Closure for a convertible arrangement

Abstract

A closure for a convertible arrangement, comprising a closure hook (24) which is mounted on a hook bearing (22) and is adjustable by means of a drive link arrangement (34) between a release position and a locking position in which it engages with a locking counter-element (28), and a sensor device (50) for detecting the locking position of the closure hook (24), characterized in that the sensor device (50) comprises a sensor lever (48) which is pivotally mounted on the hook bearing (22) or the locking counter-element (28) without being connected to a link of the drive link arrangement (34), wherein an actuator actuates the sensor lever (48) when the closure hook (24) is adjusted to the locking position such that a magnetic sensor (56) of the sensor device (50) detects the locking position by detecting a magnetic field of a magnet (60) or a change in a magnetic field.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a closure for a convertible arrangement, comprising the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Such a closure is known in practice and is used, for example, in a convertible arrangement to secure a convertible top compartment lid in its closed position. It is also conceivable to use such a closure to secure a front bow of a folding top or a front roof shell of a convertible top designed as a retractable hard top (RHT) to a front cowl of the vehicle in question, thus securing the closed position of the convertible top. The closure comprises a locking hook pivotably mounted on a hook bearing, which, in the case of a convertible top compartment lid closure, is arranged, in particular, fixed to the body.The locking hook is adjustable by means of a drive link arrangement which is adjustable by means of a drive device, such as a drive motor, between a release position in which the convertible top compartment lid is adjustable and a locking position in which the convertible top compartment lid is secured in its closed position, wherein the locking hook then engages with a locking counter-element formed on the convertible top compartment, which can comprise a locking bolt.

[0003] It is necessary to clearly detect the locking position of the locking hook to prevent malfunctions in the convertible assembly. For this purpose, it is known to use sensor devices that include a Hall sensor. However, the sensor devices used to date can result in false detections, as the Hall sensor may detect a magnetic field corresponding to the locking position even before the locking position is reached and output a sensor signal.

[0004] A closure of the type mentioned above is also known from document DE 10 2011 016 983 A1. This closure comprises a locking hook mounted on a support and adjustable by means of a drive link arrangement between a release position and a locking position, in which it engages with a locking counter element. The drive link arrangement is driven by an actuator. A link of the drive link arrangement interacts with a Hall sensor to detect a locking position of the locking hook.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of creating a closure of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which the closure position of the closure hook can be reliably detected.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by the closure having the features of patent claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, a closure with a sensor device is proposed, which comprises a sensor lever which is pivotally mounted on the hook bearing or the locking counter-element without being connected to a link of a link arrangement. An actuator actuates the sensor lever when the locking hook is adjusted to the locking position such that a magnetic sensor of the sensor device detects the locking position by detecting a magnetic field of a magnet or a change in a magnetic field. The sensor lever is expediently designed such that the magnetic sensor can only detect the magnetic field once the locking position of the closure hook has been reached. Before the sensor lever is pivoted, the magnetic sensor cannot detect the magnetic field of the magnet.This ensures that the sensor device only transmits a sensor signal corresponding to the locking position of the locking hook to a control system when the locking position of the locking hook is actually present.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the closure according to the invention, the magnetic sensor is arranged on the sensor lever. Thus, when the locking position is reached, the magnetic sensor, together with the sensor lever, is pivoted into the magnetic field of the magnet by the actuator. In this case, the magnet is arranged, for example, on the locking counter element.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment of the closure according to the invention, the magnetic sensor itself comprises a magnet that has a magnetic field. A steel element, such as a steel plate or a steel block, can be arranged on the locking counter element. When the steel element comes into the range of the magnetic field, the field changes, allowing the magnetic sensor to detect the locking position.

[0010] It is of course also conceivable that the magnet is arranged on the sensor lever and the magnetic sensor is attached to another component, for example to the locking counter element.

[0011] To eliminate the need for additional components, in a preferred embodiment of the closure according to the invention, the actuator for actuating the sensor lever is formed by the drive link assembly. In a specific pivoting position of the closure hook, which corresponds to the locking position or nearly so, the drive link assembly moves onto the sensor lever, which is mounted on the hook bearing without any further connection to any other link of the drive link assembly.

