|
(11) | EP 0 275 672 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
Vehicle door hinge Fahrzeugtürscharnier Charnière de porte de véhicule |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
Field of the invention
Background to the invention
[0002] Various types of vehicle door hinge are known. Generally, the hinging action of the door is checked, at an intermediate point in its opening movement, by a door check mechanism formed separately from the hinge. French Patent specification No FR 2316420 shows a hinge having a door check mechanism comprising a roller mounted to the door through a relatively bulky C-spring which roller, in use, co-operates with a check producing section on the hinge.
[0003] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a car door hinge which has an integrated door check.
The invention
[0004] According to the invention, a vehicle door hinge with integrated door check comprises two leaves one having a base part for fixing to the vehicle body and one having a base part for fixing to the vehicle door, one leaf incorporating an abutment mounted to the base through a spring mounting and the other leaf having a check-producing section fixed to the base, and means on the two leaves for connecting said two leaves together and defining a hinge axis, the arrangement being such that when the two leaves are hinged together and opened apart from a closed position to reach an intermediate position in the range of opening movement, the check-producing section comes into a condition of engagement with the abutment such that, at least for a limited range of further opening travel, the abutment is displaced against the biassing force of its spring mounting, is characterised in that the abutment is mounted between its ends on two similar arcuate or part circular resilient spring members which comprise the spring mounting, one end of each spring is fixed to the base of the leaf on the hinge axis, and the other end of the springs provides support for the abutment element.
[0005] At the end of a limited range of further opening travel, the abutment may be displaced to a position in which the check-producing section is able to continue opening movement unopposed. This may be achieved in various ways, one of which will be apparent from the ensuing description.
[0006] In a preferred arrangement, the leaf incorporating the spring-mounted abutment is adapted for fixing to the vehicle body, the leaf incorporating the check-producing section fixed to the base being adapted for fixing to the vehicle door.
[0007] Preferably, the abutment element may conveniently be in the form of a roller mounted for free rotation on a spindle which extends parallel to the hinge axis.
[0008] For cooperation with the afore-mentioned abutment roller, the check-producing section on the other leaf preferably comprises an arcuately curved plate integrally formed with the base. During hinging, the exterior surface of this curved plate is brought into a condition of engagement with the abutment roller such as to displace the latter on the spring mounting, at the same time moving around the axis of the roller (accompanying turning of the roller is readily permitted by its spindle support). At the end of a limited range of further opening movement, the check-producing section can turn with the freely rotating roller without causing further displacement of said roller.
[0009] In the preferred arrangement, the hinge axis is defined, on the leaf adapted for fixing to the vehicle body and carrying the spring mounted abutment, by a pair of aligned upstanding hinge pins on the base. These hinge pins may also provide the means for fixing one end of the respective arcuately curved springs which support the abutment roller. The hinge axis on the other leaf, adapted for fixing to the vehicle door, is defined by a pair of aligned apertures in spaced parallel flanges forming part of the base.
[0010] When the hinge leaves are fixed in position therefore, on the vehicle body and the vehicle door, the latter may be attached to the body simply by lowering the door so that the aforesaid flange apertures drop over the hinge pins. Dis-assembly is equally readily enabled by raising the door so that its hinge leaf lifts off the hinge pins.
[0011] Circlips engaging in peripheral grooves in the respective hinge pins may serve to hold the door against accidental detachment. The readly detachable door is advantageous during vehicle production and if repair is necessary.
[0012] A vehicle door will usually be hinged to the vehicle body by means of upper and lower hinges. Possibly only the lower hinge may be equipped with the integrated door check, but the upper hinge may retain the structure which enables ready body/door separation. Thus, the invention also extends to a vehicle door hinge as above-described, but wherein the leaf for fixing to the vehicle body, although having an identical base part, has the abutment roller and spring mounting therefor omitted. The leaf for fixing to the vehicle body may likewise retain the arcuately curved plate for simplicity of manufacture, but in use free hinging is permitted due to absence of the abutment roller.
