Electric stay bar device and vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides an electric supporting rod device and a vehicle. The electric supporting rod device comprises a first ball socket; the second ball socket and the first ball socket are arranged at an interval; the connecting pipe is connected with the first ball socket; the inner protection pipe is fixed with the second ball socket; the inner protection pipe is telescopically connected with the connecting pipe in the axial direction of the connecting pipe; the driver is arranged between the first ball socket and the connecting pipe and is used for driving the connecting pipe to do telescopic motion relative to the inner protection pipe; the air spring is arranged in an inner cavity of the connecting pipe and an inner cavity of the inner protective pipe in a sleeved mode, one of a cylinder barrel of the air spring and a piston rod of the air spring is fixed to the inner protective pipe, the other one of the cylinder barrel and the piston rod is connected with the connecting pipe, the air spring is adopted for providing supporting force, the performance is stable, and the service life of the air spring is prolonged. And the tail door can be effectively lifted and stably operated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive technology, specifically relating to an electric strut device and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the automotive industry, consumers' demands for the automotive experience are constantly increasing. As a frequently used feature, the tailgate has gradually evolved from manual opening and closing to electric opening and closing. The tailgate support system, consisting of dual electric struts or one electric strut and one stabilizer bar, plays a crucial role in realizing the electric lifting and supporting functions of the tailgate, serving as the actuator.

[0003] Currently, the internal structure of an electric tailgate support rod basically consists of a motor gearbox assembly, a lead screw, a lead screw sleeve, and a mechanical spring. The motor gearbox assembly provides the kinetic energy for the electric lifting and lowering of the tailgate. The lead screw and lead screw sleeve work together to convert the radial rotational motion of the motor gearbox into the extension and retraction motion of the electric tailgate support rod. The mechanical spring provides support force to balance the weight of the tailgate. With the increasing popularity of electric tailgates, the overall quality requirements for the tailgate support system have increased. During use, the mechanical spring is prone to corrosion and breakage, leading to the tailgate losing its electric lifting and lowering function. Furthermore, the mechanical spring produces a "gurgling" friction noise during compression and extension, and a "clicking" noise as the spring releases potential energy and strikes the tube wall. Additionally, due to poor radial stiffness, there is a subjective perception of significant lateral swaying of the electric tailgate support rod when the tailgate is fully open.

[0004] Therefore, an electric strut device and vehicle are needed to improve the quality of the electric strut. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address some or all of the aforementioned technical problems in the prior art, this invention proposes an electric strut device and a vehicle. This electric strut device uses a gas spring to provide support force, offering stable performance, ensuring effective tailgate lifting and lowering, smooth operation, effectively preventing abnormal noises, reducing fatigue, and extending service life.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an electric strut device is provided, comprising:

[0007] First ball hole,

[0008] The second ball socket is arranged at intervals from the first ball socket.

[0009] The connecting pipe connected to the first ball socket,

[0010] An inner protective tube fixed to the second ball socket, the inner protective tube and the connecting tube being telescopically connected in the axial direction of the connecting tube.

[0011] A driver, disposed between the first ball socket and the connecting tube, is used to drive the connecting tube to extend and retract relative to the inner protective tube.

[0012] A gas spring is fitted inside the connecting pipe and the inner protective pipe. One of the gas spring cylinder and the gas spring piston rod is fixed to the inner protective pipe, and the other of the cylinder and the piston rod is connected to the connecting pipe.

[0013] In one embodiment, the driver is a motor gearbox, which drives the connecting pipe to rotate around its own axis, and the inner end of the inner protective tube is sleeved on the inner end of the connecting pipe and threaded together.

[0014] In one embodiment, a bearing assembly is provided between the outer end of the connecting pipe and the cylinder. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and a bearing housing that is interference-fitted with the bearing. The connecting pipe is fixedly connected to the bearing housing, and the outer end of the cylinder is interference-fitted with the inner ring of the bearing.

