Multifunctional actuator for a vehicle door

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-function actuator (2) for opening and closing a vehicle door of a motor vehicle and for opening and closing a window in the vehicle door, comprising an electric drive unit (14) which can be connected to a door opener (18) and which can be connected to a window lifter drive (26) for a window pane in the vehicle door, wherein the multi-function actuator (2) has a clutch actuating element with which the electric drive unit (14) can be selectively connected to the door opener (18) or to the window lifter drive (26), wherein the door opener (18) has a door hinge (32) which can be actuated in direct operative connection by a gear drive (34) actuated by the drive unit (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a multifunctional actuator according to the preamble of claim 1. It further relates to a vehicle door.

[0002] Electric door actuators and electric window lifters are essential components in modern motor vehicles and contribute significantly to the comfort and safety of the driver.

[0003] Automatically opening and closing doors are becoming increasingly common in the market. Currently, this involves integrating an additional, complete, and independent actuator into each door. This further increases weight, cost, and complexity. Familiar door actuators comprise a drive unit with an electric motor and a mechanism that converts the motor's movement into a linear motion, which then operates the door. Modern vehicles often use centrally controlled door actuators in combination with an electronic control unit that processes signals from various sources (e.g., keys, interior or exterior sensors).

[0004] Electric window regulators allow windows to be opened and closed at the touch of a button. An electric window regulator typically includes an electric motor, a cable system, and a control unit.

[0005] Combined actuators for operating the door and window regulator are known, but these require more installation space. A disadvantage of known actuators is their indirect connection to the door opener.

[0006] From DE 10 2018 106 839 A1, an actuating mechanism for a vehicle door opener and for opening and closing a window in the vehicle door is known. The actuating mechanism comprises an electric drive unit which can be connected via a first pair of cables to a lifting mechanism for a window pane of the vehicle door and which can be connected via a second pair of cables or a flexible shaft to the door opener for electrically opening and closing the vehicle door. A coupling element is provided on the actuating mechanism with which the electric drive unit can be selectively connected to either the door opener or the lifting mechanism.

[0007] From DE 10 2011 002 542 A1, a drive device for a window regulator of a motor vehicle door is known. The drive device has a switching device by which either the window regulator as the first output element or a further output element can be switched on.

[0008] Based on the disadvantages described above, the invention aims to provide a multifunctional actuator with reduced complexity and improved connectivity to the door opener.

[0009] This problem is solved with a multifunctional actuator according to claim 1. The multifunctional actuator or door actuator for opening and closing a vehicle door of a motor vehicle and for opening and closing a window in the vehicle door comprises an electric drive unit which can be connected to a door opener and which can be connected to a window regulator drive for a window pane in the vehicle door, wherein the multifunctional actuator has a clutch actuating element with which the electric drive unit can be selectively connected to the door opener or to the window regulator drive, wherein the door opener has a door hinge which can be actuated in direct operative connection by a gear drive actuated by the drive unit.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] Actuation in direct operative connection preferably means that the hinge integrally comprises both a flange part for the body and a gear segment for direct engagement with the gear drive. For example, no telescopic rods or telescopic drives are used. According to the invention, this allows for a more direct force transmission and saves installation space, which is very limited in the door.

[0012] Preferably, the connection to the window regulator drive is self-locking, whereas the connection to the door opener is not self-locking.

[0013] According to the invention, the door hinge has a first flange part, connectable to the body of a motor vehicle, with a spur gear segment into which a gear of the gear drive engages, and a receptacle for pivotally hanging the vehicle door.

[0014] The gear drive is preferably driven via a, in particular three-stage, planetary gear with a door drive shaft driven by the electric drive unit, wherein the window lifter drive has a window drive shaft driven by the drive unit.

[0015] The door drive shaft and the window drive shaft are preferably arranged essentially perpendicular to each other.

[0016] The clutch actuation element is advantageously designed as a camshaft with two cams, which can be rotated by a clutch motor.

[0017] Advantageously, a coupling is provided which can be actuated by the coupling actuating element and which, depending on the cam position, engages the electric drive unit with the door drive shaft or the window drive shaft.

[0018] The coupling advantageously has a spur pinion for engagement with the gear drive and a bevel gear for engagement with a window drive bevel gear arranged on the window drive shaft.

[0019] The camshaft is preferably connected to a pulley designed to accommodate a cable for operating a door lock in the vehicle door. The door locking / unlocking mechanism and the door lock are connected to the cable, i.e., a flexible coupling element, thereby increasing availability in the event of a crash.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the drive unit, the door drive shaft, the window drive shaft, the clutch motor and the clutch are arranged in a common actuator housing.

