Cover assembly and vehicle comprising a cover assembly

Abstract

The utility model relates to a cover assembly, comprising: base, wherein the track is formed on the base or is fixedly arranged relative to the base;Cover, the cover can move between the open position and the closed position relative to the base around the rotation axis, the elongated hole sliding part extending radially relative to the rotation axis is formed on the cover or is fixedly arranged relative to the cover;Power device, for providing rotation driving force;Driving piece, the driving piece is rotationally fixedly connected to the power device around the rotation axis, and the driving piece includes a guide mechanism;And intermediate part, the intermediate part includes the corresponding sliding part, the sliding part can slide relative to the corresponding sliding part, the intermediate part is inserted through the elongated hole of the cover and the guide mechanism of the driving piece, and the intermediate part moves along the predetermined track defined by the track, when the intermediate part is at one end of the track, the cover is in the closed position, and the driving piece hinders the movement of the intermediate part towards the other end of the track.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to cover assemblies, and more particularly to cover assemblies for charging ports or fuel fillers in vehicles. This utility model also relates to vehicles including cover assemblies. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, charging ports have become an important part of the vehicle's electrical system. To ensure the normal use of the vehicle and the safety of the occupants, the charging port area is often equipped with an openable cover to cover the charging port when not charging, so as to prevent the external environment from affecting the charging port.

[0003] However, in existing technologies, cover assemblies typically rely on mechanical springs or simple pivot mechanisms to open and close, lacking effective automatic control and steady-state holding functions. During vehicle operation, if the cover is not fully closed or is accidentally opened, the charging port may be exposed to the external environment, making it susceptible to contaminants such as rainwater, mud, and dust. This can lead to corrosion of the charging contacts, increased contact resistance, and even serious consequences such as short circuits or fires. Furthermore, an open cover during driving may violently shake, detach, or impact the vehicle body under airflow, damaging the vehicle's appearance and aerodynamic characteristics, causing safety hazards and increased energy consumption, while also potentially generating wind noise, affecting the driving experience.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a simpler cover assembly with higher reliability, safety, and automatic control capabilities. This cover assembly can reliably control the opening and closing of the charging cover when the vehicle is stationary or in motion, and provide holding torque under specific conditions to prevent the cover from being accidentally opened or closed due to external forces, thereby improving the charging safety of the entire vehicle and the user experience. Utility Model Content

[0005] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this utility model provides a cover assembly that is simpler and has higher reliability, safety and automatic control capabilities.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a cover assembly is provided, the cover assembly comprising: a base, wherein a track is formed on the base or fixedly disposed relative to the base; a cover movable relative to the base about a rotation axis between an open position and a closed position, wherein an elongated orifice sliding member extending radially relative to the rotation axis is formed on the cover or fixedly disposed relative to the cover; a power unit for providing rotational driving force; a drive member rotatably and fixedly connected to the power unit about the rotation axis, the drive member including a guide mechanism; and an intermediate member including a corresponding sliding member slidable relative to the corresponding sliding member, the intermediate member being inserted through an elongated orifice of the cover and the guide mechanism of the drive member, and the intermediate member moving along a predetermined trajectory defined by the track, wherein when the intermediate member is at one end of the track, the cover is in a closed position, and the drive member impedes movement of the intermediate member toward the other end of the track, thereby impeding movement of the cover from the closed position toward the open position.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the driving member includes a plate portion, and the guiding mechanism is formed in the plate portion. The guiding mechanism includes a circumferential segment and a radial segment. The circumferential segment extends generally along the circumferential direction of the rotation axis, and the radial segment extends in a direction toward the rotation axis.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover includes a cover body and a hinge portion, the hinge portion including a pivot hole and a sliding member extending along the direction of the pivot hole, the cover assembly further including a pivot shaft inserted into the pivot hole of the hinge portion to allow the cover to rotate relative to the base about the rotation axis; or the drive member is integrally formed with a pivot shaft, the drive member being able to be inserted into the pivot hole of the hinge portion to allow the cover to rotate relative to the base about the rotation axis.

[0009] In one embodiment of this utility model, the track is arc-shaped, having an arc segment centered on the rotation axis and an outwardly extending segment. When the intermediate component is in the outwardly extending segment, the intermediate component can be located in the circumferential segment of the guide mechanism.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover assembly further includes a rocker arm fixedly disposed relative to the cover, one end of the rocker arm being rotatably and fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, the other end having the sliding member, and the rotating shaft being rotatably and fixedly connected to the hinge portion of the cover.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover assembly further includes an inner cover plate fixedly disposed relative to the base, and the track is disposed on the inner cover plate.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotating shaft includes a locking part having a non-circular cross-section, the locking part being rotatably and fixedly connected to the hinge part of the cover, and the rotating shaft further includes another locking part being rotatably and fixedly connected to the rocker arm.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the guiding mechanism of the drive member further includes an inner circumferential segment that extends from the radial segment in a direction opposite to the circumferential segment.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the track further includes an inwardly extending section extending radially inward from the arc segment, wherein when the intermediate component is in the inwardly extending section, the intermediate component can be located in the inner circumferential section of the guide mechanism.

