Flap drive unit

Abstract

To provide a drive device for a flap enabling comfortable operation of the flap.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a drive device 18 including a cable 22 which is connected at one end thereof to a pulley 20, an actuator for driving the pulley 20, and a torsion bar which generates a torsional moment. The torsion bar is supported on a superordinate assembly in a rotatable manner between first and second states, the torsion bar applying torque in a first direction over a first partial displacement region, applying torque in a second direction opposite the first direction over a second partial displacement region, and applying no torque over a third partial displacement region. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a superordinate flap assembly 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive device for a flap, in particular a dropgate, comprising a cable connected at one end to a pulley configured to wind or unwind the cable depending on the direction of rotation of the pulley, the pulley being connected to a first superordinate structure, such as a car body, and the cable being connected at the other end to a second superordinate structure, such as a flap, pivotably separated from the first superordinate structure, and an actuator configured to drive the pulley.

[0002]

[0003] Drives for flaps, particularly tailgates, which are mounted as pivoting flaps, for example, on the rear of pickup trucks, are known from the prior art. The flaps can be operated between a closed position and an open position either by a motor or manually. However, purely manual closing of the flaps is uncomfortable for the operator due to the high weight of the rear flaps.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a drive device for a flap which allows for comfortable operation of the flap.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by providing a drive device for a flap, in particular for a tailgate, comprising a cable connected at one end to a pulley which is configured to wind or unwind the cable depending on the direction of rotation of the pulley, the pulley being connected to a first superordinate structure, for example a vehicle body, and the cable being connected at the other end to a second superordinate structure, for example a flap, which is pivotably separated from the first superordinate structure; an actuator configured to drive the pulley; a torsion bar configured to create a corresponding opposing torsional moment upon input of a torsional force to the torsion bar; It contains the torsion bar is further supported on at least one of the first superordinate structural group and the second superordinate structural group so as to be movable between a first state of the torsion bar, which corresponds in particular to a closed position of the flap on the vehicle body, and a second state of the torsion bar, which corresponds in particular to a maximum open position of the flap on the vehicle body; the torsion bar is arranged such that the torsion bar is configured to apply a torque in a first direction over a first partial range of an overall range of possible movement between the first state and the second state of the torsion bar, the first partial range of movement extending from the first state of the torsion bar along the range of possible movement toward the second state of the torsion bar; the torsion bar is further arranged such that the torsion bar is configured to apply torque in a second direction opposite the first direction over a second partial range of movement of the entire range of possible movement, the second partial range of movement extending from the second state of the torsion bar toward the first state of the torsion bar along the range of possible movement; The torsion bar is further resolved by a drive device that is arranged such that the torsion bar is configured not to apply torque over a third partial range of movement that is arranged between the first partial range of movement and the second partial range of movement.

[0005] On the one hand, this can help and facilitate the closing of the flap, for example from a horizontally oriented position, and on the other hand, the assembly according to the invention can reduce the force with which the flap reaches the end of its range of movement, for example if the flap is released during opening. By reducing the force required for the flap to descend, it is possible to reduce the load on the flap's bearing components, particularly on the vehicle body. Furthermore, for example, the opening of the flap can be assisted when the vehicle is parked at a steep incline, in which case the flap only needs to be opened against gravity, at least initially.

[0006] Since it is important that the torsion moment of the torsion bar is applied between the flap and the structural group to which it is attached when the torsion bar is in operation, the torsion bar can be attached to the flap and supported on the superordinate structural group, or attached to the superordinate structural group and supported on the flap. Advantageously, the torsion bar can be arranged so that the torsion axis along which it applies the torsion moment is coaxial with the pivot axis of the flap on the vehicle body.

[0007] In particular, the torsion bar may have at least one protrusion that is adapted to engage in a recess formed in one of the first and second superordinate structural groups, the distance of the protrusion's movement in the recess corresponding to the third partial range of movement, so that over the third partial range of movement, the torsion bar is not supported on the flap or the vehicle body, depending on which element the torsion bar is not attached to. Upon reaching the end of the third partial range of movement, the protrusion can be supported on one edge of the recess, thereby defining the beginning of the first or second partial range of movement.

[0008] Furthermore, the entire possible range of movement of the torsion bar may extend over an angular range of at least 50° to at most 180°, in particular over an angular range of approximately 90°.

