Drive device

Abstract

A drive device for driving a vehicle door having an upper vehicle door and a lower vehicle door rotatably connected to the upper vehicle door, the drive device being provided with: a rail part; the sliding block part slides in the rail part; a lever portion, a first end portion of both end portions of which is connected to the slider portion, and a second end portion of both end portions of which is connected to the upper door; and a bracket part which fixes the rail part to the lower side vehicle door in a non-movable manner. By using such a drive device, in a vehicle door having an upper vehicle door and a lower vehicle door, the vehicle door can be reinforced, the interior space can be prevented from narrowing, and the degree of bending of the lower vehicle door with respect to the upper vehicle door can be easily changed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a drive device. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles have been developed that include a power tailgate function for opening and closing a tailgate using the power of an electric motor.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a door drive device that is mounted on a lower door of a vehicle having a door consisting of an upper door and a lower door and changes the degree of bending of the lower door relative to the upper door.

[0004] The drive device includes a shaft connected to the lower part of the upper door and a drive unit connected to the lower part of the lower door. The drive unit has a screw nut. When the screw nut rotates forward, the shaft is pushed out of the drive unit, and when the screw nut rotates reversely, the shaft is accommodated in the screw nut.

[0005] Furthermore, when the shaft is pushed out of the drive unit, the lower end surface of the upper door is not in contact with the upper end surface of the lower door, and the lower door is bent relative to the upper door due to gravity. On the other hand, when the shaft is accommodated in the drive unit, the upper end surface of the lower door is pressed against the lower end surface of the upper door, and the degree of bending of the lower door relative to the upper door becomes smaller.

[0006] In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses an opening and closing drive device, which is disposed inside a vehicle body on which a door is mounted, and drives the door to open and close. In the opening and closing drive device, when a rod member screwed with a nut member is rotated by the force of a motor, the nut member performs a linear motion, and a connecting member connected to the nut member opens and closes the door.

[0007] Prior art literature Patent Literature Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-88081 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-14996 Summary of the invention

[0008] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0009] However, in the prior art of Patent Document 1, a large force acts on the connection parts connecting the shaft part and the upper door and the drive part and the lower door. In particular, when the upper end surface of the lower door is pressed against the lower end surface of the upper door, a large force acts on these connection parts. Therefore, the door may need to be reinforced.

[0010] In addition, in the prior art of Patent Document 2, the door opened and closed by the opening and closing drive device is not a bendable door composed of an upper door and a lower door, and a mechanism for changing the degree of bending of the lower door relative to the upper door is not disclosed. In addition, since the opening and closing drive device is provided inside the vehicle body on which the door is installed, a space for providing the opening and closing drive device is required in the vehicle body, and the space inside the vehicle becomes narrower.

[0011] The present invention provides a driving device, which can prevent the narrowing of the vehicle interior space while strengthening the vehicle door in a vehicle door having an upper door and a lower door, and can easily change the degree of bending of the lower door relative to the upper door.

[0012] Technical solutions to solve problems

[0013] The driving device of the present invention is used to drive a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door has an upper door and a lower door, and the lower door is connected to the upper door in a rotatable manner, wherein the driving device comprises: a track portion; a slider portion that slides within the track portion; a rod portion, a first end of the two ends of the rod portion is connected to the slider portion, and a second end of the two ends of the rod portion is connected to the upper door; and a bracket portion that fixes the track portion to the lower door in an immovable manner.

[0014] Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, in a door having an upper door and a lower door, the degree of bending of the lower door relative to the upper door can be easily changed while preventing the vehicle interior space from being narrowed while reinforcing the door. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 This is an external view showing an example of a rear portion of a vehicle to which a drive device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Figure 2 It is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle door provided with a drive device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 It is a perspective view of a driving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 It is an exploded perspective view of a driving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a diagram showing a state in which the degree of bending of the lower door relative to the upper door becomes smaller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 1 is an external view showing an example of a rear portion of a vehicle 100 to which a drive device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Figure 2 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle door 1 provided with a drive device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drive device 10 is provided inside the vehicle door 1, specifically, inside a lower door 1b described later.

[0019] The vehicle 100 includes a door 1 that opens or closes an opening 100 a formed at the rear of the vehicle 100 .

