Actuating mechanism for operating a loading, fuel or service cover of a vehicle, particularly in the form of a flap

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating mechanism (1) for actuating a loading, tank, or service cover (2), wherein the loading, tank, or service cover (2) is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position. The actuating mechanism (1) has a drive for driving a drive shaft (4) and a mechanism associated with the drive, which is designed to detect a rotary movement of the drive shaft (4) upon actuation of the drive and to convert this rotation into a first movement for manipulating a locking element (5) and into a second movement for moving and in particular pivoting the loading, tank, or service cover (2).According to the invention, it is particularly provided that, for manipulating the locking element (5) as required, the mechanism associated with the drive has a pull and / or push rod (6), wherein the pull and / or push rod (6) is coupled to the locking element (5), and wherein the pull and / or push rod (6) is operatively connected or can be brought into operative connection with the drive shaft (4) via a releasable engagement.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an actuating mechanism for actuating covers, in particular designed as loading, tank or service flaps, in a loading, tank or service recess received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding system with a cover, in particular in the form of a loading, tank or service flap, and a loading, tank or service recess, which is received or can be received on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the cover (ie in particular the loading, tank or service flap) is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the loading, tank or service recess, and wherein a locking and / or arresting device is provided for locking and / or arresting a loading, tank or service flap.

[0003] Finally, the invention further relates to a vehicle with such a system.

[0004] The vehicle is in particular a vehicle with a hybrid or electric drive, although vehicles with a pure combustion engine drive are not excluded within the scope of the present invention.

[0005] Vehicles with a hybrid or electric drive usually have a battery or a traction battery, which, for example in PHEV vehicles (PHEV = Plug-In-Hybrid Electrical Vehicle) or BEV vehicles (BEV = Battery Electric Vehicle), can be charged via an electrical charging connection accessible from the outside of the vehicle body, which is usually a charging socket, by connecting it to an electrical charging station or a conventional external electrical connection.

[0006] The charging port is usually located in a loading recess in the vehicle body, which is covered or closed by a loading flap or a loading closure element. A mechanism interacting with the loading flap or the loading closure element allows the loading recess to be opened and closed, or the loading flap or the loading closure element to be opened and closed relative to the loading recess, thus providing access to the charging port.

[0007] In vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, a fuel tank is supplied with fuel via an externally accessible fuel filler neck connected, for example, to a fuel pump or fuel nozzle. Similar to the charging port, the fuel filler neck is usually located in a tank recess attached to the vehicle body and covered or sealed by a fuel filler flap or tank closure element. A mechanism interacting with the fuel filler flap or tank closure element allows the fuel filler neck to be opened and closed as desired, or the fuel filler flap or tank closure element to be opened and closed relative to the tank recess, thus providing access to the fuel filler neck.

[0008] The term "loading, tank, or service flap" or "loading, tank, or service cover" or "loading, tank, or service recess" used herein does not refer solely to the components associated with a fuel tank or the components necessary for filling a fuel tank. Rather, these terms are also intended to encompass components for a tank for accommodating other operating fluids, such as AdBlue or urea, or an additive, such as water. Accordingly, the invention also relates to actuating mechanisms for actuating service flaps associated with a filling system for an operating fluid or additive, in particular a fuel, AdBlue, or water tank.

[0009] Actuating mechanisms and actuating devices for opening and closing a cover in or on a vehicle are generally known from the prior art, such as from DE 10 2008 057 933 B4, DE 10 2009 060 119 A1, DE 10 2011 101 838 A1 or DE 10 2012 004 078 A1.

[0010] In the current state of the art, there is a fundamental need for loading, refueling or service trough systems in which several functions must be switched and operated in a coordinated manner.

[0011] These functions include, in particular, unlocking and locking or releasing and blocking the cover or the loading, tank or service flap with the aid of a flap lock, moving the unlocked loading, tank or service flap relative to the loading, tank or service recess so that the loading, tank or service flap can be moved from a closed position to an open position (and vice versa), and possibly other functions, such as activating or deactivating a light source for illuminating at least one area of the loading or tank recess in the open state.

[0012] The various functions or functional components of the charging, refueling, or service recess system must be controlled or manipulated in a coordinated manner. For example, during a charging process, the charging, refueling, or service flap must first be unlocked from its closed position using the flap lock of the charging, refueling, or service recess system. Only after the charging, refueling, or service flap has been unlocked can the charging, refueling, or service flap be moved relative to the charging, refueling, or service recess to open it. Only then may the charging connection or charging connector be inserted and then locked.

[0013] To manipulate and coordinate these functions or functional components, it is common practice to assign several actuators to the loading, refueling, or service recess system. Each actuator is responsible for operating a correspondingly assigned functional component, such as controlling the flap lock and moving the unlocked loading, refueling, or service flap relative to the loading, refueling, or service recess. To coordinate the operation of the various functional components of the loading, refueling, or service recess system, a control device is typically used to control the corresponding actuators in a coordinated manner.

[0014] On the other hand, such loading, refueling, or service recess systems are exposed to a wide range of weather conditions, especially during charging, which can lead to sealing problems due to the aforementioned functional components. It can also lead to icing of individual components, such as the loading, refueling, or service flap.

