DE10222987A1 - Hinge arrangement for door or hatch on road vehicle incorporates modified parallelogram linkage, leaf spring and gas spring allowing hatch to swing up from closed to raised position - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hinge device for a flap of a motor vehicle with a first energy store (10) for supporting the opening force, which can be preloaded by means of a closing movement. According to the invention, a second force accumulator (11) is used to support the opening force at small opening angles, which can be preloaded at larger opening angles by an excess of opening force and can be locked in the preloaded position in such a way that no counterforce emanates from the second force accumulator (11) during a pivoting back movement and this is only automatically unlocked again at or immediately before the closed position of the flap and is unlocked for opening force support.

Description

The invention relates to a hinge device for a flap Motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

A constant task in automobile construction is to increase comfort and improve usability. It must be easy to use to different ergonomic needs of different operators be coordinated. This is just for operating a relatively heavy one Vehicle flap, especially a tailgate, is crucial because the Differences in size of operators strongly on their effort when Closing the flap impact so that it is essential here overall over the no high operating forces for closing and possibly to allow for opening.

Electrically or hydraulically by external drives are generally known Actuatable hinge systems for tailgates with high ease of use, the however, are very complex and costly. Hence the present Invention only on mechanically working, simple and inexpensive as well as low-cost hinge devices with improved high Ease of use directed.

Generally, 1-joint hinges are with a single fixed pivot point known, due to their movements mainly for tailgates Combi vehicles are used.

In limousines, however, bow hinges are often used as a special form of 1-joint hinge used, which allows the tailgate to open is pivoted and lifted, otherwise there is an overlap between the flap and body components, such as the rear window can. Such bow hinges are advantageously simple and have a smooth radial movement. The disadvantage is that a mostly quite large bracket of a hinge in the interior of the trunk cuts.

In a generally known manner, limousine hatchbacks are therefore used 4-joint hinges preferred, because depending on the design, with them targeted Movements are feasible and therefore also with modern ones Design outer surfaces with strong curvatures without the tailgate Overlaps can be lifted and swiveled. There are also 4-joint hinges Can be easily installed in the water channel next to a luggage compartment opening and therefore do not enter the luggage compartment in a space-restricting manner.

Vehicle flaps, especially tailgates, are relatively heavy components, which require a high level of operating power without any further measures for opening. Therefore, in higher quality motor vehicles to reduce the Operator and for opening force support or compression springs, in particular as gas springs or coil springs or Torsion bar springs used.

A generally known, generic hinge device for a The flap of a motor vehicle is approximately horizontal on both sides Swivel bearing forming swivel axis from a lockable Closed position with increasing opening angles and each assigned to changing flap opening force in a folded open position pivotable. In addition, an energy store is variable in length Tension or compression spring to support the opening force to swing open the Flap used, which on the one hand on the vehicle structure and on the other hand, is hinged directly or indirectly to the flap. When closed The flap is the energy store by means of the closing movement of the flap preloaded, while at least partially with the flap open is relaxed.

Through the articulation of the variable length energy store between Vehicle structure and a pivoting flap area changes the Relative position of the energy accumulator with respect to the flap and the vehicle structure at different swivel angles. Especially with a gas spring these are as vertical as possible when the flap is open to the weight of the To be able to support and hold the flap securely in its open position. This due to the pivoting of the gas spring when closing the One gas spring flap and tension for opening force support unfavorable position in the flap closed position. The gas spring is then about parallel to the flap extension, so that at most only a small one Force component for an opening force support is available.

This situation with an energy storage arrangement, in which the required flap opening force at small opening angles at the beginning the opening process only a small opening force support large opening angles support a relatively large opening force Is available is in the majority of conventional flap hinge devices with 1-joint hinge, bow hinge or 4-joint hinge given. Especially with sedan hatches, which in the Close position approximately horizontally, this is particularly disadvantageous, since relatively much of their weight at the beginning of the swinging open and still missing or hardly any opening force support by hand must be raised until the energy storage used in a cheaper Active position is also pivoted, with the effective weight the flap decreases with increasing vertical position. The ease of use is therefore a regular feature of purely mechanical, energy storage systems Flap hinge systems at the beginning of the opening process at high Operator effort low.

In the remote-controlled central locking systems that are often used at the moment a tailgate is also included, it would make sense to use the tailgate of a control pulse to open automatically. This comes in handy when items of luggage to be loaded in a trunk are carried in the hand and not before loading for manual, time-consuming opening of the Tailgate must be parked. With purely mechanical Flap hinge systems is sufficient due to the circumstances explained above low opening force support with small opening angles regularly not for a controlled, automatic opening of the tailgate.

