WO2012065591A2

WO2012065591A2 - Door unit

Info

Publication number: WO2012065591A2
Application number: PCT/DE2011/001949
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ömer INAN; Bernhard Kordowski; Holger Schiffer; Volker Westerwick
Original assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2010-11-16
Filing date: 2011-11-08
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Also published as: DE202010015554U1; EP2640917A2; WO2012065591A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a door unit, especially a motor vehicle door unit, comprising a movement transfer member (3, 4) connected to a door leaf (1) and provided with a drive shaft (4), and at least one fixing device (5, 6, 7) for the door leaf (1), the fixing device (5, 6,7) comprising at least one chamber (6) filled with a hydraulic medium (5) and a displacement body (7) that can be moved inside the chamber (6). The hydraulic medium (5) can be modified in terms of its properties, especially with regard to its viscosity.

Description

door unit

Description:

The invention relates to a door unit, in particular motor vehicle door unit, having a motion transmission member connected to a door with drive shaft, and having at least one locking device for the door leaf, wherein the locking device comprises at least one chamber filled with a hydraulic medium and a displaceable body movable in the chamber.

With the help of the locking device, the door can be blocked at virtually any point during its movement. For this purpose, the generic teaching according to the US 5410 777 proposes a displacement body in the form of a wiper. The chamber filled with the hydraulic medium has a plurality of openings. Depending on a movement of the wiper, the liquid can be discharged through individual outlets connected to the openings. A circulation of the hydraulic medium is possible. The known locking device can be integrated as it were in a door hinge.

The further and also generic prior art according to DE 20 2004 003 546 U1 proposes a locking device, which is designed as a continuously variable hydraulic system such that the locking device can be hydraulically fixed in any relative rotational position. A movement is possible by applying a higher breakaway torque and then a lower moment of motion. For this purpose, again a displacement body is realized, which is reciprocated in a chamber filled with a hydraulic medium in accordance with a movement of the drive shaft.

The prior art can not satisfy in all aspects. Thus, the known embodiments are relatively complicated. In addition, an attachment in or on the door hinge is consistently required. If at this point the required space is not available or mounting problems prevents a local arrangement, the known measures can not or can only be realized with considerable effort. This is where the invention starts.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a door unit, in particular a motor vehicle door unit, in such a way that a functionally correct actuation of the locking device is achieved with reduced design complexity and achieved.

To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes in a generic door unit, in particular motor vehicle door unit, that the hydraulic medium received together with the displacement body in the chamber is designed to be variable in terms of its properties and in particular with regard to its viscosity. In the context of the invention, therefore, no special valves or complicated structures of the displacement body are pursued, as they are regarded as obligatory in the context of the prior art, for example, according to US Pat. No. 5,410,777. Rather, the invention operates with a hydraulic medium, which is usually designed in terms of its viscosity, so ultimately looking at its flow behavior, changeable. In this case, a high viscosity and a low flow behavior usually corresponded to the locking device blocks the door. In contrast, a low viscosity and a pronounced high flow behavior mean that the

Door leaf can be moved more or less without resistance and the locking device does not block the door, so it is disabled.

To achieve this in detail, various possibilities are conceivable and are encompassed by the invention. Thus, the Hydraultkmedium may be formed as non-Newtonian and / or as a magnetorheological and / or as eletrorheological fluid. If a non-Newtonian fluid is used, then it is advantageously a viscoplastic fluid and in particular a so-called Bingham fluid.

In the first alternative, the fluid is designed as a non-Newtonian fluid as opposed to a Newtonian fluid. Such a non-Newtonian fluid or a non-Newtonian fluid is a fluid or, in principle, also a gas whose viscosity does not remain constant when the acting shear forces change. In this case, shear forces are applied to the hydraulic medium in question or the non-Newtonian fluid via the displacement body in the hydraulic medium. For this purpose, the displacement body is connected to the drive shaft and ultimately follows the movement of the door leaf.

In this case, the design in the illustrated example case is such that the hydraulic medium automatically changes its viscosity due to the described shear forces acting on the displacement body. For this purpose, it is provided that the hydraulic medium varies in dependence on a load on the door leaf and / or a speed of the door leaf its viscosity. In most cases, a so-called minimum shear stress of the hydraulic medium is observed in this context. Below this minimum shear stress, the hydraulic medium typically behaves as

an elastic body. On the other hand, above the minimum shear stress, the hydraulic medium begins to flow.

