A car cover structure, working method and car

Abstract

This invention relates to a car hatch structure, working method, and car, including a hatch outer panel, a hatch box, and a crank arm. A first rotating shaft is provided on the outer side of one end of the hatch box, and an actuator matching the hatch outer panel is provided on the other end of the hatch box. One end of the crank arm is rotatably connected to the first rotating shaft, and the other end of the crank arm is provided with a second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft is rotatably connected to a connecting member, and the connecting member is fixed to one end of the inner side of the hatch outer panel. A damping structure is provided between the second rotating shaft and the connecting member so that the friction between the second rotating shaft and the connecting member is greater than the friction between the crank arm and the first rotating shaft. The car hatch structure of this invention avoids damage caused by collision with people or objects when the hatch structure is open, and the structure is simple.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive parts technology, specifically to an automotive cover structure, its working method, and an automotive component. Background Technology

[0002] The statements herein provide only background information in relation to this invention and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] The most common type of car hatch on the market is the gooseneck hatch. This type of hatch opens and closes by rotating the gooseneck, and can be either flipped up or opened to the side. The maximum opening angle of the outer hatch panel is 90 degrees, perpendicular to the side panel. When the car is refueling or charging, the hatch is opened, and the outer hatch panel protrudes completely from the car body.

[0004] Four-link charging port covers have emerged and are becoming increasingly common, primarily used in larger charging port covers. Specifically, they can be categorized into four-link sliding and four-link forward sliding types. Due to the structural characteristics of the four-link design, the opening and closing of the port cover is quite flexible, allowing the outer panel to open parallel to the side panel.

[0005] Because gooseneck-style covers are usually made of plastic, especially charging port covers which have a large outer panel, when the cover is open, people or other moving objects passing by are very likely to damage the cover hinge.

[0006] The four-bar linkage cap structure is composed of multiple rods, which is relatively complex and increases the difficulty and cost of manufacturing. It usually makes the cap heavier and larger. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide an automobile cover structure, working method and automobile, which is an improvement on the current gooseneck cover structure and overcomes the defects of the current gooseneck cover structure and four-link cover structure.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution:

[0009] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a car hatch structure, including a hatch outer panel, a hatch box, and a crank arm. A first rotating shaft is provided on the outer side of one end of the hatch box, and an actuator matching the hatch outer panel is provided on the other end of the hatch box. One end of the crank arm is rotatably connected to the first rotating shaft, and the other end of the crank arm is provided with a second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft is rotatably connected to a connecting member, and the connecting member is fixed to one end of the inner side of the hatch outer panel. A damping structure is provided between the second rotating shaft and the connecting member so that the frictional force between the second rotating shaft and the connecting member is greater than the frictional force between the crank arm and the first rotating shaft.

[0010] Optionally, the damping structure includes a flexible sleeve fitted around the outer periphery of the second rotating shaft, the outer ring surface of the flexible sleeve being a first serrated surface, and the end of the connector being provided with a through hole, through which the second rotating shaft passes, and the inner surface of the through hole being a second serrated surface that meshes with the first serrated surface.

[0011] or,

[0012] The damping structure includes a flexible sleeve fixed to the inner side of the through hole, the inner annular surface of the flexible sleeve being a first sawtooth surface, and the axial surface of the second rotating shaft being a second sawtooth surface that meshes with the first sawtooth surface.

[0013] Optionally, the flexible sleeve may be a rubber sleeve or a silicone sleeve.

[0014] Optionally, the outer cover plate includes a plate body, the inner side of which is provided with a protrusion, and the connector is fixed to the end of the inner side of the protrusion.

[0015] Optionally, the outer edge of the mouth box is provided with a soft rubber ring, which is used to seal and fit against the outer edge of the plate.

[0016] Optionally, the bottom of the box is provided with a drain hole for connecting a drain pipe.

[0017] Optionally, the side of the mouth box is provided with a buckle structure, which allows the mouth box to be fixedly connected to the outer side panel of the vehicle body.

