Locking mechanism for a movable wing of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking arrangement (10) for a movable wing (3) of a vehicle (1), with an eddy current braking arrangement (14) comprising an evaluation and control unit (12), at least one electrically conductive element (15) and at least one magnet assembly (20) with at least one electromagnet (22), and designed to generate a braking effect directed against movement of the movable wing (3), wherein at least one sensor unit (16, 26) is designed to detect at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3), wherein the at least one electrically conductive element (15) and the at least one magnet assembly (20) are arranged to be movable relative to each other, and wherein the evaluation and control unit (12) is communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor unit (16, 26) and is designedDepending on the detected at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3), the at least one electromagnet (22) of the at least one magnet assembly (20) is controlled and the corresponding braking effect of the eddy current brake arrangement (14) is dynamically adjusted.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking arrangement for a movable wing of a vehicle.

[0002] Locking mechanisms for a movable wing of a vehicle are known in numerous variations.

[0003] For example, unbraked or damped locking mechanisms are known from the prior art, which use oil- or air-based cylinders. A disadvantage of such locking mechanisms is that, in the case of unbraked mechanisms, damage can occur due to the uncontrolled closing of the movable sash. The use of oil or air as a damping medium in cylinders can necessitate longer maintenance intervals.

[0004] From DE 10 2021 120 122 A1, a vehicle roof with a cover for selectively opening or permanently closing a roof opening in the vehicle roof is known. A metallic component is arranged on the cover, and a device for generating a magnetic field is also fixed to the roof such that, in a position where the roof opening is at least partially open, the cover experiences a braking effect opposite to this effect during vertical movement by means of an eddy current braking effect, whereby eddy currents are induced in the metallic component by the movement of the cover's metallic component in the magnetic field.

[0005] From DE 10 2006 040 070 A1, a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is known with a sliding door and at least one eddy current braking device, which is designed to dampen the movement of the sliding door and comprises at least one permanent magnet and at least one electrically conductive element. The at least one permanent magnet and the at least one electrically conductive element are arranged to be movable relative to each other in order to implement the eddy current principle.

[0006] From DE 295 01 635 U1, an eddy current braking arrangement for an exercise bike is known, comprising a coil for generating a magnetic field and a disk made of a metallic material, which is non-rotatably coupled to a rotating shaft and in which eddy currents are generated by means of the coil, as well as a circuit arrangement for the controlled power supply of the coil. A temperature sensor is associated with the coil, which increases the voltage applied to the coil as the temperature rises, thus compensating for temperature fluctuations in the current flow through the coil.

[0007] From DE 10 2009 023 226 A1, a drive arrangement for the motorized adjustment of an adjustment element in a motor vehicle is known. This arrangement includes at least one drive with a drive motor and a drive control unit coupled to the drive motor. The adjustment element can also be adjusted manually if required. The drive additionally features an eddy current brake, controllable by the drive control unit, for controlled braking of at least the manual adjustment movement of the adjustment element. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the magnetic arrangement includes a permanent magnet. In such a case, measures must be taken to adjust the magnetic field of the permanent magnet according to the desired braking force. Adjustable guide vanes or the adjustability of the permanent magnet itself are conceivable options.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of providing a closing arrangement for a movable wing of a vehicle, which enables a damped, controlled and maintenance-free closing of the movable wing.

[0009] This problem is solved by a locking arrangement for a movable wing of a vehicle with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0010] To provide a closing mechanism for a movable wing of a vehicle, enabling dampened, controlled, and maintenance-free closing of the wing, the closing mechanism comprises an eddy current braking mechanism. This mechanism includes an evaluation and control unit, at least one electrically conductive element, and at least one magnetic assembly with at least one electromagnet, and is designed to generate a braking effect directed against movement of the movable wing. At least one sensor unit is provided to detect at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing. The at least one electrically conductive element and the at least one magnetic assembly are arranged to be movable relative to each other.The evaluation and control unit is communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor unit and is designed to control the at least one electromagnet of the at least one magnet assembly based on the detected at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing, thereby dynamically adjusting the corresponding braking effect of the eddy current braking arrangement. The at least one magnet assembly comprises at least one permanent magnet, which is designed to generate a basic braking effect directed against the movement of the movable wing. This allows for a predictable basic damping or braking of the movement of the movable wing even in the event of a failure of the at least one electromagnet. The at least one permanent magnet can preferably be a neodymium magnet.

