Method for Motorized Movement of a Motor Vehicle Door

• US 20080295408A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Heissler, Horst
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/324
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/214 Disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/414 for the initial closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/424 for the final opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/712 with incomplete toothing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/356 Predefined intermediate positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/46 in or on the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/508 for convertibles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

The invention pertains to a method of motorized movement of a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door can be moved from an open position to a closed position as part of a closing process, wherein a door drive mechanism associated with the vehicle door and a control system are provided, wherein the vehicle door can be moved in the direction of closing starting from the open position using the door drive mechanism. It is proposed that in a first section of the closing process the vehicle door is moved by the door drive mechanism from the open position to a comfortable open position that lies between the open position and the closed position, and that in a second section of the closing process, the vehicle door is further moved from the comfortable open position in the direction of closing, preferably to the closed position, manually by the user and largely free of the door drive mechanism.

Claims

1. A method of motorized movement of a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door can be moved from an open position in the direction of closing as part of a closing process, wherein a door drive mechanism associated with the vehicle door and a control system are provided, wherein the vehicle door can be moved in the direction of closing starting from the open position using the door drive mechanism, wherein a first section of the closing process the vehicle door is moved by the door drive mechanism from the open position to the comfortable open position that lies between the open position and the closed position, and that in a second section of the closing process, the vehicle door is further moved from the comfortable open position in the direction of closing, preferably to the closed position, manually by the user and largely free of the door drive mechanism.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the comfortable open position is located within an area between 25% and 85% of the tilt range of the vehicle door as seen from the closed position in the direction of opening.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the door drive mechanism is mechanically separated from the vehicle door in the second section of the closing process such that in the second section of the closing process the vehicle door can be moved manually and largely free of the door drive mechanism.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein an element of the door drive mechanism is disengaged mechanically from an element of the vehicle door by the movement of the vehicle door in the direction of closing beyond the comfortable open position, thereby causing the mechanical separation of the door drive mechanism from the vehicle door.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a coupling is located between the door drive mechanism and the vehicle door, and that the mechanical separation is effected via the coupling in the comfortable open position.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transition from the first section to the second section of the closing process the control system causes the door drive mechanism to shut off and if necessary switch a coupling.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the control system detects some of the user actions inside the vehicle and when a pre-determined user action or a predetermined combination of user actions exists, initiates the closing process, and that the user action or user actions which initiates or initiate the closing process is or are not originally associated with the vehicle door.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the control system uses a sensor apparatus to detect when a vehicle seat is occupied, preferably the vehicle seat associated with the vehicle door, and that the detection of this user action is a necessary, and preferably sufficient, condition for the initiation of the closing process for the vehicle door.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the control system only initiates the closing process after the detection of the user action or user actions which initiates or initiate the opening process after a predetermined time delay, said time delay preferably being adjustable by the user.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second section of the closing process the vehicle door, manually and largely free from the door drive mechanism, is brought to a pre-closed position just before the closed position starting from the comfortable open position in the direction of closing, that a motorized closure aid associated with the vehicle door is provided and that the vehicle door is moved from the pre-closed position to the closed position by means of the closure aid.

11. A vehicle door apparatus with a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door can be moved from an open position to a closed position as part of a closing process, wherein a door drive mechanism associated with the vehicle door and an electrical control system are provided, wherein the vehicle door can be moved in the direction of closing starting from the open position using the door drive mechanism, wherein the apparatus is designed such that in a first section of the closing process the vehicle door is moved by the door drive mechanism from the open position to a comfortable open position that lies between the open position and the closed position, and that in a second section of the closing process, the vehicle door can then be further moved from the comfortable open position in the direction of closing, preferably to the closed position, manually by the user and largely free of the door drive mechanism.

12. A vehicle door apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle door is designed as a side door, in particular as a tilting door or as a sliding door.

13. A vehicle door apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the comfortable open position is located within an area between 25% and 85% of the tilt range of the vehicle door as seen from the closed position in the direction of opening.

14. A vehicle door apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the door drive mechanism is mechanically separated from the vehicle door in the second section of the closing process such that in the second section of the closing process the vehicle door can be moved manually and largely free of the door drive mechanism.

15. A vehicle door apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an element of the door drive mechanism is disengaged mechanically from an element of the vehicle door by the movement of the vehicle door in the direction of closing beyond the comfortable open position, thereby causing the mechanical separation of the door drive mechanism from the vehicle door.

16. A vehicle door apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a coupling is located between the door drive mechanism and the vehicle door, and that the mechanical separation is effected via the coupling in the comfortable open position.

17. A vehicle door apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the coupling is designed as an electrically switchable coupling.