EP3538728B1 - Pivot bearing for a side flap of a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a pivot bearing for pivotally attaching a side flap to the outside of a vehicle, with two fastening elements pivotably mounted relative to one another about a pivot axis, one of which is provided for attachment to the side flap and the other for attachment to the vehicle, the pivot bearing being at least one resilient Has element that tries to push away the fasteners from each other in the closed state of the pivot bearing.

Such a pivot bearing is for example from the DE 10 2012 011 850 A1 known that has a fuel filler flap with integrated automatic opening mechanism for motor vehicles.

Rotary bearings for pivotally attaching a side flap to the outside of a vehicle, for example a train, are generally known. Sections of known side flaps provide parts of the pivot bearing. When the pivot bearing is closed, these parts of the known side flaps mechanically brace themselves with other sections of the pivot bearing in order to prevent the side flap from rattling. The resulting mechanical stresses can, however, have a negative impact on the life of the pivot bearing and make it difficult to open the closed plate, since the parts clamped together rub against each other while opening and / or closing while under mechanical pressure.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a pivot bearing, the pivot bearing preventing the side flap from rattling, holding for a long time and being easy to open.

According to the invention, this object is achieved for the rotary bearing mentioned at the outset in that a first of the fastening elements is provided with two receiving elements spaced apart from one another along the pivot axis for receiving a bearing pin pivotally connecting the fastening elements, the clear width of a gap between the receiving elements running parallel to the pivot axis increasing or decreasing at least in sections along the pivot direction running around the pivot axis, and along end faces of the receiving elements which are opposite one another from the pivot axis are formed at least in sections to run helically towards one another.

Since no parts of the side flap press against other parts of the vehicle and when opening and / or closing these parts rub against each other under pressure, the spring-elastic element neither affects the service life of the pivot bearing nor does the spring-elastic element generate any frictional forces which cause the pivot bearing to open or the side flap weighed down.

The solution according to the invention can be further improved by various configurations which are advantageous per se and, if not stated differently, can be combined with one another as desired. These design forms and the advantages associated with them are discussed below:
For example, one of the fastening elements can have the resilient element. For example, the spring-elastic element can be attached or fastened to the fastening element, for example by screwing or by welding. Because the spring-elastic element is captively attached to one of the fastening elements, the pivot bearing can be easily handled and assembled as a single piece.

The spring force of the resilient element according to the invention can act directly on the fastening elements. Furthermore, the spring force can act at least partially perpendicular to the pivot axis and / or to at least one of the fastening elements. This can cause frictional forces between the resilient Element and at least one of the fasteners can be effectively reduced.

The spring-elastic element can have essentially the same extent along the pivot axis as at least one of the fastening elements and, for example, like the fastening element which is opposite the one of the fastening elements which the spring-elastic element has in the closed state of the rotary bearing. As a result, the spring force of the spring-elastic element pushing the fastening elements away from one another is uniformly applied along the pivot axis of the rotary bearing, so that tensions within the rotary bearing are minimized. Alternatively, the rotary bearing can have a plurality of resilient elements arranged one behind the other along the swivel axis in order to minimize the stresses, the plurality of resilient elements being of essentially identical mechanical construction.

Furthermore, the resilient element can be arranged centrally along the pivot axis of the fastening elements in order to avoid tension within the pivot bearing, even if the resilient element along the pivot axis is smaller than the fastening element which has the resilient element.

The fastening element having the resilient element can be made in one piece with the resilient element. For example, the fastening element and the resilient element can be made from a sheet metal part, the sheet metal part being easy and inexpensive to produce by means of a stamping and bending process for producing the fastening element with the resilient element.

The resilient element can be a spring tongue. The spring tongue can have a fixed end that is fixedly attached to one of the fastening elements. A free end of the spring-elastic element opposite the fixed end can be attached to the fixed end or to the fastening element, to which the fixed end is attached to be curved. As a result, the free end can be curved away from the other fastening element at least in the closed state of the rotary bearing and can rest thereon with a curved section in order to be able to slide easily on the other fastening element. The pivot bearing can therefore be easily opened and closed without the clamping forces to be applied suddenly changing.

