VEHICLE WITH A FLAP AND A SUPPORT DEVICE FOR THE CLOSED FLAP

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle with a flap and a support device for the closed flap, in particular the tailgate, with the features specified in the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Such a support device in EP 0 892 140 A2 forms a stop buffer, particularly for a hood- or flap-like body part of a vehicle. To ensure easy adjustment of the axial position of the buffer head and a preload, the stop buffer has a device for self-adjusting the buffer head and a fixing device for subsequently fixing the buffer head. The self-adjusting device comprises, for example, an expansion sleeve which, when not expanded, enables automatic axial adjustment of the buffer head when the hood- or flap-like body part is closed. For subsequent axial fixing of the buffer head, the expansion sleeve is expanded via an axially screwed-in screw.Preload between the buffer head and the hood- or flap-like body part is achieved by means of a stop part with a thickness corresponding to the desired preload, which, after the buffer head has been axially adjusted, is connected either to the buffer head or to a component arranged opposite the buffer head. When assembling the stop part, a worker will probably have to grasp the stop part with one hand and guide it as precisely as possible to an assembly opening. The worker will then probably then use their other hand and possibly a tool to insert the stop part into the assembly opening into an installation position limited by a stop. During this assembly process, the buffer head and its fastening element as well as the stop part must be brought to the assembly station in a coordinated manner and made available, for example, to a worker who will probably need both hands to assemble the stop buffer.The expansion sleeve and / or the buffer head and / or the stop part may not be able to be installed or not immediately due to component tolerances, which may result in disruptive delays in the assembly process.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of creating a vehicle with a flap and a support device for the closed flap, wherein a simple assembly of the support device is enabled and, in turn, a predefined pretensioning force is enabled with the flap closed using simple means.

[0004] This object is achieved by the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0005] A support device for a closed hatch of a vehicle has a support part on the hatch or on a wall area of ​​the vehicle body adjacent to the closed hatch, the position of which can be adjusted before it is fastened. A clamping element is connected to the support part in a pre-assembly position in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner in such a way that after the support part, previously adjusted in position, has been fastened, the clamping element can be adjusted by the application of force from the pre-assembly position into a clamping position delimited by a stop. In the clamping position, the clamping element is held on the support part in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner and rests at least indirectly on the hatch or on the wall area under a pre-tensioning force.Since the clamping element is already connected to the supporting part in a pre-assembly position, these parts can, for example, be pre-assembled as a structural unit on the vehicle or at a pre-assembly location and do not need to be prepared individually for final assembly. When the flap, which can be a door or front or rear flap of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is closed, the supporting part is adjusted to its final assembly position and the clamping element to a predetermined pre-assembly position in which, after the supporting part has been fastened, the clamping element only needs to be adjusted to its final clamping position, limited by a stop, by applying sufficient force. The force can be applied when there is sufficient access when the flap is closed or after the flap has been opened.If, in the latter case, the supporting part is loaded by a pre-tensioned spring element into a position such that the flap can adjust the supporting part into its final assembly position against the pre-tensioning force of the spring element when it is closed, it is only necessary to ensure that when the flap is subsequently opened, with the supporting part not yet fastened, the supporting part cannot be automatically adjusted back into a position that relieves the spring element due to the pre-tensioning force of the spring element. This can be prevented, for example, by a simple non-positive and / or positive locking device. For example, the supporting part can be detachably attached to a support element that is fixedly or detachably connected to the vehicle body and its position can be adjusted in at least one direction before being attached. In this case, for example, the spring element can be supported at least indirectly on the one hand on the support element and on the supporting part on the other.The support device can be installed manually, automatically, or with mechanical assistance. The installation effort for the support device is minimal and simplified, so malfunctions are unlikely to occur. The support device can be used for play-free lateral support as well as play-free support in the closing direction of the closed flap.

