EP4209653B1

EP4209653B1 - Electric supporting rod

Info

Publication number: EP4209653B1
Application number: EP22177165.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chi-Wang Wu; Feng-lin YANG; Jeffrey Chung-Chiang Hsi
Original assignee: Fuzhou Mingfang Automobile Parts Industry Co Ltd; Hsin Chong Machinery Works Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fuzhou Mingfang Automobile Parts Industry Co Ltd; Hsin Chong Machinery Works Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-01-07
Filing date: 2022-06-03
Publication date: 2024-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2042-06-03
Also published as: EP4209653C0; EP4209653A1; TWI790884B; TW202327919A

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Technical Field

This disclosure is directed to an electric support rod of a tailgate of a car and in particular to a two-segment electric support rod which is easy to be assembled.

Description of Related Art

A related-art electric tailgate of a car is supported and driven by electric support rods arranged at two sides of a door frame. The electric support rod has an electric motor and a telescopic pole linked with the electric motor, the telescopic pole can be driven to telescope by controlling the electric motor to rotate so as to open or close the tailgate.
In general, the electric support rod has an outer tube, and the telescopic pole and the electric motor are inserted in the outer tube. The telescopic pole has a screw rod connected to the electric motor, and a bearing for fixing the screw rod is arranged between the screw rod and the outer tube. An inner edge of the bearing needs to be tightly fit with the screw rod and an outer edge of the bearing needs to be tightly fit with an inner wall of the outer tube. Furthermore, the outer tube is relatively long, and the bearing is therefore difficult to be assembled. CN 215 212 981 U discloses an example of an electric support rod.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