[0011] Embodiments of the closing mechanism utilize the eddy current principle to enable dampened, controlled, and maintenance-free closing of the movable wing, which may be designed, for example, as a vehicle door, tailgate, hood, or cover. The eddy current principle is based on a fundamental physical law, Lenz's law, concerning the direction of generated eddy currents. This law states that induced eddy currents are always directed in such a way as to counteract the cause of their generation. At least one magnetic assembly can be mounted on the vehicle or on the movable wing itself. When the movable wing is moved, the at least one magnetic assembly can generate a changing magnetic field in the at least one electrically conductive element, which may preferably be a copper or aluminum plate.This changing magnetic field induces eddy currents in the at least one electrically conductive element. The eddy currents induced in the at least one electrically conductive element generate a magnetic field that opposes the original magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic assembly. This means that the eddy currents flow in a direction that attempts to slow down the movement of the wing. This results in a braking force that slows down and controls the movement of the movable wing. This braking force ensures that the movable wing closes gently and in a controlled manner without slamming shut.

[0012] The term "at least one sensor unit" can be understood as an assembly comprising at least one sensor designed to detect at least one physical quantity representing the at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing. In embodiments of the locking arrangement, the evaluation and control unit can use the information provided by the at least one sensor unit to dynamically adjust the braking force of the eddy current brake arrangement to a specific application by changing the magnetic field generated by the at least one electromagnet.

[0013] The term "evaluation and control unit" can be understood as an electrical circuit or device, such as a control unit, that processes or evaluates acquired sensor signals. For this purpose, the evaluation and control unit may have at least one processing unit for processing signals or data, at least one storage unit for storing signals or data, at least one input interface to at least one sensor unit for reading sensor signals, at least one output interface to at least one magnetic assembly for outputting control signals, and / or at least one communication interface for reading or outputting data, which is embedded in a vehicle communication protocol. The interfaces may be implemented in hardware and / or software.In hardware-based training, the interfaces can, for example, be part of a so-called system ASIC, which incorporates various functions of the evaluation and control unit. However, it is also possible for the interfaces to be their own integrated circuits or at least partially comprised of discrete components. In software-based training, the interfaces can be software modules, such as those found on a microcontroller alongside other software modules. The processing unit can be, for example, a signal processor, a microcontroller, or similar device, while the storage unit can be flash memory, EEPROM, or a magnetic storage device. The communication interface can be designed to read or output data wirelessly and / or via wired connections.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the locking arrangement, the at least one magnetic assembly can be fixed to the vehicle and the at least one electrically conductive element can be arranged on the movable wing. In this case, the at least one vehicle-mounted magnetic assembly can generate a changing magnetic field in the at least one electrically conductive element on the movable wing when the movable wing is moved. Alternatively, the at least one magnetic assembly can be mounted on the movable wing and the at least one electrically conductive element can be fixed to the vehicle. In this case, the at least one magnetic assembly mounted on the movable wing can generate a changing magnetic field in the at least one electrically conductive element fixed to the vehicle when the movable wing is moved.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the locking arrangement, the at least one sensor unit can be configured to detect at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing, namely acceleration. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one sensor unit can be configured to detect at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing, namely its current position. Here, the at least one sensor unit can detect the current position of the movable wing as its opening angle and / or drop height. This allows the movement and / or position of the movable wing to be monitored and the magnetic field of the at least one magnet assembly to be adjusted accordingly.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the locking arrangement, at least one temperature sensor can be configured to detect the current temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element. The current temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element can change its conductivity. By detecting the temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element, a corresponding temperature-related change in conductivity can be determined, and the magnetic field of the at least one magnetic assembly, and thus the corresponding braking effect, can be adjusted according to the application.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the locking mechanism, the evaluation and control unit can be further configured to activate the at least one electromagnet of the at least one magnetic assembly and amplify the generated magnetic field when the detected acceleration of the movable wing exceeds a predetermined first threshold. This increases the braking effect when the acceleration or the corresponding speed of the movable wing is too high to prevent a hard impact or blow. This is particularly useful for protecting heavy vehicle doors that could cause damage at high speeds. Additionally or alternatively, the evaluation and control unit can activate the at least one electromagnet of the at least one magnetic assembly and increase the braking effect when the detected opening angle of the movable wing exceeds a predetermined second threshold.Additionally or alternatively, the evaluation and control unit can activate at least one electromagnet of at least one magnetic assembly and increase the braking effect if the detected drop height of the movable sash exceeds a predefined third threshold. For example, position sensors can measure an initial position of the movable sash to calculate potential energy and estimate a corresponding closing speed. Based on this, the evaluation and control unit can then adjust the braking effect of the eddy current brake assembly to ensure smooth closing of the movable sashes even at higher drop heights, which can be particularly relevant for front flaps or other heavy flaps.Additionally or alternatively, the evaluation and control unit can activate the at least one electromagnet of the at least one magnetic assembly and increase the generated magnetic field if the detected temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element exceeds a predefined fourth threshold. Alternatively, the evaluation and control unit can weaken the generated magnetic field if the detected temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element falls below a predefined fifth threshold. The ambient temperature can influence the conductivity of the at least one electrically conductive element and thus the strength of the induced eddy currents and the strength of the resulting magnetic field. For example, conductivity can decrease at higher temperatures, which reduces the braking effect of the eddy current braking arrangement.At lower temperatures, conductivity can increase, which enhances the braking effect of the eddy current braking system. By monitoring the ambient temperature, the eddy current braking system can compensate for this by increasing or decreasing the generated magnetic field, thus producing a consistent braking effect.

