EP1960221A2

EP1960221A2 - Driving device of a movable vehicle component

Info

Publication number: EP1960221A2
Application number: EP06828666A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fritz Wegener
Original assignee: Webasto SE
Current assignee: Webasto SE
Priority date: 2005-12-14
Filing date: 2006-12-14
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Also published as: DE102005060206A1; JP2009519155A; DE102005060206B4; WO2007076799A3; WO2007076799A2; US20080303317A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a driving device of a movable vehicle component, especially a soft top compartment cover of a convertible. Said driving device is coupled to a bearing mechanism of the movable component to perform a main function while being joined to an additional functional unit to perform an additional function, said additional functional unit being actuated by the driving device. In order to improve the movement behavior, the driving device (19) comprises a pivotable bearing (23) that is guided in a longitudinally movable manner at the vehicle body end, the activated driving device (19) performs the additional function in a starting position by means of a longitudinal movement of the bearing (23) thereof, and the driving device (19) pivots about the bearing (23) thereof into a swiveled position when the bearing mechanism (7, 14) of the component (6) is displaced, the driving device (19) being prevented from longitudinally moving the bearing (23) thereof counter to the first moving direction of the additional function with the aid of a stop in said swiveled position.

Description

Drive device of a movable component of a vehicle

The invention relates to a drive device of a movable component of a vehicle, in particular a convertible top compartment cover of a convertible, which is coupled on the one hand with a bearing device of the movable member for performing a main function and on the other hand connected to an operable by her additional functional unit for performing an additional function.

From DE 103 13 496 A1 a hood of a convertible has become known, which is adjustable by means of a drive device between an open position and a closed position. The drive device is on the one hand connected to the bearing device of the top and on the other hand is supported on the body side via a pivotally mounted bolt, which holds the stored top closed. When lifting the discarded top, the drive device initially actuates the latch for unlocking the top on its first movement path.

The invention has for its object to improve a drive device mentioned above in terms of improved functionality and simplified operation.

The object is achieved erfindungsge in the drive device mentioned above in that the drive device body side has a longitudinally movably guided and pivotable storage, that in an initial position, the activated drive device performs the additional function by a longitudinal movement of their storage and that the drive device during adjustment of the storage device of Component pivots about their storage in a pivotal position in which it is prevented by a stop against a longitudinal movement of their storage against the first direction of movement of the additional function. The stop prevents that a reaction force of the component can cause an undesired displacement of the drive device, which also causes the would perform sentence function at an undesirable time. A reaction force of the component may occur when the component is pivoted to the open position. If the component is a top compartment lid or the like, it could, in its open position, occupy an over-center pitch with respect to its bearing axis when the vehicle is parked on a slope with the rear end facing downwards.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The drive device preferably contains a first element connected to the bearing and a second element coupled to the component, which can be adjusted by actuating the drive device, wherein in particular the drive device contains a piston-cylinder unit and the first element contains a cylinder housing and the second element is a piston rod. Basically suitable as a drive device electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drives and in particular linear actuators, which may also have servo motors with spindles or the like in addition to piston-cylinder units.

A preferred embodiment provides that the first element or the cylinder housing rests in the pivot position on the stop. In this case, the stop may be formed as a body-mounted part or it is formed in an alternative design on a body side pivotally mounted part and pivots with the drive device. As the body part is the stop z. As a web or a backdrop, which is attached to a body-mounted bearing plate of the drive device and in particular has a web-shaped curved engagement surface whose center of curvature coincides with the associated pivot axis of the first element and the cylinder housing. Instead of a track or line-shaped element, a punctiform element for engagement with a line-shaped part on the first element or on the cylinder housing on the bearing plate can also be provided. If the stop is formed on a body-side pivotally mounted part and pivots with the drive device, a relative movement between the stop and the pivoting part of the drive device and thus a frictional resistance is reduced or avoided in contrast to the body-fixed stop. The pivotally mounted part is z. As a ratchet lever whose body-side pivot axis is arranged close to the pivot axis of the pivoting part of the drive device or with this consistent. A protruding pawl or nose forms the stop for the corresponding counterpart or engagement part of the drive device. Conveniently, the drive device or its first element comprises a pin or generally at least one projecting part, which bears against the at least one stop. On both sides of the drive device or the cylinder housing, two opposing coaxial pins preferably protrude, which are in engagement with two associated stops of a pawl lever.

