Device for pivoting a vehicle door

Abstract

 The invention relates to a device for pivoting a vehicle door, including:
- a hinge (3) comprising:
• a fixed hinge frame (3a),
• a hinge axis (5) mounted in the fixed hinge frame (3 a), and
• a moving hinge body (3b) mounted so as to pivot around the hinge axis (5),

- a drive unit (7) for actuating the vehicle door, and
- a transmission means (9) connected to the drive unit (7) and to the moving hinge body (3b),
According to the invention:
- the hinge (3) further comprises a pin (13) directly mounted on the moving hinge body (3b) and connected to the transmission means (9), and
- the transmission means (9) comprises a hole (33) for receiving the free end of the pin (13).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for pivoting a vehicle door which is connected to a hinge so as to be pivoted around a hinge axis. The hinge is thereafter named door hinge.

[0002] The vehicle door may be either a side door, a tailgate, the lid for closing the engine compartment or the flap for closing a roof opening in a vehicle.

[0003] It is known to actuate the vehicle door using a drive unit, more particularly a modular drive unit, connected to the door hinge.

[0004] As known, the door hinge may comprise a fixed hinge frame intended to be fastened to the armature of the vehicle and retaining the hinge axis, and a moving hinge body to which is connected the vehicle door and which is mounted so as to pivot around the hinge axis of the fixed hinge frame.

[0005] As an example, on vehicles equipped with an automatic tailgate two modular drive units for actuating the tailgate are generally connected to two door hinges.

[0006] A modular drive unit comprises in a known manner a motor and a gear assembly. Transmission means is connected to the associated modular drive unit and door hinge.

[0007] According to a known solution, the transmission means comprises a lever connected to the moving hinge body. For example, the lever is on the one hand fastened to the modular drive unit and is on the other hand connected to the moving hinge body.

[0008] To this end, an adapter may be required between the lever and the moving hinge body.

[0009] It is known, for example from DE 10 2006 024 349, that the lever is connected at one end to the drive shaft of the drive unit and has on the opposite end an opening for receiving a sliding block. The device further comprises an adapter for example screwed on the moving hinge body and provided with a pin mounted in the sliding block.

[0010] Such a solution is expensive because of the many different parts and because of the assembling of the parts.

[0011] Moreover, the adapter and sliding block assembly screwed to the moving hinge body may be quite expensive to manufacture as it requires several parts.

[0012] It is the object of the invention to obtain a device for pivoting a vehicle door that does not require any particular adaptation on the vehicle door hinge.

[0013] This object is achieved according to the invention by a device for pivoting a vehicle door, including:

• a hinge comprising:
  • a fixed hinge frame,
  • a hinge axis mounted in the fixed hinge frame, and
  • a moving hinge body mounted so as to pivot around the hinge axis,
• a drive unit for actuating the vehicle door, and
• a transmission means connected to the drive unit and to the moving hinge body,
  characterized in that:
• the hinge further comprises a pin directly mounted on the moving hinge body and connected to the transmission means, and in that
• the transmission means comprises a hole for receiving the free end of the pin.

[0014] The invention thus provides a simple connection between the drive unit and the moving hinge body. The transmission means has a hole to engage in the pin that is directly mounted on the moving hinge body, without requiring additional intermediary parts such as the adapter and sliding block of known prior art solutions.

[0015] This assembly removes several parts used in previous assembly requiring sliding block and an adapter screwed on the moving hinge body.

[0016] This new assembly improves the mounting procedure by eliminating the screw connection to the door hinge.

[0017] It also reduces the number of parts and the play in the system. Indeed, the hole wherein the free end of the pin may slide is used to compensate tolerances between the moving hinge body and the transmission means, for example a lever.

[0018] Furthermore, the transmission means and drive unit can be attached to the hinge with less effort than prior art solutions requiring a complex arrangement with sliding block and adapter screwed on the door hinge.

[0019] Such solution has the advantage to be a cheaper and easier assembly than prior art solution with adapter and sliding block. Indeed, the invention reduces the number of parts.

