EP3581742B1 - Door flush handle and method of operating the same - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a door handle movable between a rest position in which the handle is flush with the door and a working position in which the handle is projecting relative to the door.

Doors are known, particularly in the automotive field, fitted with flush handles and these can be deployed in a motorized manner or not.

In addition, for the transition from the rest position to the working position, it is known to use either a pivoting control mechanism or a translation control mechanism. These two mechanisms are used today.

Prior art

A motor vehicle door handle with a pivoting control mechanism is known from the application EP 3106596 A , this relates to a handle for a vehicle door, comprising: an activation element configured to activate a lock of a vehicle door in order to unlock the door, a gripping element configured to cooperate with the element activation so as to unlock the door, in which the gripping element comprises a gripping part, the gripping element being movable between: a flush position in which the gripping part is flush with an external panel of the door, a active position in which the gripping part projects relative to the external panel and becomes graspable, the gripping element cooperating with the activation element, and an open position in which the handle drives the activation element to activate the lock and unlock the door, and finally a drive mechanism and an actuator lever cooperating with the gripping element so that the gripping element can be e drawn between the flush position and the active position, the handle being configured so that when the gripping element is pulled in an opening direction, the gripping element drives the activation element which in turn activates the latch to unlock the door. This flush door handle mechanism is motorized mainly to move the handle from the flush position, therefore from rest, to the active position, therefore ready to be grasped. The reverse path to return to the flush position after opening the door is done using elastic means of the spring type.

The disadvantage of this is that in the event of a physical presence in the opening through which the handle stretches to pass from the rest position to the active position, the elastic means are no longer sufficient to retract the latter towards its rest position flush with the door. The most feared example being the presence of ice or frost.

In addition, a motor vehicle door handle with a drive mechanism by translation is known from the application. WO 2011/086144 which relates to a retractable handle arrangement comprising a handle movable between folded, deployed and operational states. This movement is controlled by a mechanism having first and second means each connected to a support structure and to the handle. At least one of these means is connected to the support structure by an articulation defining a pivot axis which is movable in response to the movement of the handle between the deployed state and the operational state. This movement of the pivot axis makes it possible to unlock a door or other closure associated with the handle, for example by means of a crank acting on a Bowden cable.

The translation control mechanisms have the advantage of supporting large loads, but the disadvantage of being bulky. The one presented in this application is relatively compact, but this is due to the absence of a motorized actuator. It is also known the requests DE102016112689 and US2016298366 dealing with flush handles opening by a translation mechanism.

The major drawback is therefore that human intervention is necessary for the deployment and retraction of the handle. In addition, in the event of physical presence in the opening through which the handle stretches to pass from the rest position to the active position, the elastic means may no longer be sufficient to retract the latter towards its rest position flush with the door. The most feared example being the presence of ice or frost

Summary of the invention

• un premier levier monté pour pivoter autour d'un premier axe porté par la poignée ;
• un second levier monté pour pivoter autour d'un second axe porté par la poignée parallèlement au premier axe et à distance dudit premier axe selon une direction longitudinale de la poignée ;
• au moins une biellette ayant des extrémités reliées au premier levier et au second levier selon des liaisons articulées dont au moins l'une présente une première lumière oblongue parallèle à ladite biellette ;
• des moyens de rappel élastique de la poignée vers la position de repos;
• une came apte à tourner autour de son axe afin de faire translater ladite poignée entre lesdites positions de repos et de travail à l'aide d'un actionneur motorisé ;
• une tige reliant ladite came à ladite biellette et comportant un pion s' étendant perpendiculairement par rapport au plan de la tige;
• le premier levier, le second levier, ladite biellette et la poignée formant un ensemble déformable dont la déformation provoque un déplacement en translation de ladite poignée, ladite biellette comprend en outre une seconde lumière oblongue parallèle à la première lumière oblongue et à travers laquelle s'étend le pion de la tige afin de faire coulisser ladite poignée de la position de travail à la position de repos de manière motorisée par une sur-course de ladite came lorsque les moyens de rappel élastiques ne sont pas suffisant.

