VEHICLE FLAP UNIT WITH TRANSFER MECHANISM

Abstract

A vehicle flap unit (4), in particular a charging flap unit of an electrically powered vehicle (1), is proposed, comprising a displacement mechanism (6) designed to displace the vehicle flap unit (4) between a closed position that closes an opening (5) of a vehicle body (2) and a release position that opens the opening (5) within the vehicle body (2). The displacement mechanism (6) has a first cam guide (8) and a second cam guide (9), in which a first and second guide element (10, 11) arranged on the vehicle flap unit (4) are mounted and can be moved along a trajectory (8A, 9A) defined by the shaped path of the respective cam guide (8, 9).The displacement mechanism (6) further comprises a double-action mechanism (12, 13) driven by a drive unit (7), with a first lever element (12) and a second lever element (13) rotatably connected to the first lever element (12), wherein one of the lever elements (12, 13) can be pivotally driven by a drive unit (7) and one of the lever elements (12, 13) is rotatably connected to the vehicle flap unit (4) via a flap pivot joint (17). The trajectories (8A, 9A) of the cam guides (8, 9) are selected such that, at the start of an opening process, the vehicle flap unit (4) is moved further towards the vehicle interior (21) with a side (4A) associated with the first guide element (10) in the first cam guide (8) than with a side (4B) associated with the second guide element (11) in the second cam guide (9).

Description

[0001] The technology according to the invention relates to a vehicle flap unit, in particular a charging flap unit of an electrically powered vehicle, with a displacement mechanism of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From DE 10 2017 212 397 A1, a displacement mechanism for a movable body part for covering a fuel tank and / or cargo area of ​​a motor vehicle is known. The movable body part is a flap that can be lowered into a position relative to a stationary body part, completely opening the cargo area, and can be displaced below the stationary body part. To achieve the lowering movement of the flap and the subsequent displacement movement below the stationary body part, a double cam guide is provided, in which a first cam guide for lowering the flap is arranged on a control slide, which itself is linearly movable along a vehicle-fixed guide track.

[0003] This well-known displacement mechanism is structurally complex, has a high number of components, and requires a high assembly effort as well as a high sealing effort for helical cable ducts, sliding block guides and cams.

[0004] DE 44 40 814 A1 discloses a fuel filler flap that can be moved from a closed position to an open position located below the vehicle body. For this purpose, guide elements with guide pins are provided on the fuel filler flap, each of which is received in a guide track with a straight and a curved guide section. The curved guide section provides a lifting movement, while the straight guide section causes a sliding movement. The adjustment movement is transmitted to the fuel filler flap, for example, via a rod coupled to a transmission element and a coupling lever arranged between the transmission element and the guide element.

[0005] Practically known and space-saving displacement mechanisms for tank flaps and the like often use so-called rising cables or push-pull cables to move the tank flaps between their operating state that closes the tank opening and their operating state that releases the tank recess.

[0006] From DE 10 2018 128 972 A1, a loading flap including an opening mechanism is known, wherein the opening mechanism has a first guide and a second guide, in or on which a guide pin attached to an inner side of the loading flap is mounted, which is movable along a trajectory defined by the respective guide between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, thereby allowing the flap to be moved between a closed position and an open position. The guides are designed such that, during an opening process of the loading flap by means of an unspecified drive mechanism, it is first moved from its position closing the opening into the opening and, at the end of the opening process, is at least partially moved out of the opening.The flap thus protrudes beyond the outer body skin during charging, acting as weather protection for the charging interface, similar to a roof.

[0007] The known solutions are generally unsatisfactory with regard to the movement of the flap, its end position(s), its partial overhang of the vehicle's outer skin, and / or the flap's drive mechanism, which uses complex multi-link mechanisms, worm gears, or cable pulls / push-pull cables. The latter require extensive sealing in wet areas of a vehicle to prevent contamination and / or icing of the cables, and necessitate flocking for noise reduction, which in turn requires increased forces and torques to move the cables.

[0008] The purpose of the technology according to the invention is to reduce or eliminate at least one disadvantage of a previously known solution or to propose an alternative solution.The specific purpose of the technology disclosed herein is to provide a vehicle flap unit, in particular a charging flap unit of an electrically powered vehicle, with a displacement mechanism which allows the vehicle flap unit to be moved between a closed position closing an opening of a vehicle body and a release position opening the opening within the vehicle body with advantageous movement guidance and a mechanism that is as simple as possible, wherein the vehicle flap unit is improved with respect to at least one of the following factors: manufacturing time, manufacturing costs, manufacturing complexity, assembly effort, installation space utilization, operational reliability, sustainability, component reliability and resistance to environmental influences.

