Method and Device for Detecting the Activation of a Coupling in a Damper Actuator

• US 20120245800A1
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Koberstaedt, Markus, Oirsouw, Harrie, Demir, Murat
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/101 for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/236 using force or torque
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/56 Positioning or pre-mounting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/748 end
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A method is disclosed for detecting the activation of a coupling in a damper actuator, the coupling engaging a drive motor and an adjustable damper with each other, so that the damper can be adjusted by means of the drive motor, and the engagement between the drive motor and the damper being disengaged if a force or a momentum acting on the damper exceeds a maximum value. The method comprises the following steps: detecting the indication of an adjustment rate, in particular a rotary speed of the drive motor; determining a gradient of the adjustment rate, in particular a rotary speed gradient, by the indication of the adjustment rate; determining the activation of the coupling by determining whether the determined gradient exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold value of the gradient.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a disengagement of a clutch in a flap drive, wherein the clutch couples a drive motor to an adjustable flap such that the flap can be adjusted by the drive motor, and wherein the coupling action between the drive motor and the flap is eliminated if a force or a torque acting on the flap exceeds a maximum value, the method comprising:

(a) detecting data regarding an adjustment speed of the drive motor;

(b) determining a gradient of the adjustment speed based on the data regarding the adjustment speed; and

(c) detecting a disengagement of the clutch by determining whether the predetermined gradient exceeds or undershoots a predetermined gradient threshold value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

if a disengagement of the clutch is detected in step (c), permitting an activation of the drive motor only in the direction for closing the flap.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

if a disengagement of the clutch is not present in step (c), detecting the position of the flap based on a position of a rotor of the drive motor.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising limiting the position of the flap to a maximum open position during the movement of the flap.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

if a disengagement of the clutch is detected in step (c), moving the flap in the closing direction until an end position is reached, wherein when the flap has reached the end position, the position of the flap is assigned to a rotor position of a rotor of the drive motor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) includes detecting data regarding a rotational speed of the drive motor, and

step (b) includes determining the gradient of the rotational speed based on the data regarding the rotational speed.

6. A device for detecting a disengagement of a clutch in a flap drive, comprising:

a drive motor;

a clutch configured to couple the drive motor to an adjustable flap such that the flap can be adjusted by the drive motor, and wherein the clutch is configured to eliminate the coupling action between the drive motor of the flap if a force or a torque acting on the flap exceeds a maximum value, and

a control unit configured to;

detect data regarding an adjustment speed of the drive motor;

determine a gradient of the adjustment speed based on the data regarding the adjustment speed;

detect a disengagement of the clutch by determining whether the determined gradient exceeds or undershoots a predetermined gradient threshold value.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

detect data regarding a rotational speed of the drive motor, and

determine a gradient of the rotational speed gradient based on the data regarding the rotational speed.

7. A computer program which comprises program code which, when executed on a data processing unit, carries out a method for detecting a disengagement of a clutch in a flap drive, wherein the clutch couples a drive motor to an adjustable flap such that the flap can be adjusted by the drive motor, and wherein the coupling action between the drive motor and the flap is eliminated if a force or a torque acting on the flap exceeds a maximum value, the method comprising:

(a) detecting data regarding an adjustment speed of the drive motor;

(b) determining a gradient of the adjustment speed based on the data regarding the adjustment speed; and

(c) detecting a disengagement of the clutch by determining whether the predetermined gradient exceeds or undershoots a predetermined gradient threshold value.

10. The computer program of claim 7, wherein:

step (a) of the method includes detecting data regarding a rotational speed of the drive motor, and

step (b) of the method includes determining the gradient of the rotational speed based on the data regarding the rotational speed.