FR2978475A1 - Damping control device for opening frame i.e. door, of car, has handle mounted with respect to support, and spring whose portion elastically deforms to contact push rod to provide damping at end of movement of handle toward one position - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a handle (4) movably mounted with respect to a support (6) between a first position and a second position. A helicoid spring (14) exerts elastic force of recall on the handle toward the first position, and is placed around a rotational axis (10) of the handle. A portion (16) of the spring rests against the support. A push rod (22) of the handle contacts the portion of the spring in the second position from the handle. The portion of the spring elastically deforms to contact the push rod for providing damping at the end of the movement of the handle toward the second position. The support comprises a bearing surface (24) localized in an inner side of a cavity (8).

Description

DEVICE FOR DAMPING A CONTROL OF AN OPENING. The invention relates to a handle control device, including a vehicle opening. More particularly, the invention relates to a damping device of the handle control device. The invention also relates to an opening equipped with such a handle control device, and to a particular automotive vehicle equipped with said device. The opening of vehicles are controlled from outside or inside. These controls generally have the appearance of handles or small handles whose actuation allows unlocking of the opening. These controls are movable over a certain stroke that can be angular and / or linear. To stop this race, we place a stop against which a heel of the order or equipment abuts. To limit the noise and the impact of this stop there is between the control and the fixed area of support a rubber element or other flexible material. This device does not damage the surfaces. It also attenuates and modifies the sound emitted by the shock when the user manipulates the control with force. This addition of an interface makes it possible to increase the perceived quality of the vehicle. However, this interface represents additional costs because we report a part and we add an additional step in the editing process. In addition, the perceived quality related to this solution is limited because at the end of the race you can feel a still dry contact. The prior art proposes devices providing partial solutions to the problems raised. The document FR2927926 discloses an opening pallet cushioning device when the latter returns to its rest position. This cushioning is achieved by an elastomer pad fixed on the housing. The cushioning is done on a reduced race. The elastomer pad is an additional mounting step and an additional piece. To have an action on a longer race the documents EP 1 249 567 and US 6,460,904 disclose solutions for cushioning handles of opening of vehicles. These devices contain a housing fixed on a door at its covering. They also contain a lever acting as an opening handle, this lever is fixed free to rotate relative to the housing by means of an axis of rotation. The levers are held in the closed position by means of a prestressing spring. The cushioning achieved during the operation of the lever is radial, axial or remote. The cushioning devices provided are hydraulic piston dampers or rotary dampers. The junction between the lever and the damper is alternately made using a rod or with the help of gears or racks. These solutions multiply the parts necessary to realize their function. The cinematic chains are complex. The number of interfaces between the parts increases the wear zones which limit the life of the device. These devices are expensive, bulky and increase the weight of the opening control of the opening. These devices provide resistance rather than clear cushioning. They act on the entire race rather than a portion of the race. Document KR100727180B discloses a device for reducing operating noise and rattling of a control pallet of an opening leaf in a position. This device is housed between the pallet and the support of the pallet. The device comprises a spring housed in a jack with a rubber head. This device reduces the rattling and slamming released by the release of the pallet and its breakdown against its abutment. This device is adapted to act on a predefined race portion. This solution requires adding parts and assembly processes that increase the cost. The complexity of this assembly limits its life. The braking stroke of the device is limited. The object of the invention is to propose a handle control device that overcomes at least one of the disadvantages mentioned above. More particularly, the invention aims to provide a stroke damping device of a handle control device, in particular an opening. The invention also aims to provide a damping device which acts on a portion of the operating stroke of the control. A desire related to the invention is to limit spurious noise that may appear in the device. The invention aims to reduce the number of parts of the order. The invention also aims to provide a sustainable stroke damping device, economical with limited space.

The invention relates to a handle control device, including a vehicle opening, comprising: a support; a handle mounted movable relative to the support between a first position and a second position; a spring exerting on the handle an elastic return force to the first position, the spring having a portion resting on the support; remarkable in that the handle comprises a pusher adapted to come into contact with the spring portion in the second position of the handle, the spring portion being configured to deform elastically in contact with the pusher so as to ensure damping at the end of the movement of the handle to the second position.