[0015] Based on this, the invention is based in particular on the object of developing a locking and / or arresting device for loading, tank or service flaps in such a way that it has a relatively small installation space requirement, wherein preferably several functions or functional components of the loading or tank recess system can be controlled simultaneously in a reliable and coordinated manner.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively, according to at least one partial object of the invention, it is intended that the locking and / or arresting device remains usable even if the loading, tank or service flap is icy.

[0017] Furthermore, at least according to one partial object of the invention, it is desirable to provide an emergency release for a loading, tank or service trough system.

[0018] The object underlying the invention is solved in particular by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1, wherein advantageous developments of the actuating mechanism according to the invention are specified in dependent patent claims 2 to 20.

[0019] Accordingly, the invention relates in particular to an actuating mechanism for actuating a loading, tank or service cover, in particular designed as a flap, on a loading, tank or service recess received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the loading, tank or service cover is reversibly movable and in particular pivotable between a closed position and an open position relative to the loading, tank or service recess.

[0020] The actuating mechanism according to the invention has a drive, in particular in the form of an electric motor, for driving a drive shaft and a mechanism associated with the drive, which is designed to pick up a rotary movement of the drive shaft upon actuation of the drive and to convert this into a first movement for manipulating a locking element of a flap lock / lock and into a second movement for moving and in particular pivoting the loading, tank or service cover.

[0021] According to at least one aspect of the invention, it is particularly provided that the locking element is mounted so that it can move between a locked position and an unlocked position relative to the loading, refueling, or service recess, and in particular so that it can pivot about a rotation axis. The locking element can, in particular, be mounted so that it can move linearly between a locked position and an unlocked position relative to the loading, refueling, or service recess.

[0022] In order to manipulate the locking element as required, the mechanism associated with the drive has a pull and / or push element, in particular a pull and / or push rod, wherein the pull and / or push element or the pull and / or push rod is coupled to the locking element, in particular via an end region of the pull and / or push rod facing the locking element.

[0023] Furthermore, it is particularly provided that the pull and / or push rod is operatively connected to the drive shaft via a releasable engagement or can be brought into operative connection.

[0024] The actuating mechanism can control multiple functions of the loading, tank, or service cover. A single drive can be used to move the loading, tank, or service cover relative to the loading, tank, or service recess, as well as manipulate the flap locking / locking mechanism.

[0025] Other functional elements can also be activated or deactivated using the same operating mechanism.

[0026] According to implementations of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, it is provided that the mechanism assigned to the drive has a projection which is operatively connected to the drive shaft and serves as a driver element, which projection is in releasable engagement with a projecting region of the pull and / or push rod or can be brought into releasable engagement, so that upon rotation of the drive shaft in a first direction of rotation and by a first angle of rotation range, the projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element pulls the pull and / or push rod away from the locking element in one direction at least by a predetermined or definable distance.

[0027] In this context, it is particularly conceivable that the predefined or definable distance by which the pull and / or push rod is moved or can be moved when the drive shaft rotates in the first direction of rotation and by the first angle of rotation range with the projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element is selected such that, i.e. when the pull and / or push rod is moved by the predefined or definable distance, the locking element is moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position to its unlocked position.

[0028] According to further developments of the last-mentioned embodiments of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, it is provided that the projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element is designed in such a way that when the drive shaft rotates further beyond the first rotation angle range, the engagement between the projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element and the projecting region of the pull and / or push rod is released.

[0029] In such a situation, the operative connection between the pull and / or push rod and the drive shaft of the actuator is interrupted, so that further rotation of the drive shaft has no influence on manipulation of the locking element of the flap locking / locking mechanism.

[0030] According to implementations of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, it is provided that the releasable engagement between the projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element and the projecting region of the pull and / or push rod is selected such that even without rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction of rotation, the pull and / or push rod can be moved in the direction away from the locking element or in the direction towards the locking element, in particular in a situation in which the locking element is moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position into its unlocked position via a preferably manually operable emergency release.

[0031] This applies in particular in a situation in which the locking element is moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position to its unlocked position via an emergency release, which can preferably be operated manually.

[0032] To realize such a decoupling, it is provided according to embodiments of the invention that the projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element and / or the projecting region of the pull and / or push rod are designed to be flexible and in particular elastic in such a way that even without rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction of rotation, the pull and / or push rod can be moved in the direction away from the locking element or in the direction towards the locking element, in particular in a situation in which the locking element is moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position into its unlocked position via a preferably manually operable emergency release.

[0033] This ensures that when the emergency release is actuated, the locking element is movable and, in particular, pivotable and is not blocked by the drive and / or the mechanism associated with the drive.

[0034] The locking element is associated with a preloading element, which preloads the locking element into its locked position. The preloading element is, in particular, a spring, preferably a leg spring, arranged coaxially or concentrically with the rotating shaft of the locking element. Of course, other embodiments of the preloading element are also possible.

[0035] In particular, according to one aspect of the invention, it is provided that for the decoupling as required, i.e. for the release of the engagement between the projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element and the pull and / or push rod or the projecting area of the pull and / or push rod, the pull and / or push rod is designed to be flexible or spring-elastic at least in some areas or has a flexible or spring-elastic area such that the loading, tank or service cover can be manually transferred from its open position to its closed position and the locking element can be manually transferred from its spring-loaded locked position to its unlocked position.

