WO2003093620A1

WO2003093620A1 - Infinitely variable door arrester

Info

Publication number: WO2003093620A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/003507
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jörg Linnenbrink; Gerhard Rothstein
Original assignee: Friedr. Fingscheidt Gmbh
Priority date: 2002-04-30
Filing date: 2003-04-04
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: AU2003222795A1; DE20206861U1; DE10391991D2

Abstract

The invention relates to an infinitely variable door arrester (1), particularly for vehicle doors, comprising the following components: a first retaining part (2) that can be fastened in a fixed manner; a second retaining part (4), which is connected to the first retaining part (2) in a manner that enables it to move relative thereto and which is to be connected to a door; mechanical retaining means (6) that enable both retaining parts (2, 4) to be arrested, in both directions of motion and within their range of motion, in any desired relative position with regard to one another; elastic coupling means (14) that permit slight, relative elastic control movements in each relative position of the holding parts (2, 4), said position being held by the retaining means (6), by subjecting one of the retaining parts to the action of a control force, and; controlling means (16) that, in the respectively arrested state, enable the retaining means (6) to be controlled so they release due to the action of an elastic control movement caused by the control force. The controlling means (16) are provided in the form of a passive electrical-mechanical system that autonomously operates without an external electrical power supply. To this end, the controlling means (16) preferably have a generator element (G) that can be driven by the control movements thereby generating electrical power.

Description

Stepless door stay

The present invention relates to a stepless door arrester, in particular for vehicle doors, according to the preamble of claim 1, having a first holding part which can be fixed in place in the connection area of the respective door, a second holding part to be connected to the door and relatively movably connected to the first holding part, and with between the two holding parts acting in such a way that the holding parts can be "steplessly" blocked against each other in any relative positions. The respective door can thus be fixed in any open positions.

Such a door arrester is described in various versions in WO 01/66892 A1. It is specifically a compact stepless hinge door holder, which is therefore a combination of a door hinge with an integrated stepless door holder. This door arrester can be controlled with purely mechanical means directly by door movements or by force / moment introduction via the door (mechanical self-control and self-control).

Another door arrester of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1 is known from the corresponding publications DE 198 32 502 A1 and DE 298 12 863 U1. It is a technically very complex and also relatively large-scale version based on the so-called shark tape principle, whereby a shark or tether strap is attached to the body (door spar) at one end in an articulated manner and is otherwise guided longitudinally through a locking housing. The housing is housed in the door area. The tether interacts with locking means housed within the housing. In this known stepless door arrester, the retaining band is designed as a threaded spindle which is guided by a spindle nut which is rotatably mounted in the housing. When the door moves, the self-rotating spindle is thus moved longitudinally, so that the spindle nut is rotated. The braking means act in the form of a brake band on the spindle nut, in that the brake band wraps around the spindle nut and a braking force is applied to it by a brake lever. In the braked position, however, slight axial movements against elastic cushions are possible. These movements cause the spindle to rotate another control nut, which acts on the brake lever to release the brake band. This known door arrester thus works according to the favorable principle of "passive arresting, active releasing", but for this purpose it is a purely mechanical design made up of a large number of movable individual parts which require a large amount of installation space and also lead to great manufacturing outlay.

FR-A-2 705 389 describes another door holder for motor vehicles. Two overlaid braking or blocking measures are described. On the one hand, braking means are provided by constant friction in such a way that the door normally stops in any position, but this always requires a relatively high basic actuation torque (no "free running"). On the other hand, the door can be blocked actively, namely by friction or positive locking. This blocking is caused by fast door movements - in the manner of a seat belt lock. If the door stops afterwards, however, this blocking is automatically removed again. This is a different, non-generic principle of "active detection, passive release".

There are other door locks known that ensure a stepless locking, but are controlled and actuated by separate control means.

