Lid device

Abstract

The present invention ensures stable sealing performance.　In a lid device 10, in a closed position of a lid 30, a lid base 32 is disposed in a recessed part 22 of a housing 20, and an outer peripheral part 32A of the lid base 32 is surrounded by a side wall 22B of the recessed part 22 with a predetermined gap G therebetween. Here, an outer seal member 60 is provided on the lid base 32, is disposed in the gap G so as to surround the outer peripheral part 32A of the lid base 32, and abuts the side wall 22B of the recessed part 22, thereby elastically deforming toward the lid base 32 side. That is, the outer seal member 60 elastically deforms in a direction intersecting the vehicle width direction (the opening / closing direction of the lid 30 in the closed position) within the gap G. As a result, even if positional variation of the lid 30 occurs in the vehicle width direction, an amount by which the outer seal member 60 is pressed by the side wall 22B does not substantially change. Thus, an elastic deformation state of the outer seal member 60 can be made substantially constant. Therefore, stable sealing performance can be ensured.

Description

Lid device

[0001] The present invention relates to a lid device.

[0002] The lid device of Patent Document 1 below includes a housing provided with a power supply port and a lid that opens and closes the housing. An annular seal is provided on the periphery of the housing, and the seal seals the gap between the periphery of the housing and the outer periphery of the lid. This ensures that the lid device is waterproof.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-054186

[0004] However, the above-described lid device has room for improvement in the following respects. Specifically, in the above-described lid device, the sealing material is formed in a plate shape that protrudes from the outer periphery of the housing toward the lid when viewed in the circumferential direction of the sealing material. Furthermore, the rear surface of the lid presses the leading end of the sealing material, causing the sealing material to elastically deform in the thickness direction of the lid (opening / closing direction). Here, if the position of the lid in the closed position in the opening / closing direction varies due to, for example, component tolerances or assembly errors, the distance between the lid and the housing changes. In other words, the amount of elastic deformation of the sealing material changes. Therefore, the above-described lid device may not be able to ensure stable sealing.

[0005] In consideration of the above, the present invention provides a lid device that can ensure stable sealing performance.

[0006] One or more embodiments of the present invention are a lid device comprising: a housing provided inside an opening in a vehicle panel and having a recess open toward the opening; a lid that is arranged in a closed position to close the opening and that is arranged in an open position to open the opening by moving from the closed position toward the opening side of the recess; and a lid base that is arranged inside the recess and surrounded by a side wall of the recess with a predetermined gap; and a sealing member that is elastic and provided on one of the lid base and the side wall of the recess, is arranged in the gap to surround the lid base, and abuts against the other of the lid base and the side wall of the recess, elastically deforming toward the one side.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a stable sealing performance can be ensured.

[0008] 1 is a front view schematically showing the lid device according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which the lid of the lid device shown in FIG. 1 has been moved to an open position. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1) showing a connected state between the link mechanism and the lid shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1) showing an interior of the lid device shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the top side. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2) showing a connected state between the link mechanism and the lid in the lid device shown in FIG. 2, as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 6 is a back view of the lid of the lid device shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the inside in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1) showing an interior of an upper end portion of the lid device shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the rear side.

[0009] The lid device 10 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the arrow UP shown in the drawings indicates the upper side of the vehicle (automobile) to which the lid device 10 is applied, the arrow FR indicates the front side of the vehicle, and the arrow OUT indicates the outer side in the vehicle width direction. In the following description, when the up / down and front / rear directions are used, they refer to the up / down and front / rear directions of the vehicle unless otherwise specified.

[0010] 1 to 5, the lid device 10 is provided on the side of the rear of the vehicle (in this embodiment, on the right side of the vehicle). The lid device 10 includes a housing 20, a lid 30, a link mechanism 40, an outer seal member 60 as a seal member, and an inner seal member 70 as a biasing member. Each component of the lid device 10 will be described below.

[0011] (Regarding the housing 20) The housing 20 is provided on the vehicle widthwise inner side of an opening 80A provided in an outer panel 80 serving as a panel of the vehicle. The housing 20 has a recess 22 that opens outward in the vehicle width direction (toward the opening 80A). Specifically, the recess 22 includes a bottom wall 22A whose thickness direction is the vehicle width direction, and cylindrical side walls 22B that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the outer periphery of the bottom wall 22A. When viewed from the front-rear direction, the upper and lower side walls 22B are inclined outward in the vertical direction as they extend outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0012] An exposure hole 22C is formed through the bottom wall 22A of the recess 22. The exposure hole 22C is formed as a generally elongated hole with its longitudinal direction extending in the front-to-rear direction. A part of the energy receiving portion 82 (see FIG. 2) is disposed inside the exposure hole 22C, and the energy receiving portion 82 is exposed to the outside in the vehicle width direction through the exposure hole 22C.