[0036] This measure also makes it possible to move the loading, tank or service cover from its open position to its closed position, for example manually, even without the drive, without the mechanism assigned to the drive blocking such a movement.

[0037] The locking element is particularly designed to engage, in its locked position, with a locking element of the loading, tank or service cover when and in particular only when the loading, tank or service cover is in its closed position.

[0038] According to embodiments of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, a bearing, in particular in the form of a radial plain bearing, is assigned to the pull and / or push rod in order to guide a movement of the pull and / or push rod relative to the loading, tank or service recess accordingly.

[0039] Preferably, in the actuating mechanism according to the invention, it is provided that the flap locking / locking device has an ejection element, in particular designed as a projection, which, together with the locking element, is pivotably mounted about the axis of rotation of the locking element relative to the loading, tank or service recess between a particularly recessed first position and a particularly exposed second position.

[0040] The ejection element is in its first, particularly recessed, position when the locking element is in its locked position, and the ejection element is transferred into its second, particularly exposed, position when the locking element is transferred into its unlocked position. The ejection element is designed such that, when the ejection element is transferred into its second, particularly exposed position, the ejection element abuts against an area of the loading, tank, or service cover, provided in particular on an inner side of the loading, tank, or service cover, thereby moving the cover from its closed position toward the open position.

[0041] The ejector element has a particularly effective breaking function (e.g., ice-breaking function). The ejector element can push the loading, tank, or service cover out of its closed position if it is jammed or otherwise blocked even after unlocking, i.e., when the locking element has been moved into its unlocked position. This can occur, for example, due to icing in winter. However, dirt or other faults can also lead to the loading, tank, or service cover becoming jammed. The ejector element can thus force the loading, tank, or service cover open.

[0042] Because the ejection element, together with the locking element, is pivotably mounted about the locking element's axis of rotation relative to the loading, tank, or service recess, synchronization occurs between the locking element, on the one hand, and the ejection element, on the other. In other words, when the drive shaft is moved in the first direction of rotation and through the first angle of rotation, the locking element is first moved into its unlocked position. Then, or during the transfer of the locking element into its unlocked position, the ejection element comes into contact with the area provided, in particular, on the inside of the loading, tank, or service cover, as a result of which a corresponding ejection pulse is exerted on the loading, tank, or service cover.

[0043] With regard to the mechanism associated with the drive, according to embodiment variants of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, it is provided that the mechanism associated with the drive has a drive wheel which is operatively connected to the drive shaft and which is provided at least partially or in regions as a drive gear with a toothing, in particular spur toothing.

[0044] For moving and in particular for pivoting the loading, tank, or service cover relative to the loading, tank, or service recess, a corresponding pivoting mechanism is assigned to the loading, tank, or service cover, which has a shaft extending along a pivot axis of the loading, tank, or service cover and has a drive wheel operatively connected thereto. The drive wheel is preferably provided, at least partially or in regions, as a gear with teeth, in particular spur gearing. When the loading, tank, or service cover is transferred from its closed position to its open position (and vice versa) with the aid of the drive, the teeth of the drive gear, in particular designed as spur gearing, are in meshing engagement with the teeth of the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank, or service cover.

[0045] In this context, it is advisable that the drive gear and in particular the toothing of the drive gear, which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, and the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover and in particular the toothing of the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover, which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, are designed to engage with one another only when the projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element is rotated by the first rotation angle range.

[0046] This simple to implement but nevertheless effective mechanism ensures that the loading, tank or service cover is moved from its closed position to its open position in a synchronized manner with the aid of the correspondingly assigned pivoting mechanism, after the locking element has previously been moved into its unlocked position and after the ejection element has forcibly pushed the loading, tank or service cover towards the open position.

[0047] According to embodiment variants of the mechanism assigned to the drive, it is provided that the drive gear and in particular the toothing of the drive gear, which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, and the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover and in particular the toothing of the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover, which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, are designed in such a way that in the closed position of the loading, tank or service cover, rotation of the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover is not blocked.

[0048] In particular, a rotation of the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism associated with the loading, tank or service cover is not blocked by the drive gear, so that even without activating the drive, the loading, tank or service cover can be moved, in particular manually, from its closed position to its open position, in particular in a situation after the locking element has been moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position to its unlocked position via a preferably manually operable emergency release.

[0049] According to preferred implementations of the flap locking / locking device, it is provided that the flap locking / locking device has a rotating body pivotably mounted about the rotational axis of the locking element relative to the loading, tank or service recess, with a first lever arm region which forms the locking element, a second lever arm region which forms the ejection element, and a third lever arm region to which the end region of the pull and / or push rod facing the locking element is articulated.

[0050] In this context, it is advisable for the rotating body of the flap locking / arresting device to further comprise a fourth lever arm region to which a pulling and / or pushing element of an emergency release, in particular a manually operable one, is articulated in such a way that when the emergency release is actuated, the rotating body with its lever arm regions can be rotated about the rotational axis of the locking element.

