Vehicle cover unit with displacement mechanism

Abstract

A vehicle cover unit, in particular a charging cover unit of an electric vehicle, has a displacement mechanism designed to displace the moving vehicle cover unit between a closed position closing an opening of a vehicle body and an open position opening the opening within the vehicle body. The displacement mechanism has a first guide rail and a second guide rail, in each of which a first guide element or a second guide element arranged on the vehicle cover unit, respectively, is mounted and is movable along a trajectory predetermined by a shaping path of the respective guide rail. The displacement mechanism further comprises a double linkage mechanism drivable by the drive unit and having a first lever element and a second lever element rotatably connected to the first lever element, one of the lever elements being pivotally drivable by the drive unit, and one of the lever elements is rotatably connected to the vehicle cover unit by a cover pivot joint.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology according to the invention relates to a vehicle lid unit, in particular a charging lid unit for an electric vehicle, having a displacement mechanism of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1 . Background Art

[0002] From patent DE102017212397A1 a displacement mechanism is known for a movable body part for covering a refueling and / or charging recess area of ​​a motor vehicle. The movable body part represents a cover which can be lowered to a position relative to a fixed body area to fully expose the charging recess area and can be moved under the fixed body area. In order to realize the lowering movement of the cover and the subsequent displacement movement under the fixed body area, a double-track guide is provided, wherein a first guide rail for lowering the cover is arranged on a guide rail slide which itself can be moved linearly along a guide rail fixed to the vehicle.

[0003] This known displacement mechanism is complex in structure, has a large number of components and requires a large amount of assembly work as well as a large amount of sealing work for the spiral cable channel, the sliding guides and the track guides.

[0004] Patent DE4440814A1 discloses a fuel tank cover which can be moved from a closed position to an open position located below the vehicle body. For this purpose, a guide element with a guide bolt arranged on the fuel tank cover is provided, which guide element is accommodated in a guide rail with a straight and a curved guide portion, respectively. The curved guide portion ensures a lifting movement, while the straight guide portion causes a sliding movement. The adjustment movement is transmitted to the fuel tank cover, for example, via a rod connected to a transmission component and a connecting rod arranged between the transmission component and the guide element.

[0005] Displacement mechanisms for tank flaps and the like known in practice are designed to be more space-saving and usually use so-called spiral cables or push-pull cables to move the tank flap between an operating state in which the tank flap is closed and an operating state in which the tank flap is opened.

[0006] A charging cover with an opening mechanism is known from DE 10 2018 128 972 A1, wherein the opening mechanism has a first guide and a second guide, in each of which or on which a guide pin connected to the inside of the charging cover is mounted, the guide pin being movable between a first end point and a second end point along a trajectory specified by the respective guide, whereby the cover is movable between a closed position and an open position. The guide is designed so that when the charging cover is opened by an unspecified drive mechanism, the cover first moves from its position closing the opening into the opening and at least partially out of the opening at the end of the opening. During charging, the cover protrudes over the outer shell of the vehicle body like a roof in order to protect the charging interface from weather influences.

[0007] Known solutions are generally unsatisfactory with regard to the movement of the cover, its end position(s), its partial protrusion on the vehicle shell, and / or the drive mechanism of the cover using complex multi-joint mechanisms or worm gear drives or climbing cables or push-pull cables. The latter require a high level of sealing in wet areas of the vehicle to prevent the climbing cables or push-pull cables from becoming dirty and / or icing, and flocking for noise reduction, which in turn requires increased forces and torques to move the climbing cables. Summary of the invention

[0008] The purpose of the technology according to the invention is to reduce or eliminate at least one disadvantage of previously known solutions, or to propose an alternative solution. A specific purpose of the technology disclosed herein is to provide a drive device for a vehicle cover unit, in particular a charging cover unit for an electric vehicle, the vehicle cover unit having a displacement mechanism that allows the vehicle cover unit to move between a closed position closing a vehicle body opening and an open position inside the vehicle body when opening the opening, while advantageously guiding the movement and having a mechanism that is as simple as possible for this purpose. Therein, the vehicle cover unit is improved in at least one of the following factors: production time, production costs, production complexity, assembly workload, use of installation space, operational safety, sustainability, component reliability and resistance to environmental influences.

