Actuating mechanism for actuating vehicle

Abstract

An actuation mechanism for actuating a charging, refueling or access cover, wherein the charging, refueling or access cover is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position. The actuating mechanism is provided with a driving device for driving the driving shaft and a mechanical mechanism associated with the driving device; the mechanical mechanism is configured to intercept a rotational movement of the drive shaft upon actuation of the drive device and to convert the rotational movement into a first movement for actuating the locking element and a second movement for moving and in particular pivoting the charging, refueling or access cover. According to the invention, in particular, in order to actuate the locking element as required, the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has a connecting and / or pushing rod, said connecting and / or pushing rod being coupled to the locking element, the connecting and / or pushing rod is in operative connection with the driving shaft or can be in operative connection with the driving shaft by means of a detachable joint.

Description

[0001] The present invention generally relates to an actuating mechanism for actuating a cover element, in particular embodied as a charging, refueling or service flap, which is received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle at a charging, refueling or service compartment.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a corresponding system having a cover (in particular in the form of a charging, refueling or service flap) and a charging, refueling or service compartment, which are received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the cover (i.e. in particular the charging, refueling or service flap) can be reversibly moved relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment between a closed position and an open position, and wherein a locking and / or latching device is provided for locking the charging, refueling or service flap.

[0003] Finally, the invention also relates to a vehicle having such a system.

[0004] The vehicle is in particular a vehicle with a hybrid drive or an electric drive, but vehicles with a purely combustion-powered drive are not excluded within the scope of the invention.

[0005] Vehicles with a hybrid or electric drive usually have a battery or traction battery which, for example in a PHEV (Plug-In-Hybrid Electric Vehicle) or a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), can be charged via a charging interface accessible from outside the vehicle body (this charging interface is usually a charging socket), for example by connecting to a charging station or to a conventional external electrical interface.

[0006] The charging interface is typically arranged in a charging compartment recess in the vehicle body, which is covered or closed by a charging flap or charging closure element. A mechanism cooperating with the charging flap or charging closure element allows the charging compartment recess to be selectively opened and closed, or folded open and closed relative to the charging compartment recess, thereby providing access to the charging interface.

[0007] In vehicles with a combustion-powered drive, fuel is supplied to the fuel tank via an externally accessible filler neck, for example, by connection to a fuel pump or a fuel nozzle. The filler neck, corresponding to the charging port, is typically located in a fuel compartment associated with the vehicle body and covered or closed by a fuel flap or a fuel closure element. A mechanism interacting with the fuel flap or fuel closure element also allows for the selective opening and closing of the fuel compartment, or for the flap or closure element to be folded open and closed relative to the fuel compartment, thereby providing access to the filler neck.

[0008] As used herein, the terms "charging, refueling, or service flap," "charging, refueling, or service cover," or "charging, refueling, or service compartment" should not be understood solely as components associated with a fuel tank or required for filling a fuel tank. Rather, these terms are also intended to encompass components of tanks for receiving other resources (e.g., AdBlue or urea) or additives (e.g., water). Therefore, the present invention also relates to an actuation mechanism for actuating service flaps associated with a filling system for resource fuels or additive fuels, in particular a fuel tank, an AdBlue tank, or a water tank.

[0009] Actuating mechanisms and actuating devices for opening and closing covers in or on vehicles are generally known from the prior art, for example from DE 10 2008 057 933 B4, DE 10 2009 060 119 A1, DE 10 2011101838 A1 or DE 10 2012 004 078 A1.

[0010] However, in the prior art, a charging, refueling or maintenance compartment system is essentially required in which a plurality of functions must be switched and operated in a coordinated manner.

[0011] These functions include, in particular: unlocking and locking or releasing and locking the cover or the charging, refueling or maintenance flap by means of a flap lock; moving the unlocked charging, refueling or maintenance flap relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment so that the charging, refueling or maintenance flap can be transferred from a closed position to an open position (and vice versa); and other functions, such as activating or deactivating a light source for illuminating at least one area of the charging compartment, refueling or maintenance compartment in the open state.

[0012] These various functions or functional components of the charging, refueling, or service compartment system must be controlled or manipulated in a coordinated manner. Thus, for example, during a charging operation, the charging, refueling, or service compartment flap, which is in its closed position, must first be unlocked using the flap lock of the charging, refueling, or service compartment system. Only after the charging, refueling, or service compartment flap has been unlocked can it be moved relative to the charging, refueling, or service compartment to transfer it to the open state. Only then can the charging interface or charging plug connector be connected and subsequently locked.

[0013] In order to control and coordinate these functions or functional components, it is common to associate a charging, refueling, or service compartment system with a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator is responsible for actuating a corresponding associated functional component, such as actuating a flap lock and moving an unlocked charging, refueling, or service compartment flap relative to the charging, refueling, or service compartment. In order to coordinate the actuation of the different functional components of the charging, refueling, or service compartment system, a control device is usually used, which coordinately controls the corresponding actuators.

[0014] On the other hand, such charging, refueling or service compartment systems are subject to a wide range of weather conditions, particularly during charging, which can lead to sealing problems due to the aforementioned functional components. This can also result in ice formation on various components, such as the charging, refueling or service flap.

[0015] Therefore, the basic object of the present invention is, in particular, to provide a locking and / or locking device for a charging, refueling or maintenance flap, so that the locking device has a relatively small structural space requirement, wherein preferably multiple functions or functional components of the charging or refueling compartment system can be operated simultaneously in a reliable and coordinated manner.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively thereto, at least one sub-object of the invention is to provide that the locking and / or securing device can still be used even if the charging, refueling or service flap is frozen.