[0051] In order to ensure that the pulling and / or pushing element of the emergency release, which can in particular be operated manually, remains stationary relative to the loading, tank or service recess at least as long as this is required, according to further developments of the last-mentioned embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, the pulling and / or pushing element of the emergency release, which can in particular be operated manually, has a freewheel which is designed in such a way that it is possible to rotate the rotating body of the flap locking / arresting device about the axis of rotation of the locking element without a force component acting on the pulling and / or pushing element of the emergency release or being introduced into the pulling and / or pushing element of the emergency release via the fourth lever arm region of the rotating body, which force component would cause the pulling element of the emergency release to move relative to the rotating body of the flap locking / arresting device.

[0052] Various designs are possible for implementing such a freewheel. For example, it is conceivable for the freewheel to have a slotted guide, particularly in the pull and / or push element of the emergency release, into which a pin element or slotted nut of the fourth lever arm area engages.

[0053] In this context, it is conceivable that by pulling the pulling element of the emergency release, the pulling and / or pushing element can be moved relative to the rotating body of the flap locking / arresting device by a distance determined by the elongated hole guide, which is designed in particular in the pulling and / or pushing element of the emergency release, without a force component, in particular a pulling force component, being introduced into the rotating body of the flap locking / arresting device by the pulling and / or pushing element of the emergency release.

[0054] Preferably, it is provided in particular that after overcoming the distance determined by the elongated hole guide, which is designed in particular in the pull and / or push element of the emergency release, a tensile force component introduced into the pull and / or push element of the emergency release is introduced in particular directly into the rotating body of the flap locking / arresting device, and in the process generates the torque required to rotate the rotating body.

[0055] Preferably, a locking device can be assigned to the pull and / or push element of the emergency release in order to lock the pull and / or push element in a position of the pull element after the distance determined by the elongated hole guide, which is particularly designed in the pull and / or push element of the emergency release, has been overcome.

[0056] This measure ensures that even after the emergency release has been activated, the pulling and / or pushing element remains stationary relative to the loading, tank or service recess.

[0057] An exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] They show: Fig. 1 schematically and in a side view, the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which the loading, tank or service flap is in its closed position and in which the locking element is in its locked position; Fig. 2 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention according to Fig. 1, but in a state in which the locking element is in its unlocked position; Fig. 3 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention according to Fig. 1, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 2 - the locking element is in its unlocked position and in which the loading, tank or service cover is moved into its open position; Fig. 4 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 3 - the locking element is (again) in the locked position, and in which the loading, tank or service cover is moved further towards the open position; Fig. 5 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 4 - the loading, tank or service cover is in its open position; Fig. 6 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 5 - the loading, tank or service cover is moved back towards the closed position; Fig. 7 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 6 - the loading, tank or service cover is moved so far towards the closed position that an area of the loading, tank or service cover provided on an inner side of the loading, tank or service cover abuts against the locking element which is in the locked position; Fig. 8 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 7 - the loading, tank or service cover is moved further towards the closed position, as a result of which the locking element is pushed from its locked position towards the unlocked position; Fig. 9 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 8 - the loading, tank or service cover is moved further towards the closed position; Fig. 10 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 9 - the loading, tank or service cover is again in the closed position and the locking element is also again in the locked position; Fig. 11 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention in the Fig. 1 or in Fig. 10 together with an exemplary embodiment of an emergency release that can be operated manually; Fig. 12 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention according to Fig. 11, in a state after the emergency release has been actuated and the locking element has been manually moved into its unlocked position; Fig. 13 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 12 - the emergency release is further manipulated so that an ejection element of the flap locking / arresting device, designed in particular as a projection, has been transferred into its second, in particular exposed position; Fig. 14 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 13 - the loading, tank or service cover is moved, in particular manually, towards the open position; Fig. 15 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 14 - the loading, tank or service cover is pushed back into the closed position, in particular manually, whereby an area on the inside of the loading, tank or service cover strikes the ejection element of the flap locking / locking device; and Fig. 16 schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the invention, in a state in which - starting from the Fig. 15 - the loading, tank or service cover is manually moved (pressed) back into the closed position.

[0059] In the accompanying drawings, an exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism 1 according to the invention is shown in different positions / situations in order to illustrate the structure and functioning of the actuating mechanism 1.

[0060] The actuating mechanism 1 generally serves to actuate a loading, tank or service cover 2, in particular designed as a flap, on a loading, tank or service recess 3 which is or can be accommodated on or in a body component of a vehicle.

[0061] The loading, tank or service cover 2 is reversibly movable and in particular pivotable between a closed position and an open position relative to the loading, tank or service recess 3, in particular by means of an electric motor and, if necessary, in particular manually with the aid of an emergency release.

[0062] In Fig. 1 and Fig. 10, the loading, tank or service cover 2 is shown in its closed position, while, for example, Fig. 5 shows the loading, tank or service cover 2 in its open position.

[0063] For the motorized movement / pivoting of the loading, tank, or service cover 2, the actuating mechanism 1 has a drive, particularly in the form of an electric motor. The drive serves to drive a corresponding drive shaft 4.

