Closing device for a charging recess of a motor vehicle

Abstract

1. A closing device for a charging recess of a motor vehicle 2.1 Such a closing device, having a recess housing which is fixed to the vehicle in the operationally-ready assembled state and which has a recess opening, having a closing cover which is mounted on the recess housing so as to be movable, by means of control mechanics, relative to the recess opening between a closed position, which closes the recess opening, and an open position, which releases the recess opening, and having a drive system for displacing the closing cover between the closed position and the open position, is known. 2.2 According to the invention, the closing cover has, on opposite sides, in each case two guide pins which are spaced apart from one another and are guided in a linearly movable manner in in each case two slotted guides of the recess housing, wherein the in each case two slotted guides are positioned on the recess housing in such a way that the closing cover can be displaced from the closed position inwards into a housing interior of a recess housing as far as the open position, and the drive system has a crank rocker which acts on one of the guide pins by means of a length compensating element in order to drive the closing cover for a displacement between the closed position and the open position. 2.3 Use in passenger vehicles 20 3. Figure 1

Description

[0001] Locking device for a loading trough of a motor vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a locking device for a loading trough of a motor vehicle, with a trough housing which is fixed to the vehicle in the ready-to-use state and which has a trough opening, with a locking cover which is movably mounted on the trough housing between a closed position closing the trough opening and an open position releasing the trough opening relative to the trough opening by means of a control mechanism, and with a drive system for displacing the locking cover between the closed position and the open position.

[0003] Such a locking device is known from DE 10 2020 209 607 B4. The known locking device comprises a locking cover that closes a trough opening of a loading trough in a closed position and releases it in an open position. A rack and pinion gear and a drive device are provided for moving the locking cover between the closed and open positions. In the open position, the locking cover is displaced downwards outside the contours of the motor vehicle's body.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a locking device of the type mentioned at the outset which enables a space-saving displacement of the locking cover between the closed position and the open position.

[0005] This object is achieved in that the closing cover has two guide pins on opposite sides which are spaced apart from one another and are guided for linear movement in two slotted guides of the trough housing, wherein the two slotted guides are positioned on the trough housing in such a way that the closing cover can be displaced from the closed position inwards into the interior of the trough housing into the open position, and in that the drive system has a crank rocker which, by means of a length compensation element, engages one of the guide pins in order to drive the closing cover for a displacement between the closed position and the open position. By means of the solution according to the invention, the closing cover is displaced from its closed position into the interior of the trough housing in order to transfer it into the open position. Corresponding slotted guides are provided on the trough housing itself.This results, on the one hand, in a space-saving displacement of the locking cover between the closed position and the open position. On the other hand, in its open position, the locking cover is displaced from the outside of the vehicle into the interior of the recess housing in a way that is at least largely invisible, so that damage to the locking cover from the outside of the motor vehicle can be avoided. Regardless of the vehicle's surroundings, a reliable displacement of the locking cover between the closed position and the open position is thus ensured. The solution according to the invention is particularly advantageously suitable for a loading recess of a motor vehicle that is provided with at least one power connection for operating a vehicle-mounted power storage device for actuating an electric drive of the motor vehicle.In principle, the locking device according to the invention is also suitable for loading bays of combustion-engine vehicles, where the loading bay has a fuel filler neck for filling with fuel. Alternatively, the loading bay can also be provided to accommodate a hydrogen connection to enable hydrogen refueling of the vehicle, either for operating a combustion engine with hydrogen or for operating a fuel cell to actuate an electric drive of the vehicle.

[0006] In one embodiment of the invention, the crank arm is rotatably mounted on the trough housing. This facilitates pre-assembly of all movable functional parts of the locking device.

