A lid actuator

Abstract

This invention discloses a cover actuator, comprising a housing, a locking rod, and a slip ring. One end of the locking rod rotatably passes through a connecting hole on the housing and is then positioned within the housing cavity via an elastic element. The slip ring is sleeved on the locking rod and rotatably mounted within the housing cavity. A guide groove, a circulation groove, and a slot are formed on the peripheral wall of the locking rod. A guide block cooperating with the guide groove is provided on the inner wall of the housing. A slider cooperating with the circulation groove of the locking rod is provided on the inner ring of the slip ring. A locking tongue, a drive mechanism, and a manual unlocking mechanism are installed within the housing cavity. The locking tongue is slidably connected to the housing. The drive mechanism is adapted to drive the locking tongue into or out of the locking rod slot via a transmission element, thereby locking or unlocking the cover. The manual unlocking mechanism is rotatably mounted on the housing and is adapted to drive the locking tongue out of the slot via a transmission element. This invention, through the cooperation between the housing, the locking rod, and the slip ring, enables the locking rod to lock or unlock the cover. The locking rod experiences balanced force, resulting in smooth and stable operation, effectively protecting the slip ring and extending its service life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive cover technology, and more specifically to a cover actuator. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the energy sources commonly used in vehicles include fuel (oil or gas) and electricity. Accordingly, vehicles need to be equipped with fuel tanks or battery boxes to store energy and ensure the vehicle's driving range. The fuel tank and battery box are respectively equipped with fuel tank filling ports or charging ports, which are covered by fuel tank filling port caps (such as filler caps) or charging port caps.

[0003] Existing cap actuators have complex structures. Specifically, Chinese patent document CN221194660U describes a fuel tank cap switch device with an emergency unlocking mechanism. This fuel tank cap switch device uses components such as a heart-shaped cam, a flexible rocker arm, a semi-arched fork, a pivot pin, and a spring to control the reciprocating rotation of a rotating transmission pin. Its structure is complex, with numerous parts and high component requirements. The rotating transmission pin is prone to jamming and uneven movement; it is also relatively expensive. Furthermore, the smoothness and fluidity of the cap actuator's operation directly affect the driver's experience and significantly impact the lifespan of the cap actuator. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention proposes a lid actuator to solve the technical problem that existing lid actuators have unsmooth and unstable movements and short service life.

[0005] The present invention discloses a lid actuator, comprising a housing, a locking rod, and a slip ring;

[0006] After the first end of the locking rod rotates through the connecting hole on the housing, it is set in the inner cavity of the housing by an elastic element; the slip ring is sleeved on the locking rod and rotatably installed in the inner cavity of the housing; the peripheral wall of the locking rod is provided with a guide groove, a circulation groove and a slot;

[0007] The guide groove begins with a limiting section and ends with a spiral section; the inner wall of the housing is provided with a guide block that mates with the guide groove.

[0008] The circulation groove is formed by connecting a plurality of V-shaped grooves that are distributed at equal angles around the locking rod in sequence; the upper limit groove and the lower limit groove are provided opposite to each other on the two side walls at the beginning of the V-shaped groove, and the end of the groove is provided with a transition groove; the inner ring of the slip ring is provided with a slider that cooperates with the circulation groove, and the slider is adapted to slide in the circulation groove in a clockwise direction.

[0009] The inner cavity of the housing is equipped with a locking tongue, a drive mechanism, and a manual unlocking mechanism; the locking tongue is slidably connected to the housing; the drive mechanism is adapted to drive the locking tongue to insert into or disengage from the slot via a transmission component, so that the second end of the locking rod locks or unlocks the cover; the manual unlocking mechanism is rotatably mounted on the housing, with its first end exposed outside the housing and adapted to be connected to a pull rope, and its second end adapted to drive the locking tongue to disengage from the slot via a transmission component.

[0010] When the locking tongue disengages from the slot, the slider, under the action of the elastic element, slides from the lower limit groove to the upper limit groove and then along the upper limit groove to the lower corner of the V-shaped groove. The slider is also adapted to slide from the lower corner of the V-shaped groove to the transition groove, and then from the transition groove to the lower limit groove of the adjacent V-shaped groove, when the second end of the locking rod is pressed by an external force. Through the cooperation between the housing, the locking rod, and the slip ring, the locking rod can effectively lock or unlock the cover. The locking rod is subjected to balanced forces, its movement is smooth and stable, effectively protecting the slip ring and extending the service life of the cover actuator.

[0011] Optionally, the limiting section of the guide groove extends along the axial direction of the locking rod, and the end of the limiting section is connected to the beginning of the spiral section; the spiral section is evenly distributed circumferentially around the axis of the locking rod, and the end of the spiral section is an open end that extends to the first end face of the locking rod.

[0012] An assembly groove is provided between the limiting segment and the adjacent V-shaped groove; a transition slope is provided between the assembly groove and the V-shaped groove, and a transition slope is provided between the assembly groove and the limiting segment; the slider is adapted to slide from the open end of the spiral segment into the assembly groove, and then slide along the assembly groove into the V-shaped groove.