[0064] In order to tap corresponding movements from the drive shaft 4 driven by the drive and use them to manipulate various components of the actuating mechanism 1, the actuating mechanism 1 comprises a mechanism correspondingly assigned to the drive, which is designed to tap a rotary movement of the drive shaft 4 upon actuation of the drive and to convert this into a first movement for manipulating a locking element 5 of a flap lock / lock and into a second movement for moving and in particular pivoting the loading, tank or service cover 2. The mechanism assigned to the drive is designed in particular to coordinate the first and second movements in time, specifically in such a way that the first movement is effected first and then the second movement.

[0065] As shown in the drawings, the mechanism associated with the drive comprises a drive wheel operatively connected to the drive shaft 4, which is designed at least partially or in regions as a drive gear 13 with spur gearing.

[0066] For moving and in particular for pivoting the loading, tank, or service cover 2 relative to the loading, tank, or service recess 3, the loading, tank, or service cover 2 is assigned a corresponding pivoting mechanism, which has a shaft extending along a pivot axis 14 of the loading, tank, or service cover 2 and a drive wheel 15 operatively connected thereto. The drive wheel 15 is also designed, at least partially or in some areas, as a gear with spur gearing.

[0067] As is the case, for example, in Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the toothing of the drive gear 13, which is designed as a spur toothing, engages with the spur toothing of the drive gear 15 of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover 2 when the loading, tank or service cover 2 is moved from its closed position to its open position and vice versa with the aid of the drive.

[0068] The locking element 5 of the flap locking / locking of the actuating mechanism 1 itself is between a locked position (see for example Fig. 1) and an unlocked position (see for example Fig. 3) pivotally mounted about a rotation axis relative to the loading, tank or service trough 3.

[0069] Although not shown in the drawings, the locking element 5 is in particular assigned a pretensioning element, for example in the form of a spring, which biases the locking element 5 into its locked position (cf. for example Fig. 1) prestressed.

[0070] For manipulating the locking element 5 as needed, in particular for transferring the locking element 5 from the pre-tensioned locked position to the unlocked position, the mechanism associated with the drive of the actuating mechanism 1 has a pull and / or push rod 6. As shown in the drawings, the pull and / or push rod 6 is coupled to the locking element 5 via an end region of the pull and / or push rod 6 facing the locking element 5.

[0071] On the other hand, the pull and / or push rod 6 is operatively connected to the drive shaft 4 via a releasable engagement or can be brought into operative connection with the drive shaft 4.

[0072] In particular for this purpose, the mechanism assigned to the drive has a projection which is operatively connected to the drive shaft 4 and serves as a driver element 7, which projection is in releasable engagement with a projecting area 8 of the pull and / or push rod 6 or can be brought into releasable engagement, so that when the drive shaft 4 rotates in a first direction of rotation and by a first angle of rotation, the projection of the drive shaft 4 serving as a driver element 7 pulls the pull and / or push rod 6 at least by a predetermined or definable distance in a direction away from the locking element 5.

[0073] In Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 shows a state in which the projection of the drive shaft 4 serving as a driver element 7 is in engagement with the projecting portion 8 of the pull and / or push rod 6. It can be seen that when the drive shaft 4 rotates (here: counterclockwise), the engagement causes the pull and / or push rod 6 to move along with it and thus pull it in a direction away from the locking element 5.

[0074] The predetermined distance by which the pull and / or push rod 6 is moved during rotation of the drive shaft 4 in the first direction of rotation and by the first angle of rotation range with the projection of the drive shaft 4 serving as a driver element 7 is selected such that the locking element 5 is moved from its locked position (cf. Fig. 1) into its unlocked position ( Fig. 3) is swiveled.

[0075] The representation in Fig. 4 it can be seen that the projection of the drive shaft 4 serving as a driver element 7 is designed such that when the drive shaft 4 rotates further beyond the first angle of rotation range, the engagement between the projection of the drive shaft 4 serving as a driver element 7 and the projecting region 8 of the pull and / or push rod 6 is released.

[0076] Because the pull and / or push rod 6 is no longer in operative connection with the drive shaft 4, the locking element 5 moves back into its locked position due to the pre-tensioning element (spring) assigned to the locking element 5 (cf. Fig. 4).

[0077] In the Fig. 4, it can also be seen that here the toothing of the drive gear 13, designed as a spur toothing, engages with the toothing of the drive gear 15, designed as a spur toothing, of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover 2.

[0078] If the drive shaft 4 continues to rotate (see Fig. 5) Due to the meshing toothing of the drive gear 13 and the drive gear 15 of the pivoting mechanism associated with the loading, tank and service cover 2, a torque is exerted on the loading, tank or service cover 2 via the drive shaft 4, so that it can be moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 shown open position is given away.

[0079] In order to use the drive to move the loading, tank or service cover 2 back from the position shown, for example, in Fig. 5 into its closed position, the direction of rotation of the drive is changed and a corresponding torque is transmitted via the meshing toothing formed between the drive gear 13 and the drive gear 15 of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover 2.

[0080] Shortly before reaching the closed position of the loading, tank or service cover 2, the projection of the drive shaft 4 serving as a driver element 7 comes into contact again with the pull and / or push rod 6, as shown in Fig. 7 is shown.

[0081] In this case, the pull and / or push rod 6 is designed to be flexible at least in some areas or has a flexible area such that the projection serving as a driver element 7 can slide over the projecting area 8 of the pull and / or push rod 6 in order to be in releasable engagement with the projecting area 8 of the pull and / or push rod 6, as in Fig. 7 to Fig. 10 shown.