In order to respond to the problems mentioned above, and above all: to prevent an undesirable physical presence from blocking the retraction of the handle after it has been used to unlock the lock, a door handle is proposed which is movable between a position rest in which the handle is flush with the door and a working position in which the handle protrudes relative to the door, said handle comprising a control mechanism comprising:

• a first lever mounted to pivot around a first axis carried by the handle;
• a second lever mounted to pivot about a second axis carried by the handle parallel to the first axis and at a distance from said first axis in a longitudinal direction of the handle;
• at least one link having ends connected to the first lever and to the second lever according to articulated connections, at least one of which has a first oblong opening parallel to said link;
• elastic return means of the handle towards the rest position;
• a cam able to rotate about its axis in order to translate said handle between said rest and working positions using a motorized actuator;
• a rod connecting said cam to said link and comprising a pin extending perpendicular to the plane of the rod;
• the first lever, the second lever, said link and the handle forming a deformable assembly, the deformation of which causes displacement in translation of said handle, said link further comprises a second oblong light parallel to the first oblong light and through which s extends the pin of the rod in order to make the said handle slide from the working position to the rest position so motorized by an over-travel of said cam when the elastic return means are not sufficient.

Preferably, the door handle according to the invention is such that the axis of rotation of the first lever, the axis of rotation of the second lever and the axis of rotation of the cam are all three parallel. This allows a gain in compactness while allowing the volume occupied by the handle to be extended over the length rather than the width of the door, reducing the bulk.

• une première lumière oblongue parallèle à ladite biellette
• une seconde lumière oblongue parallèle à ladite première lumière oblongue.

In order to gain stability during the extraction movement of the handle from the rest position to the working position, the door handle according to the invention is such that it comprises two links arranged on either side of a median plane extending in a longitudinal direction of the handle and each having ends connected to the first lever and to the second lever according to articulated connections of which at least one of said ends has:

• a first oblong light parallel to said link
• a second oblong lumen parallel to said first oblong lumen.

Preferably, the door handle according to the invention is such that the second oblong opening parallel to the first oblong opening and through which the pin of the rod extends has a length greater than that of the first oblong opening. Indeed, the two oblong lights have different functions: the first light is used for the unlocking function of the lock known per se and which is done by a rotation following a force exerted by a user wishing to open his door once the position of work reached (traction on Bowden cable), the second light is used for the invention because the path of the cam makes it possible to adopt different positions and the pin of the rod must be able to move in the light while the cam occupies its different angular positions. Thus, the travel required for unlocking corresponding to the first oblong opening is preferably short to facilitate unlocking while the travel and over-travel of motorized retraction is preferably longer because the handle must be fully deployed to facilitate gripping.

Preferably, the door handle according to the invention is such that the cam has a lateral contact surface bearing on the second lever to rotate it around its axis in order to make the handle slide. This permanent contact to create the translational movement produces less noise than a drive pin fitted. This is a permanent function used to deploy the handle each time you open the door.

In addition and also preferably, the cam has a planar surface from which leaves, in a direction perpendicular to said surface, a fixing pin capable of receiving the rod by fitting. This allows the link to be pulled in the event of overtravel in a motorized manner while limiting the probability of the mechanism breaking.

For a gain in compactness, ideally, the door handle cam according to the invention is directly mounted on an output shaft of an electric motor belonging to the actuator.

Preferably, the door handle according to the invention is such that the deformable assembly, the deformation of which causes displacement in translation of said handle is configured so that the movement is reversible under the effect of the elastic means and / or under the effect of the motorized actuator. This reversibility makes it possible to use the elastic means by default and the motorized return in the event of blockage by a physical presence of the ice or frost type.

Preferably, the elastic return means of the handle towards the rest position comprise at least one torsion spring fixed on the axis of rotation of the second lever and bearing on a fixed support of the handle so as to exert a return force. on said lever towards its angular position of rest.

To have a second supply of energy and gain in robustness, it is preferable that the elastic return means of the handle towards the rest position also include a double torsion spring fixed on the axis of rotation of the first lever and in support. on a fixed support of the handle so as to exert a second restoring force on the first lever towards its angular position of rest.

Preferably, the invention covers a motor vehicle door comprising a door handle according to the invention fixed to said door.

• à partir de la position de repos de la poignée, la came tourne dans un premier sens de la position angulaire de repos vers la position angulaire de travail afin de provoquer la rotation du second levier et le déplacement en translation de la poignée vers sa position de travail,
• à partir de la position de travail de la poignée, la came revient dans un second sens opposé au premier en position angulaire de repos et l'ensemble déformable subit une force de rappel exercée par les moyens de rappel élastique de la poignée vers sa position de repos,
• si la force exercée par les moyens de rappel élastique est insuffisante pour rappeler la poignée vers sa position de repos, alors l'actionneur effectue une sur-course de la rotation motorisée de la came dans le second sens opposé au premier afin de ramener ladite poignée par traction sur la biellette à travers le pion de la tige.