DE 196 22 110 A1 describes a continuously adjustable door arrester based on the tether principle, in which one holding part is designed as a door tether or holding rod and the other holding part is designed as a housing. The holding rod is guided in a longitudinally movable manner through the housing and is acted upon directly by braking means in order to block the longitudinal movement and thus the door. Conical clamping jaws are provided as braking means, which are pressed against a stop in the door arrester housing by means of a preloaded spring and thereby clamp the holding rod. However, this known embodiment blocks door movement in one direction only, since opening the door by self-locking is excluded, while closing the door with a certain force is possible. In order to be able to move the door freely with less force, the Blocking provided a special release mechanism in the form of an electromagnet or mechanical device. However, only the electromagnetic version is specifically described. The release mechanism disadvantageously has to be activated separately from the actual door handling, in particular by actuating an electrical contact. In the electrical or electromagnetic version, it is particularly disadvantageous that the door blocking can no longer be released in the event of a possible failure of the electrical power supply.

DE 44 35 720 A1 (corresponding to EP 0 705 951 B1) describes a stepless, also auxiliary power-operated motor vehicle door arrester. In this case, a braking or locking device is actuated by an electric motor via a swivel lever, depending on criteria that can be detected by sensors of the movement situation of the door. This version is complex in terms of control technology and also dependent on the electrical power supply.

DE 195 37 816 A1 describes another very similar stepless motor vehicle door arrester. Here, too, a braking or locking device can be engaged and disengaged by an electromotive drive, which in turn uses an electronic control unit as a function of the current opening position, the pivoting direction and the current pivoting speed of the door, as well as other essentials for assessing the movement characteristics of the door Data can be controlled in a braking or releasing sense. Essentially the same disadvantages as described above occur.

The present invention has for its object to provide a stepless door stay of the generic type, which is characterized by a constructive and manufacturing and control technology simple and inexpensive design and by an optimal functionality, in particular independently of an additional electrical power supply and at the same time also has a particularly compact design.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the control means are designed as a passive, electrical-mechanical system that works autonomously without external electrical supply. This system according to the invention advantageously also works without an internal electrical energy source, such as a battery or accumulator, and is therefore advantageously maintenance-free. For this purpose, the control means through Control movements drivable and thereby generating electrical energy generating element. This can be an electrodynamic transducer or a piezoelectric element. In addition, the control means have electromechanical actuating means which can be operated with the energy of the generator element in order to act on the holding means for loosening. For this purpose, the adjusting means advantageously have a motor, in particular a piezomotor, which acts on the holding means via a mechanical transmission device.

Thus, the door arrester according to the invention is an electrical or electronic self-control, ie. H. a self-contained, self-sufficient system whose internal energy is generated kinetically. If the conversion of the kinetic energy into electrical energy takes place in an electrodynamic converter or a piezoelectric element, it is advantageous that both of the above-mentioned components can be used in a motorized operation in addition to the generator operation, so that they can also serve as an actuator for locking , An advantage of this version is that (due to the energy generated) the controlled variable (output signal) is proportional to the reference variable (input signal).

In a preferred embodiment, electrical energy is available via a storage element (for example inductance W = Vz L -I ² or capacitance W = ^Λ AC • U ² ), which is returned to the generator or another control element. This eliminates any external power supply, for example from a vehicle electrical system. Rather, the system according to the invention does not require any electrical auxiliary energy and can therefore be mounted completely encapsulated and used even before the installation of a motor vehicle battery. This is very advantageous, for example, during the painting of a vehicle. For the required working temperature range (for example 220 ° C for 30 minutes during a painting process), it is important that no active (semiconductor) components are required according to the invention. Only passive components such as switches, capacitors, coils etc. are used.

Further advantageous design features of the invention are contained in the subclaims and the following description. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing. Show:

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an inventive

Door arrester in perspective view,

2 is a plan view in the direction of arrow II of FIG. 1,

3 is an enlarged view analogous to FIG. 2, but with the omission of one of the holding parts and a housing cover for viewing the internal components,

4 shows an axial section in the plane IV-IV according to FIG. 3 (but with

Cover),

5 shows a cross section in the plane V - V according to FIG. 4 and

6 shows a cross section in the plane VI - VI according to FIG. 4.

In the various figures of the drawing, the same parts are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore generally only described once.

In the drawing figures, a door arrester according to the invention is generally designated by the reference number 1. This door arrester 1 is basically suitable for any door in order to lock it in any pivot position. In the illustrated embodiment according to the invention, however, it is specifically a so-called stepless hinge door holder for vehicle doors.