[0082] In the Fig. 7 to Fig. 10, an area 12 of the loading, tank or service cover 2 provided on an inner side of the loading, tank or service cover 2 presses against the locking element 5 and moves the latter at least partially out of the locked position of the locking element 5 against the pretensioning force of the pretensioning element assigned to the locking element 5, until the locking element 5 can snap back again and engages with a locking element 5 of the loading, tank or service cover 2.

[0083] In particular, it is provided that the locking element 5 of the flap locking / locking device is designed to engage, in its locked position, with a locking element 9 of the loading, tank or service cover 2 when and in particular only when the loading, tank or service cover 2 is in its closed position.

[0084] The drawings further show that the flap locking / locking device has an ejection element 11 designed as a projection, which, together with the locking element 5 of the flap locking / locking device, can be pivoted about the axis of rotation of the locking element 5 relative to the loading, tank or service recess 3 between a lowered first position (cf. for example Fig. 1) and an exposed second position (see for example Fig. 3) is stored.

[0085] In detail, the ejection element 11 is in its first (recessed) position when the locking element 5 is in its locked position, and the ejection element 11 is moved into its second (exposed position) when the locking element 5 is moved into its unlocked position.

[0086] The ejection element 11 is preferably designed such that when the ejection element 11 is transferred into its second (exposed) position, the ejection element 11 abuts against an area 12 of the loading, tank or service cover 2 provided on the inside of the loading, tank or service cover 2 and in the process moves / pushes the cover from its closed position towards the open position.

[0087] As also shown in the drawings, in the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism 1 according to the invention, a bearing 10, in particular in the form of a radial plain bearing, is assigned to the pull and / or push rod 6 in order to guide a movement of the pull and / or push rod 6 relative to the loading, tank or service recess 3.

[0088] In the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings, it is particularly provided that the flap locking / locking device has a rotating body 16 pivotably mounted about the axis of rotation of the locking element 5 relative to the loading, tank, or service recess 3, having a first lever arm region 17, which at least partially or partially forms the locking element 5, a second lever arm region 18, which at least partially or partially forms the ejection element 11, and a third lever arm region 19, to which the end region of the pull and / or push rod 6 facing the locking element 5 is articulated. These three lever arm regions 17, 18, 19 can be rotated together about a common axis of rotation.

[0089] The view in Fig. 11 to Fig. 16 it can also be seen that the rotating body 16 of the flap locking / arresting device further comprises a fourth lever arm region 20, to which a pulling and / or pushing element 21 of an emergency release, in particular a manually operable one, is articulated such that when the emergency release is actuated the rotating body 16 with its lever arm regions 17, 18, 19, 20 can be rotated about the rotational axis of the locking element 5.

[0090] In particular, it is provided that the pull and / or push element 21 of the manually operable emergency release has a freewheel 22.

[0091] The freewheel 22 is designed in particular in such a way that a rotation of the rotating body 16 of the flap locking / arresting device about the rotation axis of the locking element 5 is possible without a force component being introduced into the pulling and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency release via the fourth lever arm region 20 of the rotating body 16, which force component would cause a movement of the pulling element 21 of the emergency release relative to the rotating body 16 of the flap locking / arresting device.

[0092] As the depictions in Fig. 11 to Fig. 16 can be removed, the freewheel 22 has an elongated hole guide formed in the pull and / or push element 21 of the emergency release, into which a pin element 23 or groove block of the fourth lever arm area 20 engages.

[0093] By pulling the pulling element 21 of the emergency release, the pulling and / or pushing element 21 can be moved relative to the rotating body 16 of the flap locking / arresting device by a distance determined by the elongated hole guide in the pulling and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency release, without a force component, in particular a pulling force component, being introduced into the rotating body 16 of the flap locking / arresting device by the pulling and / or pushing element 21 of the emergency release.

[0094] However, after overcoming the distance determined by the elongated hole guide in the pull and / or push element 21 of the emergency release, a tensile force component introduced into the pull and / or push element 21 of the emergency release is introduced, in particular, directly into the rotating body 16 of the flap locking / arresting device.

[0095] The pull and / or push element 21 of the emergency release is further assigned a locking device 24 for releasably locking the pull element 21 in a position of the pull element 21 after the distance determined by the elongated hole guide, which is particularly designed in the pull and / or push element 21 of the emergency release, has been overcome.

[0096] A summary of the representations in Fig. 11 to Fig. 16 it can be seen that the drive gear 13 and in particular the toothing of the drive gear 13, which is designed as a spur toothing, and the drive wheel 15 of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover 2 and in particular the toothing of the drive wheel 15, which is designed as a spur toothing, of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover 2 are designed in such a way that in the closed position of the loading, tank or service cover 2, a rotation of the drive wheel 15 of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover 2 is not blocked, in particular not by the drive gear 13, so that even without activating the drive, the loading, tank or service cover 2 can be transferred, in particular manually, from its closed position to its open position, in particular in a situation,after the locking element 5 has been moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position to its unlocked position via a preferably manually operable emergency release.

