FR2786805A1 - Motor vehicle door hinge, comprises articulated knuckle joint assemblies to control door operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The motor vehicle front door hinge comprises a fixed knuckle (15) which is installed on the foot of the door and a movable knuckle (1) which is installed on the door. The two knuckles are connected together by a swan necked intermediate knuckle (7) which articulates on them. Guides (2,4,20) are arranged between the fixed and movable knuckles so as to rotate the latter during door opening by an angle which is added to the angle of rotation of the intermediate knuckle.

Description

The present invention relates to a hinge for a door

  motor vehicle, especially for

front door.

  Known from the prior art hinges for the door of a motor vehicle of the type comprising a movable knuckle with a swan neck intended to be mounted on the door and pivoting on a fixed knuckle intended for

  be mounted on the door leg.

  The swan neck shape of the movable knuckle allows the door to be moved away from the body when

  opening, and thus avoid any jamming.

  To achieve standard angular travel, ranging from 70 to 80 for a front door for example,

  we are forced to use a bulky swan neck.

  For this purpose, a significant clearance must be provided in the foot of the door, which is detrimental to the

  solid structure of the motor vehicle.

  The main object of the present invention is to provide a hinge which, while making it possible to achieve standard angular movement, has a

small footprint.

  This object of the invention is achieved with a hinge for a motor vehicle door, in particular for a front door, comprising a fixed knuckle intended to be mounted on the foot of said door and a movable knuckle intended to be mounted on said door, remarkable in that said fixed and mobile knuckles are connected to each other by an intermediate swan neck knuckle articulated thereon, and in that guide means are arranged between said fixed and mobile knuckles to rotate this last, when opening said door, by an angle which is added to the angle of rotation

said intermediate knuckle.

  According to other characteristics of the invention: - said guide means consist of an arm integral with said movable knuckle comprising at its end a guide roller intended to slide inside a buttonhole formed in said fixed knuckle; - Said arm, said intermediate knuckle and said buttonhole are shaped so that in the initial opening phase of said door, said movable knuckle remains practically stationary relative to said intermediate knuckle which itself pivots on said fixed knuckle, that intermediate phase of opening of said door, said movable knuckle pivots on said intermediate knuckle which itself pivots on said fixed knuckle, and in the final phase of opening of said door, said mobile knuckle pivots on said intermediate knuckle which - even remains practically immobile with respect to said fixed knuckle; - Said initial phase of opening said door corresponds to an angular movement of said movable knuckle of approximately 15, said intermediate phase of opening of said door corresponds to an angular movement of said mobile knuckle of approximately 45, and said final phase d opening of said door corresponds to an angular movement of said knuckle

mobile about 12.

  Thanks to these characteristics, as will be seen below, a double-displacement hinge is obtained, making it possible to significantly reduce the size of the neck.

swan.

  The invention also aims to provide a device for indexing the angle of rotation of the movable knuckle which is robust, compact, and inexpensive to produce. This other object of the invention is achieved by integrating into said hinge an indexing device, remarkable in that it comprises at least one cam mounted to move on said fixed knuckle and resiliently biased against said guide roller, said cam comprising at at least a first indexing notch intended to block said guide roller when said movable knuckle occupies a position corresponding to the maximum opening of said door; - Said cam comprises a second indexing notch intended to block said guide roller when said movable knuckle occupies a position corresponding to an intermediate opening of said door; - Said cam is connected to said fixed knuckle by a

elastic torsion bar.

  Unlike indexing devices

  existing, which are interposed between the door itself

  same and its foot, the indexing device according to the invention is integrated into the hinge. This results in a gain of robustness and space, as well as a time of

lower mounting.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the

  description which follows and on examination of the attached drawing

  in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hinge according to the invention with its indexing device; - Figure 2 is a top view of the hinge of Figure 1 when mounted on the left front door of a motor vehicle, the door being in the closed position; - Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2, except that the door is shown in several open positions; FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of FIG. 2 of the hinge according to the invention and

of its indexing device.

  In these figures, identical reference numerals denote members or assemblies

identical or analogous organs.

  In the following, the hinge according to the invention is described in the case where it is intended to be incorporated into a front door of a motor vehicle, since it turns out that it is particularly well

suitable for this application.

  That said, it should be borne in mind that this hinge could also be incorporated into a rear door, a tailgate or a hood of a motor vehicle, or even, more generally, any door which must open with a clearance. important angular. We now refer to Figure 1, on which we can see the main hinge parts according to

  the invention and its indexing device.

  This hinge comprises a movable knuckle 1 intended to be mounted on the front door of a motor vehicle. This movable knuckle has substantially the shape of a stirrup comprising first 2 and second 3 arms, the first arm 2 being longer than the second arm 3 and having a curved C shape visible in FIGS. 2 and 3. The first arm 2 has at its end a roller 4 having a guiding function which will be described later. The movable knuckle 1 comprises an orifice 5 intended to receive a fixing member such as a screw 6 (see

Figures 2 and 3).

