Sealed drive for a door system of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive (20) for a linearly movable leaf, in particular for a door leaf of a vehicle, in particular for a road or rail vehicle. Said drive comprises: - a drive housing (22) having an opening (26) extending in the movement direction of the leaf; - a drive carrier (24) for fastening to a vehicle; - a linear guide (28) extending within the drive housing (22) and parallel to the opening (26); - a guide carriage (30) which is mounted on the linear guide (28) and movable along the linear guide (28), extends through the opening (26) and has a connection region (32), arranged outside the drive housing (22), for connection to the leaf. The drive is characterized in that: - a sealing strip (36) is arranged in the region of the opening (26) on an outer side (34) of the drive housing (22), which sealing strip substantially closes the opening (26); - the guide carriage (28) has at least one contact element (38) which is arranged between the sealing strip (36) and the outer side (34) of the drive housing (22) so as to remain in contact with the sealing strip (36) during the linear movement of the guide carriage (28) and thereby increase a spacing between the sealing strip (26) and the opening (36) in some regions.

Description

[0001] Sealed drive for a vehicle's door system

[0002] The present invention relates to a drive for a door system for a vehicle, in particular for a road or rail vehicle.

[0003] The invention can relate to both road vehicles and rail vehicles; use in vehicles of other vehicle categories, e.g., aircraft or watercraft, is also conceivable. A road vehicle is understood to be, in particular, a wheeled vehicle, e.g., a public transport vehicle such as a bus. A rail vehicle is also understood to be, in particular, public transport vehicles such as trains, trams, subways, commuter trains, local trains, long-distance trains, regional trains, or the like.

[0004] The invention is particularly suitable for a sliding door of a vehicle that is moved essentially linearly, usually parallel to an outer wall of the vehicle. Single-leaf or double-leaf passenger doors or sliding doors are known; therefore, terms and descriptions relating to "one" door leaf do not preclude the invention from also being applicable to two- or multi-leaf passenger doors. The term "door leaf" can also be understood synonymously as a "door panel" or a door.

[0005] Guide devices for such door systems are generally known from the prior art. Typically, a longitudinal profile is provided on the vehicle above the door opening, to which a guide rail is attached, for example, via T-nuts and / or screws to a rigid support profile. A runner connected to the door leaf is guided linearly within the guide rail, usually driven by a toothed belt or a spindle.

[0006] A major problem with such drives is protecting them from dirt and moisture. This is difficult because the drive, located above the door opening, must have a downward-facing opening through which a connecting element, linking the door leaves to the drive, extends.

[0007] Common examples include friction-type lip or brush seals. These seals are designed as fixed seals, and the door leaf remains in contact with them during opening and closing. Due to the friction of the seal, the required sliding forces increase, resulting in relatively high wear.

[0008] Since sealing the drive unit or individual components is currently almost impossible, exposed components or assemblies in and on the drive unit are reinforced to be resistant to all environmental and operational influences. This involves increased effort and costs. Furthermore, the overall weight of such drives increases as a result.

[0009] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a drive for a linearly sliding wing, for example for a door system of a vehicle, in particular a road or rail vehicle, which is sealed as effectively as possible against environmental influences, especially against dirt. The seal should be as resistant and durable as possible. Furthermore, a method for opening and closing a linearly sliding wing is to be proposed, which can be implemented reliably over the long term.

[0010] To solve this problem, a drive system with the features of claim 1 and a vehicle with the features of claim 12 are proposed. Furthermore, a method comprising the process steps of independent claim 14 is presented.

[0011] It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined in any technically sensible way and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures. The invention relates not only to door leaves, but to all driven, longitudinally displaceable components or leaves, for example, window leaves or other leaves with which openings can be closed. The term "leaf" is therefore to be understood as a synonym for elements with which openings are closed. For better understanding, however, the invention will be explained below with regard to its use with a door leaf of a vehicle.

[0012] The drive unit comprises a housing with an opening extending in the direction of wing movement and is mounted, for example, on a vehicle via a drive bracket. A linear guide extending parallel to the opening is located within the housing. A carriage, movable along a guide track, is mounted on the linear guide. This carriage extends through the opening and has a connection point located outside the housing for connecting to the wing. A suitable motor for driving the carriage, such as an electrically driven roller carriage, a toothed belt drive, or a spindle drive, may also be located within the housing. Alternatively, the motor may be located outside the housing on the vehicle and connected to the carriage via suitable means.