[0017] Furthermore, according to at least one sub-object of the present invention, it is desirable to provide an emergency unlocking device for a charging, refueling or maintenance compartment system.

[0018] The object on which the invention is based is achieved in particular by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1 , wherein advantageous developments of the actuating mechanism according to the invention are specified in dependent patent claims 2 to 20 .

[0019] The present invention therefore relates in particular to an actuating mechanism for actuating a charging, refueling or service cover, in particular embodied as a flap, at a charging, refueling or service compartment which is received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the charging, refueling or service cover can be reversibly moved and in particular pivoted relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment between a closed position and an open position.

[0020] The actuating mechanism according to the invention comprises a drive device, in particular in the form of an electric motor, for driving a drive shaft, and a mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device, which is configured to intercept the rotational movement of the drive shaft when the drive device is actuated and to convert the rotational movement into a first movement of a locking element for actuating a flap lock / lock and a second movement for moving, in particular pivoting, a charging, refueling or maintenance cover.

[0021] According to at least one aspect of the present invention, it is particularly provided that the locking element is mounted so as to be movable relative to the charging, refueling, or service compartment between a locked position and an unlocked position, and in particular to be pivotable about a rotational axis. The locking element may in particular be mounted so as to be linearly movable relative to the charging, refueling, or service compartment between a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0022] In order to manipulate the locking element as required, the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has a connecting and / or pushing element, in particular a connecting and / or pushing rod, wherein the connecting and / or pushing element or the connecting and / or pushing rod is connected to the locking element in particular via the end area of the connecting and / or pushing rod facing the locking element.

[0023] Furthermore, it is provided in particular that the connecting and / or pushing rod is in operative connection with the drive shaft or can be brought into operative connection therewith by means of a releasable engagement.

[0024] The actuating mechanism can operate multiple functions of the charging, refueling or service cover. Thus, a single drive can be used to achieve the movement of the charging, refueling or service cover relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment on the one hand and the operation of the flap locking / locking element on the other hand.

[0025] Further functional elements can also be activated or deactivated by means of the same actuation mechanism.

[0026] According to the implementation scheme of the actuating mechanism of the present invention, a mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has a protrusion operatively connected to the drive shaft and serving as a push rod element, which protrusion is in releasable engagement with a protruding area of the connecting and / or pushing rod or is capable of producing a releasable engagement with the protruding area of the connecting and / or pushing rod, so that when the drive shaft rotates in a first rotational direction and rotates through a first rotational angle range, the protrusion of the drive shaft serving as a push rod element pulls the connecting and / or pushing rod in a direction away from the locking element by at least a predetermined or determinable distance.

[0027] In this regard, it is particularly conceivable that a predetermined or determinable distance is selected by which the connecting and / or pushing rod moves together with or is capable of moving together with a protrusion of the drive shaft serving as a push rod element when the drive shaft rotates in a first rotational direction and through a first rotational angle range, so that the locking element moves from its locking position to its unlocking position and in particular pivots when the connecting and / or pushing rod moves a predetermined or determinable distance.

[0028] According to an improvement to the aforementioned last embodiment variant of the actuating mechanism of the present invention, it is proposed that the protrusion of the drive shaft serving as a tappet element is configured such that: when the drive shaft is further rotated beyond the first rotation angle range, the engagement between the protrusion of the drive shaft serving as a tappet element and the protruding area of the connecting and / or push rod is released.

[0029] In this case, the operative connection between the linkage and / or push rod and the drive shaft of the drive device is then interrupted, so that in the event of a further rotation of the drive shaft this does not affect the actuation of the locking element of the flap lock / latch.

[0030] According to the implementation scheme of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, it is proposed that the releasable connection between the protrusion of the drive shaft serving as the tappet element and the protruding area of the connecting and / or pushing rod is selected so that the connecting and / or pushing rod can be moved in a direction away from the locking element or in a direction towards the locking element even if the drive shaft does not rotate in the first rotational direction, in particular when the locking element is moved and in particular pivoted from its locking position to its unlocking position by means of an emergency unlocking device that can preferably be activated manually.

[0031] This applies in particular if the locking element is moved and in particular pivoted from its locking position into its unlocking position by means of a preferably manually actuatable emergency unlocking device.

[0032] In order to achieve such a decoupling, it is proposed according to an embodiment of the invention that the protrusion of the drive shaft serving as the tappet element and / or the protruding area of the connecting and / or push rod are flexibly and in particular elastically embodied so that even if the drive shaft does not rotate in the first rotational direction, the connecting and / or push rod can be moved in a direction away from the locking element or in a direction towards the locking element, in particular when the locking element is moved and in particular pivoted from its locking position to its unlocking position by means of a preferably manually actuatable emergency unlocking device.

[0033] In this way it is ensured that the locking element is movable and in particular pivotable during an actuation of the emergency unlocking device and is not blocked by the drive device and / or a mechanism associated with the drive device.

[0034] The locking element is particularly associated with a prestressing element that prestresses the locking element into its locked position. The prestressing element is particularly a spring, preferably a support spring, which is arranged coaxially or concentrically with the axis of rotation of the locking element. However, other embodiments of the prestressing element are of course also conceivable.

