Opening / closing support device

Abstract

To provide an opening / closing body support device capable of shortening a natural length of a coil spring received in an expansion / contraction part.SOLUTION: A door support device 50 comprises: an expansion / contraction part 80 which include an outer cylinder 60 and an inner cylinder 70 inserted into the outer cylinder 60, and expands / contracts in an axial direction when the inner cylinder 70 is moved with respect to the outer cylinder 60; a coil spring 100 which is received in the expansion / contraction part 80 and energizes the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70 in a direction where the expansion / contraction part 80 expands / contracts; and an extension part 90 which is fixed to an end part in an axial direction of the expansion / contraction part 80, and extends in the axial direction from the end part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing body supporting device. [Background Art]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle including a vehicle body having a door opening, a back door that opens and closes the door opening, and an opening / closing body supporting device connected to both the vehicle body and the back door. The opening / closing body supporting device includes a telescopic portion configured to include a cylindrical outer cylinder and a cylindrical inner cylinder, and a coil spring and a gas spring that bias the telescopic portion in an extending direction. A first end of the opening / closing body supporting device in the longitudinal direction is connected to the vehicle body, and a second end of the opening / closing body supporting device in the longitudinal direction is connected to the back door. Thus, the opening / closing body supporting device biases the back door in the opening direction. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-94902 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the opening / closing body supporting device as described above, the coil spring is accommodated inside the telescopic portion in a compressed state. In this respect, the opening / closing body supporting device requires a coil spring having a longer natural length as the maximum length of the telescopic portion increases. This circumstance is the same also in an opening / closing body supporting device that biases an opening / closing body that opens and closes another opening of a vehicle. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] Means for solving the above problem and the operational effects thereof will be described below. [Aspect 1] An opening / closing support device connected to both a vehicle body having an opening and an opening / closing body for opening and closing the opening, comprising: an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder inserted into the outer cylinder so as to be coaxial with the outer cylinder, the expandable part which expands and contracts in the axial direction by moving the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder; a coil spring housed in the expandable part which biases the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in the direction in which the expandable part expands; and an extension part fixed to the axial end of the expandable part and extending in the axial direction from that end.

[0006] The opening / closing support device can shorten the axial length of the telescopic section by the length of the extension section. Therefore, the opening / closing support device can shorten the natural length of the coil spring housed in the telescopic section.

[0007] [Aspect 2] In the opening / closing support device described in Aspect 1, it is preferable that the extension portion is press-fitted into the end of the outer cylinder. The opening and closing support device allows the extension and outer cylinder to be integrated without the use of fastening members such as screws, thereby reducing the number of parts that make up the device.

[0008] [Aspect 3] In the opening / closing support device described in Aspect 1 or Aspect 2, the extension is cylindrical, and one of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder has a bottom wall at the end to which the extension is fixed, which is sandwiched in the axial direction between the coil spring and the extension, and when the annular surface of the extension that is in contact with the bottom wall is the tip surface, it is preferable that the inner diameter of the tip surface of the extension is smaller than the average coil diameter of the coil spring, and the outer diameter of the tip surface of the extension is larger than the average coil diameter of the coil spring.

[0009] In the opening / closing support device, there is no discrepancy between the diameter of the coil spring and the diameter of the tip surface of the extension. Therefore, the biasing force of the coil spring is efficiently transmitted to the extension via the bottom wall. [Aspect 4] In the opening / closing support device described in any one of aspects 1 to 3, it is preferable that the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are made of a resin material.

[0010] The opening / closing support device, by having an extension, can shorten the axial length of the outer and inner cylinders. Therefore, even when the outer and inner cylinders are molded from resin, a large molding machine is not required. Thus, the opening / closing support device can increase the design flexibility of the outer and inner cylinders while suppressing deterioration of the moldability of the outer and inner cylinders.

[0011] [Aspect 5] In the opening / closing support device described in any one of aspects 1 to 4, the device comprises: a first connecting portion connected to one of the vehicle body and the opening / closing body; a second connecting portion connected to the other of the vehicle body and the opening / closing body; and a gas spring that expands and contracts in the axial direction, wherein the first connecting portion is fixed to the first end in the axial direction and the second connecting portion is fixed to the second end in the axial direction, and the expandable portion and the extension portion are preferably arranged between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion in the axial direction.

