Vehicle power supply port cover door device and working method

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of automotive parts, and specifically relates to a vehicle power supply port cover door device and working method. The device includes a door cover, a motor, a reduction gear set, and a rotation sensor. The door cover is provided with a rotating shaft portion, which is hinged to the vehicle body so that the door cover can flip relative to the vehicle body. The motor is fixed to the vehicle body and remains relatively stationary with the vehicle body. The reduction gear set is provided between the rotating shaft portion and the motor output shaft, which decelerates and increases the torque of the motor before transmitting it to the door cover. There is at least one rotating moving part in the reduction gear set, and the rotation sensor is connected to the rotating moving part and detects the rotation angle of the rotating moving part. The device takes up little space and has reliable functions. It can eliminate the need for a door position signal device, achieving the purpose of integrated design, reducing the complexity of the system, improving the reliability of the system, further saving space, and maintaining the consistency and integrity of the vehicle design.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of automobile parts, and in particular relates to a vehicle power supply port cover door device and a working method. Background Art

[0002] The vehicle has a power supply port to replenish power, such as refueling for fuel vehicles, filling gas for gas vehicles, and charging for electric vehicles. Considering the appearance of the vehicle and the sealing and safety of the power supply port, the vehicle will be equipped with a cover door to cover it.

[0003] From the perspective of vehicle functionality and safety, the hatch should not be opened directly from the outside and must be unlocked using in-vehicle controls or the vehicle's electric key. Additionally, a warning should be displayed inside the vehicle when the hatch is open.

[0004] Currently, two common types of overlay doors are available on the market: flip and sliding. Sliding overlay doors typically utilize a linkage mechanism to allow the small door to slide parallel to a specific direction. This prevents the back of the overlay from being exposed, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing design. However, the linkage mechanism is more complex and the cost is higher. Compared to sliding overlay doors, flip overlay doors offer advantages such as structural reliability and lower cost, making them the most popular overlay door type on the market.

[0005] Currently, flip-up hatches are typically unlocked using a cable or motor inside the vehicle. After this process, the driver or passenger manually opens and closes the hatch manually, using a cable or motor to lock and close the hatch. With this type of vehicle power supply hatch, all opening and closing processes, except for unlocking, are manually performed by the driver or passenger, resulting in a low level of automation. If the driver or passenger forgets to close the hatch, or if other circumstances result in the hatch not closing or not closing properly, the hatch remains open, failing to provide protection and anti-theft functionality and posing a significant safety hazard. While most vehicles currently have icons on the dashboard indicating the hatch's open or closed status, these indicators are ineffective, and drivers and passengers often forget to close the hatch.

[0006] Some high-end models also use electric actuators to open and close the cover door. Although they realize all the actions of automatically opening and closing the power supply port cover door, they ignore the fact that users can easily manually operate the cover door due to inertial thinking, causing damage to the actuator. They also ignore the problem that the cover door cannot be manually opened and closed when the vehicle has a circuit failure. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In response to the shortcomings of the existing technology, the present invention provides a vehicle power supply port cover door device and working method, the purpose of which is to realize the full automatic opening and closing of the cover door, while taking into account the user's inertial thinking habits, and also considering the operational convenience in unexpected situations such as vehicle circuit failures, so as to adapt to future consumers' pursuit of intelligent and personalized vehicles and enhance the market competitiveness of the product.

[0008] The present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions: a vehicle power supply port cover door device, comprising a door cover, a motor, a reduction gear set, and a rotation sensor; the door cover is provided with a rotating shaft portion, which is hinged to the vehicle body to enable the door cover to flip relative to the vehicle body; the motor is fixed to the vehicle body and remains relatively stationary; the reduction gear set is provided between the rotating shaft portion and the motor output shaft, which decelerates and increases the torque of the motor before transmitting it to the door cover; the reduction gear set includes at least one rotating moving part, and the rotation sensor is connected to the rotating moving part and detects the rotation angle of the rotating moving part. The device uses the motor as power, drives the door cover to rotate through the reduction gear set, and realizes the opening and closing of the door cover. At the same time, the device uses the rotation sensor to detect the rotation angle of a rotating moving part in the reduction gear set, thereby determining the angle of the door cover relative to the vehicle body, providing a basis for automatic control. In addition, in order to realize the warning function of the cover door not being fully closed, conventional vehicles need to set corresponding sensors at the cover door locking mechanism. After using the above-mentioned vehicle power supply port cover door device, the warning function of the cover door not being fully closed can be realized by rotating the sensor, without the need to set additional sensors in the cover door locking mechanism.