[0013] The invention also extends to a vehicle having a door hinged by means of the above-described hinge or hinges.
Brief description of drawings
[0014] The vehicle door hinge in accordance with the invention is exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
- Figure 1
- is a perspective view of a hinge leaf for fixing to the vehicle door;
- Figure 2
- is a perspective view of a hinge leaf for fixing to the vehicle body;
- Figure 3
- is a longitudinal cross-section through the assembled hinge, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4;
- Figure 4
- is an end view of the assembled hinge;
- Figure 5
- shows a fixing detail of the assembly;
- Figure 6
- relates to a modification and shows a pin assembly in detail; and
- Figure 7
- shows another possible modification.
Description of embodiment
[0015] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the reference 10 generally denotes a hinge leaf for fixing to a vehicle door, e.g. car door, and reference 12 denotes a hinge leaf for fixing to a vehicle body.
[0016] Hinge leaf 10, conveniently made of zinc plated mild steel, comprises a base part having a wide U-section 14 and two oppositely directed webs 16. The webs 16 have slotted apertures 18 to enable the leaf 10 to be bolted to the vehicle door in the appropriate position thereon. The limbs of the U-section 14 constitute spaced parallel flanges 20 provided with aligned, bushed apertures 22 centred on an axis which corresponds to the axis of the hinge.
[0017] The crosspiece of the U-section 14 has a shaped, curved plate 24 integrally formed therewith. This curved plate 24 forms part of the check-producing arrangement of the hinge.
[0018] The hinge leaf 12 comprises a base part 26 which includes two triangularly shaped end flanges 28 in spaced parallel relationship. Apertures 30 in the base part 26 enable this leaf 12 to be bolted to the vehicle body. Hinge pins 32 are fixed in longitudinal alignment at corresponding corners of the triangular flanges 28. The pins 32 define the hinge axis on the leaf 12. The hinge pins have heads 34 and, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, one end of an arcuately curved spring 36 is fixed in position between the head of each pin and a weld 38 which fixes the pin to the base part 26 of the hinge leaf 12. Referring in this respect to Figure 5, in particular, reference 20 denotes one of the apertured flanges of the hinge leaf 10, which leaf is assembled with the hinge leaf 12 by locating the bushed apertures 22 in the flanges 20 over the shanks 40 of the respective hinge pins 32.
[0019] The two curved springs 36 lie in planes parallel to the triangular flanges 28, one adjacent the inside face of one flange and one adjacent the outside face of the other flange, so that the other ends of said springs are aligned in the region of corresponding corners of said flanges. These other ends of the springs 36 serve to support between them a spindle 42 extending parallel to the hinge axis. The flanges 28 have slotted apertures 44 for passage of said spindle and for serving as a guide for displacement of the spindle when in use the springs 36 are flexed as part of the check-producing action. Guide bushes for said apertures may be of zinc-based die-cast alloy or of high density nylon. Reference 46 denotes these guide bushes employed in conjunction with the springs-to-spindle connections, said bushes 46 being positioned adjacent spindle grooves in which the spring ends are located.
[0020] Reference 48 denotes a roller, for example of high density nylon or the like or possibly of stainless steel, which is mounted on the spindle 42 between the flanges 28, to turn freely thereon by means of low friction bushes 50.
[0021] The relative disposition of the two hinge leaves 10, 12, of the spring-mounted roller 48 and of the check-producing curved plate 24, is most clearly apparent from Figure 4. This Figure shows the hinge in an open position, i.e. vehicle door open position, in which the check-producing plate 24 is in engagement with the roller 48. Arrow 52 indicates the direction of rotation of the leaf 10 which occurs during door closure.
[0022] When the door is fully closed, plate 24 may be disengaged from roller 48, but in any event, after a predetermined opening movement has occurred, said plate is brought into a condition of engagement with said roller such as to cause the latter to be displaced by flexing of the springs 36 as opening movement continues. This requirement to flex the springs 36 results in the required check in door opening movement. This check may occupy a chosen distance of opening travel determined by the curvature of the plate 24. Following attainment of a position of maximum displacement of the roller 48, turning movement of the plate around the roller may continue without check, again due to the low friction bushes 50 used for mounting the roller 48 on the spindle 42. The plate 24 may possibly disengage from the roller beyond the intermediate range of door opening movement in which the check is operative.
