Actuator for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator for a motor vehicle, in particular a charging station actuator for a motor vehicle. To this end, the basic structure of the actuator comprises an electric drive (1), a housing (2) which receives the drive (1), a flexible adjustment element (3, 4) which is loaded by the drive (1) and which is led out of the housing (2) via a lead-through (5, 6) for connection to an adjustment element (8) which can be actuated by the drive (1). According to the invention, the lead-through (5, 6) is designed as a rotary lead-through (5, 6) which is rotatably supported in a receiving portion (2c) of the housing (2) and is secured by means of a retaining element (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an actuator for a motor vehicle, particularly an actuator for a motor vehicle charging socket for releasably locking a charging plug in a charging socket or charging outlet, comprising: an electric drive unit; a housing receiving the drive unit; and a flexible adjustment member extending from the housing via a guide member. Background Technology

[0002] Actuators for motor vehicles are used in and on motor vehicles in a variety of designs. Typically, the associated vehicle battery ensures its power supply. Accordingly, electric drive units usually employ a high-speed motor whose output shaft speed is reduced by a transmission. In this way, the desired regulating motion can be achieved on the output side. Here, this regulating motion is exemplarily transmitted to the regulating element.

[0003] In principle, the adjusting element can now be unlocked in an emergency by means of an adjusting member extended via a guide. If the adjusting element is, for example, a locking pin that releasably locks the charging plug in the charging socket or outlet, it can also be understood that the adjusting element can be unlocked in an emergency by a flexible adjusting member, so that the charging plug can still be unplugged from the charging outlet, for example, in the event of a vehicle battery failure. In this case, the flexible adjusting member used allows for variable installation in principle.

[0004] In this way, the installation location of the handle for loading the adjustment mechanism can be flexibly designed. For example, the handle can be placed in the luggage compartment, engine compartment, or other easily accessible location. A common problem arises here: how to smoothly implement manual loading of the flexible adjustment mechanism via the handle and enable emergency unlocking.

[0005] In this prior art as described in DE 10 2015 106 834 A1, the actuator is designed as a so-called locking auxiliary drive device, which can be used to load the latch in the closing direction. This is achieved with a Bowden cable serving as a flexible adjustment element in the middle. Emergency unlocking via the Bowden cable is not mentioned.

[0006] Of course, other applications of this actuator for motor vehicles can also be considered, such as combining it with electric seat adjustment, electric rearview mirror adjustment, remote unlocking of the hood and front grille, and operation of window regulators. Only a few examples are listed here. A characteristic of all installation and application scenarios is that the electric drive unit must operate using the low-voltage DC voltage available in motor vehicles (typically 12V, 24V, or even 48V nowadays). Therefore, a small motor is used, and its speed decreases during adjustment.

[0007] Furthermore, these actuators are exposed to various environmental conditions and, for this reason, are mostly constructed in a moisture-sealed and media-sealed manner. Therefore, the housing receiving the drive unit is largely sealed in a media-sealed manner, particularly for splash and dust protection. The flexible adjustment element can only be extended outward from the remaining enclosed housing via a guide. For this purpose, the guide is typically designed to be equally sealed.

[0008] Such actuators for motor vehicles have been proven effective in principle, yet room for improvement remains. For example, the prior art described in DE 10 2015 106 834 A1 presupposes that the flexible adjusting member is guided forward, more or less straight, from the housing. However, considering different installation conditions, such straight guidance is usually not achievable or can not always be implemented. Furthermore, increasingly higher flexibility is required depending on the various installation conditions of motor vehicles, but this flexibility cannot be guaranteed in this case.

[0009] In another prior art according to DE 102 20 732 A1, there exists a solution that increases the number of installation variations for vehicle door locks, rather than actuators. For this purpose, the teachings propose that the Bowden cable, extending from the housing, be rotatably mounted in a rotating seat within the housing. Thus, when using a guide structure with an arc-shaped design, the Bowden cable can be led away from the housing in an arc from the rotating seat.

[0010] However, this involves a vehicle door lock, not an actuator for a vehicle, and there is a risk, in principle, that the rotating guide piece could be accidentally disassembled.

