Device for operating a movable vehicle element

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (5) for operating a movable vehicle element (3), in particular a sliding door or tailgate. The device (5) comprises a drive element (10) arranged to drive the vehicle element (3) by rotation about a drive rotation axis (15), and a sensor unit (20) arranged to detect the position of the vehicle element (3). The sensor unit (20) has a sensor element (25, 26) which is rotatable about a sensor axis of rotation (31, 32) and is mechanically coupled to the drive element (10) such that rotation of the drive element (10) results in rotation of the sensor element (25, 26) with a reduced transmission ratio.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for operating a movable vehicle element which can be moved by a drive. Background Art

[0002] A movable vehicle element is, for example, a vehicle door, in particular a sliding door or a tailgate of a vehicle. In order to operate such a vehicle element, it is useful or necessary to detect the position of the vehicle element. Here, the position of the vehicle element is understood to be the position of the vehicle element relative to the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle element is a sliding door of the vehicle that is movable along a displacement path associated with the vehicle, the position of the vehicle element is related to the displacement path. For example, if the vehicle element is a pivotable tailgate, the position of the tailgate is the pivot position of the tailgate.

[0003] The detection of the position of the vehicle component is used, for example, to drive the vehicle component. In addition, the detection of the position of the vehicle component may also be related to the operation of the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle component is a door of the vehicle, it may be recognized based on the detected position of the door whether the door is open or closed. For example, in the case of starting the vehicle with the door open, at least one warning signal may be issued.

[0004] For example, an electric sensor device can be used to detect the position of a vehicle element. However, this type of sensor device relies on a power supply for the sensor device and can therefore fail in the event of a failure or interruption of this power supply. Typically, the movable vehicle element is driven by a rotation of a drive element. In this case, the position of the vehicle element depends on the position of the drive element. The position of the drive element can be detected, for example, with a magnetic sensor. However, several rotations of the drive element are usually required to move the vehicle element between its end positions, so that the position of the drive element itself does not clearly detect the position of the vehicle element.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for operating a movable vehicle element which is improved in particular with regard to determining the position of the vehicle element.

[0006] DE 10 2015 215 627 A1 discloses a device for manually and / or electrically adjusting or locking a first vehicle part and a second vehicle part relative to each other. The device comprises an adjustment part having a joint for being pivotally arranged on the first vehicle part, wherein the adjustment part is arranged on the first vehicle part in such a way that the adjustment part moves relative to the second vehicle part when the vehicle parts are adjusted relative to each other. A driven element arranged on the second vehicle part is operatively connected to the adjustment part and can be manipulated to move the adjustment part relative to the second vehicle part. An electric motor drive for driving the driven element has a drive motor and a transmission coupling the drive motor to the driven element. In this case, a transmission is provided having a shifting device, which has a coupling element of a transmission element assigned to the transmission and at least one shifting element that can be adjusted between a coupling position, a braking position and an idling position to act on the coupling element, so that with the aid of the shifting device the transmission can be switched between a coupled state in which the drive motor is coupled to the driven element, an idling state in which the coupling between the drive motor and the driven element is interrupted in such a way that the driven element can move independently of the drive motor, and a braking state in which the driven element can move independently of the drive motor but is braked.

[0007] WO 2009 / 117692 A2 discloses a sensor device having a magnetic element adapted to generate a magnetic field, a position sensor having a first sensor element adapted to detect the magnetic field, and a second sensor element arranged at an angle to the first sensor element and adapted to detect the magnetic field. In each case, the first sensor element and the second sensor element can generate a signal related to the magnetic field. The sensor device also includes a processor, which is arranged to receive the signals from the first sensor element and the second sensor element to determine an angular position associating the magnetic element and the position sensor.

[0008] FR 2 903 486 A1 discloses a device with a magnet for achieving a rotation greater than or less than 360 degrees in a series of strokes of an electrically powered opening (e.g. a window) of a motor vehicle (e.g. a truck). A Hall effect sensor is located in the rotating field of the magnet. An electronic processing unit processes the measurements provided by the sensor to determine the absolute position of the opening in the stroke. One of the magnets rotates five and ten times on the opening lug. Summary of the invention

[0009] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle having the features of claim 10 .