The fastening element having the resilient element can be provided for attachment to the vehicle. The fastening element, which is opposite the fastening element having the resilient element, at least in the closed state of the rotary bearing, can be designed to be attached to the swivel flap.

The pivot bearing for pivotably attaching a side flap to the outside of a vehicle thus has two fastening elements which can be pivoted relative to one another about the pivot axis, one of the fastening elements being provided for attachment to the side flap and the other of the fastening elements being attached to the vehicle.

The clear width of a gap between the receiving elements, which is dimensioned along the pivot axis, can decrease at least in sections along the pivot direction of the pivot bearing, which extends around the pivot axis. In particular when the pivot bearing is closed, the position of the two fastening elements relative to one another can thus be better defined, as a result of which predetermined gap dimensions between the side flap and other outer elements of the vehicle can be better maintained. Due to the fact that the clear width varies, the pivot bearing can nevertheless be easily opened and closed easily, the predetermined gap dimensions need not be observed, in particular when the pivot bearing is open.

In order to be able to form the gap with the clear width changing in the pivoting direction, opposite or facing end faces of the receiving elements can additionally be formed to be tilted towards one another at least in sections along the pivot axis.

Sections of the end faces that lie opposite one another along the pivot axis can run parallel to one another and specify the minimum clear width of the gap. These sections can be formed as surfaces running perpendicular to the pivot axis. These sections can be referred to as positioning sections, since they specify the position of the fastening elements relative to one another in the closed state of the rotary bearing. The clear width of the gap can be minimal in the area of these sections.

At least one of the receiving elements can provide a stop that limits the maximum opening angle of the rotary bearing. The stop can be designed as a stop surface extending transversely and in particular perpendicular to the swivel direction and limit the swivel range of the pivot bearing. The stop provided by one of the receiving elements can adjoin its positioning section in order to achieve the largest possible maximum opening angle.

The second of the fastening elements can have an attachment element with an essentially hook-shaped cross section. For example, the cross section can be configured in a C-shape. This allows the second fastening element to be removed from the bearing pin without loosening connecting elements such as screws. So the side flap can be easily removed from the vehicle in order to be able to easily reach the devices provided behind the side flap.

The width of the attachment element along the pivot axis can be dimensioned such that the attachment element can be inserted into the gap with play in the open state of the pivot bearing. Because of the game, the side flap can be easily reattached to the vehicle. When the pivot bearing is closed, however, the attachment element can be attached to both receiving elements and, for example, rest on their end faces and in particular on their positioning sections. The The attachment element is then accommodated in the gap without play, so that the position of the side flap with respect to the other outer elements of the vehicle is well defined and the predetermined gap dimensions can be easily adhered to. For example, the width of the attachment element may correspond to the minimum clear width of the gap.

In the fully opened state of the pivot bearing, the attachment element can rest against the stop, so that an operator of the pivot bearing immediately recognizes when the pivot bearing is opened sufficiently to detach the second fastening element from the first fastening element.

Figur 1

eine schematische Perspektivansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Drehlagers,

Figur 2

eine weitere schematische Perspektivansicht des Ausführungsbeispiels der Figur 1, und

Figur 3

eine schematische Perspektivansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung.

The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention and the manner in which they are achieved can be more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in connection with the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

2 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the rotary bearing according to the invention,

Figure 2

a further schematic perspective view of the embodiment of the Figure 1 , and

Figure 3

is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

The invention is explained below by way of example using embodiments with reference to the drawings. The different features of the embodiments can be combined independently of one another in accordance with the appended claims, as has already been explained in the individual advantageous embodiments.

Figure 1 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the rotary bearing 1 according to the invention with two fastening elements 2 pivotably mounted relative to one another about a pivot axis S, 3. Furthermore, the pivot bearing 1 has a resilient element 4, which in the Figure 1 shown partially closed state Z of the rotary bearing 1 is arranged between the fastening elements 2, 3.

