Access device with opposing doors

Abstract

Access device with opposing doors. Access device (2) for a motor vehicle (1) comprising: - a first door (11) - a second door (12), the first door and the second door being configured in an opposing manner, - a flap (15) linked to the first door, the flap being movable relative to the first door between a closed position and an avoidance position, the closed position being a position in which the flap extends substantially parallel to the first door to cover an interface between the first door and the second door when the first door and the second door are in the closed position, the avoidance position being a position in which the flap extends at an angle relative to the first door to avoid contact of the flap with the second door when the first door is opened, the second door being in the closed position. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 7

Description

Title of the invention: Access device with antagonistic doors Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an access device for a motor vehicle comprising two doors configured in an antagonistic manner to close the same opening. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such an access device. The invention further relates to a method of accessing such a motor vehicle. State of the prior art

[0002] Motor vehicles are often equipped with access devices comprising several doors on the same side of the vehicle body. Each door is pivotally mounted around a vertical axis. Generally, adjacent doors on the same side of a vehicle body open in the same direction of rotation relative to the vehicle. These adjacent doors are generally each mounted on an associated pillar.

[0003] There are also motor vehicles with access devices for which two adjacent doors on the same side of the body open in opposite directions of rotation. A single opening in the body of the vehicle can then be provided, without a central pillar between the two doors. The axis of rotation of a front door extends along a front edge of the opening while the axis of rotation of the rear door extends along a rear edge of the opening. This type of arrangement, commonly called "antagonistic doors" is generally used for trucks, utility vehicles, or sports vehicles having more than one row of seats.

[0004] In this particular arrangement, the opening in the body does not include a central pillar between a row of front seats and a row of rear seats. In order to provide sufficient sealing, the front and rear doors generally fit into each other when in the closed position. Doors thus arranged are designed so that the user must open the door located at the front before being able to open or close the rear door. This complicates the exit of a rear passenger who must wait for someone to come and open the front door or who must operate the front door from the rear of the passenger compartment. In some cases, the rear passenger can fold the seat at the front to access the unlocking system for unlocking the front door himself. However, such manipulations are particularly tedious.

[0005] There are also motor vehicles with antagonistic doors equipped of an access device which allows said doors to be opened independently of each other. Publication CA2555740A1 discloses such a vehicle equipped with such an access device. Such an access device is nevertheless very complex, and requires in particular a movement of the pivot axis of one of the two doors during its opening.

[0006] Furthermore, the access devices must also allow access to the passenger compartment or exit from the passenger compartment as wide as possible. In particular, a motor vehicle must sometimes be parked close to a wall or another vehicle which prevents at least one of the two doors of the vehicle from being opened widely. In such a situation, the access device must still allow a user to access or exit the passenger compartment relatively easily. Presentation of the invention

[0007] The aim of the invention is to provide an access device with opposing doors which overcomes the above drawbacks and improves the access devices known from the prior art.

[0008] More specifically, a first object of the invention is an access device guaranteeing sufficient sealing when the two opposing doors are in the closed position, which is simple to manufacture, and allowing relatively wide access to the passenger compartment even when the environment of the vehicle does not allow at least one of the two doors to be completely opened. Summary of the invention

[0009] The invention relates to an access device for a motor vehicle comprising: - a first door - a second door, the first door and the second door being configured antagonistically to close the same opening, - a flap connected to the first door, the flap being movable relative to the first door between a closed position and an avoidance position, the closed position being a position in which the flap extends substantially parallel to the first door to cover an interface between the first door and the second door when the first door and the second door are in the closed position, the avoidance position being a position in which the flap extends inclined relative to the first door to avoid contact of the flap with the second door when the first door is opened, the second door being in the closed position.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the access device further comprises a first door opening sensor configured to deliver a dependent signal of an opening level of the first door, and an electric actuator connected to said opening sensor and mechanically connected to said shutter, the electric actuator being configured to move the shutter from its avoidance position to its closed position or to a position close to its closed position when the first door reaches a given opening level.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the access device further comprises a mechanical actuator configured to move the shutter from its closed position to its avoidance position during a first phase of opening the first door.

[0012] The mechanical actuator may comprise a return means, in particular a spring, configured to move the flap towards its avoidance position.

[0013] The shutter may be rotatable between its closed position and its avoidance position about an axis of rotation, and the electric actuator may comprise an electric motor provided with a rotating shaft aligned with the axis of rotation of the shutter.