[0013] The slider is adapted to be positioned within the lower limiting groove when the guide block is placed at the end of the limiting section; the slider is adapted to be positioned within the upper limiting groove when the outer peripheral wall of the guide block abuts against the beginning of the limiting section, and to have a clearance fit with the upper limiting groove; the slider is adapted to be positioned at the lower corner of the V-groove when the guide block is placed at the end of the spiral section. This design reduces the assembly difficulty between the slip ring and the locking rod.

[0014] Optionally, the guide block has larger dimensions than the slider; the outer peripheral wall of the guide block is a conical surface. This design effectively protects the slider.

[0015] Optionally, there are at least two guide grooves, which are distributed at equal angles around the locking rod.

[0016] The guide grooves are distributed between two adjacent V-shaped grooves. This design improves the stability of the cover actuator.

[0017] Optionally, the slot, the circulation groove, and the guide groove are sequentially arranged on the locking rod along the axial direction of the locking rod;

[0018] The locking tongue, the slip ring, and the guide block are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the locking rod.

[0019] Optionally, the housing includes an upper cover, a lower shell, and a bottom plate connected sequentially along the axial direction of the locking rod; the upper cover, the lower shell, and the bottom plate together form a receiving cavity; the guide block is disposed on the inner wall of the lower shell;

[0020] The locking bar, the driving mechanism, and the manual unlocking mechanism are arranged sequentially along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking bar, and the locking tongue is located between the locking bar and the driving mechanism;

[0021] The first end of the locking rod passes through the connecting hole on the upper cover, and its first end peripheral wall is rotatably and slidably connected to the receiving cavity;

[0022] The slip ring is rotatably disposed inside the lower shell, and the end faces at both ends of the slip ring abut against the first end face of the upper cover and the stepped surface of the lower shell, respectively.

[0023] The locking tongue is slidably connected to the strip groove on the lower shell;

[0024] The manual unlocking mechanism is rotatably connected to the lower shell, with its first end exposed outside the lower shell. This design ensures effective cooperation between the locking rod, the drive mechanism, and the manual unlocking mechanism.

[0025] Optionally, the top cover includes a double-layer sealing soft rubber ring, a sealing cap, and a plug portion connected sequentially along the axial direction of the locking rod;

[0026] The first end of the locking rod passes through the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring, the sealing cover and the plug in sequence, and extends into the inner cavity of the lower shell;

[0027] The inner ring of the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring is provided with a first layer of seal, a second layer of seal, and a groove structure provided between the first layer of seal and the second layer of seal;

[0028] The first layer of seal and the second layer of seal are respectively interference-fitted with the peripheral wall of the locking rod;

[0029] The sealing cap is disposed on the second end face of the lower shell;

[0030] The insertion part is inserted into the inner cavity of the lower shell, and its first end face abuts against the slip ring. Using the above solution, the double-layer sealing structure can effectively prevent water and dust, thereby improving the service life of the cover actuator.

[0031] Optionally, the drive mechanism includes a transmission component, a drive device, and a control device; the transmission component, the locking tongue, and the drive device are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the locking rod.

[0032] Both the drive device and the control device are mounted on the housing;

[0033] The transmission component is a transmission turntable, which is rotatably mounted on the housing, and the axial direction of the transmission component is parallel to the axial direction of the locking rod; the transmission component has a toothed groove and a mating groove on the side near the driving device.

[0034] The output end of the drive device meshes with the tooth groove via a gear;

[0035] The locking tongue is rotatably and slidably connected to the mating groove via a connecting post;

[0036] The control device is adapted to control the drive device to drive the transmission component to rotate, so that the latch slides in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking rod. This scheme enables the drive device to drive the latch to slide.

[0037] Optionally, the manual unlocking mechanism includes a lever, a torsion spring, and a rope cantilever.

[0038] The lever extends axially along the locking rod and is rotatably mounted on the housing; the first end of the lever is exposed outside the housing, and the second end of the lever is provided with a lever block;

[0039] A torsion spring is provided between the lever and the housing;

[0040] The hanging rope cantilever is located outside the housing and is connected to the first end of the lever, suitable for connection with the pull rope;

[0041] The lever is adapted to separate from the transmission component under the action of the torsion spring when the pull rope is in a free state; the lever is also adapted to actuate the transmission component when the pull rope is in a pulled state, thereby driving the locking tongue to disengage from the slot. Using the above scheme, the locking tongue can be disengaged from the slot by manually pulling the pull rope.

[0042] Optionally, a positioning block is provided on the first end face of the locking rod;

[0043] The positioning block is adapted to be inserted into the positioning groove in the inner cavity of the housing when the guide block is placed at the end of the spiral segment. By employing the above scheme, the locking rod is limited by the cooperation between the positioning block and the positioning groove, thereby reducing the difficulty of inserting the locking tongue into the slot.

[0044] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0045] The cooperation between the housing, locking rod and slip ring enables the locking rod to effectively lock or unlock the cover. The locking rod is balanced in force, and its operation is smooth and stable, which effectively protects the slip ring and extends the service life of the cover actuator.

[0046] The cooperation between the guide groove and the guide block, and the cooperation between the circulation groove and the slider, ensures that the locking rod moves smoothly, has a self-centering function, and is also strong, has good impact resistance, high reliability, and long service life.