[0011] This accidental disassembly is caused by the fact that the actuator is first secured and then connected to an adjusting element that can be operated by a drive unit via a flexible adjusting member extending from the housing. During the connection between the flexible adjusting member and the adjusting element, the flexible adjusting member or Bowden cable may suffer accidental disassembly, for example, being pulled completely or partially out of the housing that houses it. This is particularly disadvantageous because the motor located inside the housing, especially the drive unit typically downstream, is thus exposed to environmental influences and therefore damaged in the short to medium term.

[0012] As is known from the prior art described in DE 102 20 732 A1, since no electric drive device is installed inside the housing, emergency unlocking cannot be achieved by means of a Bowden cable extending from the housing. Instead, force can be applied to the locking elements inside the housing from outside the housing via the Bowden cable. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to further develop such an actuator for motor vehicles so as to cover a variety of installation variations while taking into account a compact, media-sealed structure that meets functional requirements over a long period of time.

[0014] To solve this technical problem, this type of actuator is characterized within the scope of the invention by the fact that the guide is designed as a rotatable guide, which is rotatably supported in the receiving portion of the housing and fixed by means of a retaining element.

[0015] Therefore, unlike the prior art described according to DE 10 2015 106 834 A1, it operates not by means of a flexible adjusting element extending straight out of the housing, but by means of a rotating guide. Because the rotating guide is rotatably supported in the receiving portion of the housing, the flexible adjusting element, guided through the rotating guide to the outside of the housing, can typically be led away from the housing in an arc shape. Therefore, depending on the orientation of the rotating guide, almost all conceivable installation scenarios can be covered. This applies regardless of whether the adjusting element or locking pin can be unlocked or urgently unlocked via a handle attached to the flexible adjusting element. Similarly, this applies regardless of whether the adjusting movement is transmitted outward through the flexible adjusting element by means of an electric drive device arranged in the housing.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the invention, the rotating guide member is not only rotatably supported in the receiving portion of the housing, but also additionally secured by a retaining element. This retaining element ensures that the rotating guide member will not be accidentally disassembled relative to the housing. This is applicable not only to actuators, for example, mounted inside a motor vehicle, but also to adjusting movements, particularly emergency unlocking, being guided from outside the housing into the housing via a handle using a flexible adjusting member. Furthermore, the retaining element ensures that the rotating guide member remains in the receiving portion of the housing, preventing accidental disassembly as described earlier. This is a major advantage of the invention. According to an advantageous design, the rotating guide member is designed as an arcuate guide structure or has said arcuate guide structure. Advantageously, the rotating guide member is oriented substantially parallel to the central plane of the housing. In this way, the adjusting member passing through the rotating guide member can be drawn out of the housing at an angle to the central plane, i.e., drawn out in an arcuate shape via the rotating guide member.

[0017] For cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacturing, rotary threading components are typically made of plastic, particularly molded plastic parts. Injection-molded plastic parts have proven to be particularly practical. In this way, the rotary threading component can be additionally and advantageously equipped with a connecting sealing sleeve. This sealing sleeve is also made of plastic, specifically an elastomeric plastic.

[0018] To ensure the retaining element is securely connected to the housing's receiving portion and to guarantee the required fixation of the rotating guide member, the retaining element is typically releasably lockable to the housing's receiving portion. Specifically, the retaining element has a locking hook that engages from below a locking protrusion in the receiving portion in the assembled state. Furthermore, assembly is facilitated if the retaining element is constructed with a lateral guide bar. Here, the lateral guide bar engages with a corresponding guide groove in the receiving portion during assembly. Thus, the retaining element is simultaneously aligned and then secured by the locking protrusion engaged from below by the locking hook.

[0019] The retaining element, like the rotating guide, is a molded plastic part. In this case, using a plastic injection molded part has proven particularly advantageous.

[0020] Typically, the receiving part is formed on a housing made of plastic. The housing is also a plastic injection molded part. Therefore, it is feasible to manufacture and produce both the receiving part and the housing in a single process during plastic injection molding.

[0021] Finally, the adjustment element is advantageously designed as a Bowden cable with a core and an outer sheath. The core passes through the rotating guide. Furthermore, the rotating guide can thus serve at least partially as the outer sheath of the core.