[0018] Optionally, a connecting block is provided at one end of the mouth box, and a first rotating shaft is provided at the top of the connecting block. The first rotating shaft is a smooth shaft, and a sleeve is provided at the end of the curved arm. The sleeve is fitted around the outer circumference of the smooth shaft, and the curved arm is rotatably connected to the first rotating shaft through the sleeve.

[0019] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for operating the automobile cover structure described in the first aspect:

[0020] When it needs to be opened, one end of the crank arm first rotates around the first pivot. The outer cover plate, connector, second pivot, and damping structure move synchronously with the crank arm to the first state. The outer cover plate disengages from the open end of the box, opening the box. Then, under the action of a set external force, the outer cover plate overcomes the friction generated between the connector and the second pivot due to the damping structure and continues to rotate until it is parallel to the outer side panel of the vehicle body, reaching the second state.

[0021] When it needs to be closed, firstly, under the action of a set external force, the outer cover plate overcomes the friction generated by the damping structure between the connector and the second rotating shaft and rotates from the second state to the first state. Then, the outer cover plate, connector, second rotating shaft, and damping structure move synchronously with the crank arm until the outer cover plate closes the open end of the box.

[0022] Thirdly, embodiments of the present invention provide a car equipped with the car cover structure described in the first aspect.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0024] The automotive hatch structure of this invention is an improvement on the current gooseneck hatch structure. A second pivot is provided at the end where the crank arm connects to the outer hatch panel. The outer hatch panel is rotatably connected to the second pivot via a connector, and a damping structure is provided between the second pivot and the connector. With this arrangement, when the hatch panel rotates with the crank arm to the traditional open position, it can continue to rotate under the action of external force, overcoming the friction between the second pivot and the connector. This ensures that the outer hatch panel is parallel to the outer side panel of the vehicle body, and the outer hatch panel does not protrude from the overall vehicle body. This avoids damage to the hatch structure caused by collisions with people or other objects when passing by. Moreover, by setting the second pivot and the damping structure, the outer hatch panel can be rotated to a state parallel to the outer side panel of the vehicle body. Compared with the traditional four-link hatch structure, the structure is simple, reducing the difficulty and cost of the manufacturing process, and does not increase the weight and volume of the hatch structure. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the outer plate of the cover rotating to the first state in Embodiment 1 of the invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the outer plate of the cover rotating to the second state in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the closed state in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0029] Among them, 1. mouth box, 2. crank arm, 3. first rotating shaft, 4. connecting block, 5. actuator, 6. plate, 7. protrusion, 8. connector, 9. second rotating shaft, 10. snap-fit ​​structure, 11. soft rubber ring. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Example 1

[0031] This embodiment provides a car hatch structure, such as Figures 1-3As shown, the plate and the curved arm 2 are shown. A first rotating shaft 3 is provided on the outer side of one end of the mouth box 1. The first rotating shaft 3 is rotatably connected to one end of the curved arm 2, and the other end of the curved arm 2 is connected to the outer plate of the mouth cover. The curved arm 2 is gooseneck shaped and passes through an opening in the side wall of the mouth box 1. One end of the curved arm 2 is rotatably connected to the first rotating shaft 3, and the other end of the curved arm 2 is connected to the outer plate of the mouth cover. Specifically, a connecting block 4 is provided on the outer side of one side of the mouth box 1. The top of the connecting block 4 is provided with the first rotating shaft 3. The first rotating shaft 3 is a smooth shaft. A sleeve is provided at the end of the curved arm 2 that connects to the first rotating shaft 3. The sleeve is fitted around the outer circumference of the first rotating shaft 3 and rotatably connected to it. The curved arm 2 can rotate around the first rotating shaft 3. Because the first rotating shaft 3 is a smooth shaft, the friction between the curved arm 2 and the first rotating shaft 3 is very small. The other end of the mouth box 1 is provided with... An actuator 5, which can be made using existing technology, is used to cooperate with the outer cover plate, so that the outer cover plate is locked and fixed in the closed state. The outer cover plate includes a plate body 6 and a protrusion 7 provided on the inner side of the plate body. The protrusion 7 is made of plastic material, and the plate body 6 is made of sheet metal material the same as the vehicle body material. The protrusion 7 is connected to the end of the crank arm 2 through a connector 8. The connector 8 is a block structure, with its larger end connected to one end of the inner side of the protrusion 7 and its smaller end connected to the end of the crank arm 2. The crank arm 2 can rotate around the first rotating shaft 3, thereby realizing the switching between the open and closed states of the opening side of the box 1. When the outer cover plate closes the opening side of the box 1, the outer cover plate can cooperate with the contact of the actuator 5, thereby triggering the actuator 5 to work and lock and fix the outer cover plate.

