Locking device for a loading trough of a motor vehicle

Abstract

2.1 Such a locking device with a recess housing fixed to the vehicle in its ready-to-use state, which has a recess opening, with a locking cover which is movably mounted on the recess housing between a closed position closing the recess opening and an open position releasing the recess opening by means of a control mechanism, and with a drive system for moving the locking cover between the closed position and the open position is known. 2.2 According to the invention, the closing cover has two spaced-apart guide pins on opposite sides, which are linearly movable in two cam guides of the trough housing, wherein the two cam guides are positioned on the trough housing such that the closing cover can be moved from the closed position inwards into the interior of a trough housing until it reaches the open position, and the drive system has a crank arm which engages one of the guide pins by means of a length compensation element in order to drive the closing cover for a movement between the closed position and the open position. 2.3 Use in passenger cars

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a closing device for a loading trough of a motor vehicle, comprising a trough housing which is fixed to the vehicle in its ready-to-use state and which has a trough opening, a closing cover which is movably mounted on the trough housing between a closed position closing the trough opening and an open position releasing the trough opening by means of a control mechanism, and a drive system for moving the closing cover between the closed position and the open position.

[0002] Such a locking device is known from DE 10 2020 209 607 B4. The known locking device has a locking cover that closes a recess opening of a loading trough in a closed position and releases it in an open position. A rack and pinion drive and a drive unit are provided for moving the locking cover between the closed and open positions. In the open position, the locking cover is positioned downwards outside the body contour of the vehicle.

[0003] The object of the invention is to create a locking device of the type mentioned above which enables a space-saving relocation of the locking cover between the closed position and the open position.

[0004] This problem is solved by providing the locking cover with two spaced-apart guide pins on opposite sides, each of which is linearly guided in two cam guides of the recess housing. The two cam guides are positioned on the recess housing such that the locking cover can be moved from the closed position inwards into the interior of the recess housing until it reaches the open position. The drive system includes a crank arm that engages one of the guide pins by means of a length-compensating element to drive the locking cover between the closed and open positions. The solution according to the invention moves the locking cover from its closed position into the interior of the recess housing to the open position. Corresponding cam guides are provided on the recess housing itself.This results, firstly, in a space-saving relocation of the locking cover between the closed and open positions. Secondly, in its open position, the locking cover is relocated, at least largely invisibly, into the interior of the recess housing from the outside of the vehicle, thus preventing damage to the locking cover from the outside of the vehicle. Regardless of the vehicle's surroundings, reliable relocation of the locking cover between the closed and open positions is therefore ensured. The solution according to the invention is particularly advantageous for a vehicle's loading recess that is equipped with at least one electrical connection for operating a vehicle-mounted energy storage device to power the vehicle's electric drive system.In principle, the locking device according to the invention is also suitable for cargo compartments of internal combustion engine vehicles where the cargo compartment has a fuel filler neck. Alternatively, the cargo compartment can also be designed to accommodate a hydrogen connection in order to enable hydrogen refueling of the vehicle, either for operating an internal combustion engine with hydrogen or for operating a fuel cell to power an electric drive system of the vehicle.

[0005] In one embodiment of the invention, the crank arm is rotatably mounted on the trough housing. This facilitates the pre-assembly of all movable functional parts of the locking device.

[0006] In a further embodiment of the invention, the drive system comprises an electric drive unit that is coupled to the crank arm for torque transmission. The electric drive unit is preferably formed by an electric motor to which a suitable gearbox is connected in order to apply a desired torque to the crank arm.