[0022] In summary, an actuator for motor vehicles is provided, characterized not only by reliable and durable operation, as the housing and rotating guide can be designed to be splash-proof and dust-proof, respectively, but also by the possibility that a flexible adjustment element or Bowden cable can be guided out of the housing in almost any direction through the rotating guide. Thus, almost all conceivable installation scenarios can be considered or presented, namely, the installation of the electric drive unit and therefore the housing on the one hand, and the installation of the handle for loading the flexible adjustment element on the other. In other words, the actuator according to the invention achieves reliable operation considering almost any number of installation variations. This is the main advantage of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only one embodiment; the drawings show:

[0024] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of an actuator according to the invention, within the scope of a particularly preferred first variant, is shown, in the form of a charging dock actuator for a motor vehicle.

[0025] Figure 1B This illustrates another possible second variant of the actuator.

[0026] Figure 2The actuator is partially shown in the area of ​​the rotating guide for the flexible adjustment component during assembly.

[0027] Figure 3 The rotating threaded part is shown in its ready-to-assemble state. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The accompanying drawing shows an actuator for a motor vehicle. This actuator is a charging dock actuator for motor vehicles. The charging dock actuator allows for the charging of... Figure 1A and Figure 1B The charging plug S, roughly outlined in the diagram, is locked in the associated charging socket or charging outlet D on the vehicle side. For this purpose, the charging socket actuator has an electric drive unit 1 and a housing 2 that receives and encloses the drive unit 1 in a medium-sealed manner. The electric drive unit 1, located inside the housing 2, can be designed in any manner and method. Typically, a motor is used here, by means of which... Figure 1A Within the range of variations, a locking element R can be loaded as an adjusting element R. In practice, the charging plug S can be releasably locked in the charging socket D by means of this locking element R. For this purpose, a transmission device connected downstream of the motor is provided.

[0029] In addition Figure 1A Additionally, flexible adjustment members 3 and 4 are also shown, which, according to this embodiment, are designed as Bowden cable with a core 3 and an outer jacket 4. For this purpose, the flexible adjustment members or Bowden cable 3 and 4 pass through the threading members 5 and 6 into the housing 2 (see [reference]). Figure 2 ).according to Figure 1A In the embodiment, the handle H acts on the adjusting members 3 and 4. This handle can be manually loaded and is located, for example, in the luggage compartment, engine compartment, or any other accessible location. In this way, in the event of a failure of the electric drive unit 1 in the housing 2, the locking element R can be unlocked in an emergency to allow the charging plug S to be unplugged from the charging socket D.

[0030] In accordance with Figure 1B In the alternative embodiment illustrated in the diagram, the electric drive unit 1 acts on the locking element R, which is the adjusting element R, via flexible adjusting members 3 and 4 guided outward from the housing 2 in this case. This relates to a possible, though not preferred, variation, because the flexible adjusting members 3 and 4 are typically used for emergency unlocking of either the locking element R or the adjusting element R.

[0031] As can be seen, the housing 2 is constructed in two parts according to this embodiment, consisting of a housing bottom 2a and a cover 2b. Here, the housing bottom or housing half-shell 2a and the cover 2b are connected to each other in an assembled state in a way that seals against liquids and dust, provided with a sealing part (not shown) in the middle, so as to protect the electric drive unit 1 located inside from environmental influences, such as moisture or dust, during the operation of the associated motor vehicle.

[0032] According to this embodiment and the present invention, the guide members 5 and 6 for the flexible adjustment members 3 and 4, which pass through the housing 2, are designed as rotatable guide members 5 and 6. Here, the rotatable guide members 5 and 6 are rotatably supported in the receiving portion 2c of the housing 2. According to this embodiment, the receiving portion 2c is formed on the housing 2. Specifically, the receiving portion 2c is a component formed on the bottom of the housing or the housing half-shell 2a, wherein the receiving portion 2c and the bottom of the housing or the housing half-shell 2a are integrally designed as a plastic injection molded part. The cover portion 2b is also designed as a plastic injection molded part.

[0033] In the assembled state, the rotating guide members 5 and 6 are additionally secured by retaining elements 7 to support them inside the receiving portion 2c of the housing. The retaining element 7 is also designed as a plastic molded part, and specifically as a plastic injection molded part.