[0009] In another refinement of the invention, the pulley may be provided with a one-way clutch that supports the pulley so that it can rotate freely relative to the actuator in the direction of rotation of the pulley in which the cable is wound onto the pulley, and supports the pulley so that it cannot rotate relative to the actuator in the other direction of rotation of the pulley. As is generally known from one-way clutches, a clamping device may be arranged between the section of the pulley connected to the cable and the section of the pulley connected to the actuator. This clamping device allows the two sections to rotate relative to each other in one direction of rotation, and forms a non-rotatable support for the pulley in the other direction of rotation. For example, locking positions may be provided at regular intervals, at which the clamping device configured as a locking device can prevent relative rotation between the pulley and the actuator. Advantageously, the clamping device may be configured as a ball or roller one-way clutch. A ball or roller type one-way clutch can provide the advantage that rotation of the one-way clutch in the locking direction can achieve nearly instantaneous clamping of the clamping device, regardless of the current position of the one-way clutch. However, the movement of the pulley in the locking direction relative to the actuator to operate the clamping device is not considered a "rotatable bearing" within the scope of this invention.

[0010] A spiral spring may be associated with the one-way clutch, which applies a torque to the pulley in the pulley's winding direction, thereby rotating the pulley relative to the actuator when the cable tension decreases. This allows the spiral spring to compensate for the reduced cable tension when the flap is first manually moved toward the closed position during motorized closure of the flap. In this case, the pulley can be moved relative to the actuator while using the one-way clutch, thereby preventing the cable from leaving the pulley's guide. Of course, another elastic preload element can be used instead of the spiral spring.

[0011] For example, the actuator may include an electric motor and a worm coupled to an output of the electric motor, the worm meshing with a worm wheel forming a section of a pulley, which may be coupled to the pulley or formed integrally with the pulley.

[0012] The drive device may further include at least one deflection roller, through which the cable runs between the pulley and the second, higher-level structure. The arrangement of the deflection roller allows the force vector acting in the cable to be deflected, so that the force acting on the cable end in particular can act on the corresponding attachment point in a preferred direction. This further allows for free positioning of the associated components, in particular the pulley and / or actuator.

[0013] The pulley does not have to be formed as a complete circle, but may be formed in the form of a circle segment, in particular a quarter circle segment, which allows the construction space required for the pulley to be reduced. For example, if the pulley is formed as a quarter circle segment and is configured for a 90° movement, the total construction space of the semicircular portion where the pulley does not move can be reduced.

[0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a flap assembly comprising: The flap and a body to which a flap is pivotally attached, the body having a section to be closed by the flap; The driving device according to the present invention It contains The flap assembly has a first state of the torsion bar corresponding to a closed state of the flap on the body, and a second state of the torsion bar corresponding to a maximum open state of the flap on the body.

[0015] It should be noted that "maximum opening" in this specification means "maximum allowable opening", i.e. the maximum opening of the flap does not necessarily have to coincide with the maximum opening of the section that is to be closed by the flap.

[0016] The torsion bar may be non-rotatably connected to the flap, and the torsion bar may have a protrusion configured to engage in a notch formed in the body, the movement distance of the protrusion within the notch between two end stops of the notch corresponds to a third partial movement range, the contact of the protrusion with one end stop of the notch corresponds to the start of a first partial movement range, which then extends to a first state of the torsion bar, and the contact of the protrusion with the other end stop of the notch corresponds to the start of a second partial movement range, which then extends to a second state of the torsion bar.

[0017] Furthermore, when the flap placed in the closed position relative to the main body corresponds to an angle of 0°, the first partial movement range may correspond to an angle range of 0° to approximately 20°, the second partial movement range may correspond to an angle range of approximately 40° to a maximum of 180°, and the third partial movement range may correspond to an angle range of approximately 20° to approximately 40°. In other words, in the angle range of 0° to approximately 20°, the torsion bar generates torque in the opening direction of the flap, in the angle range of approximately 20° to approximately 40°, the torsion bar does not generate torque, and in the angle range of approximately 40° to a maximum of 180°, the torsion bar generates torque in the closing direction of the flap.

[0018] An angle between approximately 20° and approximately 40° is suitable for removing the gate after the cable, which is subsequently wound up via the spiral spring, has been released, i.e., after the cable has been released from the flap, and as long as the hinge structure allows, so that the gate can be removed, for example, for special transport runs or loading. At this opening angle, which does not have a torsional moment, the cable can be re-hooked onto the flap by running it out of the winding position manually or by an electric motor for tying.