[0015] In one embodiment, the outer end of the connecting pipe is welded to the bearing housing, and the inner side of the connecting pipe is interference-fitted with the outer ring of the bearing.

[0016] In one embodiment, a central ring is provided between the connecting pipe and the cylinder, which is fitted onto the outer wall of the cylinder.

[0017] In one embodiment, the motor gearbox is connected to a connecting shaft, and the connecting shaft is fixed to the bearing housing with plastic coating.

[0018] In one embodiment, a damper is provided axially between the driver and the bearing assembly, the damper being circumferentially snap-fitted onto the outer wall of the connecting shaft.

[0019] In one embodiment, a metal sleeve is fitted onto the outer wall of the driver, with one end of the metal sleeve connected to the first ball socket and the other end riveted to the damper.

[0020] In one embodiment, an outer protective tube is fitted onto the outer wall of the connecting tube, the inner end of the inner protective tube extends into the inner cavity of the outer protective tube, and the outer protective tube is engaged with the first ball socket.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided, comprising:

[0022] The aforementioned electric strut device,

[0023] Tailgate

[0024] Vehicle body,

[0025] One of the first ball joint and the second ball joint is connected to the tailgate and the other is connected to the vehicle body.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: In the electric strut device of this application, the length of the electric strut device is changed by the extension and retraction of the connecting pipe relative to the inner protective pipe, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the vehicle tailgate. Gas springs are provided in the inner cavities of the connecting pipe and the inner protective pipe, thereby providing stable support and suspension function for the extension and retraction of the electric strut device, ensuring that the adjustment process is smooth and controllable. In addition, gas springs have a longer lifespan, lower maintenance costs, and more stable function than mechanical springs, effectively ensuring the long-term stable operation of the tailgate. The electric strut device of this application also utilizes the better flexibility and buffering performance of gas springs to avoid abnormal noise, provide stable support force, and improve customer experience. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 A structural appearance diagram of an electric strut device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0029] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of an electric strut device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0030] Figure 3 For those from Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A;

[0031] Figure 4 For those from Figure 2 Enlarged view of point B;

[0032] Figure 5 For those from Figure 2 Enlarged view of point C.

[0033] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0034] 1. Wire harness housing; 2. First ball socket; 3. Metal sleeve; 4. Driver; 5. Damper; 6. Bearing assembly; 7. Gas spring; 8. Outer protective tube; 9. Inner protective tube; 10. Second ball socket; 2.1. First ball socket body; 2.2. First ball socket retaining ring; 6.1. Connecting shaft; 6.2. Bearing housing; 6.3. Bearing; 6.4. Connecting pipe; 6.5. Centering ring; 7.1. Cylinder; 7.2. Piston rod; 10.1. Second ball socket body; 10.2. Second ball socket retaining ring; 10.3. Metal insert.

[0035] In the accompanying drawings, the same parts use the same reference numerals. The drawings are not drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not an exhaustive list of all embodiments. Furthermore, without conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0037] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," and "down" refer to directions in the accompanying drawings. The terms "inner" and "outer" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances. This application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0039] An embodiment of the present invention provides an electric strut device. For example... Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the electric strut device 100 includes a first ball socket 2, a second ball socket 10, a connecting pipe 6.4, an inner protective tube 9, a driver 4, and a gas spring 7. The first ball socket 2 and the second ball socket 10 are spaced apart, one connected to the vehicle body and the other to the tailgate, thus allowing the electric strut device 100 to be installed between the vehicle body and the tailgate. The connecting pipe 6.4 is connected to the first ball socket 2. The inner protective tube 9 is fixed to the second ball socket 10. Simultaneously, the inner protective tube 9 and the connecting pipe 6.4 are axially telescopically connected, allowing the first ball socket 2 and the second ball socket 10 to move away from and towards each other, thereby opening and closing the tailgate. The driver is located between the first ball socket 2 and the connecting pipe 6.4, providing power to drive the connecting pipe 6.4 to telescopically move relative to the inner protective tube 9. The gas spring 7 is sleeved within the inner cavities of the connecting pipe 6.4 and the inner protective tube 9. Structurally, the gas spring 7 includes a cylinder 7.1 and a piston rod 7.2. The outer end of one of the cylinder 7.1 and piston rod 7.2 is fixed to the inner protective tube 9, and the outer end of the other is connected to the connecting tube 6.4. The gas spring 7 matches the extension and retraction of the connecting tube 6.4 and the inner protective tube 9, and extends and retracts accordingly to provide support force.