[0007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the drive system comprises an electric drive unit coupled to the crank arm in a torque-transmitting manner. The electric drive unit is preferably formed by an electric motor followed by a suitable transmission to apply a desired torque to the crank arm.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the length compensation element is arranged on the crank arm and designed as a linear guide member on which the guide pin is guided for linear movement. The length compensation element is intended to transfer the pure rotary movement of the crank arm to the desired linear movement of the guide pins in the slotted guides.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the linear guide member has a spring arrangement that exerts a permanent spring force on the guide pin in one direction of movement. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the locking cover, in its fully assembled position on the motor vehicle, is at least largely vertically aligned and the locking cover is to be moved upwards at an angle in the vertical direction of the vehicle for transfer to the open position. In this case, the spring arrangement advantageously supports the displacement of the locking cover in correspondingly inclined upwardly inclined guide rails. In this case, the spring arrangement advantageously exerts a compressive force on the guide pin.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, two slotted guides are provided on opposite sides of the closing cover on the trough housing, each for two opposite guide pins of the closing cover, wherein the opposing slotted guides run parallel to one another in pairs, and wherein the two slotted guides on each side intersect one another. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the trough opening is positioned in an approximately vertical body section of the motor vehicle in a ready-to-use state. The closing cover can then be moved upwards on the one hand in its vertically oriented closed position, in which it is flush with the outer skin of the body, on the other hand, to save space and can be moved upwards on the one hand and inclined inwards on the other within the trough housing and removed from the trough opening.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the guides are designed as guide grooves, with the guide grooves on each side having different groove cross-sections. This design is particularly advantageous from a structural point of view, since the guide grooves can be designed either as open slots in the trough housing or as groove-shaped recesses. The different groove cross-sections also require different diameters for the guide pins of the closing lid. This means that each guide pin is assigned to a specific guide guide, so that incorrect guidance during a closing or opening process due to running into a guide groove with a different groove cross-section can be avoided.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, a crank rocker, each with a linear guide member, is arranged on the opposite sides of the closure cover. The two crank rockers are connected to each other in a rotationally locked manner by a synchronizing shaft. This results in symmetrical and particularly uniform guidance of the closure cover on opposite sides, since the opposing guides and the opposing crank rockers are each designed identically.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the trough housing is designed in several parts. The trough housing is preferably formed by two housing parts, with one pair of guides being formed in each housing part and the other pair of guides being formed, at least in sections, in the other housing part. This ensures that the trough housing can be easily manufactured from plastic parts.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, retaining receptacles are provided on opposite outer sides of the trough housing for optionally attaching the electric drive unit. Depending on the space available when installing the locking device in the area of ​​the vehicle's loading trough, one or the other variant for attaching the electric drive unit can be selected.

[0015] Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated with reference to the drawings.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a schematic and perspective view of an embodiment of a locking device according to the invention for a loading trough of a passenger car,

[0017] Fig. 2 in a front view of the locking device according to Fig. 1 in a closed position of the locking cover,

[0018] Fig. 3 the locking device according to Fig. 2 in a side view,

[0019] Fig. 4 the locking device according to Fig. 2, but in partially open position of the

[0020] locking lid,

[0021] Fig. 5 the locking device according to Fig. 4 in a side view,

[0022] Fig. 6 the locking device according to Fig. 4 in a further open position of the locking cover,

[0023] Fig. 7 the locking device according to Fig. 6 in a side view,

[0024] Fig. 8 the locking device according to Fig. 6 in an open position of the locking cover and

[0025] Fig. 9 shows the locking device according to Fig. 8 in a side view. A motor vehicle (not shown in detail) in the form of a passenger car has a charging recess L in the area of ​​one side of the vehicle, preferably in the area of ​​a front side fender of a vehicle body, which is indicated with reference to Figs. 6 and 8. The charging recess L is positioned fixedly on the vehicle in the ready-to-use assembled state and is connected to a body support structure of the vehicle body. In the described exemplary embodiment, the passenger car has an electric drive which is fed by a power storage device mounted on the vehicle, preferably in the form of a battery pack. To charge the power storage device, a charging connection is provided in the area of ​​the charging recess L, to which a charging cable from a stationary charging station can be connected by means of a plug connection. The charging recess L is assigned a locking device 1, as can be seen with reference to Fig.1 to 9. The locking device 1 has a trough housing 2 that surrounds the charging connection of the charging trough L and, in the ready-to-use state, is also mounted securely to the vehicle. On one outer side, the trough housing 2 has a trough opening 11 that is embedded in the outer skin of the vehicle body. When the trough housing 2 is mounted securely to the vehicle, the trough opening 11 extends substantially in a plane defined by a vehicle longitudinal axis and a vehicle vertical axis. The trough opening 11 is thus at least largely vertically oriented.

