A1 EP1195494 A1 EP 1195494A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
curved
operating system
liftgate
power operating
drive link
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01203294A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael A. Ciavaglia
Joseph M. Johnson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Delphi Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
Delphi Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Delphi Technologies Inc filed Critical Delphi Technologies Inc
Publication of EP1195494A1 publication Critical patent/EP1195494A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
    • E05F15/60—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators
    • E05F15/603—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors
    • E05F15/611—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for swinging wings
    • E05F15/627—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for swinging wings operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
    • E05F15/60—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators
    • E05F15/603—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors
    • E05F15/611—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for swinging wings
    • E05F15/616—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for swinging wings operated by push-pull mechanisms
    • E05F15/619—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for swinging wings operated by push-pull mechanisms using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
    • E05F15/60—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators
    • E05F15/603—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors
    • E05F15/611—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for swinging wings
    • E05F15/63—Power-operated mechanisms for wings using electrical actuators using rotary electromotors for swinging wings operated by swinging arms
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/20—Brakes; Disengaging means; Holders; Stops; Valves; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/252—Type of friction
    • E05Y2201/26—Mechanical friction
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/60—Suspension or transmission members; Accessories therefor
    • E05Y2201/622—Suspension or transmission members elements
    • E05Y2201/71—Toothed gearing
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2400/00—Electronic control; Electrical power; Power supply; Power or signal transmission; User interfaces
    • E05Y2400/10—Electronic control
    • E05Y2400/30—Electronic control of motors
    • E05Y2400/3013—Electronic control of motors during manual wing operation
    • E05Y2400/3014—Back driving the transmission or motor
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2400/00—Electronic control; Electrical power; Power supply; Power or signal transmission; User interfaces
    • E05Y2400/10—Electronic control
    • E05Y2400/32—Position control, detection or monitoring
    • E05Y2400/35—Position control, detection or monitoring related to specific positions
    • E05Y2400/356—Intermediate positions
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
    • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/50—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles
    • E05Y2900/53—Type of wing
    • E05Y2900/546—Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a power operating system for a vehicle liftgate that is pivotally attached to a vehicle compartment for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal hinge axis and more particularly to a power operating system that will move a liftgate from a closed position to a fully open position and from an open position to a fully closed position.
  • Utility vehicles and vans with liftgates that are hinged at the top about a generally horizontal axis are used by large numbers of people today. Some of these liftgates are large and heavy. Their size and weight make some liftgates difficult to open and close. Some of the liftgates are also a great distance above the ground when they are fully opened. Their height above the ground makes them very difficult for some people to close. For these and other reasons many people would like to have a power operating system for opening and closing the liftgate.
  • liftgate openers have been tried in recent years. Some of these liftgate openers have a single cable that opens and closes a liftgate in connection with a counterbalance system, such as a gas spring counterbalance system.
  • Liftgates with a single cable opener and closer are generally trunk lids that are lightweight and have a relatively small range of movement.
  • gas spring output varies with temperature. This complicates power liftgate systems that rely on gas springs to open the liftgate.
  • the gas spring or springs must be strong enough to open the liftgate on the coldest day (-40° C). This results in gas springs that increase closing resistance substantially on the hottest day (80° C). Therefore a very large electric motor must be used to close the liftgate.
  • Liftgates that have two or more gas springs for a counter balance system are common. These gas springs generally occupy a position in which their axis is substantially parallel to the liftgate so that the gas springs are hidden when the liftgate is closed. In this closed position the moment arm of the gas springs is quite small. With such systems the lift gate may move about one-third of their total travel range before the gas cylinders exert sufficient force to open a liftgate further without the application of an independent lifting force. There are even some systems in which the gas springs pass over center and bias a liftgate toward a closed position when the liftgate is closed. With these self-closing systems a liftgate may need to be more than one-third open before the gas springs will open the liftgate further.
  • the force required to hold a liftgate in a given position along its path of movement from a closed position to a fully open position varies substantially in some liftgate opening systems.
  • a power liftgate closer must exert sufficient force to hold a liftgate in any given position along the path of movement, plus the force to overcome friction, and plus the force required to accelerate the liftgate during liftgate closing. If the total force exerted by the liftgate power closure varies substantially from one position between fully opened and closed to another position between fully opened and closed, it may be difficult for the control system to detect an obstruction and stop the liftgate without incurring damage to the vehicle or to the object that obstructs the liftgate.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle liftgate power operating system.
  • a feature of the invention is that the vehicle liftgate power operating system can move the liftgate from a closed position to a fully opened position as well as from an open position to a fully closed position.
  • Another feature of the invention is that the liftgate power operating system allows the liftgate to be moved manually when an efficient gear set is selected.
  • the drive unit of the liftgate power operating system has a curved drive link attached to the liftgate that is guided by a curved track that is preferably shaped to hug the interior roof structure and thus minimize intrusion into the cargo area of the vehicle and maximize the unobstructed load height at the liftgate opening.