This means in concrete application that the locking device blocks the door when shear stresses or shear forces are generated in the hydraulic medium by means of the displacement body, which are located below the minimum shear stress. Because in this case, the hydraulic medium works like the elastic body already described, so that the door is blocked by means of the locking device. If, however, the minimum shear stress is exceeded by a corresponding load on the door leaf, the shear forces on the hydraulic medium increase and this begins to flow. As a result, the door can be moved more or less resistance. If the door is stopped or slowed down, the viscosity of the hydraulic medium increases again, and until such time as the minimum thrust voltage is exceeded and the hydraulic medium again works like an elastic body and blocks the previously moved therein displacement body and holds. Then the locking device is active and also blocks the door in the desired manner. In any case, it is achieved in this way that the hydraulic medium automatically changes its viscosity by acting on shear forces of the displacement body, namely in dependence on which load the door leaf is subjected to its movement. As part of the alternative approach already referred to, a magnetorheological and / or electrorheological fluid can also be used as the hydraulic medium. A magnetorheological fluid is a suspension of small magnetically polarizable particles finely dispersed in a carrier liquid. Affects

such a magnetorheological fluid forms a magnetic field, the magnetically polarizable particles are polarized within the carrier fluid and form chains in the direction of the field lines. In this way, and as a result of the orientation of the particles, the suspension becomes thicker with increasing field strength, thus increasing its viscosity. A magnetic field of high field strength thus corresponds to a viscous state of the magnetorheological fluid and consequently a high viscosity. This includes the active position of the locking device, in which the door is held. If, on the other hand, there is no magnetic field or if the field strength is low, the suspension is fluid and the door can easily be moved back and forth. For this purpose, the deactivated position or position of the locking device corresponds. Magnetorheological fluids have long been known and can be prepared, for example, so that the already mentioned magnetically polarizable particles are introduced into a carrier fluid having a diameter of about 1 pm to 10 pm. As carrier liquid mineral oil can be used, but also silicone oil, glycol or water. In addition, it has been proven to use particles with a polymeric surface coating to avoid properties such as abrasion, sedimentation and aging. The magnetically polarizable particles are advantageously carbonyl iron powder. Such magnetorheological fluids have long been used in the automotive field, for example in connection with a fluid coupling, as described in DE 102007 015 053 A1. Comparable uses are known in connection with attenuators according to DE 101 17 817 A1.

However, such fluids have hitherto not been used in connection with locking devices for door units.

Alternatively or additionally, the hydraulic medium may also be an electrorheological fluid. In this case, the flow behavior and hence the viscosity of the fluid in question is changed in response to an applied electric field under control. As in the case of the magnetorheological fluid, a suspension is again used, which is composed of electrically polarizable particles or droplets which are dispersed in an electrically non-conductive carrier liquid. As a carrier liquid, for example, silicone or mineral oil has proven to be favorable. The electrically polarizable particles or droplets may be polyurethane particles which are typically dispersed in silicone oil as the carrier liquid. As a result, abrasion and wear virtually no longer play a role. Because the soft and elastic electrically polarizable particles based on polyurethane or polyurethane particles have no abrasive effect on the chamber or the displacement body.

An applied external electric field induces dipoles in the electrically polarizable particles. As in the case of the magnetorheological fluid, the electrically polarizable particles form chains and columns along the field lines of the electric field. This chain formation is accompanied by an increase in viscosity. That is, the electrorheological fluid becomes thicker with increasing electric field strength and its viscosity increases. For this purpose, the active state of the locking device corresponds, starting from a certain intrinsic viscosity, to the intrinsic viscosity which can also be achieved in the case of magnetorheological fluids. Below this intrinsic viscosity, movements of the displacer in the chamber are not significantly hindered by the hydraulic medium because the

Viscosity is low. For this purpose, the non-activated or deactivated position of the locking device corresponds.

In the case of the magnetorheological and / or electrorheological fluid, it has been found useful to apply a magnetic and / or electric field to the chamber to effect the described viscosity changes. In this case, the respective magnetic and / or electric field can be activated / deactivated by means of a control unit. Also, a change in the strength of the magnetic and / or electric field by means of the control unit is conceivable.

The greater the field strength of the magnetic field or that of the electric field, the greater the viscosity of the hydraulic medium accommodated in the interior of the chamber. As a result, the displacer is more or less decelerated as it moves within the chamber. If the determined intrinsic viscosity is exceeded, the displacer can not practically (more) be moved back and forth. As a result, the door is blocked and the locking device assumes its "active" position.