[0015] In one embodiment of this utility model, when the cover is in the closed position, the holding force of the cover is between 20N and 30N.

[0016] In one embodiment of this invention, when the cover is in the closed position, the holding force of the cover is between 6N and 8N.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the power unit has an additional holding torque for providing additional holding effect when the cover is in the open and closed positions.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover assembly further includes an outer cover plate, which, together with the base, encloses the track to form a movement space for the intermediate component.

[0019] In one embodiment of this utility model, a sensor or micro switch is provided on the base. When the cover is rotated by a predetermined angle from the open position along the closing direction, the cover triggers the sensor or micro switch to change its state.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sliding component includes an elongated hole or a slender shaft, and the intermediate component is a pin configured to pass through the elongated hole, or the pin includes a through portion for the slender shaft to pass through.

[0021] In one embodiment of this utility model, the length of the elongated hole is approximately equal to the difference between the maximum and minimum distances between the track and the axis of rotation.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided, the vehicle including the aforementioned cover assembly.

[0023] The foregoing description of this utility model is not intended to represent every embodiment or aspect of this disclosure. Rather, the foregoing description merely provides examples of some novel concepts and features set forth herein. The foregoing features and advantages, as well as other features and accompanying advantages, will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims, based on the following detailed description of illustrative examples and representative models for carrying out this disclosure. Furthermore, this disclosure expressly includes any and all combinations and sub-combinations of the elements and features set forth above and below. Attached Figure Description

[0024] This disclosure will be more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly is in a closed state;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly is in an open state;

[0027] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of a portion of a cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly is in an open state and the outer cover plate is omitted, wherein the upper left view is an enlarged view of the circled portion;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly is in a closed state and the outer cover plate is omitted, and a partial enlarged view of a portion of the cover assembly is shown to more clearly show the positional relationship of the pin, the drive member and the base;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement principle of a cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the relationship between the pin, the track, and the drive component;

[0032] Figure 8 This is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a cover assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of a portion of a cover assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly is in a closed state and the outer cover plate is omitted;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a front view of a portion of a cover assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly is in an open state and the outer cover plate is omitted; and

[0035] Figure 11 This is a front view of a portion of a cover assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, showing the track and pin in the inner cover plate.

[0036] In different accompanying drawings, the same parts are represented by the same reference numerals. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and the parts in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit this disclosure, its application, or its use. This disclosure is readily embodied in many forms. Representative examples of this disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail herein; it is to be understood that these embodiments are provided as examples of the principles of the disclosure and not as limitations on the broad aspects of this disclosure. Furthermore, the drawings are generally schematic and not necessarily drawn to scale. Some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show detail of particular components. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but are merely intended to teach those skilled in the art a representative basis for using this disclosure in various ways. For this purpose, elements and limitations described, for example, in the abstract, background, utility model description, description of drawings, and detailed description sections but not expressly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated, individually or jointly, by implication, inference, or otherwise, into the claims.

[0038] Certain terms may be used for reference only in the following description and are therefore not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “above” and “below” refer to orientations in the referenced figures. Terms such as “front,” “rear,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “rear,” “side,” “up,” “down,” “top,” and “bottom” describe the orientation and / or position of parts of a component or element within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference, as will become clear from the text describing the component or element in question and the associated figures.

[0039] Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and "third" may be used to describe individual components. These terms are used to describe the accompanying drawings and do not represent a limitation on the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Additionally, the teachings may be described herein in the form of functional and / or logical block components and / or various processing steps.

[0040] For the purposes of this detailed description, unless otherwise stated, the singular includes the plural, and vice versa; the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctions and adversative conjunctions; the words “any” and “all” shall both mean “any and all”; and the words “including,” “contains,” “has,” etc., shall each mean “including but not limited to.” Furthermore, approximate words such as “about,” “almost,” “basically,” “roughly,” “approximately,” etc., each may be used herein in the meaning of, for example, “within, close to, or almost,” or “within 0% to 5% of,” or “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances,” or any logical combination thereof.

