GB2348475A

GB2348475A - Hydraulic door stop

Info

Publication number: GB2348475A
Application number: GB0006348A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cyrille Chatel
Original assignee: MGI Coutier SA
Current assignee: Akwel SA
Priority date: 1999-03-29
Filing date: 2000-03-17
Publication date: 2000-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-17
Also published as: GB2348475B; FR2791730A1; DE10015752A1; GB0006348D0; FR2791730B1

Abstract

A door stop mounted between two parts of a door arrangement (I, II) comprises a fluid circuit with a cylinder (1) housing a piston (2), a bypass circuit (3) connecting the two chambers (11, 12) and a pivoting flap (332). The flap (332) moves between a closed position (I<SB>0</SB>) which prevents the flow of fluid between the chambers (11, 12) and open positions (I<SB>1</SB>, I<SB>2</SB>). A calibrated catch (34) is attached to the flap (332) and retains the flap in the closed position (I<SB>0</SB>) until a predetermined pressure difference is exceeded due to a force applied to the door which moves the flap into an open position (I<SB>1</SB>, I<SB>2</SB>) and allows fluid passage between the two chambers (11, 12). When the force is removed a biassing means (36) returns the flap (332) to the closed position (I<SB>0</SB>) and prevents the door from further movement. Further embodiments include arrangements where the flap is housed within the cylinder and a hinge arrangement where the cylinder is formed by an annular cavity having a piston in the form of a pivoting member.

Description

The present invention relates to a hydraulic door stop mounted between two parts of a door which move in rotation with respect to each other.

Hydraulic devices such as hydraulic door-closure devices are already known. However, such devices have not yet been applied to automobile vehicles, especially in the door stopping function.

The object of the present invention is to develop a hydraulic door stop for an automobile vehicle and, to this end, relates to a door stop characterised in that it comprises a fluid circuit with -a cylinder housing a piston, the cylinder being connected to one part and the piston to the other part, the piston defining two chambers in the cylinder, -a bypass circuit connecting the two chambers no matter what the position of the piston, -a flap pivoting about an axis to open or close the passage of the fluid in the connection circuit, this flap being able to move between an intermediate closed position blocking the passage of the fluid, and an open position by pivoting to either side of the intermediate position according to the direction of the difference in pressure prevailing before the flap opens on either side thereof, -a calibrated catch fixedly attached to the flap during pivoting, retaining the flap in the intermediate position with a torque defining an opening threshold, -a means for biassing the flap, exerting on the flap a torque lower than the threshold for biassing the flap into the intermediate position.

This door stop is distinguished by the simplicity of its operation, which is not dependent on the fatigue of mechanical parts or cam blocking with wear occurring on contacting surfaces and gradual loss of the door stopping operation as can be the case with purely mechanical parts subjected to extremely frequent manoeuvring.

In a particularly advantageous manner the cylinder housing the piston is a straight cylinder and the piston is a translational piston.

According to another advantageous feature, the cylinder is a cylinder defining an annular cavity and the piston is a pivoting piston carried by a rotational axis.

A particularly simple door stop is obtained if the cylinder houses both the piston and the flap.

According to one interesting embodiment, the means of biassing the flap is formed by a spring or an elastic connection member.

The sealing tightness of the flap in the neutral position is enhanced if the chamber has a plane, formed from excess thickness, to cooperate with the flap when this flap occupies its intermediate position. The sealing tightness can also be improved by a gasket provided either on the periphery of the flap or on the periphery of the chamber to cooperate with the flap in the intermediate position.

The present invention will be described hereinunder in more detail with the aid of the attached drawings in which: -Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a hydraulic door stop in accordance with the invention, -Figures 1A, 1B show the diagram of Figure 1 for two operational positions, -Figures 2A, 2B show a first embodiment of a door stop in accordance with the invention, in the blocked position and in the movement position, -Figure 3 schematically shows another variation of a door stop in accordance with the invention, -Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view through IV-IV in Figure 3, the door stop being moving, -Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view through IV-IV, the door stop being blocked in position, -Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 3, -Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the variation of Figure 3 in a perspective, partially cut-away view, -Figure 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 6, -Figures 8 to 11 show cross-sectional views of different variations of embodiment of the flap chamber.

