The present application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2022 107 579.6, filed Mar. 30, 2022, titled “Actuating Mechanism for Actuating Vehicle Doors,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
In the automotive industry, doors and flaps are increasingly no longer only opened or closed manually, i.e., mechanically. Rather, the opening or closing movements are performed more frequently automatically, in particular electrically. For example, an electric motor is used here, which, when desired, drives a mechanism for opening or closing the doors and flaps. In order to generate a signal for opening or closing to such electric drives or the associated control devices, a switch can be provided, which generates the desired signal by an actuation of the user. Such switches can be configured as push-buttons, which, when pressed in by the user, generate the aforementioned signal.
In order to not be reliant on the opening or closing of the doors by the electric drive, it is known to provide a mechanical (manual) emergency release. This allows the user to open or close the doors or flaps manually. Such mechanical actuators, such as conventional interior or exterior door handles, are often provided separately from the push-buttons configured as signal transmitters. Not only does this require additional design space for the mechanical variant, but it also results in a non-uniform overall image in which modern electrical push-buttons are connected to traditional mechanical levers.
For the above-mentioned reasons, the problem addressed by the present disclosure is to specify an actuating mechanism for actuating vehicle doors, which enables an electrical as well as manual actuating function and can be arranged even in the smallest possible space.
The present disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism for actuating vehicle doors, in particular for opening vehicle doors, substantially as illustrated by and described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. More specifically, the present disclosure further relates to a vehicle having an actuating mechanism for actuating vehicle doors.
In one example, the disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism for actuating, in particular opening or closing, vehicle doors, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises the following: an actuating means, which is transferable from a home position into an actuating position in order to generate an electrical actuation signal and into a second actuating position for manual actuation of the vehicle doors, a first flat spring, which is connected to the actuating means in such a way that the first flat spring generates haptic and/or acoustic feedback when the actuating means is transferred into the first actuating position and that the first flat spring preferably biases the actuating means into the home position; and a second spring, in particular a second flat spring, which is connected to the actuating means.
The flat springs are used not only to bias the actuating means (e.g., actuation button) into its home position. Rather, they simultaneously serve as a feedback mechanism for communicating to the user whether the first actuation variant (e.g., electrical) is activated. Further, by using flat springs, the required design space is effectively reduced.
According to a further embodiment, the second spring is connected to the first flat spring in such a way that the second spring positions the first flat spring in a first resting position, and in particular holds it there, by forming a stop for the first flat spring when the actuating means is transferred from the home position into the first actuating position, and that the second spring permits a further movement of the actuating means from the first actuating position into an intermediate position, in particular for activating a mechanism for transferring the actuating means into the second actuating position, through deformation of the second spring. The second spring thus also has a dual function, which can further reduce the design space.
According to a further embodiment, the second spring is connected to the actuating means in such a way that the second spring biases the actuating means into the home position and/or generates haptic and/or acoustic feedback when the actuating means is transferred into the intermediate position. Accordingly, the second spring has yet a third function for generating feedback to the user.
According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the second spring is in particular a flat spring, wherein the two springs are arranged in series opposite the actuating means. In other words, the two springs are arranged one behind the other so that a pressing of the actuating means (e.g., push-button) initially leads to the actuation of the first spring. Only after actuation of the first flat spring is the second spring involved, so that the dual function of the present actuation mechanism is easily facilitated in a confined space.
According to a further embodiment, the actuating means is arranged in such a way with respect to the springs that a resetting force of the first flat spring must be overcome in order to transfer into the first actuating position and that a resetting force of the first and second springs must be overcome in order to transfer into the second actuating position. In other words, it can be provided that the first actuating position can be achievable for generating an electrical signal by a lighter pressure than is the case for achieving the second actuating position. Accordingly, in normal operation, it is easy for the user to achieve the first actuating position in which electrical actuation takes place. Only in the event of a failure of the electric drive can the user push more strongly against the actuating means, in order to also deform the second spring and thus allow a manual actuation.
According to a further embodiment, the actuating means is arranged in such a way with respect to the springs that a higher force is required in order to transfer into the second actuating position than is required in order to transfer into the first actuating position.