[0006] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Fig. 1 a simplified perspective view of a support device for a closed, not shown tailgate of a motor vehicle, Fig. 2 a simplified perspective view of the clamping element of the support device adjustably connected to an adjustable support part in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 shows the parts of the support device shown in Fig. 2 in a plan view.

[0007] In Figure 1a simplified representation of a support device for a closed, not shown tailgate of a motor vehicle is shown, which has a supporting part 1 which is arranged on a wall region 2 of the body of the motor vehicle adjacent to the closed tailgate and whose position can be adjusted before it is fastened. A clamping element 3 shown in a pre-assembly position is connected to the supporting part 1 in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner in such a way that after the supporting part 1, previously adjusted in position, has been fastened, the clamping element 3 can be adjusted by the application of force from the pre-assembly position into a clamping position delimited by a stop, in which the clamping element 3 is held force-locking and / or form-locking on the supporting part 1 and, when the tailgate is closed, rests at least indirectly laterally against the tailgate under a pre-tensioning force.

[0008] In the exemplary embodiment, the clamping element 3 is adjustable relative to the supporting part 1 via a guide device (not shown) approximately in the closing direction of the tailgate. Before its attachment, the supporting part 1 is loaded by two spring elements 4, 5, each designed as compression springs, in the transverse direction of the vehicle toward a side area of ​​the closed tailgate, against which the clamping element 3 rests when the tailgate is closed, thereby preventing transverse movements of the tailgate that may be associated with disturbing noises.

[0009] In the exemplary embodiment, the supporting part 1 can be fastened to the respective tailgate or to the respective wall area 2 of the body from outside and / or inside the vehicle when the tailgate is open and / or closed.

[0010] The clamping element 3 has a starting slope or curvature 6 which, when the tailgate is closed when the supporting part 1 is not fastened, interacts at least indirectly with the tailgate to cause the supporting part 1 to be automatically displaced into a fastening position in which the tailgate can be adjusted into its closed position.

[0011] In the exemplary embodiment, the supporting part 1 is fixedly or detachably connected to the body of the vehicle and Fig. 1 The support element 7 is detachably attached to the illustrated support element 7 and is automatically adjustable in position before being fastened in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The two prestressed spring elements 4, 5 are each supported at least indirectly on the one hand by the support element 7 and on the other hand by the supporting part 1 and load the supporting part 1 in the transverse direction of the vehicle into the closing adjustment range of the open tailgate.

[0012] Between the support part 1 and the support element 7, a locking device is non-positively and / or positively effective, which prevents that after an adjustment of the support part 1 in the vehicle transverse direction from the opening adjustment range of the tailgate, which is automatically caused by the closing of the tailgate against the pretensioning force of the spring elements 4, 5, the pretensioned spring elements 4, 5 adjust the support part 1 back into a position that at least partially relaxes the spring elements 4, 5 when the tailgate is subsequently opened.

[0013] In the exemplary embodiment, the non-positively and / or positively acting locking device is formed by two rows of teeth 8, 9 on the support part 1, into which a respective resiliently engages a counter-teeth 10, 11 on a spring arm 12, 13, which in the present embodiment is connected to the support element 7. The support element 7, which in the exemplary embodiment is angular in some regions and housing-like on one angle leg, largely surrounds the support part 1 except for, for example, an access opening. In the housing-like region of the support element 7, a guide in the vehicle's transverse direction (not visible in the figures) for the support part 1 is formed.

[0014] When assembling the support device, for example, the support element 7 is first fastened together with the adjustably received support part 1 and the clamping element 3 located in a pre-assembly position, for example with the tailgate open, in a lateral rear area of ​​the motor vehicle next to a rear opening that can be closed by the tailgate.After the supporting part 1 has been received, not yet fastened, by the support element 7 so as to be adjustable to a limited extent in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the pre-tensioned spring elements 4, 5 have adjusted the supporting part 1 together with the clamping element 3 in the pre-closing position into the closing adjustment range of the open tailgate in such a way that when the tailgate is subsequently closed, an area or part of the tailgate interacting with the run-on slope or curvature 6 of the clamping element 3 can push the clamping element 3 together with the supporting part 1 laterally into the housing-like area of ​​the support element 7 against the pre-tensioning forces of the spring elements 4, 5 and the tailgate can be closed completely. When the tailgate is in the closed position, the clamping element 3 in the pre-closing position rests against a side area of ​​the closed tailgate.

