Spring support for a vehicle hatch

Abstract

The invention relates to a spring support (1) for a vehicle flap or a vehicle door, comprising a housing (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) with a first housing part (3) and a second housing part (4), wherein the first housing part (3) is telescopically adjustable relative to the second housing part (4) between a retracted and an extended position, a preloading means (7) arranged in the housing (2) for preloading the first housing part (3) relative to the second housing part (4) into the extended position, and a guide arrangement (8) with a guide tube (9) and a guide rod (10) slidably inserted in the guide tube (9), wherein a guide element (11) for guiding the guide rod (10) is arranged at a first open end (9a) of the guide tube, and a first stop (12) which is arranged at an end (10a) of the guide rod (10) inserted in the guide tube (9).A spring support, which is cost-effective and reliable, is produced by having the guide tube (9) have a second stop (13) on its inner circumference that is axially spaced from the first guide element (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spring support for a vehicle flap or a vehicle door, comprising a telescopically extendable and retractable housing with a first housing part and a second housing part, and a preloading means arranged in the housing for preloading the housing into an extended position. Furthermore, the spring support comprises a guide arrangement for guiding the preloading means and the first housing part and second housing part.

[0002] Spring systems are known in practice that are arranged between a pivoting vehicle tailgate and a vehicle body, which supports the adjustment of the vehicle tailgate or vehicle door into an open position. Such spring systems are typically designed as gas springs, as they provide sufficient force to support the adjustment movement of the vehicle tailgate and also exhibit high buckling strength, particularly in the fully extended position. Disadvantages of gas springs are their relatively complex design and their adjustment force is temperature-dependent. Furthermore, gas springs are relatively expensive.

[0003] DE 101 44 791 A1 discloses a spring support for a vehicle tailgate, comprising a hollow cylindrical housing and a gas spring with a cylinder and a piston rod guided within the cylinder. The gas spring is connected at both ends between the vehicle body and the tailgate via connecting elements. Furthermore, the spring support comprises two preloading elements designed as helical compression springs, which are clamped between one end face of the cylinder and the housing.

[0004] JP H07-280016 A shows a gas spring with a hollow cylindrical housing, wherein an axially displaceable piston rod is arranged in the housing. A piston is arranged at an end of the piston rod arranged in the housing, wherein the piston is movably arranged between a spring at an upper end of the housing and a stop part that is pressed into the housing.

[0005] US 2017 / 0 260 791 A1 shows a spring support for a vehicle flap, comprising a housing with a first housing part and a second housing part, wherein the first housing part is telescopically guided and displaceable relative to the second housing part. A spring and a guide arrangement are arranged in the housing, wherein the guide arrangement comprises a guide rod and a guide tube, wherein the guide rod is guided in the guide tube. The guide tube has a guide element at its open end, and a first stop element is arranged on the guide tube.

[0006] DE 10 2022 107 855 A1 discloses a spindle drive for a vehicle flap, comprising a housing with a first housing part and a second housing part, which are telescopically movable relative to one another. The second housing part is designed as a guide tube, wherein a spindle nut is detachably coupled to the guide tube, and a spindle rod threadedly engaged with the spindle nut is axially fixedly coupled to the first housing part. The guide tube has a stop at a first end, which is inserted into the first housing part, which limits an extension movement of the guide tube. A stop part is arranged at an open end of the spindle rod.

[0007] It is the object of the invention to provide a spring support for a vehicle flap or a vehicle door which is cost-effective and reliable.

[0008] The above object is achieved according to the invention by a spring support according to claim 1.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, a spring support for a vehicle flap or a vehicle door is provided, comprising a housing extending along a longitudinal axis with a first housing part and a second housing part, wherein the first housing part is telescopically adjustable relative to the second housing part between a retracted and an extended position. The spring support further comprises a prestressing means arranged in the housing for prestressing the first housing part relative to the second housing part into the extended position, a guide arrangement with a guide tube and a guide rod slidably inserted into the guide tube, wherein a guide element for guiding the guide rod is arranged at a first open end of the guide tube, and a first stop which is arranged at an end of the guide rod inserted into the guide tube.The spring support according to the invention is characterized in that the guide tube has a second stop on its inner circumference which is axially spaced from the first guide element.