[0041] Now refer to the attached diagram, Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a cover assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly 1000 is in the closed state. Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a cover assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly 1000 is in an open state. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover assembly 1000 includes a cover 1 and a base 2. The base 2 is fixedly mounted to, for example, a vehicle. The cover 1 is movable relative to the base 2, thereby the cover 1 having a certain position relative to the base 2. Figure 2 The opening position shown and as Figure 1 The indicated closing position.

[0042] In one embodiment of this utility model, the cover 1 rotates relative to the base 2. For example... Figure 2 As shown, during the rotation of cover 1 from the closed position to the open position, cover 1 rotates along the opening direction R1; during the rotation of cover 1 from the open position to the closed position, cover 1 rotates along the closing direction R2. In one embodiment, actuator 7 (see...) Figure 3 It is connected to a control device (e.g., a vehicle controller) not shown, and is able to receive signals from the control device to drive the cover 1 to rotate, thereby electrically controlling the cover 1 to open or close.

[0043] like Figure 2As shown, the base 2 includes a main body 21 and a side portion 22. The main body 21 is aligned with the charging port or refueling port area of ​​the vehicle. The main body 21 has an opening 23 for mounting the charging port or refueling port. The cover 1 can cover the opening 23 when in a closed position or expose the opening 23 when in an open position for the operator to charge or refuel. The side portion 22 is located on one side of the main body 21, and the cover 1 is rotatably mounted to the base 2 at the side portion 22.

[0044] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of a cover assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the structure of the cover assembly 1000 in more detail. Figure 4 This is a perspective view of a cover 1 of a cover assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cover 1 includes a cover body 11 and a hinge portion 12. The cover body 11 is generally flat and capable of covering an opening 23 on a main body 21. The hinge portion 12 includes a first end 121 and a second end 122. The first end 121 is connected to one side of the cover body 11, and the second end 122 is provided with a pivot hole 123 for rotatable connection to the base 2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hinge portion 12 has a gooseneck structure. The hinge portion 12 has an elongated hole 124 on one side of the second end 122, the elongated hole 124 extending linearly toward the pivot hole 123. The elongated hole 124 is used to receive a pin 5, as will be described below. The pin 5 is an example of an intermediate component.

[0045] Continue to refer to Figure 3 The cover assembly 1000 further includes a pivot 3, which passes through a through hole in the base 2 and is inserted into a pivot hole 123 in the cover 1, thereby allowing the cover 1 to rotate relative to the base 2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pivot 3 defines a rotation axis Y, and the cover 1 can rotate relative to the base 2 about the rotation axis Y. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pivot 3 has a three-section structure, including a small cylindrical portion 31 with a smaller diameter, a large cylindrical portion 32 with a larger diameter, and a locking portion 33 located in the middle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking portion 33 has a rectangular cross-section. The pivot hole of the cover 1 has a shape complementary to the shape of the locking portion 33, such that the locking portion 33 can be rotatably locked into the pivot hole of the cover 1, thereby rotatably locking the pivot 3 to the cover 1. In another embodiment of the present invention, the pivot 3 does not have a locking portion 33, thereby allowing the pivot 3 to rotate freely relative to the cover 1. In other words, in this invention, the rotating shaft 3 is rotatably and fixedly connected to the cover 1, thereby providing relatively good stability and reducing frictional loss between the rotating shaft 3 and the cover 1. Alternatively, the rotating shaft 3 can rotate freely relative to the cover 1, thereby facilitating more flexible rotation of the cover 1.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover assembly 1000 further includes a drive member 4 and an actuator 7, the actuator 7 being, for example, an electric motor, for driving the drive member 4. Those skilled in the art will understand that the actuator 7 is merely one example of a power device, as long as it can provide power, such as a rotational driving force. In one embodiment of the present invention, the drive member 4 includes a generally planar plate portion 41, and optionally includes a rod shaft portion 42 extending perpendicularly to the plate portion 41. Teeth or keys 421 (see...) are provided on the rod shaft portion 42. Figure 6 A drive shaft 41 is rotatably and fixedly connected to the actuator 7, whereby rotation of the actuator 7 drives the drive member 4 to rotate about the rod shaft portion 42. It should be understood that the plate portion 41 may include a groove, and the actuator 7 may include a drive shaft engaging with the groove to drive the drive member 4 or its plate portion 41 to rotate. In one embodiment of the present invention, the rod shaft portion 42 is located at one end of the plate portion 41, and near the other end, a through guide hole or guide mechanism 43 is formed in the plate portion 41 for inserting a pin 5 therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the guide hole 43 is formed in a generally "L" shape, and the guide hole 43 includes a circumferential segment 431 and a radial segment 432 relative to the rotation axis Y of the drive member 4 or the rod shaft portion 42. In one embodiment of the present invention, the circumferential segment 431 extends in a generally circumferential direction with the rotation axis Y or the center of the rod shaft portion 42 as its center, and the radial segment 432 extends radially in a direction toward the rotation axis Y or the rod shaft portion 42. The pin 5 is capable of free movement within the circumferential segment 431 and the radial segment 432. In an embodiment of this invention (not shown), the rotating shaft 3 is integrally formed with the driving member 4.