[0015] The locking device, which acts in a force-locking and / or positive-locking manner between the supporting part 1 and the support element 7, does not prevent this adjustment movement of the supporting part 1. For this purpose, the relevant flanks of the tooth rows 8, 9 and the counter-toothings 10, 11 are each inclined in accordance with the locking device in such a way that during this adjustment movement, the tooth rows 8, 9 and the counter-toothings 10, 11 temporarily cancel each other out and thus do not have a locking effect.

[0016] However, the rows of teeth 8, 9 and counter-teeth 10, 11 of the locking device, which mesh with each other due to an elastic pre-tensioning force of the spring arms 12, 13 of the support element 7, prevent the support part 1 and the clamping element 3 adjustably arranged on the support part 1 from being able to move back into the closing adjustment range of the tailgate due to the pre-tensioning forces of the two spring elements 4, 5 when the tailgate is subsequently opened.

[0017] In the position of the support part 1 and the clamping element 3 automatically adjusted by closing the tailgate, the support part 1 can now be moved in the embodiment via the Figures 1 to 3shown screw 14 to the wall area 2 of the body of the motor vehicle. In the present embodiment, the screw 14 penetrates a through opening in the support element 7 and a through elongated hole 15 in the supporting part 1. The length of the elongated hole 15 is dimensioned in one direction such that an end area of ​​the elongated hole 15, in cooperation with the screw 14, limits the adjustability of the supporting part 1 when, during assembly, the not yet fastened supporting part 1, together with the clamping element 3, is adjusted to a position in the closing adjustment area of ​​the tailgate, in which position when the open tailgate is closed, an area or part of the tailgate, in cooperation with the run-on slope or curvature of the clamping part 3, adjusts the supporting part 1 and the clamping element 3 to a position in which the tailgate can be closed.After such an adjustment of the support part 1, the screw 14 can be screwed into a fastening thread in the wall area 2 of the body of the motor vehicle or a component arranged thereon in order to fasten the support part 1, wherein the screw 14 loads the support element 7 at least indirectly against the wall area 2 of the body of the motor vehicle and clamps it.

[0018] In the embodiment, the clamping element 3 is connected to the supporting part 1 by a wedge guide (not shown) Fig. 2 The clamping element 3 can be adjusted from the pre-assembly position into the clamping position corresponding to the final installation position, whereby when adjusting from the pre-assembly position into the clamping position, the clamping element 3 is clamped in the wedge guide relative to the supporting part 1. For this purpose, the wedge guide can, for example, be designed to be slightly conical, at least in some areas.

[0019] According to Fig. 1Another support device is also attached to the support element 7 connected to the wall area 2 of the body, which support device is formed, for example, similarly to the support device just described. This other support device has another support part 1', which is also detachably and adjustably attached to the support element 7. Another clamping element 3' is adjustably connected to the other support part 1' in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner such that, after the previously adjusted position of the other support part 1' has been fastened, the other clamping element 3' can be adjusted either by the application of force from a pre-assembly position into a clamping position delimited by a stop, or in another way from its pre-assembly position into the clamping position. In the clamping position, the other clamping element 3' is held force-locking and / or form-locking to the other support part 1' and, when the tailgate is closed, rests at least indirectly against the tailgate under a pre-tensioning force.While the previously described clamping element 3 provides lateral support for the closed tailgate, the closed tailgate, which is held in place by at least one lock, is supported in the closing direction by the further clamping element 3' and is thereby loaded towards an open position. In addition to the clamping element 3 which provides lateral support for the closed tailgate, a further clamping element (not shown) of a further support device is provided on the opposite side of the tailgate, which supports the tailgate from the other side. The two lateral support devices can, for example, have the same structure. When the motor vehicle is in operation, the support devices prevent the tailgate from making any acoustically disturbing movements or from coming into contact with areas of the bodywork that are distant from the support devices.The area of ​​the tailgate which interacts with the respective clamping element 3, 3' can be formed by a separate component, for example made of an elastomer, or plastic or rubber, which, like the clamping elements 3, 3', is wear-resistant and / or has a damping effect.