[0013] A pair of front and rear link accommodating portions 22DF, 22DR for accommodating a link mechanism 40 (described later) are formed in the bottom wall 22A of the recess 22, on the front-rear outer sides of the exposure hole 22C. The link accommodating portions 22DF, 22DR are formed in a recessed shape that opens outward in the vehicle width direction and extend in the vertical direction. The vertical length of the rear link accommodating portion 22DR is set to be longer than the vertical length of the front link accommodating portion 22DF.

[0014] (Regarding the Lid 30) As shown in FIG. 6 , the lid 30 is formed as a generally rectangular plate with its thickness aligned with the vehicle width direction. The lid 30 includes a lid base 32 that forms the inner portion of the lid 30 in the vehicle width direction, and a lid panel 34 that forms the outer end of the lid 30 in the vehicle width direction. The lid base 32 is made of resin and is formed in the shape of a relatively shallow rectangular box that opens outward in the vehicle width direction. The lid panel 34 is formed in the shape of a generally rectangular plate with its thickness aligned with the vehicle width direction. The lid panel 34 is disposed outward in the vehicle width direction from the lid base 32 so as to close the opening of the lid base 32, and is fixed to the lid base 32 at a position not shown. When the lid panel 34 is fixed to the lid base 32, the outer periphery of the lid panel 34 is disposed outside the lid base 32. That is, both vertical ends of the lid panel 34 protrude outward in the vertical direction relative to the lid base 32 , and both front-rear end portions of the lid panel 34 protrude outward in the front-rear direction relative to the lid base 32 .

[0015] The lid 30 is configured to be movable between a closed position (position shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4) in which the opening 80A is blocked and an open position (position shown in Figures 2 and 5) in which the opening 80A is open, by a link mechanism 40 described later.

[0016] When the lid 30 is in the closed position, the inner portion of the lid base 32 in the vehicle width direction is disposed within the recess 22. That is, the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32 is surrounded by the side wall 22B of the recess 22, and the inner end of the lid base 32 in the vehicle width direction overlaps with the side wall 22B when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the recess 22. Specifically, a predetermined gap G is formed between the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32 and the side wall 22B of the recess 22, and the outer peripheral surface of the lid base 32 is formed parallel to the inner peripheral surface of the side wall 22B when viewed from the circumferential direction of the recess 22.

[0017] On the other hand, when the lid 30 is in the open position, the lid 30 is disposed on the outer side and below the housing 20 in the vehicle width direction, and is also disposed on the outer side of the outer panel 80 in the vehicle width direction. When the lid 30 is in the open position, the lid 30 extends in a direction that slopes inward in the vehicle width direction as it extends downward when viewed from the front-to-rear direction. The following description will be given with the lid 30 in the closed position.

[0018] An escape recess 32B for locating a part of a driven link 44 (described later) is formed at the upper end of the bottom wall of the lid base 32. The escape recess 32B is formed in a concave shape that opens toward the inside in the vehicle width direction and extends in the front-rear direction.

[0019] (Regarding the Link Mechanism 40) The link mechanism 40 is a mechanism that connects the housing 20 and the lid 30 and moves the lid 30 between an open position and a closed position by actuation. The link mechanism 40 includes a drive link 42 and a pair of front and rear driven links 44. The drive link 42 is formed in a generally elongated shape extending in the vertical direction and is bent into a generally U-shape that opens outward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front-to-rear direction. The drive link 42 is accommodated in a rear link accommodating portion 22DR of the housing 20. The lower end (base end) of the drive link 42 is rotatably coupled to the housing 20 within the link accommodating portion 22DR, with the front-to-rear direction being the axial direction. The upper end (tip end) of the drive link 42 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the link accommodating portion 22DR, is positioned above the relief recess 32B and inward in the vehicle width direction of the upper end of the lid base 32, and is rotatably coupled to the lid base 32 with the front-to-rear direction being the axial direction.

