EP2118411B1 - External handle on doors or hatches of vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an external handle on doors or hatches of vehicles, using a two piece (10, 20) housing, wherein a cavity (21) is generated between said pieces. A sensor (31, 32) is arranged in said cavity in a container (30). On operation, the sensor carries out certain functions in the lock. According to the invention, failures caused by the ingress of fluids into the cavity (21) can be avoided, wherein the container (30) is formed from an elastic molded mass (35), in which the sensor (31, 32) and optionally some further electric and/or electronic components for the sensor operation are embedded. An elastic surface (36) is achieved on at least one end piece of the container (30) by means of the molded mass (35). When assembled, the container (30) is pressed (41) with said elastic surface (36) against an inner surface (29) of the housing piece (10, 20). On pressing (41), the end piece of the container (30) deforms and functions as sealing means (40'), preventing an ingress of fluid between the container surface (36) and the housing inner surface (29).

Description

The invention is directed to an outside door handle specified in the preamble of claim 1, where the outside door handle has a two-part housing. This housing consists of a handle body, which serves in the case of installation both for attaching the outside door handle to the door and for opening a lock provided on the door. The other part of the housing is a handle cover. Between the handle cover and the handle body creates a cavity which serves to receive a container. The container has a potting compound in which a sensor and / or at least some of the electrical and / or electronic components used for sensor operation are embedded.

Such an outside door handle is from the EP 1 284 335 A1 known. There, the container consists of a designed as a half-shell housing which receives the electrical and / or electronic components. This assembly is then cast with a thermoelastic resin to form a uniform, dense module. This electronic module 10 comes into the cavity of a handle, wherein the two ends of the cavity are sealed by elastic elements. The grip cavity should be closed in a liquid-tight manner by means of two end plugs. In the intermediate space, the electric module extends at a defined distance to the inner surface of the handle cavity. If the end sealants on the electronics module fail, an intruding liquid can enter the gap space to the handle inner surface. Just when the gap between the handle inner surface and the electric module is tight, he pulls through Capillary action on liquids. This makes the sensor in the outer handle unusable.

The DE 199 35 290 A1 shows an outside door handle whose electronic container is designed as an electrical sensor. Again, problems arise due to entering the interior of the cavity liquids that make the sensor unusable.

The invention has for its object to develop a door outside handle mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, which eliminates this problem. This is achieved by the measures specified in claim 1, which have the following special significance.

The potting compound from the container is designed to be elastic and the container then consists exclusively of this elastic potting compound, while the electronic components are arranged inside this potting compound. At least one outer layer of the potting compound creates an elastic surface on the container. In the case of assembly, the container is pressed with its entire elastic surface against the inner surface of the housing cover and / or the housing body. During pressing, the outer layer of the container is deformed and acts as a pressure zone. This pressure zone of the container itself is then a sealing means which prevents a capillary action of liquids between the container surface and the housing inner surface. If liquids should enter the housing interior, the functionality of the sensors is no longer impaired in the invention.

For the formation of the container, an elastic sealing compound is used, in which the sensor and / or at least some of the sensor operation serving electrical and / or electronic components are embedded. This potting compound produces an elastic surface on at least one end of the container, which is pressed in the case of assembly against the inner surface of the housing cover or the housing body. In this contact pressure, the outer zone of the container is deformed and is a sealant which prevents ingress of liquid between the container surface and the housing inner surface. Therefore, the Functioning of the sensors is no longer impaired by liquids entering into them.

The design according to the invention is particularly significant in the case of capacitive sensors which generate an electric field. The potting compound of the container serves as a dielectric for the electric field. According to the invention, if penetrating liquids are prevented from entering this area, they can not falsify the physical properties of the dielectric.

Fig. 1

perspektivisch und in Explosionsdarstellung das Bauprinzip des erfindungsgemäßen Türaußengriffs,

Fig. 2a

in einer der Fig. 1 entsprechenden Explosionsdarstellung einen schematischen Querschnitt durch die Bestandteile des erfindungsgemäßen Türaußengriffs vor der Montage und

Fig. 2b

den gleichen Querschnitt, aber nach der Montage der Griff- Bestandteile von Fig. 2a.