[0009] Furthermore, the rotation sensor includes a sensor body and a sensing portion that rotates relative to the sensor body. The feedback signal of the rotation sensor is a voltage or resistance value, and the feedback data varies monotonically, preferably linearly, with the rotation angle of the sensing portion relative to the sensor body. The voltage or resistance value of the feedback signal facilitates acquisition, processing, and output by the control circuit, thereby controlling the motor. The rotation sensor can be selected based on actual needs, such as, but not limited to, the ALPS / Alps RDC506002A sensor.

[0010] Furthermore, the vehicle power supply port cover door also includes a PCB control circuit board; the rotation sensor and the motor are both electrically connected to the PCB control circuit board.

[0011] Furthermore, the electrical contacts of the rotation sensor are directly soldered to the PCB control circuit board, and the contacts of the motor are directly soldered to the PCB control circuit board. The PCB control circuit board is located on the side close to the motor output shaft, thereby forming a compact space layout, facilitating installation and reducing the space occupied in the vehicle.

[0012] Furthermore, the reduction gear set preferably uses a reduction gear set capable of bidirectional transmission. For example, the following reduction gear set includes a first gear, a second gear, a third gear, and a fourth gear; the first gear is fixed to the output shaft of the motor, the fourth gear is fixed to the rotating shaft, the second gear and the third gear shaft are arranged to form a double gear, the second gear meshes with the first gear, and the third gear meshes with the fourth gear; the first gear has fewer teeth than the fourth gear, and the second gear has more teeth than the third gear.

[0013] Furthermore, the sensing unit is preferably mounted on the common rotation axis of the second and third gears, which can achieve high control accuracy at a low cost. If the sensing unit rotates with the motor output shaft, a rotation sensor with a large range must be selected, which increases the cost. If the sensing unit rotates with the door cover, the detection accuracy is likely to be too low, affecting the accuracy of control.

[0014] Furthermore, the door cover and the motor are preferably located on the same side of the reduction gear set, so as to facilitate installation in a narrow space of the vehicle body.

[0015] It should be noted that the vehicle power refueling port cover door device provided by the present invention can drive the cover door to rotate to an open position, a closed position, or any intermediate position, but does not provide a locking function for the cover door. Therefore, in actual use, it is generally necessary to cooperate with a cover door locking mechanism to achieve opening, closing, and locking of the cover door. The cover door locking mechanism can be selected from existing locking mechanisms as needed, such as the locking mechanism disclosed in Patent CN 209585938 U.

[0016] Based on the aforementioned vehicle power supply port cover door device, the present invention further provides an operating method for the vehicle power supply port cover door device, including a fully automatic mode, a trend sensing mode, an acceleration mode, and a manual mode. The fully automatic mode enables full automatic opening and closing of the cover door; the trend sensing mode and the acceleration mode are semi-automatic opening and closing modes that intervene after the user triggers the cover door, accommodating the user's habit of manual operation due to inertia; the manual mode enables full manual opening and closing of the cover door without affecting operability in the event of a circuit failure.

[0017] Fully automatic mode: The user operates the control panel or car key in the car, sending a signal to the motor. The motor rotates to drive the door cover to rotate. The rotation sensor provides real-time feedback on the rotation angle. When it is determined that the door cover is opened or closed in place, the motor stops rotating, completing the door cover opening or closing action.