This invention is directed to an electric support rod having a driving assembly, an actuating assembly, and a bearing. The driving assembly has a first outer tube and a driving unit accommodated in the first outer tube, the first outer tube has a first engaging end and an internal thread arranged on an inner surface of the first engaging end. The actuating assembly has a second outer tube and a transmission screw rod inserted in the second outer tube, the second outer tube has a second engaging end and a plurality of elastic arms. The elastic arms are axially extended from the second engaging end and disposed spacedly around the transmission screw rod. Each elastic arm has an internal surface facing the transmission screw rod and an external surface opposite to the transmission screw rod. An outer thread structure is arranged on the external surface, a hook portion is disposed protrusively from the internal surface. The second engaging end is inserted in the first engaging end, the internal thread is screwed with the outer thread structure, and one end of the transmission screw rod protrudes from the second outer tube to be engaged the driving unit. The bearing is adapted to sheathe the transmission screw rod, and the hook portion latches an outer edge of the bearing.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the outer edge of the bearing is attached on the internal surface of the elastic arm.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the actuating assembly further has a telescopic set inserted in the second outer tube and adapted to sheathe the transmission screw rod, and the telescopic set has a nut screwed with the transmission screw rod.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the transmission screw rod has a transmission thread, the transmission screw rod has a tenon laterally inserted in the transmission screw rod, and the bearing is clamped between one end of the transmission thread and the tenon.
According to an embodiment of the invention, each outer thread structure has a plurality of thread segments disposed parallelly, and the thread segments of the outer thread structure are configured with the internal thread in the same helix line.
According to an embodiment of the invention, an outer surface of the second outer tube has an external thread extended from any one of the outer thread structures, and the external thread and the thread segments of the outer thread structures are configured with the internal thread in the same helix line. The outer surface of the second outer tube has a connecting surface, the connecting surface is attached on the inner surface of the first outer tube. The external thread is disposed between the connecting surface and the outer thread structure and is screwed with the internal thread. The connecting surface is a curved annular surface surrounding a lateral side of the second outer tube.
Accordingly, the driving unit of the electric support rod of this disclosure may be preassembled to the first outer tube. The telescopic set, the transmission screw rod and the bearing may be preassembled to the second outer tube, and then the first outer tube may be engaged with the second outer tube so that the transmission screw rod is power connected with the driving unit and the bearing is positioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure, which describes a number of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric support rod according to an embodiment of this disclosure.
Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the electric support rod according to the aforementioned embodiment of this disclosure.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an actuating assembly of the electric support rod according to an embodiment of this disclosure.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electric support rod along a longitudinal direction according to the aforementioned embodiment of this disclosure showing that the driving assembly is separated from the actuating assembly the electric support rod.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electric support rod along a longitudinal direction according to the aforementioned embodiment of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, this disclosure is directed to an electric support rod having a driving assembly 100, an actuating assembly 200 and a bearing 300.
According to this embodiment, the driving assembly 100 has a first outer tube 110 and a driving unit 130 accommodated in the first outer tube 110. The first outer tube 110 has a first engaging end 111, the first engaging end 111 has an opening 101, and an internal thread 112 is arranged on an inner surface of the first engaging end 111. According to this embodiment, the driving unit 130 at least has a motor.
The actuating assembly 200 has a second outer tube 210 and a transmission screw rod 230 inserted in the second outer tube 210. The second outer tube 210 has a second engaging end 211, and a plurality of elastic arms 220. The elastic arms are extended from the second engaging end 211 along an axial direction of the second outer tube 210 and disposed around the transmission screw rod 230 at intervals. Each elastic arm 220 has an internal surface 220a facing the transmission screw rod 230 and an external surface 220b opposite to the transmission screw rod 230, an outer thread structure 222 is arranged on each external surface 220b, a hook portion 223 is disposed protrusively on each internal surface 220a. Each outer thread structure 222 has a plurality of thread segments 222a disposed parallelly, each thread segment 222a is extended across the elastic arm 220 where the thread segment 222a is located, and the thread segments 222a are configured with the internal thread 112 in the same helix line.
An outer surface of the second outer tube 210 has a connecting surface 224 and an external thread 221, the connecting surface 224 is a curved annular surface surrounding a lateral side of the second outer tube 210, and the external thread 221 is configured between the connecting surface 224 and the outer thread structures 222. The external thread 221 extended from any one of the outer thread structures 222, and the external thread 221 and the thread segments 222a of the outer thread structures 222 configured with the internal thread 112 in the same helix line.
The transmission screw rod 230 has a transmission thread 231, the transmission screw rod 230 is provided with a tenon 232 which is inserted into the transmission screw rod 230 along a lateral direction of the transmission screw rod 230, and the bearing 300 is clamped between one end of the transmission thread 231 and the tenon 232. According to this embodiment, the tenon 232 is a C-clip, but scope of this disclosure should not be limited to the aforementioned embodiment. For example, the tenon 232 may be a pin inserted into the transmission screw rod 230.
The actuating assembly 200 further has a telescopic set 240 inserted in the second outer tube 210 and adapted to sheathe the transmission screw rod 230. The telescopic set 240 has a plurality of tubes movably sheathed with one another, thereby telescoping for varying a length of the telescopic set 240. Moreover, the telescopic set 240 has a nut 241 screwed with the transmission screw rod 230, the nut 241 is connected to one of the tubes, the nut 241 is moved along a longitudinal direction of the transmission screw rod 230 when the transmission screw rod 230 is rotated, so as to drive the telescopic set 240 to telescope.
According to this embodiment, the bearing 300 is of a ring shape, the bearing 300 sheathes the transmission screw rod 230 and an inner edge thereof is tightly fit with the transmission screw rod 230. An outer diameter of the bearing 300 is fit with a ring enclosed by the internal surfaces 220a of the elastic arm 220. The bearing 300 is put into the second outer tube 210 along a longitudinal direction of the second outer tube 210, the bearing 300 presses the hook portions 223 when moves into the second outer tube 210 so as to outward push the elastic arms 220. The bearing 300 passes the hook portions 223 and then the elastic arms 220 return inward so that an outer edge of the bearing 300 is attached with the internal surfaces 220a of the elastic arms 220, and the hook portions 223 latch the outer edge of the bearing 300 to fix the bearing 300 in the second outer tube 210.
The second engaging end 211 is inserted into the first engaging end 111 through the opening 101, the internal thread 112 is screwed with the outer thread structures 222, and the external thread 221 is screwed with the internal thread 112, so that the first outer tube 110 is connected with the second outer tube 210. One end of the transmission screw rod 230 protrudes from the second outer tube 210 to be engaged the driving unit 130, and the transmission screw rod 230 and the motor of the driving unit 130 are co-axially disposed. The first outer tube 110 and the second outer tube 210 may be further welded to fix with each other. According to this embodiment, the connecting surface 224 is attached with the inner surface of the first outer tube 110, namely attached to a region between the opening 101 and the internal thread 112, and the connecting surface 224 may be fixed with the inner surface of the first outer tube 110 via laser welding, high frequency bonding, binder, etc.
Accordingly, the driving unit 130 of the electric support rod of this disclosure may be pre-assembled to the first outer tube 110, the telescopic set 240, the transmission screw rod 230 and the bearing 300 may be pre-assembled to the second outer tube 210, and then the first outer tube 110 may be engaged with the second outer tube 210 so as to link the transmission screw rod 230 with the driving unit 130. The second outer tube 210 has elastic arms 220, the elastic arm 220 has the hook portion 223 and the outer thread structure 222 respectively disposed at inside and outside thereof, the bearing 300 may be fixed by the hook portion 223 when move into the second outer tube 210 so as to avoid loosening for a convenience of engaging the second outer tube 210 with the first outer tube 110. Moreover, the second outer tube 210 is engaged with the first outer tube 110, and then the elastic arm 220 is positioned by the inner surface of the first outer tube 110 so as to tightly fit the outer edge of the bearing.