The invention also relates to a method of moving a door handle provided with the mechanism according to the invention and comprising the following successive steps:

• from the rest position of the handle, the cam rotates in a first direction from the angular rest position to the angular working position in order to cause the rotation of the second lever and the translational movement of the handle towards its position job,
• from the working position of the handle, the cam returns in a second direction opposite to the first in the angular position of rest and the deformable assembly undergoes a restoring force exerted by the elastic return means of the handle towards its position rest,
• if the force exerted by the elastic return means is insufficient to return the handle to its rest position, then the actuator performs an overtravel of the motorized rotation of the cam in the second direction opposite to the first in order to bring said handle by pulling on the rod through the pin pin.

Preferably, the method according to the invention is such that the handle control mechanism is fixed to a motor vehicle door and the actuator causing the motorized rotation of the cam does the overtravel only when said motor vehicle is in motion. Multiple advantages are obtained if this process is operated when the vehicle is moving:

Firstly, this makes it possible to prevent the motorized retraction from taking place while a user still has his fingers in the opening of the handle and that they are caught by the actuator and therefore with greater force. to that of elastic means.

Second, when the vehicle is driven, the noise generated will be less perceptible to the user.

Finally thirdly, an electronic control of the kinematics to block it in the angular position of overtravel would prevent the handle from coming out by inertial effect. This provides an additional means of preventing the door from opening in the event of an accident.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description which details the invention with reference to the attached figures among which:

Brief description of the drawings

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of the door handle according to the invention,
• The figure 2A is an overall view of the handle on its support intended to be fixed to a motor vehicle door,
• The figure 2B is a view focused on the first lever and its elastic return means,
• The figure 3 is a rear view of the door handle according to the invention,
• The figure 4 illustrates in perspective the deformable assembly of the control mechanism of a door handle according to the invention,
• The Figures 5A to 5D illustrate the various stages of the method according to the invention when the handle is locked in the working position.
• The figure 6 illustrates a vehicle with a handle according to the invention fixed on a door.

Description of the embodiments

With reference to the figures, the invention relates to a handle 1 of a door p. The handle 1 is movable between a rest position in which the handle is flush with the door, and a working position in which the handle is projecting relative to the door.

The control mechanism comprises a housing or support 2 fitted with fixing bosses 21 to the door (cf. fig.2A ). The handle 1 is mounted to slide in an opening of the door.

To the figure 1 the handle 1 according to the invention is illustrated.

The movement mechanism of the handle comprises a first lever 7 connected by a first articulated link 801 to a link 81 and mounted in an articulated manner on an axis A7 (cf. fig 3 ) carried by the handle.

More specifically, and to gain stability, the first lever 7 is connected to two rods 81 and 82 symmetrical with respect to a median plane extending in a longitudinal direction of the handle, and having at the end opposite to the first connection articulated 801, a second lever 6 to which the links 81 and 82 are connected by means of an articulation comprising an axis of rotation A6 (cf. fig 3 ) carried by the second lever 6 and engaged in an oblong slot 811 of the second articulated link 802 produced in each of the links 81 and 82 and extending in parallel to the links.

The oblong slot 802 thus gives each link 81, 82 a clearance in a longitudinal direction of said link. Of course only one game in a link is necessary for the invention as illustrated by the figures 3 and 4 for example.

Always at the figure 1 , in the door handle control mechanism according to the invention, there is an actuator 3 for moving the levers 6 and 7 and the links 81 and 82 by means of a cam 4 (cf. fig. 3 & 4 ) directly pressing the second lever 6.

In fact, the first lever 7 serves as a support for the stability of the translational output of the handle 1 while the second lever 6 is the lever in direct contact with the cam 4.

Two torsion springs 61 arranged along the axis A6 are visible at the figure 1 and serve to recall the door handle from the working position to the rest position once the handle has been used to unlock the lock and open the door.

To the figure 2A The case or support 2 is illustrated as well as the fixing bosses 21 for fixing the whole of the handle and its support on a door of a motor vehicle.

With reference to the figure 2B , is highlighted the double torsion spring 71 serving as elastic return means of the lever 7 from the working position to the rest position once the handle has been used to unlock the lock and open the door.

The figure 3 shows the axes A7 of the first lever 7, A6 of the second lever 6 and A4 of rotation of the cam 4 which are parallel so as to both obtain deployment in translation and improve the compactness of the handle mechanism according to the invention.