[0024] Figure 6 shows a modification wherein a single hinge pin 60 is employed to define the axis of the hinge. The pin 60 passes through bushed apertures in the base parts of the respective hinge leaves. The door check is incorporated in the same manner as has been described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, but it is to be noted that the spring mounted roller 62 is provided on the leaf 64 to be fixed by welding or bolting to the vehicle door, whilst the check-producing section 66 is provided on the leaf 68 to be fixed by welding or bolting to the vehicle body.
[0025] Figure 7 shows another possible modification, of the arrangement previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, wherein a modified roller mounting is employed. In this modification, the roller 48A turns on a low bush launch 50A carried by shaft 42A mounted at one end only to a pair of curved springs 36A, with the shaft 42A passing through a guide slot 44A in a guide bush in one end flange 28A of the hinge leaf 12A.
1. A vehicle door hinge with integrated door check comprising two leaves one having a
base part for fixing to the vehicle body and one having a base part for fixing to
the vehicle door, one leaf (12) incorporating an abutment (48) mounted to an integral
base (26) through a spring mounting (36) and the other leaf (10) having a check-producing
section (24) fixed to an integral base (14), means (22,32) on the two leaves serving
to connect said two leaves together and defining a hinge axis, the arrangement being
such that when the two leaves are hinged together and opened apart from a closed position
to reach an intermediate position in the range of opening movement, the check-producing
section (24) comes into a condition of engagement with the abutment (48) such that,
at least for a limited range of further opening travel, the abutment (48) is displaced
against the biasing force of its spring mounting (36), characterised in that the abutment
(48) is mounted at one or both end regions on two similar arcuate or part-circular
resilient spring members which comprise the spring mounting (36); one end of each
of the two resilient spring members being fixed to the base of the leaf (12) on the
hinge axis, the other end providing support for the abutment element (48).
2. A vehicle door hinge according to claim 1, wherein, at the end of a limited range
of further opening travel, the abutment is displaceable to a position in which the
check-producing section is able to continue opening movement unopposed.
3. A vehicle door hinge according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the abutment (48)
comprises a roller mounted for free rotation on a spindle which extends parallel to
the hinge axis.
4. A vehicle door hinge according to claim 3, wherein, for cooperation with the aforementioned
abutment roller, the check-producing section (24) on the other leaf (10) comprises
an arcuately curved plate integrally formed with the base, whereby during hinging,
the exterior surface of the curved plate is brought into a condition of engagement
with the abutment roller such as to displace the latter on the spring mounting, at
the same time moving around the axis of the roller.
5. A vehicle door hinge according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the hinge axis is defined,
on the leaf adapted for fixing to the vehicle body and carrying the spring mounted
abutment, by a pair of aligned upstanding hinge pins (32) on the base, said hinge
pins also providing the means for fixing the fixed ends of the arcuately curved resilient
spring members which support the abutment roller, whilst the hinge axis on the other
leaf, adapted for fixing to the vehicle door, is defined by a pair of aligned apertures
(22) in spaced parallel flanges integrally formed with the base.
6. A vehicle door hinge according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a common spindle is
employed for hinging the two leaves together and for mounting the springs carrying
the roller.
7. A vehicle door hinge according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the spindle supporting
the roller is mounted to the base of the hinge leaf at one end only, and one or more
roller supporting springs are also attached to said spindle at the one end thereof.
8. A vehicle having at least one door hinged by a door hinge according to any of claims
1 to 7.