[0047] Continue to refer to Figure 3In one embodiment of the present invention, the side portion 22 is provided with a track 221 on the side facing the actuator 7. In one embodiment of the present invention, the track 221 is formed by a recess in the side surface of the side portion 22. The pin 5 moves along the path formed by the track 221. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover assembly 1000 further includes an outer cover plate 6, which is fixedly connected to the base 2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer cover plate 6 is provided with a groove (not shown) on the side facing the base 2 that is adapted to the track 221. This groove provides movement space for the pin 5, allowing the pin 5 to move within the track 221 path formed by the base 2 and the outer cover plate 6. In other words, the outer cover plate 6 and the base 2 cooperate to define the track path 221 for the pin 5 to move, ensuring that the movement of the pin 5 is constrained to this specific trajectory. In one embodiment of the present invention, the track 221 is in the shape of a generally circular arc with the rotation axis Y as the center, and includes an arc segment 222 and an outwardly extending segment 223. The track 221 is inclined outward from the arc segment 222 at the rightmost end to the outwardly extending segment 223, which is a generally straight line away from the rotation axis Y.

[0048] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of a portion of a cover assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly 1000 is in an open state and the outer cover plate 6 is omitted, and the upper left view is an enlarged view of the circled portion. When the cover 1 is in the open position, for example, by means of the actuator 7, the drive member 4 rotates clockwise about the rotation axis Y to the leftmost position, at which time the pin 5 is located in the radial segment 432 of the guide hole 43 of the drive member 4. In order to allow the cover 1 to... Figure 6 The closed position shown is oriented towards Figure 5 When the cover moves to the open position as shown, the drive member 4 drives the pin 5 to move clockwise in the guide hole 43. At the same time, since the pin 5 passes through the elongated hole 124 of the hinge portion 12 of the cover 1, the clockwise movement of the pin 5 around the rotation axis Y (first moving along the outward extension 223 of the track 221 toward the rotation axis Y, thus entering the radial section 432 from the circumferential section 431 of the guide hole 43, and then moving along the arcuate section 222 of the track 221) also drives the cover 1 to move around the rotation axis Y. Therefore, the clockwise movement of the cover 1 is achieved by the drive member 4 driving the pin 5 to move the cover 1, thereby enabling the cover 1 to be opened.

[0049] Figure 6This is a perspective view of a cover assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly 1000 is in a closed state and the outer cover plate 6 is omitted. A partially enlarged view of part A of the cover assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown to more clearly illustrate the positional relationship of the pin 5, the drive member 4, and the track 221 of the base 2. When the cover 1 is in the closed position, the drive member 4 rotates counterclockwise with the cover 1 to the rightmost position. At this time, the pin 5 is located in the circumferential segment 431 of the guide hole 43 of the drive member 4, and the pin 5 is located in the outwardly extending segment 223 of the track 221. To allow the cover 1 to... Figure 5 The opening position shown is oriented towards Figure 6 When the closed position is moved, the driving member 4 drives the pin 5 to move counterclockwise in the guide hole 43. At the same time, since the pin 5 passes through the elongated hole 124 of the hinge part 12 of the cover 1, the counterclockwise movement of the pin 5 around the rotation axis Y also drives the cover 1 to move around the rotation axis Y. Therefore, the counterclockwise movement of the cover 1 is achieved by the driving member 4 driving the pin 5 to move the cover 1, thereby closing the cover 1.

[0050] When cover 1 is in the closed position, it needs to be kept stable in this position to prevent it from opening due to external factors such as vehicle vibration or strong winds. It is especially important to prevent cover 1 from being accidentally opened while the vehicle is in motion, as negative pressure may be generated during vehicle acceleration, thus applying a certain opening force to cover 1. Therefore, it is necessary that when cover 1 is in the closed position, it is held in the closed state with a certain retaining force.