[0013] According to the invention, a sealing strip is arranged in the area of ​​the opening on an outer surface of the drive housing, which largely closes the slot-like, elongated opening. The guide carriage has at least one contact element which is arranged between the sealing strip and the outer surface of the drive housing such that it remains in contact with the sealing strip during the linear movement of the guide carriage along the opening, thereby increasing the distance of the sealing strip from the opening in certain areas, i.e., lifting the sealing strip away from the opening.

[0014] The drive according to the invention is based on the understanding that the opening in the drive housing should be closed as completely as possible to prevent the ingress of dirt particles, or at least significantly reduce their number. In the embodiment according to the invention, this is the case; only above the guide carriage does the sealing strip not rest against the opening. In this area, however, the opening is reduced in size or covered by the guide carriage anyway. When the guide carriage moves, the sealing strip rests against the opening again behind the guide carriage in the direction of movement, while above the moving guide carriage it is lifted away from the opening. The opening is therefore only briefly exposed in the area above the guide carriage.

[0015] The connection area, located below the opening and to which the door leaf is attached, advantageously has a vertical section that is arranged horizontally, i.e., in cross-section, next to the opening of the drive housing. The contact element is preferably mounted on this vertical section and extends laterally from it between the sealing strip and the opening. Thus, when the guide carriage is moved, the contact element is moved along the sealing strip and lifts it accordingly from the opening.

[0016] In addition to the bearing of the guide carriage within the drive housing, the connection area located below the opening may have a further bearing, for example formed by a rail that runs below the drive housing and in which one or more roller elements roll or sliding elements are guided.

[0017] It has proven particularly advantageous to arrange a guide element on the vertical section next to the contact element, extending parallel to the contact element, with the sealing strip positioned between the opening and the guide element. The sealing strip is thus offset in its plane by the two elements, guided in an approximately S- or Z-shaped manner. The guide element holds the sealing strip against the opening, while the contact element lifts the sealing strip away from the opening.

[0018] In a particularly simple yet reliable and stable variant, two guide elements are provided, between which the contact element is positioned. Thus, in both directions of movement of the guide carriage, one guide element is positioned in front of the contact element and one behind it, ensuring that the sealing strip is effectively pressed against the opening by the contact element both before and after lifting. Advantageously, two contact elements arranged side by side in the direction of movement can also be provided, allowing the sealing strip to be lifted from the opening over a slightly larger area. In this variant as well, two guide elements are preferably provided, between which the two contact elements are arranged. This arrangement offers advantages in terms of load distribution and the reliable pressing and unpressing of the sealing strip over the entire travel distance.

[0019] The contact and guide elements can be designed as rigid and immobile sliding elements, with various shapes being suitable. For example, round or elliptical shapes are particularly suitable, as these generate very little resistance on the sealing strip.

[0020] Alternatively, the contact and guide elements can advantageously also be designed as rolling elements, in particular as rotatable rollers, which also promotes smooth operation and low resistance during the process. A hybrid design is also possible, for example, the guide elements being designed as sliding elements and the contact elements as rolling elements, or vice versa.

[0021] The sealing tape is preferably made of a resistant and durable, non-stretchable material. Suitable materials include, for example, appropriate plastics, carbon fiber, or Kevlar. These are relatively inexpensive to produce, lightweight, and easy to work with. In a particularly advantageous version, they can be reinforced with a fabric to reduce or even prevent unwanted expansion. A sealing tape consisting solely of fabric can also be used. Fabrics have the advantage of being particularly lightweight and easy to work with.

[0022] A thin steel band, which offers very high resistance, is also conceivable. Furthermore, steel has a smooth surface, is UV-resistant, and does not change length over its lifespan.

[0023] Alternatively, durable fabrics can be used, which can also be made of plastic, carbon, Kevlar, or metal. The sealing strip can also be made of an elastic material, which facilitates its return to the closing position.

[0024] The drive housing can have its own rear wall, which, for example, is formed entirely by the drive carrier or is connected to the drive carrier on its inward-facing side. However, the rear wall of the drive housing can also be formed, at least partially, by an outer surface of the vehicle.

[0025] A significant advantage of the invention is that it is suitable for a retrofittable, functional module. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the drive, including a drive motor for powering the guide carriage, is housed within the drive unit and can be installed as a complete unit above a door opening on existing vehicles. The module then only needs to be connected electrically and / or mechanically / hydraulically. It is also possible that the motor is already located in the vehicle and only the guide carriage needs to be connected to the motor. In principle, the sealing of the drive unit according to the invention is also suitable for non-powered or manually sliding sashes, such as those used, for example, in sliding doors in residential and commercial buildings, for instance, in conservatories.