[0012] Based on the restoring force of the coil spring, when the telescopic section extends, the restoring force of the coil spring acts in a direction that widens the gap between the first and second connecting sections. Similarly, when the gas spring extends, the restoring force of the coil spring acts in a direction that widens the gap between the first and second connecting sections. Therefore, the opening / closing support device can apply a greater force in the opening direction of the opening / closing body. On the other hand, since the telescopic section and the extension section are only positioned between the first and second connecting sections, the restoring force of the gas spring can be prevented from acting on the telescopic section and the extension section. Thus, the opening / closing support device can prevent the restoring force of the gas spring from acting in a direction that separates the telescopic section and the extension section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The opening / closing support device allows for a shorter natural length of the coil spring housed inside the telescopic section. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1]Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle including a door supporting device. [Figure 2] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the door supporting device. [Figure 3] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the door supporting device. [Figure 4] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the door supporting device. [Figure 5] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the door supporting device. [Figure 6] Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of Fig. 5. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle including a door supporting device will be described. <Configuration of the present embodiment> As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 20, a back door 30, a door driving device 40, and a door supporting device 50. The back door 30 corresponds to an "opening / closing body", and the door supporting device 50 corresponds to an "opening / closing body supporting device".

[0016] <Vehicle body 20> The vehicle body 20 has a door opening 21 that opens rearward. In a rear view, the door opening 21 is formed in a rectangular shape having the width direction as the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction as the transverse direction. The door opening 21 is a portion through which cargo loaded into and unloaded from the luggage compartment of the vehicle 10 passes. The door opening 21 corresponds to an "opening". Although not illustrated, two brackets each including a ball forming a ball joint are respectively provided on both sides of the door opening 21 in the width direction.

[0017] <Back door 30> The back door 30 has a shape corresponding to the door opening 21. The back door 30 is rotatably supported on the vehicle body 20 about an axis extending in the width direction. The rotation axis of the back door 30 passes above the door opening 21 in the vehicle body 20. The back door 30 is displaceable between a fully closed position where the door opening 21 is fully closed and a fully open position where the door opening 21 is fully opened. Although not shown in the drawings, two brackets each including a ball constituting a ball joint are respectively provided on both sides of the back door 30 in the width direction.

[0018] <Door driving device 40> The door driving device 40 is an electric actuator that expands and contracts using an electric motor as a driving source. The door driving device 40 has a rod shape. In the present embodiment, the door driving device 40 is assembled to the right side of the vehicle 10. In addition, the shape of the door driving device 40 is substantially the same as the shape of the door supporting device 50. For this reason, in FIG. 1, the door driving device 40 is hidden behind the door supporting device 50. A first end of the door driving device 40 is connected to the vehicle body 20, and a second end of the door driving device 40 is connected to the back door 30. Both the connecting portion between the first end of the door driving device 40 and the vehicle body 20 and the connecting portion between the second end of the door driving device 40 and the back door 30 constitute a ball joint.

[0019] <Door supporting device 50> As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the door supporting device 50 comprises a telescopic part 80 having an outer cylinder 60 and an inner cylinder 70, an extension part 90, a coil spring 100, a gas spring 110, two ball sockets 121, 122, and two washers 131, 132.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the outer cylinder 60 is cylindrical. The outer cylinder 60 is molded from, for example, a resin material. The outer cylinder 60 has a cylindrical first circumferential wall 61 and a disc-shaped first bottom wall 62. As shown in Figure 3, the first circumferential wall 61 has a plurality of ribs 63 extending toward the axis of the first circumferential wall 61. The plurality of ribs 63 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the first circumferential wall 61. The plurality of ribs 63 are located near the first end in the longitudinal direction of the first circumferential wall 61. The first bottom wall 62 corresponds to the "bottom wall". The first bottom wall 62 is located slightly offset from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the first circumferential wall 61. The first bottom wall 62 has a first through hole 64 that penetrates axially.

[0021] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the inner cylinder 70 is cylindrical. Like the outer cylinder 60, the inner cylinder 70 is molded from, for example, a resin material. The inner cylinder 70 has a cylindrical second circumferential wall 71 and a disc-shaped second bottom wall 72. The outer diameter of the second circumferential wall 71 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first circumferential wall 61 of the outer cylinder 60. The second bottom wall 72 is provided at the second end of the second circumferential wall 71 in the longitudinal direction. The second bottom wall 72 has a second through hole 73 that penetrates axially.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5, the first end of the inner cylinder 70 is inserted into the outer cylinder 60 from the second end of the outer cylinder 60. At this time, the second circumferential wall 71 of the inner cylinder 70 is located inside the first circumferential wall 61 of the outer cylinder 60, and the second bottom wall 72 of the inner cylinder 70 and the first bottom wall 62 of the outer cylinder 60 are axially opposite each other. Also, the axis of the inner cylinder 70 and the axis of the outer cylinder 60 coincide. In other words, the inner cylinder 70 and the outer cylinder 60 are coaxial. Furthermore, the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70 are capable of moving relative to each other.