[0014] The electric actuator may comprise a first disc intended to be driven in rotation, the first disc comprising a drive finger, and the access device may comprise a second disc secured to the shutter, the second disc being positioned opposite the first disc, the second disc comprising a circular groove in which the drive finger extends.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the circular groove extends over an angular sector between 45° and 80° inclusive.

[0016] The opening sensor may include a cable encoder attached to the first door, a first end of the cable of the cable encoder being attached to a body of the vehicle.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the access device comprises a door frame supporting means for articulating the first door and the second door, the first door being pivotally connected to a first vertical side of the door frame, the first end of the cable of the cable encoder being fixed to said first side of the door frame.

[0018] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an access device as defined above.

[0019] The invention also relates to a method of accessing such a motor vehicle, the method comprising: - an initial situation in which the first door, the second door and the shutter are in the closed position, then - a first phase of opening the first door, the second door remaining closed, the shutter moving from its closed position to its avoidance position, then - detection by means of said opening sensor of the reaching of a given opening level of the first door, then - activation of the electric actuator to move the shutter from its position avoidance to its closed position or to a position close to its closed position. Presentation of figures

[0020] These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made without limitation in relation to the attached figures among which:

[0021] [Fig.l] is a schematic side view of a part of a motor vehicle equipped with an access device according to one embodiment of the invention, two doors of the access device being in the closed position.

[0022] [Fig.2] is a schematic side view of a portion of the vehicle of [Fig.l], with both doors of the access device in an open position.

[0023] [Fig. 3] is a sectional view along a longitudinal and transverse plane of an interface between the two doors of the access device.

[0024] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a flap of the access device.

[0025] [Fig. 5] is a sectional view along a longitudinal and transverse plane of a roller cooperating with a guide element of the access device.

[0026] [Fig. 6] is a perspective view of a mechanical actuator of the access device, the flap of the access device being in the avoidance position.

[0027] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of an opening sensor of a first door of the access device connected to an electric actuator, the electric actuator being mechanically connected to the flap of the access device.

[0028] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of a portion of the electric actuator.

[0029] [Fig.9] is a sectional view along a longitudinal and transverse plane of the device access, a first door of the access device being partially open.

[0030] [Fig. 10] is a sectional view along a longitudinal and transverse plane of the access device, the first door of the access device being more open than in [Fig. 9].

[0031] [Fig. 11] is a perspective view of the shutter and the electric actuator of the access device, with both doors of the access device in the closed position.

[0032] [Fig. 12] is a perspective view of the shutter and the electric actuator of the access device, with both doors of the access device in the partially open position.

[0033] [Fig. 13] is a perspective view of the shutter and the electric actuator of the access device, with both doors of the access device being more open than in [Fig. 12], Detailed description

[0034] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate schematically and in side view a part of a motor vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 1 can, for example, be a private vehicle or a utility vehicle. The vehicle 1 comprises an access device 2 to a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the access device comprising a rear door and a front door adjacent to the rear door. The front door and the rear door are configured in an antagonistic manner, that is to say that they are intended to close the same opening 3 delimited by a door frame 4. The rear door is hinged in rotation relative to the door frame 4 about a first axis of rotation Z1 located at a rear edge of the rear door. The front door is hinged in rotation relative to the door frame 4 about a second axis of rotation Z2 located at a front edge of the front door. The front door and the rear door are therefore intended to open by pivoting in opposite directions of rotation. The front door can provide access to a front seat of the vehicle and the rear door can provide access to a rear seat of the vehicle..

[0035] According to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the front and rear doors are arranged on a right side of the vehicle. Alternatively, these two doors could of course be fitted to a left side of the vehicle. The rear door is hereinafter referred to as the “first door 11” and the front door as the “second door 12”. However, the invention could very well be transposed to a configuration where the first door corresponds to the front door and the second door corresponds to the rear door.

[0036] The longitudinal axis X designates the axis along which the vehicle moves in a straight line. The longitudinal axis X is oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle. The transverse axis Y is a horizontal axis and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. The transverse axis Y is oriented from left to right according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle. It is assumed that the vehicle 1 is resting on horizontal ground. The vertical axis Z is an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the transverse axis Y. The vertical axis Z is oriented from bottom to top. The axes X, Y and Z form an orthogonal reference frame.