[0010] Advantageously, the second stop can be provided variably in the guide tube depending on the required stroke. The guide rod, however, can always be manufactured with the same length as standard and also always have the same first stop at the end inserted into the guide tube. The second stop ensures, in particular, that even in the fully extended state of the spring support, there is a sufficiently large axial overlap between the first housing part and the second housing part to improve buckling resistance.

[0011] In a first preferred embodiment, the second stop is designed as a stop part attached to the inner circumference of the guide tube. Advantageously, the stop part thus tapers the inner circumference of the guide tube so that the first stop can come into contact with the stop part upon displacement of the guide rod, thus limiting the stroke of the spring support into the extended position. The stop part is expediently ring-shaped. Further preferably, the stop part is integrally connected to the guide tube. This advantageously ensures that the stop part is sufficiently firmly fixed relative to the guide tube and remains in its fixed position even when additional force is applied from the outside in the extension direction of the spring support.

[0012] In a first preferred embodiment of the spring support, the stop part and the guide tube are made of plastic. Advantageously, the guide arrangement is designed to be lightweight and, at the same time, sufficiently kink-resistant. Furthermore, it is possible to bond the stop part to the guide tube by laser welding. For this purpose, the guide tube is expediently made of a laser-transparent plastic and the stop part of a laser-intransparent plastic. Advantageously, no adhesive is required, and at the same time, particularly precise positioning of the stop part relative to the guide tube is enabled.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment of the spring support, the second stop is formed integrally with the guide tube. The second stop is expediently designed as a deformation of the guide tube arranged between the guide element and the first stop. Particularly preferably, the second stop is designed as a tapered portion of the guide tube. The tapered portion is provided in a ring around the entire circumference of the guide tube, so that the tapered portion provides an annular stop surface for the first stop provided on the guide rod.

[0014] The guide tube is advantageously made of metal, particularly aluminum. Advantageously, the guide tube can be formed at a point between the two opposite ends of the guide tube by annular squeezing or rolling, with the second stop being formed by the annular taper. Advantageously, no additional material or fastening step is required to produce the second stop.

[0015] In a practical embodiment, the second stop is arranged axially between the guide element and the first stop. Particularly preferably, the guide tube is firmly connected to one of the first housing part and the second housing part, and the guide rod is firmly connected to the other of the first housing part and the second housing part. Advantageously, the first stop arranged on the guide tube is moved toward the second stop during an extension movement of the spring support into the extended position. This advantageously effectively limits the stroke in the extension direction of the spring support.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the guide arrangement and the housing are arranged concentrically around the longitudinal axis. This advantageously results in uniform guidance and support of the housing regardless of any rotation of the spring support about the longitudinal axis. In particular, the first stop and the second stop are preferably designed to be rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the housing.

[0017] In an advantageous development of the spring support, the preloading means is arranged radially between the guide assembly and the housing. Advantageously, the preloading means, which is particularly preferably designed as a helical compression spring, is securely guided from the outside by the housing and from the inside by the guide assembly. In particular, the housing and the guide assembly prevent the preloading means from bending during operation of the spring support, thus hindering the adjustment of the first housing part and the second housing part and potentially generating unwanted noise.

[0018] Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that the preloading means is arranged in the guide tube and is arranged axially between one of the first housing part and the second housing part and the first stop. Advantageously, the preloading means preloads the guide assembly into the extended position, whereby, due to the unique assignment of the guide tube and guide rod to the first and second housing parts, the housing is also preloaded into the extended position.

[0019] Furthermore, a further embodiment provides that, in addition to the pretensioning means that pretensions the first and second housing parts against each other into the extended position, a further pretensioning means is provided that pretensions the guide assembly into the extended position. Particularly preferably, the second pretensioning means is significantly shorter, with the second pretensioning means essentially only providing pretension over a first small adjustment path between the fully closed vehicle lid and a partially open vehicle lid.

[0020] Further advantages, developments and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the dependent claims.