[0040] Therefore, in the electric strut device of this application, the length of the electric strut device 100 is changed by the extension and retraction of the connecting pipe 6.4 relative to the inner protective pipe 9, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the vehicle tailgate. A gas spring 7 is installed in the inner cavity of the connecting pipe 6.4 and the inner protective pipe 9, providing stable support and suspension for the extension and retraction of the electric strut device 100, ensuring a smooth and controllable adjustment process. The gas spring 7 has a longer lifespan, lower maintenance costs, and more stable function compared to mechanical springs, effectively ensuring long-term stable operation of the tailgate. Furthermore, the electric strut device 100 of this application utilizes the better flexibility and cushioning performance of the gas spring 7 to avoid abnormal noise and improve customer experience. In addition, the gas spring 7 supports adjustment of internal air pressure to change the support force, adapting to different loads and providing stable support force. It is evident that this application, by utilizing the gas spring 7, can solve the problems of easy failure, abnormal noise, and shaking inherent in traditional mechanical springs, effectively improving the product performance and perceived quality of the automotive electric tailgate.

[0041] The driver 4 is a motor gearbox. The motor gearbox drives the connecting pipe 6.4 to rotate around its own axis. The inner end of the inner protective pipe 9 is sleeved onto the inner end of the connecting pipe 6.4 and threaded. During operation, the motor gearbox drives the connecting pipe 6.4 to rotate, causing the inner protective pipe 9 to extend and retract relative to the connecting pipe 6.4. It can be seen that the electric strut device 100 of this application uses a screw-type transmission to achieve length extension and retraction. This design can withstand large pushing and pulling forces, ensuring stable opening and closing of the tailgate. In addition, this transmission method increases the meshing contact surface, disperses the load and reduces impact vibration, resulting in low operating noise and ensuring a better customer experience.

[0042] It is easy to understand that the positions of cylinder 7.1 and piston rod 7.2 can be interchanged, both serving a supporting and buffering function. However, in this application, cylinder 7.1 is positioned at... Figure 1 The left end is for elaboration. A bearing assembly 6 is provided between the outer end of the connecting pipe 6.4 and the cylinder 7.1. The bearing assembly 6 includes a bearing 6.3 and a bearing housing 6.2, with the outer ring of the bearing housing 6.2 and the bearing 6.3 having an interference fit. The bearing 6.3 can be a ball bearing. The connecting pipe 6.4 is fixedly connected to the bearing housing 6.2. The outer end of the cylinder 7.1 has an interference fit with the inner ring of the bearing 6.3. During the rotation of the connecting pipe 6.4, the outer ring of the bearing 6.3 and the bearing housing 6.2 rotate with the connecting pipe 6.4, while the inner ring of the bearing 6.3 remains stationary with the cylinder 7.1. It can be seen that by setting the bearing assembly, it can be ensured that while the connecting pipe 6.4 rotates with the motor gearbox, the gas spring 7 does not rotate with the connecting pipe 6.4.

[0043] Preferably, the outer end of the connecting pipe 6.4 is welded to the bearing housing 6.2. The inner side of the connecting pipe 6.4 is interference-fitted with the outer ring of the bearing 6.3. This arrangement ensures a high-rigidity connection between the connecting pipe 6.4, the bearing housing 6.2, and the outer ring of the bearing 6.3, guaranteeing simultaneous rotational movement of all three components.