[0009] This object is achieved by a vehicle cover unit having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle constructed from the vehicle cover unit according to claim 13. The dependent claims represent preferred embodiments.

[0010] Therefore, a vehicle cover device (particularly a charging cover device for an electric vehicle) with a displacement mechanism is proposed, wherein the displacement mechanism is designed to move the vehicle cover device between a closed position for closing a vehicle body opening and an open position in a vehicle body when opening the opening. The displacement mechanism provides a first guide rail and a second guide rail, and a first guide rail element or a second guide rail element respectively arranged on the vehicle cover device is installed in each of the first guide rail and the second guide rail, and can move along a trajectory predetermined by a forming route of the respective guide rails.

[0011] According to the invention, the displacement mechanism comprises a double-link mechanism which can be driven by a drive unit and has a first lever element and a second lever element which is rotatably connected to the first lever element. One of the lever elements is pivotally driven by the drive unit and one of the lever elements is rotatably connected to the vehicle cover unit via a cover pivot joint. The trajectory of the guide rail is designed so that at the beginning of the opening process, the vehicle cover unit moves further toward the vehicle interior with the side assigned to the first guide element in the first guide rail than with the side assigned to the second guide element in the second guide rail.

[0012] The vehicle cover unit according to the invention is characterized by a very advantageous movement design, in which the vehicle cover unit is initially pulled slightly inwards on one side in order to be able to break away from the seal and to perform a so-called "free movement" underneath the adjacent vehicle body area. The opposite side of the vehicle cover unit is simply dragged along its guide rails and can thus be moved close to the inner wall of the vehicle body with almost no installation space.

[0013] The displacement mechanism is designed with a simple double-link mechanism, which features a desirably high level of robustness and a low installation space requirement.

[0014] The lever arrangement of the double-link mechanism with a first lever element and a second lever element can be designed as a toggle lever arrangement, wherein the first lever element can be driven by a drive unit to rotate about a rotation axis preferably fixed to the vehicle body and is connected to the second lever element via a double-link swivel joint. The second lever element is then connected to the vehicle cover unit via a cover swivel joint.

[0015] Further advantages and preferred embodiments result from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0016] The invention is not limited to a specific combination of features of the independent claims or dependent claims. Individual features may also be combined with one another within the scope of the claims, as long as they emerge from the claims, the description of the following embodiments or directly from the drawings. Reference to the claims by the use of reference numerals is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Embodiments of the invention and possible modifications are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0018] Figure 1 is a simplified three-dimensional illustration of a vehicle having a charging interface in a body opening, wherein the opening can be closed with a vehicle cover unit and can be opened thereby;

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a vehicle cover unit having a displacement mechanism in an operating state, wherein the vehicle cover unit closes an opening of a vehicle body;

[0020] Figure 3 is corresponding to Figure 2 A view of a vehicle cover unit and a displacement mechanism, when the side of the vehicle cover unit pointing in the opening movement direction is tilted toward the interior of the vehicle, the vehicle cover unit and the displacement mechanism are in an operating state at the beginning of the opening process or at the end of the closing process, respectively;

[0021] Figure 4 is in the intermediate position during the opening or closing movement corresponding to Figure 2 and Figure 3 A view of a vehicle cover unit and a displacement mechanism, wherein the opening is partially opened;

[0022] Figure 5 The vehicle cover unit and the displacement mechanism in the operating state correspond to Figures 2 to 4 a view in which the vehicle cover unit is moved to a position opening the opening;