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings using preferred embodiments of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a spring support 1 in the fully retracted state in a cross-sectional view Fig. 2 shows the spring support 1 from Fig. 1 in the fully extended state in a cross-sectional view. Fig. 3 shows a second preferred embodiment of a spring support 101 in the fully retracted state in a cross-sectional view Fig. 4 shows the spring support 101 from Fig. 3 in the fully extended state in a cross-sectional view.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of a spring support 1 in a fully retracted state in a cross-sectional view. The spring support 1 comprises a housing 2 extending along a longitudinal axis L, which is designed to be telescopically retractable and extendable. For this purpose, the housing 2 comprises a first housing part 3 and a second housing part 4, wherein the second housing part 4 is guided radially in the first housing part 3 and is thus advantageously axially displaceable relative to the first housing part 3. A first connecting element 5 is fastened to a first end 3a of the first housing part 3, which is provided for connecting the spring support 1 to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle tailgate.

[0023] The first connection element 5 is designed as a ball socket and is pressed into the first end 3a of the first housing part 3. Alternatively or additionally, the first connection element 5 can also be integrally connected to the first end 3a of the first housing part 3, for example by laser welding. Opposite the first end of the housing 2, a second connection element 6 is connected to a first end 4a of the second housing part 4. The second connection element 6 is also designed as a ball socket and is pressed into the first end 4a of the second housing part 4. Alternatively or additionally, the second connection element 6 can also be integrally connected to the first end 4a of the second housing part 4.

[0024] Between the first housing part 3 and the second housing part 4, a prestressing means 7 designed as a helical compression spring is arranged, which prestresses the first housing part 3 and the second housing part 4 against each other into the extended position of the housing 2. The prestressing means 7 is supported with a first end 7a on an annular step 3b of the first housing part 3 and with a second end 7b opposite the first end 7a on an annular step 4b of the second housing part 4.

[0025] The spring support 1 further comprises a guide arrangement 8. The guide arrangement 8 comprises a guide tube 9 and a guide rod 10 guided radially in the guide tube 9, which can be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the guide tube 9. The guide arrangement 8 simultaneously serves to guide the preloading means 7 as well as the first housing part 3 and the second housing part 4. In particular, the guide arrangement 8 achieves better stability and greater buckling resistance of the housing 2 in the extended state.

[0026] At a first open end 9a of the guide tube 9, a guide element 11 is arranged, which is provided for the radial support of the guide rod 10 relative to the guide tube 9. The guide element 11 is connected to an inner circumference of the guide tube 9. The second end 9b of the guide tube 9, which is opposite the first end 9a, is screwed to the second connecting element 6 via an external thread 9c. The guide tube 9 is advantageously firmly connected to the second housing part 4 and is thus also axially displaced when the second housing part 4 is displaced.

[0027] The guide rod 10 has a first stop part 12 at a first end 10a, which provides a first stop for limiting the stroke of the guide rod 10 relative to the guide tube 9. The first stop part 12 is designed as a ring having a larger outer diameter than the guide rod 10 and a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the guide tube 9. The first stop part 12 is thus not in contact with the inner circumference of the guide tube 9. The second end 10b of the guide rod 10, opposite the first end 10a, is screwed to the first connecting element 5, so that the guide rod 10 is axially displaced together with the first housing part 3.

[0028] The guide assembly 8 further comprises a second stop part 13, which has essentially the same structure as the guide element 11, but is attached to an inner circumference of the guide tube 9 at an axial distance therefrom. In the first embodiment shown here, the guide tube 9 and the second stop part 13 are made of plastic, with the second stop part 13 being connected to the guide tube 9 by laser welding.

[0029] The second stop part 13 is located axially between the first guide element 11 and the first stop part 12 arranged at the first end 10a of the guide rod 10. The stroke of the spring support 1 in the extension direction is advantageously limited by the first stop part 12 and the second stop part 13. Further advantageously, even in the fully extended state of the housing 2, an axial distance remains between the guide element 11 and the first stop part 12, which increases the overall buckling strength of the housing 2 because the axial overlap between the first housing part 3 and the second housing part 4 is increased, as shown below.

[0030] Fig. Figure 2 shows the spring support 1 in a fully extended state in a cross-sectional view. As can be seen, the guide rod 10 of the guide assembly 8 has been extended from the guide tube 9, analogous to the second housing part 4, relative to the first housing part 3 under the preload of the preloading means 7. The first stop part 12 connected to the guide rod 10 now rests against the second stop part 13, so that the stroke into the extended position is advantageously limited.