[0026] The ability to install the drive unit as a whole (i.e., not in the form of individual parts) on or in the vehicle simplifies the assembly process of a door system compared to the prior art method of assembling individual door components onto a vehicle door portal formed by a vehicle frame. This avoids the time-consuming assembly of the individual drive unit components on the vehicle. Particularly in series production, installing door system assemblies as a whole into a vehicle can inherently increase assembly speed.

[0027] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a road or rail vehicle, which has the described drive according to the invention. This is preferably mounted on an outer side of the vehicle above the door opening. A method according to the invention for opening and closing a linearly sliding wing, in particular for a door wing of a vehicle, especially for a road or rail vehicle, comprises the following method steps:

[0028] - Moving a guide carriage extending through an opening in a drive housing along the opening,

[0029] - Lifting a sealing strip that covers the opening from the outside, using a contact element which is mounted on the guide carriage in such a way and extends between the sealing strip and an outer surface of the drive housing, so that it remains in contact with the sealing strip during the linear movement of the guide carriage and thereby increases the distance of the sealing strip from the opening in certain areas.

[0030] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. These are to be understood as examples only and are not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments shown.

[0031] They show:

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a drive according to the invention for a door leaf with a covered guide carriage;

[0033] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the drive from Figure 1 with travel path,

[0034] Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the drive from Figure 1 with the opening

[0035] Guide vehicle;

[0036] Fig. 4 shows an enlarged side view of the drive from Figure 1;

[0037] Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the drive along the section line A - A in

[0038] Figure 4;

[0039] Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of the drive along section line B-B in Fig. 4; in particular, Figs. 1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of a drive 20. This drive has a drive housing 22 in which a drive carrier 24 for connection to a vehicle (not shown) is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive carrier 24 also forms a rear wall of the drive housing 22.

[0040] A linear guide 28 is formed within the drive housing, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by the drive carrier 24. The linear guide 28 has a guide track 25 extending in the direction of movement of the door leaf, in which rollers 31 rotatably mounted on a guide carriage 30 are guided. The guide carriage 30 is displaceable along the guide track 25; Figure 2 illustrates the travel path X.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, a drive motor 44 is also arranged in the drive housing 22 and drives the guide carriage 30.

[0042] The guide carriage 30 has a connection area 32 which can be connected to a wing (not shown), in particular a door wing. Suitable connecting means 33 are provided for this purpose.

[0043] Figures 3, 5, and 6 show the drive 20 in cross-section and illustrate that the drive housing 22 has an upper cover 35 and a lower cover 37, which are connected to each other via a labyrinth seal 39. The two covers 39 thus protect the interior of the drive housing 22 from the ingress of dirt or water.

[0044] Also visible in the figures is an opening 26 through which the guide carriage 30 extends. The connection area 32 is arranged on an outer surface 34 of the drive housing 22 or the opening 26, while the bearing of the guide carriage 30 on the linear guide 28 is located inside the drive housing 22.

[0045] A sealing strip 36, arranged on the outer surface 34 of the drive housing 22, extends along the opening 26 and seals it. Only in the area of ​​the guide carriage 30 is the sealing strip 36 spaced from the opening 26, thus allowing it to remain open. This is necessary to enable the guide carriage 30 to move along the opening 26. The sealing strip 36 is lifted by means of contact elements 38, which are mounted on a vertical section 40 of the connection area 32 and extend between the opening 26 and the sealing strip 36. The vertical section 40 of the connection area 32 is arranged laterally offset from the opening 26 in section, in the illustrated embodiment on the side facing the drive carrier 24.

[0046] In the embodiment shown, two contact elements 38 designed as rollers are provided, which are arranged next to each other in the direction of movement of the guide carriage 30 and together lift the sealing strip 36 from the opening 26 and hold it spaced apart.

[0047] To ensure and improve the permanent sealing of the opening 26, guide elements 42 are also provided, which are likewise arranged on the outer surface 34 of the drive housing 22, but press the sealing strip 36 against the opening 26 from the outside. The two guide elements 42 are also designed as rollers. They are located closer to the opening 26 in the vertical direction, and the contact elements 38 are arranged between the two guide elements 42. The different vertical positioning of the contact elements 38 and the guide elements 42 can be omitted if the guide elements 42 have a larger diameter than the contact elements 38.