[0037] When the two doors 11 and 12 are in the closed position, they extend generally in the same plane parallel to the longitudinal axis X and to the vertical axis Z. Each of the two doors 11 and 12 can be opened by a rotational movement around its respective axis of rotation Z1, Z2 by an angle which can be at least equal to approximately 90°.

[0038] Each of the two doors 11 and 12 can be opened independently of the other door. That is to say, the first door 11 can be opened or closed regardless of the position of the second door 12, therefore including if the second door remains closed. Similarly, the second door 12 can be opened or closed regardless of the position of the first door 11, therefore including if the first door remains closed. For this purpose, each of the two doors 11 and 12 comprises an external handle 5, 6 capable of actuating a locking device of the corresponding door. When the doors 11 and 12 are in the closed position, there is no local overlap or overlap of a door on the other door.

[0039] [Fig. 3] represents the interface between the first door 11 and the second door 12 according to a section in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis Z, when the first door 11 and the second door 12 are in the closed position. A front edge 7 of the first door 11 extends substantially parallel to a rear edge 8 of the second door 12. A space 9, of generally constant width from top to bottom, and of the order of a few millimeters in width, extends between the front edge 7 and the rear edge 8. In general, this space is sized so that the accidental trapping of a finger does not cause too serious an injury.

[0040] In order to ensure the watertightness and airtightness of the access device 2, the first door 11 comprises a first seal 13 extending vertically along the front edge 7 of the first door. Similarly, the second door 12 comprises a second seal 14 extending vertically along the rear edge 8 of the second door. The seals 13, 14 may in particular comprise elastomer sealing lips and be respectively fitted onto structures of the doors 11 and 12. The access device 2 further comprises a flap 15 capable of bearing on the two seals 13 and 14 when the doors 11 and 12 are in the closed position. The flap 15 extends vertically opposite the interface between the two doors 11 and 12, on the passenger compartment side, to prevent water or air from infiltrating into the passenger compartment.

[0041] The flap 15 is connected to the first door 11 and extends towards the passenger compartment. Thus, the second door 12 can be opened or closed independently of the first door without any particular difficulty. In order to allow the independent opening of the first door 11, the flap is mounted to move on the first door between a closed position (shown for example in FIGS. 3, 7 and 11) and an avoidance position (shown for example in FIGS. 6 and 9). The closed position of the flap 15 is a position in which the flap 15 covers the interface between the first door and the second door when the first door and the second door are in the closed position, in particular a position in which the flap 15 covers the space 9 and presses on the seals 13 and 14.The avoidance position of the flap 15 is a position such that the first door 11 can be opened or closed without the flap 15 hitting the second door 12, the latter being in the closed position or in a position close to its closed position.

[0042] According to the embodiment presented, the flap 15 is therefore linked to the first door 11, which corresponds to the rear door of the access device 2. As a variant, the flap 15 could be linked to the front door of the access device.

[0043] The flap 15 is illustrated in isolation in [Fig.4]. The flap 15 is mounted to be movable in rotation relative to the first door 11 around an axis of rotation Z3, approxima tively parallel to the axes of rotation Z1 and Z2 and substantially parallel to the vertical axis Z. Between its closed position and its avoidance position, the flap 15 can, for example, be inclined by at least 45° around the axis of rotation Z3, or even at least 60°, or even a rotation close to 80°.

[0044] The flap 15 comprises a strip 16 extending vertically opposite the interface between the first door 11 and the second door 12 when the first door and the second door are in the closed position. The strip 16 may have a generally rectangular shape. This shape may optionally be curved to follow the silhouette of the vehicle. The height of the strip 16 along the vertical axis Z may be substantially equal to the height of the doors 11 and 12. The width of the strip 16 is sufficient for it to bear simultaneously on the seals 13 and 14 as well as on a main seal 10 secured to the body of the vehicle. The flap 15 further comprises a first arm 17 and a second arm 18 both extending horizontally.The first arm 17 and the second arm 18 each comprise a first end fixed to the strip 16 and a second end comprising a bearing cooperating with a shaft secured to the first door and extending along the axis of rotation Z3. The strip 16 and the two arms 17, 18 form a single-piece assembly. The shaft cooperating with each bearing can be fixed to the first door 11 by means of a support 40.

