Operating device for a motor vehicle sliding door

Abstract

Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism with a door holder (4) guided in profile rails (1), wherein a pulling mechanism (7) is arranged on the profile-rail-guided door holder (4), which engages with the door holder (4) by means of an electrically driven spindle (6a) and a spindle nut (6b) with a driver angle (8) attached thereto and displaces the latter longitudinally, thereby moving a sliding door, wherein the drive elements spindle (6a) and spindle nut (6b) are firmly installed as a unit in a guide rail (2, 3), wherein the spindle (6a), the spindle nut (6b) and the guide rail (2), with a motor (20) and an electric drive (16), form a preassembled unit, characterized in that a deflection wheel (13) can be driven by the electric drive (16), thereby causing the driver angle (8) to perform a linear movement,wherein the electric drive (16) is connected to an electric motor (20) via a worm gear (17, 18) and a flexible shaft (19).

Description

The invention relates to an actuating device for the automatic opening and closing of motor vehicle doors, in particular a sliding door. In particular, the proposed solution is suitable for the subsequent retrofitting of motor vehicles (motor vehicles) and their sliding doors, which as a standard do not have an actuating device for the automatic opening and closing of the door, i.e. these doors are opened and closed manually.Prior ArtActuation devices for automatically opening and closing motor vehicle sliding doors are known from the prior art, for example from the publications DE 693 14 475 T2, DE 197 02 698 A1 and DE 198 19 421 A1. These consist of a drive unit which is composed of a drive motor, for example an electric motor, a transmission and a safety clutch. The drive unit is fastened to the vehicle side wall. As force-transmitting elements of the actuating device, cables are generally used, the cables are guided via guides and deflections and driven via a drive wheel which is designed as a winding reel. This unit forms the guide unit, and this system is also fastened to the side wall and thus forms the actuating device together with the drive unit.The cable or force-transmitting element is connected to the sliding door. The sliding door itself is accommodated on the vehicle side or statically via guides and rollers and is movable in translation.In the known systems, a large space requirement is necessary, i.e. the drive unit projects into the passenger compartment and takes up a large amount of space.In addition, the systems are designed in such a way that parts of the guide unit (guides, deflections, levers, etc.) are also attached or run or guided in the vehicle both inside and outside the vehicle.Associated therewith are openings or cut-outs on the vehicle side wall, the openings having to be sealed off with great effort from environmental influences, such as water, dirt, ice, for example. If these media reach the interior of the vehicle, these can lead to damage, increased wear or malfunction.In addition, the mechanism which runs on the outside of the vehicle or is located on the outside is also sensitive to environmental influences. The components must be expensive and expensively protected by means of covers and screens which are attached to the vehicle against the above-mentioned influences.In addition, the additional panels and covers must prevent the risk that persons may be injured by components.The actuating device, in particular retrofit solutions, are generally integrated on the central guide rail of the sliding door. It is also disadvantageous here that the known solutions are significantly incorporated into the vehicle structure, carrying components, by trimming these trims in order to mount and place the mechanics of the add-on solutions into the vehicle interior, in this case component structures carrying the sheet metal cuts are violated, these measures have a negative influence on the crash safety of the vehicle.An electric drive device of this type with the disadvantages listed above, which is also recommended in particular for retrofitting sliding doors, is known from DE 43 41 153 A1.The object is to provide a method for performing a processThe object of the invention is to propose an actuating device which enables a flexible insert for the automatic actuation of sliding doors, which is of very simple and cost-effective construction and can additionally also be easily installed in a motor vehicle as a retrofitting solution. In this case, the vehicle structure is not to be changed or weakened in terms of static and thus crash safety. The system is intended to require little space, i.e. not to occupy a usable space in the motor vehicle, to be protected against environmental influences, thus increasing the reliability of the system compared to the known solutions.The object is achieved, starting from an actuating device, a motor vehicle or a retrofitting method, by the characterizing features of the main claim.By means of the measures mentioned in the dependent claims, advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are possible.Accordingly, the actuating device according to the invention serves for the automatic door opening or closing of a motor vehicle sliding door, as is used, for example, in a car, minibus or van, a caravan, a residence, a camping vehicle, a transporter or the like. Especially in the case of motor homes, there are vehicle manufacturers which do not offer an electric sliding door as a standard.With the actuating device according to the invention, the sliding door can be moved automatically, i.e. motor-driven, into a closed door position or into an open position and can also be retrofitted very easily in a retrofitting method without weakening the vehicle structure by additionally introduced openings and holes.In addition, in the case of repair or maintenance, the proposed invention is very simple and easily accessible from the outside when the sliding door is open, since the actuating device and guide rail 2, 3 is placed between the sill and the vehicle floor and this installation space becomes very easily accessible when the door is open. In the known solutions, considerable effort is required for dismantling the panels and covers, especially in the case of motor homes the actuating device is installed by furniture or kitchen blocks and very high dismantling effort is required for repairs and maintenance in order to access the mechanics of the actuating device.In a further advantageous development of the invention, a mixed operation can be represented between manual door opening and closing and also automatic, i.e. motor-operated, door opening and closing. The user or operator can trigger the automatic door opening or closing by radio, or button, cell phone or tablet, or, depending on the requirements and situation, can also manually open