[0031] The first stop part 12 is fastened in an annular groove 10c at the first end 10a of the guide rod 10. Since, in this fully extended state, there continues to be a large axial overlap between the guide tube 9 and the guide rod 10 on one side and between the first housing part 3 and the second housing part 4 on the other side, a significantly higher buckling resistance is achieved, comparable to that of gas springs. Furthermore, the guide rod 10, together with the guide element 11, is additionally radially supported by the second stop part 13, since the second stop part 13 is axially spaced from the guide element 11. Advantageously, the spring support 1 or the guide arrangement 8 is significantly more cost-effective and lighter than gas springs, while still offering good buckling resistance.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 shows a second preferred embodiment of a spring support 101 in a fully retracted state in a cross-sectional view. The second embodiment of a spring support 101 shown here is largely analogous to the one shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and comprises a retractable and extendable housing 2 extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis L, having a first housing part 3 and a second housing part 4, wherein the second housing part 4 is inserted axially displaceably into the first housing part 3.

[0033] Furthermore, a first connecting element 5 and a second connecting element 6, each designed as a ball socket, are connected to the opposite ends of the housing 2. Furthermore, a preloading means 7, designed as a helical compression spring, is arranged between the first housing part 3 and the second housing part 4, which preloads the housing 2 into the extended position. Furthermore, the spring support 101 comprises a guide arrangement 108, modified compared to the first embodiment, with a guide tube 109 and a guide rod 110, wherein the guide rod 110 is guided in the guide tube 109 so as to be retractable and extendable.

[0034] A guide element 111 is arranged at a first open end 109a of the guide tube 109, the guide element 111 being fastened to an inner circumference of the guide tube 109. A first stop part 112 is fastened to a first end 110a of the guide rod 110 inserted into the guide tube 109. Axially between the guide element 111 and the first stop part 112, a second stop 113 is provided on the guide tube 109, the stop 113 being formed by a narrowing of the inner circumference of the guide tube 109 produced by forming. The stop 113 can advantageously be produced by rolling the guide tube 109. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the guide tube 109 is made of aluminum, which is easy to form.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows the spring support 101 from Fig.3 in a cross-sectional view in the fully extended state. As can be seen, the guide rod 110 of the guide assembly 108 has been extended from the guide tube 109, analogous to the second housing part 4, relative to the first housing part 3 of the housing 2 under the pretension of the pretensioning means 7, wherein the first stop part 112 connected to the guide rod 110 now bears against the stop 113 formed integrally with the guide tube, so that the stroke into the extended position is advantageously limited.

Claims

[1] Spring support (1; 101) for a vehicle flap or a vehicle door, comprising a housing (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) with a first housing part (3) and a second housing part (4), wherein the first housing part (3) is telescopically adjustable between a retracted and an extended position relative to the second housing part (4), a prestressing means (7) arranged in the housing (2) for prestressing the first housing part (3) relative to the second housing part (4) into the extended position, and a guide arrangement (8; 108) with a guide tube (9; 109) and a guide rod (10; 110) slidably inserted in the guide tube (9; 109), wherein a guide element (11; 111) for guiding the guide rod (10; 110) is arranged at a first open end (9a; 109a) of the guide tube, and a first stop (12) which is arranged at an end (10a) of the guide rod (10) inserted into the guide tube (9), characterized by that the guide tube (9; 109) has on its inner circumference a second stop (13; 113) axially spaced from the first guide element (11; 111). [2] Spring support according to claim 1, characterized by that the second stop (13) is designed as a stop part fastened to the inner circumference of the guide tube (9). [3] Spring support according to claim 2, characterized by that the stop part is ring-shaped. [4] Spring support according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized by that the stop part is firmly connected to the guide tube (9). [5] Spring support according to claim 4, characterized by that the stop part and the guide tube (9) are made of plastic. [6] Spring support according to claim 4 or 5, characterized bythat the stop part and the guide tube (9) are laser welded together. [7] Spring support according to claim 1, characterized by that the second stop (113) is formed integrally with the guide tube (109). [8] Spring support according to claim 7, characterized by that the second stop (113) is designed as a taper of the guide tube (109). [9] Spring support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second stop (13; 113) is arranged axially between the guide element (11; 111) and the first stop (12). [10] Spring support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pretensioning means (7) is arranged radially between the guide arrangement (8; 108) and the housing (2).

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