Pantograph hinge with a rectifying device

Description

Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2103103 filed on March 26, 2021.

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of motor vehicles and, more particularly, to pantograph hinges used to operate an opening of a motor vehicle. Technological background

[0003] In the automotive industry, pantograph hinges are used to operate a vehicle door. Pantograph hinges advantageously allow for more seamless cutouts between the door and the bodywork when the door is closed. Pantograph hinges are therefore increasingly used to create new aesthetics.

[0004] Pantograph hinges are more complex than the scissor hinges or swan-neck hinges commonly used in this field. A pantograph hinge consists of a fixed knuckle, designed to be secured to the body of a motor vehicle, and a movable knuckle designed to hold an opening. The fixed and movable knuckles are connected by connecting rods. Each end of the connecting rods is held to a knuckle by a pivot connection, whose axis of rotation is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod. The connecting rods thus allow the knuckles to move apart or together, along a non-circular path.

[0005] Due to the number of parts and the complexity of their articulation, pantograph hinges are more flexible than hinges commonly used in the automotive industry. To increase their rigidity, it is necessary to mechanically stress the pantograph hinges when they are closed.

[0006] This stressing is achieved using a mechanical stop, linked to the fixed knuckle, the free end of which has a flat surface and is intended to bear against a flat edge of a connecting rod, as disclosed for example in documents US2008 / 034552A1 or CN111852224A. Despite this mechanical stressing, the existence of a lateral sliding clearance between the knuckles has been observed when the pantograph hinge is closed.

[0007] The invention aims to reduce this lateral sliding play, by proposing a pantograph hinge comprising a dedicated centering device. Subject of the invention

[0008] For this, the invention proposes a pantograph hinge according to claim 1, comprising: a fixed knuckle, intended to be secured to the body of a motor vehicle; and a movable knuckle, intended to hold an opening; and two connecting rods, the ends of which are held to the knuckles by means of pivot links, the axes of rotation of the pivot links being parallel to the same working axis, one of the connecting rods comprises a rim extending in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the working axis; and the fixed knuckle comprises a mechanical stop arranged so as to bear against the rim of the connecting rod, when the pantograph hinge is closed.

[0009] The invention is remarkable in that the mechanical stop and the edge of the connecting rod are of complementary shape, so as to fit together in a radial or substantially radial direction to the working axis, when the pantograph hinge is closed.

[0010] The interlocking of the mechanical stop and the edge of the connecting rod advantageously allows a new mechanical connection to be formed between the fixed knuckle and the connecting rod. This increases the mechanical rigidity of the pantograph hinge when it is closed. The sliding phenomenon between the knuckles is therefore reduced when the pantograph hinge is closed.

[0011] The invention also relates to the following alternative embodiments: when the pantograph hinge is closed, at least one surface of the mechanical stop, included in a plane radial to the working axis, is in contact with at least one surface of the edge of the connecting rod; when the pantograph hinge is closed, at least one surface of the mechanical stop, included in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the working axis, is in contact with at least one surface of the edge of the connecting rod; the mechanical stop is screwed into the fixed knuckle, and the screwing axis of the mechanical stop is perpendicular to an axis passing through the pivot connections of the connecting rod comprising the edge, when the mechanical stop and the edge are fitted together.

[0012] Other advantages and features may become more apparent from the following description. Description of figures

[0013] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely as a non-limiting example and with reference to the drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] represents a schematic side view of a pantograph hinge not covered by the invention, in the open position; [ Fig. 2 ] represents a cross-section of the pantograph hinge illustrated by the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 3 ] represents a schematic side view of a pantograph hinge not covered by the invention, in the closed position. [ Fig. 4 ] represents a cross-section of the pantograph hinge illustrated by the figure 3 ; [ Fig. 5 ] represents an alternative embodiment of the fitting of a mechanical stop with a rim of a connecting rod, according to the invention; [ Fig. 6 ] represents another variant embodiment of the fitting of a mechanical stop with a rim of a connecting rod, according to the invention.

[0014] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements. Detailed description of the invention

[0015] As a reminder, the invention proposes a pantograph hinge, making it possible to reduce a phenomenon of lateral sliding between the hinge knuckles, in the closed position.

[0016] THE figures 1 to 4 represent an embodiment of a pantograph hinge 2 not covered by the invention.