According to Figure 1, the invention relates to a hydraulic door stop intended to be mounted between a part I and a part II, ie. between the door and the body, the two parts being equally either the door or the body or vice versa.

This door stop comprises a hydraulic fluid circuit composed of a cylinder 1 housing a piston 2. The cylinder 1 is connected to the part I and the piston to the part II by means of the piston rod 21. Within the cylinder 1, the piston 2 defines two chambers 11 and 12 on the two sides of the piston.

The cylinder illustrated as a straight cylinder with any cross-section can also be a curved cylinder in which the piston 2 does not carry out a translational movement but a rotational movement in the arc of a circle.

The relative rotational movement of the parts I, II is applied directly to the parts I, II and in this case the piston and the cylinder carry out a circula relative movement. The rotational movement of the parts I, II can also be transformed into a straight movement.

No matter what the nature of this movement (straight or curved), the piston 2 travels, inside the cylinder 1, a maximum travel between a position El and a position E2 ; the position El corresponds, for example, to the closed position of the door and the position E2 to the maximum open position of the door.

The cylinder I is provided with a bypass circuit 3 formed from two branches 31, 32 and a control element 33. The branch 31 issues into the chamber 11 at the point 311 beyond the extreme position E1 and the branch 32 issues into the chamber 12 at the point 321 beyond the extreme position E2. This means that when the piston 2 is in the extreme position El (door closed), the chamber 11 which remains is still in communication with the branch 31.

Conversely, when the piston 2 is in the other extreme position E2, the chamber 12 which remains is still in communication with the branch 32. This position E2 corresponds to the end of the travel of the piston 2. When this piston ends its movement it blocks, at least partially, the duct 32 thus creating losses in load in the flow, which dampens the end of the movement.

The two branches 31,32 communicate by means of a control element 33 formed from a chamber 331 housing a flap 332 pivoting about an axis 333.

The flap 332 can occupy an intermediate position 10 in which it prevents any fluid communication to either side, thus cutting communication of the fluid between the branches 31 and 32. From this intermediate position 10 and under the effect of a difference in fluid pressure between its two faces, the pivoting flap 332 can pass into an open position 11 or 12 located on the two sides of the middle position 10. In these two positions I l, I2, shown schematically by a dotted line, the flap 332 releases the communication between the two parts of the chamber 331 on the two sides of the flap.

The axis 333 of the flap is connected to a calibrated catch 34 formed, for example, by a ball 342 pushed by a spring 341 and cooperating with a ramp 35 provided with a notch 350 defining a stop position, and two curved parts 351,352.

The catch 34 is fixedly attached during rotation to the flap 332 by the shaft 333. The stop position associated with the notch 350 corresponds to the intermediate position 10 of the flap 332.

A biassing member 36 illustrated schematically by a helical spring tends to bias the flap 332 into its intermediate position 10 when it is diverted to the right or left of this intermediate position.

The door stop described above operates in the following manner: In Figure 1 A it is assumed that the door is closed. The parts I and II occupy the position shown and the piston is in its position 2A in line with the end-of-travel position E1.

The circuit is filled with fluid, in particular hydraulic-and therefore incompressible-liquid.

This liquid is located in the chambers 11 and 12, in the ducts 31,32 and in the chamber 331 of the control element 33. The calibrated catch 34 occupies the position shown, the ball 342 being engaged in the notch 350.

The liquid of the circuit is in the state of equilibrium and the same pressure prevails in the two chambers 11 and 12 on the two sides of the flap 332 in the intermediate position 10.

In Figure 1B it is assumed that, starting from the closed position, the door is pushed, ie. the relative movement of the parts I, II is brought about. This movement is converted into a movement of the piston to the left. During the first phase of its travel the piston compresses the liquid in the chamber 12.

When the pressure prevailing in the chamber 12, in the circuit 32 and on the left of the flap 332 exceeds the retaining threshold defined by the catch 34 in the notch 350 of the ramp 35, the flap 332 tilts to the position Il which permits communication between the ducts 32,31 and the return of the fluid into the chamber 11.

The movement of the piston then simply produces a circulation of hydraulic liquid through the ducts and chambers as has been indicated above. Nevertheless, the position I1 controls a dragging force defining the operating torque of the door outside the position Io defined by the notch. The same is true for the position 12for the other direction of movement of the door.

