Actuating device with activatable auxiliary drive

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating device for automatically adjusting a vehicle flap or a vehicle door, comprising a housing (2), a drive device (5) arranged at least partially in the housing (2) for driving the vehicle flap or the vehicle door, wherein the drive device (5) comprises a drive element (7) which is displaceable along a drive axis (D) between a retracted position and an extended position and which can be coupled to the vehicle flap or the vehicle door, an auxiliary drive (11) arranged in the housing (2) for assisting the displacement of the drive element (7) along the drive axis (D), wherein the auxiliary drive (11) comprises a pretensioning means (12) and a stop part (13) which can be coupled to the drive element (7), wherein the pretensioning means (12) pretensions the stop part (13) in the extension direction of the drive element (7),and a control device (14) with at least one control element (16) for controlling the auxiliary drive (11). An actuating device for a vehicle door or a vehicle flap, which provides an easily switchable auxiliary force for manual or automated operation of the vehicle door or the vehicle flap, is created in that the control device (14) comprises at least one first locking element (21) for releasably locking the stop part (13), which is arranged radially between the control element (16) and the stop part (13).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adjusting device for automatically adjusting a vehicle flap or a vehicle door, wherein the adjusting device comprises a housing, a drive device arranged in the housing with a main drive and an auxiliary drive for supporting or replacing the main drive.

[0002] Actuating devices are known in practice that are arranged between a pivotable vehicle flap and a vehicle body. For additional preload, the actuating devices comprise a spring system with at least one preloading means that supports the actuating movement or the current position of the vehicle door or vehicle flap when the drive device is in a rest state. The spring systems function as an auxiliary drive, which not only supports an electric drive device provided in the actuating device in adjusting the vehicle door or vehicle flap, but also facilitates manual opening of the vehicle door.

[0003] DE 10 2020 126 748 A1 discloses an adjusting device for adjusting a vehicle door or a vehicle tailgate, comprising an elongated housing and a spindle drive arranged in the housing, wherein the spindle drive comprises a spindle nut displaceable along a drive axis. The adjusting device further comprises a preloading means designed as a helical compression spring, which assists the spindle drive in adjusting the vehicle door or the vehicle tailgate.

[0004] DE 10 2022 117 394 A1 discloses an adjusting device for adjusting a vehicle door, comprising a housing and a drive device arranged in the housing for driving the vehicle door. The drive device comprises a plunger preloaded by a preloading means, the plunger being held in the preloaded state by a controllable retaining device. The retaining device comprises a retaining arm, which is arranged axially between a collar formed on the plunger and the preloading means and is radially extendable and retractable.

[0005] It is the object of the invention to provide an actuating device for a vehicle door or a vehicle flap, which provides an easily switchable auxiliary force for manual or automated operation of the vehicle door or the vehicle flap.

[0006] The above object is achieved according to the invention by an adjusting device according to claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, an adjusting device for adjusting a vehicle door or a vehicle flap is provided, comprising a housing, a drive device arranged at least partially in the housing for driving the vehicle door or the vehicle flap, wherein the drive device comprises a drive element that is displaceable along a drive axis between a retracted position and an extended position and is coupled to the vehicle door or the vehicle flap. Furthermore, the adjusting device according to the invention comprises an auxiliary drive arranged in the housing for assisting the displacement of the drive element along the drive axis, wherein the auxiliary drive comprises a pretensioning means and a stop part that can be coupled to the drive element, wherein the pretensioning means pretensions the stop part in the extension direction of the drive element.Finally, the actuating device comprises a control device with at least one control element for controlling the auxiliary drive. The actuating device according to the invention is characterized in that the control device comprises at least one first locking element for releasably locking the stop part, which is arranged radially between the control element and the stop part. Advantageously, the auxiliary drive can be activated particularly easily and in a space-saving manner.

[0008] Particularly preferably, the control element is displaceable between a locking position, in which the control element prestresses the first locking element into a locking position, and an unlocking position, in which the control element permits a release position of the first locking element. The control element is preferably annular, wherein the control element has a first recess on an inner circumference, into which the first locking element is at least partially displaced in the unlocking position of the control element. This advantageously unlocks the stop part. Particularly preferably, the stop part has a first locking point on an outer circumference, wherein the first locking element is prestressed into the first locking point by the control element in the locking position of the control element.The locking point is preferably designed as a locking recess, with the control element, in the locked position, preloading the first locking element onto the locking point in a direction perpendicular to the drive axis. Unlocking is advantageously possible by rotating the control element about the drive axis, which is particularly quick and energy-efficient.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment of the actuating device, the control device comprises a second locking element arranged radially between the control element and the stop part. Advantageously, the locking of the stop part is provided at at least two locations, which may be necessary depending on the preload force of the preloading means. Furthermore, a more uniform absorption of the force acting on the stop part by the preloading means along the drive axis is achieved. In particular, tilting of the stop part in the locked state is avoided. Accordingly, the control element expediently has a second recess on its inner circumference, into which the second locking element is at least partially displaced in the unlocked position of the control element.Further expediently, the stop part has a second locking point on an outer circumference, wherein the second locking element is pretensioned into the second locking point by the control element in the locking position of the control element.