The portion of the spring preferably corresponds to one end of said spring. The portion of the spring can work in bending for damping. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring portion comprises a first zone in direct support on the support and a second zone intended to come into contact with the pusher, the second zone being free of direct support on the support. The second zone may be disposed away from the spring relative to the first zone, just as it may also be disposed between the first zone and the spring. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring portion comprises a third zone disposed opposite the first zone with respect to the second zone, the third zone being in direct bearing on the support, the support thus forming a cavity opposite the second zone. Preferably, the third zone is, among the three zones, the farthest from the rest of the spring. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second zone is at a distance, and preferably in opposite relation, from the first zone in a direction essentially corresponding to that of the movement of the pusher in contact with said first zone, the portion of spring preferably comprising at least one bent portion between the first zone and the second zone. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the profile of the bent portion is included in a plane, and this plane is parallel to the direction of movement of the pusher, the profile of the bent part being preferentially C-shaped. hollow profile C is preferably oriented towards the main part of the spring.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring portion comprises at least one turn whose section furthest from the support forms the second zone, the turn being able to be deformed radially. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the handle is rotatable relative to the support along an axis; the spring being preferentially helical and arranged around the axis. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pusher comprises a contact surface with the spring portion, whose profile is curved and configured so that the distance between the point of contact of the surface with the portion of spring and the axis of rotation of the handle increases gradually during movement of the handle to the second position. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the handle is movable in translation relative to the support in a sliding direction. The support may be a housing for the handle, the damping function being ensured at the end of the deployment stroke of the handle outside its housing. The invention also relates to a vehicle opening provided with a handle opening control device, remarkable in that the control device is according to the invention, the opening being preferably a door. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device is intended for an interior control of a vehicle door. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring is helical and the diameter of its wire is greater than 0.30 mm; preferably greater than 0.50 mm; still more preferably greater than 1.00 mm. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the distance between the winding axis of the turns of the spring and the bent portion is greater than 1.00 cm; preferentially greater than 2.00 cm; still more preferably greater than 3.00 cm.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring is metallic, its elastic limit is greater than 600 MPa; preferentially greater than 800 MPa; more preferably still greater than 1200 MPa. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring is metallic and its material is a stainless steel. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the return torque exerted by the spring on the handle at the start of the stroke is less than 50 N.cm; preferably less than 36 N.cm; more preferably less than 25 N.cm. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the return torque exerted by the spring on the handle at the end of the stroke is greater than 40 N.cm; preferably greater than 50 N.cm; more preferably greater than 75 N.cm. The solution exploits parts already existing in the device. It consists mainly of adapting functional forms and lengthening the portion of the spring. This solution allows soft cushioning at the end of the control stroke. This cushioning can be present throughout the race or only at the end of the race. It may also be considered to create variable amortization. In a general aspect, the invention offers a compactness and an improved lightness. The risk of appearance of unwanted noise is controlled. The solution put forward by the invention is economical, easy to mount and durable.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description and drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents a device for controlling an opening leaf of a motor vehicle as proposed in FIG. invention. - Figure 2 shows a section of the control device of an opening according to the axis A-A as defined in Figure 1. The device is in the folded position. FIG. 3 shows a section of the control device of an opening according to the axis AA as defined in FIG. 1. The device is in the deployed position. FIG. 1 shows a front view of a control device 2 of FIG. opening of an opening. The opening is not shown in the figure. The control is for example an internal opening opening control. The device comprises a handle 4 pivotally mounted in a support 6.

The support 6 has a cavity shape 8 in which the handle 4 folds down. The support 6 plays the role of housing. The front edges of the support 6 are coplanar and thin so as to be embedded in the surface of the opening and preserve a continuity surface. Always to preserve the continuity, the handle 4 is housed inside the cavity 8 and does not exceed or slightly beyond the plane constituted by the front edges of the cavity 8. The attachment of the support 6 on the opening is for example realized by means of a plurality of fastening tabs or lugs. The objective is to offer a rigid and robust fixation, able to withstand shocks and vibrations. The cavity 8 may be pierced locally to allow the passage of mechanical or electrical cables.

FIG. 2 represents a section of the control device 2 along the axis AA defined in FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the support 6 comprises a bearing surface 24. The bearing surface 24 is also called support 24. This surface can serve as support for example for an elastic device. This bearing surface is located inside the cavity 8, but may be located outside. An interior positioning will be more compact. The handle 4 is mounted movably relative to the support 6. The handle 4 is movable between at least two positions, such as a folded position and an extended or open position. One can also provide one or more additional positions such as in particular a depressed position, opposite direction to the opening. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the handle 4 is rotatable relative to the support 6. The axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the plane constituted by the front edges of the support 6. The mounting of the device 2 orients the axis 10 in a substantially vertical direction of the vehicle in which it is supposed to be mounted.

According to a first alternative embodiment of the invention the handle 4 is movable in translation. It moves in translation on rails made in the support 6.