[0018] Trend sensing mode: The user pulls or pushes the door cover and then lets go, causing the rotation sensor to send a feedback signal. When the absolute value of the numerical difference of the feedback signal exceeds the preset value, the motor starts, driving the door cover to rotate. The rotation sensor provides real-time feedback of the rotation angle. When it is determined that the door cover is fully opened or closed, the motor stops rotating, completing the door cover opening or closing action. The operating voltage of the motor in trend sensing mode is the same as that in fully automatic mode.

[0019] Acceleration mode: If the user thinks the door cover is moving too slowly, the user may continue to pull or push the door cover, causing the rotation sensor to send a feedback signal. When the absolute value of the feedback signal change rate exceeds the preset value and the duration also exceeds the preset value, the motor accelerates, driving the door cover to rotate. The rotation sensor provides real-time feedback of the rotation angle. When it is determined that the door cover is fully opened or closed, the motor stops rotating, completing the door cover opening or closing action. The operating voltage of the motor in acceleration mode is greater than the operating voltage of the motor in full-automatic mode. The allowable operating voltage of the motor is a range. For example, a motor rated at 12V can generally operate in the range of 9 to 16V. If the voltage in full-automatic mode is 12V, the voltage in acceleration mode can be in the range of 12V to 16V, thereby increasing the motor speed and making the door cover open and close faster, thus meeting the needs of drivers and passengers who want to speed up the door cover opening and closing speed.

[0020] Manual mode: The motor has damping but is not self-locking when not powered on. The door cover can be manually pulled or pushed to open or close it.

[0021] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the vehicle power supply port cover door device provided by the present invention has a reasonable and compact overall structure, occupies less space, has a simple component arrangement, and is reliable in function. The device can further improve the electrification and intelligence level of the automobile. At the same time, the door position signal device can be eliminated, achieving the purpose of integrated design, reducing the complexity of the system, improving the reliability of the system, further saving space, and maintaining the consistency and integrity of the automobile design. The device has multiple operating modes such as full-automatic mode, trend sensing mode, acceleration mode, and manual mode. In particular, the trend sensing mode and acceleration mode take into account the user's manual operation habits under inertial thinking, have strong adaptability, and the operation method is personalized and fashionable, with high commercial application value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 and 2 This is a structural diagram of Example 1.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the rotation sensor.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of Example 2.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fully automatic mode control logic.

[0026] Figure 6 Control logic diagram for trend sensing mode.

[0027] Figure 7 Control logic diagram for acceleration mode.

[0028] In the figure, the door cover 1, the motor 2, the reduction gear set 3, the rotation sensor 4, the shaft part 11, the sensor body 41, the sensing part 42, the PCB control circuit board 5, the first gear 31, the second gear 32, the third gear 33, and the fourth gear 34. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0030] Unless otherwise defined, technical or scientific terms used in this disclosure should be understood to have the ordinary meanings understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. The terms "first," "second," and similar expressions used in this disclosure do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are simply used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "include" or "comprising" mean that the elements or objects preceding the term include the elements or objects listed after the term, and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "connected" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] A vehicle power supply port cover door device, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, it includes a door cover 1, a motor 2, a reduction gear set 3, and a rotation sensor 4; a rotating shaft portion 11 is provided on the door cover 1, and the rotating shaft portion 11 is hinged to the vehicle body to enable the door cover 1 to perform a flipping movement relative to the vehicle body; the motor 2 is fixed in the vehicle body and remains relatively stationary with the vehicle body; the reduction gear set 3 is provided between the rotating shaft portion 11 and the output shaft of the motor 2, and decelerates and torques the rotation of the motor 2 and then transmits it to the door cover 1; there is at least one rotating moving part in the reduction gear set 3, and the rotation sensor 4 is connected to the rotating moving part and detects the rotation angle of the rotating moving part.

[0033] In this embodiment, the rotation sensor 4 includes a sensor body 41 and a sensing portion 42 rotatable relative to the sensor body 41 ; the feedback signal of the rotation sensor 4 is a voltage value, and the feedback data changes monotonically with the rotation angle of the sensing portion 42 relative to the sensor body 41 .

[0034] In this embodiment, a PCB control circuit board 5 is further included; the rotation sensor 4 and the motor 2 are both electrically connected to the PCB control circuit board 5 .