[0020] The open state is a state in which the opening 100a is opened, and a cargo or the like can be taken out of or put into the vehicle 100 through the opening 100a. The closed state is a state in which the opening 100a is closed.

[0021] The vehicle door 1 is a center folding tailgate having an upper door 1a and a lower door 1b. The vehicle door 1 is not limited to a tailgate of the vehicle 100, and may be, for example, a hatchback door.

[0022] The upper door 1a is connected via two hinges 2A. 1 , 2A 2 The lower door 1b is rotatably mounted on the main body of the vehicle 100. The lower door 1b is connected to the vehicle body 100 via two hinges 2B. 1 , 2B 2 The upper door 1a is rotatably connected to the upper door 1a.

[0023] In the following, without distinguishing between the two hinges 2A 1 , 2A 2 In the case of the hinge 2A, only the hinge 2A is referred to. In addition, when the two hinges 2B are not distinguished, 1 , 2B 2 In this case, it is simply referred to as "hinge 2B".

[0024] In addition, the number of hinges 2A and hinges 2B is not limited to two, and the number of hinges 2A and hinges 2B may be one or more.

[0025] For example, when the number of hinges 2A and 2B is one respectively, hinges 2A and 2B may be arranged at the center of the door 1 in the left-right direction, and the drive device 10 may be arranged at the center of the lower door 1b in the left-right direction or near the edge of the lower door 1b in the left-right direction.

[0026] The driving device 10 drives the door 1 having the upper door 1a and the lower door 1b. The driving device 10 is provided inside the lower door 1b and fixed to the lower door 1b.

[0027] Specifically, the drive device 10 is fixed to the lower door 1b by bolts. In addition, the drive device 10 is provided inside the lower door 1b, and is sandwiched between the cover member 3 fixed to the lower door 1b and the lower door 1b to be fixed to the lower door 1b.

[0028] The drive device 10 is not provided inside the vehicle body but is provided inside the lower door 1 b , so that no space for providing the drive device 10 is required in the vehicle body, and it is possible to prevent the space inside the vehicle from being narrowed.

[0029] The drive device 10 includes a rod 15 that protrudes toward the upper door 1a or is pulled in to the side opposite to the upper door 1a. One end of the rod 15 is rotatably connected to the drive device 10, and the other end is rotatably connected to the connection portion 4 provided in the upper door 1a.

[0030] Since the rod portion 15 protrudes toward the upper door 1a, the tensile force pulling the upper door 1a and the lower door 1b together is weakened, and the degree of bending of the lower door 1b relative to the upper door 1a increases.

[0031] On the other hand, as the rod 15 is pulled inward toward the side opposite to the upper door 1a, the tensile force pulling the upper door 1a and the lower door 1b together increases, and the degree of bending of the lower door 1b relative to the upper door 1a decreases.

[0032] Hereinafter, a configuration example of the drive device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in further detail.

[0033] Figure 3 It is a perspective view of the driving device 10 . Figure 4 It is an exploded perspective view of the driving device 10 . Figure 5 This is a diagram showing a state in which the degree of bending of the lower door 1b relative to the upper door 1a is reduced.

[0034] The driving device 10 includes a driving portion 11 , a rail portion 12 , a screw portion 13 , a slider portion 14 , a rod portion 15 , bracket portions 16 and 17 , a rail cover 18 , and a gripper portion 19 .

[0035] The driving unit 11 generates a driving force for sliding the slider 14 in the rail unit 12. The driving unit 11 includes a motor 11a, gears 11b to 11d, a bearing 11e, a housing 11f, a housing cover 11g, and a sealing member 11h (see Figure 4 ).

[0036] The gear 11b is provided at the front end of the output shaft of the motor 11a and rotates together with the rotation of the output shaft. The gear 11c has two gears of different diameters, the gear with the larger diameter meshes with the gear 11b, and the gear with the smaller diameter meshes with the gear 11d. The gear 11d is connected to the screw part 13, and when the gear 11d rotates, the screw part 13 rotates.

[0037] Thus, the rotational force generated by the motor 11a is transmitted to the screw part 13 by the gears 11b to 11d. Here, a bearing 11e is provided between the gear 11d and the bracket part 16. The bearing 11e supports the screw part 13 while reducing friction when the screw part 13 rotates.

