EP1471201A1 - Closure assembly and corresponding motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly has a door (20) articulated with respect to a frame (12) by a linking unit (22). A maintaining device (28) with a maintaining bar (36) maintains the door in a position, which is found outside its closed position, with respect to the frame. A driving device moves the door from the position to its closed position. The device generates a tensile strength on the bar (36) at the time of movement of the door. An independent claim is also included for a motor vehicle.

Description

• un cadre délimitant l'ouverture,
• une porte articulée par rapport au cadre par des moyens de liaison entre une position fermée et une position ouverte,
• un dispositif de maintien adapté pour maintenir la porte dans au moins une première position prédéterminée par rapport au cadre, position qui se trouve en dehors de sa position fermée, le dispositif de maintien étant muni d'un premier élément de maintien.

The present invention relates to an opening closure assembly, of the type comprising

• a frame delimiting the opening,
• a door hinged with respect to the frame by means of connection between a closed position and an open position,
• a holding device suitable for holding the door in at least a first predetermined position relative to the frame, a position which is outside of its closed position, the holding device being provided with a first holding element.

It applies in particular to vehicle doors automobile.

We know motor vehicle doors that are fitted with a holding device suitable for keep the door in a determined open position. Of such devices are described in documents FR-A-2 217 510, FR-A-2 280 778, FR-A-2 592 913, FR-A-2 613 755, FR-A-2 630,155, and FR-A-2,734,016.

These devices include a retaining bar which is provided with at least one hollow and which is articulated on the vehicle chassis. The bar cooperates with at least one roller placed on the door. When the door is in its open position, the roller engages in the hollow and thereby immobilizes the door.

The mass of motor vehicle doors becomes more and more important due to many components which are mounted therein, such as window regulators or air bags.

In addition, the pivoting doors, and in particular the doors of two-door cars called "sedans", have a large opening angle to facilitate access to rear seat of the vehicle. In this case access to the handle interior door is difficult from the front seat when the door is in its open position.

As a result, the doors of motor vehicles are difficult to close.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage, and to propose a set which allows a easy door closing.

To this end the invention relates to a set of aforementioned type, characterized in that the assembly includes in addition to a motorized drive device suitable for drive the door from said first predetermined position towards its closed position, and in that the device drive is adapted to generate a pulling force on said first holding element during training Door.

• le dispositif de maintien est adapté pour maintenir la porte dans une seconde position prédéterminée, située entre la position prédéterminée et la position fermée ;
• ladite première position prédéterminée est la position ouverte ;
• le premier élément de maintien comporte un creux relié à l'un des éléments porte et cadre, et le dispositif de maintien comprend un second élément de maintien monté sur l'autre des éléments porte et cadre, ce second élément de maintien étant adapté pour s'engager dans le creux lorsque la porte est dans sa première position déterminée ;
• le premier élément de maintien est une barrette de maintien comprenant des creux, et le second élément de maintien est un galet mobile entre une position de maintien dans laquelle il s'engage dans l'un des creux et une position de libération dans laquelle il se trouve en dehors des creux ;
• les moyens d'entraínement sont des moyens d'entraínement par pas adaptés pour entraíner la porte de sa première position prédéterminée dans sa seconde position prédéterminée lors d'un seul pas ;
• les moyens d'entraínement comprennent un premier élément d'entraínement relié à l'un des éléments cadre et porte, et un second élément d'entraínement relié à l'autre des éléments cadre et porte ;
• ledit premier élément d'entraínement comprend une butée, et ledit second élément d'entraínement comprend un ergot mobile en rotation de manière excentrée autour d'un premier axe et coopérant avec la butée ;
• la butée est reliée, notamment articulée autour d'un second axe, au premier élément de maintien ;
• les moyens d'entraínement sont adaptés pour amener la porte de sa seconde position prédéterminée vers sa position fermée ;
• les moyens d'entraínement comprennent une butée supplémentaire adaptée pour coopérer avec ledit second élément d'entraínement en vue d'un déplacement de la porte vers sa position fermée ;
• la butée et la butée supplémentaire sont formées par une crémaillère ; et
• les moyens d'entraínement sont adaptés pour fonctionner à vide lorsque la porte est dans sa position fermée.