[0032] The above technology can be achieved using existing automotive gooseneck cover technology, and further technical details will not be described in detail here.

[0033] In the traditional gooseneck car hatch structure, the connector 8 and the crank arm 2 are integrally fixedly connected. The protrusion 7, connector 8, crank arm 2 and hatch 1 are all made of plastic. When the hatch outer panel is opened, due to the limiting effect of the opening on the side wall of hatch 1, the maximum angle of rotation of the hatch outer panel to the outside is 90°. The hatch outer panel reaches the maximum rotation angle when it is rotated to a state perpendicular to the side panel of the car body. In this embodiment, the state of the hatch outer panel at this time is defined as the first state. The hatch outer panel protrudes from the car body. When a person or other object passes by the car, it is very likely to collide with the hatch outer panel, causing damage to the entire hatch structure.

[0034] To address the aforementioned problems, this embodiment improves upon the existing automotive gooseneck cap structure, specifically:

[0035] A second pivot 9 is provided at the end of the crank arm used for connecting the connector. The two ends of the second pivot 9 are fixed to the ear plate, and the ear plate is integrally fixedly connected to the end of the crank arm 2.

[0036] The connector 8, which connects the end of the crank arm, has a protrusion that can be inserted between the two ear plates. The protrusion has a through hole that matches the second rotating shaft 9. The second rotating shaft 9 passes through the through hole and is rotatably connected to the connector. With this configuration, when the crank arm 2 rotates to the point where the outer cover is in the first state and cannot continue to rotate, the outer cover can continue to rotate 90° outward around the second rotating shaft 9 with the connector, so that the outer cover reaches a state parallel to the outer side panel of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the state of the outer cover at this time is defined as the second state. In the second state, the outer cover will not protrude from the vehicle body, avoiding the problem of damage to the cover structure caused by collision between the outer cover and people or other objects passing by the vehicle.

[0037] Furthermore, to facilitate the opening of the outer cover, allowing it to rotate with the crank arm 2 to the first state and then to the second state, a damping structure is provided between the second rotating shaft and the through hole surface of the protrusion of the connecting member. This ensures that the friction between the connecting member and the second rotating shaft 9 is greater than the friction between the sleeve at the other end of the crank arm and the first rotating shaft 3. When a smaller force is used to open the outer cover, the friction between the connecting member and the second rotating shaft 9 cannot be overcome, allowing the outer cover, crank arm 2, connecting member 8, and second rotating shaft 9 to rotate synchronously to the first state without relative motion. This process is completely consistent with the traditional process of opening the outer cover.

[0038] In one embodiment, the damping structure adopts a flexible sleeve, which is sleeved and fixed to the outer periphery of the second rotating shaft 9. The outer ring surface of the flexible sleeve is a first serrated surface, and correspondingly, the inner hole surface of the through hole is a second serrated surface that meshes with the first serrated surface. Through the meshing of the first serrated surface and the second serrated surface, the friction between the second rotating shaft and the through hole surface can be increased, so that the connecting piece can only rotate around the second rotating shaft under the action of a set external force load.

[0039] In this embodiment, under the action of a set external force load, the first serrated surface of the flexible sleeve can be squeezed and deformed, thereby allowing the connector to rotate around the second rotating axis. After the rotation is completed, the first serrated surface returns to its original shape and re-engages with the second serrated surface, thereby maintaining the posture of the outer plate of the cover.

[0040] In another embodiment, the flexible sleeve is fixed to the inner surface of the through hole, and the inner annular surface of the flexible sleeve is provided with a first serrated surface. Correspondingly, the axial surface of the second rotating shaft 9 is a second serrated surface that meshes with the first serrated surface.