[0045] The shutter 15 also comprises a first roller 19 arranged at an upper end of the strip 16 and a second roller 20 arranged at a lower end of the strip 16. The rollers 19 and 20 each comprise a wheel that can rotate about a substantially vertical axis. The rollers 19 and 20 are each intended to cooperate with a guide element 21, 22 arranged respectively on an upper edge and on a lower edge of the door frame 4. With reference to [Fig. 5], each guide element comprises a track 23 against which the respective roller 19, 20 is intended to roll, in order to pivot the shutter 15 into the closed position when the first door 11 is closed. The access device 2 thus comprises a guide means 24 formed on the one hand by the rollers 19, 20 secured to the shutter 15 and on the other hand by the guide elements 21, 22 secured to the door frame 4.The guide means 24 makes it possible to orient the shutter 15 parallel to the longitudinal axis X when the doors 11 and 12 are in the closed position, so that the strip 16 exerts simultaneous pressure on the seals 10, 13 and 14. The rollers 19, 20 are intended to cooperate with the guide elements 21, 22 during the last degrees of closing of the first door, that is to say when the first door is finished closing.

[0046] The access device 2 further comprises a mechanical actuator 25 configured to move the flap 15 from its closed position to its avoidance position during of a first phase of opening of the first door. An embodiment of the mechanical actuator 25 is illustrated in particular in [Fig.6]. The mechanical actuator 25 comprises a return means, in particular a first spring 26, configured to move the flap 15 towards its avoidance position. The first spring 26 may in particular be a helical spring. Alternatively, the return means could take any other form. The first spring 26 comprises a first end fixed to a support 27, itself fixed against an internal face of a box 28 of the first door 11. The first spring 26 comprises a second end, opposite its first end, fixed to the first arm 17. The first spring 26 thus exerts a return force which tends to pivot the flap 15 towards its avoidance position.The mechanical actuator 25 is intended to pivot the shutter 15 into the avoidance position as soon as the rollers 19, 20 are no longer engaged with the guide elements 21, 22, that is to say from the moment when the first door is open by only a few degrees. The first door can thus be opened or closed without the shutter 15 hitting the rear edge 8 of the second door 12.

[0047] [Fig.9] illustrates the first door with the flap 15 in avoidance position. The front edge of the flap 15 is then positioned on a circle centered on the axis of rotation ZI and outside of which is the rear edge 8 of the front door. This position of the flap 15 therefore allows free opening or closing of the first door 11, the second door 12 remaining closed. Nevertheless, it can be seen in [Fig.9] that the flap 15 extends through the passage formed between the first door 11 and the second door 12 through which a passenger must pass when wishing to enter or exit the passenger compartment.

[0048] Advantageously, according to the invention, the access device 2 is provided with an electric actuator 29 mechanically linked to the flap 15 and configured to move the flap from its avoidance position to its closed position or to a position close to its closed position during a second opening phase of the first door, the second opening phase being consecutive to the first opening phase. The electric actuator 29 thus makes it possible to position the flap 15 in a position which enlarges the passage formed between the first door 11 and the second door 12, through which a passenger must pass when wishing to enter or exit the passenger compartment. Thus, the flap 15 does not obstruct or reduce the space available for entering the passenger compartment.

[0049] [Fig. 10] illustrates the first door 11 in a partially open position with the flap 15 in a position close to its closed position. The first door 11 is only partially open due to an obstacle 30 preventing further opening of the first door 11. It can be seen that the flap 15 adopts a position which does not reduce, or only insignificantly, the width L of the passage allowing access to the passenger compartment.

[0050] The angle A1 is defined as the angle formed between the first door 11 and the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle. The angle A1 is equal to 0 when the first door is in the closed position. The angle A2 is defined as the angle formed between the flap 15 and the first door 11. The angle A2 is equal to 0 when the flap is in the closed position. As explained previously, when the flap is in the avoidance position, the angle A2 may be greater than or equal to 45°, or even greater than or equal to 60°, or even approximately equal to 80°. By “position close to the closed position” it is understood that the angle A2 is strictly less than the value reached by the angle A2 when the flap is in the avoidance position. Preferably, a position close to the closed position may mean that the angle A2 is less than or equal to 30°, or even less than or equal to 20°, or even less than or equal to 10°.Advantageously, when the shutter is in a position close to its closed position with a non-zero angle A2, the seal 13 is not compressed by the shutter 13, which avoids unnecessary stress on this seal.