[0044] A centering ring 6.5 is provided between the connecting pipe 6.4 and the cylinder 7.1. This centering ring 6.5 can be sleeved and fixed to the inner wall of the connecting pipe 6.4, rotating relative to the cylinder 7.1 along with the connecting pipe 6.4. Alternatively, the centering ring 6.5 can be sleeved and fixed to the cylinder 7.1, moving relative to the connecting pipe 6.4. The centering ring 6.5 provides support and isolation, preventing contact friction and abnormal noise between the connecting pipe 6.4 and the cylinder 7.1. Furthermore, the centering ring 6.5 can adjust for positional deviations in real time, ensuring the coaxiality of the connecting pipe 6.4 and the cylinder 7.1, thereby effectively controlling the lateral sway of the electric strut device.

[0045] Preferably, the centering ring 6.5 can be made of self-lubricating materials such as nylon 66 or PEEK, forming an oil film during rotation, resulting in a low coefficient of friction, significantly reducing energy consumption, and protecting the cylinder 7.1 or connecting pipe 6.4 to reduce wear.

[0046] The motor gearbox is connected to a connecting shaft 6.1. For example, the connecting shaft 6.1 is threadedly connected to the motor gearbox. The connecting shaft 6.1 is fixed to the bearing housing 6.2. It is evident that the motor gearbox transmits power to the connecting shaft 6.1, causing it to rotate, which in turn drives the bearing housing 6.2 to rotate. For example, the connecting shaft 6.1 and the bearing housing 6.2 are fixed with a plastic coating. This plastic coating process allows the connecting shaft 6.1 and the bearing housing 6.2 to be tightly bonded, forming a gapless, rigid whole, thus increasing tensile strength.

[0047] A damper 5 is disposed between the driver 4 and the bearing assembly. For example, this damper 5 can be a friction plate damper. The damper 5 is circumferentially snap-fitted onto the outer wall of the connecting shaft 6.1. For example, the damper 5 is spline-engaged with the connecting shaft 6.1. The connecting shaft 6.1 generates a stable damping torque as it rotates with the motor gearbox; that is, the damper 5 produces a damping effect. In practical applications, the friction force can be adjusted by changing the number of friction plates on the damper to meet different design requirements.

[0048] A metal sleeve 3 is fitted onto the outer wall of the actuator 4. This metal sleeve 3 is made of metal. One end of the metal sleeve 3 is connected to the first ball socket 2, for example, by riveting; the other end is connected to the damper 5, for example, by riveting. The metal sleeve 3 serves to protect the actuator 4 within its internal cavity. Furthermore, the riveting of both ends of the metal sleeve 3 to the first ball socket 2 and the damper 5 respectively allows for rapid assembly of the metal sleeve 3, ensuring connection stability under high-frequency vibration.

[0049] An outer protective tube 8 is fitted onto the outer wall of the metal sleeve 3. The inner end of the inner protective tube 9 extends into the inner cavity of the outer protective tube 8. The outer protective tube 8 is engaged with the first ball socket 2. The outer protective tube 8 is a cylindrical long tube structure. The outer protective tube 8 is an injection molded part. The surface of the outer protective tube 8 can be textured. It is assembled with the first ball socket 2 to protect the internal mechanism and enhance the appearance. The inner protective tube 9 itself is a cylindrical long tube structure. The inner protective tube 9 is an injection molded part. The surface of the inner protective tube 9 can be textured. In addition, as mentioned above, the outer end of the inner protective tube 9 is assembled with the second ball socket 10 at the right end of the electric strut device, and the inner end is threaded with the connecting pipe 6.4 to realize the telescopic movement of the electric strut device.

