Hydraulic actuating device for a closure assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6751953
  • Patent Number
    6,751,953
  • Date Filed
    Monday, September 30, 2002
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 22, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A hydraulic actuating device for a closure assembly, for example of a vehicle, which closure assembly comprises a closure element which can be moved between a closed position, in which the closure element closes off an opening, and an opened position.The hydraulic actuating device comprises a hydraulic actuator for moving the closure element, which actuator has a housing having a closing chamber and an opening chamber. Further provided are a hydraulic pump having an associated electric pump motor and a reservoir for hydraulic fluid.The hydraulic actuating device further comprises a first pressure-limit valve, which is connected to the opening chamber, and a second pressure-limit valve, which is connected to the closing chamber. Control means are further provided for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the opening chamber or to the closing chamber of the actuator.A hydraulic flow sensor connected to the control means is provided at each pressure-limit valve, such that the one or more hydraulic flow sensors detect the presence of a flow of hydraulic fluid through the pressure-limit valve to the reservoir.The control means are adapted—if a flow sensor detects a flow of hydraulic fluid—to reverse the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the actuator, so that the opening motion is changed to a closing motion or vice versa.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a hydraulic actuating device for a closure assembly. The present invention also relates to a closure assembly provided with an hydraulic actuating device, and a vehicle provided with a bodywork and a closure element for closing off an opening in the bodywork provided with an hydraulic actuator.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Various hydraulically actuated closure assemblies are known from the prior art. By way of example, reference is here made to DE 196 41 428, EP 0 803 630 and NL 1011362.




In these known closure assemblies, various solutions are proposed with regard to the risk of an object or body part becoming jammed as the closure element is closed and the risk of a motion of the closure element being obstructed, for example because the closure element, as it is opened, collides with something.




Especially with regard to the jamming of a body part, there is the requirement not only for the maximum force which can be delivered by the actuator to be heavily reduced during the last part of the closing motion and/or for the closing motion to be halted, but also for the motion of the closure element to be reversed so that the jammed body part is freed. The known hydraulically actuated closure assemblies do not provide any such automatic reversal.




OBJECT OF THE INVENTION




The invention sets out to provide a hydraulic operating device for a closure assembly by which the above-stated object can be achieved, which actuating device is simply constructed and highly reliable.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention provides a hydraulic actuating device for a closure assembly, which is characterized in that a hydraulic flow sensor connected to the control means is provided at each pressure-limit valve, such that the one or more hydraulic flow sensors detect the presence of a flow of hydraulic fluid through the pressure-limit valve to the reservoir, and in that the control means are set up—if a flow sensor detects a flow of hydraulic fluid—to reverse the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the actuator, so that the opening motion is changed to a closing motion or vice versa.




The invention envisages that the exceeding of the permitted pressure value in the opening chamber or the closing chamber, which pressure value is set by a pressure-limit valve, leads to the opening of the pressure-limit valve in question and the discharge of fluid to the reservoir. By detecting this discharge by means of a hydraulic flow sensor, the control means establish that the maximum limit value for the pressure has been exceeded. The control means then react by reversing the direction of motion of the actuator.




The flow sensor can be realized in various ways, but is preferably of an embodiment as described in NL 1014476 of the applicant is provided.




Preferably, it is envisaged that a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir.




Preferably, the hydraulic flow sensor form a free passage for the fluid through the reservoir line, so that the limitation of the pressure in the opening chamber and closing chamber by an associated pressure-limit valve is always operative. In the event of failure of the flow sensor or the control means, only the intended reversal of the direction of motion would then remain undone.




The solution according to the invention is considerably more advantageous than the use of costly electrical pressure sensors for measuring the pressure in the opening chamber and the closing chamber. Moreover, the control means are less complex than in combination with pressure sensors.