According to other embodiments, the assembly according to the invention comprises one or more of the following characteristics:

• the holding device is adapted to hold the door in a second predetermined position, located between the predetermined position and the closed position;
• said first predetermined position is the open position;
• the first holding element has a recess connected to one of the door and frame elements, and the holding device comprises a second holding element mounted on the other of the door and frame elements, this second holding element being suitable for s '' engage in the hollow when the door is in its first determined position;
• the first retaining element is a retaining bar comprising recesses, and the second retaining element is a roller movable between a retaining position in which it engages in one of the recesses and a release position in which it found outside the hollows;
• the drive means are step drive means adapted to drive the door from its first predetermined position to its second predetermined position in a single step;
• the drive means comprise a first drive element connected to one of the frame and door elements, and a second drive element connected to the other of the frame and door elements;
• said first drive element comprises a stop, and said second drive element comprises a lug movable in rotation eccentrically about a first axis and cooperating with the stop;
• the stop is connected, in particular articulated around a second axis, to the first holding element;
• the drive means are adapted to bring the door from its second predetermined position to its closed position;
• the drive means comprise an additional stop adapted to cooperate with said second drive element for a movement of the door to its closed position;
• the stop and the additional stop are formed by a rack; and
• the drive means are adapted to operate empty when the door is in its closed position.

The invention further relates to a vehicle automobile, characterized in that it comprises an assembly such as defined above.

• la Figure 1 est une vue en coupe horizontale d'une partie de porte d'un véhicule automobile comprenant un premier mode de réalisation de l'ensemble selon l'invention, la porte étant fermée;
• la Figure 2 est une vue de la partie de porte de la Figure 1, la porte étant ouverte;
• les Figures 3 à 6 sont des vues de la partie du véhicule automobile de la Figure 1 pendant différentes étapes de fonctionnement de l'ensemble;
• la Figure 7 est une vue en coupe horizontale d'une partie de porte d'un véhicule automobile comprenant un second mode de réalisation de l'ensemble selon l'invention, la porte étant ouverte; et
• les Figures 8 à 13 sont des vues correspondantes à la Figure 7, pendant différentes étapes de fermeture de la porte.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a door portion of a motor vehicle comprising a first embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, the door being closed;
• Figure 2 is a view of the door portion of Figure 1, the door being open;
• Figures 3 to 6 are views of the part of the motor vehicle of Figure 1 during different stages of operation of the assembly;
• Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view of a door portion of a motor vehicle comprising a second embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, the door being open; and
• Figures 8 to 13 are views corresponding to Figure 7, during different stages of closing the door.

In Figure 1 is shown, in section horizontal, part of a motor vehicle according to the invention, designated by the general reference 2.

The motor vehicle comprises a body 4 which delimits an access opening 6 inside the vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a set 8 for closing opening 6.

This closure assembly 8 is provided with a frame of fixed door 12 to which is fixed, by means of two screws 14, a support 16 in the form of a square.

The closure assembly 8 is further provided with a door 20 articulated around an axis U-U with respect to the opening 6 by means of a hinge 22. The hinge 22 is arranged on one end of one of the branches of the support 16.

The door 20 includes an exterior panel 24 which is reinforced by a lining 26. The door 20 is movable by relative to the opening 6 between a closed position (Figure 1), and a stable open position (Figure 2). Gate 20 can also take a stable intermediate position, which is between the open and closed positions (Figure 5).

The closure assembly 8 further comprises a holding device 28 of door 20 in its positions open and intermediate, as well as a device 30 of the door 20 from its open position in its intermediate position.

The holding device 28 comprises a first holding group 32 consisting of a support 34 integral with the bracket 16 as well as a holding bar 36. The holding bar 36 is articulated to one of its ends relative to the support 34 around an axis V-V, distinct from the U-U axis. The holding bar 36 is provided a first 38 and a second 40 hollow. The first hollow 38 is arranged at the end of the retaining bar 36 opposite its hinged end on the support, while the second hollow 40 is disposed substantially in the middle between the two ends of the bar 36.

Furthermore, the holding device 28 comprises a second holding group 44, consisting of a support for roller 46 integral with the lining 26 carrying a movable roller 48 and a fixed roller 50 for holding axes W-W and X-X parallel to the V-V axis. The first and second rollers of support are articulated with respect to the roller support 46 around third W-W and fourth X-X axes.

The movable roller 48 is displaceable in translation between a holding position and a release position in a direction of movement D which extends perpendicular to the third W-W axis and substantially perpendicular to the holding bar 36. In its holding position, the first roller 48 is brought closer to the second roller 50 and is received in one of the recesses 38, 40 of the holding bar 36, while in its position release it is distant from the roller 50 and allows a movement of door 20 between its open positions and closed. The movable roller 48 is biased by a spring of recall 52 to its holding position.

