Locking system for vehicle hood

Abstract

A locking system (100) for locking a vehicle hood comprises: a hood (103); a moving actuator (105) for moving the hood (103); a lock (106) comprising a rotary translation pin (2), the rotary translation pin (2) having a head (20) adapted to engage with a seat (130) of the hood; an actuator (1) of the lock for moving the rotary translation pin (2); the actuator (1) comprising an electric motor (7) and a motion reduction device (R); the electric motor (7) being suitably configured to rotate in a first rotational direction to move the rotary translation pin from a retracted position to an extended position, and to rotate in a second rotational direction to move the rotary translation pin from the extended position to the retracted position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking system for a vehicle bonnet. Background Art

[0002] Vehicles are typically provided with a lid that is hinged to the vehicle body to open / close an opening that provides access to the vehicle's fuel system, which for illustration purposes may be a fuel tank for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine or an electrical connector for charging the vehicle's battery in a vehicle with an electric motor.

[0003] The lock holds the lid in the closed position. The lock is actuated by an actuator to change from the closed state to the open state. When the lock is in the open state, the lid is usually manually operated by the user.

[0004] Recently, attempts have been made to avoid said manual operation of the lid. The lid is therefore moved by an actuator arranged in correspondence with the hinge of the lid.

[0005] However, it must be considered that the lid acts as a lever, with a fulcrum in the hinge. The force of the actuator that moves the lid is applied near the fulcrum of the lever. Therefore, the lever is particularly disadvantageous, and the actuator must provide a large force to move the lid. Consequently, such actuators are complex, expensive, and oversized.

[0006] In addition, a seal is provided around the opening in the body of the vehicle, and the seal is compressed by the cover to ensure a tight closure. As a result, the force from the actuator that moves the cover must be sufficient to compress the seal.

[0007] This lid movement system is adversely affected at temperatures below 0°C, as the lid opening seal freezes and hardens, and ice can form between the lid and the vehicle body. Consequently, during the closing operation, the actuator force is insufficient to compress the frozen seal, and during the opening operation, it is not possible to overcome the resistance of the ice that forms between the lid and the vehicle body.

[0008] It must be taken into account that the actuator of the lid lock has only the function of opening and closing the lock, not moving the lid.

[0009] EP 3 348 432 A1, in the name of the same applicant, discloses an actuator for a closure device for a fuel tank cap, comprising a pivoting and translating pin that is spring-loaded into a locked, withdrawn, open position. Apparently, the force exerted by the spring on the pivoting and translating pin is insufficient to allow it to move the cap, which is adhered to the frozen seal. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a locking system for a vehicle bonnet that is practical, effective, reliable, inexpensive and easy to manufacture and install.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking system for a vehicle bonnet that is capable of operating at low temperatures when the seal of the vehicle bonnet is frozen.

[0012] These objects are achieved according to the invention having the features of independent claim 1 .

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Additional features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which relates to illustrative and non-limiting embodiments, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locking system for a vehicle hood according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 a perspective view of an actuator of a lock of the system with the rotary-translational pin in a retracted closed position;

[0017] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The same view of FIG, wherein the rotation-translation pin is in the withdrawn position;

[0018] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of all components of the actuator;

[0019] Figure 4A and Figure 4B yes Figure 4 An enlarged view of some parts of the actuator;

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 a top view of the actuator with the cover omitted;

[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 An axial cross-sectional view of the actuator;

[0022] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 The same view of FIG, omitting the emergency device;

[0023] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A top view of the actuator;

[0024] Figure 9 and Figure 10 It is along Figure 8 Axial cross-sectional views of sections IX-IX and XX;

[0025] Figure 11is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of an actuator of a locking system according to the present invention; and

[0026] Figure 12 yes Figure 11 Cross-sectional view of the locking system in the assembled state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] refer to Figure 1 , discloses a locking system of the present invention, which is generally indicated by the reference numeral 100.

[0028] The locking system 100 comprises:

[0029] a cover 103 , which is hinged to a body part 102 of the vehicle by means of a hinge 104 , in which an opening 101 is provided for closing / opening the lock 101 ,

[0030] - a moving actuator 105 mounted in the body part 102 and adapted to move the cover 103,

[0031] a lock 106 adapted to close the lid 103 in the closed position, and

[0032] A lock actuator 1 , suitable for activating the lock 106 .

[0033] Opening 101 provides access to the vehicle's power system, such as an opening to a fuel tank or an electrical connector for charging the vehicle's battery pack.