  • the liftgate power operating system preferably has a moveable curved drive link attached to the liftgate that is preferably shaped and guided to swing concentrically with respect to the hinge axis of the liftgate so that the moveable curved drive link can be sealed easily and/or exit outside the liftgate perimeter seal.
  • the liftgate power operating system has a curved drive link attached to the lift gate that is driven by an endless flexible member that travels in a loop next to the track thereby reducing the length of the drive unit substantially.
  • Still yet another feature of the invention is that the power operating system can be used in conjunction with a counterbalance system.
  • vehicle 10 has a liftgate 12 that is attached to the aft end of the vehicle roof by two hinge assemblies.
  • the typical right hand hinge assembly 14 is shown in figures 2 and 3.
  • Hinge assemblies 14 have hinge portions 16 that are secured to a roof channel of the vehicle 10 and hinge portions 18 that are secured to a top channel of liftgate 12. Hinge portions 18 are attached to hinge portions 16 by pivot pins 20 so that liftgate 12 pivots about a hinge axis indicated at 21 in figures 2 and 3 from a closed position shown in figure 2 to an open position shown in figure 3. Hinge axis 21 is generally substantially horizontal and liftgate 12 is generally permitted to pivot about 90° about hinge axis 21. However, the range of movement can be varied substantially from one vehicle 10 to another.
  • Liftgate 12 is opened and closed by a power operating system that includes two identical drive units 22 that are installed in the aft end of the vehicle roof.
  • Drive units 22 are laterally spaced from each other and near the respective vertical body pillars at the aft end of vehicle 10 that define the rear opening that is closed by liftgate 12.
  • the typical drive unit 22 is shown in figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 with an interior trim cover removed to show detail of drive unit 22.
  • Each drive unit 22 comprises a housing 24 having a curved track 26 between two curved side chambers 28 and 30.
  • Chamber 28 has a curved rack 32 with interior teeth that is fixed adjacent an exterior side wall of housing 24.
  • Chamber 30 has an upper drive channel 34 and a lower return channel 35 separated by a curved partition wall 36.
  • a curved drive link 38 is disposed in the curved track 26 of housing 24 and pivotally attached to vehicle liftgate 12 at a protruding outboard end.
  • Drive link 38 is guided by the curved track 26 by a roller 40 that is carried at an opposite inboard end. Roller 40 travels in the curved track 26 with a running fit.
  • a pinion gear 42 is rotatably attached to curved drive link 38 by an axle 44.
  • Pinion gear 42 is near roller 40 and the inboard end of curved drive link 38 preferably as close as possible.
  • Axle 44 extends outwardly of drive link 38 into chamber 28 so that pinion gear 42 is disposed in chamber 28 and meshes with curved rack 32 as best shown in figures 4 and 5.
  • Drive unit 22 includes drive means 46 to rotate pinion gear 42 so that the pinion gear 42 walks along the curved rack 36 and moves the curved drive link 38 with respect to the housing 24 and track 26.
  • Drive means 46 comprises a rotor 48 that is non-rotatably attached to the axle 44 that is joumalled on curved drive link 38 to rotatably support pinion gear 42, and an endless flexible drive member 50.
  • Flexible drive member 50 is arranged in a closed loop and driven in the loop by a reversible electric motor 52 via a gear set 53.
  • the closed loop is defined by an output wheel 54 attached to an output shaft of the gear set 53 at one end, the rotor 48, an idle roller 56 journalled on housing 24 at the outboard end and two guides; one guide being the return channel 35 and the other guide being the upper curved roof 37 of drive channel 34.
  • the axle 44 also extends outwardly of drive link 38 into drive channel 34 so that rotor 48 engages flexible drive member 50 as best shown in figures 4 and 5.
  • the flexible drive member 50 is preferably a drive chain in which case rotor 48, output wheel 54 and idle roller 56, are all sprockets, that is a rotor sprocket 48, an output sprocket 54 and an idle sprocket 56.
  • the curved drive link 38, the curved track 26, the curved roof 37, and the curved rack 32 all preferably have a radius of curvature that is centered on hinge axis 21. Such curvature results in curved drive link 38 swinging concentrically with respect to hinge axis 21 so that the curved drive link 38 can be sealed easily and/or exit outside liftgate perimeter seal.
  • the power operating system further includes a conventional power source such as the vehicle battery (not shown) and a suitable motor control for energizing and shutting off reversible electric motor 52.
  • a conventional power source such as the vehicle battery (not shown)
  • a suitable motor control for energizing and shutting off reversible electric motor 52.
  • Motor controls are well known to those skilled in the art and thus need not be described in detail.
  • the power operating system operates as follows. Assuming that the liftgate 12 is closed as shown in figure 2, electric motor 52 is energized to open liftgate 12. When energized, electric motor 52 rotates output wheel 54 counterclockwise driving flexible drive member 50 counterclockwise in the loop. Flexible drive member 50 in turn drives rotor 48 and pinion gear 42 fastened to rotor 48 by axle 44, counterclockwise. This causes pinion gear 42 to walk along curved rack 32 and move curved drive link 38 to the right as viewed in figure 2. Electric motor 52 continues to drive output wheel 54 until drive link 38 is driven to the fully extended position shown in figure 3. This action raises liftgate 12 from the closed position shown in figure 2 to the open position shown in figures 1 and 3. When the liftgate 12 is fully opened, a limit switch or the like is actuated to shut off electric motor 52. Liftgate 12 is closed by reversing electric motor 52 so that output wheel 54 drives curved drive link 38 back to the retracted position shown in figure 2.
  • electric motor 52 can be deenergized at any time in which case liftgate 12 can be stopped at any intermediate position and held in the intermediate position by the friction in gear set 53 without any need for a brake, detent or the like.
  • the liftgate 12 can then be moved by energizing electric motor 52 or the liftgate 12 can then be moved manually because gear train 28 can be designed with sufficient efficiency to permit back drive to electric motor 52.
  • the power operating system can be designed to work alone or in conjunction with a gas spring strut counterbalance system.
  • a gas spring strut counterbalance system Such systems which are well known in the art with the primary adjustment being the size of the electric motor 52 when the power rotating system is used with a counterbalance system.
  • the power operating system described above preferably includes two identical drive units 22 for balanced operation and reduced manufacturing costs.
  • the drive units need not be identical and in some instances, a single drive unit may be sufficient.