[0050] A wire harness housing 1 is also provided on the first ball socket 2. The wire harness housing 1 itself can be constructed as a cylindrical long tube structure. For example, the wire harness housing 1 is an injection molded part made of EPDM. After passing through the first ball socket 2, the wire harness housing 1 is snapped into the outer shell of the motor gearbox. The wire harness housing 1 contains a wire harness, one end of which is connected to a connector and connected to the vehicle body wire harness, and the other end of which is connected to a circuit board. The circuit board is connected to the motor gearbox, forming an electrical transmission path.

[0051] The outer assembly of the motor gearbox is also constructed as a cylindrical long tube structure, with one side assembled with the wire harness housing 1 and the other side assembled with the damper 5 and bearing assembly.

[0052] The gas spring 7 can be a compression gas spring, providing unidirectional support force through, for example, nitrogen pressure. Additionally, the cylinder 7.1 and piston rod 7.2 can be designed with limiting structures to limit the maximum extension length of the electric strut device. It is readily understood that those skilled in the art can select different models of gas springs to adjust the support force according to actual needs, meeting the requirements of practical applications.

[0053] The second ball socket 10 includes a second ball socket body 10.1, a second ball socket retaining spring 10.2, and a metal insert 10.3. The metal insert 10.3 is plastic-coated with the second ball socket body 10.1, and the second ball socket retaining spring 10.2 is snapped into the second ball socket body 10.1. The second ball socket retaining spring 10.2 is used to fix the bracket ball pin. This bracket ball pin is fixed to the vehicle body or tailgate, thereby fixing one end of the electric strut device. The inner protective tube 9 is fixed to the second ball socket 10, for example, by welding; the piston rod 7.2 is riveted to the metal insert 10.3.

[0054] The first ball socket 2 is a cylindrical structure. It is an injection-molded part with a groove at its axial end near the second ball socket 10 for riveting with the metal sleeve 3. Two undercuts in the middle axial direction engage with the outer protective tube 8 for fixation. This design of the first ball socket 2 is simple and facilitates connection with the metal sleeve 3 and the outer protective tube 8. Structurally, the first ball socket 2 also includes a first ball socket body 2.1 and a first ball socket retainer 2.2 that is snapped onto the first ball socket body 2.1. The first ball socket retainer 2.2 is used to fix the ball pin of the bracket, thereby securing the electric strut device at the end of the first ball socket 2 to the vehicle body or tailgate.

[0055] As can be seen, the first ball joint 2 and the second ball joint 10 are connecting parts, serving to connect the electric strut device to the vehicle body and the tailgate. Of course, the electric strut device can be selected from existing ball joints, and the connection relationship between the ball joint and other components can be adaptively adjusted by those skilled in the art according to the actual situation.

[0056] The following is based on Figures 1 to 5 Describe in detail the working principle of the electric strut device.

[0057] One of the first socket 2 and the second socket 9 of the electric strut device is connected to the vehicle body, and the other is connected to the tailgate, thereby installing the electric strut device in place and positioning it between the vehicle body and the tailgate.

[0058] The starter motor gearbox rotates the connecting shaft 6.1, which in turn rotates the bearing housing 6.2. The bearing housing 6.2 then rotates the connecting pipe 6.4. Since the connecting pipe 6.4 is threadedly connected to the inner protective pipe 9, the inner protective pipe 9 and the connecting pipe 6.4 extend relative to each other, increasing the distance between the first ball socket 2 and the second ball socket 9, thus opening the tailgate. During the rotation of the connecting pipe 6.4, the damper 5 generates a damping force. During the relative extension of the inner protective pipe 9 and the connecting pipe 6.4, the cylinder 7.1 and piston rod 7.2 of the gas spring 7 also extend relative to each other. Conversely, the starter motor gearbox moves in the opposite direction, rotating the connecting shaft 6.1, which in turn rotates the bearing housing 6.2. The bearing housing 6.2 then rotates the connecting pipe 6.4. Since the connecting pipe 6.4 is threadedly connected to the inner protective pipe 9, the inner protective pipe 9 and the connecting pipe 6.4 shorten relative to each other, decreasing the distance between the first ball socket 2 and the second ball socket 9, thus closing the tailgate. During the rotation of the connecting pipe 6.4, the damper 5 generates a damping force. During the relative shortening motion of the inner protective pipe 9 and the connecting pipe 6.4, the cylinder 7.1 and piston rod 7.2 of the gas spring 7 also shorten relatively.