According to a further embodiment, the first flat spring has a lower resetting force than the second spring. This embodiment is a particularly straightforward manner of generating different haptic feedback for the user. In other words, according to this embodiment, it is harder to deform the second spring than is the case with the first flat spring. An alternative way to achieve such a force gradation would be to activate the springs with different lever lengths, as will be described in greater detail later on.
According to a further embodiment, the second spring comprises two side-by-side leaf springs. The two leaf springs can be connected flush to one another and can thus increase the resetting force of the second spring. In this embodiment, for example, the first flat spring can comprise a single spring blade, such that the resetting force of the second spring is substantially twice as high as the first leaf spring.
According to a further embodiment, the first and/or the second spring is configured as a snap spring. According to this embodiment, the springs can be used simultaneously in order to provide haptic as well as acoustic feedback to the user. The snap springs, also known as snap frogs, generate an audible snap tone upon deformation, which can be interpreted by the user as feedback that the operation positions have been achieved.
According to a further embodiment, the actuating mechanism comprises a push-push element, which is configured in order to transfer actuating means into the second actuating position. This design variant allows for a semi-automatic transfer of the actuating means to the second, manual actuating position. For example, the push-push element can be used in order to expel the actuating means in order to facilitate a grasping of the actuating means in the second actuating position. The push-push element further has the advantage that the actuating means can be configured particularly small and comprises a hidden second operation option.
According to a further embodiment, the actuating means is pivotally fastened to a pivot axis in such a way that the actuating means is movable relative to the first flat spring. By the pivotable movement of the actuating means, a transmission of force for activating the signal generator or for manually opening the door can be simplified by a levering effect. This is particularly helpful with emergency releases configured as Bowden cables.
According to a further embodiment, the first flat spring is fastened to a pivot arm, which is pivotally fastened to the pivot axis. Accordingly, not only the actuating means but also the first flat spring can be pivoted relative to the pivot axis. This allows the actuating means to pivot even further after the first flat spring has deformed, in particular together with the pivot arm. Accordingly, the first flat spring is not an end stop, but can be pivoted together with the actuating means after actuation of the signal generator, as will be explained in greater detail later on.
According to a further embodiment, in the home position and in the first actuating position of the actuating means, the pivot arm abuts the second spring without deforming the second spring. Accordingly, in the home position and the first actuating position of the actuating means, the pivot arm represents a stable bracket for the first flat spring. Only upon transfer into the second actuating position is the second spring deformed by the pivot arm so that the pivot arm moves together with the actuating means towards the second spring. Accordingly, the second spring can be used as a biasing spring for the pivot arm as well as the actuating means.
In a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle having an actuation mechanism as described above.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods described herein will be apparent from the following description of particular examples thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying figures; where like or similar reference numbers refer to like or similar structures. The figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the devices, systems, and methods described herein.
The actuating mechanism 100 comprises a housing 101, which, in the installed state, is arranged within the vehicle door. For example, as shown in
The housing 101 is connected to a door latch via a Bowden cable 103 in order to enable a mechanical unlocking, as will be explained in greater detail later on.
The actuating means 104 has a curved region 112 arranged between the grip region 110 and the pivot axis 116. The grip region covers the curved region 112 and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the curved region 112. The grip region 110 protrudes beyond an edge of the curved region 112 and thus forms an engagement on its underside 111, which allows the user to pull the actuating means 104 out of the housing 101 for the emergency release.
The curved region 112 has at least two different radii. In particular, the curved region 112 has a larger radius at a first end connected to the grip region 110 than at a second end connected to the pivot axis 116. A ramp 114 is provided between the first and second ends of the curved region 112. The ramp 114 is a transfer between the aforementioned different radii.