[0048] Figure 5 illustrates that the opening 26 is closed by the sealing strip 36 when the guide carriage 30 is not located beneath it. When this is the case, as also shown in Figure 6, the sealing strip 36 is positioned further away from the opening 26 or is lifted away from it. If the guide carriage 30 is moved along the linear guide 28, the sealing strip 36 remains stationary in its position; it is only moved in the vertical direction.

[0049] The invention is particularly suitable for a vehicle sliding door and has been described for such a variant; however, the inventive idea can also be transferred to other drives and door systems. For example, use in conjunction with swing-sliding doors is possible, at least in the area of ​​linear displacement of the swing-sliding door. Reference numerals

[0050] 20 Drive

[0051] 22 Drive housings

[0052] 24 drive carriers

[0053] 25 Guide rail

[0054] 26 Opening

[0055] 28 Linear guide

[0056] 30 guide vehicles

[0057] 31 rolls

[0058] 32 Connection area

[0059] 33 Fasteners

[0060] 34 Outside

[0061] 35 top cover

[0062] 36 sealing tape

[0063] 37 lower cover

[0064] 38 Contact element

[0065] 39 Labyrinth seal

[0066] 40 Vertical area

[0067] 42 Guide element

[0068] 44 Drive motor

Claims

Patent claims 1. Drive (20) for a linearly displaceable wing, in particular for a door wing of a vehicle, in particular for a road or rail vehicle, comprising: - a drive housing (22) with an opening (26) extending in the direction of movement of the wing, - a drive carrier (24) for attachment to a vehicle, - a linear guide (28) extending inside the drive housing (22) and parallel to the opening (26), - a guide carriage (30) mounted on the linear guide (28) and movable along the linear guide (28), which extends through the opening (26) and has a connection area (32) arranged outside the drive housing (22) for connection with the wing, characterized in that - in the area of ​​the opening (26) on an outer surface (34) of the drive housing (22) a sealing strip (36) is arranged, which largely closes the opening (26), - the guide carriage (28) has at least one contact element (38) which is arranged between the sealing strip (36) and the outside (34) of the drive housing (22) such that it remains in contact with the sealing strip (36) during the linear movement of the guide carriage (28) and thereby increases the distance of the sealing strip (36) from the opening (26) in certain areas.

2. Drive (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection area (32) has a vertical area (40) which is arranged in a horizontal direction next to the opening (26), wherein the contact element (38) is mounted on the vertical area (40) and extends from this extends laterally between the sealing strip (36) and the opening (26).

3. Drive (20) of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a guide element (42) is arranged next to the contact element (38), which extends laterally parallel to the contact element (38), wherein the sealing strip (36) is arranged between the opening (26) and the guide element (42).

4. Drive (20) according to claim 3, characterized in that two guide elements (42) are provided, between which the contact element (38) is arranged.

5. Drive (20) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that two contact elements (38) are provided which are arranged next to each other in the direction of movement of the guide carriage (28) and together increase the distance of the sealing strip (36) from the opening (26), whereby the sealing strip (36) is lifted from the opening (26) between the contact elements (28), wherein two guide elements (42) are further provided, between which the contact elements (38) are arranged.

6. Drive (20) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the vertical section (40) of the guide carriage (30) is slidably mounted on the drive carrier (24) in the direction of movement.

7. Drive (20) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the contact elements (38) are designed as rollers.

8. Drive (20) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the guide elements (42) are designed as rollers.

9. Drive (20) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that sealing tape (36) is formed from a material from the group consisting of metals, in particular steel, or plastics, in particular Kevlar, carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

10. Drive (20) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by a structure as a functional module such that the module can be mounted above an existing door opening.

11. Drive (20) according to claim 10, characterized in that a drive motor (44) for driving the guide carriage (28) is arranged within the module.

12. Vehicle, in particular road or rail vehicle, comprising a drive (20) with the features of claims 1 to 11.

13. Vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the drive (20) with the features of claims 1 to 11 is mounted on an outside of the vehicle above the door opening.

14. Experienced in opening and closing a linearly sliding wing, in particular for a door wing (20) of a vehicle, in particular for a road or rail vehicle, with the process steps - Moving a guide carriage (28) extending through an opening (26) of a drive housing (22) along the opening (26), - Lifting a sealing strip (36) which covers the opening (26) from the outside, with the aid of a contact element (38) which is mounted on the guide carriage (28) in such a way and extends between the sealing strip (36) and an outer surface (34) of the drive housing (22) in such a way that it remains in contact with the sealing strip (36) during the linear movement of the guide carriage (28) and thereby increases the distance of the sealing strip (36) from the opening (26) in certain areas.

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