[0010] Particularly preferably, the control device comprises at least one first holding part that is fixed relative to the housing, wherein the first locking element is coupled to the first holding part. The first holding part advantageously has a first recess in which the first locking element is at least partially received. The first locking element is radially displaceable at least between a locking position in which the first locking element locks the stop part against displacement in the direction of the drive axis, and a release position in which the first locking element permits displacement of the stop part in the direction of the drive axis. The first recess is expediently designed as a bore.

[0011] Advantageously, the first holding part has a first collar, wherein the control element is arranged axially between the first collar and a second stop that is fixed relative to the housing. Advantageously, the control element is supported and secured at least axially in the housing. Furthermore, the control device expediently comprises at least one second holding part that is fixed relative to the housing. The second holding part has a second collar, wherein the control element is arranged axially between the first collar of the first holding part and the second collar of the second holding part. In particular, the second collar forms the second stop for the control element.

[0012] Further preferably, the drive device is designed as a spindle drive and the drive element as a spindle nut. Advantageously, the drive device comprises a spindle rod with an external thread, which is rotatably driven about the drive axis, and the spindle nut, which can be displaced linearly along the drive axis between a retracted position and an extended position by rotating the spindle rod about the drive axis.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the control element is rotatable about a rotational axis between the locking position and the unlocking position. Particularly preferably, the control element is rotatable about the drive axis. Advantageously, the components associated with the auxiliary drive can be arranged concentrically around the drive axis, analogous to the drive device. Due to the arrangement of the control element, which is also concentric around the drive axis, a particularly favorable option for activating the auxiliary forces is created.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the auxiliary drive is designed as a mechanical auxiliary drive. Advantageously, the auxiliary drive is designed to be independent of the vehicle's power supply after its activation and can thus permanently provide an auxiliary force to support the opening movement of the vehicle door or vehicle tailgate, particularly in an emergency in which the main power supply has failed. The preloading means is preferably designed as helical compression springs.

[0015] Particularly preferably, the stop part is held in a rest position in the locking position of the control element, in which position the pretensioning means exerts no force on the drive element. The control element is advantageously axially fixed relative to the housing, but rotatable about the drive axis. Further preferably, the first locking element is designed as a ball. Advantageously, the locking element can be moved into the release position simply by rotating the control element. The first locking recess provided on the stop part is preferably partially spherical, so that upon axial displacement of the locking recess, the first locking element simultaneously exerts a radial force on the spherical locking element and urges it into the release position.

[0016] Further advantages, developments and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the dependent claims.

[0017] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings using a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an adjusting device 1 according to the invention in a cross-sectional view. Fig. 2 shows the adjusting device Fig. 1 in a cross-sectional view cut perpendicular to the drive axis D. Fig. 3 shows the actuating device in a cross-sectional view with a first activated state of the auxiliary drive. Fig. 4 shows the adjusting device Fig. 3 in a cross-sectional view cut perpendicular to the drive axis D. Fig. 5 shows parts of the adjusting device 1 in an exploded view

[0018] Fig. Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an actuating device 1 according to the invention in a cross-sectional view. The actuating device 1 comprises a housing 2, wherein the housing 2 comprises a first housing part 3 and a second housing part 4. The first housing part 3 and the second housing part 4 are screwed together, thus forming a unit.

[0019] A drive device 5 is arranged in the housing 2, which serves to drive the vehicle flap or the vehicle door between a closed and open position during normal operation. In the preferred embodiment, the drive device 5 is designed as a spindle drive. It comprises a main drive 6 designed as an electric motor, a spindle nut 7 displaceable along a drive axis D, and a spindle rod 8 rotatably driven by the main drive 6, which is in threaded engagement with the spindle nut 7. The spindle rod 8 is rotatable about the drive axis D and has an external thread which is in threaded engagement with an internal thread of the spindle nut 7.