1. Une charnière de portière de véhicule comportant un mécanisme de retenue de portière
intégré, comprenant deux pièces, l'une comportant une embase prévue pour la fixation
à la carrosserie du véhicule et l'autre comportant une embase prévue pour la fixation
à la portière du véhicule, une pièce (12) incorporant une butée (48) qui est montée
sur une embase intégrée (26) par l'intermédiaire d'un mécanisme de montage à ressort
(36), et l'autre pièce (10) comportant une section de retenue (24) fixée sur une embase
intégrée (14), des moyens (22, 32) sur les deux pièces qui ont pour fonction d'accoupler
ensemble les deux pièces et de définir un axe de charnière, la configuration étant
telle que lorsque les deux pièces sont articulées ensemble et sont ouvertes à partir
d'une position fermée, pour atteindre une position intermédiaire dans la plage de
mouvement d'ouverture, la section de retenue (24) vient dans une condition d'engagement
avec la butée (48), de façon que, au moins sur une plage limitée de déplacement d'ouverture
ultérieur, la butée (48) soit déplacée contre la force de rappel de son mécanisme
de montage à ressort (36), caractérisée en ce que la butée (48) est montée, à l'une
de ses parties d'extrémité, ou aux deux, sur deux ressorts élastiques similaires,
courbes ou en forme d'arc de cercle, qui constituent le mécanisme de montage à ressort
(36); une extrémité de chacun des deux ressorts élastiques étant fixée à l'embase
de la pièce (12) sur l'axe de charnière, et l'autre extrémité procurant un support
pour la butée (48).
2. Une charnière de portière de véhicule selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle, à l'extrémité
d'une plage limitée de déplacement d'ouverture supplémentaire, la butée peut être
déplacée vers une position dans laquelle la section de retenue est capable de permettre
la poursuite du mouvement d'ouverture, sans opposition.
3. Une charnière de portière de véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1
ou 2, dans laquelle la butée (48) consiste en un rouleau qui est monté de façon à
pouvoir tourner librement sur une tige qui s'étend parallèment à l'axe de charnière.
4. Une charnière de portière de véhicule selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle, en
vue de la coopération avec le rouleau de butée précité, la section de retenue (24)
montée sur l'autre pièce (10) comprend une plaquette courbe, formée d'un seul tenant
avec l'embase, grâce à quoi pendant le mouvement de la charnière, la surface extérieure
de la plaquette courbe est amenée dans une condition d'engagement avec le rouleau
de butée, afin de déplacer ce dernier sur le mécanisme de montage à ressort, en tournant
simultanément autour de l'axe du rouleau.
5. Charnière de portière de véhicule selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4,
dans laquelle l'axe de charnière est défini, sur la pièce prévue pour la fixation
à la carrosserie du véhicule et comportant la butée montée sur ressort, par une paire
de chevilles de charnière (32) verticales et alignées, montées sur l'embase, ces chevilles
de charnière procurant également les moyens qui permettent de fixer les extrémités
fixes des ressorts élastiques courbes qui supportent le rouleau de butée, tandis que
l'axe de charnière sur l'autre pièce, prévue pour la fixation sur la portière du véhicule,
est défini par une paire d'ouvertures alignées (22) dans des pattes parallèles et
espacées qui sont formées d'un seul tenant avec l'embase.
6. Une charnière de portière de véhicule selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication
4, dans laquelle on utilise une tige commune pour articuler les deux pièces ensemble
et pour monter les ressorts portant le rouleau.
7. Une charnière de portière de véhicule selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication
4, dans laquelle la tige qui supporte le rouleau est montée sur l'embase de la pièce
de charnière à une extrémité seulement, et un ou plusieurs ressorts de support de
rouleau sont également fixés à cette extrémité de la tige.
8. Un véhicule ayant au moins une portière articulée au moyen d'une charnière de portière
conforme à l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7.