[0009] The problem is solved by a vehicle flap unit having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle equipped therewith according to claim 13. The dependent claims represent preferred embodiments.

[0010] A vehicle flap unit, in particular a charging flap unit of an electrically powered vehicle, is therefore proposed, comprising a displacement mechanism designed to displace the vehicle flap unit between a closed position (closing an opening in the vehicle body) and a released position (opening the opening) within the vehicle body. The displacement mechanism includes a first cam guide and a second cam guide, in each of which a first and second guide element, respectively, arranged on the vehicle flap unit, is mounted and can be moved along a trajectory defined by the shaped profile of the respective cam guide.

[0011] According to the invention, the displacement mechanism comprises a two-lever mechanism driven by a drive unit, comprising a first lever element and a second lever element rotatably connected to the first lever element. One of the lever elements is pivotally driven by the drive unit, and the other is rotatably connected to the vehicle flap unit via a flap pivot joint. The trajectories of the cam guides are selected such that, at the start of an opening process, the vehicle flap unit is moved further towards the vehicle interior with the side associated with the first guide element in the first cam guide than with the side associated with the second guide element in the second cam guide.

[0012] The vehicle flap unit according to the invention is characterized by a very advantageous movement guide, in which the vehicle flap unit is first pulled slightly inwards on one side to enable a so-called "freeing" from a seal under an adjacent body area. The opposite side of the vehicle flap unit is simply dragged along in its guide, whereby a repositioning close to an inner wall of the body is possible with a small installation space requirement.

[0013] The displacement mechanism is designed with a simple two-stroke action and is characterized by a desired high robustness and a small installation space requirement.

[0014] The lever arrangement of the double-action mechanism with the first lever element and with the second lever element can be designed as a toggle lever arrangement, wherein the first lever element can be driven rotationally by the drive unit about a preferably housing-fixed axis of rotation and is rotatably connected to the second lever element via a double-action rotary joint.

[0015] The second lever element is then rotatably connected to the vehicle flap unit via the flap pivot joint.

[0016] Further advantages and preferred training opportunities arise from the sub-requirements and the following description.

[0017] The invention is not limited to the specified combination of features of the independent claim or the dependent claims. Furthermore, the claims provide for the possibility of combining individual features, insofar as they are apparent from the claims, the subsequent description of embodiments, or directly from the drawing. The reference in the claims to the drawings by means of reference numerals is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the claims.

[0018] An embodiment of the invention and possible modifications are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

[0019] This shows: Fig. 1 a simplified three-dimensional view of a vehicle with a charging interface in an opening in a vehicle body, wherein the opening can be closed and released by a vehicle flap unit; Fig. 2 a schematic side view of the vehicle flap unit with a displacement mechanism in an operating state in which the vehicle flap unit closes the opening of the vehicle body; Fig. 3 one of the Fig. 2. A corresponding representation of the vehicle flap unit and the displacement mechanism in an operating state at the beginning of an opening process or at the end of a closing process, when a side of the vehicle flap unit pointing in the direction of opening movement is tilted towards the vehicle interior; Fig. 4 one of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Corresponding representation of the vehicle flap unit and the displacement mechanism in an intermediate position during an opening or closing movement, in which the opening is partially released; Fig. 5 one of the Fig. 2 to Fig. 4. Corresponding representation of the vehicle flap unit and the displacement mechanism in an operating state in which the vehicle flap unit is moved into a position releasing the opening; Fig. 6 a schematic three-dimensional rear view of the vehicle flap unit and the displacement mechanism in an operating state closing the opening of the vehicle body; Fig. 7 a schematic three-dimensional rear view of the vehicle flap unit and the displacement mechanism according to Fig. 6 in an operating state that partially releases the opening of the vehicle body; and Fig. 8 a schematic three-dimensional rear view of the vehicle flap unit and the displacement mechanism according to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 in an operating state that fully releases the opening of the vehicle body.

[0020] Referring to Fig. Figure 1 shows a purely electrically powered vehicle or a so-called hybrid vehicle, with a vehicle body 2, which here has a charging interface at the rear for charging at least one electrical storage device 3 designed as a vehicle battery, from which a vehicle drive (not shown in detail) can be supplied with electrical energy. The charging interface comprises a so-called charging recess in the area of ​​an opening 5 in the vehicle body 2, through which an electrical plug system with a corresponding coupling element or a charging socket 23, which is arranged inside the vehicle body 2 below the outer skin of the vehicle 1, can be brought into operative connection in order to charge the vehicle battery 3 or to supply current from it to an external charging device.