[0019] The flap assembly may further include a stopper cable coupled at one end to the body and at the other end to the flap, the stopper cable being dimensioned to be tensioned when the angle between the flap and the body is about 180°, particularly about 90°, to provide an additional retainer to prevent the flap from being moved beyond its maximum allowable open position.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, the cable may include a stop element that contacts the counterstop when the angle between the flap and the body is approximately 180°, particularly approximately 90°, relative to a 0° closure angle of the flap on the body, thereby preventing a force applied to the section of the cable extending between the stop element and the flap from being introduced into the pulley. That is, when the cable with the stop element contacts the counterstop, a force is introduced from the flap into the cable, and then from the cable at the stop element and into the counterstop. The counterstop may be formed, for example, by a deflection roller through which the cable passes or by a section formed in the body through which the cable passes. This reduces the force on the section of the cable extending from the stop element to the pulley, thereby reducing the load on the pulley. The stop element may be formed, for example, as a threaded nipple connected to the cable.

[0021] In this case, the pulley may have a recess suitable for receiving the stop element when the cable is wound around the corresponding section of the pulley, and in particular the recess may be formed for receiving a threaded nipple.

[0022] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to several exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a flap assembly according to the invention with a first embodiment of a drive device according to the invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a flap assembly according to the present invention having a second embodiment of a drive device according to the present invention; [Figure 3]3 shows the flap assembly of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 or 2 positioned in a first range of movement. [Figure 4] 3 shows the flap assembly of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 or 2 positioned in a second range of movement. [Figure 5] 3 shows the flap assembly of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 or 2 positioned in a third range of movement. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of one section of a drive device according to the present invention; [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing possible operational steps when opening and closing the flap assembly.

[0024] 1, a flap assembly according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The flap assembly 10 includes a flap 12 and a vehicle body 14, the flap 12 being pivotable relative to the vehicle body 14 via a hinge 16 having an associated pivot axis X. The flap 12, attached to the rear of the vehicle body 14, can be referred to as a tailgate.

[0025] The flap assembly 10 further includes a drive unit 18 in accordance with the present invention. The drive unit 18 itself includes a pulley 20 and a cable 22, with the cable 22 coupled at one end to the pulley 20 and at the other end to the flap 12. The cable 22 passes between the pulley 20 and the flap 12, through a deflection roller 24, such that the cable 22 initially extends substantially horizontally from the pulley 20 to the deflection roller 24, and then extends at an angle of approximately 45° to the horizontal from the deflection roller 24 to the flap 12.

[0026] Furthermore, a stopper cable 26 is disposed between the flap 12 and the vehicle body 14. This stopper cable 26 is tensioned in the orientation position of the flap assembly 10 shown in Figure 1, so that the maximum allowable opening angle of the flap 12 relative to the vehicle body 14 corresponds to the horizontal orientation position of the flap 12. In other words, since the closed state of the flap 12 on the vehicle body 14 corresponds to the substantially vertical orientation position of the flap 12 in Figure 1, the allowable range of movement of the flap 12 relative to the vehicle body 14 about the pivot axis X is substantially 90°.

[0027] 1 rotates counterclockwise, the cable 22 winds onto the pulley 20 and the flap 12 is moved to its closed position. When the pulley 20 shown in FIG. 1 rotates clockwise, the flap 12 is lowered toward the orientation shown in FIG.

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates the flap assembly 10 in the same orientation as in FIG. 1. Instead of the disk-shaped pulley 20 shown in FIG. 1, the drive unit 18 shown in FIG. 2 includes a pulley 28 formed as a quadrant segment. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the flap 12 is oriented to the maximum allowable opening relative to the vehicle body 14, and the quadrant of the pulley 28, relative to the rotation axis A of the pulley 28, occupies the upper right quarter of an imaginary complete circle centered on the rotation axis A in FIG. 2. In this case, the radius of the quadrant segment can be designed so that the pulley 28 occupies the upper left quarter of an imaginary complete circle centered on the rotation axis A in the fully closed state of the flap 12 on the vehicle body 14. Therefore, the structural space defined by both lower quarters of the imaginary complete circle centered on the rotation axis A is not required for the movement of the pulley 28.