Further measures and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings. In the drawings, the invention is shown in one embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

perspective and exploded view of the construction principle of the outside door handle according to the invention,

Fig. 2a

in one of the Fig. 1 corresponding exploded view of a schematic cross section through the components of the outside door handle according to the invention prior to assembly and

Fig. 2b

the same cross section, but after the assembly of the handle components of Fig. 2a ,

As Fig. 1 shows, the outside door handle is designed as a two-part housing, namely with a serving as a base handle body 10 and this covering the handle cover 20. The handle body 10 has two ends 11, 12 with different function. The one body end 11 is provided at the end with a pivot bearing 13, which engages with built-in outside door handle at a counter bearing of a carrier not shown in detail and thereby makes the whole outer door handle pivotally. The carrier is attached to the door or flap of a vehicle. This body end 11 is thus a bearing end and serves for the storage of the outside door handle on the door of the vehicle.

The other body end 12 is formed as a boom and provided with an end hook 14 which engages behind an initial member of a lock not shown in the door or flap of the vehicle. When the outside door handle is actuated, the starting element is detected via the hook 14 and the lock is actuated. This second body end 12 is thus the operating end of the outside door handle. A central portion 17 of the handle body 10 is formed as a shell 15 which is open to the outside, namely in the direction of arrow 16, open.

The handle cover 20 is associated in particular in the central portion 17 of the handle body 10 and formed as a counter-shell 25 having its opening in the direction of the inward-pointing arrow 26. Fig. 2b shows the mounting case between the handle body 10 and the handle cover 20. Then grip the shell 15 and the counter shell 25 with their side walls 18, 28 into each other. Between the shell 15 and the counter shell 25, a cavity 21 is formed. The intermeshing side walls 18, 28 are interconnected. The connection can be made, for example, by snap fasteners 22, which in the present case consist of a latching projection 23 on the outside of the shell side wall 18 and as a latching recess 24 on the inside of the countershell side wall 28. To secure the engagement position, alternatively or additionally, screwing means could be used.

The cavity 21 receives in the case of installation on a special container 30 which is electrically connected via various electrical signal and operating lines 33 with corresponding control devices and / or with a power source. For electrical connection, an electrical connector 34 at the end of the lines 33 serve. When the handle cover 20 is connected to the handle body 10, projecting the electrical leads 31 together with the plug 34 at the bearing end 11 of the outside door handle, where they can be coupled with corresponding mating connectors not shown in detail.

As seen from the cross section of Fig. 2a can be seen, the container 30 includes two electrodes 31, 32, which belong to two wirkunterschiedlichen capacitive sensors. The one sensor 31 serves to lock the lock, while the other sensor 32 provides for unlocking the lock. The two sensors 31, 32 respond when, for the purpose of actuating the outside door handle, the hand of an authorized person approaches the first or the second electrode 31, 32 of the two sensors.

The two electrodes 31, 32 are embedded in a potting compound 35, which is emphasized by dot-hatching and which has an elastically yielding design. In this potting compound 35 can also be integrated to operate the two sensors 31, 32 serving electronic and electrical components. By casting compound 35 arise on the container 30 in the sense of the two in Fig. 2a drawn out arrows 16, 26 outwardly or inwardly facing surfaces 36, 37. Of particular importance is the existing of the elastic plastic outer layer 40 of the container 30, which produces the container surface 36. The latter has a special, in the case of installation Fig. 2b apparent effect.

Fig. 2b shows the mounting case of the two housing shells 10, 20, which exert a pressure indicated by force arrows 41 on the container located in the cavity 21 30. The elastic container outer layer 40 of Fig. 2a is in accordance with the pressure forces 41 in the sense of Fig. 2b apparent form 40 'deformed. The result is that the container surface 36 is pressed against the inner surface 29 of the housing cover 20. The container outer layer 40 is a sealant due to its deformation 40 '. This sealing means 40 'prevents penetration of any liquid in the cavity 21 between the container surface 36 and the housing inner surface 29. It creates there from a Fig. 2b Apparent Anpresszone 47, which basically excludes a capillary action of the liquid in this area.

An analogous sealing effect could, if necessary, also take place on the opposite container surface 37 with respect to the grip body inner surface 19. Such Anpresszonen 47 can therefore be generated simultaneously on several surface sides of the container. In the present case, however, there are special positioning means 44 which ensure a defined position of the container 30 in the cavity 21.