[0023] In the following explanation, a decrease in the axial overlap between the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70, in other words, a widening of the gap between the first bottom wall 62 of the outer cylinder 60 and the second bottom wall 72 of the inner cylinder 70, is referred to as "the expandable portion 80 extending." Conversely, an increase in the axial overlap between the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70, in other words, a narrowing of the gap between the first bottom wall 62 of the outer cylinder 60 and the second bottom wall 72 of the inner cylinder 70, is referred to as "the expandable portion 80 contracting." Furthermore, when the inner cylinder 70 is inserted into the outer cylinder 60, a closed space is formed between the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70, except for the first insertion hole 64 and the second insertion hole 73.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the extension 90 is cylindrical. The extension 90, like the outer cylinder 60 and inner cylinder 70, is molded from, for example, a resin material. The extension 90 has a cylindrical third circumferential wall 91 and a cylindrical fitting portion 92. Reinforcing ribs 93 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the third circumferential wall 91 for reinforcement. The fitting portion 92 protrudes axially from the first end of the third circumferential wall 91 in the axial direction. The outer diameter of the fitting portion 92 is the same as the inner diameter of the first circumferential wall 61 of the outer cylinder 60. In the following description, the end face of the fitting portion 92 will be referred to as the "tip face 94". The tip face 94 is annular when viewed from the axial direction.

[0025] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the fitting portion 92 of the extension 90 is press-fitted into the first end of the outer cylinder 60. When the fitting portion 92 is press-fitted, the rib 63 of the outer cylinder 60 is crushed by the fitting portion 92. The fitting portion 92 is press-fitted into the outer cylinder 60 until the tip surface 94 of the fitting portion 92 contacts the first bottom wall 62 of the outer cylinder 60. As a result, the outer cylinder 60 and the extension portion 90 become one. At this time, as shown in Figure 6, the first bottom wall 62 of the outer cylinder 60 is sandwiched in the axial direction between the first end of the coil spring 100 and the tip surface 94 of the extension portion 90.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the coil spring 100 is housed in a compressed state inside the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70. At this time, the first end of the coil spring 100 in the axial direction is in contact with the first bottom wall 62 of the outer cylinder 60, and the second end of the coil spring 100 in the axial direction is in contact with the second bottom wall 72 of the inner cylinder 70. Therefore, when the expandable portion 80 is extended, the amount of compressive deformation of the coil spring 100 decreases, and when the expandable portion 80 is contracted, the amount of compressive deformation of the coil spring 100 increases.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the gas spring 110 is rod-shaped. The gas spring 110 comprises a cylinder 111 in which compressed gas is sealed, and a piston rod 112 that is biased by the gas compressed in the cylinder 111. When an external force acts on the piston rod 112 in a direction that causes the gas spring 110 to contract, the gas is compressed in the cylinder 111. On the other hand, when the external force acting on the piston rod 112 is released while the gas spring 110 is contracted, the gas expands in the cylinder 111. As a result, the piston rod 112 is displaced in a direction that causes the gas spring 110 to extend.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the gas spring 110 is inserted through the outer cylinder 60, the inner cylinder 70, the extension 90, and the coil spring 100. A ball socket 121 is fixed to the first end of the gas spring 110, i.e., the end of the cylinder 111, with a washer 131 in between. Here, since the washer 131 and the extension 90 are only in contact in the axial direction, the force of the gas spring 110 attempting to extend does not act on the extension 90. On the other hand, a ball socket 122 is fixed to the second end of the gas spring 110, i.e., the end of the piston rod 112, with a washer 132 in between. Here, since the washer 132 and the inner cylinder 70 are only in contact in the axial direction, the force of the gas spring 110 attempting to extend does not act on the inner cylinder 70. Thus, the telescopic section 80 and the extension section 90 are positioned only between the two ball sockets 121 and 122 and the two washers 131 and 132 in the axial direction. In this respect, the ball socket 121 corresponds to the "first connecting section," and the ball socket 122 corresponds to the "second connecting section."