The resilient element 4 is arranged essentially centrally along the pivot axis S with respect to at least one of the fastening elements 2, 3. At least in the Figure 1 shown partially closed state Z of the rotary bearing 1, the resilient element 4 is arranged between the fastening elements 2, 3. The resilient element 4 has a fixed end 5 and a free end 6 opposite the fixed end 5.

The fixed end 5 is attached to the fastening element 2 by way of example or is formed in one piece with the fastening element 2. The free end 6 lies on an inside of the fastening element 3 facing the fastening element 2. If the rotary bearing 1 is now closed further by pivoting the fastening elements 2, 3 further toward one another about the pivot axis, then the spring-elastic element 4 is deformed further onto the fastening element 2, so that it applies an increasing spring-elastic force which the rotary bearing 1 closes open searches. Any play in the mounting of the fastening elements 2, 3 against one another is compensated for by the resilient force, so that the fastening elements 2, 3 cannot rattle at least in the completely closed state of the pivot bearing 1, for example in the event of vibrations common to a vehicle.

At least the free end 6 can be curved toward the fastening element 2 towards or away from the fastening element 3, in order to be able to slide easily and uniformly on the inside 7 of the fastening element 3 when the pivot bearing 1 is closed.

The spring-elastic element 4 can have essentially the same extent parallel to the pivot axis S as at least one of the fastening elements 2, 3. Alternatively, the rotary bearing 1 can have a plurality of resilient elements 4, which are of essentially identical design and are arranged one behind the other along the pivot axis S. In the embodiment of the Figure 1 however, the resilient element 4 is provided centrally along the pivot axis S of the fastening element 2 and is made smaller than the fastening element 2 parallel to the pivot axis S.

At least one of the fastening elements 2, 3 or even both fastening elements 2, 3 can be designed as a fastening element, ends of the plates running perpendicular and / or parallel to the pivot axis S being able to be bent onto the respective other plate by at least one or both of the fastening elements 2, 3 stiffen. Due to the stiffening of the fastening elements 2, 3, in the closed state of the pivot bearing 1, a free volume remains between the fastening elements 2, 3, into which, for example, attachment elements by means of which the pivot bearing 1 can be attached to the vehicle or to a flap of the vehicle, i.e. heads of Rivets or, as in the embodiment of the Figure 1 shown screws and nuts and the spring-elastic element can be arranged.

In order to mount the fastening elements 2, 3 rotatably on one another, the rotary bearing 1 has a bearing pin 8. One of the fastening elements 2, 3 and, for example, the fastening element 2 has two receiving elements 9, 10, into which the bearing pin 8 is inserted. Since the receiving elements 9, 10 in the Figure 2 The embodiment of the rotary bearing 1 according to the invention is shown more clearly below with reference to FIG Figure 2 described. Figure 2 shows compared to Figure 1 an outside of the pivot bearing 1 in a schematic perspective view, for example on the outside of the fastening element 3, the side flap or a fastening element of the vehicle can rest when the pivot bearing 1 is mounted.

The receiving elements 9, 10 are spaced apart from one another along the pivot axis S, so that a gap 11 is present along the pivot axis S between the receiving elements 9, 10. In the gap 11, an attachment element 12 is inserted, which is fastened to the fastening element 3 or which can be an integral part of the fastening element 3. The attachment element 12 can have an essentially hook-shaped or C-shaped cross-section, so that it can be mounted on the bearing pin 8 transversely to the pivot axis S and inserted into the gap 11. The length of the gap 11 parallel to the pivoting direction R, which can also be referred to as clear width L, increases along the pivoting direction R running around the pivot axis S, along the fastening elements 2, 3 which can be pivoted to open and close the pivot bearing 1, to or from. Parallel to the pivot axis S, the attachment element 12 can have a width B which essentially corresponds to the minimum value of the clear width L.

The clear width L of the gap 11 is essentially limited by end faces 13, 14 of the receiving elements 9, 10 which are adjacent to the gap 11 and are opposite or facing each other. These end faces 13, 14 can run, at least in sections, tilted toward one another so that the clear width L can decrease in the pivoting direction R. According to the invention, the end faces 13, 14 are formed, at least in sections, to run helically towards one another. The helix shape can be configured around the pivot axis S and in the same or opposite direction.