[0029] 2, a stop element 30 is fixedly connected to the cable 22. When the flap 12 reaches its maximum permissible open position, the stop element 30 contacts a counter stop 32, so that the section of the cable 22 extending between the stop element 30 and the flap 12 simultaneously serves as a stop cable. To enable uniform winding of the cable 22 onto the pulley 28, the circumferential surface of the pulley 28 has a recess 34 that is configured to receive the stop element 30.

[0030] In FIG. 3 , the flap 21 is shown in a fully closed position relative to the vehicle body 14. A torsion bar 36 is attached to the flap 12. The torsion bar 36 has two connecting sections, as is generally known, between which the torsion bar 36 generates a return moment when moved relative to one another. The torsion bar 36 is connected to the flap 12 at one of the two connecting sections, and a protrusion 38 is arranged on the other connecting section. The protrusion 38 engages, for example, in a slit-shaped notch 40. As the protrusion 38 contacts the lower boundary of the notch 40 in FIG. 3 , the torsion bar 36 generates a return moment that pushes the flap 12 toward its open position relative to the vehicle body 14. Unintentional movement of the flap 12 toward its open position by the torsion bar 36 can be prevented, for example, by a locking mechanism acting between the flap 12 and the vehicle body 14. The range of movement of the flap 12 relative to the vehicle body 14 from the closed position shown in Figure 3, which can be considered to be an angle of 0°, to the position of the flap 12 relative to the vehicle body 14 where the protrusion 36 no longer contacts the lower defining portion of the notch 40 can be considered to be the first partial range of movement.

[0031] 4, the flap 12 is pivoted about the pivot axis X relative to the vehicle body 14 so that the protrusion 38 does not contact either the lower or upper boundary of the notch 40. In this state, the torsion bar 36 does not generate a return moment acting on the flap 12. The range of movement of the flap 12 relative to the vehicle body 14 that extends between the position of the flap 12 relative to the vehicle body 14 where the protrusion 38 just clears the lower boundary of the notch 40 and the position of the flap 12 relative to the vehicle body 14 where the protrusion 36 is just about to contact the upper boundary of the notch 40 can be considered as a third partial range of movement.

[0032] In Figure 5, the flap 12 is shown in the fully open position as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The protrusion 38 contacts the upper delimitation of the notch 40, causing the torsion bar 36 to create a return moment that urges the flap 12 toward its closed position relative to the vehicle 14. The range of movement between the position where the protrusion 36 just contacts the upper delimitation of the notch 40 and the position of the flap 12 in its fully open position can be considered a second partial range of movement.

[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates the pulley 20 of the drive unit 18 in more detail. The pulley 20 has an annular groove 42 on its outer periphery. The cable 22 can be guided and accommodated within the groove 42. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the pulley 20 is coupled to a worm wheel 46 via a one-way clutch 44. The one-way clutch 44 allows relative rotation of the pulley 20 with respect to the worm wheel 46 in a first rotational direction and prevents relative rotation of the pulley 20 with respect to the worm wheel 46 in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. A spiral spring 48 is further disposed between the pulley 20 and the worm wheel 46. The spiral spring 48 preloads the pulley 20 with respect to the worm wheel 46 in the direction of rotation limited by the one-way clutch 44.

[0034] For example, when winding the cable 22 onto the pulley 20, if the flap 12 is manually moved in its closing direction in addition to the flap's motorized operation, the preload of the spiral spring 48 and the action of the one-way clutch 44 can compensate for the slack cable tension or accommodate the free cable 22 so that the pulley 20 moves faster than the drive speed of the worm wheel 46. When the cable tension in the cable 22 again reaches or exceeds the predetermined value, the spiral spring 48 can be preloaded again.

[0035] A worm 50 is coupled to the worm wheel 46. The worm 50 can be driven by an electric motor 52 such that rotation of the worm 50 causes rotation of the worm wheel 46 and, therefore, rotation of the pulley 20 corresponding to the direction of rotation of the worm 50.

[0036] Of course, the above-described assembly can also be used with the quadrant pulley 20 or other types of embodiments usable as a pulley.