The control unit can be activated, for example, by a switch, so that an operator request in an activation / deactivation of the locking device can be easily implemented in this way. However, embodiments are also conceivable such that the hydraulic medium automatically changes its viscosity, as is the case with respect to the already treated viscoplastic fluid.

In this context, for example, the speed of the door leaf or a load acting thereon can be queried with the aid of a sensor

become. When an operator tries to move the door, the sensor registers a growing load on the door leaf. This may be interpreted by the control unit so that the previously activated locking device is deactivated or should be. Conversely, a load on the door leaf or a lack of action on the door leaf may correspond to the control unit transferring the locking device into the "active" position and holding the door wing in the interior of the chamber by the associated high viscosity of the hydraulic medium. - Electrorheological fluids are also known in the automotive sector by DE 39 20 346 A1, but - as the magnetorheological fluids - in a completely different context.

Within the scope of a further alternative design, it is provided that the chamber for receiving the hydraulic medium and the displacement body movable thereon in the hydraulic medium is made variable in consideration of its volume. In this case, the hydraulic medium is also changed in one property. In fact, for example, a compression of the chamber ensures that the intrinsic flow velocity of the hydraulic medium decreases until, in extreme cases, the displacement body can no longer be moved. Then the active position of the locking device is reached.

For this purpose, the chamber is assigned at least one externally attacking contact pressure. The contact pressure acts on an at least partially flexible chamber wall. In this way, a flow of the hydraulic medium inside the chamber is influenced. In principle, the viscosity of the hydraulic medium could also be changed by the contact pressure means. As a rule, however, the hydraulic medium is a more or less incompressible liquid. For this θ

Reason, the Anpressmittel is typically used to change the flow of the hydraulic medium inside the chamber.

For this purpose, the chamber is typically equipped with an overall flexible chamber wall. This chamber wall or the chamber as a whole can be completely or partially received by a support element and experienced by means of the support element a support. The design is regularly made such that the active position of the locking device corresponds to the fact that the contact pressure acts on the chamber wall.

The admission is designed so that the displacement of the body in the interior of the chamber back and forth hydraulic medium can not or virtually no (more) can flow. As a result, the door is held. In contrast, the non-active or deactivated position of the locking device to the fact that the pressing means does not act on the chamber wall and consequently the displacement body can reciprocate the hydraulic medium. In other words, the flow of the hydraulic medium inside the chamber in this case is not or practically not affected.

The possibility of changing the flow of a hydraulic medium in the interior of a chamber via a contact pressure means has become known in connection with an actuating device by a lock by DE 10 2005 043 989 A1, but has hitherto not been used in combination with a locking device for a door leaf found.

As a result, a door unit is provided, which is initially constructed simply and functionally reliable. Because it comes only a hydraulic medium used, which usually in terms of its viscosity

or with regard to its achievable intrinsic, ie _p the material own flow rate is designed to be changeable. This can be realized in various ways, with particularly a hydraulic medium has proven to be favorable, which is designed as a non-Newtonian and / or as a magnetorheological and / or as an electrorheological fluid. In any case, the locking device can be activated by simple means and thus block the door. Here are the main benefits and effects to see. In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

Fig. 1 is a door unit according to the invention schematically and Fig. 2A to 2D different variants of the locking device in principle expression.

In Fig. 1, a door unit is shown, which is a motor vehicle door unit. This has in its basic structure a door leaf 1 or swing door leaf 1, which can be pivoted about a pivot point 2 in the direction indicated in Fig. 1 direction. This is made clear by the double arrow with associated swivel angle α. To the door or swing door leaf 1, a motion transmission member 3, 4 is connected, which is supported on a body.

The motion transmission member 3, 4 is composed in its basic structure of a rack 3 and a meshing with the rack 3 drive shaft 4 together. Since the rack 3 is connected to the swing door leaf 1 or with the stationary on or in the swing door leaf. 1

mounted drive shaft 4 meshes, corresponding to the pivoting movements of the door leaf 1 shown in FIG. 1 to the fact that the rack 3 is linearly reciprocated. In addition to the motion transmission member 3, 4 connected to the door leaf 1 with the drive shaft 4, a locking device 5, 6, 7 is provided in the embodiment. The locking device 5, 6, 7 has a filled with a hydraulic medium 5 chamber 6. In the chamber 6, a displacement body 7 can be moved back and forth, performs in the context of the embodiment, clockwise and counterclockwise rotations, such as a corresponding double arrow in the Fig. 2A indicates. For this purpose, the displacement body 7 is coupled to the drive shaft 4. In the example shown, the drive shaft 4 passes through the chamber 6 and drives the displacement body 7 directly. Of course, it is also within the scope of the invention, when the drive shaft 4 operates on the displacement body 7 via an unillustrated and intermediate gear.