For this purpose, the door arrester 1 consists of a first holding part 2 which can be fixed in place in the connection area of a door (not shown), a second holding part 4 which is relatively movably connected to the first holding part 2 and connected to the door to connect it, and mechanical holding means 6 such that the two holding parts 2, 4 can be blocked against each other in both directions of movement within their relative range of motion in any relative positions. The holding means 6 are designed such that in the blocked state they hold the two holding parts 2, 4 with one Determine the holding torque preferably in the order of 30 to 60 Nm. The assignment of the holding parts 2, 4 to the door and to the vehicle frame (spar) is basically arbitrary, ie the holding part 2 can also be connected to the door and the holding part 4 is stationary in the connection area (frame / spar).

In the preferred embodiment of the door arrester 1 as a hinge door holder, the two holding parts 2, 4 are connected to one another in a rotatable manner about an axis of rotation 10 via a hinge pin 8. The axis of rotation 10 coincides with the pivot axis of the door, not shown; the door stay 1 thus practically forms the hinge for the door. It is advantageous to make the door stay 1 detachable by the hinge pin 8 together with other functionally essential components, u. a. with the holding means 6, to which one holding part (4 or 2) is permanently assigned and with the other holding parts (2 or 4) is connected in a torque-locking manner via releasable connecting means 12. For detaching, the hinge pin 8 can thus be completely separated from the one holding part after loosening the connecting means 12, but the hinge pin 8 remains part of the other holding part.

As a further function-essential component, the door arrester 1 has elastic coupling means 14 (torsionally flexible shaft coupling) between the two holding parts 2, 4 in such a way that in each relative position of the holding parts 2, 4 blocked by the mechanical holding means 6, due to the application of a control force or a control torque slight relative elastic control movements are possible. Finally, control means 16 are provided in such a way that, in the respectively blocked state, the holding means 6 can be triggered to be released by an elastic control movement resulting from the control force. The control means 16 are also preferably designed such that after the release of the holding means 6 by a dynamic door opening or closing movement immediately following the control movement, the holding means 6 are kept in their release position, which results in an advantageously smooth door movement with a Actuating torque of only about 0.5 Nm, for example. In the event of a renewed standstill or when the torque falls below the actuating torque, the holding means 6 again block automatically due to an energy accumulator 18, in particular by spring force F of at least one brake spring 20.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 5 and 6, the control means 16 are self-sufficient according to the invention as a passive, ie without, external electrical supply working electromechanical system trained. For this purpose, the control means 16 first comprise a generator element G, which can be driven by the relative elastic control movements and thereby generates electrical energy. Furthermore, the control means 16 comprise adjusting means 22, which act on the holding means 6 to release them and for this purpose can be operated electrically with the energy of the generator element G. The actuating means 22 comprise an electric motor M, which can advantageously be a piezomotor. Furthermore, the adjusting means 22 have a transmission device 24 which is driven by the motor M and acts mechanically on the holding means 6. In an advantageous development, an energy store (not shown) can also be provided such that the energy of the generator element G generated by dynamic door movements can be stored. There are also switching means (also not shown) for applying the stored energy to the actuating means 22 during a next release process of the holding means 6.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the door arrester 1 has a design which is rotationally asymmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation 10, in particular a sector of a circle in cross section. This design is of particular advantage as a hinge door holder because, starting from the axis of rotation 10 or from the hinge pin 8 of the door hinge in the vehicle, there is often only enough space available on one side to accommodate components. Due to the preferred design, this space available in the vehicle can be optimally used. The holding means 6 preferably consist of a brake track 32 in the form of a sector of a circle with a circularly concave curved braking surface 32a which is coaxial with respect to its radius of curvature with respect to the axis of rotation 10 and a braking element 34 which acts radially against the braking surface 32a by the spring force F.

The brake track 32 and / or the brake element 34 can have a suitable lining material analogous to a conventional brake lining, in order to achieve a good braking locking effect through correspondingly high friction values. The brake track 32 is arranged in a housing 36 which is preferably connected in one piece to the one holding part 2 (or 4). Within this housing 36 there is also a guiding part 38, which guides the braking element 34 and is connected to the hinge pin 8 in a radial extension in a torque-locking manner, so that it can pivot relative to the braking track 32. The brake element 34 is in a guide receptacle of the guide part 38 with radial to the axis of rotation 10 Movement play performed and acted upon by spring elements 20 with the spring force F.