[0047] The cooperation between the guide groove and the guide block effectively protects the slip ring and extends its service life.

[0048] The combination of the housing, locking rod, slip ring, transmission components and manual unlocking mechanism enables manual unlocking in case of emergency. The manual unlocking mechanism has a simple structure, occupies little space, and effectively saves costs.

[0049] Dynamic waterproofing is achieved through the interference fit between the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring and the locking rod;

[0050] This cover actuator has few parts and a compact structure, which effectively reduces costs, saves space, and facilitates maintenance.

[0051] The above description of the disclosure and the following description of the embodiments are intended to demonstrate and explain the spirit and principles of the present invention, and to provide a further explanation of the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0052] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the lid actuator in this invention;

[0054] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the lid actuator in this invention;

[0055] Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of the lid actuator in this invention;

[0056] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the housing in this invention;

[0057] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the lower shell in this invention;

[0058] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the slip ring in this invention;

[0059] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the locking rod in this invention;

[0060] Figure 8This is a schematic diagram (a) showing the positions of the locking rod, guide block, and slider in this invention.

[0061] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram (II) showing the positions of the locking rod, guide block, and slider in this invention.

[0062] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission component and gear in this invention;

[0063] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing that the long side of the pressure tongue is aligned with the long side of the lock hole in this invention.

[0064] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram showing that the long side of the pressure tongue is perpendicular to the long side of the lock hole in this invention.

[0065] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0066] 1. Housing; 11. Top cover; 111. Double-layer sealing soft rubber ring; 112. Sealing cover; 113. Insertion part; 12. Lower housing; 121. Guide block; 122. Positioning groove; 123. Vertical rod; 124. Strip groove; 13. Base plate; 14. Connecting parts;

[0067] 2. Locking rod; 21. Guide groove; 22. Circulation groove; 23. Slot; 24. Upper limit groove; 25. Lower limit groove; 26. Transition groove; 27. Assembly groove; 28. Pressing tongue; 29. ​​Positioning block;

[0068] 3. Slip ring; 31. Sliding block;

[0069] 4. Elastic element; 41. First spring; 42. Second spring;

[0070] 5. Locking tongue; 51. Connecting post;

[0071] 6. Drive mechanism; 61. Transmission component; 611. Gear groove; 612. Mating groove; 62. Drive device; 63. Control device; 64. Gear;

[0072] 7. Manual unlocking mechanism; 71. Lever; 711. Pulley; 72. Torsion spring; 73. Cantilever arm with hanging rope; 74. Waterproof ring;

[0073] 8. Cover; 81. Lockhole. Detailed Implementation

[0074] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Although the description of the present invention is presented in conjunction with preferred embodiments, this does not mean that the features of the invention are limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the purpose of describing the invention in conjunction with embodiments is to cover other options or modifications that may be derived based on the claims of the present invention. To provide a deep understanding of the invention, many specific details will be included in the following description. The invention may also be implemented without using these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion or obscuring the focus of the invention, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0075] In the description of this embodiment, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship that the product of the invention is usually placed in during use. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0076] The terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0077] In the description of this embodiment, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "provided with," "set up," "connected," and "linked" 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 mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this embodiment based on the specific circumstances.

[0078] This application discloses a cover actuator suitable for controlling the unlocking or locking of a car cover.

[0079] Please see Figures 1 to 7 As shown, the cover actuator includes a housing 1, a locking rod 2, a slip ring 3, an elastic element 4, a locking tongue 5, a drive mechanism 6, and a manual unlocking mechanism 7.

[0080] The locking lever 2 has a first end and a second end that are arranged opposite to each other. The first end of the locking lever 2 rotatably passes through a connecting hole on the housing 1 and is disposed in the inner cavity of the housing 1 by an elastic member 4. A slip ring 3 is sleeved on the locking lever 2 and rotatably mounted in the inner cavity of the housing 1. A guide groove 21, a circulation groove 22, and a slot 23 are provided on the peripheral wall of the locking lever 2. A locking tongue 5, a drive mechanism 6, and a manual unlocking mechanism 7 are installed in the inner cavity of the housing 1. The locking tongue 5 is slidably connected to the housing 1. The drive mechanism 6 is disposed on the housing 1. The drive mechanism 6 is adapted to drive the locking tongue 5 to insert into or disengage from the slot 23 via a transmission member 61, so that the second end of the locking lever 2 locks or unlocks the cover 8. The manual unlocking mechanism 7 is rotatably disposed on the housing 1. The manual unlocking mechanism 7 has a first end and a second end that are arranged opposite to each other. The first end of the manual unlocking mechanism 7 is exposed outside the housing 1 and is adapted to connect a pull rope. The second end of the manual unlocking mechanism 7 is adapted to drive the locking tongue 5 out of the slot 23 via a transmission member 61.

[0081] The guide groove 21 begins as a limiting section and ends as a helical section. The end of the limiting section is connected to the beginning of the helical section. A guide block 121, which mates with the guide groove 21, is provided on the inner wall of the housing 1. Specifically, the guide block 121 slides with the guide groove 21 to guide the movement of the locking rod 2. When the guide block 121 engages with the helical section, the locking rod 2 rotates.