  The movable knuckle 1 is rotatably mounted on an intermediate knuckle 7 thanks to an axis 8 which crosses its two

arm 2, 3.

  The intermediate knuckle 7 comprises first 9 and second 10 identical arms parallel to each other and having a U shape, also called swan neck shape, the concavity of which is turned on the same side as that of the

first arm 2 of the movable knuckle 1.

  The two arms 9, 10 of the intermediate knuckle 7 are placed inside the two arms 2, 3 of the movable knuckle 1, and are crossed by the axis 8 at their ends the

closer to the movable knuckle 1.

  The intermediate knuckle 7 is rotatably mounted on a fixed knuckle 15 by a pin 16 which crosses its two arms 9, 10 at their ends furthest from the

mobile knuckle 1.

  The fixed knuckle 15 comprises first 17 and second 18 wings parallel to each other and connected by a bottom 19. The fixed knuckle 15 thus defines a housing which can receive the movable knuckle 1 and the knuckle

intermediate 7.

  The first 17 and second 18 wings of the fixed knuckle

are crossed by axis 16.

  The first wing 17, located opposite the first arm 2 of the movable knuckle 1, comprises a buttonhole 20, inside which the guide roller 4 can slide. The bottom 19 of the fixed knuckle 15 has first and second 26 orifices intended to receive fixing members such as screws 30, 31 (see FIG. 2). To facilitate the relative movements of the three knuckles and limit friction as much as possible, those skilled in the art also know that it is possible to place spacers 32, 32 ′ and washers (not shown BmfrrI) on axes 8 and 16. It therefore does not seem useful here to expand on the characteristics of these parts. The hinge according to the invention also comprises an indexing device consisting of a cam 35 mounted outside the fixed knuckle 1 on a torsion bar

elastic 36.

  The cam 35, the shape of which can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises at least one, and preferably two 40, 41 indexing notches intended to block the roller 4 when it occupies certain positions in the

buttonhole 20.

  Preferably, the first indexing notch 40 makes it possible to block the roller 4 when it occupies a middle position PM in the buttonhole 20, and the second indexing notch 41 makes it possible to block the roller 4 when it is at the end of buttonhole run 20

(see figure 3).

  As can be seen in FIG. 4, the elastic torsion bar 36 is fixed integrally to the cam 35 and to the second wing 18 of the fixed knuckle 15, for example by virtue of square ends 42, 43. On the other hand, this elastic torsion bar can pivot freely by

  relative to the first wing 17 of the fixed knuckle 15.

  This elastic torsion bar makes it possible to exert a restoring torque on the cam 35, so as to

  keep permanently in contact with the guide roller 4.

  All of the parts described above can be manufactured from steels or other metal alloys commonly used in the field of

automobile industry.

  To understand the operation and the advantages of the hinge according to the invention and of its indexing device, reference is now made to more

  particularly in Figures 2 and 3.

  IMMM In these figures, the hinge is mounted on the

  left front door 50 of a motor vehicle.

  More specifically, the movable knuckle 1 is fixed on the front left door 50 by a screw 6, and the fixed knuckle 15 is fixed on the foot 51 of this door by two screws 30, 31. The hinge is partially covered by the wing front left 52 of the motor vehicle. When the door 50 is opened to bring it to its maximum open position shown in FIG. 3, the three knuckles move relative to the

  others according to three distinct phases, described below

  after. The angular values mentioned are given for illustration only. They correspond to a full angular clearance of 72, standard value

  for a front door of a motor vehicle.

  According to an initial phase of opening the door, corresponding to an angular movement a of the mobile knuckle 1 of 15, the mobile knuckle 1 remains practically

  stationary relative to the intermediate knuckle 7 which itself

  same pivots on the fixed knuckle 15. During this first phase, the guide roller 4 passes from an initial position P0 to a first intermediate position Pl in the buttonhole 20, the position Pi being situated before the middle position PM. In doing so, the guide roller 4 substantially describes an arc of a circle.

centered on axis 16.

  According to an intermediate phase of opening the door 50, corresponding to an angular movement 5 of the movable knuckle 1 of 45, the movable knuckle 1 pivots on the intermediate knuckle 7 which itself pivots on the fixed knuckle 15. During this second phase , the guide roller 4 passes from the first intermediate position P1 to a second intermediate position P2, located after

  the middle position PM in the buttonhole 20.

  When the guide roller 4 passes through the middle position PM, it is positioned in the first indexing notch 40 of the cam 35, thus offering the possibility of locking the door 50 in a position

half-opening.

  According to a final phase of opening the door, corresponding to an angular movement y of the movable knuckle 1 of about 12, the movable knuckle 1 pivots on the intermediate knuckle 7 which itself remains

  practically stationary relative to the fixed knuckle 15.