The above-mentioned elastic coupling means 14 are advantageously provided in the area of the brake track 32 in this embodiment, in that the brake track 32 is movable relative to the housing 36 about the axis of rotation 10 and is supported in both directions of movement by means of elastic elements 40 against the housing 36. The braking track 32 is displaceably guided on an inner surface 42 of the housing and / or via additional holding means 44, which are only indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 5, in particular on the hinge pin 8. As illustrated in FIG. 5 by a double arrow 45, the braking track 32 in the adjacent braking position of the braking element 34 can still move slightly elastically with respect to the elastic elements 40. This movement is used as a control movement for releasing the brake element 34.

The aforementioned transmission device 24 is preferably formed by a toggle lever element 46, which consists of two levers 48 and 50, which are connected via an in particular approximately central knee joint 52 to a hinge axis parallel to the hinge axis of rotation 10. The toggle lever element 46 lies with its two levers 48, 50 in the braked position at least approximately stretched between the braking element 34 and an abutment - in particular formed by a pivot joint section 54 of the hinge pin 8 - so that the braking element 34 is deflected by the deflection of the knee joint 52 Braking surface 32a is retractable into a release position (see in particular Fig. 5). The lever 48 is also articulated with the braking element 34, i. H. pivotally connected about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation 10. In order to achieve the deflection of the knee joint 52 which brings about the release position, the adjusting means 22 engage in the region of the knee joint 52.

Drive means are provided for driving the generator element G, which preferably consist of a drive wheel 56 and a drive path 58 provided coaxially and axially offset in the housing 36 in relation to the braking path 32. The drive wheel 56 is mounted in or on the guide part 38 and therefore, together with it, can be pivoted relative to the drive track 58 and can thus be driven in rotation. It is preferably a toothed drive, the drive wheel 56 being a gearwheel and the drive track 58 being designed in the manner of a toothed rack, but curved is. The generator element G is connected to the drive wheel 56 in such a way that the drive wheel 56 rotates the generator element G when rotating. In contrast to the braking track 32, the drive track 58 is not elastically movable in the housing 36, but is supported rigidly, in a fixed manner, in order to immediately actuate the generator element G and thereby generate the desired electrical energy for the actuating means 22 or, as a result of the relative elastic control movements. to reach the motor M for immediate release of the holding means 6.

The particular advantage of the arrangement described is that a very low control force is sufficient to pull the brake element 34 into its release position despite the quite large spring force F by deflecting the toggle lever element 46. This is due to the very favorable translation of the toggle lever element 46. The toggle lever element 46 is advantageously arranged in a plane selected in such a way that tilting moments when the brake element 34 is pulled back are avoided. In addition, at least one of the two levers of the toggle lever element 46, specifically as shown in FIG. 4, in particular the lever 50, is designed as a double lever with two parallel, axially spaced lever parts, as a result of which a very tilt-free guidance on the swivel joint section 54 is achieved.

The stepless door arrester according to the invention has the advantage that the handling of the door for opening and closing corresponds practically exactly to that of a previous door holder with a latching device, and that also relates to the feeling of use, the so-called haptic. The holding means 6 are torque-controlled exclusively via the door, i.e. depending on the torque acting on the door and therefore also on the kinetic energy. As a result, it is also possible to actuate the door in a dynamic movement, in particular to close it, in that the holding means remain released by the dynamics or the kinetic energy until the door reaches its closed position. It is also advantageous to design the holding means 6 in such a way that in the closed position of the door, and expediently shortly before, there is a design-related freewheel. This can be achieved by clearing the area of the interacting braking surfaces. The door can also be closed by an additional energy accumulator (so-called "pull path").