[0018] In principle, different applications, such as vehicle doors, hoods, or tailgates, require different threshold settings. The thresholds and reactions of the eddy current braking system can be adjusted accordingly to ensure optimal performance and safety. For example, vehicle doors are typically lightweight and should close quickly but gently. The first threshold for the acceleration of the vehicle door can therefore be chosen so that the door is sufficiently decelerated to prevent slamming. For a vehicle door, the first acceleration threshold could, for example, be set to 1 m / s². 2The second threshold for the opening angle of the vehicle door can be set to, for example, 45 degrees. If the opening angle to the closed position is greater than 45 degrees, the braking effect of the eddy current brake assembly is adjusted accordingly. The fourth threshold for the temperature of the vehicle door can be set to, for example, 40°C. The fifth threshold for the temperature of the vehicle door can be set to, for example, 0°C. This results in a temperature range of 0°C to 40°C, which corresponds to a typical operating temperature range for vehicles. If the current temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element is greater than 40°C or less than 0°C, the braking effect of the eddy current brake assembly can be adjusted accordingly.

[0019] Hoods and front flaps are heavier and can fall from a greater height. Therefore, the first threshold for the acceleration of the hood can be set at a lower value, for example, 0.5 m / s². 2 A threshold can be specified that takes into account the greater mass of the hood and ensures safe closing. The third threshold for the drop height can be set to, for example, 0.5 m. If the drop height is greater than 0.5 m, the eddy current brake assembly can preferably be set to maximum braking effect. The fourth threshold for the temperature of the hood can be set to 40°C, analogous to the vehicle door. The fifth threshold for the temperature of the hood can be set to 0°C, analogous to the vehicle door.

[0020] Covers for storage compartments, such as glove boxes or center consoles, are lightweight and should close quickly but in a controlled manner. Therefore, the first threshold for the cover's acceleration can be set at 2 m / s². 2 This allows for quick closing of the cover. Due to its light weight, a second threshold for the opening angle of the cover and a third threshold for the drop height cannot be specified. The fourth temperature threshold for the cover can be set to 40°C, analogous to the hood and vehicle door. The fifth temperature threshold for the cover can be set to 0°C, analogous to the hood and vehicle door.

[0021] The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which can be derived and generated from the explained embodiments by separate combinations of features, are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, identical reference numerals denote components or elements that perform the same or analogous functions. Here, the following are shown: Fig. 1 A schematic and partial representation of a vehicle with an embodiment of a locking arrangement according to the invention for a movable wing.

[0023] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the illustrated embodiment of a locking arrangement 10 according to the invention for a movable wing 3 of a vehicle 1 comprises an eddy current braking arrangement 14, which includes an evaluation and control unit 12, at least one electrically conductive element 15, and at least one magnetic assembly 20 with at least one electromagnet 22, and is designed to generate a braking effect directed against movement of the movable wing 3. At least one sensor unit 16, 26 is designed to detect at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing 3. The at least one electrically conductive element 15 and the at least one magnetic assembly 20 are arranged to be movable relative to each other.The evaluation and control unit 12 is communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor unit 16, 26 and is designed to control the at least one electromagnet 22 of the at least one magnet assembly 20 depending on the detected at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing 3 and thereby dynamically adjust the corresponding braking effect of the eddy current brake arrangement 14.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment of the locking arrangement 10, the movable wing 3 is designed as a vehicle door 3A. Of course, the locking arrangement 10 for a movable wing 3 can also be used for a tailgate or a front hatch, or for a cover, for example for a glove compartment or a center console.