According to a second alternative embodiment of the invention the movement of the handle can combine a rotation and a translation. The trajectory of the handle can describe a curve and / or a line. The handle 4 has a gripping surface favoring the actuation of this organ.

This surface is at one end of the handle 4. The handle 4 is a lever in that the axis of rotation is at the opposite end of the gripping surface. This lever provides increased force for pulling mechanical control cables. The handle 4 may be made of polymer or metal type ZAMAK. The polymer is advantageous in that it limits the risk of rattling with other metal parts with which it is in contact. ZAMAK is an alloy based on zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper. It offers appreciable hardness to achieve functional surfaces, which can cooperate with cable heads or springs without wear. This alloy is easily cast to achieve the shapes required for the applications mentioned. The connection between the handle 4 and the support 6 can be achieved by means of an expandable cylindrical pin. This pin can provide the axis of rotation function and is placed along the axis 10. The handle 4 comprises a cylinder positioned at the axis 10. This cylinder is hollow and can accommodate the pin.

The device also comprises a spring 14. The spring may for example be helical, or spiral. Preferably the section of the spring 14 is circular, the spring comprises several turns made by a wire. The turns constitute a winding along an axis, in the context of the invention this axis is placed at the axis of rotation. In the case where the handle 4 is movable in translation, the spring works in compression or axial traction. In the case where the handle 4 is rotatable, the spring works in axial torsion. The spring 14 wraps around the axis 10. The spring 14 may comprise at each of its two ends a portion which acts as a support leg insofar as it is in contact with a support surface providing a spring support 14. A first tab corresponding to the portion 16 is shown in Figure 2. The second tab is not visible in this figure because it is present at a higher plane. The portion is relatively elongated and extends tangentially with respect to the turns. The portion 16 bears on the bearing surface 24 made on the support 6. During the rotation of the handle 4, the spring is deformed in rotation along the axis 10 and has a resistance to rotation.

When the handle 4 is released, the spring 14 is able to fold the handle 4 into the support 6. The spring can be prestressed so as to fold down the handle 4 more forcefully. The handle 4 is equipped with a pushbutton 22. push 22 has a role different from that of the bearing surface 24 associated with the handle 4. However, the pusher 22 and the bearing surface 24 may be adjacent. The pusher 22 is positioned facing the portion 16 of the spring 14. If the pusher is elongate and of constant section, its direction is substantially perpendicular to that of the portion 16. The pusher 22 is positioned in the vicinity of the bearing surface 24. The pusher 22 is offset relative to the bearing surface 24 when the handle 4 is folded. The offset between the pusher 22 and the bearing surface 24 is in a main direction of the portion 16. The zone where the pusher 22 comes into contact with the portion 16 is at a distance from the bearing surface 24. At this point the support 6 has a recessed clearance, which constitutes a cavity in which the portion 16 is housed during its deformation. The recessed clearance is made according to the direction of movement of the pusher when opening the handle 4. The portion 16 of spring comprises a first zone 28 in contact with the support 24 and a second zone 20 of advantage at a distance from the rest spring. This second zone 20 is free from direct contact with the support and can therefore be deformed. Moreover, in the specific case of the embodiment of the figures, the portion 16 of the spring has a C-profile between the first and second zones 28, 20 so as to increase the useful spring stroke of the spring portion cooperating with the pusher 22. The C-profile comprises a bend 18 making it possible to move the second zone away from the general contact plane of the first zone 28 with the bearing surface 24.

In the rest position, that is to say where the handle 4 is folded in its housing 6, a space or clearance 26 is provided between the pusher 22 and the second zone of the spring portion 16 so that the pusher does not come into contact with the spring until the end of the deployment run. The spring 14 has a winding axis 10. The bend 18 has another winding axis. The two winding axes are substantially parallel. The plane of the C-profile is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the pusher 22. This parallelism implies that the material, more precisely the wire forming the hook works in bending. The device thus proposed makes it possible to guarantee return torques of the variable handle 4 as a function of the opening stroke. This feature increases the quality perceived when operating the control device: it feels a progressive resistance as one pulls the handle towards you. We define a start of the race and then an end of the race. The beginning of the race is characterized by the fact that the pusher 22 is not in contact with the portion 16. During the first part of the race, there remains a clearance 26 between the pusher 22 and the portion 16. The limit switch corresponds at a fraction of the stroke where the pusher 22 is in contact with the portion 16. The game 26 disappears. This end of stroke is shown in FIG. 3. When the pusher 20 comes into contact with the portion 16, it deforms it elastically. The return torque exerted by the spring 14 on the handle 4 at the start of the stroke is less than 50 N.cm; preferably less than 36 N.cm; more preferably less than 25 N.cm. The return torque exerted by the spring 14 on the handle 4 at the end of the stroke is greater than 40 N.cm; preferably greater than 50 N.cm; more preferably greater than 75 N.cm.