[0020] The spindle rod 8 is coupled at a first end 8a in a rotationally fixed manner to a worm gear 9, wherein the worm gear 9 in turn is threadedly engaged with a first worm 10. The first worm 10 is fixedly connected to an output shaft of the main drive 6. Advantageously, rotation of the first worm 10 or the output shaft of the main drive 6 about a first rotation axis R1 drives the rotation of the spindle rod 8 about the drive axis D, whereby the spindle nut 7 can be moved between the retracted position shown here and an extended position. Depending on the direction of rotation of the first worm 10, the upper end 7a of the spindle nut 7 moves out of the housing 2 or into the housing 2 and can thus transmit a force to the vehicle flap or vehicle door to be adjusted in the opening or closing direction. Accordingly, the spindle nut 7 forms a drive element for the vehicle door or vehicle flap.

[0021] In addition to the drive device 5, the actuating device 1 comprises an auxiliary drive 11, which can reliably provide auxiliary power for opening the vehicle lid or the vehicle door in certain situations, particularly in the event of a power failure of the drive device 5. The auxiliary drive 11 can also support the drive device 5, for example, if the vehicle is parked on a steep slope and therefore requires increased force to open the vehicle door. Furthermore, increased forces may be necessary due to icing or other jamming of the vehicle door in order to at least be able to open it with assistance.

[0022] In the embodiment shown here, the auxiliary drive 11 is designed as a mechanical auxiliary drive and comprises a preloading means 12 designed as a helical compression spring and a stop part 13, wherein the stop part 13 is coupled to the spindle nut 7 such that the spindle nut 7 can be preloaded upwards by the preloading means 12. For this purpose, the first stop part 13 has a hollow cylindrical receptacle 13a for the spindle nut 7, wherein the stop part 13 has a radially inwardly projecting, annular base 13b at a lower end, which functions as a lower stop surface for the spindle nut 7.

[0023] Furthermore, the stop part 13 has a radially outwardly projecting collar 13c at an upper open end. The preloading means 12 rests with an upper end against the underside of the collar 13c. Accordingly, when the first stop part 13 is displaced, the spindle nut 7 is displaced upward under the preload of the first preloading means 12. This is also possible because the external thread of the spindle rod 8 is not self-locking. In particular, a displacement of the spindle nut 7 can be effected by a manual force on the vehicle door.

[0024] The actuating device 1 further comprises a control device 14 for controlling the auxiliary drive 11. In particular, the control device 14 is designed to switch the auxiliary drive 11 between the deactivated state shown here and an activated state. The control device 14 comprises a control drive 15 and a control element 16 driven by the control drive 15. The control element 16 is annular and is axially fixed in the housing 2. The control element 16 is rotatably mounted about the drive axis D between a locking position shown here, in which the stop part 13 is locked against displacement, and a release position. The control element 16 partially has an external gear 17 on its outer side, which is in threaded engagement with a second worm 18.The second worm 18, which is rotatable about a second axis of rotation, is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to an output shaft of the control drive 15, so that the control element 16 in the present embodiment can be rotated about the drive axis D when the control drive 15 is activated between the locking position and the position shown in . Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 can be rotated to the unlocking position shown.

[0025] The control element 16 is arranged axially between an upper holding part 19 and a lower holding part 20 and is held axially fixed relative to the housing 2 by these. The upper holding part 19 has a first holding collar 19a at an upper end, and the lower holding part 20 has a second holding collar 20a at an upper end, with the control element 16 being held axially between the first holding collar 19a and the second holding collar 20a. The upper holding part 19 is detachably connected to the lower holding part 20.

[0026] Between the control element 16 and the stop part 13, a first locking element 21 designed as a ball and a second locking element 22 arranged opposite are arranged. In the locked position of the control element 16, the first locking element 21 is pressed into a partially spherical first locking recess 13d and the second locking element 22 is pressed into a partially spherical second locking recess 13e, which are provided opposite one another on an outer side of the stop part 13. The locking elements 21, 22 are each received in a recess in the upper holding part 19, so that the locking elements 21, 22 are radially movable to a limited extent, but cannot fall out of the recesses, since the locking elements 21, 22 are clamped between the control element 16 and the stop part 13.Advantageously, the stop part 13 is prevented from moving upwards by a positive connection, mediated by the locking elements 21, 22, between the stop part 13 and the holding part 19, which is stationary relative to the housing 2. Thus, the auxiliary drive 11 is deactivated, since only a force from the main drive acts on the spindle nut 7. The spindle nut 7 can be moved upwards while the stop part 13 remains in the position shown here.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows the adjusting device 1 from Fig. 1 in a cross-sectional view cut perpendicular to the drive axis D. The cross section runs centrally through the control element 16. The control element 16 is designed as a ring, wherein the control element 16 has a first recess 23 and a second recess 24 on an inner circumference, which recesses lie opposite one another. The first recess 23 and the second recess 24 each have a width which corresponds to the width of the first locking element 21 and the second locking element 22. In particular, the width of the recesses 23, 24 is selected such that the locking elements 21, 22 fit at least partially into the recesses 23, 24 from the first recess 19b and second recess 19c provided in the upper holding part 19.