The positioning means 44 in the illustrated embodiment consist of a projection 42 on the inwardly 26 facing container surface 37 on the one hand and from a complementary recess 43 on the outwardly facing inner surface 19 of the handle body 10 on the other. The engagement position of the two positioning means 42, 43 is in Fig. 2b to recognize. Thus, the lateral distance 45, 46 of the container 30 against the inner surfaces 38, 39 of the inner side wall 28 is secured. That's from the synopsis of Fig. 2a, 2b to recognize. It is understood that instead of a recess 43, other positioning means, such as a counter-projection on the handle body 10 could be provided. In the installation case of Fig. 2b the contact pressure 41 is exerted on the container 30 via the positioning means 44, whereby its elastic outer layer 40 of Fig. 2a a sealant 40 'of Fig. 2b becomes.

The positioning means 44 provide in the present case for a distance 48 between the container 30 and the inner surface of the handle body 10. This distance 48 is formed so large that a capillary action of entering liquids in the cavity 21 is prevented. Despite the fluids, the functionality of the sensor or sensors 31, 32 is ensured. In the present case, it would be possible to view the projection 42 with its projection residue 49 projecting from the opposite recess 43 as a "spacer" for the container 30 in the cavity 21. This spacer 49 is, as I said, formed integrally with the container surface 37, because there the projections 42 are formed. Thus, the container 30 and the spacer 49 form a preassembled unit. The projections 42 and spacers 49 are formed integrally with the container 30.

Such a one-piece piece of a spacer could of course also be formed in an analogous manner with the inner surfaces 19, 29 of the two handle components 10, 20 or with the surfaces of the handle cover 25. Finally, it would also be possible to use separate, prefabricated inserts as spacers which are used in these areas.

In the present case, the sensors 31, 32 are capacitively effective and generate an electric field which extends through the sealed contact zone 47 of the container. The elastic potting compound 35 of the container 30 is the dielectric for the electric field. The capacitor surfaces of the two capacitive sensors 31, 32 extend in the case of installation substantially parallel to the sealed contact pressure zone 47 of the container. Of course, other sensors could be used instead of capacitive sensors.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Grip body ( Fig. 1 to 2b )

11

first body end of 10, attachment end

12

second body end of 10, end of operation

13

Pivot bearing at 11

14

Hook on 12

15

Shell of 10 ( Fig. 1 . 2a )

16

outward-pointing arrow

17

Middle section of 10

18

Sidewall of 15

19

outward 16 facing inner surface of 10

20

Handle cover ( Fig. 1 to 2b )

21

Cavity between 15, 25

22

Snap lock between 15, 25

23

Locking projection from 22 to 10

24

Resting recess from 22 to 20

25

Counter shell of 20 ( Fig. 2a )

26

inward pointing arrow

28

Sidewall of 25

29

inside 26-facing lid inner surface of 20 ( Fig. 2a, 2b )

30

Container ( Fig. 1 to 2b )

31

first electrode of 30, capacitive sensor for locking

32

second electrode, capacitive sensor for unlocking

33

electrical lines for signals and operating voltage

34

electrical connector to 33

35

elastic potting compound of 30 ( Fig. 2a )

36

outwardly 16-facing container surface of 30 ( Fig. 2a, 2b )

37

inside 26-facing container surface of 30 ( Fig. 2a, 2b )

38

first lateral inner surface of 10 ( Fig. 2a )

39

second lateral inner surface of 10 ( Fig. 2a )

40

Outer layer of 30

40 '

Deformation of 40, sealant

41

Force arrow for pressure between 10, 20 to 30 ( Fig. 2b )

42

Advantage of 44 ( Fig. 2a )

43

Deepening of 44 ( Fig. 2a )

44

Positioning means from 30 to 21 ( Fig. 2b )

45

left distance from 30 to 18 ( Fig. 2b )

46

right distance of 30 against 18 ( Fig. 2b )

47

Pressing zone between 30, 20 ( Fig. 2b )

48

Distance between 30, 10 ( Fig. 2b )

49

Projection remnant of 42, sealant ( Fig. 2b )

Claims (13)