[0020] The device according to the invention may also comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or in combination:

• the pin is welded on the moving hinge body;
• the hole is longitudinally shaped, for example the hole is a substantially oblong hole or even a slot;
• the transmission means comprises a lever;
• the pin may slide radially in the hole regarding the longitudinal axis of the lever;
• the lever has a first end connected to the drive unit and a second end provided with the hole for receiving the free end of the welded pin for connection to the moving hinge body. The lever is generally pre-assembled to the drive unit. The drive unit is thus attached to the hinge by engaging the hole of the lever to the pin mounted on the moving hinge body;
• the moving hinge body comprises at least one flange part, and wherein the pin is welded on one flange part of the moving hinge body;
• the pin is arranged on the moving hinge body protruding from the moving hinge body towards the transmission means.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, which is given as a non-limiting illustrative example, and the attached drawings, among which:

• figure 1 partially shows a device for pivoting a vehicle door comprising a modular drive unit and the hinge of the vehicle door to be pivoted,
• figure 2 shows the door hinge, and
• figure 3 is a perspective view of a lever of a transmission means arranged between the modular drive unit and the door hinge.

[0022] In these figures, identical elements carry the same references.

[0023] Reference 1 indicates a device 1 partially illustrated in figure 1, for pivoting a vehicle door (not shown). In this document, the term "vehicle door" is understood quite generally to mean a part that may be pivoted for closing a vehicle opening. The vehicle door may therefore involve either a side door, a tailgate, the lid for closing the engine compartment or the flap for closing a roof opening in a vehicle.

[0024] The device 1 comprises a hinge 3 with a hinge axis 5 and a drive unit, more precisely a modular drive unit 7 for actuating the vehicle door (not illustrated) connected to the hinge 3 through a transmission means 9.

[0025] Hereafter, said hinge 3 is referred to as a door hinge 3.

[0026] The vehicle door is connected to the door hinge 3 so as to pivot around the hinge axis 5.

[0027] For example, in a vehicle equipped with automatic tailgate two modular drive units 7 are connected to each of the two door hinges 3.

[0028] More precisely, a door hinge 3, more visible in figure 2, comprises a fixed hinge frame 3a and a moving hinge body 3b.

[0029] The fixed hinge frame 3a is intended to be fastened to a fixed armature of the vehicle (not shown).

[0030] The hinge axis 5 is mounted in the fixed hinge frame 3a. The hinge axis 5 has an end which protrudes from the fixed hinge frame 3a extending towards the transmission means 9 referring to figures 1 and 2. This protruding end of the hinge axis 5 may comprise a bearing surface 10 for the connection with a drive shaft of the drive unit 7.

[0031] The moving hinge body 3b is mounted in a pivotable manner around the hinge axis 5. For example, in case of a tailgate, the moving hinge body 3b may be fastened on the roof side region of the tailgate of a motor vehicle.

[0032] One end of the moving hinge body 3b is connected to the hinge axis 5. For example this end may be provided with a rolled part for receiving the hinge axis 5.

[0033] The moving hinge body 3b may further comprise at least one flange part 11 for fastening to the vehicle door.

[0034] The door hinge 3 also comprises a pin 13 directly mounted on the moving hinge body 3b, that means without any intermediary adapter, for example being welded on the moving hinge body 3b.

[0035] More precisely, the welded pin 13 is here arranged on a flange part 11 of the moving hinge body 3b.

[0036] The welded pin 13 protrudes from the plane defined by the flange part 11 of the moving hinge body 3b and extends towards the transmission means 9, as can be seen in figure 1.

[0037] The connection between the door hinge 3 and the transmission means 9 through the welded pin 13 is thus simpler than prior art solutions requiring a sliding block and an adapter provided with a pin and which is for example screwed on the moving hinge body.

[0038] Moreover, the door hinge 3 and the welded pin 13 on the moving hinge body 3b is manufactured using known cheap processes.