[0028] In the locked position of the control element 16 shown here, the stop part 13 is held back from displacement in the direction of the drive axis D because the locking elements 21, 22 are arranged radially between the upper holding part 19 and the stop part 13 and are each positively coupled to the upper holding part 19 and the stop part 13. The positive connection of the locking elements 21, 22 with the upper holding part 19 is ensured by the fact that the locking elements 21, 22 are located in the recesses 19b, 19c, and the positive connection of the locking elements 21, 22 with the stop part 13 is brought about by the penetration of the locking elements 21, 22 into the part-spherical depressions 13d, 13e, which is forced by the control element 16.

[0029] Fig. 3 shows the adjusting device 1 in a cross-sectional view with the auxiliary drive 11 activated. A rotation of the control element 16 about the drive axis D to unlock the stop part 13 was effected by the control drive 15. For this purpose, the second worm 18 was rotated about the second rotation axis R2 running parallel to the first rotation axis R1 of the first worm 10, wherein the control element 16 was rotated due to the threaded engagement of the second worm 18 with the external gear 17. This enabled the locking elements 21, 22 to move further radially outward, so that the locking elements 21, 22 no longer have a locking effect on the stop part 13, in particular are no longer pressed by the control element 16 into the partially spherical recesses 13d, 13e.Due to the axial force exerted by the pretensioning means 12 in the extension direction of the actuating device 1 along the drive axis D, the now unlocked stop part 13 was displaced upwards, whereby the spindle nut 7 was displaced upwards in the extension direction together with the stop part 13 due to the coupling provided via the annular base 13b. Since the actuating device 1 is arranged between a vehicle flap or vehicle door and a vehicle body, the auxiliary drive 11 thus drives an opening movement of the vehicle flap or vehicle door in addition to the main drive 6 or, in the event of a power failure, also as a substitute.

[0030] In addition to being connected to the vehicle's central power supply, the control drive 15 advantageously also has an independent power supply. In particular, the control drive 15 is supplied with power by a super capacitor, so that even in the event of a failure of the vehicle's main power supply, it is advantageously guaranteed that the control drive 15 drives the rotation of the control element 16 about the drive axis D and an auxiliary force in the opening direction of the vehicle door is provided by the auxiliary drive 11. Once the vehicle's central power supply is established, it is also possible to adjust the spindle nut 7 back in the retraction direction via the main drive 6, i.e., by rotating the spindle rod 8, and to relock the locking of the stop part 13 coupled to the spindle nut 7 by correspondingly returning the control element 16 to the locking position.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows the adjusting device Fig. 3 in a cross-sectional view cut perpendicular to the drive axis D. Here, in comparison to the Fig. 2, it can be seen that the control element 16 was rotated counterclockwise about the drive axis D by rotating the second worm 18 in a first direction via the control drive 15 of the control device 14, thereby causing a corresponding rotation of the control element 16 due to the threaded engagement of the second worm 18 with the external gear 17 of the control element 16. As can be seen, the external gear is only arranged on a partial circumference of the control element 16, since the control element 16 only needs to be rotated by a limited angle.

[0032] Due to the counterclockwise rotation of the control element 16, the first recess 23 was displaced into an unlocking position, so that the first locking element 21 could slide radially into the first recess 23 and was thus displaced radially outwards. Analogously, the opposite second recess 24 of the control element 16 was displaced into an unlocking position, in which the second locking element 22 could slide into the second recess 24 and was thus also displaced radially outwards. As can be seen, the locking elements 21, 22 no longer protrude beyond the inner wall of the first holding part 19. Accordingly, there is no longer any coupling between the first holding part 19 and the stop part 13 via the locking elements 21, 22.

[0033] The first holding part 19 has a hollow cylinder 19d located below the retaining collar 19a, in which the first recess 19b and the second recess 19c are provided. The hollow cylinder 19d has two opposite radially projecting projections 19e, 19f, which serve as housing-fixed stops for the control element 16. These advantageously define the locking and unlocking positions of the control element 16.

[0034] Fig.Figure 5 shows part of the adjusting device 1 in an exploded view. This view shows that the spindle nut 7 has a rounded rectangular outer circumference, with an end cap 25 attached to the upper end 7a of the spindle nut 7. Furthermore, an anti-rotation element 26 is provided between the end cap 25 and the spindle nut 7, with the anti-rotation element 26 being non-rotatably coupled to the spindle nut 7 and the second housing part (not shown here). This advantageously ensures that the spindle nut 7 is secured against rotation relative to the housing 2 or the second housing part 4 and can only be displaced axially.