[0082] The circulation groove 22 includes multiple V-shaped grooves. Specifically, the multiple V-shaped grooves are distributed at equal angles around the locking rod 2, and are connected sequentially to form the circulation groove 22. Each V-shaped groove has a starting end, a lower corner, and an ending end. An upper limit groove 24 and a lower limit groove 25 are formed opposite each other on the side walls of the starting end of the V-shaped groove. A transition groove 26 is provided at the ending end of the V-shaped groove. The inner ring of the slip ring 3 has a slider 31 that mates with the circulation groove 22. The slider 31 is adapted to slide cyclically in a clockwise direction within the circulation groove 22.

[0083] When the locking tongue 5 disengages from the slot 23, the slider 31, under the action of the elastic element 4, slides from the lower limit slot 25 to the upper limit slot 24, and then slides along the upper limit slot 24 to the lower corner of the V-shaped slot. When the second end of the locking rod 2 is pressed by an external force, the slider 31 slides from the lower corner of the V-shaped slot to the transition slot 26, and then slides from the transition slot 26 to the lower limit slot 25 of the adjacent V-shaped slot.

[0084] In this embodiment, the second end face of the locking rod 2 is provided with a pressure tongue 28, which is located outside the housing 1. The cover 8 is provided with a locking hole 81 that matches the shape of the pressure tongue 28. The locking rod 2 locks or unlocks the cover 8 by rotating the pressure tongue 28 and the locking hole 81. The pressure tongue 28 includes, but is not limited to, a rectangular structure or a rod-shaped structure. Preferably, the pressure tongue 28 is a rectangular plate, and the locking hole 81 is a rectangular hole.

[0085] In this embodiment, the working principle of the cover actuator is as follows:

[0086] When the lid actuator is in the locked state, the long side of the pressure tongue 28 is perpendicular to the long side of the lock hole 81 (e.g., Figure 12 As shown), that is, the latch 28 locks the cover 8; at this time, the latch 5 is inserted into the slot 23, the guide block 121 is placed at the end of the limiting section, and the slider 31 is placed in the lower limiting groove 25 (as shown). Figure 8 (As shown).

[0087] During the process of the cap actuator switching from the locked state to the free state, the drive mechanism 6 or the manual unlocking mechanism 7 drives the locking tongue 5 to disengage from the slot 23. The locking rod 2, slider 31, and guide block 121 move relative to each other under the action of the elastic element 4. The second end of the locking rod 2 moves axially away from the housing 1. Specifically, the slider 31 slides from the lower limiting groove 25 to the upper limiting groove 24, while the guide block 121 slides from the end of the limiting section to the beginning of the limiting section (e.g., ...). Figure 8 and Figure 9 (As shown); slider 31 then slides from the upper limit groove 24 to the lower corner of the V-shaped groove, while guide block 121 slides from the beginning of the limiting section to the end of the spiral section (as shown). Figure 7 (As shown). When the guide block 121 engages with the spiral section, the locking rod 2 rotates, causing the pressure tongue 28 to rotate, thereby aligning the long side of the pressure tongue 28 with the long side of the lock hole 81.

[0088] When the lid actuator is in the free state, the long side of the pressure tongue 28 is aligned with the long side of the lock hole 81 (e.g., Figure 11 As shown), the cover 8 can be separated from the latch 28; at this time, the latch 5 disengages from the slot 23, the guide block 121 is placed at the end of the spiral section, and the slider 31 is placed at the lower corner of the V-groove. At this time, the operator can pull out the cover 8 to separate the lock hole 81 from the latch 28.

[0089] During the transition from the free state to the locked state of the cap actuator, the operator presses the cap 8 down onto the pressure tongue 28 to insert the pressure tongue 28 into the lock hole 81. At this time, the pressure tongue 28 is indirectly pressed by the operator, causing the second end of the locking rod 2 to move axially towards the housing 1. Simultaneously, the slider 31 slides from the lower corner of the V-groove to the transition groove 26 at the end of the V-groove, while the guide block 121 slides from the end of the spiral section to the limiting section. Guided by the transition groove 26 and the elastic element 4, the slider 31 then slides from the transition groove 26 to the lower limiting groove 25 at the beginning of the adjacent V-groove, while the guide block 121 is positioned at the end of the limiting section. Afterward, the drive mechanism 6 drives the locking tongue 5 to insert into the slot 23. When the guide block 121 engages with the spiral section, the locking rod 2 rotates, causing the pressure tongue 28 to rotate, thus making the long side of the pressure tongue 28 perpendicular to the long side of the lock hole 81, i.e., the cap actuator is in the locked state.

[0090] The locking rod 2 and the slip ring 3 work together to lock or unlock the cover 8. The locking rod 2 is balanced in force and moves smoothly, effectively protecting the slip ring 3 and extending the service life of the cover actuator.

[0091] In this embodiment, the cover actuator is vertically positioned, and the axial direction of the locking rod 2 is vertical.