[0035] In particular, according to one aspect of the invention, it is proposed that in order to release the coupling as required, i.e., in order to release the engagement as required between the protrusion of the drive shaft serving as a tappet element and the connecting and / or push rod, or a protruding area of the connecting and / or push rod, the connecting and / or push rod is at least partially embodied as a flexible or resilient area or as having a flexible or resiliently configured area, i.e., so that the charging, refueling or inspection cover can be manually shifted from its open position to its closed position and in this case the locking element can be manually shifted from its spring-prestressed locking position to its unlocked position.

[0036] This measure makes it possible to transfer the charging, refueling or service cover from its open position to its closed position (for example manually) even without a drive, without the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive hindering such a movement.

[0037] The locking element is in particular configured for being in engagement in its locking position with a locking element of the charging, refueling or service cover when, and in particular only when, the charging, refueling or service cover is in its closed position.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the actuating mechanism of the invention, the connecting and / or pushing rod is associated with a bearing, in particular in the form of a radial sliding bearing, in order to guide the movement of the connecting and / or pushing rod relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment, respectively.

[0039] Preferably, it is provided in the actuating mechanism according to the invention that the flip-top lock / locking member has an ejection element, in particular configured as a protrusion, which can be supported together with the locking element so as to be pivotable about the rotation axis of the locking element relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment between a first, in particular sunken position and a second, in particular exposed position.

[0040] Here, when the locking element is in its locking position, the ejection element is in its first, particularly sunken, position, wherein when the locking element is moved into its unlocking position, the ejection element is moved into its second, particularly exposed position. Here, the ejection element is configured such that, when it is moved into its second, particularly exposed position, it strikes an area of the charging, refueling, or service cover, in particular located inside the charging, refueling, or service cover, and thereby moves the charging, refueling, or service cover from its closed position in the direction of the open position.

[0041] In particular, the ejection element has a breaking function (e.g., an ice-breaking function). To this end, if the charging, refueling, or service cover remains stuck or otherwise blocked even after being unlocked (i.e., after the locking element has been moved to its unlocked position), the ejection element can push the cover out of its closed position. This can occur, for example, due to ice formation in winter. However, dirt or other malfunctions can also cause the charging, refueling, or service cover to become stuck. Therefore, the ejection element can forcibly push the cover open.

[0042] Because the ejection element is supported so as to be pivotable together with the locking element about its axis of rotation relative to the charging, refueling, or service compartment, synchronization occurs between the locking element, on the one hand, and the ejection element, on the other hand. In other words, when the drive shaft moves in a first rotational direction and through a first rotational angle range, the locking element is initially moved toward its unlocked position. Subsequently, or during the movement of the locking element toward its unlocked position, the ejection element comes into contact with an area, particularly located inside the charging, refueling, or service cover, thereby exerting a corresponding ejection force on the charging, refueling, or service cover.

[0043] With respect to the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device, a design variation of the actuator mechanism according to the present invention proposes that the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has a drive wheel operatively connected to the drive shaft, which drive wheel is at least partially or partially provided with a tooth portion, in particular a spur tooth portion, as a drive gear.

[0044] In order to move, and in particular pivot, the charging, refueling, or service cover relative to the charging, refueling, or service compartment, the charging, refueling, or service cover is associated with a corresponding pivot mechanism having a shaft extending along the pivot axis of the charging, refueling, or service cover and a drive wheel operatively connected thereto. The drive wheel is preferably at least partially or partially provided with a toothing, in particular a spur toothing, as a gear, wherein when the charging, refueling, or service cover is moved from its closed position to its open position (or vice versa) by means of the drive device, the toothing of the drive gear, in particular embodied as a spur toothing, engages (in a meshing manner) with the toothing (in particular embodied as a spur toothing) of the drive wheel associated with the pivot mechanism of the charging, refueling, or service cover.

[0045] In this regard, it is provided that the drive gear and in particular the toothing of the drive gear, which is in particular embodied as a spur toothing, and the drive wheel of a pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover and in particular the toothing of a drive wheel of a pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover, which is in particular embodied as a spur toothing, are configured such that they engage with one another only when a projection of the drive shaft, which serves as a tappet element, is rotated through a first rotational angle range.

[0046] This simple-to-implement but nevertheless highly effective mechanical mechanism ensures that the charging, refueling or maintenance cover is moved synchronously from its closed position to its open position by means of the corresponding associated pivot mechanism, i.e. after the locking element has previously been moved to the unlocked position and after the ejection element has forcibly pushed the charging, refueling or maintenance cover towards the open position.

[0047] According to a design variation of the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device, it is proposed that the drive gear, and in particular the tooth portion of the drive gear, which is in particular configured as a spur tooth portion, and the drive wheel of the pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover, and in particular the tooth portion of the drive wheel of the pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover, are in particular implemented as spur tooth portions configured so that: in the closed position of the charging, refueling or inspection cover, the rotation of the drive wheel of the pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover is not blocked.

[0048] In particular, the rotation of the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover is not blocked by the drive gear, so that even without the drive device being activated, the charging, refueling or inspection cover can be transferred manually from its closed position to its open position, in particular when the locking element has been moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position to its unlocked position by a preferably manually actuatable emergency unlocking device.

[0049] According to a preferred implementation scheme of the flip cover lock / locking member, it is proposed that the flip cover lock / locking member has a rotating body supported in a manner that it can pivot around the rotation axis of the locking element relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment, and the rotating body has: a first lever arm area, which forms the locking element; a second lever arm area, which forms the pushing element; and a third lever arm area, to which the end area of the contact and / or push rod facing the locking element is connected in an articulated manner.