or close the sliding door in the usual manner by his own "muscle force", by actuating the external or internal handle of the sliding door. By actuating the handle, the sliding door is decoupled from the driver angle 8 via a cable pull and a movable driver pin 9, and the connection and force flow to the driver angle is thus interrupted, and the door can now be manually moved in the usual manner. As a result of this design, the sliding door can always be opened manually, even when there is no vehicle tension present and in particular also in cases of emergency or accidents, and can therefore also be unlocked at note.The retrofitting of this system in vehicles with manually operated sliding doors is particularly advantageous because the cable pull is generally already laid in series in the door here, and this is required as decoupling element for the door securement when the door is open. In the event of retrofitting, the sliding door is held in position by the self-locking of the actuating device, and this cable pull can thus be "non-used" for decoupling or actuating the driver pin 9.Due to the arrangement and installation position of the actuating device between the vehicle floor and the sill, all components are located inside the vehicle when the sliding door is closed, and the actuating device is even protected from environmental influences by a vehicle-side door seal of the sliding door, such as dust, dirt, water, ice, temperature differences. This construction increases the reliability and longevity of the system.The guide unit is formed by a straight guide rail 2, 3, the inserted chain or belt being deflected within this guide rail. The chain or belt is held together by a driver angle 8, i.e. no endless chains or belts have to be used, which in turn simplifies the assembly. The driver angle 8 is guided positively in the guide rail 2, 3, so that transverse forces which occur during operation and occur during door opening or door closing are kept away from the chain 5 or belt 6.Instead of the chain 5 or belt 6, a spindle 6 acan also be used very advantageously. A spindle nut is installed on the spindle, the spindle nut is set in translatory movement by the enclosure in the guide rail when the spindle is rotated. The driver angle 8 is firmly connected to the spindle nut, or the pin is inserted directly in the spindle nut.When the sliding door is opened, it is always also moved or displaced in the transverse direction to the motor vehicle direction of travel via the series guide elements of the door. This has the advantage that the door can then be guided laterally along the vehicle side wall in the guide rails. The proposed flat guide rail 2, 3 cannot represent this transverse offset. The object is achieved according to the invention in that the driver angle 8 is connected to the traction mechanism 7 by means of driver pin 9. The connection is positive locking, and the traction mechanism can rotate about the driver pin 9. The traction mechanism 7 is in turn articulatedly coupled on the opposite side to the door holder 4. The extension of the door holder 4 is coupled to the guide profile of the actual door guide in the lower region via a roller 25. When the door is opened, the length compensation or transverse offset with respect to the guide rail 2, 3 now takes place via the articulated arrangement of the traction mechanism 7.The traction mechanism 7 pulls when the door is opened on the door holder 4, thus opening the sliding door. When closing the door, the traction mechanism 7 presses against the door holder 4, and the door is closed.The guide rails 2, 3 are screwed flat in the vehicle to the vehicle floor by means of screws and small sheet metal machining. The screws are easily accessible even during subsequent maintenance work or repairs and can be installed and removed very quickly.Because of the restricted installation space conditions and the task of not occupying any usable installation space in the vehicle interior by the mechanics of the actuating device, the transmission / drive 16 is mounted perpendicular and coplanar to the guide rail 2, 3. The available free space, as is produced in each vehicle with the design of the profile rail 1, is used.In the event that a spindle and spindle nut is installed in the guide rail, the motor can be screwed directly to the drive housing or gear, i.e. the axis of the motor is perpendicular to the spindle or also guide rail in this case.In the event that due to limited installation space conditions for the electric motor 20 directly on the transmission 16 there is no space, the object is achieved according to the invention as follows. The drive motor is guided out of this region via a flexible shaft 19 and can be mounted in a rotationally fixed manner, for example above, protected within the vehicle. This results in advantageous positions of the engine 20, e.g. within the free spaces on the motor vehicle pillar, or under plastic claddings of the motor vehicle pillars. The advantageous use of a flexible shaft enables a position-independent positioning of the motor 20 with respect to the transmission 16, in addition to which the solution is not critical with respect to assembly tolerances of the motor 20, since the flexible shaft also constitutes an excellent element for tolerance compensation. Possible openings on the body for passage into cavities on the motor vehicle pillar require only small diameters to expand, which do not impair the strength of the vehicle structure, in particular in the case of retrofitting.The above-described design achieves the object described above.- Simple constructionNo covers, screens, etc. are required for protecting against injuries.Cost-effective actuating deviceactuating device completely in the vehicle interior, no external mechanism which is exposed to environmental influences.No sheet metal machining or no openings on outer sheetsThe guide unit as well as the complete actuating device can also be advantageously integrated into the vehicle as a completely preassembled unit; this has the advantage that vehicle tolerances are bridged or compensated in the tolerance chain.The construction with spindle, spindle nut and guide unit with flanged motor on the drive unit is particularly advantageous; this unit can be inserted as a whole, in one piece into the installation space, installation space.An overload clutch 21 is located within the transmission unit in order to keep damage to and external influences away from the transmission.In the event of abuse or jamming of persons, it is advantageous to stop the sliding door very quickly in order to keep the tracking or kinetic energy away from the person. The movement energy of the door can also be absorbed, for example, by a magnetic brake, in which case a reaction force is generated counter to the direction of movement of the door. As a solution, brake shoes are also conceivable