[0037] Figure 7 shows a flowchart illustrating possible operating steps for opening and closing the flap assembly. Starting with a closed gate, i.e., the flap / gate of the flap assembly is locked by a lock on the vehicle body (step S101 in Figure 7), in this closed position, cable tension is generated by the one-way clutch and spiral spring in the cable drum. When the lock is released and the gate is moved from the closed position via the action of the torsion spring, the one-way clutch is rotated in its locking direction, i.e., the one-way clutch is engaged, and the cable is unwound from the pulley via the actuator, or if the actuator does not rotate the pulley fast enough to unwound the cable compared to the movement of the gate, the drive / actuator is entrained by the movement of the gate via the cable (step S102).

[0038] In the first case of step S103, the drive is operated without current, i.e. the flap is manually opened and the actuator is passively engaged. In this case, the one-way clutch remains engaged and the actuator is operated via the cable force. When the flap reaches the open position at the end of its travel or is stopped in an intermediate position, for example due to contact with an obstacle, the cable is tensioned via the one-way clutch and the spiral spring (step S104).

[0039] In the second case (step S105), the actuator for driving the pulley is actively operated. In this case, the flap opens by unwinding the cable from the pulley under the action of the actuator. That is, the cable is released, the one-way clutch is engaged, and the spiral spring maintains the cable tension. If the flap now reaches the open position or, as mentioned above, contacts an obstacle (step S106), the one-way clutch releases the cable drum, so that the drive continues to rotate freely and the cable remains tensioned. In the following step S107, the actuator follows the rotation while idling, so that the cable tension does not decrease significantly and the components of the transmission can be protected.

[0040] The process then proceeds to step S104 described above, where the cable is tensioned via the one-way clutch and spiral spring.

[0041] Alternatively to step S106, when the actuator is actively operated to open the gate (step S105), the gate can be additionally manually moved toward the open position so that the manual opening speed exceeds the drive speed of the actuator motor. In this case, the one-way clutch is engaged and the drive is engaged by the manual movement of the gate. In this case, increased cable tension may occur. Then, step S106 described above is performed.

[0042] Furthermore, before the flap reaches the open position or contacts an obstacle, active operation of the actuator can be stopped, and thus the drive of the pulley can also be actively stopped (step S108). As during the cable unwinding, the cable is also kept in tension by the spiral spring. Active drive of the actuator (step S105) can then be continued, or the gate can continue to be opened manually (step S103) (not shown in FIG. 7). Alternatively, in step S109, the actuator can be driven so that the gate is moved toward the closed position by the action of the actuator, i.e., by winding the cable onto the pulley by the motor. In this case, the one-way clutch is engaged, and the cable is wound onto the pulley. At the end of the travel distance, the gate again reaches the closed position according to the initially described step S101.

[0043] When closing the gate under the action of the actuator, as with the opening of the gate by the motor, the flap can also be manually acted upon so that the speed of the flap moving toward the closed position exceeds the speed at which the actuator winds the cable onto the pulley. In this case, the reduced cable tension is compensated for via the one-way clutch and the spiral spring, so that the cable can be wound onto the pulley at a speed greater than would be possible with the action of the actuator alone (step S110). Then, when the gate reaches the closed position, the operation process returns to step S101.

[0044] Of course, this manual closing can also be performed without prior actuation of the actuator to close the gate, for example, directly while the actuator is still being operated in the gate opening direction. As in step S110, in this case too, the cable is wound onto the pulley via a one-way clutch and a spiral spring, preventing slack in the tension cable.

[0045] In many cases, the gate is moved to an open position (step S104), for example to load the bed of a pickup truck, and following step S104, the gate is either electrically closed (step S109) or manually closed (step S112), where the one-way clutch is released and the spiral spring winds the cable onto the pulley. The gate then reaches the closed position again (S101).

[0046] Of course, step S112 can also follow step S108 directly (not shown in FIG. 7).

[0047] It should be noted that a detection device can be connected to the actuator, for example configured to detect the position of the flap, in particular the closed position, for example in order to deactivate or activate the actuator.

[0048] Furthermore, the function of the combination of "cable, cable drum, one-way clutch, and motor drive" is summarized again below in different words: The spiral spring may preferably always have a spring preload, with the lowest spring preload when the cable is wound and the flap is closed, and the highest spring preload when the cable is unwound and the flap is open. In order to be able to compensate for this closing moment occurring at the flap due to the spiral spring, a torsion spring with an opening moment at the flap is first required to release the spiral spring, and then, as the opening angle of the flap increases, an opening moment (minus the closing torsion spring moment) occurring from the position of the center of gravity of the flap is required.