[0012] To secure the locking position of the locking hook, in a preferred embodiment of the closure according to the invention, the locking hook and the drive link assume an over-dead center position when the locking hook is in the locking position. In this embodiment, the sensor lever is preferably only pivoted into a sensor position when the assembly comprising the locking hook and the drive link assembly passes a dead center, i.e., is brought into the over-dead center position.

[0013] In order to drive the sensor lever only in one direction of rotation by means of a kinematic actuator, a special embodiment of the closure according to the invention provides a return spring which preloads the sensor lever towards a rest position.

[0014] The closure according to the invention is preferably associated with a convertible top compartment lid, by means of which a convertible top storage compartment can be selectively opened or closed. The locking counter element is then formed in particular on the convertible top compartment lid, whereas the hook bearing, on which the locking hook is pivotably mounted, is fixed to the body.

[0015] However, it is also conceivable to use the closure according to the invention in the area of ​​a front cowl, where a front bow of the adjustable convertible top must be secured in its closed position spanning the vehicle interior. In principle, however, the use of the closure according to the invention is not limited to the aforementioned applications. Rather, it can also be used in other areas of a convertible assembly where securing a component of the convertible assembly by means of a locking hook is required.

[0016] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawings and the patent claims.

[0017] An exemplary embodiment of a convertible vehicle with a closure according to the invention is shown schematically in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a convertible vehicle with a convertible top and a convertible top compartment lid; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a closure of the convertible top compartment lid; Fig. 3 another perspective view of the closure; Fig. 4 a side view of the closure in a release position of a locking hook; Fig. 5 a Fig. 4 corresponding view of the closure, but in an intermediate position when adjusting the locking hook to its locking position; and Fig. 6 also a Fig. 4 corresponding view, but with the locking hook in the locked position.

[0018] In Fig. 1 shows a convertible vehicle 10 which is provided with a top 12, in the present case designed as a folding top, which can be folded up by actuating a top rod 14 between a Fig. 1 and a storage position (not shown in detail), in which it is accommodated in a rear-side convertible top storage compartment 16 of the vehicle 10. The convertible top storage compartment 16 is closable by means of a convertible top compartment cover 18, which can be opened by means of a corresponding drive (not shown in detail) to move the convertible top 12 from its closed position to its storage position or to move the convertible top 12 from the storage position to the closed position. In the closed state, the convertible top compartment cover 18 is secured on both sides with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle by means of a closure 20, which is inserted into the Fig. 2 to 6 are shown in detail.

[0019] The closure 20 comprises a hook bearing 22 which is fixed to the body in a respective side region of the convertible top storage space 16 and on which a closure hook 24 is mounted which can be pivoted about a pivot axis 26.

[0020] On the underside of the convertible top compartment lid 18, a locking counter bearing is arranged, which forms a locking counter element 28 for the locking hook 24 and is provided for this purpose with a locking bolt 30, which can be engaged behind by the locking hook 24 in the closed position of the convertible top compartment lid 18.

[0021] For actuation, the locking hook 24 is connected via a joint 32 to a drive link arrangement 34, which comprises a first drive link 36 and a second drive link 38. The two drive links 36 and 38 are connected to one another at a pivot point 40. The drive link 36 is connected to the locking hook 24 via the joint 32. The drive link 38 is pivotally mounted on the hook bearing 22 via a bearing pin 42. In addition, the drive link 38 has a drive end 44, which is connected to a drive of the closure 20 via a linkage or the like, in a manner not shown in detail.

[0022] A sensor lever 48 is pivotally mounted on the hook bearing 22 via a bearing pin 46. This sensor lever is part of a sensor device 50 by means of which the locking position of the locking hook 24 can be reliably detected. The sensor lever 48 has an L-shaped outline in the broadest sense, with the bearing pin 46 located approximately in the area of ​​the transition between a long leg and a short leg of this outline. The short leg of the outline forms a drive leg 52, and the long leg of the outline forms a detection leg 54, to the end of which a magnetic sensor 56 designed as a Hall sensor is attached.