[0021] The actuator housing preferably has a circuit board chamber for receiving an electronic circuit board for the electric drive unit.

[0022] The window regulator drive preferably has a cable drum housing.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the rope drum housing and the actuator housing are formed in one piece.

[0024] Preferably, the energy storage device, battery, capacitor, and electronics are integrated within the housing. The control unit is preferably designed to detect a crash or accident, enabling automatic emergency unlocking via the clutch motor that controls the door unlocking mechanism.

[0025] The multi-function actuator preferably includes fastening means for attaching the multi-function actuator to the vehicle door.

[0026] The multifunctional actuator advantageously includes a control unit, in particular designed as an electronic circuit board, for controlling the electric drive unit and the clutch motor.

[0027] The multifunctional actuator advantageously includes a rotary angle sensor, mounted on or attached to the door hinge and connected to the control unit via its signal input, for detecting the opening angle of the vehicle door. Positioning the sensor directly on the door hinge allows for precise door positioning and a precisely adjustable opening angle, for example, in narrow garages.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the multifunctional actuator includes a DC-DC converter, particularly for converting 48 volts to 12 volts. Preferably, the clutch motor can be powered from the main motor's power electronics via a switched PWM phase; that is, suitable voltages of, for example, 12 V are generated from the 48 V for the clutch motor and for charging (powering) the supercapacitors. The supercapacitors are high-performance energy storage capacitors and serve as a power supply for emergency operation, for example, in the event of a system failure or interruption of the main power supply.

[0029] The DC-DC converter can be implemented as an alternative design by incorporating the motor inductance of the main power drive or using a separate inductor. For charging, high-power parallel supercapacitors are preferably connected in series (bidirectional buck-boost circuit). The DC-DC converter can be implemented as an alternative design by incorporating the motor inductance of the main power drive or using a separate inductor. Preferably, the multifunctional actuator includes a camera module for monitoring the window pane and / or the vehicle door movement. This allows for anti-pinch protection and / or door monitoring.

[0030] The invention also relates to a multifunctional actuator for opening and closing a vehicle door of a motor vehicle and for opening and closing a window in the vehicle door, comprising an electric drive unit which can be connected to a door opener and which can be connected to a window lift drive for a window pane of the vehicle door, wherein the multifunctional actuator has a clutch actuating element with which the electric drive unit can be selectively connected to the door opener or to the window lift drive, and wherein the connection to the window lift drive is self-locking and wherein the connection to the door opener is partially self-locking.

[0031] The connection to the door opener in the engaged state is advantageously designed to be self-locking.

[0032] The window regulator is specifically self-locking to provide burglar protection, preventing the glass from being forced down from the outside. If, however, the door is moved manually, it must be able to pivot in both directions.

[0033] The door opener advantageously includes a door hinge which can be actuated by a gear drive directly connected to the drive unit. The advantageous configurations described above are also advantageous configurations of this multifunctional actuator or door actuator.

[0034] The invention also relates to a multifunctional actuator for opening and closing a vehicle door of a motor vehicle and for opening and closing a window in the vehicle door, comprising an electric drive unit which can be connected to a door opener and which can be connected to a window lift drive for a window pane of the vehicle door, wherein the multifunctional actuator has a clutch actuating element with which the electric drive unit can be selectively connected to the door opener or to the window lift drive, and wherein the multifunctional actuator has a drive for locking and unlocking a door lock as well as a closing aid for closing the vehicle door and a direct current converter (DC-DC converter).

[0035] The invention also relates to a vehicle door system comprising a multifunction actuator described above and a door lock for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle that can be actuated by the multifunction actuator, wherein the door lock has a locking element for engagement in a body-side locking contour, which is acted upon by at least one compression spring and can be locked by a locking element which engages in a recess of the locking element, wherein the locking element can be moved into a locking position and a release position by a control contour of a cable pull lever, and wherein the cable pull lever receives a cable attached to the pulley of the multifunction actuator.

[0036] The invention also relates to a door lock comprising a locking element for engagement in a body-side locking contour, which is acted upon by at least one compression spring and can be locked by a locking element which engages in a recess of the locking element, wherein the locking element can be moved into a locking position and a release position by a control contour of a cable pull lever, and wherein the cable pull lever accommodates a cable attached to the pulley of the multifunction actuator.