[0051] The access device 2 can be configured so that the shutter 15 is in the avoidance position only for the positions of the first door 11 for which a collision between the shutter and the second door could occur. Then, as soon as the first door is sufficiently open, for example as soon as the angle A1 becomes greater than or equal to a value between 20° and 30°, the access device can be configured so that the shutter adopts its closed position or a position close to its closed position.

[0052] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the electric actuator 29 in more detail. The electric actuator 29 comprises in particular an electric motor 31. The electric motor 31 comprises a casing by means of which the electric motor is fixed to the first door 11, in particular against the internal face of the box 28. The electric motor 31 also comprises a rotary shaft mechanically connected to the shutter 15. According to the embodiment presented, the rotary shaft of the electric motor 31 is aligned with the axis of rotation Z3 of the shutter 15. Such a configuration is particularly compact. The shutter is thus capable of pivoting at the same speed as the speed of rotation of the rotary shaft. According to an alternative embodiment, the rotary shaft of the electric motor 31 could be offset relative to the axis of rotation Z3 of the shutter 13 and mechanically connected to the shutter 15 by means of a reducer.Advantageously, the axis of rotation of the rotary shaft of the electric motor is parallel to the axis of rotation Z3 of the shutter. However, as a variant, it would be possible to provide a rotary shaft not parallel to the axis of rotation Z3 of the shutter and suitable transmission means between the rotary shaft and the shutter.

[0053] The access device 2 also comprises an opening sensor 32 of the first door 11 configured to deliver a signal dependent on an opening level of the first door. The opening sensor 32 is connected to the electric actuator 29, that is to say that the opening sensor 32 is capable of delivering said signal to the electric actuator 29. Advantageously, the opening sensor 32 is connected by an electrical connection means 33 to the electric actuator 29, such as one or more electrical wires. The electric actuator 29 is configured to move the shutter from its avoidance position to its closed position or to a position close to its closed position when the first door reaches a given opening level, for example when the angle A1 is greater than or equal to a threshold value between 20° and 30°, the given opening level being detected by the opening sensor 32.

[0054] The opening sensor 32 may be of the "cable encoder" type. It then comprises a housing 34 inside which there is a reel 35 provided with a return means and a cable 36 wound on the reel. The opening sensor is provided with an encoder making it possible to measure the angular position of the reel and therefore to deduce therefrom the length of the cable 36 unwound from the reel. The opening angle A1 of the first door may be deduced from the unwound length of the cable 36, for example by means of a correspondence table established empirically or analytically. The housing 34 of the opening sensor 32 is fixed to the first door 11 while a first end 37 of the cable 36 is fixed to a body element 38 of the vehicle.In particular, the first end 37 of the cable 36 can advantageously be fixed at a vertical side 39 of the door frame extending at the rotational articulation of the first door (i.e. at the rear vertical side of the door frame 4 according to the embodiment presented). Thus, when the first door 11 opens, the cable 36 unwinds from the reel. When the first door 11 closes, the cable 36 is rewound onto the reel by means of the return means integrated into the housing 34. The fixing of the first end 37 of the cable 36 at the vertical side 39 of the door frame 4 has the advantage of being discreet. The cable 36 thus extends at the rotational articulation of the first door and is not likely to be touched by a user of the vehicle.

[0055] The opening sensor 32 may be configured to transmit a continuous signal to the electric actuator, in particular to an electronic card integrated into the electric actuator 29. The electronic card is then configured to activate or deactivate the electric motor 31 depending on the angle A1 determined by means of the opening sensor 32. Alternatively, the opening sensor 32 could be configured to transmit a signal to the electric actuator only when the first door reaches a given opening level. According to another alternative embodiment, the opening sensor could be produced differently. The opening sensor 32 could for example be an optical sensor.

[0056] The mechanical actuator 25, the electric actuator 29 and the opening sensor 32 are advantageously covered by one or more internal trim elements to prevent any contact between a vehicle passenger and these elements.

[0057] As illustrated in more detail in [Fig. 8], the electric actuator 29 comprises a first disc 41 intended to be driven in rotation. The first disc 41 is in particular fixedly attached to the rotary shaft of the electric motor 31. The first disc 41 comprises a drive finger 42 projecting parallel to the rotary shaft of the motor, and eccentric relative to the rotary shaft of the electric motor 31.