which close as in a motor vehicle disc brake upon detection of accidents, such as via switch bars, and abruptly stop the door in its movement or inertia. A pinion is suitable as a position for the braking jaws within the guide rail 2, 3.When the driver pin 9 is decoupled, i.e. the mode of operation of manual door adjustment, the traction mechanism 7 is pressed against the guide rail by means of a spring 24, preferably a leg spring. and defined in the rotational position.This ensures that when the door is moved over, i.e. manually, and when the door handle is not actuated, the system is again positively located, i.e. the driver pin 9 latches into the driver angle 8 against the compression spring 10 on the driver pin 9. The door can thus be actuated electrically again.Exemplary EmbodimentsExemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are briefly explained below. FIG. 1 is an iso-view in detail of the drive side of the actuating device, FIG. 2 is an iso-view of the entire actuating device, FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the drive side, FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the transmission, FIG. 5 is a side view of the actuating device, FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the drive side of the actuating device; in this figure it can be seen in which position the components are located when the door is disengaged or opened, in particular the relative movement of the element pull mechanism 7; the pull mechanism is prestressed into position by means of the spring 24, FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section through the guide rail. In this view, the driving pin 9 and driving angle 8 are shown in engagement, FIG. 8 is an iso-view of the actuating device with a two-part design of the guide rail, i.e. the door holder, traction mechanism 7, driver angle 8 and driver pin 9, in the position or arrangement between the two rails, FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the two-part or double design of the guide rail 3; the door holder, traction mechanism 7, driver angle 8 and driver pin 9 are in the position or arrangement between the two rails, FIG. 10 is a side view of the two-part or double design of the guide rail 3, FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the actuating device, in which the drive element spindle 6 aand spindle nut 6 bis used. Guided in the guide rail 2 With illustration of the articulation of the motor and the electric drive 16 Illustration of the spindle nut 6 bwith a receptacle for the driver pin 9, FIG. 12 is a top view of the actuating device, in which the drive element spindle 6 aand spindle nut 6 bis used. Motor 20 and spindle 6a form an angle of 90°.The solution to the object according to the invention is a rail-guided traction mechanism 7 which is arranged on the lower profile rail 1 of the sliding door and can be driven by the following traction-pressure means: a toothed belt 6 or a chain 5, or a spindle 6 aand spindle nut 6 b. The driver angle 8 arranged on the traction means is connected to the adjustable door holder 4 via a driver pin 9 arranged on the traction mechanism 7 and able to be disengaged by a cable pull 11. The driver angle 8 is guided in a positive-locking manner in the guide rail 2, 3. The driver angle can simultaneously also be designed as a spindle nut 6 b,in the case of the drive element spindle 6 a. This mechanism 7 can be unlocked with the door via the built-in driver pin 9 and the pull mechanism 7 arranged on the door, so that in the event of a power supply failure, emergency etc., the door can be opened manually. A mixed operation is also possible selectively by the user. The toothed belt pulleys 14 or sprockets / deflection wheels 13 arranged at the ends of the guide rails 2 or 3 deflect the toothed belt 6 or chain 5. A toothed belt pulley or sprocket is driven via an electric drive 16, so that the traction device arranged in the rail is linearly adjusted. The embodiment as a drive element spindle 6 aand spindle nut 6 bis particularly advantageous, since no deflections are required here and the installation space requirement is very low.The spindle 6 aand spindle nut 6 bcan absorb large forces, and a change in the speed can also be set via the pitch of the spindle without changing the installation space. This gear 16 is driven via an overload mechanism 21 with an electric motor 20 via a flexible shaft 19. The connection between the worm wheel 17 and the driven toothed belt wheel 14 or sprocket wheel 13 is effected via an adjustable overload protection.The electric motor 20 is preferably installed in a protected space in a rotationally secure manner and is connected to the drive transmission 16 via a flexible shaft 19.In order to avoid a skip of the belt or chain 5, these are usually installed prestressed, the object has been achieved according to the invention in the form that the clamping device 12 and the tension are represented within the actuating device or guide rail 2, 3. The clamping device 12 can be realized very easily via an eccentric arrangement. By rotating the eccentric, the sprocket or toothed belt wheel 14 is moved in the longitudinal direction and thus the chain 5, or the toothed belt 6, is prestressed.In the case of restricted installation space conditions and in order to obtain a better force flow in the system, the guide rail can be designed in two parts in a particularly simple manner, two rails being used here, one rail resting on the vehicle floor and the second rail resting on the sill plate of the vehicle. Both rails are still located within the floor group between the sill and the vehicle floor. This construction ensures that additional space is created for the driver pin 9, driver angle 8 and in particular for the traction mechanism 7. The arrangement of the listed elements lies in this design between or within the two-part rail. In particular in the case of retrofitting, it is possible to avoid the door holder 4 having to be changed, i.e. the series component can be used further as a force-transmitting element. When changes to this component are made, new compliance decreases are required for the sliding door.This construction also has a further advantage, because of the two-part construction or the exploded construction, the elongated hole of the guide rail 3 for the driver angle is located on the side pointing toward the vehicle floor, i.e. the guide system is further improved because this results in additional protection solely by the rotation of the elongated hole downward against the penetration of dirt particles into the rail.As a further solution, the drive unit with spindle 6 aand spindle nut is proposed, this unit requires no deflections and can be installed in very confined space conditions. The internal forces are absorbed via the guide rail 2 and introduced into the vehicle structure via the fastening thereof.