[0050] In this regard, it is provided that the rotating body of the flip cover lock / locking element also has a fourth lever arm area, and the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device, which can be activated manually, is connected to the fourth lever arm area in an articulated manner, so that when the emergency unlocking device is activated, the rotating body can rotate with its lever arm area around the rotation axis of the locking element.

[0051] In order to achieve that the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device, which can be actuated in particular manually, remains fixed in position relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment for at least such a long time, an improvement to the above-mentioned design variant of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is that the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device, which can be actuated in particular manually, has a free wheel, which is configured to enable the rotation of the rotating body of the flip-lid lock / locking part around the rotation axis of the locking element, without the need for a force component to act on the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device or to be introduced into the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device via a fourth lever arm area of the rotating body, which force component will cause the connecting element of the emergency unlocking device to move relative to the rotating body of the flip-lid lock / locking part.

[0052] Various embodiments are conceivable for realizing such a freewheel. For example, it is conceivable that the freewheel has an elongated hole guide, in particular arranged in the coupling and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device, in which a pin element or a slide in the region of the fourth lever arm engages.

[0053] In this regard, it is conceivable that by pulling the connecting element of the emergency unlocking device, the connecting and / or pushing element can be moved a certain distance relative to the rotating body of the flip cover lock / locking part, which distance is limited by the long hole guide portion configured in particular in the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device, without the need for the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device to introduce a force component, in particular a tensile force component, into the rotating body of the flip cover lock / locking part.

[0054] It is particularly preferably proposed here that, after traversing a distance defined by an elongated hole guide, in particular provided in the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device, the tensile force component introduced into the connecting and / or pushing element of the emergency unlocking device is introduced, in particular directly, into the rotating body of the flap lock / locking part and in this case generates the torque required for rotating the rotating body.

[0055] Preferably, the contact and / or push element of the emergency unlocking device can be associated with a locking portion so as to lock the contact and / or push element in the position of the contact element after exceeding a distance defined by a long hole guide portion, in particular configured in the contact and / or push element of the emergency unlocking device.

[0056] This measure ensures that the contact and / or push element remains fixed in position relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment even after activation of the emergency unlocking device.

[0057] Exemplary embodiments of the actuating mechanism according to the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] In the attached figure:

[0059] Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: the charging, refueling or service flap is in its closed position and the locking element is in its locked position;

[0060] Figure 2 Schematically and in side view according to Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism of the present invention, however, is in the following state: the locking element is in its unlocked position;

[0061] Figure 3 Schematically and in side view according to Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism of the present invention is particularly in the following state: Figure 2 The illustrated state begins with the locking element in its unlocked position and the charging, refueling or service cover shifted towards its open position;

[0062] Figure 4 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 3 The illustrated state begins with the locking element (again) in the locked position and the charging, refueling or service cover moving further towards the open position;

[0063] Figure 5 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 4 The illustrated state begins with the charging, refueling or service cover in its open position;

[0064] Figure 6 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 5 The state shown begins with the charging, refueling or maintenance cover moving back toward the closed position;

[0065] Figure 7 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 6 Starting from the state shown, the charging, refueling or service cover is moved far enough towards the closed position so that a region of the charging, refueling or service cover, in particular arranged on the inside of the charging, refueling or service cover, strikes the locking element which is in the locked position;

[0066] Figure 8 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 7Starting from the state shown, the charging, refueling or service cover is moved further towards the closed position, thereby pushing the locking element from its locked position towards the unlocked position;

[0067] Figure 9 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 8 The state shown begins with the charging, refueling or maintenance cover moving toward the closed position;

[0068] Figure 10 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 9 The illustrated state begins with the charging, refueling or service cover again in the closed position and the locking element also in the locked position again;

[0069] Figure 11 Schematically and in side view, the Figure 1 or Figure 10 An exemplary embodiment of an actuating mechanism according to the invention, and in particular an exemplary embodiment of a manually actuatable emergency unlocking device, in the illustrated state;

[0070] Figure 12 Schematically and in side view according to Figure 11 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is particularly in the following state: the emergency unlocking device has been actuated and the locking element has been manually transferred into its unlocked position;

[0071] Figure 13 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 12 Starting from the state shown, the emergency unlocking device has been further actuated, so that the ejection element of the flap lock / latching element, which is configured in particular as a projection, has been transferred into its second, in particular exposed, position;

[0072] Figure 14 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 13 The illustrated state begins with the charging, refueling or maintenance cover being moved, in particular manually, toward the open position;

[0073] Figure 15 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 14Starting from the state shown, the charging, refueling or service cover is in particular manually pushed back into the closed position again, wherein the area inside the charging, refueling or service cover strikes the ejection element of the flap locking / latching element; and

[0074] Figure 16 An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is shown schematically and in a side view, in particular in the following state: Figure 15 The situation shown begins with the charging, refueling or service cover being manually moved (pushed) toward the closed position again.

[0075] In the figures, exemplary embodiments of the actuating mechanism 1 according to the invention are shown in different positions / situations in order to illustrate the structure and function of the actuating mechanism 1 .

[0076] The actuating mechanism 1 generally serves to actuate a charging, refueling or service cover 2 , in particular designed as a flap, on a charging, refueling or service compartment 3 which is received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle.

[0077] The charging, refueling or service cover 2 can be reversibly moved and in particular pivoted between a closed position and an open position relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment 3 , in particular electrically and, in an emergency, in particular manually, by means of an emergency release.

[0078] exist Figure 1 and Figure 10 In FIG, the charging, refueling or service cover 2 is shown in its closed position, while for example Figure 5 The charging, refueling or service cover 2 is shown in its open position.