[0092] Please see Figures 1-5 As shown, the housing 1 includes an upper cover 11, a lower shell 12, and a bottom plate 13 connected sequentially from top to bottom (i.e., along the axial direction of the locking rod 2). The upper cover 11, lower shell 12, and bottom plate 13 together form a receiving cavity. The locking rod 2, the drive mechanism 6, and the manual unlocking mechanism 7 are arranged sequentially from left to right (i.e., along the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking rod 2). The locking tongue 5 is located between the locking rod 2 and the drive mechanism 6. The lower end of the locking rod 2 (i.e., the first end of the locking rod 2) passes through a connecting hole on the upper cover 11 and extends into the inner cavity of the lower shell 12. The lower end peripheral wall of the locking rod 2 is rotatably slidably connected to the receiving cavity. An elastic element 4 is provided at the lower end of the locking rod 2 and the bottom of the receiving cavity.

[0093] In this embodiment, the lower peripheral wall of the locking rod 2 is rotatably slidably connected to the upper cover 11 and the lower shell 12, respectively. The slip ring 3 is rotatably disposed on the lower shell 12 and located between the upper cover 11 and the lower shell 12. The upper cover 11 has a first end and a second end (i.e., a lower end and an upper end) disposed opposite to each other. The bottom surface of the upper cover 11 (i.e., the first end face of the upper cover 11) abuts against the top surface of the slip ring 3, and the stepped surface of the lower shell 12 abuts against the bottom surface of the slip ring 3. The guide block 121 is disposed on the lower shell 12 and located in the inner cavity of the lower shell 12. The locking tongue 5 is slidably connected to the strip groove 124 on the lower shell 12. The manual unlocking mechanism 7 is disposed inside the lower shell 12 and is rotatably connected to the lower shell 12. The lower end of the manual unlocking mechanism 7 (i.e., the first end of the manual unlocking mechanism 7) is exposed outside the lower shell 12 for connection with the pull rope.

[0094] For further details, please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the upper cover 11 includes a double-layer sealing soft rubber ring 111, a sealing cap 112, and a plug-in portion 113 connected sequentially from top to bottom (i.e., along the axial direction of the locking rod 2). The lower end of the locking rod 2 passes through the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring 111, the sealing cap 112, and the plug-in portion 113 in sequence, and extends downward into the inner cavity of the lower shell 12. The locking rod 2 is rotatably and slidably connected to the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring 111, the sealing cap 112, and the plug-in portion 113, respectively.

[0095] Specifically, the inner ring of the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring 111 has a first layer of seal, a second layer of seal, and a groove structure between the first and second layers of seal. The first and second layers of seal are respectively interference-fitted with the peripheral wall of the locking rod 2. The first layer of seal can keep most dust, moisture, and foreign objects outside the housing 1, providing protection and also cleaning the peripheral wall of the locking rod 2. The groove structure allows for better elasticity between the first and second layers of seal. The double-layer sealing structure effectively prevents water and dust, thereby increasing the service life of the cap actuator.

[0096] A sealing cap 112 is disposed on the top of the lower housing 12 (i.e., the second end face of the lower housing 12) to seal the top of the lower housing 12. A connector 113 is inserted into the inner cavity of the lower housing 12. A slip ring 3 is placed between the connector 113 and the lower housing 12, with the bottom surface of the connector 113 abutting against the top surface of the slip ring 3. Through the engagement of the bottom surface of the connector 113 and the stepped surface of the lower housing 12, the slip ring 3 can be effectively limited in the vertical direction.

[0097] Furthermore, the lower housing 12 is provided with a connector 14 on its exterior, and the cover actuator can be fixed to the vehicle via the connector 14.

[0098] Please see Figures 7-9 As shown, the slot 23, circulation slot 22, and guide slot 21 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom (i.e., along the axial direction of the locking rod 2) on the lower middle peripheral wall of the locking rod 2. Correspondingly, the latch 5, slip ring 3, and guide block 121 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom in the inner cavity of the lower housing 12. The upper limit slot 24 is formed on the top wall at the beginning of the V-shaped slot. The upper limit slot 24 is pointed, with its pointed corner facing upwards. The lower limit slot 25 is formed on the bottom wall at the beginning of the V-shaped slot. The lower limit slot 25 is pointed, with its pointed corner facing downwards.

[0099] In this embodiment, the limiting segment is located above the spiral segment. The limiting segment of the guide groove 21 extends downward (i.e., extends along the axial direction of the locking rod 2). The spiral segments are evenly distributed circumferentially around the axis of the locking rod 2, and the lower end of the spiral segment (i.e., the end of the spiral segment) is an open end that extends to the bottom surface of the locking rod 2 (i.e., the first end face of the locking rod 2).

[0100] In this embodiment, the rotation angle from the top to the bottom of the spiral segment is 90 degrees.

[0101] There are at least two guide grooves 21, which are evenly distributed around the locking rod 2. The guide grooves 21 are distributed between two adjacent V-shaped grooves. In this embodiment, there are two guide grooves 21 and two V-shaped grooves.

[0102] In this embodiment, slot 23 has a triangular cross-section.

