Opening and closing device for vehicle door

Abstract

To provide a vehicular door operating device which conventionally has an assisting function only to generate assisting force according to door opening / closing operating force.SOLUTION: The vehicular door operating device includes a door opening keeping device for keeping a door D at an arbitrary opening, the door opening keeping device having an operation part 11 to be operated when stopping the door D at the arbitrary opening, an external force detection part 1 for detecting external force generated in the opening / closing direction of the door D opened, and a door control part 12 for suppressing the turn of the door D on the basis of signals from the operation part 11 and the external force detection part 1. The vehicular door operating device including the assisting function can keep the door D opened at the arbitrary opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing device used for vehicle doors such as automobile doors, and more particularly to an opening / closing device for vehicle doors having an assist function for assisting the opening / closing operation.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional opening / closing device for vehicle doors, there is one described in Patent Document 1. The opening / closing device described in Patent Document 1 detects the opening / closing operating force of the door by a rotation sensor, and drives an assist applying member by a motor according to the rotational operating force of the door to apply an assist force for opening / closing the door. At this time, the opening / closing device changes the magnitude of the assist force according to the magnitude of the opening / closing operating force.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, generally, in a relatively narrow parking lot, it is necessary to pay attention so that the opened door does not contact the adjacent vehicle. However, the conventional opening / closing device as described above only has an assist function for the door, and of course, an assist force is also applied when opening, so it was necessary to open the door more carefully.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and an object thereof is to provide an opening / closing device for vehicle doors that can maintain an opened door at an arbitrary opening degree while having an assist function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The door opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes an actuator that generates an assist force according to the opening / closing operation force of the door, and a door opening degree maintaining device for maintaining the door at an arbitrary opening degree. The door opening degree maintaining device includes an operation unit that is operated when the door is stopped at an arbitrary opening degree, an external force detection unit that detects an external force generated in the opening / closing direction of the opened door, and a door control unit that suppresses the rotation of the door based on signals from the operation unit and the external force detection unit.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] The door opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention has an assist function of generating an assist force according to the opening / closing operation force of the door by an actuator, and can maintain the opened door at an arbitrary opening degree by a door opening degree maintaining device including an operation unit, an external force detection unit, and a door control unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] 〈First Embodiment〉 FIGS. 1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining a first embodiment of the door opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention. The door opening / closing device for a vehicle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an actuator A that generates an assist force according to the opening / closing operation force of the door D.

[0010] Actuator A is disposed inside door D. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it includes a motor 1 as a drive source, a push rod 2 with its tip connected to the vehicle body B side shown in FIG. 2, a transmission mechanism 3 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 1 into the forward and backward motion of the push rod, and a motor controller 4 that controls the rotation of the motor 1.

[0011] Specifically, actuator A has a motor 1 with its output shaft 1A facing downward and a case 6 of an electronic circuit disposed on the upper part of a housing 5 shown by a dotted line in FIG. 3, and the transmission mechanism 3 is accommodated inside the housing 5.

[0012] The transmission mechanism 3 includes a worm 7 fixed to the output shaft 1A of the motor 1, a worm wheel 8 meshing with the worm 7, a screw shaft 9 disposed with its axis substantially horizontal, and a slider 10 movable in the horizontal direction.

[0013] The screw shaft 9 has a male screw portion 9A at one end side on the right side in the figure, and the other end is rotatably held by a bearing 9B, and a worm wheel 8 is fixed at a position closer to the other end. The slider 10 is guided inside the housing 5 parallel to the axial direction of the screw shaft 9, and has a female screw portion 10A through which the male screw portion 9A of the screw shaft 9 penetrates in a screwed state.

[0014] The push rod 2 has its base end connected to the slider 10, and its tip extends outside the housing 5, and its tip is rotatably connected to the vehicle body (door trim) B side. In the above transmission mechanism 3, the worm 7 and the worm wheel 8 are structured such that rotational transmission from the worm wheel 8 to the worm 7 is possible by setting the tooth advance angle, that is, self-locking does not occur. Also, in the male screw portion 9A of the screw shaft 9 and the female screw portion 10A of the slider 10, power transmission from the screw shaft 9 to the slider 10 and power transmission from the slider 10 to the screw shaft 9 are both possible.

[0015] As a result, the transmission mechanism 3 has its original transmission function of converting the rotational motion of the motor 1 into the forward and backward motion of the push rod 2, and a reverse transmission function of converting the forward and backward motion of the push rod 2 into the rotational motion of the motor 1.

[0016] The motor controller 4 is an electronic circuit that, for example, detects the opening and closing operating force of the door D, drives the motor 1 according to the rotational operating force of the door D, and applies an assist force to open and close the door D by moving the push rod 2 forward and backward. At this time, the motor controller 4 performs control such that the assist force increases when the opening and closing operating force is large, and the assist force decreases when the opening and closing operating force is small.

[0017] The opening and closing device for a vehicle door is provided with a door opening degree maintaining device for maintaining the door D at an arbitrary opening degree. As a more preferred embodiment, this door opening degree maintaining device may employ a device that drives the actuator A to maintain the door D at an arbitrary opening degree.

[0018] The above-mentioned door opening degree maintaining device includes an operation unit 11 that operates when the door D is stopped at an arbitrary opening degree, an external force detection unit (1) for detecting an external force generated in the opening and closing direction of the opened door D, and a door control unit 12 that suppresses the rotation of the door D based on signals from the operation unit 11 and the external force detection unit (1).