The device according to the invention advantageously extends in a plane parallel to the ground in length rather than in a plane perpendicular to the ground where it would be more bulky and likely to occupy a space intended for another function in the door (p) d 'a vehicle (Ve).

To the same figure 3 , a rod 5 connecting the cam 4 to the link 81 and comprising a pin 51 also visible at the figure 4 and extending perpendicularly to the plane of the rod 5.

On the figure 4 , the first lever 7, the second lever 6 and the links 81, 82 are seen forming a deformable assembly, the deformation of which causes the handle 1 to move in translation.

The movement is actuated by the cam 4 having a flat surface 41 and a lateral contact surface 43. From the flat surface 41, leaves, in a direction perpendicular to the latter, a fixing pin 44 capable of receiving the rod 5 by fitting.

The other side of the rod 5 has a pin 51 which extends parallel to the fixing pin 44 and through the second oblong slot 812 belonging to the rod 81.

The cam 4 is mounted on an axis A4 carried by a motor with an output shaft 42, the motor being fixed in the actuator 3. The actuator is connected to a control unit able to receive deployment control signals or handle retraction.

We will now explain the operating mode of the door handle control mechanism according to the invention using the figures 5A-5D and 6 .

To bring the handle 1 according to the invention to the working position, a deployment control signal is sent to the motorized actuator 3 by a control unit (not shown).

We see, at the figure 5A , the angular position of rest of the deployment member that is the cam 4. The latter is rotated clockwise as illustrated by the arrow F1 on the figure 5A so that the first and second levers 7 and 6 respectively are moved by the path of said cam in order to bring the handle 1 in translation towards the working position (cf. arrow F2 at the fig.5A ).

As an indication, it is specified that, simultaneously with the process described above, an unlocking signal is sent to an electric unlocking member associated with a lock belonging to the door p of the vehicle Ve.

From this working position, pulling on the handle 1 in the same direction as that indicated by the arrow F2 then generates a rotation of the handle pulling on a Bowden cable for example to open the door in a manner known per se ( not shown). The Bowden cable is indeed connected to a lock belonging to the door.

Once the working position has been reached (cf. fig. 5B ), the handle is able to be grasped by a user to pull it and cause the door to open p.

In normal situation ie in the absence of physical presence in the opening of the handle, following this, the motor returns, after a determined time, the cam 4 to its initial angular position of rest at the same time as the springs of torsion 61 and that the double torsion spring 71 act respectively on the first and second levers 7 and 6 to bring the handle.

The rotation of the cam 4, in this case, is done counterclockwise. In this kinematic chain, the cam 4 always remains in contact with the second lever 6 through its lateral surface 43 (cf. fig. 4 ).

To the figure 5C , we are in the case of a presence of blocking element of the ice or frost type (not shown) preventing the return of the handle 1 to its rest position. The rotation of the cam 4, in this case, was made counterclockwise but the second lever 6 has lost contact with said cam 4. It can be seen that the pin 51 of the rod 5 moves in the second light oblong 812 towards the cam because driven by the counterclockwise rotation of the latter.

Then at the figure 5D , the control unit having detected that the handle 1 has not been retracted, can give an overtravel instruction to the actuator 3 so that the latter continue the counterclockwise rotation of the cam 4. Said detection can to do in any way, there may be mentioned a position sensor type detection means for example.

This overtravel leads the pin 51 of the rod 5 towards the stop close to the cam 4 belonging to the rod 81 in order to pull in a motorized manner on said rod 81 and force the handle 1 to return through the first and second levers 7 and 6 respectively.

The direction of retraction to the rest position is indicated by arrow F3 and that of overtravel by arrow F4.

Ideally, the motorized retraction instruction towards the rest position as described above is given when the vehicle is moving. This ensures that the perceived noise is reduced and that there is not the hand of a user likely to be trapped during the retraction. Finally, this would also avoid an unwanted opening in the event of an impact if the angular position of overtravel of the figure 5D was for example maintained.

Industrial application

The door handle control mechanism according to the invention can be used in any vehicle p as shown in the figure 6 .