[0051] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a cover assembly 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the relationship between the pin, the track, and the drive member. When the cover 1 in the closed position is subjected to an external force, causing a tendency to move in the opening direction R1, the cover 1 tends to rotate clockwise. Since the pin 5 passes through the elongated hole 124 of the hinge portion 12 of the cover 1, the clockwise rotation tendency of the cover 1 also causes the pin 5 to also tend to rotate clockwise around the rotation axis Y along the track 221. The pin 5 abuts against the circumferential segment 431 of the guide hole 43 of the drive member 4 to drive the drive member 4 to move. Therefore, the pin 5 abuts against the upper sidewall of the circumferential segment 431, thereby applying a force F to the drive member 4. Since the circumferential segment 431 extends approximately circumferentially relative to the rotation axis Y, the upper sidewall of the circumferential segment 431 against which the pin 5 abuts also extends approximately circumferentially. Therefore, the force F exerted by the pin 5 on the driving member 4 is approximately perpendicular to the upper sidewall of the circumferential segment 431. That is, the force F exerted by the pin 5 on the driving member 4 is approximately directed towards the rotation axis Y, thus the force F has a relatively short lever arm relative to the rotation axis Y (e.g., ...). Figure 7 As shown by the thick black line in the diagram, the force exerted on the drive member 4 by the force F is relatively small, making it difficult for the drive member 4 to move clockwise, thus keeping the cover 1 in the closed position. That is, in one embodiment of this application, when the pin 5 is at one end of the track, the cover 1 is in the closed position, and the drive member 4 hinders the movement of the pin toward the other end of the track, thereby hindering the movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position. In one embodiment of this application, due to the drive member 4, when the cover 1 is in the closed position... Figure 1 When the cover is in the closed state, the holding force of the cover 1 in the opening direction R1 is between 20N and 30N. The range of holding force in the opening direction R1 makes the cover 1 have a large holding force, which makes the cover 1 less susceptible to external conditions such as bumps and vibrations from opening.

[0052] In another embodiment of this utility model, the actuator 7 itself has a certain holding force, for example, 5N. If an external force is applied to the cover 1 to open it, the external force on the cover 1 needs to overcome not only the aforementioned holding force but also the holding force of the actuator 7 itself. In this case, the external force on the cover 1 needs to overcome a force greater than 25N. This further prevents the cover 1 from being accidentally opened by external force, allowing the cover 1 to be reliably held in the closed position. It should be understood that in this application, no additional locking mechanism is needed to hold the cover in the locked position. The cover assembly 1000 can provide a holding force to keep the cover in the closed state through its own mechanical structure. In addition, the magnitude of the holding force can be adjusted according to actual needs, thereby reliably holding the cover in the closed position.

[0053] Figure 8 This is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a cover assembly 1000 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 This is a perspective view of a portion of a cover assembly 1000 according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly 1000 is in a closed state and the outer cover plate 6 is omitted. Figure 8-10 The embodiments are the same as those described above. Figure 1-7 The embodiments are basically the same, and the differences will be mainly described below.

[0054] refer to Figure 8 The cover assembly 1000 further includes an inner cover plate 8, which is fixed to the base 2. A through hole 81 is formed in the inner cover plate 8 to allow the pivot to pass through. Instead of forming a track in the base 2, a track 82 is formed in the inner cover plate 8 for the pin 5 to move along the path formed by the track 82. Similar to... Figure 1-7In one embodiment, the track 82 is approximately arcuate in shape with the rotation axis Y as its center, and includes an arcuate segment 822 and an outwardly extending segment 823. At its rightmost end, the track 82 extends outward from the arcuate segment 822 into an approximately straight outwardly extending segment 823, away from the rotation axis Y. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover assembly 1000 further includes a rocker arm 9, which is rotatably and fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 3, and the rotating shaft 3 is rotatably and fixedly connected to the cover 1. Therefore, the rocker arm 9 and the cover 1 are also rotatably and fixedly connected. In this embodiment, the cover 1 does not necessarily have an elongated hole 124 at the hinge portion 12. The rocker arm 9 includes a pivot head 91 and an arm portion 92. The pivot head 91 has an opening 911, which, for example, has a rectangular shape to correspond to the shape of the rotating shaft 3, thereby rotatably and fixedly connecting the rocker arm 9 to the rotating shaft 3. It should be understood that the opening can have other shapes, such as triangles, pentagons, etc. In the arm portion 92, an elongated hole 921 is provided near the end opposite to the pivot head 91, the elongated hole 921 extending linearly toward the pivot head 91. The elongated hole 921 is used to receive the pin 5. In one embodiment of the present invention, the length of the elongated hole 921 is approximately equal to the difference between the maximum and minimum distances between the track and the axis of rotation. Figure 8 In this embodiment, the rocker arm 9 is disposed on the outer side of the inner cover plate 8. It is understood that the rocker arm 9 can also be disposed on the inner side of the inner cover plate 8. The cover assembly 1000 also includes a drive member 4, an outer cover plate 6, and actuators, etc., which are related to... Figure 1-7 The driving components, outer cover plates, and actuators in the embodiments are basically the same, and will not be described again here.