[0034] The cover 103 can be rotated about the axis of the hinge 104 from an open position (in which the opening 101 is accessible to a user) to a closed position (in which the cover 103 closes the opening 101). In this way, the cover 103 is rotated by approximately 90°.

[0035] Moving the actuator 105 actuates the cover 103 near the hinge 104. Therefore, the actuator 103 must have enough force to move the cover and rotate the cover approximately 90° in one direction and in the opposite direction.

[0036] A seal 107 (e.g., an O-ring seal) is arranged in the body part 102 around the opening 101. When the cover 103 is in the closed position, the cover compresses the seal 107 to ensure a tight seal and prevent foreign matter (e.g., water, dust, etc.) from entering the opening 101 from outside the vehicle.

[0037] The actuator 1 of the lock is mounted in the vehicle body at a position diametrically opposite the mobile actuator 105 relative to the center of the opening 101 .

[0038] The lock 106 comprises a latch that engages in a seat 130 of the cover 103 provided from the end of the cover, distally with respect to the hinge 104 .

[0039] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The latch of the lock comprises a rotary-translational pin 2 having a T-shaped head 20 adapted to engage with a seat 130 of the cover. To this end, the seat 130 of the cover has a rectangular opening to receive the head 20 of the rotary-translational pin and an undercut to lock the head 20 of the rotary-translational pin in bayonet connection mode.

[0040] The rotation-translation pin 2 is moved by the actuator 1 from the retracted locking position ( Figure 2 , in which the head 20 of the rotational translation pin engages in the seat 130 of the cover, locking the cover in the closed position) to the withdrawn open position ( Figure 3 , in which the head 20 of the rotationally translating pin is disengaged from the seat 130 of the lid so that the lid can be moved in the open position).

[0041] Hereinafter, the terms "lower" and "upper" refer to the arrangement of the drawings.

[0042] refer to Figure 4 , the actuator 1 comprises a box 3 in which the rotational-translational pin 2 and the components of the actuator are mounted.

[0043] The case 3 includes a housing 30 and a cover 31. The housing 30 has a seat 32 in which some of the actuator components are located. The cover 31 has a seat 33. A guide tang 34 protrudes outward from the seat of the cover. The rotational translation pin 2 is disposed within the case 3, and the head 20 of the rotational translation pin protrudes outward from the guide tang 34 of the cover, serving as a guide for the rotational translation movement of the rotational translation pin.

[0044] A stop rod 36 projects inwardly within the seat of the cover.

[0045] refer to Figure 4A and Figure 6 The rotation and translation pin 2 is roughly cylindrical, hollow inside, and has an axial cavity 21 open at the bottom.

[0046] The rotational translation pin 2 has an internal thread 22 and an external thread 23. The outer diameter of the lower portion 24 of the rotational translation pin 2 is greater than the outer diameter of the upper portion 25, thereby forming a stop ring 26. When the rotational translation pin is in the withdrawn position, the stop ring 26 of the rotational translation pin abuts against the stop rod 36 of the cover body.

[0047] A T-shaped head 20 protrudes from the upper portion 25 .

[0048] The internal thread 22 is a long pitch thread for converting a small radial movement into a large axial movement. In contrast, the external thread 23 is a short pitch thread relative to the internal thread. The external thread 23 is provided in the lower portion 24 of the rotation-translation pin.

[0049] refer to Figure 4B, the post 4 is fixedly mounted in the housing 30 of the cartridge. The post 4 has teeth 40 protruding radially outward near the upper end of the post. The post 4 is arranged in the axial cavity 21 of the rotation-translation pin so that the teeth 40 of the post are threadedly engaged in the internal threads 22 of the rotation-translation pin.

[0050] In summary, as the internal thread 22 of the rotational translation pin slides into the teeth 40 of the column, the force or torque applied to the rotational translation pin 2 determines the rotational translation of the rotational translation pin.

[0051] The electric motor 7 actuates the rotation-translation pin 2 in rotation-translation via a motion reduction device R.

[0052] The motion reduction device R comprises a gear 5 mounted around the rotation-translation pin 2. The gear 5 comprises a toothed wheel 55 having helical external teeth 51. The toothed wheel 55 also has an internal thread 50 which is threadedly engaged with the external thread 23 of the rotation-translation pin.

[0053] refer to Figure 6 , the gear 5 is rotatably mounted in a support 6 arranged in the housing 30 of the box.

[0054] The support 6 comprises a first half-shell 60 a and a second half-shell 61 a of annular shape, arranged around the rotation-translation pin and connected together so as to contain the gear wheel 5 .