The invention is not restricted to the illustrated and specifically described exemplary embodiments, but also encompasses all that work in the sense of the invention. the executions. For example, the drive wheel 56 can also interact with the drive track 58 as a friction wheel. Furthermore, the control means according to the invention can also contain an electronic control, so that almost any parameters, such as e.g. B. the speed of the door movement can be taken into account. The electronic control can at least partially be designed as an originally separate component which can be connected to the door arrester at any time, in particular only after the door arrester has been subjected to higher temperatures, as z. B. occurs during a painting / drying phase.

Claims

Expectations

1. Stepless door arrester (1), in particular for vehicle doors, with the following components: a first holding part (2) that can be fixed in place, a second holding part (4) that is relatively movably connected to the first holding part (2) and that is to be connected to a door, mechanical holding means ( 6) such that the two holding parts (2, 4) can be blocked within their range of movement in any relative positions relative to one another in both directions of movement, elastic coupling means (14) such that in each relative position of the holding parts (2, 4) blocked by the holding means (6) ) by applying a control force to one of the holding parts, slight, relative, elastic control movements are possible, as well as control means (16) such that, in the respectively blocked state, the holding means (6) can be controlled to be released by an elastic control movement resulting from the control force, dad u rch marked that the control means (16) as passive, without external electrical supply self-sufficient electrical mechanical system are trained.

2. Door arrester according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (16) have a generator element (G) which can be driven by the control movements and thereby generate electrical energy.

3. Door arrester according to claim 2, characterized in that the control means (16) have actuating means (22) which can be operated electrically with the energy of the generator element (G) and act on the holding means (6) to release them.

4. Door arrester according to claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting means (22) have a motor (M), in particular a piezomotor.

5. door arrester according to claim 3 or 4, d ad u rch g e ken nze i ch n et, d a s s the actuating means (22) have a mechanically acting on the holding means (6) transmission device (24).

6. Door arrester according to one of claims 1 to 5, so that the control means (16) are designed in such a way that after releasing the holding means (6) they are held in their release position by an immediately subsequent dynamic door movement and when it comes to a standstill again, it is automatically blocked by an energy store (18), in particular by spring force (F).

7. Door arrester according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by an energy store for storing the energy of the generator element (G) generated by dynamic door movements and by switching means for applying the stored energy to the actuating means (22) during a next release process of the holding means (6 ).

8. Door arrester according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by an embodiment as a hinge door holder, the two holding parts (2, 4) being connected to one another in a rotatable manner about a rotation axis (10) via a hinge pin (8).

9. Door arrester according to one of claims 1 to 8, g e ke n n ze i ch n et d u rc h a rotationally asymmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation (10), in particular approximately circular sector-like design in cross section.

10. Door arrester according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the holding means (6) consist of a circular sector-shaped braking track (32) with an arcuate concave braking surface (32a) and a spring force (F) radially against the braking surface (32a) acting brake element (34) exist.

11. Door arrester according to claim 10, characterized in that the braking track (32) is arranged in a housing (36), which is preferably connected in one piece to the one holding part (2 or 4), with the braking element (34) inside the housing (36). leading guide part (38) connected to the hinge pin (8) in a radial extension in a torque-locking manner is arranged so as to be pivotable relative to the brake track (32).

12. Door arrester according to claim 11, characterized in that the braking element (34) is guided in a guide receptacle of the guide part (38) with radial movement play and is acted upon by the spring force (F) by at least one spring element (20).

13. Door arrester according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the elastic coupling means (14) are formed in the region of the brake track (32) by the brake track (32) relative to the housing (36) around the axis of rotation (10) movable and is supported in both directions of movement via elastic elements (40) against the housing (36).

14. Door lock according to one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the transmission device (24) is formed by a toggle lever element (46), two levers (48, 50) connected via a knee joint (52) being approximately stretched in the braked position are arranged between the brake element (34) and an abutment - in particular formed by a swivel section (54) of the hinge pin (8) - in such a way that the brake element (34) is deflected into a release position from the brake track (32 by a deflection of the knee joint (52) ) is retractable, the actuating means (22) engaging in the region of the knee joint (52) to deflect it.

5 .. Door arrester according to claim 14, characterized in that the generator element (G) can be driven by drive means, which are provided with a drive wheel (56) and a brake track (32) coaxially and axially offset in the housing (36) provided drive track (58) consist.