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic three-dimensional rear view of the vehicle cover unit and the displacement mechanism in an operating state in which the opening of the vehicle body is closed;

[0024] Figure 7 is based on Figure 6 A schematic three-dimensional rear view of a vehicle cover unit and a displacement mechanism in an operating state in which an opening of the vehicle body is partially opened; and

[0025] Figure 8 Shown according to Figure 6 and Figure 7 Schematic three-dimensional rear view of the vehicle cover unit and the displacement mechanism in the operating state with the vehicle body opening fully opened. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] refer to Figure 1, shows a vehicle 1 with a body 2, which can be driven only electrically or designed as a so-called hybrid vehicle. The body 2 has a charging interface at the rear for charging at least one electrical storage device 3 designed as a vehicle battery, via which a vehicle drive device not shown in detail can be supplied with electrical energy. The charging interface comprises a so-called charging recess in the region of an opening 5 of the body 2, via which an electrical plug system can be operatively connected to a corresponding coupling element or charging socket 23, which is arranged below the housing of the vehicle 1 in the body 2, in order to be able to charge the vehicle battery 3 or to be able to supply power to an external charging device from the vehicle battery 3.

[0027] In order to cover the opening 5 when not in use, a vehicle cover unit 4 or a charging cover unit is provided. Figures 2 to 8 The vehicle cover unit 4 or the charging cover unit can be moved within the vehicle body 2 between a closed position closing the opening 5 and an open position opening the opening 5 , according to the displacement mechanism 6 shown in more detail in FIG.

[0028] Figures 2 to 8 The vehicle cover unit 4 and the displacement mechanism 6 are shown in several operating states, wherein the opening movement of the vehicle cover unit 4 is Figures 2 to 5 and Figures 6 to 8 Shown in.

[0029] The displacement mechanism 6 is designed in this context for storing and guiding the vehicle cover unit 4 very securely on both sides. However, as an alternative, it is also possible to provide storage or guidance only on one side of the vehicle cover unit 4. For the sake of clarity, only the elements of the displacement mechanism 6 on one side of the vehicle cover unit 4 are described below. Their description applies analogously to the mirrored elements of the displacement mechanism 6 on the opposite side of the vehicle cover unit 4. Therefore, the reference numerals in the figures can be found on the side of the displacement mechanism 6, which shows the described elements more clearly.

[0030] The displacement mechanism 6 has a first guide rail 8 and a second guide rail 9 on each side of the vehicle cover unit 4, wherein a first guide element 10 arranged on the vehicle cover unit 4 and designed as a pin is installed in the first guide rail 8, and a second guide element 11 arranged on the vehicle cover unit 4 and also designed as a pin is installed in the second guide rail 9 and is spaced apart from the first guide element 10. The guide elements or pins 10 and 11 can be moved along tracks 8A, 9A in the corresponding assigned guide rails 8, 9, and the tracks 8A, 9A are predetermined by the forming path of the corresponding guide rails 8, 9. Here, the guide rails 8, 9 are structurally represented as grooved guide rails. The guide rails 8, 9 are formed on a guide rail bracket 18 fixed to the vehicle, which is in this case a plate-like L-shaped, and are therefore located in the plane spanned by the guide rail bracket 18.

[0031] Furthermore, the displacement mechanism 6 for driving the vehicle cover unit 4 has a double link or elbow lever arrangement with a first lever element 12 and a second lever element 13, which is rotatably connected to the first lever element 12 via a double link rotary joint 14. In this case, the first lever element 12 can be driven by the drive unit 7 and can pivot around a rotation axis fixed to the vehicle body, and the second lever element 13 is rotatably connected to the vehicle cover unit 4 via a cover rotary joint 17. The drive unit 7, which is only shown symbolically, can be designed as an electric motor, for example.