The object of the invention is therefore to support the opening force Motor vehicle flaps of the flap counterforce better in all swiveling phases to adapt and the required closing force is low in all swiveling phases hold.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

According to claim 1, a second energy storage is Opening force support is provided for small opening angles, which has a clamping and Locking device is coupled to the flap such that it is at a Opening movement of the flap in the area of large opening angles with large, swing-up force support provided by the first energy store can be pre-tensioned and locked in the pre-tensioned state. With locked and the preloaded state of the second energy accumulator is in Can be swiveled towards the closed position by a normal manual operator, the second energy accumulator being locked in place via an open access has no counterforce. Only at or immediately before the closed position the latching state of the second energy accumulator is controlled automatically released again. In the usual way, the flap is then the very last Closing movement in the closed position through the flap lock locked automatically, thereby also engaging the second energy accumulator is released. In the locked closed position of the flap is thus the second lift mechanism takes effect again and pushes the flap in Swing-open direction against locking in the flap lock. After unlocking the flap is the second energy accumulator for one Opening force support in the first opening area at small opening angles Available.

Thus, the opening force at large is due to an excess force Opening angle of the second energy store biased and releasably locked. This locking is by means of a locking control during the subsequent flap closing operation is maintained so that the second Lift mechanism does not apply any counterforce until or immediately before the last one Closed position where the flap falls into the flap lock and locks there becomes. At the same time or immediately before, if the inertia is caused by the Flap movement still leads to a secure locking of the flap Latching of the second energy accumulator released.

This makes the operating force advantageous even at small opening angles reduced and evened out overall. By the previous one The flap kinematics and the relatively large opening force at large opening angles are there Flap accelerated and at high speed, if necessary with a Springing moved to the open position. When using the second lift mechanism at these large swiveling angles, however, the opening force is caused by the forced preloading of the second energy accumulator is reduced, so that thus also advantageously an equalization of the opening speed results in large opening angles. On the other hand, the engagement of the second energy storage take place before the last opening position, see above that to hold the flap in any case the entire Opening force support of the first force accumulator is available undiminished.

Particularly advantageous in a simple and inexpensive solution Claim 2 is the second energy accumulator as a pressure accumulator, for example as Coil compression spring or rubber package or similar designed, the one side with the vehicle structure is firmly connected and with the other side with small ones Swing-open angles and in the pre-stressed state in one system connection to a swing-open flap part. This investment connection is off a certain opening angle lifted, the flap part from at least partially relaxed second energy accumulator. The second Lift mechanism can either be fully relaxed in the lifting position or ever according to the requirements and conditions there against a fixed Stop in a partially relaxed state. on the other hand is between the second energy accumulator and the swinging flap a large opening angle directly or indirectly, for example via a control unit, a system connection with a motion transmission for preloading the second energy accumulator and transferring it to it Lockable position can be produced. Basically one is Opening force support with a second energy accumulator arranged in this way in all known Hinge designs, such as 1-joint hinges or Bow hinges or 4-joint hinges possible.

For a suitable distribution and equalization of the Opening force support is proposed with claim 3 that the first and second Lift mechanism arranged on the swivel bearings on both flap sides are.

According to a particularly advantageous design of the second energy accumulator Claim 4 is its opening force support so large that the flap after unlocking the flap lock by the preloaded and already unlocked second energy accumulator with small opening angles opens automatically. In the area of larger swiveling angles, the essential one becomes Opening force support for a further automatic opening by the first lift mechanism taken over. While it is with the invention Arrangement is also possible, only that required for a flap opening Reduce manual operation, especially with small opening angles and to even out, the opening force support can be adjusted over the the entire opening path so that they are always above the opposing flap weight is so that the flap after it Unlocking, for example by remote control and Central locking device, opens automatically over the entire opening path. At a advantageous interpretation such that the opening force support is evenly and slightly above the valve counterforce, one pleasantly smooth opening movement achieved. By snapping the second energy accumulator is not effective during the closing movement, so that only the closing force that was previously applied manually Overcoming and tensioning the first energy accumulator, for example a gas spring is to be brought up.

Particularly advantageous, in particular with the function of an automatic one controlled flap opening is the invention according to claim 5 in conjunction with a tailgate can be used for a limousine trunk. in principle the arrangement according to the invention is also at Combination vehicle tailgates or bonnets can be used.