In order to be able to define the position of the fastening elements 2, 3 along the pivot axis S essentially without play, at least in the completely closed state of the rotary bearing 1, the attachment element 12 lies at least in the region of the minimum at the end faces 13, 14 at least in the completely closed state of the rotary bearing 1 clear width L. In the area of the minimum clear width L, the end faces 13, 14 can be formed with positioning sections 15, 16 running parallel to one another and in particular perpendicular to the pivot axis S. The positioning sections 15, 16 are preferably arranged on a section of the end faces 13, 14 that is furthest away from the fastening element 2 perpendicular to the pivot axis S.

Figure 3 shows part of a further embodiment of the rotary bearing 1 according to the invention schematically in an enlarged perspective view. The same reference numerals are to be used for elements which correspond in form and / or function to elements of the previous exemplary embodiment. Only the differences from the previous exemplary embodiment have been discussed below.

Figure 3 shows the receiving element 10 of the pivot bearing 1 isolated from other elements of the pivot bearing 1. The end face 14 extends helically around the pivot axis S and is parallel to the pivot axis S to the other receiving element 9, which, as in the previous embodiment with reference to a mirror plane running perpendicular to the pivot axis S. can be designed mirror-symmetrical to the receiving element 10.

In the embodiment of the Figure 3 the receiving element 10 has a stop 17 which adjoins the end face 14 and can be formed obliquely and in particular transversely to the pivoting direction R. If both receiving elements 9, 10 each have a stop 17, the stops can point in the same direction, that is to say parallel to one another and, for example, run in a common plane.

Claims (8)

1. Pivot bearing (1) for pivotably attaching a side flap to the outer side of a vehicle, having two fastening elements (2, 3) which are mounted so as to be pivotable with respect to one another about a pivot axis (S) and of which one is intended to be attached to the side flap and the other is intended to be attached to the vehicle, wherein the pivot bearing (1) has at least one spring-elastic element (4) which, in the closed state of the pivot bearing (1), seeks to push the fastening elements (2, 3) away from one another,
   characterized in that
   a first of the fastening elements (2) is provided with two receiving elements (9, 10), spaced apart from one another along the pivot axis (S), for receiving a bearing pin (8) that connects the fastening elements (2, 3) together in a pivotable manner, wherein the clear width (L), extending parallel to the pivot axis (S), of a gap (11) between the receiving elements (9, 10), increases or decreases at least sectionally along the pivoting direction (R) extending about the pivot axis (S), and end faces (13, 14), located opposite one another along the pivot axis (S), of the receiving elements (9, 10) are formed in a manner extending at least sectionally in a helical manner towards one another.
2. Pivot bearing (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that one of the fastening elements (2, 3) has the spring-elastic element (4).
3. Pivot bearing (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the fastening element (2, 3) having the spring-elastic element (4) is manufactured in one piece with the spring-elastic element (4).
4. Pivot bearing (1) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the spring-elastic element (4) is a flexible tongue, wherein the flexible tongue has a fixed end (5) fastened immovably to the fastening element (2) having the spring-elastic element (4), and a free end (6) opposite the fastened end (5), wherein the free end (6) is bent towards the fastening element (2) having the spring-elastic element (4).
5. Pivot bearing (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that end faces (13, 14), located opposite one another along the pivot axis (S), of the receiving elements (9, 10) are formed in a manner tilted at least sectionally towards one another.
6. Pivot bearing (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that sections of the end faces (13, 14) that are furthest away from the first fastening element (2) are oriented parallel to one another.
7. Pivot bearing (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the receiving elements (9, 10) provides a stop (17) limiting the maximum opening angle of the pivot bearing (1).
8. Pivot bearing (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second of the fastening elements (3) has an attachment element (12) with a substantially hook-shaped cross section, wherein the width (B) of the attachment element (12) along the pivot axis (S) is dimensioned such that the attachment element (12), in the open state of the pivot bearing (1), is able to be inserted into the gap (11) with a clearance and, at least in the close state of the pivot bearing (1), bears against both receiving elements (9, 10).

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