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0011] The device according to the invention for operating a movable vehicle element, in particular a sliding door or a tailgate, comprises:

[0012] a drive element, which is arranged to drive a vehicle element by rotating about a drive rotation axis, and

[0013] A sensor unit is provided to detect the position of a vehicle element and for this purpose has a sensor element which is rotatable about a sensor rotation axis and is mechanically coupled to the drive element such that a rotation of the drive element results in a gear-reduced rotation of the sensor element.

[0014] Thus, according to the invention, a rotation of a drive element driving a vehicle element is mechanically coupled to a rotation of a sensor element of a sensor unit. The sensor unit is arranged to detect a rotation or a position of the sensor element and thereby determine the position of the vehicle element. Due to the mechanical coupling of the rotation of the sensor element to the rotation of the drive element, this coupling is not impaired by power failures and thus the position of the vehicle element can be reliably determined. Furthermore, the invention provides a transmission ratio between the rotation of the drive element and the sensor element such that a rotation of the drive element results in a rotation of the sensor element with a reduced transmission ratio. Thus, by a suitable choice of the transmission ratio, it can be achieved that the position of the sensor element corresponds unambiguously to each position of the vehicle element between two end positions.

[0015] Therefore, one embodiment of the invention provides that the transmission ratio is selected in such a way that a movement of the vehicle element between the first end position and the second end position results in a rotation of the sensor element by at most 360 degrees. In this case, the end positions define positions of the vehicle element between which the vehicle element can be moved. For example, a sliding door is closed in the first end position and is fully opened in the second end position.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the drive axis of rotation and the sensor axis of rotation are parallel to each other, which advantageously simplifies the coupling of the drive element and the sensor element.

[0017] The drive element has a first pulley and the sensor unit has a second pulley coupled to the first pulley via a toothed belt. This design of the invention advantageously allows the sensor unit and the drive element to be coupled via a spatial distance, so that the drive element and the sensor unit can be arranged at suitable positions that are spatially spaced apart from each other. The coupling via the toothed belt advantageously allows a slip-free coupling of the rotation of the two pulleys, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the position of the vehicle element, for example relative to a gear coupling with the necessary tooth side clearance. For example, adjacent teeth of the toothed belt are spaced approximately 2 mm apart from each other. Toothed belts with a tooth spacing of 2 mm are commercially available as so-called GT2 toothed belts and allow a good resolution of the movement of the vehicle element relative to the tooth spacing of the toothed belt. However, designs of toothed belts other than GT2 toothed belts are also possible. For example, the circumference of the first pulley is smaller than the circumference of the second pulley. As a result, the two pulleys and the toothed belt form a belt transmission with a transmission ratio greater than one, i.e., a rotation of the first pulley results in a smaller rotation of the second pulley. Therefore, the belt transmission can contribute to the above-mentioned transmission ratio of the rotation of the drive element to the rotation of the sensor element.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, the second belt pulley is a sensor element. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, the drive element and the sensor element are directly coupled via a toothed belt.

[0019] In an alternative design to the above-described design of the invention, the second pulley is coupled to the sensor element via a gear transmission. This enables the transmission ratio of the rotation of the drive element to be adapted to the rotation of the sensor element via the gear transmission, for example when no suitable toothed belt is available for the desired transmission ratio. The gear transmission is formed, for example, by a sensor element configured as a gear and a transmission gear rigidly connected to the second pulley and arranged concentrically with the second pulley. For example, the gear transmission has a transmission ratio greater than one, so that a rotation of the second pulley results in a smaller rotation of the sensor element. Thus, the gear transmission can also contribute to the above-described transmission ratio of the rotation of the drive element to the rotation of the sensor element.

[0020] The vehicle according to the invention has a movable vehicle element and a device according to the invention for operating the vehicle element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Figure 1 Schematically showing a vehicle having a movable vehicle element and means for operating the movable vehicle element;

[0023] Figure 2 A perspective view showing an embodiment of a device for operating a movable vehicle element;

[0024] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 A perspective exploded view of the device shown,

[0025] Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 A top view of the device shown, and

[0026] Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 Bottom view of the device shown.