[0058] The access device 2 comprises a second disc 43 fixed integrally to the flap 15, and positioned opposite the first disc 4L. The second disc 43 is centered on the axis of rotation Z3 of the flap. The first disc 41 and the second disc 43 therefore have coincident axes of rotation. The first disc 41 and the second disc 43 comprise a circular contour with a substantially identical diameter, however the circular contour is of little importance and could be replaced by any other shape than a circular shape. Thus, the term "disc" simply means that the elements 41 and 43 are intended to rotate around a given axis of rotation.

[0059] The second disc 43 may in particular be integral with the first arm 17. The second disc 43 comprises a circular groove 44 in which the drive finger 42 extends. The circular groove 44 has the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation Z3. The circular groove 44 may extend, for example, over an angular sector between 45° and 80° inclusive. It is therefore understood that the rotary shaft of the electric motor 31 drives the flap 15 in rotation only when the drive finger 42 is resting against one end of the circular groove 44. In certain circumstances which will be explained later, the flap can be pivoted about its axis of rotation Z3 within the limit of the angular sector of the circular groove 44 without causing rotation of the rotary shaft of the electric motor 31. The angular sector of the circular groove 44 is equal to the pivot angle of the flap 15 between its closed position and its avoidance position.

[0060] The operation of the access device 2 is now described starting from an initial situation where the two doors 11 and 12 are in the closed position. This initial situation is illustrated in particular in [Fig. 1] and in [Fig. 11]. In the initial situation, the position of the flap 15 is imposed by the cooperation of the rollers 19 and 20 with the guide elements 21 and 22. This position corresponds to the closed position of the flap and the latter is then in abutment against the sealing joints 10, 13, and 14. The opening 3 is then closed in a sealed manner by the two doors 11 and 12 and the flap 15. The first spring 26 of the mechanical actuator 25 is then under tension. The electric actuator 29 is inactive and the drive finger 42 is positioned against a first end of the circular groove 44.

[0061] Then, a user manipulates the handle 5 of the first door 11 to open the first door 11, the second door 12 remaining closed. In a first phase of the opening movement, only the mechanical actuator 25 exerts a return force on the shutter 15, the electric actuator 29 remaining inactive. After a few degrees of opening of the first door 11, the rollers 19 and 20 escape the guide elements 21 and 22. The shutter 15 then pivots quickly into the avoidance position thanks to the force exerted by the spring 26. The drive finger 42 remains stationary in this first phase of opening of the first door but does not prevent the shutter 15 from pivoting thanks to the circular groove 44. Indeed, during the first opening phase, the second disc 43 pivots relative to the first disc 41 and the drive finger 42 moves from the first end to the second end of the circular groove 44.The rotation of the second disc 43 during the first opening phase is illustrated by an arrow Fl in [Fig. 12].

[0062] The opening of the first door can then be continued without risk of contact between the shutter 15 and the second door 12. As the first door 11 opens, the cable 36 unwinds from the opening sensor 32 and transmits to the electric actuator a signal relating to the level of opening of the first door 11. When the first door reaches an opening angle equal to a first predetermined threshold, for example a threshold between 20° and 30°, the electric actuator 29 is activated. The rotary shaft of the electric motor is rotated so as to pivot the shutter towards its closed position or towards a position close to its closed position. The spring 26 is thus re-tensioned.Since the drive finger 42 is already positioned at the second end of the circular groove 44, activation of the electric actuator 29 immediately causes the second disc 43 and the flap 15 secured to the second disc 43 to rotate, without dead travel. The rotation of the first disc 41 and the second disc 43 of the first door is illustrated by two arrows F2 in [Fig. 13]. When the flap 15 has reached its closed position or a position close to its closed position, the electric actuator 29 can be deactivated. In this position, the flap does not obstruct the passage allowing access to the passenger compartment. In this position, the flap could possibly be closed even further by means of manual pressure against the flap 15. In this case, the drive finger 42 would move within the circular groove 44 and the spring 26 would be under greater tension.This additional mobility of the shutter when the first door is in the open position makes it possible to absorb any possible impact against the shutter 15.