The carrier device with the top compartment lid, which can also form a tailgate or a trunk lid, is provided for convertibles with a convertible hardtop or softtop roof, but can also be used in other vehicles. Basically, the drive device is suitable for driving different vehicle doors and different additional functions such. B. locking or unlocking.

Hereinafter, a drive device according to the invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Figure 1 is a side view of a right-side support means of a convertible top compartment cover of a convertible, which is arranged in the closed position, and a locking device of the top compartment lid and a drive device for pivoting the support means and the top compartment lid. FIG. 2 shows a view according to FIG. 1 of the carrier device with the top compartment lid pivoted up; FIG.

3 shows in a view according to FIG. 1 the unit of carrier device and top compartment lid pivoted up by the drive device;

4 shows a side view in an enlarged view of the drive device in a position according to FIG. 1;

5 shows a perspective view of the drive device according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a side view according to FIG. 4 of the drive device adjusted to an end position when the carrier device is pivoted up; FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a side view according to FIG. 6 of a modified exemplary embodiment with a stop fixed to the vehicle for the drive device; FIG. and

8 shows a perspective view of the modified exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 7.

A convertible has a top compartment lid 1 (the top compartment cover 1 is fragmentary and schematically shown only in Fig. 1), which is provided for covering a rear-side convertible top storage space and with its front edge (in Fig. 1 with x designated arrow points in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front ) is raised to release a passage opening for between its closed position and its storage position to be adjusted folding roof or folding top, which may be a hardtop roof as well as a soft top roof. The top compartment lid 1 is expediently also used as a trunk lid by being swung out of its closed position (FIG. 1) with its rear edge relative to the body (FIG. 2) and thus releasing a loading opening of the trunk. In DE 44 45 944 C1, a comparable top compartment lid is disclosed, which is supported by a subframe on the body is and according to the embodiment at the rear of the vehicle about a body-mounted pivot axis is pivotally mounted.

The top compartment lid 1 is on both sides by means of a respective holder, the z. B. contains a plurality of bolts 2, attached to a bracket 3, which in turn is pivotally mounted on one of two links 4 and 5 four-bar linkage to a support means, the z. B. is formed by a frame 6, which supports the console 3 and the four-bar linkage 4, 5. The description is made on the basis of the right-hand side of the carrier device of the top compartment lid, which is constructed essentially symmetrically with respect to the vehicle longitudinal axis, with the respective drive device and locking device.

The left-side and the right-side frames 6 may communicate with each other, e.g. be firmly connected by means of a crossbar or the like in order to increase the stability of the Trä- device.

The support device or the frame 6 of the top compartment cover 1 is on both sides of the body by means of a main link 7 and a Hilfslen- kers 8, a four-bar linkage with the joints 9 and 10 on the frame 6 and the joints 11 and 12 on a body-fixed Form bearing plate 13, pivotally mounted.

A pivot link 14 is pivotally mounted on the bearing plate 13 in a hinge about a pivot axis 15. A coupling 16 connects the main link 7 with the pivot link 14 in the joints 17 and 18, respectively

Main bearing 7 arranged drive unit in the form of a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 19 includes a piston rod 20 which is articulated to the pivoting link 14 in a pivot point 21. On the other hand, the piston-cylinder unit 19 is slidably mounted on two slot guides 24 via its cylinder housing 22 and a bearing pin 23 attached thereto on the end, which are arranged in the bearing plate 13 or a cover plate 25 mounted parallel thereto. A locking device for the top compartment lid 1 includes a first lock unit 26 (see Figs. 1 to 3) for releasably securing the downwardly extending front end of the frame 6 to a body-mounted storage unit 27 and a second lock unit 28 for releasably securing the console 3 of the top compartment cover 1 am Front end of the frame 6. The first lock unit 26 has a locking hook pivotally mounted on the body - mounted bearing unit 27 for releasably securing the frame 6 which is directly or indirectly connected to a cable 29 of a Bowden cable 30 whose other end 31 abuts on the bearing pin 23 Piston-cylinder unit 19 is attached.

A pawl lever 32 (see Fig. 4) is pivotally mounted on the bearing plate 13 and the cover plate 25 about a pivot axis 33. The latch housing 32 surrounding the cylinder housing 22 approximately on both sides contains a hook-shaped or latch-shaped stop 34 on each side of the cylinder housing 22, against which a respective pin 35 protruding on the cylinder housing 22 can be supported. A spring 36 holds the latch lever 32 biased against the piston-cylinder unit 19 in its initial position shown in FIG. 4, in which the pin 35 can move with the cylinder housing 22 in the longitudinal direction of the stop 34 over.