For the invention is now of particular importance that the recorded inside the chamber 6 hydraulic medium 5 is designed to be changeable in terms of its properties and especially its viscosity. For this purpose, various basic procedures are conceivable, which are discussed in detail below. Thus, in the context of the variant according to FIG. 2A, a non-Newtonian fluid is used as the hydraulic medium 5. This non-Newtonian fluid is a viscoplastic fluid, in the exemplary embodiment a so-called Bingham fluid. Such a fluid is characterized in that the fluid or the hydraulic medium 5 changes its viscosity automatically by acting shear forces of the displacement body 7. For this purpose, the hydraulic medium 5 or the Bingham fluid in

Frame of the variant according to the illustration of FIG. 2A equipped with a minimum thrust.

If the shear forces acting on the hydraulic medium 5 from the displacement body 7 by movements of the drive shaft 4 in the interior of the chamber 6 fall below the said minimum shear stress, then the hydraulic medium 5 behaves like an elastic body. In this case, the displacement body 7 at most perform minor pivoting movements and ensures the locking device 5, 6, 7 realized at this point that the door 1 is blocked. The locking device 5, 6, 7 is in its "active" position.

If, on the other hand, an operator acts on the door leaf 1 with a load which corresponds to the shear forces built up by the displacement body 7 within the hydraulic medium 5 exceeding the already mentioned minimum shear stress, the hydraulic medium 5 behaves more or less like a liquid. That is, above the minimum thrust tension in question, the hydraulic medium 5 begins to flow. As a result, the locking device 5, 6, 7 assumes its position "deactivated" or not active. The door 1 can therefore be pivoted freely and virtually without resistance. The hydraulic medium 5 used in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2A is a so-called Bingham fluid, as described by way of example and not by way of limitation in US Pat. No. 4,158,571.

An alternative procedure for realizing the locking device 5, 6, 7 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 2B. At this point comes as a hydraulic medium 5 a magnetorheological fluid used. As already explained in the introduction, the hydraulic medium 5 is in this

Connection constructed as a suspension of a carrier liquid, for example silicone oil, mineral oil, etc. and magnetically polarizable particles suspended therein. In this case, the chamber 6 is surrounded by one or more magnets 8, which are formed in the embodiment and not restrictive annular and generate a magnetic field with indicated field lines, which extend predominantly perpendicular to the movement of the displacement body 7. Along these field lines, the magnetically polarizable particles of, for example, carbonyl iron powder form chains which inhibit the movement of the displacement body 7. The greater the field strength of the magnetic field, the greater the inhibition of the movement of the displacement body 7 and consequently also the viscosity of the hydraulic medium 5 is pronounced.

From a certain and thus adjustable intrinsic viscosity of the displacement body 7 can not be practically (more) moved within the chamber 6. As a result, the door 1 is held and the locking device 5, 6, 7 is in its "active" position. For this purpose, the magnets 8 may each be electromagnets, which are acted on and controlled by a control unit 9. If the control unit 9 ensures that the magnets or electromagnets 8 build up the described magnetic field, the viscosity of the hydraulic medium 5 or of the magnetorheological fluid used at this point is increased, so that the locking device 5, 6, 7 assumes its "active" position. occupies. This can be done, for example, in such a way that the control unit 9 is activated by means of a switch on the dashboard, on the door leaf 1, etc. Other activation measures are conceivable, as they have already been described in the introduction.

In a further alternative procedure according to the illustration according to FIG. 2C, an electrorheological fluid is used as the hydraulic medium 5. Such a fluid is again characterized by a suspension, this time of electrically polarizable particles in a non-conducting carrier liquid. The particles in question may be polyurethane particles which are taken up in a silicone or mineral oil as the carrier liquid. If, in this case, an electric field is generated within the chamber 6 with the aid of, for example, one or more coils 10 enclosing the chamber 6, field lines, this time electric field lines, form again. The field lines are again aligned perpendicular to the direction of movement of the displacement body 7.