[0079] In order to motorize the movement / pivoting of the charging, refueling or maintenance cover 2 , the actuating mechanism 1 has a drive, in particular in the form of an electric motor, for driving the corresponding drive shaft 4 .

[0080] In order to capture the corresponding movement of the drive shaft 4 driven by the drive device and to utilize this movement to actuate the various components of the actuating mechanism 1, the actuating mechanism 1 includes a mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device. The mechanical mechanism is configured to capture the rotational movement of the drive shaft 4 when the drive device is actuated and convert the rotational movement into a first movement for actuating the locking element 5 of the flap lock / lock mechanism and a second movement for moving, in particular pivoting, the charging, refueling, or service cover 2. The mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device is particularly configured to temporally coordinate the first and second movements, in particular by causing the first movement to occur first, followed by the second movement.

[0081] As shown in the figures, the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has a drive wheel operatively connected to the drive shaft 4, which drive wheel is at least partially or partially configured as a drive gear 13 with spur teeth.

[0082] In order to move and in particular pivot the charging, refueling or service cover 2 relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment 3, the charging, refueling or service cover 2 is associated with a corresponding pivot mechanism having a shaft extending along a pivot axis 14 of the charging, refueling or service cover 2 and a drive wheel 15 operatively connected thereto. The drive wheel 15 is likewise configured at least partially or partially as a gear with spur toothing.

[0083] As in Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in the figure, when the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2 is transferred from its closed position to its open position and vice versa by means of the drive device, the toothed portion of the drive gear 13 configured as a spur toothing portion is engaged with the spur toothing portion of the drive wheel 15 of the pivoting mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2.

[0084] The locking element 5 of the flap lock / lock of the actuating mechanism 1 is itself capable of being moved in the locked position (see for example Figure 1 ) and unlocked position (see for example Figure 3 ) is supported in a manner that it can pivot about a rotation axis relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment 3.

[0085] Although not shown in the figures, the locking element 5 is in particular associated with a prestressing element, for example in the form of a spring, which prestresses the locking element 5 into its locking position (see for example Figure 1 ).

[0086] In order to manipulate the locking element 5 as required, in particular to transfer the locking element 5 from its prestressed locking position to the unlocked position, the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device of the actuating mechanism 1 has a connecting and / or pushing rod 6. As shown in the figure, the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 is coupled to the locking element 5 via the end region of the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 facing the locking element 5.

[0087] On the other hand, the contact and / or push rod 6 is in operative connection with the drive shaft 4 or can be brought into operative connection with the drive shaft 4 by means of a releasable engagement.

[0088] For this purpose, the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has, in particular, a protrusion which is operatively connected to the drive shaft 4 and serves as a tappet element 7, which is in releasable engagement with a protruding area 8 of the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 or is capable of being releasably engaged therewith, so that when the drive shaft 4 rotates in a first rotational direction and through a first rotational angle range, the protrusion of the drive shaft 4 serving as a tappet element 7 pulls the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 in a direction away from the locking element 5 by at least a predetermined or determinable distance.

[0089] exist Figures 1 to 3 , respectively, show the following state: the projection of the drive shaft 4, which serves as a tappet element 7, is in engagement with the protruding area 8 of the connecting and / or pushing rod 6. It can be seen that when the drive shaft 4 rotates (here: counterclockwise), the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 is moved along by the engagement, so that the connecting and / or pushing rod is pulled in the direction away from the locking element 5.

[0090] The predetermined distance by which the contact and / or push rod 6 moves together with the projection of the drive shaft 4 acting as the tappet element 7 when the drive shaft 4 is rotated in the first rotational direction and through a first rotational angle range is selected so that in this case the locking element 5 is moved from its locking position (see Figure 1 ) to its unlocked position ( Figure 3 ) moves and in particular pivots.

[0091] You can also Figure 4 As can be seen from the illustration, the protrusion of the drive shaft 4 serving as the tappet element 7 is implemented so that: when the drive shaft 4 is further rotated beyond the first rotation angle range, the engagement between the protrusion of the drive shaft 4 serving as the tappet element 7 and the protruding area 8 of the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 is released.

[0092] Since the contact and / or push rod 6 is no longer in operative connection with the drive shaft 4, the locking element 5 moves back into its locking position due to the preload element (spring) associated with the locking element 5 (see Figure 4 ).

[0093] exist Figure 4 In the illustrated case, it can also be seen that the toothing of the drive gear 13 , which is configured as a spur toothing, engages with the toothing of a drive wheel 15 of the pivot mechanism, which is also designed as a spur toothing and is associated with the charging, refueling or maintenance cover 2 .

[0094] During further rotation of the drive shaft 4 (see Figure 5 ), due to the engagement of the drive gear 13 and the drive wheel 15 of the pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling and inspection cover 2, a torque is applied to the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2 through the drive shaft 4, thereby causing the charging, refueling or inspection cover to pivot to Figure 5 Shown in the open position.

[0095] In order to move the charging, refueling or maintenance cover 2 again from, for example, Figure 5 The open position shown is transferred back to its closed position, the rotational direction of the drive device is changed and the corresponding torque is transmitted by the meshing teeth formed between the drive gear 13 and the drive wheel 15 of the pivoting mechanism of the charging, refueling or maintenance cover 2.

[0096] Shortly before the charging, refueling or maintenance cover 2 reaches the closed position, the projection of the drive shaft 4 serving as tappet element 7 comes into contact with the contact and / or push rod 6 again, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 shown.