[0055] The half-shells 60a, 60b comprise an annular body 61 and a cylindrical side wall 62 arranged around the annular body. The cylindrical side wall 62 has an opening 63.

[0056] The first half shell 60a has a seat 64 protruding downwards for accommodating the spring M. Figure 6 As shown, each spring M is arranged between the bottom wall 37 of the housing and the seat 64 of the first half-shell, so as to push the support 6 upwards.

[0057] The second half-shell 60b has a pin 65b which engages in a mating connection mode in a hole 65a of the first half-shell.The pin 65b and the hole 65a are provided in the cylindrical side walls of the two half-shells.

[0058] The side wall 62 of the second half-shell 60b is provided with longitudinal grooves 66b parallel to the axis of the half-shell. For illustrative purposes, three longitudinal grooves 66b are provided.

[0059] When the two half-shells are connected, recesses 66a are provided in the side wall 62 of the first half-shell 60a corresponding to the longitudinal groove 66b of the second half-shell. For illustrative purposes, three recesses 66a are provided.

[0060] The drive shaft 70 of the electric motor 7 is provided with a worm 71 , arranged corresponding to the opening 63 of the half-shell of the support so as to engage with the external toothing 51 of the gear wheel.

[0061] Therefore, the rotation of the worm 71 determines the rotation of the gear 5. In this way, the internal thread 50 of the gear 5 is screwed onto the external thread 23 of the rotation-translation pin, resulting in the rotation-translation of the rotation-translation pin 2.

[0062] This rotational translation of the rotational translation pin is guided by the screwing in of its external thread 23 in the gear 5 and of its internal thread 22 in the teeth 40 of the column.

[0063] The electric motor 7 is suitably configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0064] When the electric motor 7 rotates in the first direction, the rotation translation pin 2 moves from the retracted position ( Figure 2 ) moves to the withdrawn position ( Figure 3 When the electric motor 7 rotates in the second direction, the rotation-translation pin 2 moves from the withdrawn position to the retracted position.

[0065] The rotational translation pin moves approximately 8-20 mm from the retracted position to the extended position.

[0066] When the lid 103 is closed and the user wants to open it, the electric motor 7 is actuated in the first rotational direction. As a result, the rotation-translation pin 2 moves from the retracted position ( Figure 2 ) moves to the withdrawn position ( Figure 3 ), the stroke is about 8-20mm.

[0067] Considering that the travel of the rotary-translational pin 2 is approximately 1 / 10 of the length of the cap, the cap, pushed by the rotary-translational pin, rotates by approximately 5°, which is sufficient to separate the cap from the seal 107 if said seal is frozen.

[0068] Subsequently, when the rotation-translation pin 2 is in the open position, the movement actuator 105 is actuated so as to rotate the lid about the hinge 104 by approximately 85°, bringing the lid to the open position.

[0069] When the lid 103 is in the open position and the user wishes to close it, the mobile actuator 105 is actuated, thereby rotating the lid about the hinge 104 by approximately 85°, until the seat 130 of the lid engages the head 20 of the rotary-translational pin. The electric motor 7 is now actuated in the second rotational direction. As a result, the head 20 of the rotary-translational pin engages the seat 30 of the lid and the rotary-translational pin 2 moves from the withdrawn position to the retracted position, driving the lid 103, which, together with the action of the mobile actuator 105, compresses the seal 107.

[0070] It must be taken into account that the rotary-translational pin exerts a force on the cover 103 at the distal end of the hinge 104, so that the cover acts as a particularly advantageous lever and a minimum force exerted on the cover is sufficient to remove the cover from the seal or to compress the seal. Furthermore, the gear 5 is suitably configured to provide a high reduction ratio between the worm 71 and the gear 5, so that a minimum power of the electric motor 7 is sufficient to ensure the rotation of the gear 50, which in turn determines the rotary-translational movement of the rotary-translational pin 2.

[0071] A position sensor 73 is provided within the housing 30 of the cartridge so as to detect when the rotation-translation pin 2 is in the withdrawn position and when it moves from the withdrawn position.

[0072] Said position sensor 73 is connected to the control unit in order to send control signals to the movement actuator 105. When the position sensor 73 detects that the rotation-translation pin 2 is in the extracted position, the movement actuator 105 starts to move the cover 103 towards the open position.