[0025] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 1, the locking arrangement 10 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a magnetic assembly 20, which is fixedly mounted on a door frame 5. A corresponding electrically conductive element 15 is designed as a copper plate 15A and is arranged on the movable wing 3.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment of the locking arrangement 10 not shown, the at least one magnetic assembly 20 is arranged on the movable wing 3 and the at least one electrically conductive element 15 is fixed to the vehicle.

[0027] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 1, the magnetic assembly 20 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a permanent magnet 24, which is designed to generate a basic braking effect directed against the movement of the movable wing 3. The permanent magnet 24 is designed as a strong neodymium magnet. The magnetic assembly 20 also includes an electromagnet 22, via which the corresponding braking effect of the eddy current braking arrangement 14 can be dynamically adjusted. The magnetic assembly 20 is mounted on the door frame 5 near an edge against which the vehicle door 3A closes, in order to ensure maximum interaction with the conductive copper plate 15A. The copper plate 15A is attached to the vehicle door 3A such that it passes the magnetic assembly 20 when closing. This movement induces eddy currents in the copper plate 15A, which generate a braking force or braking effect.

[0028] As from Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 1, the closing arrangement 10 comprises a first sensor unit 16 designed as a MEMS acceleration sensor 16A (MEMS: Micro-Electro-Mechanical System), which is arranged on the movable wing and is designed to detect acceleration as at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing 3. The MEMS acceleration sensor 16A is mounted near the center of gravity of the vehicle door 3A in order to accurately measure the closing speed. This allows the braking force or braking effect to be adjusted if the vehicle door 3A closes too quickly, in order to prevent it from slamming shut.

[0029] Furthermore, the locking arrangement 10 includes a second sensor unit 26, designed as a position sensor 26A, which is arranged on the door frame 5 and is configured to detect the current position as at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing 3. The position sensor 26A can, for example, be designed as a rotary encoder or as a linear sensor and be attached to the hinge to measure the opening angle or the position of the wing 3. Here, the second sensor unit 26 detects the current position of the movable wing 3, designed as a pivoting vehicle door 3A, as its opening angle. Additionally or alternatively, the current vertical position of a movable wing 3, designed as a hood or bonnet, can be detected as its drop height. This allows the initial position and thus the potential energy of the hood or bonnet to be easily determined.

[0030] As from Fig.As can be seen further in Figure 1, the locking arrangement 10 in the illustrated embodiment includes a temperature sensor 18 arranged on the movable wing 3, which is designed to detect the current temperature in the area of ​​the electrically conductive element 15, designed as a copper plate 15A. For this purpose, the temperature sensor 18, designed, for example, as a thermistor or thermocouple, is placed near the conductive copper plate 15A on the vehicle door 3A to measure the temperature. This allows temperature changes affecting the conductivity of the copper plate 15A to be detected quickly and accurately. Alternatively, a temperature sensor located inside the vehicle can be used, but for better precision, placement near the copper plate 15A is preferable.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment of the closing arrangement 10, the evaluation and control unit 12 is further designed to control the at least one electromagnet 22 of the at least one magnet assembly 20 and to amplify the generated magnetic field when the detected acceleration of the movable wing 3 exceeds a predetermined first threshold value and / or when the detected opening angle of the movable wing 3 exceeds a predetermined second threshold value and / or when the detected drop height of the movable wing 3 exceeds a predetermined third threshold value and / or when the detected temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element 15 exceeds a predetermined fourth threshold value.Furthermore, the evaluation and control unit 12 is designed to control the at least one electromagnet 22 of the at least one magnet assembly 20 and to weaken the generated magnetic field when the detected temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element 15 falls below a predetermined fifth threshold value.