[0097] Here, the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 is at least partially flexible or elastic or has a flexible or elastically configured area, so that the projection serving as the tappet element 7 can slide over the protruding area 8 of the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 in order to thereby again be in releasable engagement with the protruding area 8 of the connecting and / or pushing rod 6, e.g. Figures 7 to 10 shown.

[0098] exist Figures 7 to 10 During the movement shown, the area 12 of the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2, which is arranged on the inside of the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2, strikes the locking element 5 and moves the locking element at least partially out of the locking position of the locking element 5 against the preload force of the preload element associated with the locking element 5, until the locking element 5 can jump back again and engage with the locking element 5 of the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2.

[0099] It is particularly provided here that the locking element 5 of the flip-top lock / latch is configured to engage with the locking element 9 of the charging, refueling or service cover 2 in its locked position when, and in particular only when, the charging, refueling or service cover 2 is in its closed position.

[0100] It can also be seen from the figures that the flip-top locking / locking element has an ejection element 11 configured as a projection which can be pushed together with the locking element 5 of the flip-top locking / locking element about the axis of rotation of the locking element 5 relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment 3 in a first, in particular sunken position (see for example Figure 1 ) with an exposed second position (see e.g. Figure 3 ) are supported in a pivoting manner between them.

[0101] In particular, when the locking element 5 is in its locking position, the ejection element 11 is in its (sunken) first position, wherein when the locking element 5 is moved towards its unlocking position, the ejection element 11 is moved towards its (exposed) second position.

[0102] Here, the ejection element 11 is preferably configured such that: when the ejection element 11 is transferred to its (exposed) second position, the ejection element 11 hits an area 12 of the charging, refueling or maintenance cover 2 arranged on the inside of the charging, refueling or maintenance cover 2 and, for this purpose, moves / is pushed from its closed position in the direction of the open position.

[0103] As also shown in the figures, in an exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism 1 of the present invention, the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 is associated with a bearing 10, in particular a bearing in the form of a radial sliding bearing, so as to guide the movement of the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment 3.

[0104] In the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings, it is particularly provided that the flap lock / latching element has a rotating body 16 that is supported so as to be pivotable relative to the charging, refueling, or service compartment 3 about the rotation axis of the locking element 5. This rotating body has a first lever arm region 17 that at least partially or partially forms the locking element 5; a second lever arm region 18 that at least partially or partially forms the ejection element 11; and a third lever arm region 19 to which the end region of the contact and / or push rod 6 facing the locking element 5 is articulated. The three lever arm regions 17, 18, 19 are rotatable relative to one another about a common rotation axis.

[0105] Also available from Figures 11 to 16 The view in FIG shows that the rotating body 16 of the flip cover lock / locking member also has a fourth lever arm area 20, to which a connecting and / or pushing element 21 of an emergency unlocking device that can be actuated manually is connected in an articulated manner, so that when the emergency unlocking device is actuated, the rotating body 16 can rotate with its lever arm areas 17, 18, 19, 20 around the rotation axis of the locking element 5.

[0106] In particular, it is provided here that the coupling and / or pushing element 21 of the manually actuatable emergency unlocking device has a freewheel 22 .

[0107] The free wheel 22 is particularly configured to enable a rotation of the rotating body 16 of the flip-top lock / locking piece around the rotation axis of the locking element 5 without having to introduce a force component into the connecting and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency unlocking device by means of the fourth lever arm area 20 of the rotating body 16, i.e., this force component will cause the connecting element 21 of the emergency unlocking device to move relative to the rotating body 16 of the flip-top lock / locking piece.

[0108] If you can Figures 11 to 16The illustration in shows that the freewheel 22 has an elongated hole guide arranged in the coupling and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency unlocking device, in which the pin element 23 or the slide of the fourth lever arm region 20 engages.

[0109] By pulling the connecting element 21 of the emergency unlocking device, the connecting and / or pushing element 21 can be moved a certain distance relative to the rotating body 16 of the flip cover lock / locking part, and the distance is limited by the long hole guide portion configured in the connecting and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency unlocking device. At the same time, there is no need for the connecting and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency unlocking device to introduce a force component, especially a tensile force component, into the rotating body 16 of the flip cover lock / locking part.

[0110] On the contrary, after crossing the distance defined by the elongated hole guide provided in the connecting and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency unlocking device, the tensile force component introduced into the connecting and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency unlocking device is introduced, in particular directly, into the rotating body 16 of the flap lock / locking member.

[0111] The connecting and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency unlocking device is also associated with a locking portion 24 for releasably locking the connecting element 21 in a certain position of the connecting element 21 after a distance determined by an elongated hole guide portion provided, in particular, in the connecting and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency unlocking device has been traveled.

[0112] from Figures 11 to 16 It can be seen from the overview of the diagram in that the drive gear 13 and in particular the toothing of the drive gear 13 configured as a spur gearing and the drive wheel 15 of the pivoting mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2 and in particular the toothing of the drive wheel 15 of the pivoting mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2 configured as a spur gearing are configured in such a way that: in the closed position of the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2, the rotation of the drive wheel 15 of the pivoting mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2 is not blocked, in particular not blocked by the drive gear 13, so that even without activating the drive device, the charging, refueling or inspection cover 2 can be transferred manually from its closed position to its open position, in particular when the locking element 5 has been moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position to its unlocked position by a preferably manually actuatable emergency unlocking device.