[0037] The invention further comprises a vehicle door for a motor vehicle with a multi-function actuator described above, as well as a vehicle door with a multi-function actuator and a door lock described above.

[0038] The advantages of the invention lie particularly in the fact that several functional units are integrated into a single actuator or assembly in a compact design. The multifunctional actuator combines the functions of door drive, window lift drive, soft-close mechanism, door locking and unlocking, and door lock.

[0039] Further objectives, advantages, features, and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. All features described and / or illustrated, individually or in any meaningful combination, constitute the subject matter of the present invention, even independently of their compilation in the claims or their cross-references.

[0040] Some of these show schematically: Fig. 1 a multi-function actuator in a preferred embodiment in a first perspective view; Fig. 2 the multi-function actuator according to Fig. 2 in a further perspective view with some parts partially hidden; Fig. 3 the multi-function actuator according to Fig. 1 in a further perspective view with some parts partially hidden; Fig. 4 the multi-function actuator according to Fig. 1 in a further perspective view; Fig. 5 the multi-function actuator according to Fig. 1 in another perspective view, Fig. 6 a block diagram of the multifunction actuator according to Fig. 1; Fig. 7 a door lock in a locked position in a first representation; Fig. 8 the door lock according to Fig. 7 in a further illustration; Fig. 9 the door lock according to Fig. 7 in a release position in a further representation; Fig. 10 the door lock according to Fig. 9 in a further illustration; Fig. 11 the door lock according to Fig. 7 in a position with the vehicle door open in another illustration, and Fig. 12 the door lock according to Fig. 11 in a further illustration.

[0041] Identical or equivalent components are identified in the following figures of the drawing by reference numerals based on an embodiment, in order to improve readability.

[0042] One in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. The multifunctional actuator 2 shown in Figure 5 has an electric drive unit 14, which includes an electric motor that drives an output shaft 20 with a worm shaft 22. The worm shaft 22 engages with a worm wheel 24 of a substantially rod-shaped coupling element 28 of a coupling 72, which is described in more detail below.

[0043] The multi-function actuator 2 comprises a door opener 18 and a window regulator drive 26. The door opener 18 includes a door hinge 32 with a flange part 40, which is designed to be attached to the body of a motor vehicle. The door hinge 32 further comprises a receptacle 51 for hooking and rotatably mounting a door of the motor vehicle. The door hinge 32 also includes a spur gear segment 44.

[0044] A gear drive 34 of the multifunction actuator 2 comprises a gear 46 which meshes with the teeth of the spur gear segment 44. The gear 46 meshes with another gear 48 of the gear drive 34, which meshes with a pinion 50 of a planetary gear 56, which meshes with a pinion of a door drive shaft 58.

[0045] The window regulator drive 26 comprises a window drive shaft 52, which has a worm shaft 54 ​​that engages with a pinion 66 rotatably mounted in a cable drum housing 114. At one end opposite the worm shaft 54, the window drive shaft 52 has a window drive bevel gear 88. The door drive shaft 58 and the window drive shaft 52 are arranged essentially perpendicular to each other.

[0046] The multi-function actuator 2 is designed to connect the drive unit 14 to the door opener 18 or the window regulator drive 26 as required. For this purpose, the multi-function actuator 2 first has the coupling 72, which includes a window regulator sleeve 120 and a door opener sleeve 126. The window regulator sleeve 120 has a bevel gear 84, which meshes with the window drive bevel gear 88. The two bevel gears 84 and 88 form a bevel gear drive. The door opener sleeve has a pinion that meshes with the planetary gear 56.

[0047] The coupling 72 further comprises a window drive crown gear (not shown) which can be engaged with the window regulator sleeve 120, and a door opener crown gear (not shown) which can be engaged with the door opener sleeve 126. The two crown gears are rotationally fixed to the coupling element 28.

[0048] A clutch actuation element, in this case designed as a camshaft 60, is rotatably connected to a clutch motor 70. The camshaft 60 has two cams 62, 64. Depending on the position of the camshaft 60 and thus of the cams 62, 64, the window drive crown gear engages with the window regulator sleeve 120 or the door opener crown gear engages with the door opener sleeve 126.

[0049] When the window drive crown gear engages with the window regulator sleeve 120, the sleeve rotates when the coupling element 28 is rotated. The coupling element 28 is set in motion by the drive unit 14, causing the two bevel gears 84 and 88 to rotate the window drive shaft 52. The window regulator drive 26 is designed with a worm drive, making it self-locking. This prevents the window pane from moving downwards on its own or being forced down during a break-in attempt.