If the roof is to be opened and stored in the convertible top compartment, first the top compartment lid 1 must be raised by means of the frame 6 at its front edge, so that the movement path for laying down the roof (as well as for extending when closing the roof) is exposed.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, the frame 6 is supported on the body in the bearing unit 27 and the first lock unit 26 is already unlocked, so that the frame 6 by means of the drive means or the piston-cylinder unit 19 for carrying out the Main function of the drive device is swiveled. The additional function of the drive device representing unlocking the first lock unit 26 takes place by the piston-cylinder unit 19 from its initial position in which the cylinder housing 22 is in an upper end position and the bearing pin 23 in the slot guide 24 level. if an upper position occupies (not shown), by pressurization performs an initial expansion movement, in which first the cylinder housing 22 and thus the bearing pin 23 is moved at the slot guide 24 from the upper position to the lower stop position (movement in the position according to Fig. 1 and 4). The pin 35 reaches the cylinder housing 22 a position laterally of the stop 34th

During this displacement of the cylinder housing 22, the first lock unit 26 is unlocked via the simultaneously co-moving cable 29 of the Bowden cable 30. The initial expansion movement of the piston-cylinder unit 19 is inevitably effected in this manner by displacement of the cylinder housing 22 at standstill of the piston rod 20, since the weight of the top compartment cover 1 and the frame 6 via the coupling 16 acts as a counterforce on the pivot handle 14 and therefore the Piston-cylinder unit 19 initially performs the additional function due to the lower resistance or power requirement.

This first movement thus serves to carry out the additional function, which represents in the present embodiment, the unlocking of the first lock unit 26 and is carried out with a much lower power requirement in comparison to the main function, the pivoting or opening of the frame 6 with the top compartment lid mounted thereon 1.

After the cylinder housing 22 has reached the lower end position with the bearing pin 23 (FIGS. 1 and 4), upon further pressurization of the piston-cylinder unit 19, the piston rod 20 moves out and pivots the pivoting link 14 and via the coupling 16 also the main link 7 so that the frame 6 is raised (movement of Fig. 1 of Fig. 3). Since the articulation point 21 of the piston rod 20 is guided by the pivoting link 14 on a circular path about the pivot axis 15, the piston-cylinder unit 19 also pivots about the bearing pin 23 and takes in its maximum extended position (see FIGS. 3 and 7) Pivoting position, in which the pin 35 is pivoted in behind the stop 34 of the pawl lever 32 and the pawl lever 32 has also pivoted about its pivot axis 33 (Fig. 6). If, as shown in FIG. 3, the frame 6 pivoted upwards with the folding-top compartment lid 1 generates a force of gravity loading the piston-cylinder unit 19 at a corresponding position relative to the joint 11 via the pivoting link 14 (over-center pitch), the stop 34 held by the stop 34 prevents this Pin 35 that the cylinder housing 22 and thus the bearing pin 23 can perform a backward movement along the slot guide 24. Thus, on the one hand, the frame 6 remains stable in its respective open position and, on the other hand, the cable 29 of the Bowden cable 30 is not moved and thus does not change the position of the first lock unit 26.

When the frame 6 and with it the top compartment lid 1 is raised, the roof can be moved in a known manner in the top compartment or roof storage space and moved to close the roof again.

The closing of the top compartment cover 1 and the frame 6 (movement of Fig. 3 of FIG. 1) takes place in opposite movement by retracting the piston rod 20 of the piston-cylinder unit 19, wherein first the stop 34 of the ratchet lever 32, the pin 35 is locked holds and the bearing pin 23 and thus the cylinder housing 22 of the piston-cylinder unit 19 remains in the lower position, so that a defined movement is ensured even when closing the roof or the top compartment lid 1 and the frame 6.

The retracting piston rod 20 pivots the piston-cylinder unit 19 back to the starting position shown in FIG. 4. The latch lever 32 also pivots about its pivot axis 33 against a pivot angle limiting stop back, so that the pin 35 from the stop 34 of the ratchet lever 32nd swings out laterally. The frame 6 is finally on the storage unit 27 again.