[0103] Furthermore, when the guide block 121 is positioned at the end of the limiting section, the slider 31 is positioned within the lower limiting groove 25. When the outer peripheral wall of the guide block 121 abuts against the beginning of the limiting section, the slider 31 is positioned within the upper limiting groove 24 and is in clearance fit with the upper limiting groove 24. When the guide block 121 is positioned at the end of the spiral section, the slider 31 is positioned at the lower corner of the V-groove. Through the abutting fit between the guide block 121 and the limiting section, the slider 31 is in clearance fit with the upper limiting groove 24, thereby effectively protecting the slider 31 and extending the service life of the slip ring 3.

[0104] For further details, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 8 As shown, a positioning block 29 is provided on the bottom surface of the locking rod 2 (i.e., the first end face of the locking rod 2). When the guide block 121 is placed at the lower end of the spiral section, the slider 31 is placed at the lower corner of the V-shaped groove, and the positioning block 29 is inserted into the positioning groove 122 at the bottom of the lower shell 12. The dimensions of the positioning groove 122 are larger than those of the positioning block 29 so that the locking rod 2 can be separated from the positioning groove 122. The locking rod 2 is limited by the cooperation between the positioning block 29 and the positioning groove 122, thereby reducing the difficulty of inserting the locking tongue 5 into the slot 23.

[0105] Furthermore, in order to effectively protect the slider 31, the guide block 121 is larger than the slider 31.

[0106] Furthermore, the outer peripheral wall of the guide block 121 is a conical surface, and the end of the guide block 121 near the center of the locking rod 2 is a small-diameter end, so that the guide block 121 can better fit the guide groove 21. The conical surface ensures smoother movement between the guide block 121 and the guide groove 21, thereby making the force between the locking rod 2 and the slider 31 more balanced, and thus effectively protecting the slider 31.

[0107] Furthermore, to reduce the assembly difficulty of the slip ring 3 and the locking rod 2, an assembly groove 27 is provided between the limiting section and the adjacent V-groove. A transition slope is provided between the assembly groove 27 and the V-groove, and between the assembly groove 27 and the limiting section. The slider 31 is adapted to slide from the open end of the spiral section into the assembly groove 27, and then slide along the assembly groove 27 into the V-groove, thereby assembling the slip ring 3 onto the locking rod 2. After the slip ring 3 is assembled onto the locking rod 2, the transition slope on the assembly groove 27 prevents the guide block 121 from accidentally sliding into the V-groove, improving the stability of the structure.

[0108] Please see Figure 2 As shown, the elastic element 4 includes a first spring 41. In this embodiment, a vertical rod 123 is provided at the bottom of the inner cavity of the lower shell 12. A central hole is vertically opened at the bottom of the locking rod 2, and the vertical rod 123 and the central hole are arranged opposite to each other. The first spring 41 is sleeved on the vertical rod 123 and placed in the central hole of the locking rod 2. The upper and lower ends of the first spring 41 abut against the bottom wall of the inner cavity of the lower shell 12 and the top wall of the central hole of the locking rod 2, respectively.

[0109] Furthermore, to improve safety performance, the elastic element 4 also includes a second spring 42. The second spring 42 is placed inside the first spring 41. The upper and lower ends of the second spring 42 abut against the top of the vertical rod 123 and the top wall of the center hole of the locking rod 2, respectively.

[0110] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the drive mechanism 6 includes a transmission component 61, a drive device 62, and a control device 63. In this embodiment, the transmission component 61, the locking tongue 5, the drive device 62, and the control device 63 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom (i.e., along the axial direction of the locking rod 2), and are all placed inside the lower housing 12.

[0111] Both the drive unit 62 and the control unit 63 are mounted on the base plate 13. The transmission component 61 is a transmission turntable, rotatably mounted on the lower housing 12, and the axis of the transmission component 61 is parallel to the axis of the locking rod 2. The transmission component 61 has a toothed groove 611 and a mating groove 612 (e.g., ...) on the side near the drive unit 62. Figure 10 (As shown). In this embodiment, the driving device 62 is a drive motor. The upper end of the driving device 62 is the output end, which meshes with the gear 611 via a gear 64. Please refer to... Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 10 As shown, the locking tongue 5 is rotatably and slidably connected to the mating groove 612 via the connecting post 51. The locking tongue 5 is positioned between the transmission member 61 and the lower housing 12, and the transmission member 61 and the lower housing 12 can limit the locking tongue 5 in the vertical direction. The control device 63 is adapted to control the drive device 62 to drive the transmission member 61 to rotate, so that the locking tongue 5 slides in the horizontal direction (i.e., in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking rod 2), thereby causing the locking tongue 5 to insert into or disengage from the slot 23.

[0112] The working principle of drive mechanism 6 is as follows:

[0113] The output end of the drive device 62 drives the gear 64 to rotate, and the gear 64 drives the transmission component 61 to rotate through the tooth groove 611; the transmission component 61 drives the locking tongue 5 to slide through the cooperation of the connecting column 51 and the mating groove 612, so that the locking tongue 5 can be inserted into or disengaged from the slot 23.

[0114] In this embodiment, the sliding direction of the locking tongue 5 is left and right.

[0115] In this embodiment, the mating groove 612 is an elongated slotted hole.

[0116] In this embodiment, the control device 63 is a PCBA (printed circuit board). The lower housing 12 is provided with a connector for the control device 63 to be connected to cables outside the housing 1.