[0035] Furthermore, four screws 27 are shown, which are used for the screw connection between the first housing part 3 (not shown here) and the second housing part 4. Furthermore, the stop part 13 is shown, wherein the stop part 13 has a first partially spherical locking recess 13d and an opposite and not shown second partially spherical locking recess, into which the spherical first locking element 21 and the second locking element 22 can engage to lock the stop part 13. The worm gear 9 has a coupling section 9a, which serves for the rotationally fixed coupling to the spindle rod (not shown here).

[0036] The upper holding part 19 is annular and has two locking hooks 19g at a lower end opposite the first holding collar 19a, which are provided for a releasably positive connection to the lower holding part 20. During assembly, the annular control element 16 is positioned between the upper holding part 19 and the lower holding part 20, wherein the control element 16 rests on the second holding collar 20a of the second holding element 20, and the upper holding part 19 is pressed from above onto the lower holding part 20 until the locking hooks 19b of the upper holding part engage the corresponding locking webs 20b of the lower holding part 20.

[0037] The control element 16 is advantageously arranged between the first retaining collar 19a of the upper retaining part 19 and the second retaining collar 20a of the second retaining part 20, wherein the control element 16 is further driven to rotate about the drive axis D, as already explained above. Furthermore, the radially outwardly projecting projections 19e, 19f on the hollow cylinder wall 19d can be seen, which serve to limit the rotational movement of the control element 16. In addition to the recesses 23, 24, the control element 16 has opposing projections 16a, 16b, which form counter-stops for the projections 19e, 19f of the upper retaining part 19 at their ends. The prestressing means 12 is designed as a helical compression spring, the spring coils of which rest on the upper side of the upper retaining collar 19a and exert a force on the collar 13c of the stop part 13.

Claims

[1] Adjusting device (1) for adjusting a vehicle flap or a vehicle door, comprising a housing (2), a drive device (5) arranged at least partially in the housing (2) for driving the vehicle flap or the vehicle door, wherein the drive device (5) comprises a drive element (7) which can be displaced along a drive axis (D) between a retracted position and an extended position and can be coupled to the vehicle flap or the vehicle door, an auxiliary drive (11) arranged in the housing (2) for supporting the displacement of the drive element (7) along the drive axis (D), wherein the auxiliary drive (11) comprises a pretensioning means (12) and a stop part (13) which can be coupled to the drive element (7), wherein the pretensioning means (12) pretensions the stop part (13) in the extension direction of the drive element (7), and a control device (14) with at least one control element (16) for controlling the auxiliary drive (11), characterized by that the control device (14) comprises at least one first locking element (21) for releasably locking the stop part (13), which is arranged radially between the control element (16) and the stop part (13). [2] Adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the control element (16) is displaceable between a locking position in which the control element (16) pretensions the first locking element (21) into a locking position and an unlocking position in which the control element (16) allows a release position of the first locking element (21). [3] Adjusting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the control element (16) is annular, wherein the control element (16) has a first recess (23) on an inner circumference, into which the first locking element (21) is at least partially displaced in the unlocking position of the control element (16). [4] Adjusting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the stop part (13) has a first locking point (13d) into which the control element (16) pretensions the first locking element (21) in the locking position. [5] Adjusting device (1) according to claim 4, characterized bythat the first locking point (13d) is designed as a locking recess, wherein the control element (16) in the locking position prestresses the first locking element (21) in a direction perpendicular to the drive axis (D) onto the locking point (13d). [6] Adjusting device according to claim 5, characterized by that the control device (14) comprises a second locking element (22) which is arranged radially between the control element (16) and the stop part (13). [7] Adjusting device according to claim 6, characterized by that the stop part (13) has a second locking point (13e) into which the control element (16) preloads the first locking element (21) in the locking position. [8] Adjusting device according to claim 7, characterized by that the control device (14) comprises at least one first holding part (19) which is fixed relative to the housing (2), wherein the first locking element (21) is coupled to the first holding part (19). [9] Adjusting device according to claim 8, characterized by that the first holding part (19) has a first recess (19b) in which the first locking element (21) is at least partially received. [10] Adjusting device according to claim 9, characterized by that the first locking element (21) in the first recess (19b) is radially displaceable at least between a locking position in which the first locking element (21) locks the stop part (13) against displacement in the direction of the drive axis (D) and a release position in which the first locking element (21) allows displacement of the stop part (13) in the direction of the drive axis (D).

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