In a simple variant, the first and second pressure-limit valves connect to a common reservoir line to the reservoir and the hydraulic flow sensor is installed in the common reservoir line. The limit values for the pressures which lead to the opening of the various pressure-limit valves are, in practice, advantageously varied.




In a preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that the actuator has a by-pass connection, which, at a by-pass mouth, connects to the cylinder space, which by-pass mouth lies between the connecting mouths of the opening chamber and the closing chamber. A third pressure-limit valve is further provided, which connects to the by-pass connection, so that, in a first range of the closing motion, the closing chamber is only connected to the associated connection and is closed off from the by-pass connection, and so that, in a second range, the closing chamber is connected both to the associated connection and to the by-pass connection.




By realizing the third pressure-limit valve such that this valve opens at a lower pressure than the second pressure-limit valve, it is achieved that in the second range of the closing motion the force which can be delivered by the actuator is less than in the first range.




In a practical embodiment of the variant described above, it is envisaged that the first, second and third pressure-limit valves connect to a common reservoir line to the reservoir and that the hydraulic flow sensor is installed at this common reservoir line.




This solution gives rise to the effect that, in a first range of the opening motion, the force which can be delivered by the actuator is determined by the first pressure-limit valve and, in a second range, by the third pressure-limit valve. If the third-pressure limit valve opens at a lower pressure value, the force which can be delivered by the actuator in the second range of the opening motion is thus less than in the first range. Depending on the further embodiment of the closure assembly, this can be acceptable. If this reduction is undesirable or inadmissible, the invention proposes a further, more complex embodiment.




In this more complex embodiment, it is envisaged that the second and third pressure-limit valves as well as the connection of the opening chamber connect, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the opening chamber, to a common reservoir line, in which the hydraulic flow sensor and, between the flow sensor and the reservoir, the first pressure-limit valve are accommodated, the common line between the flow sensor and the first pressure-limit valve connecting, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the reservoir line, to the opening chamber. By this embodiment it is achieved that the pressure in the opening chamber is only limited by the first pressure-limit valve, even when the mouth of the by-pass connection is connected to the opening chamber. During closure, the by-pass connection, together with the associated third pressure-limit valve, is operative. This effect can also be achieved, though, with other hydraulic circuits.




The invention as well as advantageous embodiments thereof will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawing.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows in perspective view a portion of a vehicle according to the present invention,





FIG. 2

shows diagrammatically a first exemplary embodiment of the hydraulic operating device according to the invention,





FIG. 3

shows diagrammatically a second exemplary embodiment of the hydraulic operating device according to the invention,





FIG. 4

shows diagrammatically a third exemplary embodiment of the hydraulic operating device according to the invention, and





FIG. 5

shows in cross section an exemplary embodiment of the hydraulic flow sensor which can be applied in the hydraulic actuating device according to the invention.











DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIG. 1

shows a part of the right-hand rear side of a passenger vehicle (not illustrated further) with boot. As is commonly known, that portion of the vehicle body comprises a boot opening


1


, the bodywork forming a drip rail


2


which extends along the side edge, and generally the top edge, of this boot opening


1


and is recessed. The drip rail has a rail bottom wall


3


, which on one side is delimited by a rail wall


4


. On the other side, the rail bottom


3


is delimited by a vertical inner rail wall


5


, which is provided with flexible sealing strip (not shown) extending along its top side.




As is also usual, the vehicle further has a boot lid


6


for closing off the opening


1


of the boot space.




The boot lid


6


is fastened to the vehicle body by hinge means, such that it can be pivoted about a substantially horizontal pivot axis line, and is movable between a closed position thereof, in which the boot lid


6


bears against the sealing strip on the inner rail wall


5


(so that the boot space is sealed off from the outside atmosphere), and an opened position (shown in

FIG. 1

) directed upwards at an angle relative to the closed position.