[0034] according to Figure 1A , Figure 1B and Figure 2 Comparative observation clearly shows that, based on Figure 1A In the variant, the locking element R can be unlocked in an emergency using flexible adjusting parts 3 and 4 or the connected handle H. Correspondingly... Figure 1B The alternative embodiment illustrated in the diagram ensures that the locking element R is loaded via the flexible adjusting members 3 and 4 using the electric drive device 1. The locking element R allows the charging plug S to be releasably locked in the charging base D.

[0035] Here, "the charging plug S is locked in the charging socket D" is typically achieved after an authorization check is performed on the user who intends to charge. Only when the charging plug S is smoothly locked in the charging socket D and the user authorization check has been approved will current flow through the charging plug S, the charging socket D, and finally to the battery to be charged on the vehicle side.

[0036] The rotating guide members 5 and 6, as a whole—like the housing 2—are constructed in a medium-sealed manner, preventing any moisture, dust, dirt, etc., from seeping into the interior of the housing 2 through the outwardly guided flexible adjustment members 3 and 4. For this purpose, the rotating guide members 5 and 6 are specifically made of plastic, i.e., having an arc-shaped guide structure 5 (on one hand) and a sealing sleeve 6 attached thereto (on the other hand). The sealing sleeve 6 on the housing side achieves a seal between the rotating guide members 5 and 6 and the housing 2.

[0037] according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen, the rotatable guide members 5 and 6 are rotatably supported in the receiving portion 2c of the housing 2 and fixed by means of the retaining element 7. For this purpose, the retaining element 7 is locked and releasably engaged in the receiving portion 2c of the housing 2.

[0038] As described above, the rotating guide members 5 and 6 have an arc-shaped guide structure 5 and a sealing sleeve 6 connected thereto on the housing side. Furthermore, the rotating guide members 5 and 6 are oriented substantially parallel to the central plane of the housing 2, and the flexible adjusting members 3 and 4 passing through these rotating guide members are led out of the housing 2 at an angle to the central plane, i.e., led out by means of the arc-shaped guide structure 5. Depending on the orientation of the arc-shaped guide structure 5 inside the receiving portion 2c that forms a support in the housing 2, completely different angles of the flexible adjusting members 3 and 4 relative to the central plane of the housing 2 can be achieved. Thus, virtually any conceivable installation configuration of the actuator or its housing 2 (on one hand) and the locking element R (on the other hand), loaded by means of the flexible adjusting members 3 and 4, as the adjusting element R, can be realized and implemented.

[0039] The retaining element 7 is releasably fixed in the receiving portion 2c of the housing 2 by means of the following method: the retaining element 7 is releasably engaged in a locking manner with the receiving portion 2c. Therefore, according to... Figure 2 The retaining element 7 is equipped with a locking hook 8, which engages from below the locking protrusion 11 inside the receiving portion 2c in the assembled state. Furthermore, the retaining element 7 is additionally constructed with a lateral guide strip 9, which engages in a corresponding guide groove 10 in the receiving portion 2c for assembly. In this way, it is ensured that the retaining element 7 is smoothly and, according to this embodiment, primarily vertically guided during assembly, so that the retaining element 7 can smoothly engage into the U-shaped receiving portion 2c. Once the retaining element 7 reaches its assembled position, the locking hook 8 engages from below the locking protrusion 11 in the receiving portion 2c. In the assembled state achieved in this manner with the rotating guides 5 and 6, not only is accidental disassembly of the rotating guides 5 and 6 prevented, but also the sealing sleeve 6, made of elastomeric plastic, is provided with and can achieve the necessary seal relative to the housing 2 in the area of ​​the opening for receiving the rotating guides 5 and 6.

[0040] As described above, the flexible adjustment elements 3 and 4 are designed as Bowden cable with a core 3 and an outer jacket 4. This is based on Figure 1 and... Figure 2 The cable core 3 passes through the rotating guide pieces 5 and 6. Furthermore, the rotating guide pieces 5 and 6 are at least partially designed as the outer jacket 4 of the Bowden cable 3 and 4, or as such an outer jacket, i.e., at least in the area of ​​the arc-shaped guide structure 5 and the sealing sheath 6.