[0032] The vehicle cover unit 4 (also referred to as vehicle cover for short) is usually a multi-component structural unit which comprises, among other components, Figures 2 to 8 1 and 2. The panel 15 is a flat or curved plate-like element shown in more detail in FIG. 1 , which here forms part of the outer contour of the vehicle and is referred to below as a panel 15. The panel 15 is arranged on a carrier 16, which is here firmly connected to the panel 15, for example by being clamped. In other designs, a slight relative movement between the panel 15 and the carrier 16 can also occur, whereby the relative movement can activate a switch arranged between them, for example, by which an opening movement can be requested.

[0033] On the carrier 16, side parts 16A, 16B are formed on the side not pointing in the direction of movement, on which side parts 16A, 16B are arranged guide elements or pins 10, 11, respectively. In an advantageous design, the guide elements or pins 10, 11 are arranged in the edge region of the side parts 4A, 4B of the vehicle cover unit 4 pointing in the opening and closing direction, respectively, because the maximum spacing between them facilitates the design of the movement.

[0034] In the design shown, the cover swivel joint 17 is also arranged on the corresponding side parts 16A, 16B, wherein, relative to the extension of the vehicle cover unit 4 in the direction of movement, the connection point is located in the half of the vehicle cover unit 4 in the opening movement direction and in this case approximately in the middle of the half in the direction of movement.

[0035] exist Figure 2 and Figure 6 In the closed position of the vehicle cover unit 4 shown, the panel 15 is flush with the edge of the opening 5 on the vehicle body side and with the sealing device 22 arranged around it. In the closed position of the vehicle cover unit 4, the outer side 20 of the vehicle cover unit 4 and of the panel 15 is flush with the outer side 19 of the vehicle body 2, which peripherally delimits the opening 5.

[0036] The lever elements 12 and 13 of the double-link mechanism are arranged in an extended position in the closed position of the vehicle cover unit 4. In another embodiment, in the closed position, they can also be arranged relative to each other in a so-called over-center position close to the extended position. Thus, the lever elements 12 and 13 can be rotated relative to each other between the position in which the lever elements 12, 13 are in the over-center position and the position in which the lever elements 12, 13 are in the vehicle cover unit 4, overcoming the spring force of the spring unit connecting them, while partially opening the opening 5.

[0037] When opening of the opening 5 is requested, the vehicle cover unit 4 moves along the guide rails 8 , 9 .

[0038] The trajectories 8A, 9A of the guide rails 8, 9 are designed so that at the beginning of the opening process (e.g. Figure 3 As shown), the vehicle cover unit 4 moves further in the direction of the vehicle interior 21 with the side 4A assigned to the first guide element 10 in the first guide rail 8 and pointing in the direction of movement than with the opposite side 4B assigned to the second guide element 11 in the second guide rail 9.

[0039] Thus, at the beginning of the opening process, the vehicle cover unit 4 is first moved out of the sealing position of the sealing device 22, wherein the side surface 4A assigned to the first guide element or pin 10 in the first guide track 8 points in the direction of movement and is tilted in the direction of the vehicle interior 21. The axis of the second guide element or pin 11, which initially remains in the end position of the second guide track 9, forms a rotation axis about which the vehicle cover unit 4 is tilted towards the vehicle interior 21 at the beginning of the opening process.

[0040] The drive unit 7 drives the first lever element 12 in a first rotational direction DR1 about a rotational axis 23 fixed to the vehicle body, whereby the lever elements 12 and 13 are guided out of their extended position and angled toward each other about a double-link rotary joint 14 rotatably connecting the two lever elements 12 and 13 .

[0041] At the beginning of the opening process, the direction vector of the initial movement of the first guide element 10 in the first guide rail 8 points to the plane of the opening 5 in the direction of the vehicle interior 22 at a larger angle (in this case, approximately a right angle) than the direction vector of the delayed initial movement of the second guide element 11 in the second guide rail 9 points to the plane of the opening 5 in the direction of the vehicle interior at an acute angle (in particular less than 45 degrees).