[0027] Reference numerals list

[0028] 1 Vehicle

[0029] 3 movable vehicle elements

[0030] 5 Devices for operating movable vehicle elements

[0031] 7 Motor

[0032] 8 Worm shaft

[0033] 8.1 External thread

[0034] 9-tooth belt

[0035] 10 driving components

[0036] 11 Worm gear

[0037] 13 First pulley

[0038] 15 Drive axis of rotation

[0039] 17 Belt transmission

[0040] 20 sensor units

[0041] 21 Second pulley

[0042] 23 Transmission gear

[0043] 25, 26 Sensor element

[0044] 27, 28 Rotation angle sensor

[0045] 29 Gear Transmission

[0046] 30 Transmission rotation axis

[0047] 31, 32 Sensor rotation axis DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Components that correspond to one another are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0049] Figure 1A vehicle 1 is schematically shown with a movable vehicle element 3 and a device 5 for operating the movable vehicle element 3. In this case, the movable vehicle element 3 is a sliding door arranged laterally on the vehicle 1. Figures 2 to 5 An embodiment of a device 5 for operating a movable vehicle element 3 is described.

[0050] Figures 2 to 5 An embodiment of a device 5 for operating a movable vehicle element 3 is shown. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device 5, Figure 3 shows a perspective exploded view of the device 5, Figure 4 shows a top view of the device 5, Figure 5 The bottom view of the device 5 is shown. The terms "top view" and "bottom view" refer only to Figure 2 The present invention is not intended to be construed as an illustration of the device 5 in the drawings and in particular does not define the structural arrangement or alignment of the device 5 .

[0051] The device 5 comprises an electric motor 7 , a worm shaft 8 , a toothed belt 9 , a drive element 10 and a sensor unit 20 .

[0052] The motor 7 is arranged to drive the worm shaft 8 so that the worm shaft 8 rotates about its longitudinal axis. The worm shaft 8 has a helical external thread 8.1.

[0053] The drive element 10 comprises a worm wheel 11 and a first belt pulley 13 rigidly connected to the worm wheel 11 and arranged concentrically thereto. The worm wheel 11 is designed as a gear having a tooth gap provided on its circumference, with which the outer thread 8.1 of the worm shaft 8 meshes. The worm shaft 8 and the worm wheel 11 form a worm gear transmission, by which the drive element 10 and therefore the worm wheel 11 and the first belt pulley 13 can be rotated about a drive rotation axis 15 by the motor 7. The circumference of the first belt pulley 13 is smaller than that of the worm wheel 11.

[0054] The drive element 10 is coupled to the movable vehicle element 3 (in a manner not shown in detail) in such a way that the movable vehicle element 3 can be controlled by rotating the drive element 10 about the drive rotation axis 15. In other words, the movement of the movable vehicle element 3 can be achieved by rotating the drive element 10 about the drive rotation axis 15. In this case, the movable vehicle element 3 can be moved between a first end position and a second end position. For example, if the movable vehicle element 3 is a sliding door, the sliding door is closed in the first end position and is maximally open in the second end position. This also applies when the movable vehicle element 3 is a tailgate.

[0055] The sensor unit 20 comprises a second pulley 21 , a transmission gear 23 , two sensor elements 25 , 26 and two rotation angle sensors 27 , 28 .

[0056] The second pulley 21 is rotatably supported about a transmission rotation axis 30 parallel to the drive rotation axis 15 and is coupled to the first pulley 13 via a toothed belt 9. The second pulley 21 has a greater circumference than the first pulley 13. Thus, the first pulley 13, the second pulley 21 and the toothed belt 9 form a belt transmission 17 with a transmission ratio greater than one, i.e. a rotation of the first pulley 13 results in a smaller rotation of the second pulley 21. Figures 2 to 5 In the embodiment shown, the circumference of the second pulley 21 is approximately twice the circumference of the first pulley 13, so that in this embodiment the transmission ratio of the belt transmission 17 is approximately two.