[0020] The invention can of course be embodied differently from the single exemplary embodiment. The support device is intended for a closed hatch of a vehicle. For example, the hatch can be a tailgate of a motor vehicle. A support part is arranged on the hatch or on a wall area of ​​the vehicle body adjacent to the closed hatch, the position of which can be adjusted before it is fastened. A clamping element is connected to the support part in its pre-assembly position in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner such that, after the support part, which has been previously adjusted in position, has been fastened, the clamping element can be adjusted by the application of force from the pre-assembly position into a clamping position delimited by a stop, in which the clamping element is held force-locking and / or form-locking on the support part and, when the hatch is closed, rests at least indirectly against the hatch or the wall area under a pre-tensioning force.The clamping element can, for example, be adjustable relative to the support part via a guide device or pivoting device or can be pivoted about a real or virtual fixed or movable axis. The support part is loaded by at least one spring element towards the closed flap or towards the wall area against which the clamping element rests when the flap is closed. When the flap is open and / or closed, the support part can be fastened from outside and / or inside the vehicle to the relevant flap or to the relevant wall area of ​​the body. The clamping element can have a starting bevel or curve 6 which, when the flap is closed and the support part is not fastened, interacts with the other component, with the flap or with the wall area to automatically shift the support part into a fastening position in which the flap can be adjusted to its closed position.The support part can, for example, be detachably fastened to a support element that is fixedly or detachably connected to the body of the vehicle, and its position can be adjusted in at least one direction before being fastened. The at least one spring element can, for example, be supported at least indirectly on the one hand on the support element and on the other hand on the support part. For example, a locking device can be non-positively and / or positively acting between the support part and the support element, which locking device prevents the pre-tensioned spring element from moving the support part back into a position that at least partially relieves the spring element after the support part has been automatically adjusted by closing the flap against the pre-tensioning force of the spring element. When the flap is closed, the clamping element can interact with a front area or with a side area of ​​the flap or with a wall area of ​​the body of the vehicle that is adjacent to the front area oris arranged adjacent to the side region of the flap. The clamping element can be adjusted as desired, for example via at least one wedge guide relative to the support part from the pre-assembly position to the clamping position. When a wedge guide is used, the clamping element can be clamped force-fittingly in the wedge guide when adjusted from the pre-assembly position to the clamping position. The support part, once adjusted in its position, can be fastened as desired, for example via at least one screw, at least indirectly to the body of the vehicle or to the flap or, if applicable, to the support element. When a support element is used, the support part or, in addition, a further or different support part can be detachably and adjustably fastened to the support element and / or to the flap or, if applicable, to a wall area on the body of the vehicle.A further or different clamping element can be connected in a pre-assembly position to the further or other support part in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner in such a way that, after fastening of the previously adjusted position of the further or other support part, the further or other clamping element can be adjusted either by the application of force from its pre-assembly position into a clamping position delimited by a stop or in some other way from its pre-assembly position into the clamping position, in which the further or other clamping element is held in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner on the further or other support part and, when the flap is closed, rests at least indirectly against the flap or another wall area of ​​the body under a pre-tensioning force. The clamping element can provide lateral support or support in the opening direction of the closed flap.If an additional or different clamping element is used, the additional or different clamping element can, for example, provide a different support in the opening direction or a lateral support of the closed flap, similar to the clamping element but in a different direction.