1. Ein Fahrzeugtürgelenk mit einem integrierten Türpuffer aus zwei Lamellen, von denen
eine ein Grundteil zur Befestigung an der Fahrzeugkarosserie und eine ein Grundteil
zur Befestigung an der Fahrzeugtür aufweist, wobei eine Lamelle (12) einen Anschlag
(48) aufweist, der über eine Federbefestigung (36) an einer integralen Basis (26)
befestigt ist und die andere Lamelle (10) einen an einer integralen Basis (14) befestigten,
eine Pufferung erzeugenden Abschnitt (24) aufweist, Einrichtungen (22,32) an den beiden
Lamellen zum Verbinden der beiden Lamellen dienen und eine Gelenkachse bilden, wobei
die Anordnung so getroffen ist, daß bei einem gelenkigen Verbinden der beiden Lamellen
und Öffnen aus einer Schließstellung zum Erreichen einer Zwischenstellung innerhalb
der Öffnungsbewegung der die Pufferung erzeugende Abschnitt (24) in einen Anlagezustand
mit dem Anschlag (48) gerät, derart, daß der Anschlag (48) mindestens während eines
begrenzten Bereiches der weiteren Öffnungsbewegung gegen die Vorspannkraft seiner
Federbefestigung (36) verschoben wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Anschlag (48)
an einer oder beiden Endgebieten an zwei ähnlichen bogenförmigen oder teilweise kreisförmigen
die Federbefestigung (36) bildenden elastischen Federgliedern befestigt ist; ein Ende
von jeder der beiden elastischen Federglieder an der Basis der Lamelle (12) an der
Gelenkachse befestigt ist und das andere Ende eine Abstützung für das Anschlagelement
(48) bildet.
2. Ein Fahrzeugtürgelenk nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Anschlag am Ende eines begrenzten
Bereiches der weiteren Öffnungsbewegung in eine Stellung verschiebbar ist, in der
der die Pufferung erzeugende Abschnitt die Öffnungsbewegung ohne Widerstand fortsetzen
kann.
3. Ein Fahrzeugtürgelenk nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, wobei der Anschlag (48) eine
auf einer Welle, die parallel zu der Gelenkachse verläuft, frei drehbar befestigte
Rolle ist.
4. Ein Fahrzeugtürgelenk nach Anspruch 3, wobei der die Pufferung erzeugende Abschnitt
(24) auf der anderen Lamelle (10) zum Zusammenwirken mit der vorstehend erwähnten
Anschlagrolle eine integral mit der Basis ausgebildete bogenförmig gekrümmte Platte
ist, wodurch die Außenfläche der gekrümmten Platte während der Schwenkbewegung mit
der Anschlagrolle in einen Zustand der Anlage gebracht wird, derart, daS die letztere
auf der Federbefestigung verschoben wird und sich gleichzeitig um die Rollenachse
bewegt.
5. Ein Fahrzeugtürgelenk nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, wobei die Gelenkachse auf der
Lamelle, die für die Befestigung an der Fahrzeugkarosserie bestimmt ist und den federnd
montierten Anschlag trägt, durch zwei miteinander ausgerichtete hochstehende Gelenkzapfen
(32) auf der Basis gebildet wird, die Gelenkzapfen zusätzlich die Einrichtung zum
Befestigen der befestigten Enden der bogenförmig gekrümmten elastischen Federglieder,
die die Anschlagrolle abstützen, bilden, während die Gelenkachse auf der anderen Lamelle,
die zum Befestigen an der Fahrzeugtür bestimmt ist, durch zwei miteinander ausgerichtete
Öffnungen (22) in auseinanderliegenden integral mit der Basis ausgebildeten parallelen
Flanschen gebildet wird.
6. Ein Fahrzeugtürgelenk nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, wobei eine gemeinsame Welle
zum gelenkigen Verbinden der beiden Lamellen und zum Befestigen der die Rolle tragenden
Federn verwandt wird.
7. Ein Fahrzeugtürgelenk nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, wobei die die Rolle abstützende
Welle an der Basis der Gelenklamelle an nur einem Ende montiert ist, und eine oder
mehrere die Rolle stützende Federn auch an der Welle an deren einem Ende befestigt
sind.
8. Ein Fahrzeug mit mindestens einer Tür, die mit einem Türgelenk gemäß irgendeinem der
Ansprüche 1 bis 7 aufgehangen ist.