Landscapes

  • Power-Operated Mechanisms For Wings (AREA)
EP01203294A 2000-10-06 2001-08-31 Antiebssystem für die Heckklappe eines Fahrzeuges Withdrawn EP1195494A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US68420000A 2000-10-06 2000-10-06
US684200 2000-10-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1195494A1 true EP1195494A1 (de) 2002-04-10

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01203294A Withdrawn EP1195494A1 (de) 2000-10-06 2001-08-31 Antiebssystem für die Heckklappe eines Fahrzeuges

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1195494A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2002174072A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111497576A (zh) * 2019-01-11 2020-08-07 现代自动车株式会社 尾门和车顶的打开结构及其安装方法

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7159927B2 (en) * 2003-07-23 2007-01-09 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Powered tailgate system
JP2010120598A (ja) * 2008-11-21 2010-06-03 Kanto Auto Works Ltd ヒンジ構造
WO2010118277A2 (en) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-14 Turnstyle Intellectual Property, Llc Powered gate post with slots for positional adjustment

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6092337A (en) * 1999-02-05 2000-07-25 Delphi Technologies Inc. Vehicle liftgate power operating system

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6092337A (en) * 1999-02-05 2000-07-25 Delphi Technologies Inc. Vehicle liftgate power operating system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111497576A (zh) * 2019-01-11 2020-08-07 现代自动车株式会社 尾门和车顶的打开结构及其安装方法

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Publication number Publication date
JP2002174072A (ja) 2002-06-21

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