[0041] The flexible sleeve can be made of rubber or silicone, etc., and those skilled in the art can choose according to actual needs.

[0042] The opening box 1 can be constructed using existing technology. It is a box-shaped structure with one open end. A drainage hole is provided at the lower edge of the bottom wall of the box, which is used to connect a drain pipe to facilitate the drainage of water from the opening box. The side wall of the opening box 1 is also provided with a snap-fit ​​structure 10 for snapping and fixing it to the outer side panel of the vehicle body. A soft rubber ring 11 is also provided on the open side edge of the opening box 1. The soft rubber ring 11 is used to fit against the outer edge of the middle plate 6 of the opening cover to achieve a sealing function.

[0043] The aforementioned method of setting up the water leakage hole, the snap-fit ​​structure, and the soft rubber ring can be achieved using existing technology, and further technical details will not be described in detail here.

[0044] In the design of the refueling or charging port cover structure, the outer panel of the cover should be lower than the outer panel of the vehicle side when closed, and higher than the outer panel of the vehicle side when open. The interior of the port cover should be designed using a traditional port cover design with a self-draining angle of at least 3 degrees. If self-draining is not possible, a drainage hole should be designed at the lowest point of the refueling or charging port cover to drain water under the wheel arch. There should be sufficient space between the charging socket or fuel line and the outer panel of the cover to meet static clearance requirements. During each rotation, the outer panel of the cover should maintain a set distance from the outer panel of the vehicle side to prevent damage. The soft rubber ring on the open edge of the port cover should have a certain amount of interference with the outer panel of the vehicle side to ensure a secure connection. When disassembling the refueling or charging port cover, ensure that after moving it a set distance in the disassembly direction, a certain gap remains between the hinge and the outer panel. The refueling pipe or charging socket should be installed first, followed by the refueling or charging port cover structure, or the refueling or charging port cover structure should be installed first.

[0045] The charging port cover, which is part of the sealing structure of the charging dock, must maintain a certain gap between itself and the charging port box. The side wall of the charging dock and the charging port box must not interfere with the sealing structure of the charging port box; the gap between the charging dock and the charging port box must meet the set requirements. When the refueling or charging port cover is opened to its maximum position, the refueling or charging gun envelope should be in the working position. The refueling port cover and hinge should not interfere with the refueling gun envelope, and the charging port box should maintain a gap with the charging gun envelope. Simultaneously, the handle of the charging gun envelope should maintain a gap with the side panel of the vehicle body. After the refueling or charging port cover is pressed to unlock, the outer panel of the refueling or charging port cover should pop up a certain height (distance from the R-corner of the side panel to the edge of the outer panel of the refueling or charging port cover). When the cover is open or closed, the charging port box should be centered in the Z-direction and horizontally close to the edge of the charging port box. Considering that when parking on a slope with the front facing forward or backward, there should be no area where water can accumulate inside the refueling or charging port box; the hinge should have a certain drainage angle in the X-direction.

[0046] The above design requirements can be adopted using the current design requirements for the cap structure; further technical details will not be described in detail here.

[0047] Example 2

[0048] This embodiment discloses a method for operating the automobile hatch structure described in Embodiment 1:

[0049] When it needs to be opened, one end of the crank arm 2 first rotates around the first pivot 3. The outer cover plate, connector 8, second pivot 9, and flexible sleeve move synchronously with the crank arm 2 to the first state. The outer cover plate disengages from the open end of the box 1, opening the box. Then, under the action of a set external force, the outer cover plate overcomes the friction between the connector 8 and the second pivot 9 caused by the flexible sleeve and continues to rotate until it is parallel to the outer side panel of the vehicle body, reaching the second state.

[0050] When it needs to be closed, firstly, under the action of a set external force, the outer cover plate overcomes the friction between the connector 8 and the second rotating shaft 9 caused by the flexible sleeve and rotates from the second state to the first state. Then, the outer cover plate, connector 8, second rotating shaft 9 and flexible sleeve move synchronously with the crank arm 2 to the outer cover plate to close the open end of the mouth box 1.