The recesses 38, 40 of the holding strip 36 are arranged so that the first retaining roller 48 is received in the first hollow 38 when the door 20 is is in its determined open position and is received in the second hollow 40 when the door 20 is in its intermediate determined position.

The drive device 30 comprises a rod drive 60 articulated at a proximal end on the free end of the retaining bar 36 around a Y-Y axis. An oblong hole 66 is formed in the rod 60. The end of the oblong hole 66, close to the distal end of the opposite rod 60 of the bar of holding 36 forms a stop 68.

The drive device 30 further comprises a lug 70 driven in rotation by a gear motor 72 rotary axis Z-Z fixed to the lining by a fitting 76. The lug 70 is offset by a distance e relative to the axis ZZ. The lug 70 is movable in the oblong hole 66 between a rest position in which it lies between the Y-Y axis and the V-V axis and a pull position.

A drive control 74 connected to the motor includes an input 78 for a start-up signal of the gear motor 72. This input 78 is connected to a key 80 and to a receiver 82 of a remote control 84. The command 74 is arranged in such a way that during a actuation of the key 80 or of the remote control 84, the geared motor 72 drives the lug 70 during a 360 ° step around the sixth axis Z-Z.

All axes U-U, V-V, W-W, X-X, Y-Y, Z-Z from the whole extend parallel to each other and are distinct from each other.

The assembly according to the invention operates from the next way.

Initially, the assembly is in its configuration shown in Figure 1.

The door 20 is in its closed position and the holding rollers 48, 50 are located near the end articulated to the support of the holding bar 36. The lug 70 is near the proximal end of the hole oblong 66.

When door 20 is brought from its closed position in its determined open position, counterclockwise in Figure 1, the holding rollers 48, 50 and lug 70 move along the retaining bar 36 and the drive rod 60.

In the open position, as shown on the In Figure 2, the roller 48 extends into the first hollow 38. The lug 70 is then placed near the distal end of the oblong hole 66, while having a small clearance, in order to avoid traction forces on the holding bar 36, the drive rod 60 and on the joints around the V-V and Y-Y axes.

In this position, the door 20 allows access easy inside the vehicle.

When the passenger or driver is installed on his seat, he presses the 80 key, or alternatively the remote control 84. The drive control 74 supplies the gear motor 72 one step so that the lug 70 performs a full revolution around the Z-Z axis.

First, ergot 70 is applied against the stop 68 and generates a pushing force on the door 20, by means of a pulling force applied to the drive rod 36 and to the bar of maintenance 66.

When the holding force of the two rollers 48, 50 is crossed, the movable roller 48 leaves the hollow 38 and the door 20 is driven to its determined position intermediate. When lug 70 has rotated 90 ° from its rest position, door 20 is located approximately halfway between the open position and the intermediate position (Figure 3).

When lug 70 has rotated 180 ° around the Z-Z axis, the roller 48 engages in the second hollow 40 and the door 20 takes its intermediate position (Figure 4). In this position the driver can easily reach a handle (not shown) arranged on the lining of door 26 in order to close door 20.

Then, the lug 70 is driven again by 180 ° around the sixth axis Z-Z and takes its rest position. During this second half of rotation, the lug 70 slides in the oblong hole 66 towards the articulated end of the drive rod 60 and exerts no force of pull on door 20 (Figure 5).

When the passenger brings door 20 from its position intermediate in its closed position, the lug 70 slides further into the oblong hole 66 towards the proximal end of rod 60 (Figure 1).

When the passenger activates the control, by inadvertent example, when door 20 is in its closed position, lug 70 rotates 360 ° around the Z-Z axis without applying against the stop 68 (Figure 6). In this case the drive rod 60 oscillates at empty around the fifth axis Y-Y.

In Figures 7 to 13 is shown a second mode for producing the assembly according to the invention.

In the following only the differences by relative to the first embodiment will be described. The similar elements have the same references.

This set 2 is adapted to drive the door 20 from its open position to its determined position intermediate during a first actuation of the means drive, and to drive door 20 from its position intermediate towards its closed position during a second actuation of the drive device 30.

For this purpose, the first drive element is formed by a rack 90. This rack 90 comprises a first stop 92 and a second stop 94 formed by first 96 and second 98 protruding teeth perpendicular to the Z-Z axis. Rack 90 is guided in translation relative to lug 70 by a stud guide 100 secured to the gear motor support 76, nipple which engages in an oblong light 102 provided in rack 90.