Claims

1. Vehicle having a flap, in particular a tailgate, and having a supporting device for the closed flap, which supporting device has a bearing part arranged on the flap or on a wall region, adjacent to the closed flap, of the body of the vehicle and being settable in terms of position prior to being fastened, characterized in that a clamping element (3, 3'), in its sole pre-fitting position, is connected adjustably in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner to the bearing part (1, 1') in such a way that, after the bearing part (1, 1'), previously set in terms of position, has been fastened, the clamping element (3, 3') is adjustable by an action of force from the pre-fitting position into a sole clamping position, which is delimited by a stop and corresponds to a final installation position and in which the clamping element (3, 3') is held firmly in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner on the bearing part (1, 1') and, with the flap closed, at least indirectly abuts under a preload force against the flap or against the wall region.

2. Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that, via a guide device or pivoting device, the clamping element (3, 3') is adjustable, or pivotable about a real or virtual positionally fixed or positionally variable axis, in relation to the bearing part (1, 1').

3. Vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, prior to being fastened, the bearing part (1, 1') is loaded by at least one spring element (4, 5) in relation to the closed flap or to the wall region against which the clamping element (3, 3') at least indirectly abuts with the flap closed.

4. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bearing part (1, 1'), with the flap open and / or with the flap closed, is to be fastened from outside and / or inside the vehicle to the respective flap or to the respective wall region (2) of body of the vehicle.

5. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the clamping element (3, 3') has a run-on bevel or run-on curvature (6) which, during the closure of the flap, with the bearing part (1, 1') not fastened, brings about, in interaction with the other component, with the flap or with the wall region, an automatic displacement of the bearing part (1, 1) into a fastening position in which the flap can be adjusted into its closure position.

6. Vehicle according to Claim 3 or additionally 4 and / or 5, characterized in that the bearing part (1, 1') is fastened adjustably to a supporting element (7), which is connected releasably or fixedly to the wall region (2) of the body of the vehicle or to the flap, and, before being fastened, is settable in terms of position at least in one direction, and the spring element (4, 5) is respectively supported at least indirectly against the supporting element (7), at one side, and against the bearing part (1), at the other side.

7. Vehicle according to Claim 6, characterized in that a latching device acts in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner between the bearing part (1, 1') and the supporting element (7) and prevents a situation in which, after the bearing part (1, 1') has been adjusted automatically by way of the closure of the flap counter to the preload force of the spring element (4, 5), the prestressed spring element (4, 5) adjusts the bearing part (1, 1') back into a position in which the spring element (4, 5) is at least partially relaxed.

8. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, during the closure of the flap, the clamping element (3, 3') at least indirectly interacts with an end region or with a side region of the flap, or with a wall region of the body of the vehicle that is arranged adjacent to the end region or side region of the flap.

9. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the clamping element (3) is adjustable from the pre-fitting position into the clamping position in relation to the bearing part (1) via at least one wedge guide and, during adjustment from the pre-fitting position into the clamping position, is clamped in a force-fitting manner in the wedge guide.

10. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bearing part (1, 1') set in terms of its position is, via at least one screw (14), to be fastened at least indirectly to the body of the vehicle or to the flap or possibly to the support element.

11. Vehicle according to one of Claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the supporting element (7) additionally has a further or different bearing part (1') fastened to it in a releasable and settable manner, and, in a pre-fitting position, a further or different clamping element (3') is connected adjustably in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner to the further or different bearing part (1') in such a way that, after the further or different bearing part (1'), previously set in terms of position, has been fastened, the further or different clamping element (3') either is adjustable by an action of force from its pre-fitting position into a clamping position delimited by a stop or is adjustable in some other way from its pre-fitting position into the clamping position, in which clamping position the further or different clamping element (3') is held firmly in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner on the further or different bearing part (1') and, with the flap closed, at least indirectly abuts under a preload force against the flap or against another wall region, wherein the clamping element (3) brings about lateral support or support in the opening direction respectively of the closed flap and the further or different clamping element (3') brings about a different support in the opening direction or lateral support respectively of the closed flap.