A concrete, constructively expedient arrangement according to claim 6 as a first energy accumulator, a compression spring in the manner of a gas spring, the Articulation points on the vehicle structure and on hinged flaps Parts with the flap closed so that the gas spring in the preloaded, shortened position is largely parallel to the valve surface. This results in a known, space-saving arrangement of the first Energy storage, but the unfavorable behavior explained above almost no opening force support at the beginning of the Flap opening is particularly pronounced, so that the use of the specified second energy accumulator is advantageous.

A particularly space-saving arrangement especially in connection with the The above arrangement results according to claim 7 if the second Energy storage is a leaf spring, which is parallel to a gas spring in the closed state of the flap is arranged. The spring force can be here both from a free leaf spring end and on both sides clamped leaf spring are applied from the spring center.

One particularly preferred in terms of its kinematics and space requirements Embodiment results according to claim 8, in that the pivot bearing as 4- Spherical bearings are designed with two in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle spaced, vehicle-fixed joints and two associated spaced, flap-fixed joints, which in about Parallelogram arrangement are connected by two levers.

Such 4-joint bearings are usually manufactured as separate components and delivered, the vehicle-fixed joints on one with the Vehicle structure firmly connectable frame and the hinged joints on one with the flap firmly connected coupling are arranged. A suitable one in itself Known kinematics result when removed from the swivel axis lying associated joints by a longer lever and the closer the pivot axis joints connected by a shorter lever are, whereby a usually suitable lifting of the flap takes place. In addition, the first energy accumulator as a gas spring is approximately parallel with one direction Articulated to the longer lever on the frame and on the paddock. Such a thing well-known 4-joint bearing has in connection with the first Lift mechanism a very pronounced behavior, such that in the first Opening angle support is largely missing and opening force support high operating forces are required here, in particular a controlled, Exclude automatic opening process. So here is the use of the second energy accumulator is particularly advantageous.

With the features of claim 10 is a particularly preferred compact Embodiment with good, easy to different circumstances adaptable function claimed, one as a second energy storage one-sided clamped tongue-like leaf spring is used. The detent control will via a cam and a clamping head with two staggered Attacks made.

The above arrangement is despite the use of a second one Energy storage in the manner of a leaf spring so compact that it according to claim 11 advantageous in the watercourse next to one that can be covered by the flap Body opening is mountable and thus, for example, in a trunk Limited space.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a hinge device for a tailgate flap closed sedan according to a Aufschwenkwinkel of 0 °,

Fig. 2 is a partial view of a clamping cam immediately before the unlatching,

Fig. 3, the hinge device of FIG. 1 in a Aufschwenkwinkel of 12 °,

Fig. 4 shows the hinge device according to Fig. 1 at an opening angle of 25 °, and

Fig. 5 shows the hinge device according to Fig. 1 at a swivel angle of 110 ° corresponding to a fully open flap.

In Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, a 4-bar linkage bearing for in each case (not shown) Limousine tailgate shown being arranged on both sides of the tailgate are each a 4-rod eye 1. The 4-joint bearing 1 consists of a frame 2 which can be firmly connected to the vehicle structure and a coupling 3 which can be firmly connected to the flap, the flap level corresponding approximately to the upper coupling level. Two spaced joints 4 , 5 are attached to the frame 2 and further associated joints 6 , 7 are attached to the coupling 3 , the joints 4 and 6 being connected by a longer lever 8 and the joints 5 and 7 by a shorter lever 9 . In addition, a gas spring 10 is articulated between the frame 2 and the coupling 3 as the first energy accumulator.

A second energy storage device as a leaf spring 11 is held in the manner of a tongue on one side on the frame 2 at the fastening point 12 and extends over the area of the joint 5 .

When the flap is closed, corresponding to a pivoting angle of 0 ° ( FIG. 1), the leaf spring 11 rests against an arc of the longer lever 8 with a bow-shaped leaf spring end 13 biased against the pivoting direction, whereby this is pushed in the pivoting direction. When the flap is closed and locked, the pretensioning force of the leaf spring end 13 is supported by the flap weight in connection with the locking in the flap lock.

After unlocking the flap, the leaf spring end 13 lifts the lever 8 in the first swivel angle range for an automatic flap opening due to its pretension ( FIG. 3) until the leaf spring end 13 is largely relaxed at a swivel angle of 12 °. In this swivel position, the gas spring 10 has already reached a more upright position, so that it is able to take over the further automatic flap opening according to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lever 8 lifting off the leaf spring end 13 .

Due to a more favorable, more upright position of the gas spring 10 in connection with a reduction in the effective weight of the flap which is erected further vertically, there is an excess force in the opening force support from a pivoting angle of 25 ° ( FIG. 4), which is necessary for renewed pretensioning of the Leaf spring 11 or the leaf spring end 13 is used. For this purpose, a tensioning cam 14 is freely pivotably mounted on the joint 5 , which rests with an extension 15 on the leaf spring end region 13 from above. This results in an eccentric or crank arrangement with which the leaf spring end 13 can be moved downward into its pretension position when the tensioning cam 14 rotates.