[0042] Therefore, the vehicle cover unit 4 does not perform a conventional lifting movement (ie a parallel displacement towards the vehicle interior) before the vehicle cover unit 4 is moved inwardly below the adjacent area of ​​the vehicle body 2 .

[0043] With continued opening movement in the direction of the unopened position (such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As the lever elements 12, 13 of the double-link mechanism further rotate in the guide rails 8, 9, the vehicle cover unit 4 moves.

[0044] In the design shown, the guide rails can also be structurally open at one end if the corresponding end point of the track is before the end of the structural guide rail, although in this case the guide rails 8, 9 are also closed.

[0045] With regard to the course of the guide rails 8, 9 relative to one another, the guide rails 8, 9 are arranged on the guide rail support 18 in an approximately L-shaped manner, wherein the first guide rail 8 extends over its entire length approximately in the same direction as the outer side 19 of the vehicle body 2, and the second guide rail 9 extends over its entire length approximately perpendicularly to the plane of the opening 5 in the direction of the vehicle interior 21. If the connecting line between the end points 8E1 and 8E2 of the trajectory 8A of the first guide rail 8, which corresponds to the end position of the first guide element 10 in the first guide rail 8, and the connecting line between the end points 9E1 and 9E2 of the trajectory 9A of the second guide rail 9 are considered, they enclose an obtuse angle in the range of 90" to 140°, in particular in the range of 110° to 120°, which is 115° in the illustrated embodiment.

[0046] The trajectories 8A, 9A of the first and second guide rails 8, 9 are in the present case slightly curved into an S-shape, whereby the S radius of the trajectory 8A of the first guide rail 8 is much larger than the S radius of the trajectory 9A of the second guide rail 9, making the trajectory 8A more "S"-like.

[0047] In principle, the course of the tracks 8A, 9A or guide rails 8 , 9 can be freely selected and adapted to the respective application.

[0048] If the first lever element 12 is further rotated in the rotational direction DR1, the vehicle cover unit 4 moves to its position in which it completely opens the opening 5 in the present case, or to a position according to Figure 5 and Figure 8 end position.

[0049] In other versions, the uncovered position may also partially cover the opening 5 as long as this does not affect the connection between the charging plug and the charging socket 23 .

[0050] If the opening 5 is to be completely closed again by the vehicle cover unit 4, the drive unit 7 is controlled accordingly and drives the lever element 11 in a rotational direction opposite to the rotational direction DR1. This rotational drive of the drive unit 8 causes the two lever elements 12 and 13 to be rotated by the drive unit 7 at an increasing angle to one another, whereby the vehicle cover unit 4 is moved into its closed position in a direction opposite to the above-described opening movement, and the closing is carried out according to the above-described opening movement. Figure 2 and Figure 6 The opening 5.

[0051] Reference numerals:

[0052] 1 vehicle;

[0053] 2 body;

[0054] 3. Storage devices;

[0055] 4 vehicle cover unit;

[0056] 4A The side of the vehicle cover unit in the direction of opening movement;

[0057] 4B The side of the vehicle cover unit in the closing movement direction;

[0058] 5. Open your mouth;

[0059] 6. Displacement mechanism;

[0060] 7. Drive unit;

[0061] 8 first rail;

[0062] 8A the trajectory of the first rail;

[0063] The end point of the 8E1 track;

[0064] The end point of the 8E2 track;

[0065] 9 second guide rail;

[0066] 9A track of the second rail;

[0067] The end point of the 9E1 track;

[0068] The end point of the 9E2 track;

[0069] 10 first guide element or pin;

[0070] 11 second guide element or pin;

[0071] 12 first lever element;

[0072] 13 second lever element;

[0073] 14 double-link swivel joint;

[0074] 15 panels;

[0075] 16 vectors;

[0076] 16A lateral;

[0077] 16B lateral;

[0078] 17 cover swivel joint;

[0079] 18 rail bracket;