[0032] The proposed threshold values ​​are based on a combination of physical calculations and typical values ​​for the wing 3. It was assumed that the vehicle door 3A has a mass of approximately 10 kg and a width of 1 m, that the hood / bonnet has a mass of approximately 50 kg and a width of 1.5 m, and that the covers have a mass of approximately 2 kg and a width of 0.5 m. These values ​​serve as the basis for calculating the acceleration, the drop height, and for temperature adjustment. The first acceleration threshold is set based on a desired closing time and the mass of the corresponding wing 3. A closing time of 1 second was assumed for vehicle door 3A, resulting in an average velocity of approximately 0.785 m / s. The initial velocity was estimated at approximately 1.57 m / s, with a required deceleration of approximately 1.57 m / s². 2The first acceleration threshold has a value of 1 m / s². 2 This was deemed sufficient to prevent the vehicle door 3A from slamming shut. For hoods and bonnets, which are heavier, a longer closing time of 2 seconds was assumed. Therefore, the first threshold for the acceleration is 0.5 m / s². 2 The larger mass is used for the front cover. For the lighter covers, a higher first acceleration threshold of 2 m / s² was applied. 2The drop height is defined to enable rapid but controlled closing. For hoods and bonnets, the drop height can be defined directly as a vertical distance. Here, the third threshold for the drop height can be set to 0.5 m, based on typical heights of hoods and bonnets in the open position. For side-swinging vehicle doors 3A, the "drop height" can be interpreted as the opening angle. Here, the second threshold for the opening angle can be set to 45 degrees, at which the braking effect of the eddy current brake assembly 14 is adjusted to control the kinetic energy. Covers typically do not have a significant drop height; therefore, no specific thresholds were defined for them.The temperature range for the at least one electrically conductive element 15 can be set to 0°C to 40°C, as this describes the typical operating temperature range of the vehicle 1. Outside this range, the conductivity of the at least one electrically conductive element 15 and the strength of the magnetic field can vary. Therefore, the magnetic field can be adjusted accordingly. For example, the strength of the magnetic field can be reduced by 5% per 10°C change for temperatures below 0°C, or increased by 5% per 10°C change for temperatures above 40°C. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 vehicle 3 wings 3A Vehicle door 5 door frames 10 Locking arrangement 10A Door closing arrangement 12 Evaluation and control unit 14 Eddy current brake arrangement 15 electrically conductive element 15A copper plate 16 sensor units 16A MEMS accelerometer 18 Temperature sensor 20 Magnet assembly 22 Electromagnet 24 permanent magnets 26 sensor unit 26A Position Sensor

Claims

A locking arrangement (10) for a movable wing (3) of a vehicle (1), comprising an eddy current braking arrangement (14) which includes an evaluation and control unit (12), at least one electrically conductive element (15) and at least one magnet assembly (20) with at least one electromagnet (22) and is designed to generate a braking effect directed against a movement of the movable wing (3), wherein at least one sensor unit (16, 26) is designed to detect at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3), wherein the at least one electrically conductive element (15) and the at least one magnet assembly (20) are arranged to be movable relative to each other, wherein the evaluation and control unit (12) is communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor unit (16, 26) and is designedDepending on the detected at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3), the at least one electromagnet (22) of the at least one magnet assembly (20) is controlled and thereby the corresponding braking effect of the eddy current brake arrangement (14) is dynamically adjusted, wherein the at least one magnet assembly (20) comprises at least one permanent magnet (24) which is designed to generate a basic braking effect directed against the movement of the movable wing (3). Locking arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one magnetic assembly (20) is fixed to the vehicle and the at least one electrically conductive element (15) is arranged on the movable wing (3). Locking arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one magnetic assembly (20) is mounted on the movable wing (3) and the at least one electrically conductive element (15) is fixed to the vehicle. Closing arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one sensor unit (16) is designed to detect the at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3) an acceleration. Locking arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one sensor unit (26) is designed to detect the current position of the at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3). Locking arrangement (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one sensor unit (16, 26) detects the current position of the movable wing (3) as opening angle and / or as drop height. Locking arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one temperature sensor (18) is designed to detect a current temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element (15). A closing arrangement (10) according to claims 4, 6 and 7, characterized in that the evaluation and control unit (12) is further configured to control the at least one electromagnet (22) of the at least one magnet assembly (20) and to increase the generated magnetic field when the detected acceleration of the movable wing (3) exceeds a predetermined first threshold value and / or when the detected opening angle of the movable wing (3) exceeds a predetermined second threshold value and / or when the detected drop height of the movable wing (3) exceeds a predetermined third threshold value and / or when the detected temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element (15) exceeds a predetermined fourth threshold value, or to weaken the generated magnetic field when the detected temperature in the area of ​​the at least one electrically conductive element (15) falls below a predetermined fifth threshold value. Locking arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the movable wing (3) is designed as a vehicle door (3A) or as a tailgate or as a front flap or as a cover.

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