[0051] Using the cover structure and working method of this embodiment, when the cover structure is opened, after the cover plate rotates to the first state, it can continue to rotate by the action of external force to overcome the friction between the second rotating shaft and the connecting part, so that the outer cover plate is parallel to the outer side panel of the vehicle body. The outer cover plate will not protrude from the overall vehicle body, avoiding collisions with the cover structure when people or other objects pass by, thus preventing damage to the cover structure. Moreover, by setting the second rotating shaft and the damping structure, the outer cover plate can be rotated to a state parallel to the outer side panel of the vehicle body. Compared with the traditional four-link cover structure, the structure is simpler, reducing the difficulty and cost of the manufacturing process, and does not increase the weight and volume of the cover structure.

[0052] Example 3

[0053] This embodiment provides a car equipped with the car cover structure described in Embodiment 1. The car cover structure is either a fuel filler cap structure or a charging cap structure. The remaining structures of the car can adopt existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0054] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A car hatch structure, comprising a hatch outer plate, a hatch housing, and a crank arm, wherein a first rotating shaft is provided on the outer side of one end of the hatch housing, and an actuator matching the hatch outer plate is provided on the other end of the hatch housing, and one end of the crank arm is rotatably connected to the first rotating shaft, characterized in that, The other end of the crank arm is provided with a second rotating shaft, which is rotatably connected to the connecting piece. The connecting piece is fixed to one end of the inner side of the outer plate of the cover. A damping structure is provided between the second rotating shaft and the connecting piece so that the friction between the second rotating shaft and the connecting piece is greater than the friction between the crank arm and the first rotating shaft. The damping structure includes a flexible sleeve fitted around the outer periphery of the second rotating shaft. The outer ring surface of the flexible sleeve is a first serrated surface. The end of the connector is provided with a through hole. The second rotating shaft passes through the through hole. The inner surface of the through hole is a second serrated surface that meshes with the first serrated surface. Alternatively, the damping structure includes a flexible sleeve fixed to the inner side of the through hole. The inner ring surface of the flexible sleeve is a first serrated surface. The axial surface of the second rotating shaft is a second serrated surface that meshes with the first serrated surface. A connecting block is provided at one end of the mouth box, and a first rotating shaft is provided at the top of the connecting block. The first rotating shaft is a smooth shaft, and a sleeve is provided at the end of the curved arm. The sleeve is fitted around the outer circumference of the smooth shaft, and the curved arm is rotatably connected to the first rotating shaft through the sleeve.

2. The automobile hatch structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible sleeve is made of rubber or silicone.

3. The automobile hatch structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer panel of the cover includes a plate body, and the inner side of the plate body is provided with a protrusion. The connector is fixed to the end of the inner side of the protrusion.

4. The automobile hatch structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer edge of the box is provided with a soft rubber ring, which is used to seal and fit with the outer edge of the plate.

5. The automobile hatch structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the box is provided with a drainage hole, which is used to connect a drain pipe.

6. The automobile hatch structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side of the mouth box is provided with a buckle structure, which can be used to fix the mouth box to the outer side panel of the vehicle body.

7. A method for operating the automobile hatch structure according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: When it needs to be opened, one end of the crank arm first rotates around the first pivot. The outer cover plate, connector, second pivot, and damping structure move synchronously with the crank arm to the first state. The outer cover plate disengages from the open end of the box, opening the box. Then, under the action of a set external force, the outer cover plate overcomes the friction generated between the connector and the second pivot due to the damping structure and continues to rotate until it is parallel to the outer side panel of the vehicle body, reaching the second state. When it needs to be closed, firstly, under the action of a set external force, the outer cover plate overcomes the friction generated by the damping structure between the connector and the second rotating shaft and rotates from the second state to the first state. Then, the outer cover plate, connector, second rotating shaft, and damping structure move synchronously with the crank arm until the outer cover plate closes the open end of the box.

8. A car, characterized in that, The vehicle cover structure according to any one of claims 1-6 is provided.

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