The lug 70 is, in its rest position, arranged facing the rack 90, so that the sixth axis Z-Z is located between lug 70 and the rack 90. In this position, the lug 70 is out taking of the stops 92, 94.

The rack 90 further comprises a recess 104 which is disposed between the hinge end of the rack and second tooth 98. This recess 104 is arranged in such a way that when door 20 is located in its closed position, the lug 70 can be driven around the sixth axis Z-Z so that it remains out of contact stops 92, 94.

The assembly according to the second embodiment works as follows.

Initially, door 20 is in its position open (Figure 7). The lug 70 is out of grip of the stops 92, 94 and extends outside the rack 90, opposite the first tooth 96. In this position of the lug 70 the mobility of door 20 between its open positions and closed is not hindered by the drive device 30.

When the passenger wishes to close door 20, he operates command 74 for the first time, which results lug 70 of 360 ° around the sixth axis Z-Z. Ergot 76 therefore meshes in the space between the two teeth 96, 98 and applies after a 180 ° rotation on the first stop 92 (Figure 8). From this position, the lug 70 drives door 20 to its determined position intermediate. When lug 70 has rotated 270 ° from its rest position, door 20 is in its intermediate position and the lug 70 comes out taking the first stop 92 (Figure 9).

The lug 70 is driven 90 ° in its position of rest (Figure 10) and is positioned opposite the second tooth 98.

When the passenger actuates the control again 74, the lug 70 is driven again by 360 ° around the sixth axis Z-Z. It applies to the second stop 98 of analogously as on the first stop 92, and drives the door in its closed position (Figures 11 to 13).

When the door 20 is in its closed position, a lug 70 drive around the sixth axis Z-Z does not exert any effort on the rack 90, since the lug 70 turns empty in the recess 104.

The drive device according to the invention leads to good ergonomics of vehicle doors automobiles.

The articulation of the drive rod on the holding bar enables a vehicle to be fitted with the drive assembly without modification of the chassis of the vehicle.

In addition, being able to train the lug empty when the door is closed allows the use of a command simple without door position detector.

Claims (14)

Closure assembly of an opening, of the type comprising a frame (12) delimiting the opening (6), a door (20) articulated relative to the frame (12) by connecting means (22) between a closed position and an open position, a holding device (28) adapted to hold the door (20) in at least a first predetermined position relative to the frame (12), a position which is outside of its closed position, the holding device (28) being provided a first holding element (36), characterized in that
the assembly further comprises a motorized drive device (30) adapted to drive the door (20) from said first predetermined position to its closed position, and in that the drive device (30) is adapted to generate a tensile force on said first holding element (36) when driving the door (20). Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device (28) is adapted to hold the door (20) in a second predetermined position, located between the predetermined position and the closed position. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first predetermined position is the open position. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first holding element (36) has a recess (38) connected to one of the door (20) and frame (12) elements, and in that the device holding element (28) comprises a second holding element (48, 50) mounted on the other of the door (20) and frame (12) elements, this second holding element (48, 50) being adapted to engage in the hollow (38) when the door (20) is in its first determined position. Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the first holding element is a holding bar (36) comprising recesses (38, 40), and in that the second holding element is a roller (40) movable between a holding position in which it engages in one of the recesses (38, 40) and a release position in which it is outside the recesses (38, 40). Assembly according to claim 2 or one of the dependent claims of claim 2, characterized in that the drive means (30) are step drive means adapted to drive the door (20) from its first predetermined position in its second predetermined position in one step. Assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive means comprise a first drive element (66; 96, 98) connected to one of the frame (12) and door (20) elements, and a second element drive (70) connected to the other of the frame (12) and door (20) elements. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that said first drive element (66; 96, 98) comprises a stop (68; 92, 94), and in that said second drive element comprises a lug (70) movable in eccentric rotation about a first axis (ZZ) and cooperating with the stop. An assembly according to claims 4 and 6 taken together, characterized in that the stop (68; 92, 94) is connected, in particular articulated around a second axis, to the first holding element (36). Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means (30) are adapted to bring the door (20) from its second predetermined position to its closed position. An assembly according to claims 8 and 10 taken together, characterized in that the drive means (30) comprise an additional stop (94) adapted to cooperate with said second drive element (70) in order to move the door (20) to its closed position. Assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the stop (92) and the additional stop (94) are formed by a rack (90). Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means (30) are adapted to operate when the door (20) is in its closed position. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an assembly according to one of the preceding claims.

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