[0080] 19 outside of the vehicle body;

[0081] 20. The outer side of the vehicle cover unit;

[0082] 21 Vehicle interior;

[0083] 22 sealing device;

[0084] 23 charging sockets;

[0085] DR1 rotation direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle cover unit (4), in particular a charging cover unit for an electric vehicle (1), the vehicle cover unit (4) having a displacement mechanism (6), the displacement mechanism (6) being designed to move the vehicle cover unit (4) between a closed position closing an opening (5) of a vehicle body (2) and an open position within the vehicle body (2) when the opening (5) is opened, The displacement mechanism (6) is provided with a first guide rail (8) and a second guide rail (9), a first guide element or a second guide element (10, 11) respectively arranged on the vehicle cover unit (4) is installed in each of the first guide rail (8) and the second guide rail (9), and can move along a trajectory (8A, 9A) predetermined by a forming route of the corresponding guide rail (8, 9), Features: The displacement mechanism (6) has a double-link mechanism (12, 13) which can be driven by a drive unit (7) and has a first lever element (12) and a second lever element (13) rotatably connected to the first lever element (12). wherein one of the lever elements (12, 13) can be pivotally driven by the drive unit (7), and one of the lever elements (12, 13) is rotatably connected to the vehicle cover unit (4) via a cover pivot joint (17); The trajectories (8A, 9A) are designed so that at the beginning of the opening process, the vehicle cover unit (4) moves further in the direction of the vehicle interior (21) with the side (4A) assigned to the first guide element (10) in the first guide rail (8) than with the side (4B) assigned to the second guide element (11) in the second guide rail (9).

2. The vehicle cover unit according to claim 1, characterized in that At the beginning of the opening process, the direction vector of the initial movement of the first guide element (10) in the first guide rail (8) points to the plane of the opening (5) in the direction of the interior (21) of the vehicle at a larger angle than the acute angle at which the direction vector of the initial movement of the second guide element (11) in the second guide rail (9) points to the plane of the opening (5) in the direction of the interior (21) of the vehicle, in particular the angle is approximately a right angle, in particular the acute angle is less than 45°.

3. The vehicle cover unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: At the beginning of the opening process, the vehicle cover unit (4) is first moved from the sealing position of the sealing device (22) with the side (4A) assigned to the first guide element (10) in the first guide rail and pointing in the direction of movement and tilted in the direction of the vehicle interior.

4. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The axis of the second guide element (11) forms a rotation axis about which the vehicle cover unit (4) is tilted toward the vehicle interior (21) at the beginning of the opening process.

5. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The track (8A) of the first guide member (8) is bent into an S shape.

6. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The track (9A) of the second guide member (9) is bent into an S shape.

7. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that A line connecting the end points (8E1, 8E2) of the track (8A) of the first guide rail (8) and a line connecting the end points (9E1, 9E2) of the track (9A) of the second guide rail (9) form an obtuse angle in the range of 90° to 140°, in particular in the range of 110° to 120°.

8. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The guide elements (10, 11) are respectively arranged in the edge region of the side faces (4A, 4B) of the vehicle cover unit (4) pointing in the opening movement direction and the closing movement direction.

9. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The guide elements (10, 11) are each designed as a pin.

10. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that In the closed position of the vehicle cover unit (4), the lever elements (12, 13) of the double-link mechanism are arranged in an extended position or an over-center position relative to one another.

11. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The vehicle cover unit (4) is flush with the circumferential opening (5), in particular, the outer side (20) of the vehicle cover unit (4) is flush with the outer side (19) of the vehicle body (2) defining the circumferential opening (5).

12. The vehicle cover unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The vehicle cover unit (4) has a panel (15) forming its outer side (20), the panel (15) being firmly connected to a carrier (16) on which the guide elements (10, 11) are arranged.

13. An electric vehicle, the electric vehicle being provided with a vehicle cover unit (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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