[0026] The recess opening 11 is closable by a closing cover 3, which, in a closed position (Figs. 1 to 3), is flush with the outer body shell, fills the recess opening 11, and closes the loading recess L. In the illustrated embodiment, the closing cover 3 comprises a support member (not further designated) and a panel detachably attached to the outside of the support member. The panel's visual design is adapted to the surrounding outer body shell of the passenger car.

[0027] A control mechanism and a drive system are provided for moving the locking cover between the closed position (Figs. 1 to 3) and an open position (Figs. 8 and 9), which are described in more detail below. In the open position, the locking cover 3 is displaced inward and upward within the module housing 2.

[0028] The control mechanism for moving the locking cover 3 between the closed position and the open position has two guide rails 4 and 5 on each of the opposite side walls of the module housing 2. The guide rails 4 and 5 of the two opposite side walls of the module housing 2 are designed identically in pairs. This means that the opposing guide rails 4 are identical to one another, and the two opposing guide rails 5 are also identical to one another. In the latter case, a mirror-symmetrical design is present relative to a vertical central longitudinal plane of the module housing 2. The two opposing guide rails 4 are designed as guide rail grooves in the form of curved through slots in the opposite side walls of the module housing 2.The two guide rails 4 extend upwards approximately from a lower edge area of ​​the module opening 11 and in a circular arc to the rear in the respective side wall of the module housing 2. The other two guide rails 5 extend in a J-shape in the opposite side walls of the module housing 2, with a lower, front end area of ​​the guide rail 5—as seen in the side view—starting approximately in an upper half of the recess opening 11 and extending diagonally upwards and to the rear with a circular arc-shaped curvature and an adjoining, straight guide rail section. The two guide rails 4 and 5 in each side wall of the module housing 2 intersect in the curved front area of ​​the guide rails 5, as can be seen from the side views according to Figs. 3, 5, 7, and 9. The width of the guide rail groove of the guide rail 4 is greater than the width of the guide rail groove of the guide rail 5.The two opposing guide rails 5 are not provided as through-slots, but rather as groove-shaped, closed recesses in the respective side wall of the module housing 2 in order to increase the stability of the respective side wall of the module housing 2.

[0029] The support part of the closing cover 3 has, on an inner side facing away from the panel, two bearing blocks which are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction of the closing cover 3 and are integrally formed on the support part. On opposite sides of the closing cover 3, analogous to the slotted guides 4 and 5 provided on the opposite sides, two bearing blocks are provided, each carrying a guide pin 6, 7. The guide pins 6 and 7 are cylindrical and protrude outwards in the width direction on opposite sides. The guide pins 6 have a slightly larger cylindrical diameter than the guide pins 7 of the upper bearing blocks. The closing cover 3 is guided for linear movement in the slotted guides 4 and 5 by means of these four guide pins 6 and 7.The two lower guide pins 6 are guided in the opposite guide rails 4 and the two upper guide pins 7 are guided in the upper, groove-like guide rails 5.

[0030] In order to be able to control the locking cover from the closed position to the open position and back to the closed position, the previously mentioned drive system is provided. The drive system has an electric drive unit M (Fig. 1), which is attached to the outside of the module housing 2 and has an electric drive motor and an associated gearbox. The drive unit M drives a synchronization shaft 8, on which two crank rockers 9 are held in a rotationally fixed manner, which can be rotated synchronously about a rotation axis of the synchronization shaft 8 when the drive unit M is activated. The two crank rockers 9, of which only one crank rocker 9 is clearly visible in the drawings for the sake of clarity, protrude radially from the synchronization shaft 8 and are designed in a straight line along this radial.Each crank arm 9 has a linear guide member in the form of a radially extending, rectilinear guide groove of a rectilinearly projecting radial extension of the crank arm 9, which is integrated into this radial extension of the crank arm 9. A pin extension (not further designated) of the respective guide pin 7 of the closing cover 3 is guided longitudinally displaceably in this guide groove. As can be seen from Fig. 3, this pin extension is permanently subjected to a spring pressure force along the guide groove by a compression spring arrangement 10, which, according to Fig. 3, is designed as a helical compression spring. The compression spring arrangement 10 is supported in the area of ​​the synchronization shaft 8 on the one hand and on the pin extension of the guide pin 7 on the other hand and extends along the guide groove F. The compression spring arrangement exerts a permanent pressure force on the pin extension, which is coaxial with the guide pin 7, towards a radially outer end of the crank arm 9.