1. External handles on doors or hatches of vehicles,
   with a two-part casing comprising a handle body (10) and a handle cover (20),
   whereby the handle body (10) and the handle cover (20), when mounting, enclose a hollow space (21) between them,
   with at least one sensor (31, 32) in a container (30) which when mounting is arranged in the hollow space (21) of the external handle of the door,
   the sensor (31, 32), when activated, triggers at least one specific function in the lock and
   the container (30) exhibits an elastic casting compound (35) in which embedded are the sensor (31, 32) and/or at least some of the electrical and/or electronic components which serve sensor operations,
   thereby characterized
   in that the casting compound (35) is of an elastic design and the container (30) is composed of this elastic casting compound (35),
   in that at least one outer layer (40) of the casting compound (35) generates an elastic surface (36) on the container (30),
   in that the container (30), when mounting, is pressed (41) with its entire elastic surface (36) against the inner surface (29) of the handle cover (20) and/or the casing body (10),
   and in that the outer layer (40) of the container (30), when pressed (41), deforms, becomes a pressing zone (47) and is likewise a sealant (40') which prevents any capillary action of fluids between the container surface (36; 37) and the casing inner surface (29; 19).
2. External handle pursuant to Claim 1, thereby characterized in that arranged opposite its pressing zone (47) on the container are positioning elements (44).
3. External handle pursuant to Claim 1 or 2, thereby characterized in that the positioning elements (44), during assembly, transmit the pressure (41) exerted between the handle cover (20) and the casing body (10) to the container (30).
4. External handle pursuant to Claim 2 or 3, thereby characterized in that the positioning elements (44) likewise furnish a spacing (49) between the container surface (37) and the casing inner surface (19),
   and in that this spacing (49) prevents capillary action in the hollow space (21) from intruding fluids, and assures, despite the fluids, the functionality of the sensor (31, 32).
5. External handle pursuant to Claim 4, thereby characterized in that the positioning elements (44) are formed by a spacer (49) which is braced in a form-fitting manner on the casing inner surface (19) and/or container (30) and thereby determines the position (45, 46) of the container (30) in the hollow space (21) of the handle.
6. External handle pursuant to Claim 5, thereby characterized in that the spacer is fastened to the inward- (26) or outward-facing surface (37) of the container (30) and forms along with the container (30) a pre-assembled structural unit.
7. External handle pursuant to Claim 5, thereby characterized in that the spacer is fastened to the inner surface of the handle body or handle cover and forms along with the handle body or handle cover a pre-assembled structural unit.
8. External handle pursuant to one of the claims 4 to 7, thereby characterized in that material-wise the spacer is formed as one piece with the handle cover, the container (30) and/or the handle body.
9. External handle pursuant to one of the claims 4 to 8, thereby characterized in that the spacer (49) is a component of a prefabricated insert,
   in that first when assembling is the insert arranged between the mutually opposite inner surfaces, i.e., outer surfaces of the handle cover (20), the container (30) and/or the handle body (10),
   and in that the spacing element of the insert in the finished external door handle are braced on the inner- and upper-surfaces found in the hollow space and allow in the hollow space a flow of fluid which is free of capillary action.
10. External handle pursuant to one of the claims 1 to 9, thereby characterized in that the sensor (31, 32), when in use, is active via capacitive sensing and generates an electrical field which extends through the sealed surface (36) of the container (30),
    in that the casting compound (35) of the container (30) forms the dielectric for the electrical field,
    and in that a fluid intruding into the hollow space (21) of the door handle does not get into the sealing zone (47) of the outer layer (40; 40') of the container and falsify the properties of the dielectric.
11. External handle pursuant to one of the claims 1 to 10, thereby characterized in that the sealed pressing zone (47) of the container (30) is arranged on the inner surface (29) of the handle cover (20),
    and in that the capacitor surface (31, 32) of the capacitive sensor essentially runs parallel to the inner surface (29) of the handle cover (20).
12. External handle pursuant to Claim 11, thereby characterized in that the container (30) is equipped with two capacitive sensors (31, 32) which are active in diametrical opposition and which are triggered into action upon the spatially varying approach of the hand of the authorized vehicle user.
13. External handle pursuant to Claim 12, thereby characterized in that the first sensor (31), once activated, serves to lock a lock assigned to the external door handle, while the second sensor (32), once activated, causes an unlocking of the lock.

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