[0041] Here, the sealing sleeve 6 is not only flexibly constructed in terms of its diameter, but is also made of elastomeric plastic for this purpose. Furthermore, according to... Figure 2 It can be seen that the sealing sleeve 6 is additionally equipped with a bellows near the arc-shaped guide structure 5. Thus, the sealing sleeve 6 can not only flexibly adapt to the opening in the housing 2 in terms of its diameter, but also, when the rotating threading parts 5 and 6 are assembled, the sealing sleeve 6 on the housing side is also compressed axially when necessary and additionally closes the opening in a medium-sealed manner by means of one or more bellows, through which the rotating threading parts 5 and 6 and the cable core 3 enter the interior of the housing 2.

[0042] According to Figure 1A Within the scope of the variant, the locking element R is moved out and in corresponding to its "locked" and "unlocked" positions by means of the electric drive device 1 in the housing 2. Thus, when the charging plug S is inserted, the locking element R can move relative to the charging base D or relative to the aligned holes in the charging base D (on one hand) and the charging plug S (on the other hand). This corresponds to the "locked" state of the locking element R. Conversely, the "unlocked" state corresponds to the locking element R retracting relative to the aligned holes, thereby allowing the charging plug S to be pulled out of the charging base D.

[0043] exist Figure 1A In this embodiment, the locking and unlocking positions are occupied by an electric drive unit 1 in the housing 2. If the electric drive unit 1 fails, the locking element R can be urgently unlocked by the handle H and the flexible adjustment members 3 and 4 loaded thereon. Correspondingly, the locking element R moves back to its "unlocked" position. Figure 1B In this embodiment, the adjustment movement of the electric drive device 1 is directly transmitted to the locking element R through the flexible adjustment members 3 and 4.

[0044] Finally, it should be emphasized that the embodiments of actuators and adjusters 3 and 4 described above are merely one application example of the actuator according to the present invention. Similarly, the actuator can be implemented in conjunction with the different application areas already described at the beginning. These are not shown in detail.

[0045] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0046] Drive unit 1

[0047] Shell 2

[0048] 2a of the bottom of the shell

[0049] Shell half shell 2a

[0050] Cover 2b

[0051] Reception Section 2c

[0052] Adjusting parts 3 and 4

[0053] Bowden cable 3, 4

[0054] Cable core 3

[0055] Jacket 4

[0056] Arc-shaped guide structure 5

[0057] Sealing sleeve 6

[0058] Rotating threading parts 5 and 6

[0059] Holding element 7

[0060] Locking hook 8

[0061] Guide bar 9

[0062] Guide groove 10

[0063] Locking protrusion 11

[0064] Charging dock D

[0065] Charging plug S

[0066] Locking element R

[0067] Handle H

Claims

1. An actuator for a motor vehicle, particularly a charging dock actuator for a motor vehicle, comprising: Electric drive unit (1); Housing (2) for receiving drive unit (1); flexible adjustment members (3, 4) extended from housing (2) via guide members (5, 6). Its features are, The threading parts (5, 6) are designed as rotating threading parts (5, 6), which are rotatably supported in the receiving part (2c) of the housing (2) and fixed by means of the retaining element (7).

2. The actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating guide (5, 6) has an arc-shaped guide structure (5) or is designed as such an arc-shaped guide structure.

3. The actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The rotating threading members (5, 6) are oriented substantially parallel to the central plane of the housing (2), and the adjusting members (3, 4) passing through the rotating threading members are drawn out of the housing (2) at an angle to the central plane.

4. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The rotating threading parts (5, 6) are made of plastic, and are specifically designed as plastic molded parts.

5. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The rotating threading parts (5, 6) have a connecting sealing sleeve (6).

6. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The retaining element (7) is equipped with a locking hook (8), which engages from below the locking protrusion (11) in the receiving part (2c) in the assembled state.

7. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The retaining element (7) is constructed with a lateral guide bar (9), which engages with a corresponding guide groove (10) in the receiving part (2c) for assembly.

8. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The retaining element (7) is made of plastic, and is specifically designed as a plastic molded part.

9. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The receiving part (2c) is formed on the shell (2) made of plastic.

10. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The flexible adjustment member (3, 4) is designed as a Bowden cable (3, 4) with a core (3) and an outer jacket (4), wherein the core (3) passes through a rotating threaded member (5, 6), which at least partially serves as the outer jacket (4).

Images