The last movement path of the retracting piston rod 20 is determined by the cylinder housing 22 of the piston-cylinder unit 19 relative to the stationary piston rod. rod 20 executed. In this case, the bearing pin 23 moves in the slot guide 24 from the lower end position to the upper end position, while the pin 35 of the cylinder housing 22 can move laterally past the stop 34 of the ratchet lever 32 in the direction of the articulation point 21. The bearing pin 23 displaces the cable 29 under pressure against the first lock unit 26 and actuates it to lock the frame 6 to the bearing unit 27. Thus, after the main function and the additional function is performed.

Since the pawl lever 32 pivots along with the pin 35 resting against the stop 34, a relative movement between the pin 35 and the stop 34 is avoided, which would result in a comparatively high frictional resistance. In the pivot bearing 33, however, occurs only low friction.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a fixedly mounted on the bearing plate 13 stop 37 is provided, the z. B. is formed as a curved strip whose center of curvature coincides with the pivot axis of the cylinder housing 22 and the bearing pin 23. On the cylinder housing 22, a support plate 38 is mounted, which is pivoted when pivoting the cylinder housing 22 in front of the stop 37 and abuts against this support. When the piston-cylinder unit 19 is moved back from its pivoted open position (corresponding to FIG. 6) into its initial position (FIGS. 7 and 8) and due to a corresponding loading of the piston-cylinder unit 19 through the top compartment lid 1, the support plate 38 abuts the stop 37, the support plate 38 moves in sliding contact along the stop 37.

In the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the support plate 38 can move past the stop 37 laterally when the cylinder housing 22 is moved upward again when carrying out the additional function and the bearing pin 23 moves along the cable 30, the lock unit 26 again closes.

The Bowden cable 30 can be adapted largely flexibly to the structural conditions in the rear of the body. However, other members may tel such. B. linkage used to transmit the actuating movement.

The top compartment lid 1 can be supported by a respective gas pressure spring 39 relative to the frame 6, so that it is weight-relieved of weight during manual pivoting in its function as a trunk lid (FIG. 2). Before pivoting the top compartment lid 1, the second lock unit 28 is actuated such that the console 3 is no longer locked to the frame 6. The actuation can take place with the actuation of the first lock unit 26 by unlocking a locking hook 40 of the second lock unit 28 when the first lock unit 26 is locked.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Top compartment lid 21 articulation point

Screw bolt 22 cylinder housing

Console 23 Bearing pin

Handlebar 24 slot guide

Handlebar 25 Cover plate

Frame 26 first lock unit

Main link 27 bearing unit

Auxiliary handlebar 28 second lock unit

Joint 29 cable

Joint 30 Bowden cable

Joint 31 end

Joint 32 ratchet lever

Bearing plate 33 pivot axis

Swivel handle 34 stop

Swivel axle 35 pin

Coupling 36 spring

Joint 37 stop

Joint 38 support plate

Piston-cylinder unit 39 Gas spring

Piston rod 40 latch hook

Claims

claims

1. Drive device of a movable component of a vehicle, in particular a convertible top compartment cover of a convertible, which is coupled on the one hand with a bearing device of the movable component to perform a main function and on the other hand connected to an actuatable by her additional functional unit for performing an additional function, characterized the drive device (19) has a longitudinally movably guided and pivotable mounting (23) on the body side, that in an initial position the activated drive device (19) carries out the additional function by longitudinal movement of its bearing (23) and that the drive device (19) during adjustment of the bearing device (7, 14) of the component (6) pivots about its bearing (23) in a pivoting position in which it is prevented by a stop (34) against longitudinal movement of its bearing (23) against the first direction of movement of the additional function.

2. Drive device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the drive device (19) has a first element (22) connected to the bearing (23) and a second element (20) which is coupled to the component (6) and which can be actuated the drive device (19) are mutually adjustable, wherein in particular the drive device includes a piston-cylinder unit (19) and the first element is a cylinder housing (22) and the second element is a KoI- benstange (20).

3. Drive device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first element (22) or the cylinder housing (22) rests in the pivotal position on the stop (34).

4. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stop is formed as a body-fixed part (37).

5. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stop (34) on a body part pivotally mounted part (32) is formed and with the drive device (19, 22) pivots.

6. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a pin (35) of the first element (22) against the stop (34).

7. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive device (12) or the KoI- benstange (20) with a pivot lever (14) is connected to the

Bearing device (7) of the movable member (6) is coupled.

8. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the additional functional unit is a lock unit (26) for fixing the component (6).

9. Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the component (6) a top compartment lid (1) is movably mounted.