When in a certain position, the relative movement between the parts I, II stops, this means that the piston 2 stops and no longer pushes the liquid in the chamber 12; there is equilibrium in the pressures of the chambers 12 and 11 as well as in the other parts of the circuit and, in particular, in the housing 331 in which the flap 332 is located. The biassing member 36 then urges the flap from its position 11 to the position 10 In this position the catch 342 again engages in the notch 350. From this moment the flap 332 prevents any communication from either side between the ducts 32,31, which consequently blocks the piston 2 in the position in which it has stopped, the parts I and II are thus held in their position.

If, starting from this position, it is attempted to move the door in one direction or the other, this is converted into pushing the piston 2 onto the liquid in the chamber 12 or in the chamber 11 (depending on the direction of the movement). This pushing is communicated to the flap 332 in the position Io.

When the difference in pressure acting on the two faces of the flap 332 exceeds the retaining threshold fixed by the retaining member 34 cooperating with the ramp 35, it becomes possible for the liquid to move. From this moment the movement is again free as described above.

Figures 2A, 2B show an embodiment of a hydraulic door stop as described in its general principle in Figure 1, in the form of a highly integrated device.

In the following description of Figures 2A, 2B the same reference numerals as in Figure 1 will be used to designate the same elements. These references will simply be supplemented by the suffix A.

The cylinder 1 A, as shown, actually constitutes both the chamber in which the piston 2A moves and that in which the pivoting flap 332A is located.

The operation is the same as above. Starting from a position which may be that in which the doors is closed, or a stop position shown in Figure 2A, if an action is exerted on one of the parts I, II, ie. if the piston 2A is moved in one direction or the other, for example to the left (Figure 2B), the increase in the pressure-when it exceeds a certain threshold-creates a sufficient negative pressure on either side of the retaining flap 332A which then tilts into the position II or I2, permitting the re-establishment of equilibrium in the fluid on the two sides.

When the piston 2A has stopped in this new position, the pressure equals out and the flap 11 can return to its intermediate position 10 in which it will be held by its ball 341 A coming into the notch 350A. The flap is held in this position by a certain torque corresponding to a threshold of the pressure difference between the two faces. The flap thus held in the intermediate position 10 blocks the piston 2A in the position in which it has been stopped, ie. also blocks the door in the position in which it has been stopped, ie. also blocks the door in the position in which it has been left.

In order to leave this position, it will suffice once again to exert a force on the door sufficient to overcome the resistance of the flap lock and to pass into a new stop position or position of full opening or of closure.

The variation illustrated in Figures 3-5 corresponds to a door stop working in a rotational and not in a translational manner. For the description of this door stop the same references as above will be used, supplemented by the suffix B.

The part I is connected to a housing 1B defining an annular chamber for a piston. The part II is connected to the axis 21B. This axis 21B carries a piston 2B with a circular trajectory in the annular cavity of the housing 1B.

This cavity is subdivided into two chambers 11B, 12B in a similar manner to the preceding embodiment except that, in the position illustrated in Figure 3, the chamber 11B comprises practically zero volume and the chamber 12B comprises practically all the volume of the cavity.

This cavity communicates by two orifices 311B, 321B with each end of the angular sector which it represents, with passages 31B, 32B arriving in a cavity 331B housing a flap 332b which can move about a vertical axis ZZ in Figure 3, ie. perpendicular to the geometrical axis XX about which the shaft 21B bearing the piston 2B turns.

The flap 332B is carried by an axis 333B (Figures 4A, 4B) provided with a catch 34B (Figure 5) comprising a ball 341B pushed by a spring 342B. This catch cooperates with a ramp 35B having a notch 350B defining the intermediate position 10 ofthe flap 332B and two curved surfaces 351B, 352B. This operation which appears in the various [Figures] 4A, 4B and 5 is the same as that described above.

In this variation, the flap 332B is connected to two catches 34B located on the two sides of the flap and being connected thereto by two elastic connection members 36B which constitute biassing members to bias the flap into the neutral position Io.

It should be noted that the extreme positions E1, E2 can correspond to the ends of the angular sector which is travelled by the piston 2B.

According to Figures 6 and 7, an embodiment of the door stop working in a rotational manner and illustrated schematically in Figures 3 to 5 will be described hereinunder. For this description the same reference numerals will be used supplemented by the suffice C in place of the suffix B.