[0023] The sensor lever 48 is between a rest position, which is Fig. 4, and a sensor position which is in Fig. 6. The rest position is defined by a stop (not shown in detail). A return spring 58, which is designed as a leg spring and engages around the bearing pin 46 of the sensor lever 48, biases the sensor lever 48 toward this stop, i.e., toward the rest position.

[0024] A magnet 60 is arranged on the locking counter element 28 in the area of ​​the locking bolt 30, which magnet interacts with the magnetic sensor 56.

[0025] Like the Fig.4 to 6, the arrangement comprising the locking hook 24 and the two drive links 36 and 38 is brought into an over-center position when the locking hook 24 is adjusted from the release position into the locking position, in which the locking bolt 30 is engaged behind by the locking hook 24, i.e. the articulation point 40 between the two drive links 36 and 38 crosses a connecting line between the joint 32 on the locking hook 24 and the bearing pin 42 on the hook bearing 22. Upon crossing this connecting line, which represents the dead center of the articulation point 40, the drive link 38 strikes the drive leg 52 of the sensor lever 48. Further adjustment of the drive link arrangement 34 into the over-center position pivots the sensor lever 48 into its sensor position, in which the magnetic sensor 56 can detect the magnetic field of the magnet 60. The drive link arrangement 34 thus forms an actuator for the sensor lever 48.In its rest position, which the sensor lever 48 assumes without the application of force by the drive link arrangement 34, the magnet 60 is still outside the detection range of the magnetic sensor 56.

[0026] The sensor device 50 described above can reliably detect that the locking hook 24 assumes its locking position, in which the drive link arrangement 34 in turn assumes the over-center position with respect to the locking hook 24.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment, the sensor device is designed such that the magnetic sensor 56 itself comprises a magnet having a magnetic field. The magnet 60 is replaced by a steel plate or a steel body. In the sensor position of the sensor lever 48, which corresponds to the over-center position of the power steering assembly 34, the magnetic field changes due to the influence of the steel plate, which can be detected by the magnetic sensor. List of reference symbols 10 convertible vehicles 12 Hood 14 convertible top rods 16 Convertible top storage compartment 18 Convertible top compartment lid 20 closure 22 hook bearings 24 locking hooks 26 Swivel axis 28 Locking counter element 30 locking bolts 32 joint 34 Drive link arrangement 36 drive links 38 drive links 40 articulation point 42 bearing journals 44 Drive end 46 bearing bolts 48 sensor levers 50 Sensor device 52 drive legs 54 detection legs 56 Magnetic sensor 58 Return spring 60 Magnet

Claims

[1] Closure for a convertible arrangement, comprising a closure hook (24) which is mounted on a hook bearing (22) and is adjustable by means of a drive link arrangement (34) between a release position and a locking position in which it engages with a locking counter element (28), and a sensor device (50) for detecting the locking position of the closure hook (24), characterized by in that the sensor device (50) comprises a sensor lever (48) which is pivotally mounted on the hook bearing (22) or the locking counter-element (28) without being connected to a link of the drive link arrangement (34), wherein an actuator actuates the sensor lever (48) when the locking hook (24) is adjusted into the locking position in such a way that a magnetic sensor (56) of the sensor device (50) detects the locking position by detecting a magnetic field of a magnet (60) or a change in a magnetic field. [2] Closure according to claim 1, characterized bythat the magnetic sensor (56) is arranged on the sensor lever (48). [3] Closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the magnet (60) is arranged on the locking counter element (28). [4] Closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the magnetic sensor comprises a magnet and a steel element is arranged on the locking counter element, wherein in the locking position the magnetic field of the magnet of the magnetic sensor changes due to the steel element. [5] Closure according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the actuator for actuating the sensor lever (48) is formed by the drive link arrangement (34). [6] Closure according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the locking hook (24) and the drive link arrangement (34) assume an over-dead center position in the locking position of the locking hook (24) and the sensor lever (48), when the drive link arrangement (34) passes over a dead center to reach the over-dead center position, experiences an adjustment movement in the direction of a sensor position in which the magnetic sensor (56) detects the magnetic field of the magnet (60) or the change in the magnetic field. [7] Closure according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the sensor lever (48) is pretensioned towards a rest position by means of a return spring (58). [8] Closure according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the locking counter element (28) is formed on a convertible top compartment cover (18).

Images