In this example, the hinge means comprise on each side edge of the boot lid


6


two rods


7


,


8


, which each at their one end are pivotably connected by an associated hinge point


9


,


10


to the vehicle body and at their other end by an associated hinge point


11


,


12


respectively to a support


13


fitted to the bottom side of the boot lid


6


. In a manner which is known per se, these two rods


7


,


8


form with their associated hinge points a so-called four-rod hinge construction. The rods


7


,


8


are installed and realized such that, in the closed position of the boot lid


6


, these rods


7


,


8


lie in the drip rail


2


.




For the opening and closing of the boot opening


1


, the vehicle is further provided with a hydraulic actuating device, a number of exemplary embodiments of which will be explained in greater detail with reference to

FIGS. 2

,


3


,


4


.




The actuating device comprises, inter alia, a double-acting hydraulic drive cylinder


15


, which is installed between the vehicle body and the boot lid for the movement of the boot lid


6


.




The cylinder


15


has a cylinder housing, which, on the bottom side, is pivotably connected, by a pin


16


, to a support structure


17


, which is in turn fastened on the inner side of the bodywork to the vertical drip rail wall


4


.




The cylinder


15


has a piston rod


18


, which can be moved to and from and which is connected by a ball joint


19


to the end of a lever


20


. At the other end, this lever


20


is fixedly connected to a shaft


21


extending transversely to the lever


20


. The shaft


21


projects at one end through an additional support


22


and projects in the other direction through the support


17


and then through an opening


23


in the rail wall


4


, which opening is provided with a sealing ring, into the drip rail


2


. The part of the shaft


21


which projects into the drip rail


2


forms the hinge point


10


of the rod


8


and is fixedly connected to this rod


8


.




In

FIG. 2

, the hydraulic actuator


15


for moving the boot lid


1


can be recognized, which actuator


15


has a housing having a cylinder space, in which a piston rod


18


with piston


25


can be moved to and from, which latter delimits in the cylinder space a closing chamber


26


and an opening chamber


27


.




The housing of the actuator


15


is provided in each of the chambers


26


,


27


with an associated mouth


26




a


,


27




a


, connecting to the cylinder space, for the supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid. Around the piston


25


lies a sealing ring


28


, which connects in a seal-tight manner to the housing.




The hydraulic actuating device further comprises a hydraulic pump


30


having an associated electric pump motor


31


.




The pump


30


is a pump having reversible pumping direction and having two ports


32


,


33


, which, depending on the direction of rotation of the pump motor


31


, act as a suction port or delivery port.




The port


32


in connected by a line


34


to the opening chamber


27


and the port


33


is connected by a line


35


to the closing chamber


26


.




The ports


32


,


33


are further connected by a two-way suction valve


36


to a reservoir


37


for hydraulic fluid.




When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the closing chamber


26


, the actuator


15


delivers a force so as to make the boot lid


1


perform a closing motion into the closed position and, when the supply is directed to the opening chamber


27


, delivers a force so as to make the boot lid perform an opening motion into the opened position.




The hydraulic actuating device further comprises a first pressure-limit valve


40


, which is connected to the opening chamber


27


, and a second pressure-limit valve


41


, which is connected to the closing chamber


26


. Electrical control means


50


for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the opening chamber


27


or to the closing chamber


26


of the actuator


15


, by suitable driving of the pump


15


, are further provided.




It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that use could also be made of a pump having a single delivery port and of an (electronically operated) control valve for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the chambers of the actuators. In such an embodiment (not shown), but also in other variants, it can be envisaged that the first and second pressure-limit valves coincide and are thus formed by a single pressure-limit valve, which is connected, for example by an OR valve, to the closing chamber and the opening chamber.




The first and second pressure-limit valves


40


,


41


connect to a common reservoir line


42


to the reservoir


37


.




In the common reservoir line


42


, a hydraulic flow sensor


45


is installed.




The flow sensor


45


is connected to control means


50


for the electric motor


31


of the pump


30


. The sensor


45


is adapted to detect the presence of a flow of hydraulic fluid, both through the first pressure-limit valve


40


and through the second pressure-limit valve


41


, to the reservoir


37


.