[0049] The one-way clutch can be arranged in particular inside the cable drum and can couple a cable drum shaft driven by an electric motor to the cable drum. When the cable drum shaft is driven by the electric motor in the cable winding direction, which is the locking direction of the one-way clutch, the outer cable drum is entrained and also rotates in the cable winding direction, winding up the cable, i.e. the flap closes.

[0050] When the flap is manually closed, rather than the flap being open and the cable drum shaft being driven by the electric motor in the cable winding direction, the cable tension is reduced and in this direction of rotation the one-way clutch is released and the cable drum, actuated by the spiral spring preload, is free to rotate in the cable winding direction and maintain the cable tension or wind up the cable.

[0051] Even when the cable is removed from the flap, for example to disassemble the gate, the cable tends to be fully retracted onto the cable drum due to the spiral spring preload, and the cable tends to disappear into the drive, so to speak, it must be manually pulled out of the drive against the spiral spring force in order to retract onto the flap.

[0052] The one-way clutch in this assembly can in principle have four states simultaneously, which at any given time depend on the direction of rotation of the outer cable drum relative to the inner driven cable drum shaft and the speed and magnitude of the cable tension on the outer cable drum relative to the inner cable drum shaft.

[0053] These states are as follows: 1. The cable drum shaft is driven in the cable winding direction, the cable drum shaft rotates faster than the cable drum, the one-way clutch is engaged, the cable drum is entrained by the speed of the cable drum shaft, the cable is wound, and the flap closes. 2. The cable drum shaft is driven in the cable winding direction, and the cable drum shaft rotates (or stops) slower than the cable drum (for example, manually closing the flap earlier will increase the cable drum rotation speed), the one-way clutch is released, and the cable drum rotates faster than the cable drum shaft (due to the spiral spring), the cable is wound up quickly, and the cable tension is maintained. 3. The cable drum shaft is driven in the cable unwinding direction, and the cable tension is high enough due to the flap opening moment. The one-way clutch is engaged, and the cable drum allows the cable to unwind at the speed of the cable drum shaft in the cable unwinding direction. Even when the flap opening moment = cable force is high, the cable drum cannot unwind faster than the speed of the cable drum shaft, and the one-way clutch is closed, "unwinding speed braked by the motor." 4. When the cable drum shaft is driven in the cable unwinding direction and the cable tension is too small due to the flap opening moment (for example, the flap is prevented from opening), and there is no opening moment and the cable tension is greatly reduced, the spiral spring trying to wind up prevails, the one-way clutch is disengaged, the cable drum remains stopped and, if necessary, winds up in the cable winding direction up to the cable tension related to the spiral spring force, even while the cable drum shaft is driven by the motor in the cable unwinding direction.

Claims

1. A drive device (18) for a flap (12), in particular for a flap, comprising: a cable (22) connected at one end to a pulley (20, 28) configured to wind or unwind the cable (22) depending on the direction of rotation of the pulley (20, 28), the pulley (20, 28) connected to a vehicle body (14), and the cable (22) connected at the other end to a flap (12) pivotably separated from the vehicle body (14); an actuator configured to drive the pulleys (20, 28); a torsion bar (36) configured to create a corresponding opposing torsional moment upon input of a torsional force to the torsion bar (36); It contains The torsion bar (36) is further supported on at least one of the vehicle body (14) and the flap (12) so as to be movable between a first state of the torsion bar (36), which corresponds in particular to a closed position of the flap (12) on the vehicle body (14), and a second state of the torsion bar (36), which corresponds in particular to a maximum open position of the flap (12) on the vehicle body (14); the torsion bar (36) is arranged such that the torsion bar (36) is configured to apply a torque in a first direction over a first partial range of movement of an entire possible range of movement of the torsion bar (36) between the first state and the second state, the first partial range of movement extending from the first state of the torsion bar (36) along the possible range of movement toward the second state of the torsion bar (36); The torsion bar (36) is further arranged such that the torsion bar (36) is configured to apply torque in a second direction opposite to the first direction over a second partial range of movement of the entire range of possible movement, the second partial range of movement extending from the second state of the torsion bar (36) toward the first state of the torsion bar (36) along the range of possible movement; The torsion bar (36) is further arranged such that the torsion bar (36) is configured not to apply torque over a third partial range of movement that is located between the first partial range of movement and the second partial range of movement. A drive (18) for the flap (12).