[0117] Please see Figures 1-3As shown, the manual unlocking mechanism 7 includes a lever 71, a torsion spring 72, and a rope cantilever 73. The lever 71 extends vertically (i.e., along the axial direction of the locking lever 2). The lever 71 has a first end and a second end (i.e., a lower end and an upper end) opposite to each other. The lever 71 is rotatably mounted on the lower housing 12. A torsion spring 72 is provided between the lever 71 and the lower housing 12. The lower end of the lever 71 (i.e., the first end of the lever 71) is exposed outside the lower housing 12. The rope cantilever 73 is located outside the lower housing 12 and is connected to the lower end of the lever 71. The rope cantilever 73 is adapted to be connected to a pull rope. The upper end of the lever 71 (i.e., the second end of the lever 71) is provided with a lever block 711. The transmission member 61 is provided with a slot that mates with the lever block 711.

[0118] When the pull rope is in a free state, the lever 711 separates from the transmission member 61 under the action of the torsion spring 72. When the pull rope is in a pulled state, the pull rope drives the lever 711 to rotate, causing the lever 711 to move the transmission member 61, thereby driving the locking tongue 5 to disengage from the slot 23. In this embodiment, the drive device 62 is a common motor without a brake. When the common motor without a brake is not powered, the output shaft of the motor (i.e., the output end of the drive device 62) can be rotated by hand. When the lever 711 moves the transmission member 61, the transmission member 61 can drive the output shaft of the motor to rotate through the gear 64, that is, at this time, there is no interference between the drive device 62 and the transmission member 61.

[0119] Furthermore, a waterproof ring 74 is provided between the lever 71 and the lower housing 12. The waterproof ring 74 is located between the torsion spring 72 and the hanging rope cantilever 73, improving the waterproof performance of the housing 1.

[0120] In summary, the cap actuator provided in this application utilizes the cooperation between the housing, locking rod, and slip ring to effectively lock or unlock the cap. The locking rod experiences balanced force, resulting in smooth and stable operation, effectively protecting the slip ring and extending the actuator's service life. The cooperation between the guide groove and guide block further protects the slip ring and extends its service life. The cooperation between the guide groove and guide block, and between the circulation groove and slider, ensures smooth locking rod movement with a self-centering function, while also exhibiting high strength, good impact resistance, high reliability, and long service life. The cooperation between the housing, locking rod, slip ring, transmission components, and manual unlocking mechanism allows for manual unlocking in emergencies. This manual unlocking mechanism has a simple structure, occupies little space, and effectively saves costs. The interference fit between the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring and the locking rod achieves dynamic waterproofing. This cap actuator has few parts, a compact structure, effectively reduces costs, saves space, and facilitates maintenance.

[0121] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lid actuator, characterized in that, Includes housing (1), locking rod (2) and slip ring (3); After the first end of the locking rod (2) rotates through the connecting hole on the housing (1), it is set in the inner cavity of the housing (1) by the elastic element (4); the slip ring (3) is sleeved on the locking rod (2) and rotatably installed in the inner cavity of the housing (1); the peripheral wall of the locking rod (2) is provided with a guide groove (21), a circulation groove (22) and a slot (23). The beginning of the guide groove (21) is a limiting section, and the end is a spiral section; the inner wall of the housing (1) is provided with a guide block (121) that cooperates with the guide groove (21). The circulation groove (22) is formed by connecting a plurality of V-shaped grooves that are distributed at equal angles around the locking rod (2) in sequence; the upper limit groove (24) and the lower limit groove (25) are provided opposite to each other on the two side walls at the beginning of the V-shaped groove, and the end of the groove is provided with a transition groove (26); the inner ring of the slip ring (3) is provided with a slider (31) that cooperates with the circulation groove (22), and the slider (31) is adapted to slide in the circulation groove (22) in a clockwise direction; The inner cavity of the housing (1) is equipped with a locking tongue (5), a drive mechanism (6), and a manual unlocking mechanism (7); the locking tongue (5) is slidably connected to the housing (1); the drive mechanism (6) is adapted to drive the locking tongue (5) to insert or disengage from the slot (23) via a transmission member (61) so that the second end of the locking rod (2) locks or unlocks the cover (8); the manual unlocking mechanism (7) is rotatably disposed on the housing (1), with its first end exposed outside the housing (1) and adapted to be connected to a pull rope, and its second end adapted to drive the locking tongue (5) to disengage from the slot (23) via a transmission member (61). The slider (31) is adapted to slide from the lower limit groove (25) to the upper limit groove (24) under the action of the elastic member (4) when the locking tongue (5) disengages from the slot (23), and then slide along the upper limit groove (24) to the lower corner of the V-shaped groove; the slider (31) is also adapted to slide from the lower corner of the V-shaped groove to the transition groove (26) when the second end of the locking rod (2) is pressed by an external force, and then slide from the transition groove (26) to the lower limit groove (25) of the adjacent V-shaped groove.