[0021] To cover the opening 5 when not in use, a vehicle flap unit 4 or loading flap unit is provided, which is attached by means of a [missing element] in the Fig. 2 to Fig. 8 more clearly visible displacement mechanism 6 between a closed position closing the opening 5 and a release position opening the opening 5 is movable within the vehicle body 2.

[0022] The Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 8 shows the vehicle flap unit 4 together with the displacement mechanism 6 in several operating states, wherein in Fig. 2 to Fig. 5 and in Fig. 6 to Fig. Figure 8 illustrates an opening movement of the vehicle flap unit 4.

[0023] The displacement mechanism 6 is designed here for the very robust, double-sided mounting and guidance of the vehicle flap unit 4. However, in a different configuration, mounting and guidance may also be provided on only one side of the vehicle flap unit 4. For the sake of clarity, only the elements of the displacement mechanism 6 on one side of the vehicle flap unit 4 are described below. Their description applies analogously to the mirror-image elements of the displacement mechanism 6 on the opposite side of the vehicle flap unit 4. Accordingly, the reference numerals in the figures are located on the side of the displacement mechanism 6 that shows the described elements more clearly.

[0024] The displacement mechanism 6 has a first cam guide 8 and a second cam guide 9 on each side of the vehicle flap unit 4, wherein a first guide element 10, arranged on the vehicle flap unit 4 and designed as a pin, is mounted in the first cam guide 8, and a second guide element 11, also designed as a pin and arranged opposite the first guide element 10 on the vehicle flap unit 4, is mounted in the second cam guide 9. The guide elements or pins 10 and 11 are movable in their respective cam guides 8 and 9 along a trajectory 8A, 9A defined by the shaped path of the respective cam guides 8 and 9, which here structurally represent groove-like cam tracks.The cam guides 8, 9 are formed on a vehicle-mounted, in this case plate-like and L-shaped cam support 18 and thus lie in a plane spanned by the cam support 18.

[0025] Furthermore, the displacement mechanism 6 for actuating the vehicle flap unit 4 features a double-action or toggle lever arrangement with a first lever element 12 and a second lever element 13 rotatably connected to the first lever element 12 via a double-action pivot joint 14, wherein the first lever element 12 can be actuated by a drive unit 7 and pivoted about a housing-fixed axis of rotation, and the second lever element 13 is rotatably connected to the vehicle flap unit 4 via a flap pivot joint 17. The drive unit 7, shown only symbolically, can, for example, be designed as an electric motor.

[0026] The vehicle flap unit 4, also simply called vehicle flap, is usually a multi-part assembly which, among other things, includes a Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 8 comprises a flat or curved, plate-like element, which here forms part of the vehicle's outer contour and is hereinafter referred to as the cover 15. The cover 15 is arranged on a carrier 16, which is fixedly connected to the cover 15, e.g., by clipping. In further embodiments, a small degree of relative movement between the cover 15 and the carrier 16 is also possible, whereby this relative movement can enable the actuation of a switch located between them, by which, for example, an opening movement can be requested.

[0027] On the carrier 16, cheeks 16A, 16B are formed on the sides not pointing in a direction of movement, on which the guide elements or pins 10, 11 are arranged. In advantageous embodiments, the guide elements or pins 10, 11 are each arranged in an edge region of the sides 4A, 4B of the vehicle flap unit 4 pointing in the opening and closing directions, respectively, since maximum spacing between them facilitates movement guidance.

[0028] In the embodiment shown, the flap pivot joint 17 is also provided on the respective cheek 16A, 16B, wherein the connection point is located in one half of the vehicle flap unit 4 in the direction of movement, and approximately in the middle of the half in the direction of movement, with respect to the extension of the vehicle flap unit 4 in the direction of movement.

[0029] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. In the closed position of the vehicle flap unit 4 shown in Figure 6, the cover 15 is flush with the body-side edge of the opening 5 and a sealing device 22 arranged around it. In the closed position of the vehicle flap unit 4, an outer surface 20 of the vehicle flap unit 4 and the cover 15 is flush with the outer surface 19 of the vehicle body 2 that circumferentially delimits the opening 5.

[0030] The lever elements 12 and 13 of the double-action mechanism are arranged in an extended position in the closed position of the vehicle flap unit 4. In a further embodiment, they can also be arranged in a so-called over-center position relative to each other in the closed position, close to the extended position. In this case, the lever elements 12 and 13 can be rotated relative to each other against the spring force of a spring unit connecting the lever elements 12 and 13 between positions in which the lever elements 12 and 13 are in the over-center position and positions in which the lever elements 12 and 13 are in the position of the vehicle flap unit 4 that partially releases the opening 5.