[0020] The pair of driven links 44 are formed in a generally elongated shape extending in the up-down direction and are bent in a generally crank shape when viewed from the front-rear direction. Specifically, the longitudinal middle portions of the driven links 44 are bent so that the upper end portions (tip ends) of the driven links 44 are positioned outward in the vehicle width direction than the lower end portions (base ends) of the driven links 44. The driven links 44 are respectively housed in the link housing portions 22DF, 22DR of the housing 20. The rear driven link 44 is positioned outward in the vehicle width direction from the drive link 42.

[0021] The lower end of the driven link 44 is connected to the housing 20 within the link accommodating portions 22DF, 22DR so as to be rotatable with the front-to-rear direction as the axial direction. The upper end of the driven link 44 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the link accommodating portions 22DF, 22DR, is disposed within the relief recess 32B of the lid base 32, and is connected to the lid base 32 so as to be rotatable with the front-to-rear direction as the axial direction. The rotation axis at the lower end of the front driven link 44 and the rotation axis at the lower end of the rear driven link 44 are arranged coaxially. The rotation axis at the upper end of the front driven link 44 and the rotation axis at the upper end of the rear driven link 44 are also arranged coaxially.

[0022] Furthermore, a link connecting portion 46 (see FIGS. 1 and 7) is provided between the upper ends of the pair of front and rear driven links 44. The link connecting portion 46 connects the upper ends of the driven links 44 together and is disposed within the relief recess 32B. This allows the pair of driven links 44 to rotate integrally. The link mechanism 40 is configured as a so-called four-bar link, and operation of the link mechanism 40 moves the lid 30 between the open position and the closed position.

[0023] An actuator 50 (see FIG. 4 ) serving as a drive unit is connected to the base end of the drive link 42. The actuator 50 is electrically connected to a control unit (not shown). When the control unit drives the actuator 50, the drive link 42 rotates about the base end, thereby operating the link mechanism 40. Specifically, when the drive link 42 rotates in one direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 ), the lid 30 moves from the closed position outward and downward in the vehicle width direction to the open position. Furthermore, when the opening operation of the lid 30 begins, the lid 30 moves from the closed position substantially outward in the vehicle width direction. In other words, when the closing operation of the lid 30 is completed, the lid 30 moves from just before the closed position substantially inward in the vehicle width direction to the closed position.

[0024] (Regarding the Outer Seal Member 60) As shown in FIG. 7 , the outer seal member 60 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. The outer seal member 60 is formed in a generally rectangular ring shape (frame-like) when viewed in the vehicle width direction and is integrally provided on the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32 of the lid 30. Specifically, the outer seal member 60 protrudes from the inner end of the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32 in the vehicle width direction toward the side wall 22B of the recess 22 in the housing 20, is disposed in the gap G, and surrounds the lid base 32 (the outer peripheral portion 32A). As a result, the outer seal member 60 overlaps the side wall 22B of the recess 22 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the recess 22.

[0025] The outer seal member 60 is formed in a plate shape with its thickness direction generally parallel to the vehicle width direction when viewed from the circumferential direction of the lid base 32. The outer seal member 60 is curved in a generally arc-like shape that protrudes toward the sidewall 22B of the recess 22 and toward the vehicle width direction. The leading end of the outer seal member 60 contacts the sidewall 22B of the recess 22, and the sidewall 22B presses the outer seal member 60 toward the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32, elastically deforming the outer seal member 60 toward the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32 (in FIG. 7 , the outer seal member 60 before elastic deformation is shown by a two-dot chain line). That is, the outer seal member 60 is elastically deformed in a direction intersecting the opening and closing direction of the lid 30 in the closed position. As a result, the tip of the outer seal member 60 is pressed against the side wall 22B, and the outer seal member 60 seals the gap between the lid 30 and the recess 22 of the housing 20. Furthermore, the position of the outer seal member 60 in the vehicle width direction is set so that the elastic deformation state of the outer seal member 60 is approximately constant even if the position of the lid 30 varies in the vehicle width direction due to component tolerances, assembly errors, etc. Furthermore, because the outer seal member 60 is disposed within the gap G of the recess 22, the outer periphery of the lid panel 34 makes the outer seal member 60 invisible.

