Door opening and closing device for a vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicular door operating device which conventionally has an assisting function only to assist a door to be opened / closed.SOLUTION: The vehicular door operating device includes an actuator A, and a door opening keeping device, the door opening keeping device having an operation part 11 to be operated when stopping a door D at an 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 operation part 11 being arranged near an inner handle H. The door D opened can be kept at the arbitrary opening to actualize good operationality of the operation part 11, as another function than the assisting function.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing device used for vehicle doors such as automobiles, and more particularly to an opening / closing device for vehicle doors having an assist function for assisting an 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 an opening / closing operating force of a 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. Further, the above opening / closing device has switches interlocked with outer and inner handles for opening the door, and the assist function operates along with the operation of the handles.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the conventional opening / closing device as described above only has an assist function for the door, and although it is possible to stop the door at the fully open position or the half-door position by a check link, it is not possible to stop the door at an arbitrary position.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an opening / closing device for a vehicle door that has an assist function and, as a function separate from the assist function, can stop an opened door at an arbitrary opening degree by an artificial operation and has good operability.

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. The operation unit is arranged near an inner handle for opening the door on the passenger compartment side.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] The door opening / closing device for a vehicle according to the present invention has an assist function in which an actuator generates an assist force according to the opening / closing operation force of the door, and further has a door opening degree maintaining device including an operation unit, an external force detection unit, and a door control unit. As a function different from the assist function, the opened door manually operated can be maintained at an arbitrary opening degree. Since the operation unit is arranged near the inner handle, good operability with less likelihood of malfunction can be obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] FIGS. 1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining an 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 driving 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 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 in parallel with 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-described 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 reciprocating motion of the push rod 2, and a reverse transmission function of converting the reciprocating 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 advancing and retracting the push rod 2. At this time, when the opening and closing operating force is large, the motor controller 4 controls so that the assist force becomes large, and when the opening and closing operating force is small, the motor controller 4 controls so that the assist force becomes small.

[0017] And 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 preferable embodiment, this door opening degree maintaining device may adopt 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). And the door opening and closing maintaining device arranges the operation unit 11 near the inner handle H for opening the door D on the vehicle compartment side.

[0019] The operation unit 11 is a switch, and as a more preferable embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, it is arranged adjacent to the front side of the vehicle of the inner handle H.

[0020] In this embodiment, since the actuator A has a reverse transmission function, the motor 1 can be used as the external force detection unit. 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 advancing and retracting directions, and the motor 1 rotates through the slider 10, the screw shaft 9, the worm wheel 8, and the worm 7, thereby generating an electromotive force.

[0021] 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) in a state where 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. Further, 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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 by the actuator A, and can maintain the door opened by an artificial operation at an arbitrary opening degree as a function different from the assist function by the door opening degree maintaining device including the operation unit 11, the external force detection unit (1), and the door control unit 12. Further, since the opening and closing device for the vehicle door is arranged with the operation unit 11 in the vicinity of the inner handle H, more preferably, adjacent to the front side of the vehicle body of the inner handle H, it is possible to obtain good operability with little risk of accidental operation because the arm or elbow does not hit the operation unit 11.

[0024] 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 the existing check link.

[0025] Furthermore, in the above-described opening / closing device for a vehicle door, the door opening degree maintaining device drives the actuator A to maintain the door D at an arbitrary opening degree, and the door control unit 12 has a function of driving the motor 1 of the actuator A in a direction resistant to the external force detected by the external force detection unit in a state where the operation unit 11 is operated. As a result, the above-described opening / closing device for a vehicle door does not require a dedicated structure for maintaining the opening degree of the door D, and the door control unit 12 can also be made a function of the motor controller 4 of the actuator A, contributing to downsizing and weight reduction of the device and reduction of manufacturing costs.

[0026] Furthermore, in the opening / closing device for a vehicle door of the above embodiment, a configuration using the motor 1 for the external force detection unit is illustrated, but as the external force detection unit, various sensors such as a pressure sensor arranged at the pressure receiving part of the push rod 2 or the slider 10, an acceleration sensor arranged on the door D, and a rotation sensor for detecting the rotation of the door D or the motor 1 can also be used.

[0027] The configuration of the opening / closing device for a vehicle door according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Signs

[0028] 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

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, characterized in that the operation unit is arranged near an inner handle for opening the door on the passenger compartment side.

2. The opening / closing device for a vehicle door according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation unit is arranged adjacent to the front side of the vehicle of the inner handle.

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