[0017] The pantograph hinge 2 comprises a fixed knuckle 4 and a movable knuckle 6. The fixed knuckle is intended to be fixed to the body of a motor vehicle (not shown). The movable knuckle is intended to be fixed to an opening (not shown). The knuckles are connected to each other by means of two connecting rods 8, 8A. The ends of the connecting rods are held to the knuckles by means of pivot links 10. The pivot links 10 allow the connecting rods to pivot about axes of rotation, parallel or substantially parallel to a working axis 12 visible on the figure 2 .

[0018] The fixed knuckle 4 has a projecting edge 14. The edge 14 extends in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the working axis 12. An opening is provided through the edge 14, so as to allow the passage of a mechanical stop 16. According to the present example, the mechanical stop comprises a threaded rod and the internal wall of the opening is tapped in order to precisely control the length of the free end of the threaded rod projecting from the edge 14. According to the present example, the apex 18 of the mechanical stop is convex in shape, more precisely conical in shape.

[0019] A rim 20 of a connecting rod 8A also extends in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the working axis 12. The rim is arranged on the connecting rod so as to be opposite the mechanical stop 16. As illustrated by the Figures 3 and 4, the rim 20 has a recess 22 configured to allow the top 18 of the mechanical stop to fit in, when the pantograph hinge is closed (see Figures 3 and 4 ).

[0020] Thus, when the pantograph hinge 2 is closed, a new mechanical connection is formed between the fixed knuckle and the connecting rod 8A, by the nesting of the top 18 of the mechanical stop in the recess 22 of the rim 20. The mechanical rigidity of the pantograph hinge is thereby increased, and the phenomenon of lateral sliding between the knuckles is minimized. In other words, the mechanical stop 16 and the rim 20 of the connecting rod 8A form a recentering device when the pantograph hinge 2 is closed.

[0021] Preferably, the internal wall of the opening extends along an axis 24 forming an angle, with an axis 26 passing through the centers of the pivot links 10, the value of which is of the order of 90, preferably equal to 90°.

[0022] There Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, distinguished from the embodiment described above, in that the rim 20 of the connecting rod is not recessed. The rim 20 serves as a support for a lug 28, held opposite the mechanical stop 16. The lug comprises a recess at its top 30, the shape of which complements the top 18 of the mechanical stop, so as to allow the fitting of said top when the pantograph hinge 2 is closed.

[0023] There figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, distinguished from the embodiment described above, in that the lug 28 held opposite the mechanical stop 16, comprises a protrusion 32 of a shape complementary to a recess 34 formed at the top of the mechanical stop 16.

[0024] Of course, the invention is not limited to these embodiments alone, so that the fitting of the mechanical stop with the edge of the connecting rod can be carried out in other ways as long as they remain within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Pantograph hinge (2) comprising: - a fixed hitch (4), intended to be connected to the bodywork of a motor vehicle; and - a mobile flap (6), intended to hold a opening; and - two biellets (8, 8A) whose ends are held at the hinges through pivots (10), the rotational axes of the pivots being parallel to the same axis of work (12), one of the bielets includes a rim (20) extending in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of work (12); and - the fixed hinge (4) includes a mechanical stop (16) arranged so as to support the rim (20) of the rod (8A), when the pantograph hinge (2) is closed, the mechanical stop (16) and the rim (20) of the rod (8A) being of a complementary shape so that it is connected, in a radial or substantially radial direction to the axis of work (12), when the pantograph hinge (2) is closed, characterized as the top (18) of the mechanical stop (16) is either convex in shape, the rim (20) of the rod (8A) supporting a ergot (28) positioned opposite the fixed hinge, the side of the ergot facing the mechanical stop (16) with a further shape at the top (18) of the mechanical stop (16), or in a concave shape, the rim (20) of a rod supporting a ergot positioned opposite the fixed hinge (4), the side of the ergot facing the mechanical stop (16), including an exgrowth (32), of a complementary shape at the top (18) of the mechanical stop (16).

2. Pantograph hinge (2) according to Claim 1, characterized that when the pantograph hinge (2) is closed, at least one surface of the mechanical stop (16), which is included in the radial plane at the work axis (12), is in contact with at least one surface of the rim (20) of the rod (8A).

3. Pantograph hinge (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized that when the pantograph hinge (2) is closed, at least one surface of the mechanical stop (16), which is in the plane parallel to the work axis (12), is in contact with at least one surface of the rim (20) of the rod.

4. Pantograph hinge (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the mechanical stop (16) being screwed into the fixed hinge (4), and the screw axis (24) of the mechanical stop (16) being perpendicular to an axis (26) passing through the swivel links (10) of the rod (8A)) including the rim (20), when the mechanical stop (16) and the rim (20) are interconnected.