[0050] When the door opener crown wheel engages with the door opener sleeve 126, the gear drive 34 of the door opener 18 is actuated via the planetary gear 56. This coupling to the gear drive and thus to the door hinge 32 is self-locking, so that the drive prevents the door from being blocked.

[0051] Due to the clutch mechanism, the multifunction actuator 2 is designed in such a way that only one force flow is possible at any given time: while the door is being opened or closed, the window cannot be operated simultaneously.

[0052] A pulley 90 is connected to the camshaft 60, which accommodates a cable 94 for operating the vehicle door lock. The exit angle of the cable 94 is determined by a tubular cable guide 130 through which the cable is routed.

[0053] The drive unit 14, the door drive shaft 58, the window drive shaft 52, the clutch motor 70, and the clutch 72 are arranged in a common actuator housing 114. The cable drum housing 114 and the actuator housing 114 can be formed integrally. The gear drive 34 is arranged in a gear drive housing 136, which can be closed with a cover 140. The multifunction actuator 2 has fastening means 144 on the actuator housing 104 for mounting on the inside of the vehicle door. The housing 104 has a circuit board chamber 108 in which an electronic circuit board with the control electronics of the multifunction actuator 2 is housed.

[0054] In Fig. Figure 6 shows a block diagram of the multifunction actuator 2. Block 170 represents the electric drive unit 14. Block 172 represents the bevel gear unit with bevel gears 84 and 88; block 180 represents the window regulator drive 26.

[0055] A block 176 represents the planetary gear 56, a block 178 the door opener 18. Two parallel lines 184 represent the coupling 72, through which the drive unit 14 is brought into operative connection with the window lift drive 26 or the door opener 18 as required.

[0056] Block 174 represents the clutch motor 70 and the clutch actuating element, by which the clutch 72 is actuated. Finally, block 182 represents a door lock, which can be actuated by pulley 60 with cable 94.

[0057] In Fig. Figure 7 shows a B-pillar 304 of a motor vehicle with a closing contour 308. A Fig. The door lock 300, also shown in Figure 7, comprises a locking element 312 and a locking element 316 with a locking section 320. The door lock 300 further includes a control contour 324 and an associated cable lever 328, as well as a connection 330 for the cable 94 (inner cable) and a compression spring 334. The door lock 300 has a receptacle 338 for an actuating cable (outer cable). A receptacle 342, a compression spring 346, and additional compression springs 350 are also provided.

[0058] In Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows the locked state of the door lock 300 with the vehicle door closed. In this position, the multifunction actuator 2 is switched via the clutch 70 for the drive of the window regulator or window regulator drive 26.

[0059] The locking element 312 engages in a section of the locking contour 308 and is secured in this position by the locking element 316, which engages in a recess / opening of the locking element 312. The locking element 316 is moved into this position by the control contour 324 of the cable lever 328. For this purpose, the cable lever 328 is moved clockwise by a cable 94 driven by the clutch motor 70 of the multifunction actuator 2 via the pulley 90.

[0060] The system remains in this position until a certain amount of travel is released by a renewed actuation of the cable pull 94, causing the cable pull lever 328 to move counterclockwise due to the spring action of the torsion spring 334. During this movement, the locking element 316 is transferred from the locked position to a release position via the control contour 324 and the compression spring 346 arranged in a receptacle 342. This position is in the Fig. 9 and Fig. Figure 10 shows that the locking section 320 is moved out of the recess / opening of the locking element 312.

[0061] In the Fig. 11 and Fig. Figure 12 shows the position of the door lock 300 with the vehicle door open. The locking element 312 is moved into the locked position via the clutch motor 70 of the multifunction actuator 2 and the connected pulley 90 and cable 94, since the multifunction actuator 2 has engaged the window regulator drive 26 via the clutch 72. When the vehicle door is closed, a front section of the locking element 312 slides along a mating surface of the locking contour 308.

[0062] In the last section of this closing movement, the vehicle door is pressed against the door seal via the coherent sections of the closing element 312 and the body-side closing contour 308.