[0031] When a request is made to release or open the opening 5, the vehicle flap unit 4 moves along the guide rails 8, 9.

[0032] The trajectories 8A, 9A of the cam guides 8, 9 are selected such that the vehicle flap unit 4, at the start of an opening process, as in Fig. 3 can be seen with a side 4A, which is assigned to the first guide element 10 in the first cam guide 8 and points in the direction of movement, moving further towards the interior of the vehicle 21 than with an opposite side 4B, which is assigned to the second guide element 11 in the second cam guide 9.

[0033] At the start of an opening process, the vehicle flap unit 4 is first moved from a sealing position of the sealing device 22 with its side 4A, which is associated with the first guide element or pin 10 in the first cam guide 8 and points in the direction of movement, and tilted towards the vehicle interior 21. An axis of the second guide element or pin 11, which initially remains in the end position of the second cam guide 9, forms a pivot axis about which the vehicle flap unit 4 is tilted towards the vehicle interior 21 at the start of an opening process.

[0034] The drive unit 7 drives the first lever element 12 about a housing-fixed pivot axis 23 in a first direction of rotation DR1, whereby the lever elements 12 and 13 are led out of their extended position and angled to each other about a double-joint rotary joint 14 which rotatably connects the two lever elements 12 and 13.

[0035] At the beginning of the opening process, a direction vector of the initial movement of the first guide element 10 in the first cam guide 8 points at a larger angle, in this case an approximately right angle, to a plane of the opening 5 in the direction of the vehicle interior 22 than a direction vector of the time-delayed initial movement of the second guide element 11 in the second cam guide 9, which points at an acute angle, in particular of less than 45°, to the plane of the opening 5 in the direction of the vehicle interior.

[0036] In this process, the vehicle flap unit 4 does not perform a classic lifting movement, i.e., a parallel offset towards the vehicle interior, before it is moved inwards, opening under the adjacent area of ​​the vehicle body 2.

[0037] With continued opening movement towards the release position, as described in Fig. 4 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, the vehicle flap unit 4 is moved in the guides 8, 9 by further angling the lever elements 12, 13 of the double strike.

[0038] The scenery guides 8, 9 are closed in the version shown, although scenery guides open at one end would also be possible if the corresponding endpoint of the trajectory lies before the end of the structural scenery track.

[0039] With respect to their relative orientation, the cam tracks 8 and 9 are arranged on the cam support 18 in an essentially L-shape, with the first cam track 8 running approximately parallel to the outer surface 19 of the vehicle body 2 over its entire length, and the second cam track 9 extending approximately perpendicular to a plane of the opening 5 towards the interior of the vehicle 21 over its entire length. A connecting line between endpoints 8E1 and 8E2 of the trajectory 8A of the first cam track 8, which correspond to the end positions of the first guide element 10 in the first cam track 8, and a connecting line between endpoints 9E1 and 9E2 of the trajectory 9A of the second cam track 9, form an obtuse angle in a range between 90° and 140°, particularly between 110° and 120°, with the angle being 115° in the illustrated embodiment.

[0040] The trajectories 8A, 9A of the first cam track 8 and the second cam track 9 are slightly S-shaped, with the S-radii of the trajectory 8A of the first cam track 8 being significantly larger than those of the trajectory 9A of the second cam track 9, which is more like an "S".

[0041] In principle, the paths of the trajectories 8A, 9A or the cam tracks 8, 9 are freely selectable and adaptable to the respective application.

[0042] Upon further rotation of the first lever element 12 in the direction of rotation DR1, the vehicle flap unit 4 is moved into its release position or end position, which here completely releases the opening 5, according to Fig. 5 and Fig. 8 moves.

[0043] In further versions, the release position can also partially cover the opening 5, provided that this does not impair a charging plug connection with the charging socket 23.