[0026] (Regarding the Inner Seal Member 70) As shown in Figures 6 and 7 , the inner seal member 70, like the outer seal member 60, is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. The inner seal member 70 is integrally provided at the upper end of the rear surface of the lid base 32. Specifically, the inner seal member 70 is located above the relief recess 32B of the lid base 32. The inner seal member 70 is formed in a generally elongated plate shape with its thickness direction in the up-down direction and its longitudinal direction in the front-to-rear direction, and protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from the lid base 32. When viewed from the rear, the inner seal member 70 is curved upward in a curved manner as it extends inward in the vehicle width direction. The tip of the inner seal member 70 abuts against the bottom wall 22A of the housing 20 above the exposure hole 22C of the housing 20 and is pressed outward in the vehicle width direction (toward the opening direction of the lid 30 in the closed position) by the bottom wall 22A, causing the inner seal member 70 to elastically deform outward in the vehicle width direction (in FIG. 7, the inner seal member 70 before elastic deformation is shown by a two-dot chain line). As a result, the inner seal member 70 biases the lid 30 in the closed position outward in the vehicle width direction. Also, when viewed from the front-rear direction, the tip of the inner seal member 70 overlaps the tip of the drive link 42 (see FIG. 3).

[0027] (Operational Effects) Next, operational effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0028] In the lid device 10 configured as described above, when the lid 30 is in the open position, it is disposed on the outer side of the outer panel 80 of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction, and the opening 80A and the recess 22 of the housing 20 are open to the outer side in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 5). Specifically, the lid 30 is located below the opening 80A when viewed from the vehicle width direction.

[0029] To move the lid 30 to the closed position, the actuator 50 rotates the drive link 42 in the other rotation direction, thereby operating the link mechanism 40. Specifically, the drive link 42 rotates about its lower end in the other rotation direction, and the driven link 44 rotates about its lower end in the other rotation direction, causing the lid 30 to be displaced outward and upward in the vehicle width direction from the open position.

[0030] When the lid 30 moves from the near side of the closed position to the closed position, the lid 30 moves substantially inward in the vehicle width direction. At this time, the lid base 32 of the lid 30 is inserted into the recess 22 of the housing 20. At this time, the tip of the outer seal member 60 abuts against the side wall 22B of the recess 22, and the outer seal member 60 elastically deforms toward the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32. In other words, the lid base 32 is inserted into the recess 22 of the housing 20 while the tip of the outer seal member 60 slides along the side wall 22B of the recess 22. As a result, the lid 30 is disposed in the closed position with the outer seal member 60 sealing the recess 22 and the lid 30.

[0031] As described above, in the lid device 10, when the lid 30 is in the closed position, the lid base 32 is disposed within the recess 22 of the housing 20, and the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32 is surrounded by the sidewall 22B of the recess 22 with a predetermined gap G between them. The outer seal member 60 is provided on the lid base 32, disposed within the gap G, and surrounds the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32. The outer seal member 60 also abuts against the sidewall 22B of the recess 22, elastically deforming toward the lid base 32. That is, the outer seal member 60 elastically deforms within the gap G in a direction intersecting the vehicle width direction (the opening and closing direction of the lid 30 in the closed position). Even if the position of the lid 30 varies in the vehicle width direction due to component dimensional tolerances, assembly errors, etc., the distance between the sidewall 22B and the outer peripheral portion 32A in the direction intersecting the vehicle width direction remains substantially constant. That is, even if the position of the lid 30 varies in the vehicle width direction, the amount of pressure applied by the side wall 22B to the outer seal member 60 remains substantially constant. This allows the elastic deformation state of the outer seal member 60 to be kept substantially constant, thereby ensuring stable sealing performance.

[0032] The lid 30 also has a lid panel 34 fixed to the lid base 32. When the lid 30 is in the closed position, the lid panel 34 closes the opening 80A, making the outer seal member 60 invisible. As described above, the outer seal member 60 is provided in the gap G within the recess 22. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the outer seal member 60 is provided in the opening 80A and seals between the opening 80A and the lid panel 34, for example, direct exposure of the outer seal member 60 to sunlight can be reduced when the lid 30 is in the closed position. As a result, deterioration of the outer seal member 60 due to ultraviolet rays can be reduced.

[0033] Furthermore, an inner seal member 70 is provided between the bottom wall 22A of the recess 22 in the housing 20 and the rear surface of the lid base 32, and the inner seal member 70 biases the lid base 32 outward in the vehicle width direction (toward the opening of the recess 22). That is, when the lid 30 is in the closed position, the inner seal member 70 biases the lid 30 in the opening direction. Therefore, the inner seal member 70 functions as an assist member when opening the lid 30. As a result, when the lid 30 is opened from the closed position, the inner seal member 70 can prevent the lid 30 from being held in place by friction between the outer seal member 60 and the side wall 22B.