[0029] The door support device 50 is mounted on the left side of the vehicle 10. The ball socket 121 of the door support device 50 is connected to the vehicle body 20, and the ball socket 122 of the door support device 50 is connected to the back door 30. Thus, the connection point between the ball socket 121 of the door support device 50 and the vehicle body 20, and the connection point between the ball socket 122 of the door support device 50 and the back door 30, both constitute a ball joint. When the door support device 50 extends, it generates a moment on the left side of the back door 30 that rotates the back door 30 in the opening direction.

[0030] <Operation of this embodiment> The operation of the back door 30, which is positioned in the fully closed position, when it is opened will be described. When the back door 30 is opened, the door drive unit 40 extends. At this time, on the right side of the back door 30, the extension of the door drive unit 40 generates a moment that rotates the back door 30 in the opening direction. On the other hand, on the left side of the back door 30, the extension of the door support unit 50 generates a moment that rotates the back door 30 in the opening direction. In this way, the back door 30 is opened to the fully open position while suppressing the tilt of the back door 30 in the width direction. Thus, the door support unit 50 balances the left and right sides of the back door 30 when it is opened. In this respect, the door support unit 50 is sometimes called a "balancer".

[0031] The operation of the back door 30, which is positioned in the fully open position, when it is closed will be explained. When the back door 30 is closed, the door drive unit 40 is retracted. At this time, on the right side of the back door 30, the retraction of the door drive unit 40 generates a moment that rotates the back door 30 in the closing direction. As a result, the back door 30 is closed toward the fully closed position. On the left side of the back door 30, the coil spring 100 and gas spring 110 of the door support unit 50 are compressed as the back door 30 is closed. In other words, the door support unit 50 is retracted.

[0032] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) The door support device 50 can shorten the axial length of the telescopic section 80 by the length of the extension section 90 in the axial direction. Therefore, the door support device 50 can shorten the natural length of the coil spring 100 housed in the telescopic section 80.

[0033] (2) The required length of the door support device 50 varies depending on the vertical size of the door opening 21, in other words, the vertical size of the back door 30. Specifically, the longer the vertical length of the door opening 21, the longer the maximum length of the door support device 50 required. In this regard, the length of the door support device 50 can be changed by replacing the extension portion 90 with another extension portion 90 having a different axial length. In this case, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the variable-length portion, specifically the outer cylinder 60 and inner cylinder 70 and the coil spring 100. In other words, when considering deployment to multiple vehicles 10 with different specifications, it is not necessary to change the specifications of the outer cylinder 60 and inner cylinder 70 and the coil spring 100. Therefore, the door support device 50 can be easily applied to multiple vehicles 10 with different specifications. When changing the length of the extension portion 90 in the door support device 50, it is preferable to also change the gas spring 110 to another gas spring 110 of a different length.

[0034] (3) In the door support device 50, the extension portion 90 is press-fitted into the end of the outer cylinder 60. Therefore, the door support device 50 can integrate the extension portion 90 and the outer cylinder 60 without the use of fastening members such as screws. Thus, the door support device 50 can reduce the number of parts that make up the device.

[0035] (4) As shown in Figure 6, the inner diameter ID of the tip surface 94 of the extension 90 is smaller than the average coil diameter SD of the coil spring 100, and the outer diameter OD of the tip surface 94 of the extension 90 is larger than the average coil diameter SD of the coil spring 100. Therefore, in the door support device 50, there is no discrepancy between the diameter of the coil spring 100 and the diameter of the tip surface 94 of the extension 90. As a result, the biasing force of the coil spring 100 is efficiently transmitted to the extension 90 via the first bottom wall 62.

[0036] (5) As described above, the door support device 50, by having an extension portion 90, can shorten the axial length of the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70. Therefore, even when the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70 are molded from resin, a large molding machine is not required. Thus, the door support device 50 can increase the design freedom of the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70 while suppressing deterioration of the moldability of the outer cylinder 60 and the inner cylinder 70.

[0037] (6) When the telescopic section 80 extends based on the restoring force of the coil spring 100, the restoring force of the coil spring 100 acts in a direction that widens the distance between the ball sockets 121 and 122. Similarly, when the gas spring 110 extends, the restoring force of the coil spring 100 acts in a direction that widens the distance between the ball sockets 121 and 122. Therefore, the door support device 50 can exert a greater force in the opening direction of the back door 30.