[0007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the length compensation element is arranged on the crank arm and designed as a linear guide member on which the guide pin is guided for linear movement. The length compensation element is designed to transfer the pure rotary motion of the crank arm to the desired linear motion of the guide pins in the cam guides.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the linear guide member features a spring assembly that exerts a permanent spring force on the guide pin in one direction of movement. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the locking cover, in its operationally assembled position on the vehicle, is at least largely vertically oriented and the locking cover is to be moved upwards in the vehicle's vertical direction to be moved into the open position. In this case, the spring assembly advantageously assists the movement of the locking cover in correspondingly inclined cam guides. The spring assembly advantageously exerts a compressive force on the guide pin.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, two cam guides are provided on opposite sides of the locking cover on the recess housing, each for two opposing guide pins of the locking cover. The opposing cam guides run parallel to each other in pairs, and the two cam guides on each side intersect. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the recess opening is positioned in an approximately vertical body section of the vehicle in its ready-to-use state. The locking cover, in its vertically oriented closed position where it is flush with the outer body panel, can then be moved upwards and inclined inwards within the recess housing and removed from the recess opening in a space-saving manner.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the cam guides are designed as cam grooves, with the cam grooves on each side having different groove cross-sections. This design is particularly advantageous from a structural point of view, as the cam grooves can optionally be designed as open slots in the recess housing or as groove-shaped depressions. The different groove cross-sections also require different diameters for the guide pins of the locking cover. Thus, each guide pin is defined and assigned to a specific cam guide, preventing misalignment during a closing or opening process due to the pin engaging in a cam groove with a different groove cross-section.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, a crank arm with a linear guide element is arranged on each of the opposite sides of the locking cover, the two crank arms being rotationally connected to each other by means of a synchronizing shaft. This results in symmetrical and particularly uniform guidance of the locking cover on opposite sides, since the opposing cam guides and the opposing crank arms are identical.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the trough housing is designed in multiple parts. Preferably, the trough housing is formed by two housing parts, wherein one pair of cam guides is formed in each housing part and the other pair of cam guides is formed, at least partially, in the other housing part. This ensures simple manufacturability of the trough housing from plastic parts using plastic technology.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, mounting brackets for optionally attaching the electric drive unit are provided on opposite outer sides of the recess housing. Depending on the available space for mounting the locking device in the area of ​​the vehicle's loading recess, one or the other variant for attaching the electric drive unit can be selected.

[0014] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic and perspective representation of an embodiment of a locking device according to the invention for a loading recess of a passenger car, Fig. 2 in a front view the locking device after Fig. 1 in a closed position of the cover, Fig. 3 the locking device after Fig. 2 in a side view, Fig. 4 the locking device after Fig. 2, however, with the lid partially open, Fig. 5 the locking device after Fig. 4 in a side view, Fig. 6 the locking device after Fig. 4 in a wider open position of the locking cover, Fig. 7 the locking device after Fig. 6 in a side view, Fig. 8 the locking device after Fig. 6 in an open position of the locking cover and Fig. 9 the locking device after Fig. 8 in a side view.

[0015] A motor vehicle in the form of a passenger car (not shown in detail) has a loading recess L in the area of ​​one side of the vehicle, preferably in the area of ​​a front side fender of a vehicle body, which is defined by the Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 8 indicates that the loading trough L is fixed to the vehicle in its ready-to-use state and connected to a body support structure of the vehicle body. In the described embodiment, the passenger car has an electric drive system powered by a vehicle-mounted energy storage device, preferably in the form of a battery pack. A charging port is provided in the area of ​​the loading trough L for charging the energy storage device. A charging cable from a stationary charging station can be connected to this port via a plug connection. A locking device 1 is associated with the loading trough L, as shown in the figure. Fig. Figures 1 to 9 are shown in more detail. The locking device 1 has a recess housing 2 that surrounds the charging port of the loading recess L and is also mounted to the vehicle in its ready-to-use state. On one side, the recess housing 2 has a recess opening 11 that is embedded in an outer body panel of the vehicle body. When the recess housing 2 is mounted to the vehicle, the recess opening 11 extends essentially in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis of the vehicle. The recess opening 11 is therefore at least largely vertically oriented.