[0034] Furthermore, when viewed from the front-rear direction, the tip of the inner seal member 70 overlaps the tip of the drive link 42. In other words, the inner seal member 70 is provided near the tip of the drive link 42, which inputs the driving force of the actuator 50 to the lid 30. This allows the biasing force of the inner seal member 70 to be efficiently applied to the lid 30, and the lid 30 can be moved from the closed position to the open position.

[0035] The inner seal member 70 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, and elastically deforms between the bottom wall 22A of the recess 22 and the rear surface of the lid base 32, biasing the lid 30 outward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the inner seal member 70, which functions as an assist member when opening the lid 30, can be used to seal the gap between the housing 20 and the lid 30. More specifically, the inner seal member 70 can seal the gap between the housing 20 and the lid 30 inside the outer seal member 60.

[0036] Furthermore, the outer seal member 60 is provided on the outer peripheral portion 32A of the lid base 32. Therefore, the outer seal member 60 can be integrally provided on the lid base 32 by a technique such as two-color molding. This contributes to reducing the cost of the lid base 32 (lid 30). Furthermore, if the outer seal member 60 is damaged, it can be resolved by simply replacing the lid 30. This makes it easier to replace the outer seal member 60 compared to a configuration in which the outer seal member 60 is provided on the housing 20.

[0037] In this embodiment, the outer seal member 60 is provided on the lid 30, but as shown in Fig. 8, the outer seal member 60 may be provided on the side wall 22B of the recess 22 in the housing 20. In this case, when viewed from the circumferential direction of the recess 22, the outer seal member 60 is formed so as to curve inward in the vehicle width direction as it extends toward the lid base 32.

[0038] 9, the outer seal member 60 may be provided on the side wall 22B of the recess 22 in the housing 20, and may be formed so that, when viewed from the circumferential direction of the recess 22, the outer seal member 60 curves outward in the vehicle width direction as it extends toward the lid base 32. With this configuration, even if the outer seal member 60 is subjected to the pressure of water that has entered between the lid 30 and the housing 20, it is less likely to deform toward the side where the seal is released (the side wall 22B side), and a stable sealing effect can be obtained.

[0039] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0040] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Lid device 20 Housing 22 Recess 22B Side wall 22C Exposure hole (hole) 30 Lid 32 Lid base 34 Lid panel 42 Drive link 50 Actuator (drive portion) 60 Outer seal member (seal member) 70 Inner seal member (biasing member) 80 Outer panel (panel) 80A Opening 82 Energy receiving portion G Gap

Claims

1. A lid device comprising: a housing provided inside an opening in a vehicle panel and having a recess open to the opening; a lid that is disposed in a closed position that closes the opening and that is disposed in an open position that opens the opening by moving from the closed position toward the opening side of the recess, the lid having a lid base that is disposed inside the recess and surrounded by a side wall of the recess with a predetermined gap; and a sealing member that is elastic and is provided on one of the lid base and the side wall of the recess, is disposed in the gap to surround the lid base, and abuts against the other of the lid base and the side wall of the recess, elastically deforming to the one side.

2. The lid device according to claim 1, wherein the lid has a lid panel that covers the lid base from the opening side of the recess, and the lid panel makes the sealing member invisible.

3. The lid device according to claim 1, wherein a biasing member is provided between said housing and said lid base, said biasing member biasing said lid base toward the opening side of said recess.

4. A lid device as described in claim 3, wherein the biasing member is made of an elastic material, a hole portion is formed in the bottom wall of the recess for placing an energy receiving portion, and the biasing member elastically deforms radially outside of the hole portion to seal between the bottom wall of the recess and the lid base.

5. A lid device as described in claim 3, wherein a drive link is provided between the lid and the housing, the base end of the drive link is rotatably connected to the housing with a predetermined direction as an axial direction, and the tip end of the drive link is rotatably connected to the housing with the predetermined direction as an axial direction, a drive unit is connected to the base end of the drive link, and the drive unit drives the drive link to rotate around the base end, thereby opening and closing the lid, and the tip end of the drive link and the biasing member overlap when viewed from the predetermined direction.

6. A lid device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sealing member is provided on the lid base and curves toward the opening side of the recess as it approaches the side wall of the recess when viewed from the circumferential direction of the sealing member.

7. A lid device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sealing member is provided on the side wall of the recess and curves toward the opposite side of the opening side of the recess as it approaches the lid base when viewed from the circumferential direction of the sealing member.

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