[0097] Furthermore, it can be seen that the releasable engagement between the projection of the drive shaft 4 serving as a driver element 7 and the projecting region 8 of the pull and / or push rod 6 is selected such that even without rotation of the drive shaft 4 in the first direction of rotation, the pull and / or push rod 6 can be moved in the direction away from the locking element 5, in particular in a situation in which the locking element 5 is moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position into its unlocked position via the manually operable emergency release (cf. Fig. 12 and Fig. 13).

[0098] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings, but results from a combination of all features disclosed herein. List of reference symbols 1 operating mechanism 2 Charging, tank or service cover 3 loading, tank or service trough 4 drive shaft 5 Locking element of a flap lock / lock 6 Pull and / or push rod 7 projection of the drive shaft serving as a driver element 8 protruding area of the pull and / or push rod 9 Locking element of the loading, tank or service cover 10 bearings for the pull and / or push rod 11 Ejection element 12 Area of the loading, tank or service cover for the ejection element 13 Drive gear 14 Pivoting axis of the pivoting mechanism for the loading, tank or service cover 15 Drive wheel 16 Rotating body of the flap locking / locking mechanism 17 first lever arm area of the rotating body 18 second lever arm area of the rotating body 19 third lever arm area of the rotating body 20 fourth lever arm area of the rotating body 21 Tension and / or shear element 22 Freewheel 23 Pin element 24 Locking QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2008 057 933 B4

[0009] DE 10 2009 060 119 A1

[0009] DE 10 2011 101 838 A1

[0009] DE 10 2012 004 078 A1

[0009]