  During this third phase, the guide roller 4 passes from the second intermediate position P2 to a final position P3. In doing so, the guide roller 4

  substantially describes an arc centered on the axis 8.

  When the guide roller 4 reaches the final position P3, it is positioned in the second indexing notch 41 of the cam, thus making it possible to block

  the door 50 in its maximum open position.

  When the door 50 is closed, the three knuckles move relative to each other according to the three

  phases described above, in reverse order.

  We now understand that the main advantage of the hinge according to the invention lies in the double clearance of the movable knuckle 1 relative to the fixed knuckle 15, allowing the movable knuckle 1 to rotate, when the door 50 is opened. , by an angle which is added to the angle of rotation of the intermediate knuckle 7. Thanks to this double clearance, it is possible to reduce the size of the swan neck of the intermediate knuckle 7. By way of comparison, the dimensions of the neck swan of the hinge according to the invention would only allow a clearance of about 40 in a hinge of the

prior art.

  It is also understood that the hinge according to the invention makes it possible to transfer the end-of-travel abutment efforts of the door 50 directly to the fixed knuckle 15, thus releasing the intermediate knuckle 7 from the constraints. It can also be seen that the indexing device of the hinge according to the invention forms an integral part of the latter. It can therefore be treated by cataphoresis, painted and mounted at the same time as the hinge, thus allowing

  lower manufacturing costs.

  It will further be noted that this indexing device does not subsequently require any particular maintenance, unlike the devices of the prior art which must be greased at the time

mounting on the vehicle.

  In general, two hinges are fitted per door, only one of them (often the bottom one) being

  provided with an indexing device.

  It goes without saying that the invention also covers a hinge which does not include an indexing device, obtained by simply removing the cam 35 and the bar

  elastic torsion 36 of the hinge described above.

  The same hinges are used for the right door as the left door, but by fixing them upside down, that is to say so that the guide roller 4

  points to the ground (not shown).

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown which has not been given

as an example.

  Thus the cam 35 could be resiliently biased against the guide roller 4 by other elastic means than the torsion bar 36, such as a

or more springs.

  IMMr1i This is also how the second arm 3 of the movable knuckle 1 could be similar to the first arm 2

  and also include a guide roller intended to slide in a buttonhole formed in the second wing 18 of the fixed knuckle 15.

I [mloil

Claims (8)

  1. Hinge for a door (50) of a motor vehicle, in particular for a front door, comprising a fixed knuckle (15) intended to be mounted on the foot (51) of said door (50) and a movable knuckle (1) intended to be mounted on said door (50), characterized in that said fixed (15) and movable (1) knuckles are connected to each other by an intermediate swan neck knuckle (7) articulated thereon, and in that guide means (2, 4, 20) are arranged between said fixed knuckles (15) and mobile (1) to rotate the latter, when opening said door (50), by an angle which is added to the angle of rotation of said intermediate knuckle (7).   2. Hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide means (2, 4, 20) consist of an arm (2) integral with said movable knuckle (1) comprising at its end a guide roller (4) intended to slide inside a buttonhole (20)   formed in said fixed knuckle (15).   3. Hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that said arm (2), said intermediate knuckle (7) and said buttonhole (20) are shaped so that in the initial phase of opening of said door (50), said mobile knuckle (1) remains practically immobile with respect to said intermediate knuckle (7) which itself pivots on said fixed knuckle (15), that in the intermediate phase of opening of said door (50), said mobile knuckle (1) pivots on said intermediate knuckle (7) which itself pivots on said fixed knuckle (15), and that in the final phase of opening of said door (50), said movable knuckle (1) pivots on said intermediate knuckle (7 ) which itself remains practically   stationary with respect to said fixed knuckle (15).   4. Hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that said initial phase of opening of said door (50) corresponds to an angular movement of said movable knuckle (1) of approximately 15, in that said intermediate phase of opening of said door (50) corresponds to an angular movement of said mobile knuckle (1) of approximately 45, and in that said final phase of opening of said door (50) corresponds to an angular movement of said mobile knuckle (1) about 12.   5. Hinge according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that it   includes an indexing device (35, 36) of the angle   of rotation of said movable knuckle (1).   6. Hinge according to claim 5, when it depends on claim 2, characterized in that said indexing device (35, 36) comprises at least one cam (35) movably mounted on said fixed knuckle (15) and recalled elastically against said guide roller (4), said cam (35) comprising at least a first indexing notch (41) intended to lock said guide roller (4) when said movable knuckle (1) occupies a position corresponding to the maximum opening of said door (50).   7. Hinge according to claim 6, characterized in that said cam (35) comprises a second indexing notch (40) intended to block said guide roller (4) when said movable knuckle (1) occupies a position corresponding to a intermediate opening of said door (50).   8. Hinge according to any one of   claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said cam   (35) is connected to said fixed knuckle (15) by a bar of elastic torsion (36). Iu.FiE.