In the variant according to FIG. 2B, the magnetic field lines there run predominantly in the radial direction in comparison to the largely cylindrical chamber 6. On the other hand, the electric field lines according to FIG. 2C have a more or less axial alignment in comparison to FIG As a result, the electric field lines in Fig. 2C are aligned perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In this way, the electrically polarizable particles in the interior of the hydraulic medium 5 again form chains or columns along the field lines, because dipoles are induced in the particles in question. These columns or chains ensure - as in the case of the magnetorheological fluid according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2B - that the viscosity of the hydraulic medium 5 increases.

If the hydraulic medium 5 exceeds the intrinsic viscosity already referred to, the locking device 5, 6, 7 realized in this way is "active" and the door leaf 1 can not (anymore) be moved. To this end

the control unit 9 acts on the coils 10 surrounding the chamber 6 accordingly. As soon as the current flowing through the coils 10 is switched off, the electric field collapses and consequently the displacement body 7 can be reciprocated within the hydraulic medium 5 without resistance or almost without resistance. For this purpose, the position "deactivated" corresponds to the locking device 5, 6, 7.

In the context of the illustration according to FIG. 2D, a further possibility is graphically set to make the hydraulic medium 5 changeable. In this case, not the viscosity is changed, but rather the flow velocity within the hydraulic medium 5 caused by the displacer 7. For this purpose, the chamber 6 is formed variable, taking into account their volume. For this purpose, two outside acting on the chamber 6 pressing means 11 are provided. In addition, the chamber 6 has an at least partially flexible chamber wall. The chamber wall or the chamber 6 is completely or partially received by a support member 12. The support element or the two support elements 12 and the two pressure means 11 are diametrically opposite each other with respect to the centrally arranged drive shaft 4. In addition, the design is such that the contact pressure means 11 in connection with the support element or the two support elements 12, the chamber 6 almost completely enclose.

Now, if the chamber 6 is acted upon by means of the contact pressure means 11, a flow of the hydraulic medium 5 in the interior of the chamber 6 is thereby almost completely suppressed. As a result, the displacer 7 can not be moved (more) and the door 1 comes to a standstill. For this purpose, the position "active" corresponds to the locking device 5, 6, 7. The one or the two pressing means 11 can be with the help of the control unit. 9

apply. - It is understood that the described various approaches and interpretations of the locking device 5, 6, 7 can in principle be combined with each other in whole or in part.

Claims

Protection claims:

1. door unit, in particular motor vehicle door unit, with a door (1) connected motion transmission member (3, 4) with drive shaft (4), and with at least one locking device (5, 6, 7) for the door (1), wherein the locking device (5, 6, 7) at least one with a hydraulic medium (5) filled chamber (6) and in the chamber (6) movable displacement body (7), dadurchgeken nz eichnet that the hydraulic medium (5) in terms of its properties , in particular with regard to its viscosity, is designed to be changeable.

2. Door unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic medium (5) is designed as non-Newtonian and / or magnetorheological and / or as electrorheological fluid.

3. Door unit according to claim 2, characterized in that it is the non-Newtonian fluid is a viscoplastic fluid.

4. Door unit according to claim 3, characterized in that a Bingham fluid is used as the viscoplastic fluid.

5. door unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hydraulic medium (5) by acting shear forces of the displacement body (7) automatically changes its viscosity.

6. door unit according to claim 5, characterized in that a minimum thrust of the hydraulic medium (5) is provided, below which the hydraulic medium (5) operates as an elastic body and above which the hydraulic medium (5) begins to flow.

7. door unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that on the chamber (6) a magnetic and / or electric field is applied.

8. door unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the magnetic and / or electric field by means of a control unit (9) is activated / deactivated and optionally varied with respect to its respective strength.

9. door unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the chamber (6) is formed variable in consideration of their volume

10. Door unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the chamber (6) is associated with at least one externally acting contact pressure means (11) which acts on an at least partially flexible chamber wall for changing a flow of the hydraulic medium (5) in the interior of the chamber (6) ,

11. Door unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the chamber (6) is equipped with an overall flexible chamber wall which is wholly or partially received by a support element (12).

12. door unit according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the hydraulic medium (5) in response to a load on the door (1) and / or a speed of the door leaf (1) changes its viscosity.