[0044] When the opening 5 is to be completely closed again by the vehicle flap unit 4, the drive unit 7 is controlled accordingly and drives the lever element 11 in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation DR1. Such a rotary drive by the drive unit 8 causes the two lever elements 12 and 13 to be rotated by the drive unit 7 at an increasing angle to each other, whereby the vehicle flap unit 4 moves in the opposite direction to the opening movement described above until it reaches its closed position, closing the opening 5. Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 is adjusted. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 vehicle 2 Vehicle body 3 Storage setup 4 Vehicle flap unit 4A Side of the vehicle flap unit in the direction of opening movement 4B Side of the vehicle flap unit in the direction of closing movement 5 Opening 6. Displacement mechanism 7 Drive unit 8 first backstage tour 8A Trajectory of the first scenery 8E1 Endpoint of the trajectory 8E2 Endpoint of the trajectory 9 second backstage tour 9A Trajectory of the second set of scenery 9E1 Endpoint of the trajectory 9E2 Endpoint of the trajectory 10 first guide element, pin 11 second guide element, pin 12 first lever element 13 second lever element 14 Two-point swivel joint 15 aperture 16 carriers 16A Cheek of the wearer 16B Cheek of the wearer 17 Flap pivot 18 stagehands 19 Exterior of the vehicle body 20 Outer surface of the vehicle flap unit 21 Vehicle interior 22 Sealing device 23 charging socket DR1 Direction of rotation QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2017 212 397 A1

[0002] DE 44 40 814 A1

[0004] DE 10 2018 128 972 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Vehicle flap unit (4), in particular a loading flap unit of an electrically driven vehicle (1), with a displacement mechanism (6) which is designed to displace the vehicle flap unit (4) between a closed position closing an opening (5) of a vehicle body (2) and a release position releasing the opening (5) within the vehicle body (2) and which has a first guide rail (8) and a second guide rail (9), in each of which a first or second guide element (10, 11) arranged on the vehicle flap unit (4) is mounted and is movable along a trajectory (8A, 9A) predetermined by the shaped course of the respective guide rail (8, 9), characterized bythat the displacement mechanism (6) comprises a two-stroke mechanism (12, 13) drivable by a drive unit (7) with a first lever element (12) and with a second lever element (13) rotatably connected to the first lever element (12), wherein one of the lever elements (12, 13) is drivable in a pivoting manner by a drive unit (7) and one of the lever elements (12, 13) is rotatably connected to the vehicle flap unit (4) via a flap pivot joint (17), and that the trajectories (8A, 9A) are selected such that the vehicle flap unit (4) is moved further in the direction of the vehicle interior (21) at the start of an opening process with a side (4A) assigned to the first guide element (10) in the first slotted guide (8) than with a side (4B) assigned to the second guide element (11) in the second slotted guide (9). [2] Vehicle flap unit according to claim 1, characterized bythat at the start of an opening process, a directional vector of the initial movement of the first guide element (10) in the first slotted guide (8) points at a larger angle, in particular an approximately right angle, to a plane of the opening (5) in the direction of the vehicle interior (21) than a directional vector of the initial movement of the second guide element (11) in the second slotted guide (9), which points at an acute angle, in particular of less than 45°, to the plane of the opening (5) in the direction of the vehicle interior (21). [3] Vehicle flap unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the vehicle flap unit (4) is first moved from a sealing position of a sealing device (22) with the side (4A) facing in the direction of movement assigned to the first guide element (10) in the first slotted guide () at the start of an opening process and is tilted towards the interior of the vehicle. [4] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that an axis of the second guide element (11) forms an axis of rotation about which the vehicle flap unit (4) is tilted towards the vehicle interior (21) at the start of an opening process. [5] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the trajectory (8A) of the first link guide (8) is curved in an S-shape. [6] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the trajectory (9A) of the second link guide (9) is curved in an S-shape. [7] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat a connecting line between end points (8E1, 8E2) of the trajectory (8A) of the first slotted guide (8) and a connecting line between end points (9E1, 9E2) of the trajectory (9A) of the second slotted guide (9) enclose an obtuse angle in a range between 90° and 140°, in particular between 110° and 120°. [8] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the guide elements (10, 11) are each arranged in an edge region of the sides (4A, 4B) of the vehicle flap unit (4) pointing in the opening movement direction and closing movement direction. [9] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the guide elements (10, 11) are each designed as a pin. [10] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized bythat the lever elements (12, 13) of the two-stroke mechanism are arranged in an extended position or over-center position relative to one another in the closed position of the vehicle flap unit (4). [11] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that it ends flush with the opening (5) on the circumference, wherein in particular an outer side (20) of the vehicle flap unit (4) ends flush with the outer side (19) of the vehicle body (2) which delimits the opening (5) on the circumference. [12] Vehicle flap unit according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the vehicle flap unit (4) has a panel (15) forming its outer side (20), which is firmly connected to a support (16) on which the guide elements (10, 11) are arranged. [13] Electrically driven vehicle which is designed with a vehicle flap unit (4) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

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