The control means


50


are adapted—if the flow sensor


45


detects a flow of hydraulic fluid to the reservoir


37


—to reverse the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the actuator


15


by effecting a reversal of the direction of rotation of the electric motor


31


. If the sensor


45


detects a flow during the opening motion, this opening motion is interrupted and the closing motion is automatically performed. This can be the case, for example, if the boot lid meets an obstacle as it is opened. If a hand or the like becomes jammed as the boot lid is closed, this will also lead to a reversal of the motion and hence to the removal of the jamming.




The flow sensor


45


can be of a embodiment which is known per se, for example as shown in NL 1014476 of the applicant. This known embodiment will here be explained, for the sake of completeness, with reference to FIG.


5


. Totally different flow sensors can also, of course, be used for establishing a fluid flow in the common reservoir line.




In the embodiment according to

FIG. 2

, the maximum deliverable force of the actuator


15


during the closing motion and the opening motion is constant. In practice, the limit values for the pressure at which the valves


40


,


41


open can vary. For example, the valve


40


opens at a pressure of 70 bar and the valve


41


at a pressure of 80 bar.




The embodiment according to

FIG. 2

will in practice provide an acceptable protection against jamming of a body part if the clamping force ultimately acting upon the body part in question has an acceptable value.




An alternative embodiment of the hydraulic actuating device will now be explained with reference to FIG.


3


. In

FIG. 3

, parts which are consistent with parts according to

FIG. 2

are provided with the same reference numerals.




In the device according to

FIG. 3

, an actuator


60


is used instead of the actuator


15


.




The actuator


60


has a housing having a cylinder space, in which a piston rod


61


with piston


62


can be moved to and fro, which latter delimits in the cylinder space a closing chamber


63


and opening chamber


64


.




The housing of the actuator


60


is provided in each of the chambers


63


,


64


with an associated mouth


63




a


,


64




a


, connecting to the cylinder space, for the supply and discharge of the hydraulic fluid.




Around the piston


62


lies a sealing ring


65


, which connects in a seal-tight manner to the housing.




Moreover, the actuator


60


is provided with a by-pass connection


66


, which, at a by-pass mouth


66




a


, connects to the cylinder space, which by-pass mouth


66




a


lies between the connecting mouths


63




a


,


64




a


of the opening chamber


64


and the closing chamber


63


. In particular, the by-pass mouth


66




a


lies closer to the mouth


64




a


of the opening chamber


64


than to the mouth


63




a.






In the device according to

FIG. 3

, a third pressure-limit valve


68


is provided, which connects to the by-pass connection


66


. Further, the first, second and third pressure-limit valves


40


,


41


,


68


connect to the common reservoir line


42


to the reservoir


37


.




In a first range of the closing motion, the closing chamber


63


is only connected to the associated mouth


63




a


and the closing chamber


63


is closed off from the by-pass mouth


66




a


. In a following second range of the closing motion, the closing chamber


63


is connected both to the associated mouth


63




a


and to the by-pass mouth


66




a.






In practice, this has the advantage that the limit value for the pressure at which the valve


68


opens is lower than the limit values of the valves


40


,


41


. For example, the valve


68


opens at a pressure of 20 bar, the valve


40


at 70 bar and the valve


41


at 80 bar.




As a result of this embodiment, during the first range of the closing motion a maximum pressure of 80 bar is available for the closing motion. If this limit value is exceeded, for example because a suitcase is preventing the boot lid from closing, the valve


41


will open and fluid will flow via the line


42


to the reservoir. The sensor


45


detects this and the boot lid will automatically proceed to perform an opening motion.