[0016] The recess opening 11 can be closed by a closing cover 3, which in a closed position ( Fig. 1 to 3) is flush with the outer body skin and fills the recess opening 11, thus closing the loading recess L. In the illustrated embodiment, the closing cover 3 has a support part (not specified in detail) and a cover that is detachably attached to the outside of the support part. The cover's design is adapted to the surrounding outer body skin of the passenger car.

[0017] To reposition the locking cover between the closed position ( Fig. 1 to 3) and an open position ( Fig. 8 and Fig. 9) A control mechanism and a drive system are provided, which are described in more detail below. In the open position, the closing cover 3 is shifted inwards and upwards within the module housing 2.

[0018] The control mechanism for moving the locking cover 3 between the closed and open positions has two cam guides 4 and 5 on opposite side panels of the module housing 2, wherein the cam guides 4 and 5 of the two opposite side panels of the module housing 2 are identical in pairs. This means that the opposing cam guides 4 are identical to each other and the two opposing cam guides 5 are also identical to each other.

[0019] In the latter case, the design is mirror-symmetrical relative to a vertical central longitudinal plane of the module housing 2. The two opposing cam guides 4 are designed as cam grooves in the form of curved through slots in the opposite side walls of the module housing 2. The two cam guides 4 extend upwards from approximately a lower edge region of the module opening 11 and in a circular arc backwards in the respective side wall of the module housing 2. The two other cam guides 5 extend in a J-shape in the opposite side walls of the module housing 2, with a lower, front end region of the cam guide 5 – viewed from the side – starting approximately in an upper half of the recessed opening 11 and extending obliquely upwards and backwards with a circular arc curvature and an adjoining straight cam section.The two cam guides 4 and 5 in each side panel of the module housing 2 intersect in the curved front area of ​​the cam guides 5, as shown in the side views according to the . Fig. 3, Fig. 5, Fig. 7 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 9. The width of the cam groove of the cam guide 4 is greater than the width of the cam groove of the cam guide 5. The two opposing cam guides 5 are not designed as through slots, but rather as channel-shaped, closed recesses in the respective side wall of the module housing 2, in order to increase the stability of the respective side wall of the module housing 2.

[0020] The support part of the locking cover 3 has two bearing blocks on its inner side, facing away from the cover plate. These bearing blocks are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction of the locking cover 3 and are integrally formed with the support part. On opposite sides of the locking cover 3, corresponding to the cam guides 4 and 5 on the opposite sides, two bearing blocks are provided, each supporting a guide pin 6, 7. The guide pins 6 and 7 are cylindrical and project outwards in the width direction to opposite sides. The guide pins 6 have a slightly larger cylindrical diameter than the guide pins 7 of the upper bearing blocks. The locking cover 3 is guided linearly and displaceably within the cam guides 4 and 5 by means of these four guide pins 6 and 7.The two lower guide pins 6 are guided in the opposing cam guides 4 and the two upper guide pins 7 are guided in the upper, trough-like cam guides 5.

[0021] To control the cover from the closed position to the open position and back again, the previously mentioned drive system is provided. The drive system includes an electric drive unit M ( Fig. 1), which is attached laterally to the outside of the module housing 2 and comprises an electric drive motor and an associated gearbox. The drive unit M drives a synchronizing shaft 8, on which two crank arms 9 are fixedly mounted. These crank arms can be rotated synchronously about an axis of rotation of the synchronizing shaft 8 by activating the drive unit M. The two crank arms 9, of which only one is clearly visible in the drawings for clarity, project radially from the synchronizing shaft 8 and are designed to be straight along these radials. Each crank arm 9 has a linear guide element in the form of a radially extended, straight guide groove of a straight projecting radial extension of the crank arm 9, which is integrated into this radial extension of the crank arm 9.In this guide groove, an unspecified pin extension of the respective guide pin 7 of the locking cover 3 is guided longitudinally for displacement. This pin extension is, as shown... Fig. 3 can be removed, is permanently subjected to a spring pressure force along the guide groove by a compression spring arrangement 10, which according to Fig. 3 is designed as a helical compression spring. The compression spring assembly 10 is supported on one side in the area of ​​the synchronizing shaft 8 and on the journal extension of the guide pin 7 on the other side, and extends along the guide groove F. The compression spring assembly exerts a permanent compressive force on the journal extension, which is coaxial with the guide pin 7, towards a radially outer end face of the crank rocker 9.