[0055] Although this invention is described in conjunction with the provision of an elongated hole 124 on the cover 1 or an elongated hole 921 on the rocker arm 9 fixed relative to the cover 1, those skilled in the art will understand that, instead of the elongated hole, an elongated shaft extending radially relative to the pivot axis can be provided on the cover 1 or the rocker arm 9, and a through portion can be provided in the intermediate component or pin 5 for the elongated shaft to pass through. That is, by employing an elongated shaft and a through portion, radial relative movement of the intermediate component or pin 5 relative to the cover 1 or the rocker arm 9 can also be achieved. More broadly, the cover 1 or the rocker arm 9 includes a sliding component, and the intermediate component or pin 5 includes a corresponding sliding component, the sliding component being capable of sliding relative to the corresponding sliding component, for example, sliding in a radial direction relative to the pivot axis.

[0056] Combined reference Figure 7-9When the cover 1 in the closed position is subjected to an external force, causing it to tend to move in the opening direction R1, the cover 1 tends to rotate clockwise. Since the rocker arm 9 is rotatably and fixedly connected to the cover 1 and the pin 5 passes through the elongated hole 921 of the rocker arm 9, the clockwise rotation tendency of the cover 1 also drives the rocker arm 9 to rotate clockwise, thereby causing the pin 5 to also tend to rotate clockwise around the rotation axis Y along the track 82. The pin 5 abuts against the circumferential section 431 of the guide hole 43 of the drive member 4 to drive the drive member 4 to move. Therefore, the pin 5 abuts against the upper side wall of the circumferential section 431, thereby applying a force to the drive member 4. Since the circumferential segment 431 extends approximately circumferentially relative to the rotation axis Y, the upper sidewall of the circumferential segment 431 against which the pin 5 abuts also extends approximately circumferentially. Therefore, the force exerted by the pin 5 on the driving member 4 is approximately perpendicular to the upper sidewall of the circumferential segment 431. That is, the force exerted by the pin 5 on the driving member 4 is approximately directed towards the rotation axis Y. Consequently, the force has a short lever arm relative to the rotation axis Y, and therefore the force exerted on the driving member 4 is relatively small, making it difficult for the driving member 4 to move clockwise. Thus, the cover 1 is held in the closed position. In one embodiment of this application, when the cover 1 is in such a position... Figure 1 When the cover is in the closed state, the holding force of the cover 1 in the opening direction R1 is between 20N and 30N. The range of holding force in the opening direction R1 makes the cover 1 have a large holding force, which makes the cover 1 less susceptible to external conditions such as bumps and vibrations from opening.

[0057] In another embodiment of this utility model, the actuator 7 itself has a certain holding force, for example, 5N. If an external force is applied to the cover 1 to open the cover 1, the external force on the cover 1 needs to overcome not only the aforementioned holding force, but also the holding force of the actuator 7 itself. In this case, the external force on the cover 1 needs to overcome a force greater than 25N. This further prevents the cover 1 from being accidentally opened by external force, so that the cover 1 can be reliably held in the closed position.

[0058] exist Figure 8-9 In this embodiment, a track 82 is provided in the inner cover plate 8, which provides good versatility and adaptability. Furthermore, since no track is needed in the base 2, the strength of the base 2 is improved. Additionally, the cover 1 does not need to have an elongated hole 124 at the hinge portion 12; the rocker arm 9 can be provided separately from the cover 1, simplifying the structure of the cover 1, reducing its structural complexity, and improving the versatility of the parts.

[0059] Figure 10This is a front view of a portion of a cover assembly 1000 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover assembly 1000 is in an open state and the outer cover plate is omitted. In this embodiment, the guide hole 43 of the drive member 4 is in a generally mirror-image "Z" shape. The guide hole 43 of the drive member 4 also includes an inner circumferential segment 433 extending from the free end of the radial segment 432 in a direction opposite to that of the circumferential segment 431. When the cover 1 is moved from the closed state to the open state, its operating principle is the same as... Figure 8 The embodiment is exactly the same. In this embodiment, when the cover 1 is in the open state, for example when the vehicle is charging, it is desirable to keep the cover 1 in the open state and prevent it from being blown around by external forces such as wind or from swinging and colliding with the charging gun. Therefore, it is desirable to have a certain holding force when the cover 1 is in the open state to prevent the cover 1 from undesirably closing or swinging. Figure 10 As shown, when the cover 1 is in the open state, the pin 5 is located in the inner circumferential section 433 of the guide hole 43 of the drive member 4.