[0063] This also includes or enables the function of a "soft close" closing aid for the vehicle door. Reference symbol list 2 multifunction actuators 14 Drive unit 18 door openers 20 Output shaft 22 worm shaft 24 worm gear 26 window regulator drive 28 Coupling element 32 Door hinge 34 Gear drive 40 Flange part 44 Spur gear segment 46 gear 48 gear 50 sprockets 51 recording 52 Window drive shaft 54 worm shaft 56 planetary gears 58 Door drive shaft 60 Camshaft 62 cams 64 cams 66 sprockets 70 Clutch motor 72 Clutch 84 bevel gear 88 Window drive bevel gear 90 Pulley 94 cable pull 104 actuator housings 108 circuit board chamber 114 Rope drum housing 120 window regulator sleeve 126 Door opener sleeve 130 rope guide 136 Gear drive housings 140 lids 144 Fasteners 170 Block 172 Block 174 Block 176 Block 178 Block 180 block Block 182 184 lines 300 door lock 304 B-pillar 308 Closing contour 312 Locking element 316 Locking element 320 Locking section 324 Tax contour 328 cable pull lever 330 connection 334 Compression spring 338 recording 342 recording 346 Compression spring 350 compression spring

Claims

[1] Multifunctional actuator (2) for opening and closing a vehicle door of a motor vehicle and for opening and closing a window in the vehicle door, comprising an electric drive unit (14) which can be connected to a door opener (18) and which can be connected to a window lifter (26) for a window pane in the vehicle door, wherein the multifunctional actuator (2) has a clutch actuating element with which the electric drive unit (14) can be selectively connected to the door opener (18) or to the window lifter (26), wherein the door opener (18) has a door hinge (32) which can be actuated in direct operative connection by a gear drive (34) actuated by the drive unit (14), wherein the door hinge (32) has a first flange part (40) connectable to the body of a motor vehicle with a spur gear segment (44) into which a gear (46) of the gear drive is inserted. (34) intervenesand has a receptacle (54) for pivoting the vehicle door to be attached. [2] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the gear drive (34) can be driven via a planetary gear (56), in particular a three-stage gear, with a door drive shaft (58) that can be driven by the electric drive unit (14), and wherein the window lifter drive (26) has a window drive shaft (52) that can be driven by the drive unit (14). [3] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the door drive shaft (58) and the window drive shaft (52) are arranged essentially perpendicular to each other. [4] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the clutch actuation element is designed as a camshaft (60) with two cams (62, 64) which is rotatable by a clutch motor (70). [5] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 4, characterized by, that a clutch (72) is provided which can be actuated by the clutch actuating element and which, depending on the cam position, engages the electric drive unit (14) with the door drive shaft (58) or the window drive shaft (52). [6] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the coupling (72) has a spur gear for engagement with the gear drive (34) and a bevel gear (84) for engagement with a window drive bevel gear (88) arranged on the window drive shaft (52). [7] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by , that the camshaft (60) is connected to a pulley (90) which is designed to accommodate a cable pull (94) for actuating a door lock (300) in the vehicle door. [8] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by, that the drive unit (14), the door drive shaft (58), the window drive shaft (52), the clutch motor (70) and the clutch (72) are arranged in a common actuator housing (104). [9] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 8, characterized by , that the actuator housing (104) has a circuit board chamber (108) for receiving an electronic circuit board for the electric drive unit (14). [10] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the window regulator drive (26) has a cable drum housing (114). [11] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 10 in conjunction with claim 9, characterized by , that the cable drum housing (114) and the actuator housing (104) are formed in one piece. [12] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the multi-function actuator (2) has fastening means (144) for fastening the multi-function actuator (2) to the vehicle door. [13] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 12, comprising a control unit, in particular designed as an electronic circuit board, for controlling the electric drive unit (14) and the clutch motor (70). [14] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 13, comprising a rotary angle sensor arranged on or at the door hinge (32) and connected to the control unit on the signal input side for detecting the opening angle of the vehicle door. [15] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to claim 13 or 14, comprising a DC converter, in particular for converting 48 volts to 12 volts. [16] Multifunctional actuator (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a camera module for monitoring the window pane and / or the vehicle door movement. [17] Vehicle door system comprising a multi-function actuator (2) according to one of the preceding claims and a door lock (300) for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle that can be actuated by the multi-function actuator (2), characterized by , that the door lock (300) has a locking element (312) for engagement in a body-side locking contour (308), which is acted upon by at least one compression spring (350) and can be locked by a locking element (316) which engages in a recess of the locking element (312), wherein the locking element (316) can be moved into a locking position and a release position by a control contour (324) of a cable pull lever (328), and wherein the cable pull lever receives a cable pull (94) attached to a pulley (90) of the multifunction actuator (2). [18] Vehicle door for a motor vehicle with a multi-function actuator (2) according to claims 1 to 16.

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