This door stop is composed of a housing 1 C with a cover 1 C'forming an annular chamber for a piston 2C carried by an axis 9 in. The cavity 11 C is subdivided into two chambers by the piston 2C. Each end in the peripheral direction of the cavity l l C communicates with the part 321C ofthe cavity which houses the flap 332C provided, as previously, with a notch means with a ball 341C pushed by a spring 342C housed in the lower part of the flap 332C and cooperating with a double ramp 35C having a notch 350C to define the intermediate position of the flap.

Figures 8 to 11 show different embodiments of the chamber in the region of the flap.

In Figure 8 the chamber 33 ID is in the form of a channel with a part forming a plane 331 ID for the flap 332D which pivots about its axis 333D. This plane is smaller in the embodiment illustrated in figure 9 which shows the chamber 33 IE in the form of a channel, the flap 332E pivoting about its axis 333E and the plane 331 IE with which the flap edge cooperates in the closed position.

In the embodiment of Figure 10 the chamber 33 IF receives a flap 332F provided with a peripheral gasket 3321F.

In the embodiment of Figure 11, the chamber 331 G comprises a flap 332G without a gasket.

However, in line with the neutral position of the flap 332G the chamber 331G does comprise a gasket 331 IG.

Claims

1. Hydraulic door stop mounted between two parts of a door which can move in rotation with respect to each other, characterised in that it comprises a fluid circuit with -a cylinder housing a piston, the cylinder being connected to one part and the piston to the other part, the piston defining two chambers in the cylinder, -a bypass circuit connecting the two chambers, no matter what the position of the piston, -a flap pivoting about an axis to open or close the passage of the fluid in the connection circuit, this flap being able to move between an intermediate closed position blocking the passage of the fluid, and an open position by pivoting to either side of the intermediate position according to the direction of the difference in pressure prevailing before the flap opens on either side thereof, -a calibrated catch fixedly attached to the flap during pivoting, retaining the flap in the intermediate position with a torque defining an opening threshold, -a means for biassing the flap, exerting on the flap a torque lower than the threshold for biassing the flap into the intermediate position.

2. Hydraulic door stop according to claim 1, in which the cylinder housing the piston is a straight cylinder and the piston is a translational piston.

3. Hydraulic door stop according to claim 1, in which the cylinder is a cylinder defining an annular cavity and the piston is a pivoting piston carried by a rotational member.

4. Hydraulic door stop according to claim 1,2 or 3, in which the cylinder houses both the piston and the flap.

5. Hydraulic door stop according to any preceding claim, in which the means for biassing the flap is formed by a spring or an elastic connection member.

6. Hydraulic door stop according to any preceding claim, in which one chamber defines a plane, formed from excess thickness, to cooperate with the flap in the intermediate position.

7. Hydraulic door stop according to any preceding claim, in which the flap comprises a peripheral gasket.

8. Hydraulic door stop according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which one chamber comprises a gasket in line with the intermediate position of the flap.

9. Hydraulic door stop substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. Hydraulic door stop to be mounted between two parts of a door which can move in rotation with respect to each other, characterised in that it comprises a fluid circuit with -a cylinder housing a piston, the cylinder being connected to one part and the piston to the other part, the piston defining two chambers in the cylinder, -a bypass circuit connecting the two chambers, no matter what the position of the piston, -a flap pivotable about an axis to enable or stop the passage of the fluid in the bypass circuit, this flap being able to move between an intermediate closed position blocking the passage of the fluid, and an open position in which it is pivoted to either side of the intermediate position according to the direction of the difference in pressure prevailing on the two sides of the flap before the flap opens, -a calibrated catch fixedly attached to the flap during pivoting, retaining the flap in the intermediate position with a torque defining an opening threshold, -and biassing means exerting on the flap in its pivoted open position a restoring force lower than the threshold torque for biassing the flap back into the intermediate position.

3. Hydraulic door stop according to claim 1, in which the cylinder is a cylinder defining an annular cavity and the piston is a pivotable piston carried by a rotational member.

6. Hydraulic door stop according to any preceding claim, in which the cylinder wall has an inward protuberance which cooperates with the flap in the intermediate position.

8. Hydraulic door stop according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the cylinder wall comprises a gasket in alignment with the intermediate position of the flap.