[0039] As already said, the vehicle door (not illustrated) can be actuated by the modular drive unit 7 partially illustrated in figure 1. To this end, the transmission means 9 is connected both to the door hinge 3 and the modular drive unit 7.

[0040] The modular drive unit 7 is intended to be arranged on and fastened to the armature of the vehicle. For example, in case of a tailgate, the modular drive unit 7 may be arranged on a roof support of the vehicle. A collar 15 may be provided for fastening the modular drive unit 7.

[0041] In a known manner, the modular drive unit 7 comprises an electric motor (not illustrated in the figures), a gear assembly (not shown) connected to the electric motor and a drive shaft extending in the direction of the hinge axis 5.

[0042] The modular drive unit 7 also comprises a substantially tubular housing 17 receiving the gear assembly connected to the electric motor and the drive shaft (not shown).

[0043] As said before, the transmission means 9 may be connected on the one hand to the drive shaft and on the other hand to the moving hinge body 3b.

[0044] The transmission means may comprise a lever 25 arranged between the modular drive unit 7 and the moving hinge body 3b.

[0045] The lever 25 best shown in figure 3 is connected to the drive shaft of the modular drive unit 7, and also to the welded pin 13 provided on the moving hinge body 3b. For that, the lever 25 comprises a first end 27 for connection with the modular drive unit 7, and a second end 29 for connection with the welded pin 13. The second end 29 is here arranged longitudinally opposite to the first end 27.

[0046] The lever 25 is connected at its first end 27 to the drive shaft of the modular drive unit 7 in a rotationally fixed manner. More precisely, the lever 25 is mounted on the drive shaft of the drive unit 7.

[0047] For that purpose, the lever 25 comprises a hole 30 for receiving the drive shaft of the modular drive unit 7.

[0048] The lever 25 may have an assembly 31 of a hub with gearing which is arranged in the hole 30.

[0049] The second end 29 of the lever 25 can be connected to the moving hinge body 3b, more precisely to one flange part 11 of the moving hinge body 3b, through the welded pin 13.

[0050] The lever 25 comprises a hole 33 for receiving the free end of the welded pin 13. The hole 33 is designed to form a slide wherein the free end of the pin 13 may slide radially regarding the longitudinal axis of the lever 25, in order to compensate tolerances, between the moving hinge body 3b and the lever 25. For that, the hole 33 may be a longitudinal hole 33, for example oblong or even a slot.

[0051] Thus the assembly according to the invention provides a simple lever to be connected to the door hinge and the drive unit which may be less expensive and easier to manufacture than prior art solutions.

Claims

1. Device for pivoting a vehicle door, including:

- a hinge (3) comprising:

• a fixed hinge frame (3a),

• a hinge axis (5) mounted in the fixed hinge frame (3a), and

• a moving hinge body (3b) mounted so as to pivot around the hinge axis (5),

- a drive unit (7) for actuating the vehicle door, and

- a transmission means (9) connected to the drive unit (7) and to the moving hinge body (3b),
characterized in that:

- the hinge (3) further comprises a pin (13) directly mounted on the moving hinge body (3b) and connected to the transmission means (9), and in that

- the transmission means (9) comprises a hole (33) for receiving the free end of the pin (13).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the pin (13) is welded on the moving hinge body (3b).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hole (33) is longitudinally shaped, for example is a substantially oblong hole (33).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission means (9) comprises a lever (25).

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the pin (13) may slide radially in the hole (33) regarding the longitudinal axis of the lever (25).

6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the lever (25) has:

- a first end (27) connected to the drive unit (7) and

- a second end (29) provided with the hole (33) for receiving the free end of the welded pin (13) for connection to the moving hinge body (3b).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moving hinge body (3b) comprises at least one flange part (11), and wherein the pin (13) is welded on one flange part (11) of the moving hinge body (3b).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin (13) is arranged on the moving hinge body (3b) protruding from the moving hinge body (3b) towards the transmission means (9).

Drawing