For this purpose, a clamping head 16 is used, which is fixedly and pivotably connected to the shorter lever 9 and at least partially overlaps the clamping cam 14 . On the clamping head 16 , two spaced stops are arranged as a clamping stop 17 and an unlocking stop 18 , between which the clamping cam 14 has a clearance.

The clamping stop 17 is arranged on the clamping head 16 in such a way that it abuts the cam circumference from a pivoting angle of 25 ° ( FIG. 4) such that it rotates the cam downward during a further pivoting movement of the lever 9 for pretensioning the leaf spring end 13 , This takes place up to the complete flap opening ( FIG. 5), where the tensioning cam 14 engages with its extension 15 in its function as a latching extension in an associated latching recess 19 on the leaf spring end 13 . As a result, the prestressed position of the leaf spring end 13 is determined and held.

In a subsequent closing movement by means of a manual operator, the flap is moved downwards from the open position ( FIG. 5) and the gas spring 10 is pretensioned again. In contrast to the opening movement, the leaf spring end 13 is held in its pretensioned lower position by the latched clamping cams 14 , the clamping head 16 engaging over the clamping cams 14 without any force with its clearance. This results, for example, at a swivel angle of 12 °, in contrast to FIG. 3, in a downwardly bent and held position of the leaf spring end 13 , so that the longer lever 8 is free and without counterforce by the leaf spring end 13 preloaded from its range of motion without its counterforce downward is pivotable.

Only immediately before the closing position shown in FIG. 1 does the unlocking stop 18 of the clamping head 16 come into active contact with the latched clamping cam 14 during the closing movement, as is shown in FIG. 2. In the event of a further slight pivoting back movement of the lever 9 (arrow 20 ), the unlocking stop 18 pushes the clamping cam 14 or the latching extension 15 via a pivoting movement (arrow 21 ) from the latched position, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the pre-tensioned leaf spring 11 or the leaf spring end 13 is unlocked again when the tailgate is locked for renewed opening force support, with a renewed opening movement of the clamping cams 14 in the free movement of the clamping head 16 between the clamping stop 17 and the unlocking stop 18 being freely pivotable as well is ( Fig. 1 to 4) until the clamping stop 17 rests at a pivoting angle of 25 ° ( Fig. 4) again on the clamping cam 14 for its rotation adjustment.

Claims (11)