Claims

An electric support rod, comprising:
a driving assembly (100), comprising a first outer tube (110) and a driving unit (130) accommodated in the first outer tube (110), the first outer tube (110) comprising a first engaging end (111) and an internal thread (112) arranged on an inner surface of the first engaging end (111);

an actuating assembly (200), comprising a second outer tube (210) and a transmission screw rod (230) inserted in the second outer tube (210), the second outer tube (210) comprising a second engaging end (211) characterized in that the second outer tube (210) further comprises a plurality of elastic arms (220), the elastic arms (220) axially extended from the second engaging end (211) and disposed spacedly around the transmission screw rod (230), each elastic arm (220) comprising an internal surface (220a) facing the transmission screw rod (230) and an external surface (220b) opposite to the transmission screw rod (230), an outer thread structure (222) arranged on the external surface (220b), a hook portion (223) disposed protrusively on the internal surface (220a), the second engaging end (211) inserted in the first engaging end (111), the internal thread (112) screwed with the outer thread structure (222), and one end of the transmission screw rod (230) protruding from the second outer tube (210) to be engaged the driving unit (130); and

a bearing (300), adapted to sheathe the transmission screw rod (230), and the hook portions (223) latched an outer edge of the bearing (300).
The electric support rod according to claim 1, wherein the outer edge of the bearing (300) is attached on the internal surface (220a) of each elastic arm (220).
The electric support rod according to claim 1, wherein the actuating assembly (200) further comprises a telescopic set (240) inserted in the second outer tube (210) and adapted to sheathe the transmission screw rod (230), and the telescopic set (240) comprises a nut (241) screwed with the transmission screw rod (230).
The electric support rod according to claim 1, wherein the transmission screw rod (230) comprises a transmission thread (231), the transmission screw rod (230) comprises a tenon (232) laterally inserted in the transmission screw rod (230), and the bearing (300) is clamped between one end of the transmission thread (231) and the tenon (232).
The electric support rod according to claim 1, wherein the outer thread structure (222) comprises a plurality of thread segments (222a) disposed parallelly, and the thread segments (222a) of the outer thread structure (222) are configured with the internal thread (112) in a same helix line.
The electric support rod according to claim 1, wherein the second outer tube (210) comprises an external thread (221) disposed on an outer surface thereof and continuing with the outer thread structure (222), the external thread (221) and the thread segments (222a) of the outer thread structure (222) are configured with the internal thread (112) in a same helix line.
The electric support rod according to claim 6, wherein the second outer tube (210) comprises a connecting surface (224) disposed on the outer surface thereof, the connecting surface (224) is attached on the inner surface of the first outer tube (110), and the external thread (221) is disposed between the connecting surface (224) and the outer thread structure (222) and is screwed with the internal thread (112).
The electric support rod according to claim 1, wherein the second outer tube (210) comprises a connecting surface (224) disposed on the outer surface thereof, and the connecting surface (224) is attached on the inner surface of the first outer tube (110).
The electric support rod according to claim 7, wherein the connecting surface (224) is a curved annular surface surrounding a lateral side of the second outer tube (210).
The electric support rod according to claim 8, wherein the connecting surface (224) is a curved annular surface surrounding a lateral side of the second outer tube (210).