[0073] During the closing operation, the mobile actuator 105 moves the lid 103 towards the closed position, the seat 130 of the lid engaging the head 20 of the rotation-translation pin. The control unit of the actuator 1 driving the lock detects this rotation of the lid 103 via a sensor (encoder) and thus assists the mobile actuator 105 in driving the lid into the closed position.

[0074] refer to Figure 10 The position sensor 73 may be a micro switch with a reed 74 which is contacted by the protrusion 27 of the rotary translation pin when the rotary translation pin is in the withdrawn position.

[0075] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 4B A set of electrical contacts 72 connects the electric motor 7 and the position sensor 73 to an electrical connector 75 (eg Figure 5 shown).

[0076] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 4A The actuator 1 further comprises a safety device 8 which, when the electric motor 7 is stopped, can be manually actuated by the user in order to unlock the movement of the rotary-translational pin 2 in the event of a malfunction of the electric motor 7 or a jamming of the gear 5. In other words, the safety device 8 allows the gear 5 to be disengaged from the worm 71 of the electric motor.

[0077] The safety device 8 is housed in the seat 33 of the cover. The safety device 8 comprises an annular body 80 arranged around a rotational-translational pin and a tongue 81 projecting downwards from the annular body 80 and resting against the side wall 62 of the second half-shell of the support. In this way, the support 6 is locked between the bottom wall 37 of the housing and the safety device, and the spring M is compressed in the seat 64 of the first half-shell of the support.

[0078] The tongue 81 of the support is dimensioned so as to slide in the groove 66b of the second half-shell and enter the seat 66a of the first half-shell. If the safety device is rotated so that its tongue 81 corresponds to the groove 66b of the second half-shell, the support 2 is no longer locked in place and can be translated in the box 3, since the tongue 81 of the safety device can enter the groove 66b of the second half-shell and the seat 66a of the first half-shell.

[0079] In this way, the assembly comprising the support 6 , the gear 5 and the rotation-translation pin 2 can be translated in the box, thereby disengaging the gear 5 from the worm 71 .

[0080] During this movement of the assembly comprising the roto-translational pin 2, the support 6 and the gear 5, the roto-translational pin 2 performs a correct roto-translational movement thanks to its internal thread 22 sliding in the teeth 40 of the post. In fact, without this arrangement, the roto-translational pin would not perform any roto-translational movement and its head 20 would not escape from the seat 130 of the cover during the movement of the assembly comprising the roto-translational pin 2, the support 6 and the gear 5.

[0081] The safety device 8 comprises a lever 82, which projects from the annular body 80 and comes out of the cover 31 of the box through the slot 35 in the cover so as to be manually operated by the user. The lever 82 is U-shaped and is suitable for being connected to a cable that can be manually operated by the user.

[0082] The security device 8 can then be moved from a locked position (in which it locks the support 6 ) to an unlocked position (in which it unlocks the support 6 , which can be moved in translation in the box).

[0083] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, when the safety device 8 is in the unlocked position, the spring M of the support pushes the support 6 upwards, so that the support containing the gear 5 brings the rotation-translation pin 2 to the extracted position.

[0084] The spring 9 of the safety device presses the safety device 8 into the locked position. The spring 9 is a torsion spring, a first end of which is connected to the safety device and a second end of which is connected to the box 3.

[0085] Figure 11 and Figure 12 A second embodiment of an actuator 200 is shown, in which elements identical or corresponding to those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0086] The actuator 200 comprises a motion reduction device R comprising a gear 205 comprising a toothed wheel 55 having external teeth 51 engaging with a worm 71 .

[0087] Gear 205 includes a shaft 253 that protrudes axially from toothed wheel 55 and enters axial cavity 21 of the rotational translation pin. Gear shaft 253 has external threads 254 that engage with internal threads 222 of the rotational translation pin. Internal threads 222 of the rotational translation pin have a short pitch so that the rotation of shaft 253 of gear 205 results in a suitable reduction ratio for the movement of rotational translation pin 2.

[0088] In this case, the toothed wheel 55 of the gear wheel 205 is arranged below the rotation-translation pin 2 .

[0089] The actuator 200 is not provided with the shaft 4 fixed to the box, this shaft having been replaced by the shaft 253 of the gear.

[0090] The rotary translation pin 2 has a stop ring 26 that abuts against the inner ring 38 of the guide tang 34. An L-shaped cam surface 223 is provided on the outer surface of the rotary translation pin 2, below the stop ring 26. The L-shaped cam surface 223 engages a pin-shaped follower that protrudes inward from the seat 33 of the cover 31. The purpose of the cam surface 223 is to guide the rotary translation of the rotary translation pin 2.