[0059] This application also relates to a vehicle. The vehicle includes the aforementioned electric strut device, a tailgate, and a vehicle body. One of the first ball joint 2 and the second ball joint 10 is connected to the tailgate, while the other is connected to the vehicle body. Thus, the electric strut device is positioned between the tailgate and the vehicle body. It is understood that two electric strut devices of this application can be installed between the vehicle body and the tailgate, or one electric strut device can be installed in conjunction with a stabilizer bar.

[0060] The electric strut device with a built-in gas spring enables automatic raising and lowering of the car tailgate and maintains its hovering function. It also provides adjustable support force with a wide adjustable range to meet the support force development needs of tailgates of different weights. This invention eliminates the mechanical spring, mechanical spring support tube, lead screw, and lead screw guide, solving problems such as mechanical spring corrosion and breakage, large lateral sway, friction "gurgling" noise, and knocking "clicking" noise that exist in traditional electric struts. This effectively improves the product performance and perceived quality of the car's electric tailgate.

[0061] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and / or modifications falling within the scope of the invention, and all changes and / or modifications made according to embodiments of the invention should be covered within the protection scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An electric strut device, characterized in that, include: First ball hole, The second ball socket is arranged at intervals from the first ball socket. The connecting pipe connected to the first ball socket, An inner protective tube fixed to the second ball socket, the inner protective tube and the connecting tube being telescopically connected in the axial direction of the connecting tube. A driver, disposed between the first ball socket and the connecting tube, is used to drive the connecting tube to extend and retract relative to the inner protective tube. A gas spring is fitted inside the connecting pipe and the inner protective pipe. One of the gas spring cylinder and the gas spring piston rod is fixed to the inner protective pipe, and the other of the cylinder and the piston rod is connected to the connecting pipe.

2. The electric strut device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driver is a motor gearbox, which is used to drive the connecting pipe to rotate around its own axis. The inner end of the inner protective tube is sleeved on the inner end of the connecting pipe and threaded together.

3. The electric strut device according to claim 2, characterized in that, A bearing assembly is provided between the outer end of the connecting pipe and the cylinder. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and a bearing housing that is interference-fitted with the bearing. The connecting pipe is fixedly connected to the bearing housing, and the outer end of the cylinder is interference-fitted with the inner ring of the bearing.

4. The electric strut device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer end of the connecting pipe is welded to the bearing housing, and the inner side of the connecting pipe is interference-fitted with the outer ring of the bearing.

5. The electric strut device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, A central ring is provided between the connecting pipe and the cylinder, and is fitted onto the outer wall of the cylinder.

6. The electric strut device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The motor gearbox is connected to a connecting shaft, which is fixed to the bearing housing with plastic coating.

7. The electric strut device according to claim 6, characterized in that, A damper is provided between the driver and the bearing assembly in the axial direction, and the damper is circumferentially snap-fitted onto the outer wall of the connecting shaft.

8. The electric strut device according to claim 7, characterized in that, A metal sleeve is fitted onto the outer wall of the driver, with one end of the metal sleeve connected to the first ball socket and the other end riveted to the damper.

9. The electric strut device according to claim 8, characterized in that, An outer protective tube is fitted onto the outer wall of the connecting tube, and the inner end of the inner protective tube extends into the inner cavity of the outer protective tube. The outer protective tube is engaged with the first ball socket.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, include: The electric strut device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Tailgate Vehicle body, One of the first ball joint and the second ball joint is connected to the tailgate and the other is connected to the vehicle body.

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