Claims

[1] Actuating mechanism (1) for actuating a loading, tank or service cover (2), in particular designed as a flap, on a loading, tank or service recess (3) received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the loading, tank or service cover (2) is reversibly movable and in particular pivotable between a closed position and an open position relative to the loading, tank or service recess (3), wherein the actuating mechanism (1) comprises the following: - a drive, in particular in the form of an electric motor, for driving a drive shaft (4); and - a mechanism associated with the drive, which is designed to pick up a rotary movement of the drive shaft (4) upon actuation of the drive and to convert this into a first movement for manipulating a locking element (5) of a flap lock / lock and into a second movement for moving and in particular pivoting the loading, tank, or service cover (2), wherein the locking element (5) is mounted so as to be movable between a locked position and an unlocked position relative to the loading, tank, or service recess (3) and preferably pivotable about a rotation axis, wherein the mechanism associated with the drive has a pull and / or push rod (6) for manipulating the locking element (5) as required, wherein the pull and / or push rod (6) is coupled to the locking element (5), in particular via an end region of the pull and / or push rod (6) facing the locking element (5),and wherein the pull and / or push rod (6) is operatively connected or can be brought into operative connection with the drive shaft (4) via a releasable engagement., [2] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism associated with the drive has a projection which is operatively connected to the drive shaft (4) and serves as a driver element (7), which projection is in releasable engagement with a projecting region (8) of the pull and / or push rod (6) or can be brought into releasable engagement, so that upon rotation of the drive shaft (4) in a first direction of rotation and by a first angle of rotation range, the projection of the drive shaft (4) serving as a driver element (7) pulls the pull and / or push rod (6) at least by a predetermined or definable distance in one direction away from the locking element (5) or pushes it in one direction towards the locking element (5). [3] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 2, wherein the predefined or definable distance by which the pull and / or push rod (6) is moved or is movable upon rotation of the drive shaft (4) in the first direction of rotation and by the first angle of rotation range with the projection of the drive shaft (4) serving as a driver element (7) is selected such that the locking element (5) is moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position into its unlocked position. [4] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the projection of the drive shaft (4) serving as a driver element (7) is designed such that when the drive shaft (4) continues to rotate beyond the first rotation angle range, the engagement between the projection of the drive shaft (4) serving as a driver element (7) and the projecting region (8) of the pull and / or push rod (6) is released. [5] Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the releasable engagement between the projection of the drive shaft (4) serving as a driver element (7) and the projecting region (8) of the pull and / or push rod (6) is selected such that even without rotation of the drive shaft (4) in the first direction of rotation, the pull and / or push rod (6) can be moved in the direction away from the locking element (5) or in the direction towards the locking element (5), in particular in a situation in which the locking element (5) is moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position into its unlocked position via a preferably manually operable emergency release. [6] Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the projection of the drive shaft (4) serving as a driver element (7) and / or the projecting region (8) of the pull and / or push rod (6) are designed to be flexible and in particular elastic in such a way that even without rotation of the drive shaft (4) in the first direction of rotation, the pull and / or push rod (6) can be moved in the direction away from the locking element (5) or in the direction towards the locking element (5), in particular in a situation in which the locking element (5) is moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position into its unlocked position via a preferably manually operable emergency release. [7] Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the locking element (5) is assigned a prestressing element, in particular in the form of a spring, which prestresses the locking element (5) into its locked position. [8] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 7, wherein the pull and / or push rod (6) is designed to be flexible or resilient at least in some areas or has a flexible or resilient area such that the loading, tank or service cover (2) can be manually transferred from its open position to its closed position and the locking element (5) can be manually transferred from its spring-biased locked position to its unlocked position. [9] Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the locking element (5) is designed to engage in its locked position with a locking element (5) of the loading, tank or service cover (2) when and in particular only when the loading, tank or service cover (2) is in its closed position. [10] Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pull and / or push rod (6) is assigned a bearing (10), in particular in the form of a radial plain bearing, for guiding a movement of the pull and / or push rod (6) relative to the loading, tank or service trough (3). [11] Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the flap locking / locking device has an ejection element (11), which is designed in particular as a projection, which, together with the locking element (5), is pivotally mounted about the axis of rotation of the locking element (5) relative to the loading, tank or service recess (3) between a particularly recessed first position and a particularly exposed second position, wherein the ejection element (11) is in its first, particularly recessed position when the locking element (5) is in its locked position, and wherein the ejection element (11) is transferred into its second, particularly exposed position when the locking element (5) is transferred into its unlocked position, wherein the ejection element (11) is designed such that the ejection element (11) is pivotally mounted when the ejection element (11) is transferred into its second,in particular exposed position, strikes against an area (12) of the loading, tank or service cover (2) provided in particular on an inner side of the loading, tank or service cover (2) and thereby moves it from its closed position towards the open position. [12] Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the mechanism associated with the drive comprises a drive wheel operatively connected to the drive shaft (4), which drive wheel is designed at least partially or in regions as a drive gear (13) with a toothing, in particular spur gearing, wherein for moving and in particular pivoting the loading, tank or service cover (2) relative to the loading, tank or service recess (3) of the loading, tank or service cover (2) a pivoting mechanism is associated with it, which comprises a shaft extending along a pivot axis (14) of the loading, tank or service cover (2) with a drive wheel (15) operatively connected thereto, which drive wheel is designed at least partially or in regions as a gear with a toothing, in particular spur gearing, wherein upon transfer of the loading,Tank or service cover (2) from its closed position to its open position and vice versa, the toothing of the drive gear (13), which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, engages with the toothing of the drive gear (15), which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover (2). [13] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 12, wherein the drive gear (13) and in particular the toothing of the drive gear (13), which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, and the drive wheel (15) of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover (2) and in particular the toothing of the drive wheel (15) of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover (2), which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, are designed to engage with one another only when the projection of the drive shaft (4) serving as a driver element (7) is rotated by the first rotation angle range. [14] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the drive gear (13) and in particular the toothing of the drive gear (13), which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, and the drive wheel (15) of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover (2) and in particular the toothing of the drive wheel (15), which is designed in particular as a spur toothing, of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover (2) are designed in such a way that in the closed position of the loading, tank or service cover (2), a rotation of the drive wheel of the pivoting mechanism assigned to the loading, tank or service cover (2) is not blocked, in particular not by the drive gear (13), so that even without activating the drive, the loading, tank or service cover (2) can be transferred, in particular manually, from its closed position to its open position, in particular in a situation,after the locking element (5) has been moved and in particular pivoted from its locked position to its unlocked position via a preferably manually operable emergency release. [15] Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14 and claim 11, wherein the flap locking / locking device has a rotating body (16) pivotably mounted about the axis of rotation of the locking element (5) relative to the loading, tank or service recess (3) with a first lever arm region (17) which at least partially or partially forms the locking element (5), a second lever arm region (18) which at least partially or partially forms the ejection element (11), and a third lever arm region (19) to which the end region of the pull and / or push rod (6) facing the locking element (5) is articulated. [16] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 15, wherein the rotating body (16) of the flap locking / locking device further comprises a fourth lever arm region (20) to which a pulling element (21) of an emergency release, in particular a manually operable one, is articulated such that when the emergency release is actuated, the rotating body (16) with its lever arm regions (17, 18, 19, 20) can be rotated about the axis of rotation of the locking element (5). [17] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 16, wherein the pulling element (21) of the emergency release, which can in particular be operated manually, has a freewheel (22) which is designed in such a way that a rotation of the rotating body (16) of the flap locking / arresting device about the axis of rotation of the locking element (5) is possible without a force component being introduced into the pulling element (21) of the emergency release via the fourth lever arm region (20) of the rotating body (16), which force component would cause a movement of the pulling element (21) of the emergency release relative to the rotating body (16) of the flap locking / arresting device. [18] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 17, wherein the freewheel (22) has a slotted guide, particularly designed in the pulling element (21) of the emergency release, into which a pin element (23) or groove block of the fourth lever arm region engages. [19] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 18, wherein by pulling the pulling element (21) of the emergency release, the pulling element (21) is movable relative to the rotating body (16) of the flap locking / arresting by a distance determined by the elongated hole guide, in particular implemented in the pulling element (21) of the emergency release, without a force component, in particular a tensile force component, being introduced into the rotating body (16) of the flap locking / arresting by the pulling element (21) of the emergency release, wherein, after overcoming the distance determined by the elongated hole guide, in particular implemented in the pulling element (21) of the emergency release, a tensile force component introduced into the pulling element (21) of the emergency release is introduced, in particular directly, into the rotating body (16) of the flap locking / arresting. [20] Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 19, wherein the pulling element (21) of the emergency release is assigned a locking device (24) for releasably locking the pulling element (21) in a position of the pulling element (21) after the distance defined by the elongated hole guide, which is designed in particular in the pulling element (21) of the emergency release, has been overcome.

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