These start and end of race couples are distinct. The end-of-stroke torque is greater than that of the start of the race; preferably 20% higher; more preferably 50% higher; even more preferably 100% higher. The surface of the pusher 22 is a profile generated by a curve. This curve has a variable radius of curvature R. D is the distance between the axis 10 and the point of contact of the portion 16 on the pusher 22. According to the invention, R is in all points greater than D. This geometry is comparable to toothed gear surfaces. ; the difference is that the gear is a special case where D = R. This feature allows to vary the lever arm made by the pusher 22. Thus, the return torque of the handle 4 is variable depending on its angular position. By making the radius R greater than the distance D, a progressive restoring or dampening torque is created as a function of the angular position of the handle. This aspect makes it possible to increase the perceived quality of the device. Alternatively, the orientation of the bend may be different: the spring 14 may have a given first winding axis, and the bend also a second winding axis given, the first and second axes being inclined relative to one another. 'other. This inclination implies that the material, more precisely the wire forming the hook works in axial torsion. According to one embodiment of the invention, in the folded position, the pusher 22 is in contact with the portion 16 or the extension 20. The game 26 is then zero. In this configuration the stiffness of the device is increased and damping is achieved from the beginning of the race. According to another embodiment of the invention, the extension 20 comprises at least one turn. The winding of the turn or turns constitutes a secondary spring. The winding is made in a direction of a secondary axis. The orientation of the secondary axis may be parallel or perpendicular to the direction of movement of the pusher 22. Optionally the turn or the turns are elongated and are able to deform under radial stress. The turns may have a rectangular or elliptical section. The handle 4 comprises an arrangement for accommodating the spring 14 in prestressed position so as to facilitate mounting in the support 6. The portion 16 of the spring 14 must not disturb the assembly. The handle 4 must have a pre-holding position for the portion 16. Once assembled, the portion 16 of the spring 14 can be armed so as to hold the handle 4 in position. The device 2 must be provided with an orifice enabling remove the portion 16 from its pre-hold position.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS1- A handle control device, including a vehicle opening, comprising: - a support (6); - A handle (4) mounted movable relative to the support (6) between a first position and a second position; - A spring (14) exerting on the handle (4) an elastic return force to the first position, the spring (14) having a portion (16) bearing on the support (6, 24); characterized in that the handle (4) comprises a pusher (22) adapted to come into contact with the portion (16) of spring (14) in the second position of the handle (4), the portion (16) of spring ( 14) being configured to deform elastically in contact with the pusher (22) so as to ensure damping at the end of movement of the handle (4) to the second position. 2- Control device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion (16) of spring (14) comprises a first zone (28) bearing directly on the support (24) and a second zone (20) intended to come into contact with the pusher (22), the second zone (20) being free of direct support on the support (24). 3- control device (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the portion (16) of spring (14) comprises a third zone disposed opposite the first zone (28) relative to the second zone ( 20), the third zone being in direct abutment on the support (6), the support (6) thus forming a cavity facing the second zone (20). 4- Control device (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the second zone (20) is at a distance, and preferably in facing relation, from the first zone (28) in a direction substantially corresponding to that of the cell. movement of the pusher (22) in contact with said first zone (28), the portion (16) of spring (14) preferably comprising at least one bent portion (18) between the first zone (28) and the second zone (20) . 5- control device (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the profile of the bent portion (18) is included in a plane, and in that this plane is parallel to the direction of movement of the pusher (22) , the profile of the bent portion (18) being preferentially C-shaped. 6. Control device (2) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the portion (16) of spring (14) comprises at least one turn whose section farthest from the support (24) forms the second zone (20), the turn being able to be deformed radially. 7- Control device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the handle (4) is rotatable relative to the support (6) along an axis (10); the spring (14) being preferably helical and arranged around the axis (10). 8- Control device (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the pusher (22) comprises a contact surface with the portion (16) of spring (14), whose profile is curved and configured so that that the distance between the axis of rotation (10) of the handle (4) and the point of contact of the surface with the portion (16) of spring (14) increases progressively during the movement of the handle (4) towards the second position. 9- Control device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the handle (4) is movable in translation relative to the support (6) in a sliding direction. 10-vehicle door provided with a handle opening control device, characterized in that the control device is according to one of claims 1 to 9, the opening being preferably a door.