2. 2. The drive device (18) of claim 1, wherein the torsion bar (36) has at least one protrusion (38) configured to engage within a notch (40) formed in the vehicle body (14) or the flap (12), and wherein a distance of movement of the protrusion (38) within the notch (40) corresponds to the third partial range of movement.

3. 3. The drive device (18) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the entire possible range of movement of the torsion bar (36) extends over an angular range of at least 50° to at most 180°, in particular over an angular range of approximately 90°.

4. 4. The drive device (18) according to claim 1, wherein the pulley (20, 28) is provided with a one-way clutch (44) configured to support the pulley (20, 28) so that it can rotate freely relative to the actuator in the rotation direction of the pulley (20, 28) in which the cable (22) is wound onto the pulley (20, 28), and to support the pulley (20, 28) so that it cannot rotate relative to the actuator in another rotation direction of the pulley (20, 28).

5. 5. The drive device (18) of claim 4, wherein a spiral spring (48) is associated with the one-way clutch (44), and the spiral spring (48) is configured to apply a torque to the pulleys (20, 28) in a winding direction of the cable (22) on the pulleys (20, 28), thereby causing the pulleys (20, 28) to rotate relative to the actuator when tension in the cable (22) decreases.

6. 6. A drive device (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the actuator includes an electric motor (52) and a worm (50) coupled to an output side of the electric motor, the worm (50) meshing with a worm wheel (46) forming one section of the pulley (20, 28).

7. 7. The drive device (18) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one deflection roller (24) through which the cable (22) runs between the pulley (20, 28) and the flap (12).

8. 8. The drive (18) according to claim 1, wherein the pulley (28) is formed in the form of a circular segment, in particular a quadrant segment.

9. A flap assembly (10) comprising: A flap (12), a body (14) to which the flap (12) is pivotally attached, the body (14) having a section to be closed by the flap (12); A drive device (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, It contains A flap assembly (10), wherein a first state of the torsion bar (36) corresponds to a closed state of the flap (12) on the body (14), and a second state of the torsion bar (36) corresponds to a maximum open state of the flap (12) on the body (14).

10. The torsion bar (36) is connected to the flap (12) so as not to be able to rotate relative to the flap (12), the torsion bar (36) has a protrusion (38) configured to engage within a notch (40) formed in the body (14); a distance of movement of the protrusion (38) within the notch (40) between two end stops of the notch (40) corresponds to a third partial range of movement; the contact of the protrusion (38) with one end stop of the notch (40) coincides with the start end of the first partial range of movement, and the first partial range of movement then extends until the torsion bar (36) reaches the first state; 10. The flap assembly (10) of claim 9, wherein the contact of the protrusion (38) with the other end stop of the notch (40) coincides with the start end of the second partial range of movement, and the second partial range of movement then extends to the second state of the torsion bar (36).

11. 11. The flap assembly (10) of claim 9 or 10, wherein when the flap (12) disposed in a closed position relative to the body (14) corresponds to an angle of 0°, the first partial range of movement corresponds to an angular range of 0° to approximately 20°, the second partial range of movement corresponds to an angular range of approximately 40° to a maximum of 180°, and the third partial range of movement corresponds to an angular range of approximately 20° to approximately 40°.

12. 12. The flap assembly (10) according to claim 9, further comprising a stopper cable (26), the stopper cable (26) being connected at one end to the main body (14) and at the other end to the flap (12), the stopper cable (26) being dimensioned so that the stopper cable (26) is tensioned when the angle between the flap (12) and the main body (14) is approximately 180°, particularly approximately 90°.

13. 13. The flap assembly (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the cable (22) includes a stop element (30) that is configured to contact an opposing stop (32) when the angle between the flap (12) and the body (14) is approximately 180°, in particular approximately 90°, thereby preventing a force applied to a section of the cable (22) extending between the stop element (30) and the flap (12) from being introduced into the pulley (20, 28).

14. 14. The flap assembly (10) of claim 13, wherein the pulleys (20, 28) have recesses (34) suitable for accommodating the stopper elements (30) when the cable (22) is wound around the corresponding sections of the pulleys (20, 28).

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