[0031] If the drive unit M is now activated, starting from the closed position of the closing cover 3 according to Figs. 1 to 3, a counterclockwise torque is exerted on the synchronization shaft 8 and thus on the crank rocker 9 - based on the side views according to Figs. 3, 5, 7 and 9. The crank rockers 9 therefore inevitably press the guide pins 7 backwards and diagonally upwards from the lower end position of the slotted guides 5, whereby an upper section of the closing cover 3 is initially moved backwards out of the recess opening 11. With a further rotary movement of the crank rocker 9, the lower section of the closing cover 3 with the guide pins 6 is inevitably also moved backwards and upwards, whereby the guide pins 6 are dragged upwards in the slotted guides 4. In the open position according to Figs.

[0032] 8 and 9, the guide pins 7 of the closing cover 3 have reached the upper edge area of ​​the guide rails 5. The pin extensions in the guide grooves F of the crank arm 9 have also reached the radially outer end area of ​​the guide grooves F. In this open position, the loading trough L is released to allow access to the corresponding charging connection. In order to move the closing cover 3 from the open position back to the closed position, the crank arms

[0033] 9 is driven in a simple manner in the opposite direction of rotation, ie clockwise, by means of the drive unit M until the closing cover 3 has again reached its closed position in which the closing cover 3 closes the trough opening 11.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A locking device (1) for a loading trough (L) of a motor vehicle, comprising a trough housing (2) which, in its ready-to-use state, is fixed to the vehicle and has a trough opening (11), a locking cover (3) which is movably mounted on the trough housing (2) between a closed position closing the trough opening (11) and an open position releasing the trough opening (11) relative to the trough opening (11) by means of a control mechanism, and a drive system for displacing the locking cover (3) between the closed position and the open position, characterized in that the locking cover (3) has, on opposite sides, two spaced-apart guide pins (6, 7) which are guided linearly in two respective guides (4, 5) of the trough housing (2), wherein the two respective guides (4, 5) are positioned on the trough housing (2) in such a way thatthat the closing lid (3) can be displaced from the closed position inwards into a housing interior of the trough housing (2) into the open position, and that the drive system has a crank rocker (9) which engages one of the guide pins (7) by means of a length compensation element in order to drive the closing lid (3) for a displacement between the closed position and the open position.

2. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the crank rocker (9) is rotatably mounted on the trough housing (2).

3. Locking device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive system has an electric drive unit (M) which is coupled to the crank rocker (9) in a torque-transmitting manner.

4. Locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the length compensation element is arranged on the crank rocker (9) and is designed as a linear guide member (F) on which the guide pin (7) is guided in a linearly movable manner.

5. Locking device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the linear guide member (F) has a spring arrangement (10) which exerts a permanent spring force on the guide pin (7) in one direction of movement.

6. Locking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on opposite sides of the closing cover (3) on the trough housing (2) two slotted guides (4, 5) are provided for each two opposite guide pins (6, 7) of the closing cover (3), wherein the opposite slotted guides (4, 5) run parallel to each other in pairs, and wherein the two slotted guides (4, 5) intersect each other on each side.

7. Locking device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the link guides (4, 5) are designed as link grooves, wherein the link grooves on each side have different groove cross-sections.

8. Locking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the opposite sides of the locking cover (3) a crank rocker (9) each with a linear guide member (F) is arranged, wherein the two crank rockers (9) are connected to one another in a rotationally locked manner by means of a synchronizing shaft (8).

9. Locking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trough housing (2) is designed in several parts.

10. Locking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that holding receptacles for selectively fastening the electric drive unit (M) are provided on opposite outer sides of the trough housing (2).

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