[0113] Furthermore, it can be seen that the releasable engagement between the projection of the drive shaft 4, which serves as the tappet element 7, and the projecting region 8 of the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 is selected such that the connecting and / or pushing rod 6 can be moved away from the locking element 5 even without a rotation of the drive shaft 4 in the first direction of rotation, in particular when the locking element 5 is moved and in particular pivoted from its locking position to its unlocking position by a manually actuatable emergency unlocking device (see Figure 12 and Figure 13 ).

[0114] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but rather emerges from an overview of all features disclosed herein.

[0115] List of Reference Numerals

[0116] 1 Actuating mechanism

[0117] 2 Charging, refueling or maintenance covers

[0118] 3 Compartments for charging, refueling or maintenance

[0119] 4 drive shaft

[0120] 5 Locking element for flap lock / locking element

[0121] 6 Contact and / or push rods

[0122] 7 Protrusion of the drive shaft serving as a tappet element

[0123] 8 Protruding area of the contact and / or push rod

[0124] 9 Locking elements for charging, refueling or maintenance covers

[0125] 10 Bearings for connecting and / or pushing rods

[0126] 11. Eject components

[0127] 12 Areas for ejecting components, charging, refueling or access covers

[0128] 13 Drive gear

[0129] 14 Pivot axis of the pivot mechanism for the charging, refueling or maintenance cover

[0130] 15 drive wheels

[0131] 16 Rotating element for flap lock / locking element

[0132] 17 First lever arm area of the rotating body

[0133] 18 Second lever arm area of the rotating body

[0134] 19 The third lever arm area of the rotating body

[0135] 20 The fourth lever arm area of the rotating body

[0136] 21 Contact and / or driving elements

[0137] 22 Freewheel

[0138] 23 pin components

[0139] 24 Locking part

Claims

1. An actuating mechanism (1) for actuating a charging, refueling or service cover (2), in particular embodied as a flap, at a charging, refueling or service compartment (3) received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the charging, refueling or service cover (2) is reversibly movable and in particular pivotable relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment (3) between a closed position and an open position, wherein the actuating mechanism (1) comprises: - a drive device, in particular in the form of an electric motor, for driving the drive shaft (4); and - a mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device, configured to intercept the rotational movement of the drive shaft (4) when the drive device is actuated and to convert the rotational movement into a first movement of a locking element (5) for actuating a flap lock / lock and a second movement for moving, in particular pivoting, the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2), wherein the locking element (5) is supported in such a manner that it can move relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment (3) between a locked position and an unlocked position and preferably pivot around a rotation axis, wherein in order to manipulate the locking element (5) as required, the mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has a connecting and / or push rod (6), wherein the connecting and / or push rod (6) is connected to the locking element (5) in particular by means of an end region of the connecting and / or push rod (6) facing the locking element (5), and wherein the connecting and / or push rod (6) is in operative connection with the drive shaft (4) or can be brought into operative connection therewith by means of a releasable engagement.

2. The actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 1, The mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has a protrusion operatively connected to the drive shaft (4) and serving as a push rod element (7), and the protrusion is in releasable engagement with a protruding area (8) of the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) or is capable of being releasably engaged therewith, so that when the drive shaft (4) rotates in a first rotational direction and rotates through a first rotational angle range, the protrusion of the drive shaft (4) serving as the push rod element (7) pulls the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) in a direction away from the locking element (5) by at least a predetermined or determinable distance, or slides it in a direction toward the locking element (5) by at least a predetermined or determinable distance.

3. The actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 2, The predetermined or determinable distance by which the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) moves together with or can move together with the protrusion of the drive shaft (4) serving as the push rod element (7) when the drive shaft (4) rotates in the first rotational direction and through the first rotational angle range is selected so that the locking element (5) moves and in particular pivots from its locking position to its unlocking position.

4. The actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 2 or 3, The protrusion of the drive shaft (4) serving as the tappet element (7) is configured so that: when the drive shaft (4) is further rotated beyond the first rotation angle range, the engagement between the protrusion of the drive shaft (4) serving as the tappet element (7) and the protruding area (8) of the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) is released.

5. Actuating mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, The releasable engagement between the protrusion of the drive shaft (4) serving as the push rod element (7) and the protruding area (8) of the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) is selected so that the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) can be moved in a direction away from the locking element (5) or in a direction towards the locking element (5) even when the drive shaft (4) is not rotated in the first rotational direction, in particular when the locking element (5) is moved and in particular pivoted from its locking position to its unlocking position by means of a preferably manually actuatable emergency unlocking device.

6. Actuating mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, The protrusion of the drive shaft (4) serving as the push rod element (7) and / or the protruding area (8) of the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) are flexibly and in particular elastically configured in such a way that the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) can be moved in a direction away from the locking element (5) or in a direction towards the locking element (5) even when the drive shaft (4) is not rotated in the first rotational direction, in particular when the locking element (5) is moved and in particular pivoted from its locking position to its unlocking position by means of a preferably manually actuatable emergency unlocking device.

7. Actuating mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The locking element (5) is associated with a prestressing element, in particular a prestressing element in the form of a spring, which prestresses the locking element (5) into its locking position.

8. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 7, The connecting and / or pushing rod (6) is at least partially configured as flexible or elastic or has a flexible or elastically configured area, so that the charging, refueling or maintenance cover (2) can be manually transferred from its open position to its closed position and the locking element (5) can be manually transferred from its spring-loaded locking position to its unlocked position.