During the second range of the closing motion, the maximum available pressure in the closing chamber is only 20 bar. If this pressure is exceeded, for example because a hand is jammed by the boot lid, the valve


68


opens and the flow through the line


42


is detected by means of a sensor


45


. On the one hand, the clamping force is now low because the pressure is limited to 20 bar and, on the other hand, the motion of the boot lid is reversed, so that the slightly jammed hand is freed right away.




It will be clear that the location of the mouth


66




a


and the limit values for the valves


40


,


41


,


68


can be defined by the person skilled in the art on the basis of the embodiment of the total construction and the requirements regarding, for example, the clamping force which is deemed admissible.




In a variant (not shown), it is likewise conceivable for a plurality of by-pass mouths, each with an associated pressure-limit valve to be provided, so that more than two ranges can be defined, each having a separate maximum limit value.




In the embodiment of

FIG. 3

, the maximum pressure in the opening chamber


64


in a first range of the opening motion is 70 bar. After the sealing ring


65


has passed the by-pass mouth


66




a


, the maximum pressure in the second range of the opening motion is limited to 20 bar. In practice this can be acceptable, but it is conceivable that insufficient force is then present to complete the opening motion. In order to resolve this “conflict” between a low clamping force in the closing motion, on the one hand, and a suitable pressure during the opening motion, on the other hand, the more complex embodiment according to

FIG. 4

is provided.




In

FIG. 4

, parts which are consistent with the embodiment of the hydraulic actuating device according to

FIG. 3

are provided with the same reference numerals.




In the embodiment according to

FIG. 4

, the second and third pressure-limit valves


41


,


68


and the connection of the opening chamber


64


connect, via a non-return valve


70


closing in the direction of the opening chamber, to the common reservoir line


42


to the reservoir


37


.




In the line


42


, the hydraulic flow sensor


45


, and between the flow sensor


45


and the reservoir


37


, the first pressure-limit valve


40


are accommodated.




Between the flow sensor


45


and the first pressure-limit valve


40


, the common line


42


further connects, via a non-return valve


71


closing in the direction of the reservoir line


42


, to the opening chamber


64


.




In the embodiment according to

FIG. 4

, too, it is preferable if the third pressure-limit valve


68


opens at a lower pressure than the first and second pressure-limit valves


40


,


41


. For example, the valve


68


opens at 20 bar, the valve


40


at 70 bar and the valve


41


at 80 bar.




As a result of the embodiment according to

FIG. 4

, the maximum pressure during a first range of the closing motion is 80 bar and during a second range 20 bar. During the opening motion, the maximum pressure is always 70 bar.




It will be clear that the hydraulic actuating device according to the invention is suitable for all kinds of closure assemblies having a hydraulically driven closure element. For example, a so-called fifth door of a motor vehicle can be considered, which fifth door often in its closed position stands almost vertically. It will further be clear that the present invention can also be applicable, for example, to the doors and bonnet of a motor vehicle, or, for example, to a tonneau cover over an other part in a cabriolet-type vehicle. Applications are also conceivable outside the automotive industry, such as for lift doors, aircraft, ship's hatches, etc.




A possible embodiment of the sensor


45


will be explained with reference to FIG.


5


.





FIG. 5

shows a part of a housing


80


, for example of a block in which the pressure-limit valves and any other valves of the hydraulic actuating device are further accommodated. The housing


80


is made of aluminum or some other non-magnetic material.




In the housing


80


a bore


83


is provided, to which an inlet port


81


and an outlet port


82


connect. The bore


83


is closed off by a plug


84


.




Between the ports


81


,


82


a slide member


85


is arranged such that it is displaceable within the bore


83


, which slide member has a through-duct


86


provided with an orifice


87


.




A resetting spring


88


forces the slide member


85


in the direction of the plug


84


.




The ports


81


,


82


constitute part of the common reservoir line


42


, such that, when fluid flows through this line to the reservoir


37


, the resistance generated by the orifice


87


moves the slide member


85


, counter to the spring


88


, in the direction away from the plug


84


.