[0038] The housing 11f accommodates the gears 11b to 11d and the bearing 11e. The gears 11c and 11d accommodated in the housing 11f are covered by a housing cover 11g. A sealing member 11h is provided between the housing 11f and the housing cover 11g to prevent water from entering between the housing 11f and the housing cover 11g.

[0039] The housing 11f is fixed to the bracket portion 16 by bolts or the like, and the housing cover 11g is fixed to the housing 11f by bolts or the like.

[0040] Here, the drive unit 11 is attached to the upper door 1a side end of the rail 12 via the bracket 16. By arranging the heavy drive unit 11 near the rotation center of the lower door 1b, the lower door 1b can be moved with a small force.

[0041] The drive unit 11 may be directly mounted to the end of the rail 12 on the upper door 1a side without using the bracket 16. The bracket 16 is mounted to the door via a plurality of fixing holes provided in the bracket 16 by fixing members such as bolts.

[0042] The rail portion 12 accommodates the screw portion 13 and the slider portion 14 therein, and functions as a reinforcement member for reinforcing the strength of the lower door 1 b.

[0043] The screw portion 13 is rotationally driven by the driving portion 11 to cause the slider portion 14 to slide in the rail portion 12 along the longitudinal direction of the rail portion 12 .

[0044] Specifically, the screw part 13 is provided with thread teeth on the outer periphery, and is screwed with the slider part 14 provided with thread teeth on the inner periphery. The screw part 13 and the slider part 14 constitute a feed screw mechanism, and when the screw part 13 performs a rotational motion, the slider part 14 performs a linear motion. As a result, the slider part 14 slides in the track part 12 along the length direction of the track part 12.

[0045] Alternatively, as a mechanism for sliding the slider portion 14 in the rail portion 12 along the longitudinal direction of the rail portion 12 , a ball screw mechanism in which a steel ball is inserted between the screw portion 13 and the slider portion 14 may be used.

[0046] The slider 14 is connected to one end of the rod 15, and the rod 15 is slid in the rail 12 along the length direction of the rail 12 to move toward the upper door 1a ( Figure 3 or by protruding the rod 15 to the side opposite to the upper door 1a ( Figure 3 Pull in the direction of arrow D2.

[0047] One of the two end portions of the rod portion 15 is rotatably connected to the slider portion 14 , and the other of the two end portions of the rod portion 15 is rotatably connected to the connection portion 4 provided in the upper door 1 a .

[0048] When the slider portion 14 slides in the rail portion 12 toward the upper door 1 a and the rod portion 15 protrudes, the tensile force pulling the upper door 1 a and the lower door 1 b together is weakened.

[0049] As a result, if Figure 1 As shown, the lower door 1b sags due to gravity, and the degree of bending of the lower door 1b relative to the upper door 1a increases.

[0050] On the other hand, when the slider portion 14 slides in the rail portion 12 toward the side opposite to the upper door 1 a and the rod portion 15 is pulled in, the tensile force pulling the upper door 1 a and the lower door 1 b together is strengthened.

[0051] As a result, if Figure 5 As shown, the flat portion at the end of the lower door 1b is pressed against the flat portion at the end of the upper door 1a, and the degree of bending of the lower door 1b relative to the upper door 1a becomes smaller.

[0052] The bracket portions 16 and 17 fix the rail portion 12 to the lower door 1 b in an immovable manner.

[0053] The bracket portion 16 is fixed to the end portion of the rail portion 12 on the upper door 1 a side, and the drive unit 11 is further fixed to the bracket portion 16 .

[0054] The bracket portion 16 has a through hole 16a through which the rod portion 15 passes. The through hole 16a is formed so as not to hinder the movement of the rod portion 15 in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the rail portion 12 extends.

[0055] By forming such a through hole 16 a , even if the bracket portion 16 is provided in order to attach the rail portion 12 to the lower door 1 b , it is possible to suppress the movement of the rod portion 15 from being hindered.

[0056] The bracket portion 17 is fixed to the central portion of the rail portion 12. Figure 1 The rail portion 12 is fixed to the lower door 1b by being sandwiched between the cover member 3 fixed to the lower door 1b and the lower door 1b. The bracket portion 17 may be provided at a position where the rail portion 12 can be fixed, and may be provided below the rail portion 12.