[0038] (7) The telescopic section 80 and the extension section 90 are positioned only between the ball sockets 121 and 122. In other words, the first end of the gas spring 110 is not fixed to the first end of the extension section 90, and the second end of the gas spring 110 is not fixed to the second end of the telescopic section 80. Therefore, the door support device 50 can prevent the restoring force of the gas spring 110 from acting in a direction that would separate the telescopic section 80 and the extension section 90.

[0039] <Example of changes> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0040] The materials of the outer cylinder 60, inner cylinder 70, and extension 90 do not have to be resin. For example, the materials of the outer cylinder 60, inner cylinder 70, and extension 90 can be made of metal. Instead of fixing the extension 90 to the first end of the outer cylinder 60, the extension 90 can also be fixed to the second end of the inner cylinder 70. In other words, the extension 90 only needs to be fixed to one end of the telescopic section 80 in the axial direction.

[0041] The extension 90 may be fixed to the first end of the outer cylinder 60, and another extension 90 may be fixed to the second end of the inner cylinder 70. In other words, the door support device 50 may have two extensions 90.

[0042] The outer cylinder 60 and the extension 90 may be fixed together using fastening members such as screws, or they may be fixed together using adhesive or the like. The inner diameter ID of the tip surface 94 of the extension 90 may be larger than the average coil diameter SD. Similarly, the outer diameter OD of the tip surface 94 of the extension 90 may be smaller than the average coil diameter SD. However, it is preferable that the tip surface 94 of the extension 90 is large enough to contact the first bottom wall 62 of the outer cylinder 60.

[0043] The door support device 50 does not necessarily have to include a gas spring 110. In this case, it is preferable that the ball socket 122 is fixed to the second end of the inner cylinder 70, and the ball socket 121 is fixed to the first end of the extension 90.

[0044] In the door support device 50, the first end of the gas spring 110 may be fixed to the first end of the extension 90. Similarly, the second end of the gas spring 110 may be fixed to the second end of the inner cylinder 70.

[0045] The door support device 50 may incorporate an actuator driven by an electric motor instead of a gas spring 110. In other words, the door support device 50 can also be a door drive device 40.

[0046] The vehicle 10 may be equipped with a separate door support device 50 instead of the door drive device 40. In other words, the back door 30 may be a door that is opened and closed manually by the user. The "opening / closing support device" can also be configured to support the bonnet panel, fuel lid, and front door as "opening / closing elements." Preferably, these opening / closing elements are those that open and close the opening by rotating around an axis extending in any direction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 10... Vehicles 20... Vehicle body 21... Door opening (opening) 30... Back door (opening / closing mechanism) 40... Door drive system 50... Door support device (opening / closing support device) 60…Outer cylinder 61…1st peripheral wall 62...First bottom wall (bottom wall) 70…Inner cylinder 71…Second peripheral wall 72...Second bottom wall 80...Extendable part 90...Extension part 91...Third peripheral wall 92... Fitting part 94…Tip surface 100... Coil spring 110... Gas spring 121...Ball socket (first connecting part) 122...Ball socket (second connecting part)

Claims

1. An opening / closing support device connected to both a vehicle body having an opening and an opening / closing body that opens and closes the opening, An expandable portion having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder inserted into the outer cylinder so as to be coaxial with the outer cylinder, and which expands and contracts in the axial direction by moving the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder, A coil spring housed in the telescopic portion and biasing the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in the direction in which the telescopic portion extends, An extension portion is fixed to the end of the aforementioned expandable portion in the axial direction and extends from that end in the axial direction, A first connecting portion connected to one of the vehicle body and the opening / closing body, A second connecting portion connected to the other of the vehicle body and the opening / closing body, A gas spring that expands and contracts in the axial direction, wherein the first connecting portion is fixed to the first end in the axial direction and the second connecting portion is fixed to the second end in the axial direction, The telescopic portion and the extension portion are positioned in the axial direction between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, so that no force acting on them causes the gas spring to extend. Opening / closing support device.

2. The extension is press-fitted into the end of the outer cylinder. The opening / closing support device according to claim 1.

3. The extension is cylindrical in shape. One of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder has a bottom wall at the end to which the extension is fixed, which is sandwiched in the axial direction between the coil spring and the extension. When the annular surface in the extension that is in contact with the bottom wall is defined as the tip surface, The inner diameter of the tip surface of the extension is smaller than the average coil diameter of the coil spring. The outer diameter of the tip surface of the extension is larger than the average coil diameter of the coil spring. The opening / closing support device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are made of resin material. The opening / closing support device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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