A magnetic field sensor


89


, for example a Hall sensor, detects this displacement of the slide member


85


under the influence of the flow and delivers a signal to the control means


50


.



Claims
  • 1. Hydraulic actuating device for a closure assembly, which closure assembly comprises a closure element which is moveable between a closed position, in which the closure element closes off an opening, and an opened position, which hydraulic actuating device comprises:a hydraulic actuator for moving the closure element, which actuator has a housing having a cylinder space, in which a piston/piston rod assembly is moveable to and fro, which latter, in the cylinder space, delimits a closing chamber and opening chamber, the housing being provided in each of the chambers with an associated mouth, connecting to the cylinder space, for the supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic pump having an associated electric pump motor, which pump has one or more delivery ports for the delivery of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, wherein, when hydraulic fluid is supplied to the closing chamber, the actuator delivers a force so as to make the closure element perform a closing motion towards the closed position and, when the supply is directed to the opening chamber, delivers a force so as to make the closure element perform an opening motion towards the opened position, wherein the hydraulic actuating device further comprises a first pressure-limit valve, which is connected to the opening chamber, and a second pressure-limit valve, which is connected to the closing chamber, and wherein electrical control means are further provided for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the opening chamber or to the closing chamber of the actuator, wherein a hydraulic flow sensor connected to the electrical control means is provided at each pressure-limit valve, such that the one or more hydraulic flow sensors detect the presence of a flow of hydraulic fluid through the pressure-limit valve to the reservoir, and wherein the electrical control means are adapted—if a flow sensor detects a flow of hydraulic fluid—to reverse the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the actuator, so that the opening motion is changed to a closing motion or vice versa.
  • 2. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 1, wherein a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir.
  • 3. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 1, wherein a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir, and the first and second pressure-limit valves connect to a common reservoir line to the reservoir and the common hydraulic flow sensor is installed at the common reservoir line.
  • 4. Hydraulic actuating device for a closure assembly, which closure assembly comprises a closure element which is moveable between a closed position, in which the closure element closes off an opening, and an opened position, which hydraulic actuating device comprises:a hydraulic actuator for moving the closure element, which actuator has a housing having a cylinder space, in which a piston/piston rod assembly is moveable to and fro, which latter, in the cylinder space, delimits a closing chamber and opening chamber, the housing being provided in each of the chambers with an associated mouth, connecting to the cylinder space, for the supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic pump having an associated electric pump motor, which pump has one or more delivery ports for the delivery of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, wherein, when hydraulic fluid is supplied to the closing chamber, the actuator delivers a force so as to make the closure element perform a closing motion towards the closed position and, when the supply is directed to the opening chamber, delivers a force so as to make the closure element perform an opening motion towards the opened position, wherein the hydraulic actuating device further comprises a first pressure-limit valve, which is connected to the opening chamber, and a second pressure-limit valve, which is connected to the closing chamber, and wherein electrical control means are further provided for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the opening chamber or to the closing chamber of the actuator, wherein a hydraulic flow sensor connected to the electrical control means is provided at each pressure-limit valve, such that the one or more hydraulic flow sensors detect the presence of a flow of hydraulic fluid through the pressure-limit valve to the reservoir, and wherein the electrical control means are adapted—if a flow sensor detects a flow of hydraulic fluid—to reverse the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the actuator, so that the opening motion is changed to a closing motion or vice versa, and wherein the actuator is further provided with at least one by-pass connection, which, at a by-pass mouth, connects to the cylinder space, which by-pass mouth lies between the connecting mouths of the opening chamber and the closing chamber, and wherein a third pressure-limit valve is provided, which connects to the by-pass connection, so that, in a first range of the closing motion, the closing chamber is only connected to the associated mouth and is closed off from the by-pass mouth, and so that, in a second range, the closing chamber is connected both to the associated mouth and to the by-pass mouth.
  • 5. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir.