[0022] If, starting from the closed position of the locking cover 3, according to the Fig. When the drive unit M is activated (1 to 3), a counterclockwise torque is exerted on the synchronizing shaft 8 and thus on the crank arm 9 – as shown in the side illustrations. Fig. 3, Fig. 5, Fig. 7 and Fig. 9. The crank arms 9 thereby necessarily push the guide pins 7 backwards and obliquely upwards from the lower end position of the cam guides 5, thus initially moving an upper section of the locking cover 3 backwards out of the recess opening 11. With a further rotation of the crank arm 9, the lower area of ​​the locking cover 3 with the guide pins 6 is also necessarily carried backwards and upwards, thereby dragging the guide pins 6 upwards in the cam guides 4. In the open position according to the Fig. 8 and Fig.In position 9, the guide pins 7 of the locking cover 3 have reached the upper edge of the cam guides 5. The pin projections in the guide grooves F of the crank arm 9 have also reached the radially outer end of the guide grooves F. In this open position, the loading trough L is released to allow access to the corresponding loading port. To move the locking cover 3 from the open position back to the closed position, the crank arms 9 are driven in the opposite direction of rotation, i.e., clockwise, by means of the drive unit M until the locking cover 3 has reached its closed position again, in which the locking cover 3 closes the trough opening 11. 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 2020 209 607 B4

[0002]

Claims

[1] Locking device (1) for a loading trough (L) of a motor vehicle, comprising a trough housing (2) which is fixed to the vehicle in its ready-to-use state and which has a trough opening (11), a locking cover (3) which is movably mounted on the trough housing (2) between a closed position closing the trough opening (11) and an open position releasing the trough opening (11) by means of a control mechanism, and a drive system for moving the locking cover (3) between the closed position and the open position, characterized by, that the locking cover (3) has two spaced-apart guide pins (6, 7) on opposite sides, which are guided linearly in two cam guides (4, 5) of the recess housing (2), wherein the two cam guides (4, 5) are positioned on the recess housing (2) such that the locking cover (3) can be moved from the closed position inwards into an interior of the recess housing (2) until it reaches the open position, and that the drive system has a crank arm (9) which engages one of the guide pins (7) by means of a length compensation element in order to drive the locking cover (3) for a movement between the closed position and the open position. [2] Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the crank rocker (9) is rotatably mounted on the trough housing (2). [3] Locking device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the drive system has an electric drive unit (M) which is coupled to the crank rocker (9) in a torque-transmitting manner. [4] Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the length compensation element is arranged on the crank rocker (9) and is designed as a linear guide member (F) on which the guide pin (7) is guided in a linearly movable manner. [5] Locking device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the linear guide member (F) has a spring arrangement (10) which exerts a permanent spring force on the guide pin (7) in one direction of movement. [6] Locking device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that on opposite sides of the locking cover (3) on the recess housing (2) two cam guides (4, 5) are provided for each of two opposite guide pins (6, 7) of the locking cover (3), wherein the opposite cam guides (4, 5) run parallel to each other in pairs, and wherein the two cam guides (4, 5) on each side intersect each other. [7] Locking device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the cam guides (4, 5) are designed as cam grooves, the cam grooves of each side having different groove cross-sections. [8] Locking device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that on the opposite sides of the closing cover (3) a crank arm (9) with a linear guide element (F) is arranged, wherein the two crank arms (9) are connected to each other by means of a synchronizing shaft (8) in a rotationally locked manner. [9] Locking device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the trough housing (2) is designed in multiple parts. [10] Locking device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that on opposite outer sides of the trough housing (2) mounting points are provided for the optional attachment of the electric drive unit (M).

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