[0019] The operation unit 11 is a switch that can be arranged at an appropriate position of the door D. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is arranged near the inner handle H of the door D. Since the external force detection unit in this embodiment has a reverse transmission function, the motor 1 can be utilized. That is, when an external force is generated in the opening and closing direction of the opened door D, the push rod 2 connected to the door D moves in the forward and backward direction, and the motor 1 rotates via the slider 10, the screw shaft 9, the worm wheel 8, and the worm 7, thereby generating an electromotive force.

[0020] The door control unit 12 is an electronic circuit and has a function of driving the actuator A in a direction against the external force detected by the external force detection unit (1) when the operation unit 11 is operated. More specifically, the door control unit 12 drives the motor 1 of the actuator A. That is, when an external force in the closing direction is applied to the door D and the motor 1 rotates in one direction to generate an electromotive force, the door control unit 12 drives the motor 1 in the opening direction of the door D. Also, when an external force in the opening direction is applied to the door D and the motor 1 rotates in the reverse direction to generate an electromotive force, the door control unit 12 drives the motor 1 in the closing direction of the door D.

[0021] In this way, when the door opening degree maintaining device opens the door D and operates the operation unit 11 at an arbitrary position, if an external force in the opening and closing direction is generated on the door D, the external force detection unit (1) and the door control unit 12 suppress the rotation of the door D so as to maintain the opening degree of the door D, that is, so that the door D stops at an arbitrary position.

[0022] The opening and closing device for a vehicle door having the above configuration has an assist function of generating an assist force according to the opening and closing operation force of the door D by the actuator A, and can maintain the opened door D at an arbitrary opening degree by the door opening degree maintaining device including the operation unit 11, the external force detection unit (1), and the door control unit 12.

[0023] Thereby, the above opening and closing device can prevent a situation where the opened door D contacts an adjacent vehicle in a relatively narrow parking lot, and is also convenient for performing work with the door D opened. Further, since the opening and closing device for the vehicle door can stop the door D at an arbitrary open position, the push rod 2 can be used instead of an existing check link.

[0024] Also, in the above opening and closing device for a vehicle door, since the door opening degree maintaining device drives the actuator A to maintain the door D at an arbitrary opening degree, a dedicated structure for maintaining the opening degree of the door D is not required, and the door control unit 12 can also be made a function of the motor controller 4 of the actuator A.

[0025] Furthermore, since the door opening / closing device for a vehicle described above has a function in which the door control unit 12 of the door opening degree maintaining device drives the actuator A in a direction against the external force detected by the motor 1 as the external force detection unit when the operation unit 11 is operated, it can contribute to downsizing and weight reduction of the device, and reduction of manufacturing costs.

[0026] FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining second and third embodiments of a door opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent parts as in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0027] <Second Embodiment> The door opening / closing device for a vehicle shown in FIG. 5 is a device in which the door opening degree maintaining device drives the actuator A to maintain the door D at an arbitrary opening degree, and includes an operation unit 11, an external force detection unit (13), and a door control unit 12.

[0028] The external force detection unit in this embodiment is a pressure sensor 13 disposed on the push rod 2 or the slider 10, and is disposed at a pressure receiving portion where the external force acts when an external force in the opening / closing direction is applied to the opened door D. The door control unit 2 drives the motor 1 of the actuator A in a direction against the pressure (external force) detected by the pressure sensor 13 when the operation unit 11 is operated.

[0029] <Third Embodiment> The door opening / closing device for a vehicle shown in FIG. 6 is a device in which the door opening degree maintaining device drives the actuator A to maintain the door D at an arbitrary opening degree, and includes an operation unit 11, an external force detection unit (14), and a door control unit 12.

[0030] The operation unit 11 in the illustrated example is disposed on the armrest R of the door D. Further, the external force detection unit in this embodiment is an acceleration sensor 14, and is disposed on the rotation tip end side (anti-hinge side) of the door D. The door control unit 2 drives the motor 1 of the actuator A in a direction against the acceleration (external force) detected by the acceleration sensor 4 when the operation unit 11 is operated.

[0031] Also in the above-described second and third embodiments, similar to the first embodiment, an assist function for generating an assist force according to the opening / closing operating force of the door D by the actuator A is provided, and the opened door D can be maintained at an arbitrary opening degree by the door opening degree maintaining device. Note that, as the external force detection unit, in addition to those described in the second and third embodiments, it is also possible to use a sensor or the like that detects the rotation of the door D or the motor 1.

[0032] The opening / closing device for a vehicle door according to the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention, and it is also possible to combine the configurations shown in the respective embodiments.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] A Actuator B Vehicle body D Door 1 Motor (external force detection unit) 2 Push rod 3 Transmission mechanism 4 Motor controller 11 Operation unit 12 Door control unit 13 Pressure sensor (external force detection unit) 14 Acceleration sensor (external force detection unit)

Claims

1. An opening / closing device for a vehicle door, comprising an actuator that generates an assist force according to the opening / closing operation force of the door, comprising a door opening degree maintaining device for maintaining the door at an arbitrary opening degree, wherein the door opening degree maintaining device includes an operation unit that is operated when the door is stopped at an arbitrary opening degree, an external force detection unit for detecting an external force generated in the opening / closing direction of the opened door, and a door control unit that suppresses the rotation of the door based on signals from the operation unit and the external force detection unit. The opening / closing device for a vehicle door is characterized by this.

2. The opening / closing device for a vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein the door opening degree maintaining device is a device that drives the actuator to maintain the door at an arbitrary opening degree.

3. The opening / closing device for a vehicle door according to claim 2, wherein the door control unit of the door opening degree maintaining device has a function of driving the actuator in a direction against the external force detected by the external force detection unit in a state where the operation unit is operated.

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