Claims

1. A locking system (100) for locking a vehicle hood, comprising: - a cover (103) which is hinged to the body part (102) of the vehicle via a hinge (104), wherein the opening (101) is arranged in such a way as to close / open the opening (101), - a movement actuator (105) mounted in the body part (102) close to the hinge (104) and adapted to move the lid (103) from a closed position, in which the opening is closed, to an open position, in which the opening is opened, and vice versa, a lock (106) comprising a rotationally translatable pin (2) whose head (20) is adapted to engage in a seat (130) of the lid, in a position remote from the hinge (104) so ​​as to lock the lid in the closed position, - an actuator of the lock, which moves said rotation-translation pin (2) from a retracted closed position to an extracted open position, Wherein, the actuator comprises: - an electric motor (7), and - a motion reduction device (R) arranged between the electric motor (7) and the rotation-translation pin (2) in order to impart a rotation-translation movement to the rotation-translation pin; The electric motor (7) is suitably configured to rotate in a first rotational direction to move the rotational translation pin from the retracted position to push the lid disposed in the closed position, and to rotate in a second rotational direction to move the rotational translation pin from the withdrawn position to the retracted position to pull the lid toward the closed position.

2. The locking system (100) according to claim 1, wherein The actuator comprises a box (3) which houses the electric motor (7) and the motion reduction device (R); wherein the rotation-translation pin (2) has a head (20) which protrudes outward from the box and is mounted in the box and is capable of rotational translation.

3. The locking system (100) according to claim 2, wherein: The motion reduction device (R) comprises a gear comprising a toothed wheel (55) having external teeth (51) engaged in a worm (71) mounted on the shaft (70) of the electric motor.

4. The locking system (100) according to claim 3, wherein: Said toothed wheel (55) of the gear comprises an internal thread (50) which engages in the external thread (23) of the rotation-translation pin.

5. The locking system (100) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The rotary-translational pin has an axial cavity (21) with an internal thread (22), and the actuator comprises a post (4) fixed to the box (3) and provided with teeth (40) that engage in the internal thread (22) of the rotary-translational pin.

6. The locking system (100) according to claim 3, wherein: The gear comprises a shaft (253) protruding axially from the toothed wheel (55); the shaft (253) has an external thread (254) engaged with the internal thread (222) of the rotation-translation pin.

7. The locking system (100) according to claim 6, wherein: The rotational translation pin (2) includes an "L" shaped cam surface (223) which is engaged by a pin follower which projects inwardly from the box (3) of the actuator.

8. The locking system (100) according to claim 6, wherein: The actuator comprises a support (6) which is mounted in the box (3) and rotatably supports the gear.

9. The locking system (100) according to claim 8, wherein: The actuator comprises a safety device (8) which can be manually actuated by a user to unlock the movement of the rotation-translation pin (2) when the electric motor (7) stops.

10. The locking system (100) according to claim 9, wherein: The support (6) of the gear is slidably mounted in the box (3) and the safety device (8) is movably mounted in the box (3) so as to move from a locked position, in which the support (6) is locked, to an unlocked position, in which the support (6) is unlocked and translates in the box.

11. The locking system (100) according to claim 10, wherein: The safety device (8) comprises an annular body (80) arranged around the rotation-translation pin (2) and a tongue (81) protruding downward from the annular body (80), wherein When the safety device (8) is in the locked position, the tongue (81) rests against the side wall (62) of the support member. When the safety device (8) is in the unlocked position, the tongue (81) is able to slide in a groove and seat (66a, 66b) provided in the side wall (62) of the support.

12. The locking system (100) according to claim 8, wherein The support (6) comprises a first half-shell (60a) and a second half-shell (61a) having an annular shape, which are arranged around the rotation-translation pin and connected to accommodate the gear.

13. The locking system (100) according to claim 9, wherein: The actuator comprises: - a spring (M) of the support, which is arranged between the box (3) and the support (6), so as to push the support towards a disengaged position in which the motion reduction device (R) is disengaged from the motor (7), and - A spring (9) of the safety device, which is arranged between the box (3) and the safety device (8) so as to urge the safety device towards the locked position.

14. The locking system (100) of claim 1, wherein: The actuator comprises: a position sensor (73) adapted to detect when the rotation-translation pin is in the withdrawn position; and a control unit connected to the position sensor and the mobile actuator (105) and suitably configured to actuate the mobile actuator (105) when the position sensor (73) detects that the rotation-translation pin is in the withdrawn position.

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