[0057] The transmission gear 23 is rigidly connected to the second belt pulley 21 and is arranged concentrically with the second belt pulley 21. The sensor elements 25, 26 are identical and are configured as gears in each case. Each sensor element 25, 26 is rotatably supported about a sensor rotation axis 31, 32 which is parallel to the drive rotation axis 15. In addition, each sensor element 25, 26 is coupled to the transmission gear 23 and forms a gear transmission 29 with the transmission gear 23. The circumference of the sensor elements 25, 26 is greater than the circumference of the transmission gear 23, so that the gear transmission 29 formed by the sensor elements 25, 26 and the transmission gear 23 has a transmission ratio greater than one, i.e. a rotation of the transmission gear 23 results in a smaller rotation of the sensor elements 25, 26. Figures 2 to 5 In the embodiment shown, the circumference of each sensor element 25, 26 is approximately three times the circumference of the transmission gear 23, so that in this embodiment, the transmission ratio of each gear transmission 29 formed by the sensor elements 25, 26 and the transmission gear 23 is approximately three.

[0058] Each sensor element 25, 26 is mechanically coupled to the drive element 10 via the belt transmission 17 and the gear transmission 29, so that a rotation of the drive element 10 results in a rotation of the sensor element 25, 26 with a reduced transmission ratio. Figures 2 to 5 In the embodiment shown, the transmission ratio is approximately six. Typically, the transmission ratio is selected such that a movement of the vehicle element 3 between the first end position and the second end position results in a rotation of the sensor elements 25, 26 of at most 360 degrees.

[0059] Each rotation angle sensor 27, 28 is arranged to detect the rotation angle of the sensor element 25, 26 relative to a reference position of the sensor element 25, 26. For example, the reference position of the sensor element 25, 26 corresponds to one of the two end positions of the vehicle element 3. Since the movement of the vehicle element 3 between the first end position and the second end position causes each sensor element 25, 26 to rotate by up to 360 degrees, a unique rotation angle of each sensor element 25, 26 is associated with each position of the vehicle element 3 between the two end positions. Therefore, the position of the vehicle element 3 can be determined from the rotation angle of the sensor element 25, 26 detected by the rotation angle sensor 27, 28. By using two rotation angle sensors 27, 28 and sensor elements 25, 26 in each case, the sensor unit 20 is designed as a redundant sensor system. This advantageously allows, for example, to detect and compensate for a malfunction or defect of the rotation angle sensor 27, 28 or the sensor element 25, 26. However, other embodiments of the device 5 may comprise only one rotation angle sensor 27, 28 and one sensor element 25, 26 instead of two rotation angle sensors 27, 28 and sensor elements 25, 26 in each case. Figures 2 to 5 In the embodiment of the device 5 shown, the rotation angle sensors 27, 28 are designed as micro switches. However, in other embodiments of the device 5, other rotation angle sensors can be used, for example rotation angle sensors with Hall sensors.

Claims

1. A device (5) for operating a movable vehicle element (3), in particular a sliding door or a tailgate, the device (5) comprising: a drive element (10) arranged to drive the vehicle element (3) by rotating about a drive rotation axis (15), and a sensor unit (20) which is arranged to detect the position of the vehicle element (3) and for this purpose has a sensor element (25, 26) which is rotatable about a sensor rotation axis (31, 32) and is mechanically coupled to the drive element (10) such that a rotation of the drive element (10) results in a transmission-reducing rotation of the sensor element (25, 26), - wherein the drive element (10) has a first pulley (13), and the sensor unit (20) has a second pulley (21) coupled to the first pulley (13) via a toothed belt (9).

2. The device (5) according to claim 1, wherein: The transmission ratio is selected such that a movement of the vehicle element (3) between a first end position and a second end position causes the sensor element (25, 26) to rotate by at most 360 degrees.

3. The device (5) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The drive rotation axis (15) and the sensor rotation axis (31, 32) are parallel to each other.

4. The device (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The circumference of the first pulley (13) is smaller than the circumference of the second pulley (21).

5. The device (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The second pulley (21) is the sensor element (25, 26).

6. The device (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The second pulley (21) is coupled to the sensor element (25, 26) via a gear transmission (29).

7. The device (5) according to claim 6, wherein: The sensor element (25, 26) is formed as a gear, and the gear transmission (29) is formed by the sensor element (25, 26) and a transmission gear (23) which is rigidly connected to the second belt pulley (21) and arranged concentrically with the second belt pulley (21).

8. The device (5) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: The gear transmission (29) has a transmission ratio greater than one.

9. A vehicle (1) comprising a movable vehicle element (3) and a device (5) for operating the vehicle element (3) constructed according to any one of the preceding claims.

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