[0060] Figure 11 This is a front view of a portion of a cover assembly 1000 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, showing a track 82 and a pin 5 in the inner cover plate 8. Similar to previous embodiments, the track 82 is generally arcuate in shape with the rotation axis Y as its center, and includes an arcuate segment 822 and an outwardly extending segment 823, with the track 82 at its rightmost end inclined outward from the arcuate segment 822 into a generally straight outwardly extending segment 823 away from the rotation axis Y. Figure 11 As shown, the track 82 also includes an inwardly extending, generally straight, segment 821 that extends radially inward from the leftmost end of the arcuate segment 822. Figure 11 As shown, when the cover 1 is in the open state, the pin 5 is also located in the inward extension section 821.

[0061] exist Figure 10-11In this embodiment, when the cover 1 in the closed position is subjected to an external force, causing it to move in the closing direction R2, the cover 1 tends to rotate counterclockwise. Since the rocker arm 9 is rotatably and fixedly connected to the cover 1 and the pin 5 passes through the elongated hole 921 of the rocker arm 9, the counterclockwise rotation tendency of the cover 1 also drives the rocker arm 9 to rotate counterclockwise, thereby causing the pin 5 to also tend to rotate counterclockwise around the rotation axis Y along the track 82. The pin 5 abuts against the inner circumferential section 433 of the guide hole 43 of the drive member 4 to drive the drive member 4 to move. Therefore, the pin 5 abuts against the wall of the inner circumferential section 433, thereby applying a force to the drive member 4. Since the inner circumferential segment 433 extends approximately circumferentially relative to the rotation axis Y, the wall of the inner circumferential segment 433 against which the pin 5 abuts also extends approximately circumferentially. Therefore, the force exerted by the pin 5 on the driving member 4 is approximately perpendicular to the wall of the inner circumferential segment 433. That is, the force exerted by the pin 5 on the driving member 4 is also approximately pointing towards the rotation axis Y. Thus, the force has a short lever arm relative to the rotation axis Y, and therefore the torque exerted on the driving member 4 by the force is small, making it difficult for the driving member 4 to move counterclockwise. Therefore, the cover 1 is held in the closed position. In one embodiment of this application, when the cover 1 is in such a position... Figure 2 When the cover is in the open position as shown, the holding force of the cover 1 in the closing direction R2 is between 6N and 8N. The range of the holding force in the closing direction R2 makes the cover 1 have a large holding force, which makes the cover 1 less susceptible to the influence of external conditions such as wind and thus easier to close.

[0062] In another embodiment of this utility model, the actuator 7 itself has a certain holding force, for example 2N. If an external force is applied to the cover 1 to close the cover 1, the external force on the cover 1 needs to overcome not only the aforementioned holding force, but also the holding force of the actuator 7 itself. In this case, the external force on the cover 1 needs to overcome a force greater than 8N. This further prevents the cover 1 from being accidentally closed by external force, so that the cover 1 can be reliably held in the open position.

[0063] It should be understood that in this application, no additional locking mechanism is required to hold the cover in the locked position. The cover assembly 1000, through its own mechanical structure, can provide a retaining force to keep the cover in the closed state. Furthermore, the magnitude of the retaining force can be adjusted according to actual needs, thereby reliably holding the cover in the closed position. Meanwhile, for example, such as... Figure 10-11In the embodiments described, the cover assembly provides a retaining force to keep the cover in the open state through its own mechanical structure. Furthermore, the magnitude of the retaining force can be adjusted according to actual needs, thereby reliably keeping the cover in the open position. In other words, in this application, the mechanical self-holding function is achieved through the hole shape of the drive member 4 and the constraint cooperation of the pin 5, eliminating the need for an additional locking mechanism.

[0064] In one embodiment of this utility model, a sensor or micro switch is provided on the base 2. When the cover 1 rotates a short distance from the open position along the closing direction R2, the cover 1 causes the sensor or micro switch to change its state, thereby transmitting a signal that the cover 1 is to be closed. The control device can receive the signal to instruct the actuator 7 to drive the cover 1 to rotate, thereby electrically controlling the cover 1 to close.

[0065] By adopting the cover assembly according to this utility model, which has higher reliability, safety and automatic control capabilities, the cover assembly can reliably control the opening or closing of the charging cover when the vehicle is stationary and in motion, and provide holding torque in specific states, preventing the cover from being accidentally opened or closed due to external forces, thereby improving the charging safety of the whole vehicle and the user experience.