2. The lid actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting section of the guide groove (21) extends along the axial direction of the locking rod (2), and the end of the limiting section is connected to the beginning of the spiral section; the spiral section is evenly distributed circumferentially with the axis of the locking rod (2) as the center, and the end of the spiral section is an open end that extends to the first end face of the locking rod (2). An assembly groove (27) is provided between the limiting segment and the adjacent V-shaped groove; a transition slope is provided between the assembly groove (27) and the V-shaped groove, and a transition slope is provided between the assembly groove (27) and the limiting segment; the slider (31) is adapted to slide from the open end of the spiral segment into the assembly groove (27), and then slide along the assembly groove (27) into the V-shaped groove; The slider (31) is adapted to be placed in the lower limiting groove (25) when the guide block (121) is placed at the end of the limiting segment; the slider (31) is adapted to be placed in the upper limiting groove (24) when the outer peripheral wall of the guide block (121) abuts against the beginning of the limiting segment, and to be in clearance fit with the upper limiting groove (24); the slider (31) is adapted to be placed at the lower corner of the V-shaped groove when the guide block (121) is placed at the end of the spiral segment.

3. The lid actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The size of the guide block (121) is larger than that of the slider (31); the outer peripheral wall of the guide block (121) is a conical surface.

4. The lid actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide groove (21) is at least two, and is distributed at equal angles with the locking rod (2) as the center; The guide groove (21) is distributed between two adjacent V-shaped grooves.

5. The lid actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slot (23), the circulation groove (22) and the guide groove (21) are sequentially arranged on the locking rod (2) along the axial direction of the locking rod (2); The locking tongue (5), the slip ring (3) and the guide block (121) are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the locking rod (2).

6. The lid actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (1) includes an upper cover (11), a lower shell (12), and a bottom plate (13) connected sequentially along the axial direction of the locking rod (2); the upper cover (11), the lower shell (12), and the bottom plate (13) together form a receiving cavity; the guide block (121) is disposed on the inner wall of the lower shell (12); The locking rod (2), the driving mechanism (6) and the manual unlocking mechanism (7) are arranged in sequence along the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking rod (2), and the locking tongue (5) is located between the locking rod (2) and the driving mechanism (6); The first end of the locking rod (2) passes through the connecting hole on the upper cover (11), and its first end peripheral wall is rotatably and slidably connected to the receiving cavity; The slip ring (3) is rotatably disposed inside the lower shell (12), and the end faces of its two ends abut against the first end face of the upper cover (11) and the stepped surface of the lower shell (12), respectively. The locking tongue (5) is slidably connected to the strip groove (124) on the lower shell (12); The manual unlocking mechanism (7) is rotatably connected to the lower shell (12), with its first end exposed outside the lower shell (12).

7. The lid actuator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The upper cover (11) includes a double-layer sealing soft rubber ring (111), a sealing cover (112), and a plug-in part (113) connected sequentially along the axial direction of the locking rod (2). The first end of the locking rod (2) passes through the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring (111), the sealing cover (112) and the plug (113) in sequence, and extends into the inner cavity of the lower shell (12); The inner ring of the double-layer sealing soft rubber ring (111) is provided with a first layer of seal, a second layer of seal, and a groove structure provided between the first layer of seal and the second layer of seal; The first layer of seal and the second layer of seal are respectively interference-fitted with the peripheral wall of the locking rod (2); The sealing cap (112) is disposed on the second end face of the lower shell (12); The insertion part (113) is inserted into the inner cavity of the lower shell (12), and its first end face abuts against the slip ring (3).

8. The lid actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive mechanism (6) includes a transmission component (61), a drive device (62), and a control device (63); the transmission component (61), the locking tongue (5), and the drive device (62) are arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the locking rod (2); Both the drive device (62) and the control device (63) are mounted on the housing (1); The transmission component (61) is a transmission turntable, which is rotatably mounted on the housing (1), and the axial direction of the transmission component (61) is parallel to the axial direction of the locking rod (2); the transmission component (61) has a toothed groove (611) and a mating groove (612) on the side near the driving device (62). The output end of the drive device (62) meshes with the tooth groove (611) through a gear (64); The locking tongue (5) is rotatably and slidably connected to the mating groove (612) via the connecting post (51); The control device (63) is adapted to control the drive device (62) to drive the transmission member (61) to rotate so that the locking tongue (5) slides in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking rod (2).

9. The lid actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The manual unlocking mechanism (7) includes a lever (71), a torsion spring (72), and a rope cantilever (73). The lever (71) extends axially along the locking rod (2) and is rotatably mounted on the housing (1); the first end of the lever (71) is exposed outside the housing (1), and the second end of the lever (71) is provided with a lever block (711). A torsion spring (72) is provided between the lever (71) and the housing (1). The hanging rope cantilever (73) is placed outside the housing (1) and connected to the first end of the lever (71), and is suitable for connection with the pull rope; The lever (711) is adapted to separate from the transmission member (61) under the action of the torsion spring (72) when the pull rope is in a free state; the lever (711) is adapted to actuate the transmission member (61) when the pull rope is in a pulled state to drive the locking tongue (5) to disengage from the slot (23).

10. The lid actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first end face of the locking rod (2) is provided with a positioning block (29); The positioning block (29) is adapted to be inserted into the positioning groove (122) of the inner cavity of the housing (1) when the guide block (121) is placed at the end of the spiral segment.

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