Claims

Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism with a door holder (4) guided in profiled rails (1), wherein a traction mechanism (7) is arranged on the profiled rail guided door holder (4), which engages on the door holder (4) by means of an electrically driven spindle (6a) and a spindle nut (6b) with a driver bracket (8) fastened thereto and displaces the latter longitudinally and thereby moves a sliding door, wherein the drive elements spindle (6a) and spindle nut (6b) are installed in a fixed manner as a unit in a guide rail (2, 3), wherein the spindle (6a), the spindle nut (6b) and the guide rail (2), together with a motor (20) and an electric drive (16), form a pre-assembled unit, characterized in that, a deflection wheel (13) can be driven by the electric drive (16) and the driver angle (8) thereby makes a linear movement, wherein the electric drive (16) is connected to an electric motor (20) via a worm wheel gear (17, 18) and a flexible shaft (19).Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the traction mechanism (7) is connected in an articulated manner to the door holder (4) and driver angle (8).Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spindle nut (6b) is designed in such a way that the driver angle (8) is omitted and coupling takes place directly via the spindle nut (6b).Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulling mechanism (7) arranged rotatably on the door holder (4) is detachably connected by a driver pin (9) to the driver angle (8) attached to the pulling means (6, 5).Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driver pin (9) is pressed into a bore of the driver bracket (8) by means of a compression spring (10) and can be pulled out of this bore by means of a cable pull in such a way that the connection between the pulling mechanism (7) and the driver bracket (8) is interrupted.Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically driven drive elements (5, 6, 6a, 6b) are guided in a one-part or multi-part guide rail (2, 3) and in that this guide rail (2, 3) is arranged on the profile rail (1) of the sliding door.Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the traction means (5, 6) are guided via deflection wheels (13).Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric drive (16) is connected to the driven deflection wheel (13) via a coupling which is adjustable from the outside.Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the traction mechanism (7) is always pressed against the driver angle (8) by a leg spring (24) in such a way that the driver pin (9) arranged on the traction mechanism (7) automatically latches again into the bore of the driver angle (8) when the sliding door is manually displaced after unlocking.Actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism, equal to the actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rails (2, 3) form an intermediate space, in which intermediate space there is the driver angle (8), driver pin (9), door holder (4) and traction mechanism (7).Use of the actuating device for a vehicle side door opening and closing mechanism according to one of the preceding claims for retrofitting a motor vehicle.Retrofitting method for retrofitting an actuating device for sliding doors, characterized in that the actuating device according to one of the preceding claims is fitted between the sill and the vehicle floor.

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