[0066] The foregoing description is illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit this disclosure, its application, or use. The broad teachings of this disclosure can be implemented in various forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes specific examples, its true scope should not be so limited, as other modifications will become apparent upon examination of the drawings, description, and appended claims. For example, unless otherwise specifically stated, the size, shape, position, or orientation of various components may be varied as needed and / or desired, provided that such variations do not substantially affect their intended function. Unless otherwise specifically stated, directly connected or contacting components may have intermediate structures arranged between them, provided that such variations do not substantially affect their intended function. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the function of one element may be performed by two elements, and vice versa. The structure and function of one embodiment may be adopted in another embodiment. All advantages are not necessarily present simultaneously in a particular embodiment. Each feature unique compared to the prior art, individually or in combination with other features, should also be considered as the applicant's separate description of further utility models, including structural and / or functional concepts embodied by such features. It should be understood that one or more steps within the method may be performed in different orders (or simultaneously) without altering the principles of this disclosure. Furthermore, while each of the embodiments described above is described as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with reference to any embodiment of this disclosure may be implemented in any of the features of other embodiments and / or combined with features of any of other embodiments, even if such combinations are not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and substitutions of one or more embodiments for each other remain within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A cover assembly, characterized in that, The cover assembly includes: A base, wherein a track is formed on the base or is fixedly disposed relative to the base; A cover, which is movable relative to the base about an axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position, wherein a sliding member extending radially relative to the axis of rotation is formed on the cover or fixedly disposed relative to the cover; A power unit used to provide rotational driving force; A drive element, rotatably and fixedly connected to the power unit about the rotation axis, the drive element including a guide mechanism; and An intermediate component, including a corresponding sliding component that is slidable relative to the corresponding sliding component, is inserted into a guide mechanism passing through the drive member and moves along a predetermined trajectory defined by the track. When the intermediate component is at one end of the track, the cover is in a closed position, and the drive member impedes the movement of the intermediate component toward the other end of the track, thereby impeding the movement of the cover from the closed position toward the open position.

2. The cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The drive member includes a plate portion, in which a guide mechanism is formed. The guide mechanism includes a circumferential segment and a radial segment. The circumferential segment extends generally along the circumferential direction of the rotation axis, and the radial segment extends in a direction toward the rotation axis.

3. The cover assembly according to claim 2, wherein, The cover includes a cover body and a hinge portion, the hinge portion including a pivot hole and a sliding member extending along the direction of the pivot hole, the cover assembly further including a pivot shaft inserted into the pivot hole of the hinge portion to allow the cover to rotate relative to the base about the rotation axis; or the drive member is integrally formed with a pivot shaft, the drive member being able to be inserted into the pivot hole of the hinge portion to allow the cover to rotate relative to the base about the rotation axis.

4. The cover assembly according to claim 3, wherein, The track is arc-shaped, having an arc segment centered on the rotation axis and an outward extension segment. When the intermediate component is in the outward extension segment, the intermediate component can be located in the circumferential segment of the guide mechanism.

5. The cover assembly according to claim 3, wherein, The cover assembly further includes a rocker arm fixedly disposed relative to the cover, one end of the rocker arm being rotatably and fixedly connected to the pivot, the other end having the sliding member, and the pivot being rotatably and fixedly connected to the hinge portion of the cover.

6. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The cover assembly also includes an inner cover plate fixedly disposed relative to the base, and the track is disposed on the inner cover plate.

7. The cover assembly according to claim 5, wherein, The pivot includes a locking part having a non-circular cross-section, the locking part being rotatably and fixedly connected to the hinge part of the cover, and the pivot also includes another locking part being rotatably and fixedly connected to the rocker arm.

8. The cover assembly according to claim 4, wherein, The guiding mechanism of the drive unit also includes an inner circumferential section that extends from the radial section in a direction opposite to the circumferential section.

9. The cover assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The track also includes an inwardly extending section that extends radially inward from the arc segment, and when the intermediate component is in the inwardly extending section, the intermediate component can be located in the inner circumferential section of the guide mechanism.

10. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, When the cover is in the closed position, the holding force of the cover is between 20N and 30N.

11. The cover assembly according to any one of claims 8-9, wherein, When the cover is in the closed position, the holding force of the cover is between 6N and 8N.

12. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The power unit has an additional holding torque to provide additional holding effect when the cover is in the open and closed positions.

13. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The cover assembly also includes an outer cover plate, which, together with the base, encloses the track to form a movement space for the intermediate component.

14. The cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The base is equipped with a sensor or micro switch. When the cover is rotated by a predetermined angle from the open position along the closing direction, the cover triggers the sensor or micro switch to change its state.

15. The cover assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The sliding component includes an elongated hole or a slender shaft, and the intermediate component is a pin configured to pass through the elongated hole, or the corresponding sliding component includes a through portion located in the pin for the slender shaft to pass through.

16. The cover assembly according to claim 15, wherein, The length of the elongated hole is approximately equal to the difference between the maximum and minimum distances between the track and the axis of rotation.

17. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes a cover assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

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