[0035] In this embodiment, the electrical contacts of the rotation sensor 4 are directly welded to the PCB control circuit board 5 , and the contacts of the motor 2 are directly welded to the PCB control circuit board 5 ; the PCB control circuit board 5 is located on a side close to the output shaft of the motor 2 .

[0036] In this embodiment, the reduction gear set 3 includes a first gear 31, a second gear 32, a third gear 33, and a fourth gear 34; the first gear 31 is fixed to the output shaft of the motor 2, the fourth gear 34 is fixed to the rotating shaft portion 11, and the second gear 32 and the third gear 33 are arranged to form a double gear, the second gear 32 is engaged with the first gear 31, and the third gear 33 is engaged with the fourth gear 34; the number of teeth of the first gear 31 is smaller than that of the fourth gear 34, and the number of teeth of the second gear 32 is greater than that of the third gear 33.

[0037] In this embodiment, the sensing portion 42 is sleeved on a common rotation axis of the second gear 32 and the third gear 33 .

[0038] In this embodiment, the door cover 1 and the motor 2 are located on the same side of the reduction gear set 3 .

[0039] In this embodiment, the operating methods of the vehicle power supply port cover door device include a fully automatic mode, a trend sensing mode, an acceleration mode, and a manual mode.

[0040] Fully automatic mode: Figure 5 As shown, the user operates the control panel or car key in the car to send a signal to the motor 2. The motor 2 rotates to drive the door cover 1 to rotate. The rotation sensor 4 provides real-time feedback of the rotation angle. When it is determined that the door cover 1 is opened or closed in place, the motor 2 stops rotating, completing the opening or closing action of the door cover 1.

[0041] Trend Sensing Mode: Figure 6 As shown, the user pulls or pushes the door cover 1 and then lets go, causing the rotation sensor 4 to send a feedback signal. When the absolute value of the numerical difference of the feedback signal exceeds the preset value, the motor 2 starts, driving the door cover 1 to rotate, and the rotation sensor 4 feeds back the rotation angle in real time. When it is determined that the door cover 1 is opened or closed in place, the motor 2 stops rotating, completing the opening or closing action of the door cover 1; the operating voltage of the motor 2 in the trend sensing mode is equal to the operating voltage of the motor 2 in the fully automatic mode.

[0042] Acceleration mode: Figure 7 As shown, the user continuously pulls or pushes the door cover 1, causing the rotation sensor 4 to send a feedback signal. When the absolute value of the feedback signal change rate exceeds the preset value and the duration also exceeds the preset value, the motor 2 accelerates to drive the door cover 1 to rotate, and the rotation sensor 4 feeds back the rotation angle in real time. When it is determined that the door cover 1 is opened or closed in place, the motor 2 stops rotating to complete the opening or closing action of the door cover 1. The operating voltage of the motor 2 in the acceleration mode is greater than the operating voltage of the motor 2 in the fully automatic mode.

[0043] Manual mode: When the motor 2 is not powered, it has damping but is not self-locking. The door cover 1 can be manually pulled or pushed to open or close the door cover 1.

[0044] Example 2

[0045] Compared with embodiment 1, this embodiment cancels the PCB control circuit board 5. Figure 4 As shown, the feedback signal of the rotation sensor 4 uses the resistance value.

[0046] After removing the PCB control circuit board 5, the rotation sensor 4 and the motor 2 are both electrically connected to the onboard driving computer and are directly controlled by the onboard driving computer. This method improves the integration of the electronic control unit, but its flexibility and adaptability are weaker than that of Example 1.

[0047] After using the resistance value as the feedback signal of the rotation sensor 4, its working mode and control logic have not changed substantially compared with the embodiment 1, and still use Figures 5 to 7 The process shown.