[0063] When the first door is closed, the inverse kinematics occurs. The initial situation can then be considered as the situation of [Fig. 13], the shutter being therefore in the closed position or in a position close to the closed position. As the door closes, the cable 36 is rewound by the door sensor winder 31 and a signal relating to the level of closure of the first door 11 is transmitted to the electric actuator 29. When the angle Al becomes less than or equal to a second predetermined threshold, the electric actuator 29 is activated so that the drive finger 42 resumes the position of [Fig.2]. The flap 15 then passes into its avoidance position thanks to the return force exerted by the spring 26.

[0064] Advantageously, the second predetermined threshold can be strictly greater than the first predetermined threshold to take into account the reaction time of the mechanical actuator 25 and the electrical actuator 29. Thus, the shutter 15 is prevented from hitting the second door if the first door is closed very quickly.

[0065] The avoidance position of the flap 15 is advantageously a position inclined at an angle strictly less than 90° relative to its closed position, for example a position inclined at most 80° relative to its closed position. Thus, when the rollers 19, 20 approach the guide elements 21, 22, the reaction force on the flap 15 causes the flap to pivot towards its closed position. When the flap pivots due to the reaction force of the rollers 19, 20 on the guide elements 21, 22, the second disc 43 pivots relative to the first disc 4L. The drive finger 42 travels along the circular groove 44 from one end to the other, without preventing the flap from pivoting.

[0066] In the event of a malfunction of the electric actuator 29, the independent opening and closing of the first door nevertheless remains possible. Indeed, the transition from the closed position of the shutter to the avoidance position during the first opening phase is ensured by mechanical means, independent of the electric actuator 29. Thus, in the event of a malfunction of the electric actuator 29, a user can still manage to enter or exit the passenger compartment via the first door, even if the passage may then have a reduced width.

Claims

Demands

1. Access device (2) for a motor vehicle (1) comprising: - a first door (11) - a second door (12), the first door and the second door being configured in an antagonistic manner to close the same opening (3), - a flap (15) linked to the first door, the flap being movable relative to the first door between a closed position and an avoidance position, the closed position being a position in which the flap extends substantially parallel to the first door to cover an interface between the first door and the second door when the first door and the second door are in the closed position, the avoidance position being a position in which the flap extends at an angle relative to the first door to avoid contact of the flap with the second door when the first door is opened, the second door being in the closed position.

2. Access device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an opening sensor (32) of the first door configured to deliver a signal dependent on an opening level of the first door, and an electric actuator (29) connected to said opening sensor and mechanically linked to said shutter, the electric actuator being configured to move the shutter from its avoidance position to its closed position or to a position close to its closed position when the first door reaches a given opening level.

3. Access device (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises a mechanical actuator (25) configured to move the flap from its closed position to its avoidance position during a first phase of opening the first door.

4. Access device (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mechanical actuator (25) includes a return means, in particular a spring (26), configured to move the flap to its avoidance position.

5. Access device (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the flap (15) is rotationally movable between its closed position and its avoidance position about an axis of rotation (Z3), and in that the electric actuator comprises an electric motor (31) provided with a rotating shaft aligned with the axis of rotation of the flap.

6. Access device (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the electric actuator (29) comprises a first disc (41) intended to be driven in rotation, the first disc comprising a drive finger (42), and in that it comprises a second disc (43) integral with the flap, the second disc being positioned opposite the first disc, the second disc comprising a circular groove (44) in which the drive finger extends.

7. Access device (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the circular groove (44) extends over an angular sector between 45° and 80° inclusive.

8. Access device (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the opening sensor (32) comprises a cable encoder fixed to the first door, a first end (37) of the cable (36) of the cable encoder being fixed to a body of the vehicle.

9. Access device (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a door frame (4) supporting means for articulating the first door and the second door, the first door being linked by pivot connection to a first vertical side (39) of the door frame, the first end (37) of the cable (36) of the cable encoder being fixed to said first side of the door frame.

10. Motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises an access device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A method of accessing a motor vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, the vehicle further comprising an access device (2) according to claim 2, the method comprising: - an initial situation in which the first door (11), the second door (12) and the flap (15) are in the closed position, then - a first phase of opening the first door, the second door remaining closed, the flap moving from its closed position to its avoidance position, then - the detection by means of said opening sensor (32) of the attainment of a given opening level of the first door, then - the activation of the electric actuator (29) to move the flap from its avoidance position to its closed position or to a position close to its closed position.

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