[0057] By fixing the rail portion 12 to the lower door 1 b in this manner, the door 1 can be reinforced and the degree of bending of the lower door 1 b relative to the upper door 1 a can be easily changed.

[0058] The rail cover 18 covers the end portion of the rail portion 12 on the opposite side to the end portion to which the driving portion 11 is attached. The rail cover 18 is provided with a through hole through which the end portion of the screw portion 13 passes.

[0059] The gripper 19 is connected to the screw part 13 via the rail cover 18 at the end of the rail part 12 opposite to the end on which the drive part 11 is mounted. The gripper 19 has a hexagonal prism shape, but may also have other shapes. The screw part 13 can be rotated by manually rotating the gripper 19.

[0060] Thus, even when the screw portion 13 stops rotating due to a failure of the motor 11 a or the like, the screw portion 13 can be rotated manually to rotate the lower door 1 b relative to the upper door 1 a .

[0061] In addition, for example, the following aspects are also understood to belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0062] (1) A drive device for driving a vehicle door, the vehicle door having an upper door and a lower door, the lower door being rotatably connected to the upper door, wherein the drive device comprises: a track portion; a slider portion sliding within the track portion; a rod portion, a first end of the two ends of the rod portion being connected to the slider portion, and a second end of the two ends of the rod portion being connected to the upper door; and a bracket portion fixing the track portion to the lower door in an immovable manner.

[0063] (2) The bracket portion further includes a through hole through which the rod portion is inserted.

[0064] (3) The driving device further includes a driving portion that generates a driving force for causing the slider portion to slide within the rail portion and is attached to an end portion of the rail portion on the upper door side.

[0065] (4) The driving device further includes a screw portion that is threadedly engaged with the slider portion, and the screw portion is rotationally driven by the driving portion to slide the slider portion.

[0066] (5) The driving device further includes a grip portion connected to the screw portion at an end portion of the rail portion opposite to an end portion to which the driving portion is attached, wherein the screw portion rotates by rotation of the grip portion.

[0067] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0068] The above is a description of the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the above description is an illustration of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the description of the structure of the above-mentioned device and the shape of each part is an example, and it is obvious that various changes and additions can be made to these examples within the scope of the present invention.

[0069] Industrial Applicability

[0070] The present invention is useful for a driving device for driving a vehicle door having an upper door and a lower door rotatably connected to the upper door.

[0071] Description of symbols 1 Door 1a Upper door 1b Lower door 2A Hinge 2A 1 Hinge 2A 2 Hinge 2B Hinge 2B 1 Hinge 2B 2 Hinge 3. Cover parts 4 Connection 10. Drive device 11. Drive unit 11a Electric motor 11b, 11c, 11d gears 11e bearing 11f Housing 11g Housing cover 11h Sealing parts 12 Track Department 13 Screw 14 Slider 15 Rod 16, 17 bracket part 18 Track cover 19 Grip 100 Vehicles 100a opening portion.

Claims

1. A driving device for driving a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door comprises an upper door and a lower door, wherein the lower door is rotatably connected to the upper door, wherein: The driving device comprises: Track Department; A slider portion, sliding in the track portion; A rod portion, a first end of two ends of the rod portion being connected to the slider portion, and a second end of two ends of the rod portion being connected to the upper door; and The bracket portion fixes the rail portion to the lower door in an immovable manner.

2. The driving device according to claim 1, wherein: The bracket portion further includes a through hole through which the rod portion is inserted.

3. The driving device according to claim 1, wherein: The driving device further includes a driving portion that generates a driving force for sliding the slider portion within the rail portion and is attached to an end portion of the rail portion on the upper door side.

4. The driving device according to claim 3, wherein: The driving device further includes a screw portion that is threadedly engaged with the slider portion, and the screw portion is rotationally driven by the driving portion to slide the slider portion.

5. The driving device according to claim 4, wherein: The driving device further includes a grip portion connected to the screw portion at an end portion of the rail portion opposite to an end portion to which the driving portion is attached, wherein the screw portion rotates by rotation of the grip portion.

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