[0048] The above embodiments are exemplary and intended to illustrate the technical concepts and features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art can understand the present invention and implement it accordingly. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle power supply port cover door device, characterized in that: The vehicle power supply port cover door device comprises a door cover (1), a motor (2), a reduction gear set (3), and a rotation sensor (4); the door cover (1) is provided with a rotating shaft portion (11), and the rotating shaft portion (11) is hinged to the vehicle body so that the door cover (1) can perform a flipping motion relative to the vehicle body; the motor (2) is fixed in the vehicle body and remains relatively stationary with the vehicle body; the reduction gear set (3) is provided between the rotating shaft portion (11) and the output shaft of the motor (2), and decelerates and increases the torque of the rotation of the motor (2) and transmits it to the door cover (1); there is at least one rotating moving part in the reduction gear set (3), and the rotation sensor (4) is connected to the rotating moving part and detects the rotation angle of the rotating moving part; The operating methods of the vehicle power supply port cover door device include fully automatic mode, trend sensing mode, acceleration mode, and manual mode; Fully automatic mode: the user operates the control panel or the car key in the car, sending a signal to the motor (2), the motor (2) rotates to drive the door cover (1) to rotate, and the rotation sensor (4) feeds back the rotation angle in real time. When it is determined that the door cover (1) is opened or closed in place, the motor (2) stops rotating, completing the opening or closing action of the door cover (1); Trend sensing mode: the user pulls or pushes the door cover (1) and then lets go, causing the rotation sensor (4) to send a feedback signal. When the absolute value of the numerical difference of the feedback signal exceeds a preset value, the motor (2) starts, driving the door cover (1) to rotate, and the rotation sensor (4) provides real-time feedback of the rotation angle. When it is determined that the door cover (1) is fully opened or closed, the motor (2) stops rotating, completing the opening or closing action of the door cover (1). The operating voltage of the motor (2) in the trend sensing mode is equal to the operating voltage of the motor (2) in the fully automatic mode. Acceleration mode: The user continuously pulls or pushes the door cover (1), causing the rotation sensor (4) to send a feedback signal. When the absolute value of the feedback signal change rate exceeds a preset value and the duration also exceeds a preset value, the motor (2) accelerates to drive the door cover (1) to rotate. The rotation sensor (4) provides real-time feedback of the rotation angle. When it is determined that the door cover (1) is fully opened or closed, the motor (2) stops rotating, completing the opening or closing action of the door cover (1). The operating voltage of the motor (2) in the acceleration mode is greater than the operating voltage of the motor (2) in the full-automatic mode. Manual mode: The motor (2) has damping but is not self-locking when not powered on, and the door cover (1) is manually pulled or pushed to open or close the door cover (1).

2. The operating method of the vehicle power supply port cover door device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotation sensor (4) comprises a sensor body (41) and a sensing portion (42) rotatable relative to the sensor body (41); a feedback signal of the rotation sensor (4) is a voltage value or a resistance value, and the feedback data changes monotonically with the rotation angle of the sensing portion (42) relative to the sensor body (41).

3. The operating method of the vehicle power supply port cover door device according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a PCB control circuit board (5); the rotation sensor (4) and the motor (2) are both electrically connected to the PCB control circuit board (5).

4. The operating method of the vehicle power supply port cover door device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The electrical contacts of the rotation sensor (4) are directly welded on the PCB control circuit board (5), and the contacts of the motor (2) are directly welded on the PCB control circuit board (5); the PCB control circuit board (5) is located on a side close to the output shaft of the motor (2).

5. The operating method of the vehicle power supply port cover door device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The reduction gear set (3) comprises a first gear (31), a second gear (32), a third gear (33), and a fourth gear (34); the first gear (31) is fixed on the output shaft of the motor (2), the fourth gear (34) is fixed on the rotating shaft (11), the second gear (32) and the third gear (33) are arranged to form a double gear, the second gear (32) is meshed with the first gear (31), and the third gear (33) is meshed with the fourth gear (34); the number of teeth of the first gear (31) is smaller than that of the fourth gear (34), and the number of teeth of the second gear (32) is greater than that of the third gear (33).

6. The operating method of the vehicle power supply port cover door device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sensing portion (42) is sleeved on a common rotation axis of the second gear (32) and the third gear (33).

7. The operating method of the vehicle power supply port cover door device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The door cover (1) and the motor (2) are located on the same side of the reduction gear set (3).

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