9. Actuating mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The locking element (5) is configured to be in engagement with the locking element (5) of the charging, refueling or service cover (2) in its locked position when, and in particular only when, the charging, refueling or service cover (2) is in its closed position.

10. Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, The connecting and / or pushing rod (6) is associated with a bearing (10), in particular a bearing in the form of a radial sliding bearing, for guiding the movement of the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment (3).

11. Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, The flap lock / latching member has an ejection element (11) which is configured in particular as a projection and is supported so as to be pivotable together with the locking element (5) about the axis of rotation of the locking element (5) relative to the charging, refueling or service compartment (3) between a first, in particular sunken position and a second, in particular exposed position, wherein When the locking element (5) is in its locking position, the ejection element (11) is in its first, particularly sunken position, and when the locking element (5) is moved to its unlocking position, the ejection element (11) is moved to its second, particularly exposed position, wherein the ejection element (11) is designed so that: when the ejection element (11) is moved to its second, particularly exposed position, the ejection element (11) hits an area (12) of the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2) that is particularly arranged on the inside of the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2) and thereby moves the charging, refueling or inspection cover from its closed position to its open position.

12. Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, The mechanical mechanism associated with the drive device has a drive wheel operatively connected to the drive shaft (4), the drive wheel being configured at least partially or partially as a drive gear (13) with a toothed portion, in particular a spur toothed portion, wherein in order to move and in particular pivot the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2) relative to the charging, refueling or inspection compartment (3), the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2) is associated with a pivot mechanism having a pivot axis (14) extending along the pivot axis of the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2). The invention relates to a shaft extending from the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2) together with a drive wheel (15) operatively connected thereto, the drive wheel being configured at least partially or partially as a gear with a toothing, in particular a spur toothing, wherein during the transfer of the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2) from its closed position to its open position and in the opposite direction by means of the drive device, the toothing of the drive gear (13), in particular embodied as a spur toothing, is in engagement with the toothing of the drive wheel (15), in particular embodied as a spur toothing, of the pivoting mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2).

13. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 12, The drive gear (13), and in particular the toothed portion of the drive gear (13), which is in particular configured as a spur toothed portion, and the drive wheel (15) of the pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2), and in particular the toothed portion of the drive wheel (15) of the pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2), which is in particular implemented as a spur toothed portion, are configured so that they engage with each other only when the protrusion of the drive shaft (4) serving as the tappet element (7) is rotated through the first rotation angle range.

14. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 12 or 13, The drive gear (13), and in particular the toothed portion of the drive gear (13), which is in particular implemented as a spur gear portion, and the drive wheel (15) of the pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2), and in particular the toothed portion of the drive wheel (15), which is in particular implemented as a spur gear portion, are configured so that: in the closed position of the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2), the rotation of the drive wheel of the pivot mechanism associated with the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2) is not blocked, in particular not blocked by the drive gear (13), so that even without activating the drive device, the charging, refueling or inspection cover (2) can be transferred manually from its closed position to its open position, in particular when the locking element (5) has been moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position to its unlocked position by a preferably manually actuatable emergency unlocking device.

15. An actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14 and claim 11, wherein the flip-top lock / locking member has a rotating body (16) supported in a manner that can pivot around the rotation axis of the locking element (5) relative to the charging, refueling or maintenance compartment (3), and the rotating body has: a first lever arm area (17), which at least partially or partially forms the locking element (5); a second lever arm area (18), which at least partially or partially forms the ejection element (11); and a third lever arm area (19), to which the end area of the connecting and / or pushing rod (6) facing the locking element (5) is connected in an articulated manner.

16. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 15, The rotating body (16) of the flap lock / locking element further comprises a fourth lever arm region (20), and a connecting element (21) of a manually actuable emergency unlocking device is connected to the fourth lever arm region in an articulated manner, so that when the emergency unlocking device is actuated, the rotating body (16) can be rotated with its lever arm regions (17, 18, 19, 20) about the rotation axis of the locking element (5).

17. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 16, The connecting element (21) of the emergency unlocking device, which can be activated in particular manually, has a free wheel (22), which is configured to enable the rotating body (16) of the flip cover lock / locking part to be rotated around the rotation axis of the locking element (5) without the need to introduce a force component into the connecting element (21) of the emergency unlocking device by means of a fourth lever arm area (20) of the rotating body (16), which force component will cause the connecting element (21) of the emergency unlocking device to move relative to the rotating body (16) of the flip cover lock / locking part.

18. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 17, The freewheel (22) has an elongated hole guide, which is arranged in particular in the coupling element (21) of the emergency unlocking device, and in which a pin element (23) or a slide in the region of the fourth lever arm engages.

19. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 18, The contact element (21) of the emergency unlocking device can be pulled to move the contact element (21) relative to the rotating body (16) of the flip cover lock / locking part by a certain distance, the distance being defined by the long hole guide configured in particular in the contact element (21) of the emergency unlocking device, while the contact element (21) of the emergency unlocking device does not need to be used to introduce a force component, in particular a tensile force component, into the rotating body (16) of the flip cover lock / locking part, wherein, on the contrary, after crossing the distance defined by the long hole guide configured in particular in the contact element (21) of the emergency unlocking device, the tensile force component introduced into the contact element (21) of the emergency unlocking device is introduced in particular directly into the rotating body (16) of the flip cover lock / locking part.

20. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 19, The contact element (21) of the emergency unlocking device is associated with a locking portion (24) for releasably locking the contact element (21) in its position after crossing the distance defined by the long hole guide portion, which is particularly configured in the contact element (21) of the emergency unlocking device.

Images