1. hinge device for a flap of a motor vehicle,
which can be swiveled on both sides via a swivel bearing forming an approximately horizontal swivel axis from a lockable closed position with increasing swivel angles and respectively associated flap swivel force into a folded open position,
with an energy store as a tension or compression spring to support the opening of the flap, which is articulated on the one hand to the vehicle structure and on the other hand directly or indirectly to the flap in such a way that it is pretensioned when the flap is closed and partially relaxed when the flap is open,
wherein the force component for an opening force support with respect to the required flap opening force is small at small opening angles and large at large opening angles,
characterized by
that a second energy store ( 11 ) is provided for opening force support at small opening angles, which is coupled to the flap via a tensioning and latching device ( 14 , 16 ) in such a way that the second energy store ( 11 ) in the region when the flap is opened large opening angle with large opening force support provided by the first energy store ( 10 ) can be pretensioned and can be latched ( 15 , 19 ) in the pretensioned state, and
that when the pre-tensioned state of the second energy accumulator ( 11 ) is engaged, the flap can be pivoted in the direction of the closed position without counterforce from the second energy accumulator ( 11 ) and the engagement ( 15 , 19 ) can be released automatically again at or immediately before the closed position, so that then the unlatched and preloaded second energy accumulator ( 11 ) is available when the flap is locked in the closed position for supporting the opening force in the first pivoting area at small pivoting angles. 2. Hinge device according to claim 1, characterized in that
that the second energy accumulator is a pressure accumulator ( 11 ) which is firmly connected on one side to the vehicle structure ( 12 ) and with the other side at small pivoting angles and pretensioned condition is in a connection to a component ( 8 ) which can also be pivoted open with the flap, the System connection is lifted from a certain opening angle and the component ( 8 ) can be lifted from the at least partially relaxed, second energy store ( 11 ), and
that between the second energy accumulator ( 11 ) and the swing-open flap, from a larger swing-open angle, a system connection with motion transmission ( 14 , 16 ) for pretensioning the second energy accumulator ( 11 ) and transferring it into its snap-in position ( 15 , 19 ) can be established. 3. Hinge device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the first energy store ( 10 ) and the second energy store ( 11 ) are arranged on the pivot bearings on both flap sides. 4. Hinge device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opening force support by the second energy accumulator ( 11 ) is designed so that the flap opens automatically after unlocking a flap lock, the opening force support in the region of a larger opening angle for a further automatic opening by the first energy store ( 10 ). 5. Hinge device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized characterized that the hatch is a sedan hatchback for one Trunk is. 6. Hinge device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first energy accumulator is a compression spring as a gas spring ( 10 ), the articulation point of the vehicle structure ( 2 ) and with the flap movable parts ( 3 ) so when the flap is closed that the gas spring ( 10 ) is largely parallel to the flap surface in the pretensioned, shortened position. 7. Hinge device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second energy accumulator is a leaf spring ( 11 ). 8. Hinge device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pivot bearings are designed as 4-joint bearings ( 1 ), each with two spaced in the vehicle longitudinal direction, vehicle-fixed joints ( 4 , 5 ) and two associated spaced, flap-fixed joints ( 6 , 7 ), which are connected approximately in a parallelogram arrangement by two levers ( 8 , 9 ). 9. Hinge device according to claim 8, characterized in that
that the vehicle-fixed joints ( 4 , 5 ) are arranged on a frame ( 2 ) firmly connected to the vehicle structure and the flap-fixed joints ( 6 , 7 ) are arranged on a coupling ( 3 ) firmly connected to the flap,
that the associated joints ( 4 , 6 ) located away from the pivot axis are connected by a longer lever ( 8 ) and the joints ( 5 , 7 ) closer to the pivot axis are connected by a shorter lever ( 9 ), and
that the first energy accumulator is articulated as a gas spring ( 10 ) with a direction approximately parallel to the longer lever ( 8 ) on the frame ( 2 ) and on the coupling ( 3 ). 10. Hinge device according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in
that the second energy accumulator as the leaf spring ( 11 ) is fixed on one side in the manner of a tongue on the vehicle side and that the other free leaf spring end ( 13 ) can be pretensioned against the swing-open direction,
that the pretensioned leaf spring end ( 13 ) with released engagement ( 15 , 19 ) and closed and locked flap on a lever preferably rests on the longer lever ( 8 ) from below and after unlocking the flap this lever ( 8 ) for opening support in Swinging open urges until this lever ( 8 ) lifts off the relaxed leaf spring end ( 13 ),
that a tensioning element in the manner of a tensioning cam ( 14 ) is pivotably mounted on the vehicle structure, which preferably rests on the leaf spring end ( 13 ) from above with a latching extension ( 15 ) and transfers the leaf spring end ( 13 ) into its pretensioning position when forced to pivot,
that the clamping cam ( 14 ) can be moved in a controlled manner by a clamping head ( 16 ) which is arranged on the vehicle-fixed joint ( 5 ) of a lever ( 9 ), preferably the other shorter lever ( 9 ), and is connected to it and can also be pivoted,
that the clamping head ( 16 ) engages in its swiveling range around the clamping cam ( 14 ) on the cam circumference with two spaced stops ( 17 , 18 ), a stop as a clamping stop ( 17 ) on the clamping cam ( 14 ) from a certain larger pivoting angle of the flap or the associated lever ( 9 ) and presses the tensioning cam ( 14 ) into a position for pretensioning the leaf spring end ( 13 ) until the tensioning cam ( 14 ) with the latching extension ( 15 ) on an associated latching recess ( 19 ) on the leaf spring end ( 13 ) engages, and
that the clamping head ( 16 ) when the flap is closed and the associated lever ( 9 ) is pivoted back with the leaf spring end ( 13 ) pretensioned and the clamping cam ( 14 ) engaged relative to the clamping cam ( 14 ) can be freely rotated back to the closed position of the flap or immediately before the second Stop of the tensioning head ( 16 ) acts as an unlocking stop ( 18 ) from the other side of the tensioning cam ( 16 ) and urges it out of the latching position, as a result of which the prestressed, now no longer engaged leaf spring end ( 13 ) again on the now immediately adjacent Lever ( 8 ) for a swing-open support is present. 11. Hinge device according to claim 10, characterized in that each has a 4-joint arrangement ( 1 ) from a frame ( 2 ), from two levers ( 8 , 9 ), a coupling ( 3 ), a gas spring ( 10 ), one Leaf spring ( 11 ) and associated clamping cams ( 14 ) with clamping head ( 16 ) are each mounted in the watercourse next to a body opening that can be covered by the flap.