Closure device for a filling or connection opening on a vehicle

• US 10,052,947 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Inventors: Herrmann, Christian, Panejko, Hubert, Bauernfeind, Markus, Rienecker, Maik
• Primary Examiner(s): Blankenship, Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US15/116,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20170001517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 296 9722
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0422 actuated by the inlet cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0425 actuated by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0445 using hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0448 comprising spherical valve type closures
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0454 combined closing of the fuel inlet and bodywork inlet by one element which is visible from outside
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0523 with sliding connection to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/053 with hinged connection to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0538 with open or close mechanism automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0592 with storage means for the cap
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/75 responsive to the weight or other physical contact of a person or object
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/765 using optical sensors using photoelectric cells E05F15/74
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/534 Fuel lids

Abstract

A closure device for closing a through opening on a vehicle is provided. An interior space with a filling or connection opening being accessible via the through opening, wherein the filling or connection opening is configured and provided for consumable filling on the vehicle, and it being possible for the through opening to be closed by way of a cover element which can be adjusted on the vehicle in a manner which is actuated by external force between at least one closure position for closing the through opening and an open position for opening the through opening. A control electronics system for triggering an adjustment of the cover element being provided with at least one first and second sensor device.

Claims

1. A closure device for closing a through opening on a vehicle, an interior space with a filling or connection opening being accessible via the through opening, wherein the filling or connection opening is configured and provided for consumable filling on the vehicle, the closure device comprising a cover element such that is possible for the through opening to be closed by way of the cover element which can be adjusted on the vehicle in a manner which is actuated by external force between at least one closure position for closing the through opening and an open position for opening the through opening, and

a control electronics system for triggering an adjustment of the cover element being provided with at least one sensor device, wherein at least one first and second sensor device are provided,

it being possible for an operating event for opening the cover element to be detected via the first sensor device, and it being possible for an operating event for closing the cover element to be detected via a second sensor device which is spaced apart spatially from the first sensor device, and

the first sensor device being provided at least in parts on a covering section of the cover element, which covering section closes the through opening at least partially in the closure position, and the second sensor device being provided at least in parts on a section of the cover element, which section is different than said covering section and faces the through opening in the open position.

2. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein both sensor devices are provided completely on the cover element.

3. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sensor device of the closure device comprises at least one proximity sensor, by means of which an adjustment of the cover element which is actuated by external force can be triggered by a user in a contactless manner.

4. The closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one sensor device of the closure device comprises at least one contact sensor, by means of which an adjustment of the cover element which is actuated by external force can be triggered by a user via a touching of a sensor surface.

5. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover element is configured in multiple pieces and has a screen which lies on the outside and is fastened to the covering section of the cover element.

6. A closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover element has a screen which lies on the outside and is fastened to a covering section of the cover element, which covering section closes the through opening at least partially in the closure position, and the sensor device is accommodated at least in parts

in an intermediate space which is formed between the covering section and the screen, and/or

in a cavity of the covering section and/or in a cavity of the screen.

7. The closure device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a cavity of the covering section, in which cavity the sensor device is accommodated at least in parts, is configured to be closed by the screen.

8. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connecting channel is configured on the adjustable cover element, one end of said connecting channel being accessible at the through opening, and a connection to the filling or connection opening being established at the other end of said connecting channel when the cover element is situated in its open position.

9. The closure device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closure device has a sensor device, via which it can be detected whether an object is situated in the connecting channel.

10. The closure device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor device for detecting an object in the connecting channel has at least one sensor electrode on a circumferential face of the connecting channel.

11. The closure device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control electronics system has an evaluation logic means which triggers closing of the cover element only when it has been detected that no object is situated in the connecting channel.

12. The closure device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control electronics system has an evaluation logic means which triggers closing of the cover element only when it has been detected that an object has no longer been situated in the connecting channel for a predetermined time period.

13. The closure device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control electronics system has an evaluation logic means which triggers closing of the cover element only when it has been detected that no object is situated in the connecting channel and an additional operating event has been detected.

14. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one electric line for a sensor device is embedded at least partially into the material of the cover element.

15. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover element is mounted rotatably via a bearing pin, and at least one electric line for a sensor device is routed at least partially in a hollow bearing pin section within the bearing pin.

16. The closure device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a line opening is provided on the bearing pin, via which line opening an electric line can be routed out of the interior of the hollow bearing pin section, and the line opening is dimensioned in such a way that a line plug which is provided on the electric line can be guided through the line opening.

17. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control electronics system is provided on the cover element.

18. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a liquid reservoir can be filled via a filling opening.

19. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connection opening is provided for connection to a charging station.

20. The closure device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the control electronics system is integrated onto said cover element.

21. The closure device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the liquid reservoir is one of a wiper water reservoir, a cooling liquid reservoir, an oil reservoir and a fuel tank.