  • 6. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the first, second and third pressure-limit valves connect to a common reservoir line to the reservoir and the hydraulic flow sensor is installed at the common reservoir line.
  • 7. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the first, second and third pressure-limit valves connect to a common reservoir line to the reservoir and the hydraulic flow sensor is installed at the common reservoir line, and wherein a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir.
  • 8. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the second and third pressure-limit valves as well as the connection of the opening chamber connect, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the opening chamber, to a common reservoir line, in which the hydraulic flow sensor and, between the flow sensor and the reservoir, the first pressure-limit valve are accommodated, the common line between the flow sensor and the first pressure-limit valve connecting, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the reservoir line, to the opening chamber.
  • 9. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the second and third pressure-limit valves as well as the connection of the opening chamber connect, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the opening chamber, to a common reservoir line, in which the hydraulic flow sensor and, between the flow sensor and the reservoir, the first pressure-limit valve are accommodated, the common line between the flow sensor and the first pressure-limit valve connecting, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the reservoir line, to the opening chamber, and wherein a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir.
  • 10. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the third pressure-limit valve opens at a lower pressure than the first and second pressure-limit valves.
  • 11. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the third pressure-limit valve opens at a lower pressure than the first and second pressure-limit valves, and wherein a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir.
  • 12. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the third pressure-limit valve opens at a lower pressure than the first and second pressure-limit valves, and wherein the first, second and third pressure-limit valves connect to a common reservoir line to the reservoir and the hydraulic flow sensor is installed at the common reservoir line.
  • 13. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the third pressure-limit valve opens at a lower pressure than the first and second pressure-limit valves, and wherein a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir, wherein the first, second and third pressure-limit valves connect to a common reservoir line to the reservoir and the hydraulic flow sensor is installed at the common reservoir line.
  • 14. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the third pressure-limit valve opens at a lower pressure than the first and second pressure-limit valves, wherein the second and third pressure-limit valves as well as the connection of the opening chamber connect, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the opening chamber, to a common reservoir line, in which the hydraulic flow sensor and, between the flow sensor and the reservoir, the first pressure-limit valve are accommodated, the common line between the flow sensor and the first pressure-limit valve connecting, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the reservoir line, to the opening chamber.
  • 15. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the third pressure-limit valve opens at a lower pressure than the first and second pressure-limit valves, and wherein a single hydraulic flow sensor common to all pressure-limit valves is provided, which detects the presence of a flow from each of the pressure-limit valves to the reservoir, wherein the second and third pressure-limit valves as well as the connection of the opening chamber connect, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the opening chamber, to a common reservoir line, in which the hydraulic flow sensor and, between the flow sensor and the reservoir, the first pressure-limit valve are accommodated, the common line between the flow sensor and the first pressure-limit valve connecting, via a non-return valve closing in the direction of the reservoir line, to the opening chamber.
  • 16. Hydraulic actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a pump having reversible pumping direction and having two ports, which, depending on the direction of rotation of the pump motor, act as a suction port or delivery port, which ports are respectively connected to the opening chamber and the closing chamber.
  • 17. Closure assembly provided with a hydraulic actuating device according to claim 1.
  • 18. Vehicle provided with a bodywork and a closure element for closing off an opening in the bodywork, provided with a hydraulic actuating device according to claim 1.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
1019067 Oct 2001 NL
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
1134608 Gottschalk Apr 1915 A
3916567 Daugirdas Nov 1975 A
4263746 Eller et al. Apr 1981 A
5760695 Huber Jun 1998 A
6470678 Huber Oct 2002 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (9)
Number Date Country
42 41 764 Jun 1994 DE
196 41 428 Feb 1998 DE
199 06 728 Nov 1999 DE
0 803 630 Oct 1997 EP
7103556 Sep 1972 NL
1011362 Aug 2000 NL
1014476 Aug 2001 NL
WO 0106078 Jan 2001 WO
WO 0162532 Aug 2001 WO