The actuating mechanism 100 comprises a signal transmitter, which is provided herein as a microswitch 118. The microswitch 118 is a button that is in contact with the surface of the curved region 112 of the actuating means 104. In the home position of the actuating means 104 shown in
The actuating mechanism 100 comprises a push-push element 126, which is configured in order to transfer the actuating means into its second actuating position (
In the sectional plane illustrated in
The actuating means 104 comprises an emergency release element 128, which is shown here as a hook, which is configured so as to grasp a pulling head (150,
The sectional plane according to
The actuating mechanism 100 comprises a first flat spring 138 and a second flat spring 146. The two flat springs 138, 146 bias the actuating means 104 into its home position shown in
In the home position of the actuating means 104, the actuating region 134 abuts the first flat spring 138. In particular, the actuating region 134 does not deform the first flat spring 138 in the home position of the actuating means 104. The actuating region 134 has a first protrusion 136 extending from the actuating region 134 towards the first flat spring 138. Accordingly, in particular the first protrusion 136 of the first actuating region 134 abuts the first flat spring 138 in the home position of the actuating means 104.
The actuating mechanism 100 comprises a pivot arm 142 connected to the pivot axis 116. The first flat spring 138 is attached to the first pivot arm 142. In other words, the pivot arm 142 is a pivotable support assembly for the first flat spring 138. The first pivot arm 142 is movable relative to the housing 101 as well as the actuating means 104. In particular, the pivot arm 142 is pivotable about the pivot axis 116.
In the home position shown in
The second flat spring 146 is arranged directly on the housing 101. For this purpose, the housing 101 comprises the fastening region 148 shown in
The first and second flat springs according to the embodiment shown in
However, it is not necessarily required for the two flat springs 138, 146 to have different resetting forces. Rather, it is of importance that the two flat springs are deformed at different points in time. In the illustrated embodiment, in particular, the first flat spring 138 is to be deformed first, before the second flat spring 146 is deformed. In order to achieve deformation of the two flat springs 138, 146 at different times, it must only be guaranteed, in particular, that the first flat spring 138 already deforms with a smaller force input than the second flat spring 146. To this end, it can also be provided, as an alternative to different resetting forces, that a lever length of the actuating region 134 is longer than a lever length of the pivot axis 142.
In the first actuating position of the actuating means 104, it is pivoted inwardly (that is, towards the vehicle door).
In the first actuating position, the actuating means 104 has been pivoted with respect to the microswitch 118 such that the ramp region 114 is driven over the button of the microswitch 118, so that it is pushed in due to the larger radius of the curved region 112. Thus, in the first actuating position of the actuating means 104, the microswitch 118 is switched in order to generate a signal to activate an electric drive. In other words, the actuating mechanism 100 is configured in order to generate an electrical actuation signal in the first actuating position. In
The first flat spring and the second flat springs 138, 146 can be configured as snap springs (also known as snap frogs). Accordingly, the deformation of the flat springs 138, 146 provides a haptic as well as an acoustic feedback to the user. In the first actuating position according to
The deformation of the first spring element 138 is limited by a stop 140 of the actuating region 134. The stop 140 abuts the pivot arm 142 in the first actuating position of the actuating means 104. Thus, the relative movement between the actuating means 104 and the pivot arm 142 is limited. A further pivoting of the actuating means 104 towards the flat springs 138, 146 is transferred directly to the pivot arm 142 and thus to the second flat spring 146 from the first actuating position. In other words, the pivot arm 142 is pivoted together with the actuating means 104 should the user continue to push in the actuating means 104 even after the snapping by the first flat spring 138.
In normal operation, the user will release the grip region 110 upon reaching the first actuating position such that the first flat spring 138 snaps back and the actuating means reverts back to its home position. Thus, the biasing force of the first flat spring 138 is used in order to pivot the actuating means 104 clockwise back into its home position.
The intermediate position shown in
By displacing the actuating means from the first actuating position into the intermediate position shown in
By deforming the second flat spring 146, an acoustic and haptic feedback is generated, which confirms to the user that this intermediate position has been achieved, i.e., that the push-push element 126 has been sufficiently pressed in order to activate it.
The activation of the push-push element 126 results in the actuating means 104 being transferred into its second actuating position, which is shown in
From
From
As illustrated in
The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment shown in the figures. Rather, it results from a summary of all the features shown in the figures.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2022 107 579.6 | Mar 2022 | DE | national |