References

• EP 3106596 A
• WO 2011/086144
• DE102016112689
• US2016298366

Claims (13)

1. A door (p) handle (1) movable between a rest position in which the handle is flush with the door and a working position in which the handle projects with respect to the door, said handle (1) comprising a control mechanism comprising:

   - a first lever (7) mounted so as to pivot about a first axis (A7) carried by the handle;

   - a second lever (6) mounted so as to pivot about a second axis (A6) carried by the handle parallel to the first axis (A7) and at a distance from said first axis (A7) according to a longitudinal direction of the handle;

   - at least one tie rod (81, 82) having ends connected to the first lever (7) and to the second lever (6) according to hinged connections (801, 802) at least one of which has a first oblong aperture (811) parallel to said tie rod (81, 82);

   - elastic means (61, 71) for biasing the handle (1) towards the rest position;

   - a cam (4) adapted to rotate about its axis (A4) in order to make said handle (1) translate between said rest and working positions using a motor-driven actuator (3);

   - a rod (5) connecting said cam (4) to said tie rod (81, 82) and including a pin (51) extending perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the rod (5);

   the first lever (7), the second lever (6), said tie rod (81, 82) and the handle (1) forming a deformable assembly whose deformation causes a translational displacement of said handle (1),
   said tie rod (81, 82) further comprises a second oblong aperture (812) parallel to the first oblong aperture (811) and through which extends the pin (51) of the rod (5) in order to make said handle (1) slide from the working position to the rest position in a motor-driven manner through an over-stroke of said cam (4) when the elastic biasing means (61, 71) are not sufficient.
2. The door (p) handle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis A7 of the first lever (7), the axis (A6) of the second lever (6) and the axis (A4) of rotation of the cam 4 are all parallel.
3. The door (p) handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises two tie rods (81, 82) disposed on either side of a midplane extending according to a longitudinal direction of the handle (1) and each having ends connected to the first lever (7) and to the second lever (6) according to hinged connections (801, 802) at least one of said ends has

   - a first oblong aperture (811) parallel to said tie rod (81, 82)

   - a second oblong aperture (812) parallel to said first oblong aperture (811).
4. The door (p) handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second oblong aperture (812) parallel to the first oblong aperture (811) and through which extends the pin (51) of the rod (5) has a length larger than that of the first oblong aperture (811).
5. The door (p) handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cam (4) has a lateral contact surface (43) bearing on the second lever (6) to make it rotate about its axis (A6) in order to make the handle (1) slide.
6. The door (p) handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cam (4) has a planar surface (41) from which extends, according to a direction perpendicular to said surface (41), a fastening pin (44) adapted to receive the rod (5) by fitting.
7. The door (p) handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cam (4) is directly mounted on an output axis of an electric motor belonging to the actuator (3).
8. The door (p) handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformable assembly whose deformation causes a translational displacement of said handle (1) is configured so that the displacement is reversible by the action of the elastic means (61, 71) and/or by the action of the motor-driven actuator (3).
9. The door (p) handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic means (61, 71) for biasing the handle (1) towards the rest position comprise at least one torsional spring (61) fastened on the axis of rotation (A6) of the second lever (6) and bearing on a fixed support (2) of the handle so as to exert a biasing force on said lever (6) towards its rest angular position.
10. The door (p) handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic means (61, 71) for biasing the handle (1) towards the rest position comprise a dual torsional spring (71) fastened on the axis of rotation (A7) of the first lever (7) and bearing on a fixed support (2) of the handle so as to exert a biasing force on the lever (7) towards its rest angular position.
11. A door (p) for a motor vehicle (Ve) comprising a handle according to any one of the preceding claims fastened to said door (p).
12. A method for displacing a door handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 comprising the following successive steps:

    - starting from the rest position of the handle (1), the cam (4) rotates in a first direction from the rest angular position towards the working angular position in order to cause the rotation of the second lever (6) and the translational displacement of the handle (1) towards its working position,

    - starting from the working position of the handle (1), the cam returns in a second direction opposite to the first one into the rest angular position and the deformable assembly is subjected to a biasing force exerted by the elastic means (61, 71) for biasing the handle (1) towards its rest position,

    - if the force exerted by the elastic biasing means (61, 71) is insufficient to bias the handle (1) towards its rest position, then the actuator (3) performs an over-stroke of the motor-driven rotation of the cam (4) in the second direction opposite to the first one in order to bring back said handle (1) by pulling on the tie rod (81, 82) through the pin (51) of the rod (5).
13. The method for displacing a door handle (1) according to claim 12, wherein the handle (1) control mechanism is fastened to a door of a motor vehicle and the actuator (3) causing the motor-driven rotation of the cam (4) performs the over-stroke only when said motor vehicle is moving.

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