METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE CLOSING MOVEMENT OF A CHASSIS COMPONENT FOR VEHICLES

• US 20090217596A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Coburg
• Inventors: Bauer, Karl-Heinz, Starost, Stephan, Nitzsche, Ulf, Neundorf, Robert, Klippert, Uwe, Rietdijk, Dalibor, Scheck, Georg
• Granted Patent: US 8,234,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/506
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/21 with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/82 using batteries other than the vehicle main battery
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/22 with braking, clamping or securing means in the guide E05C17/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by auxiliary motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/41 for closing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/412 for the final closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/36 Speed control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/532 Emergency braking or blocking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/113 Power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

In order to reduce the stresses occurring during the closing of a manually closable body component, e.g. a door, a method of controlling the closing movement is proposed in which,

• • during the closing movement, departing from an opened position, the body component passes through a first movement range in which the body component is moved towards the closed position without any action by a control member, and,
  • following the first movement range, the body component passes through a second movement range in which the closing movement of the body component is varied in such a manner by the action of the control member that the residual kinetic energy of the body component does not exceed a predetermined limit value after passing through the second movement range, irrespective of the initial speed.

The residual kinetic energy is not sufficient to close the body component automatically. The body component is therefore automatically drawn in a third movement range following the second movement range until a pre catch or main catch of a lock is reached.

The invention relates furthermore to a corresponding control device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the closing movement of a manually closable body component for vehicles, in which method:

during the closing movement, departing from an opened position, the body component (1) passes through a first movement range in which the body component is moved towards the closed position without any action by a control member (7;

30;

70), and,

following the first movement range, the body component (1) passes through a second movement range in which the closing movement of the body component is varied in such a manner by the action of the control member (7;

30;

70) that the residual kinetic energy of the body component does not exceed a predetermined limit value after passing through the second movement range.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the residual kinetic energy is not sufficient to close the body component (1) automatically or to transfer the body component (1) to a pre catch or main catch of a lock (8).

3. The method according to claim 2, in which, following the second movement range, the body component (1) passes through a third movement range in which a driving device (12;

14;

30;

70) drives it to the pre catch or main catch of the lock (8).

4. The method according to claim 3, in which the driving device is driven by exhausting an energy storage device (13;

76).

5. The method according to claim 4, in which the energy storage device (13;

76) is replenished during the manual opening and/or closing of the body component (1) by braking or damping an opening and/or closing movement.

6. The method according to claim 4, in which the energy storage device (13;

76) is replenished by operating a servomotor (16) serving for an adjustment function other than the closing and/or opening of the body component (1).

7. The method according to claim 6, in which the energy storage device (13;

76) is replenished by operating a window lifter motor, a lock drive, a central locking motor or an electric arm rest servomotor.

8. The method according to claim 3, in which the body component (1) is driven to the pre catch or main catch of the lock (8) by an electric motor (12).

9. The method according to claim 1, in which the closing movement of the body component (1) is braked by means of a coupleable braking device (32;

746) until the predetermined residual kinetic energy level has been reached.

10. The method according to claim 9, in which the braking rate of the braking device (746) increases as the closing speed of the body component (1) increases.

11. The method according to claim 9, in which the braking rate of the braking device (32) is varied as a function of at least one of determined speed, acceleration of the closing movement and determined closing path traveled by the body component (1).

12. The method according to claim 11, in which the braking rate of the braking device (32) is furthermore varied as a function of at least one of model or manufacturer of the body component, position of the vehicle, identification of a user of the vehicle and an output signal from a logic unit.

13. The method according to claim 1, in which limits between the movement ranges are constant.

14. The method according to claim 1, in which limits between the movement ranges are varied as a function of at least one of determined speed, acceleration of the closing movement and determined closing path traveled by the body component.

15. The method according to claim 14, in which limits between the movement ranges are furthermore varied as a function of at least one of model or manufacturer of the body component, position of the vehicle, identification of a user of the vehicle and an output signal from a logic unit, in particular a fuzzy logic unit or a neural network.

16. The method according to claim 1, in which locking of the lock (8) is only triggered in a position of the body component (1) in which jamming can be prevented in a reliable manner.

17. The method according to claim 16, in which locking of the lock (8) is triggered by a mechanical distance feeler (3) or an electrical or electronic distance sensor (3).

18. The method according to claim 1, in which, upon subsequent opening of the body component (1), a sensor monitors an outer surface of the body component for collision with an obstacle, an electronic control unit (7) triggering the arrest of the body component (1) when a state of collision is detected.

19. The method according to claim 1, in which the closing movement of a motor vehicle body component is controlled, said motor vehicle body component being one or more of hinged door, sliding door, hinged/sliding door, bonnet, hinged cover or sliding roof.

20. A device for controlling the closing movement of a manually closable body component for vehicles comprising a braking device (15;

32;

746) which is coupled or can be coupled to the closing movement of the body component (1) in such a manner that,

during the closing movement, departing from an opened position, the body component (1) passes through a first movement range in which the body component is moved towards the closed position without any action by a braking device, and,

following the first movement range, the body component (1) passes through a second movement range in which the closing movement of the body component is varied in such a manner by the action of the braking device (32, 746) that the residual kinetic energy of the body component does not exceed a predetermined limit value after passing through the second movement range.

21. The device according to claim 20, in which the braking device is designed in such a manner that the residual kinetic energy is not sufficient to close the body component (1) automatically or to transfer the body component (1) to a pre catch or main catch of a lock (8).

22. The device according to claim 21, further comprising a driving device (12;

14;

30;

70) which drives the closing movement in a third movement range following the second movement range to the pre catch or main catch of the lock (8).

23. The device according to claim 22, further comprising an energy storage device (13;

76) which is coupled or can be coupled to the driving device in such a manner that the driving device (12;

14;

30;

70) is driven by exhausting the energy storage device.

24. The device according to claim 23, in which the energy storage device is coupled to an opening and/or closing movement of the body component (1) in such a manner that the energy storage device (13;

76) is replenished during the manual opening and/or closing of the body component (1) by braking or damping an opening and/or closing movement.

25. The device according to claim 23, in which the energy storage device is coupled or can be coupled to a servomotor (16) serving for an adjustment function other than the closing and/or opening of the body component (1) in such a manner that the energy storage device can be replenished by operating the servomotor (16).

26. The device according to claim 25, in which the energy storage device (13;

76) is coupled or can be coupled to a window lifter motor, lock drive, central locking motor or electric arm rest servomotor in such a manner that the energy storage device can be replenished by operating the servomotor (16).

27. The device according to claim 22, in which the driving device (70) is driven by an electric motor (12) in order to drive the body component in the third movement range to the pre catch or main catch of the lock (8).

28. The device according to claim 20, in which the braking device (746) is coupled to the closing movement of the body component (1) in such a manner that the braking device brakes the closing movement only when the second movement range is reached, until the predetermined residual kinetic energy level has been reached.

29. The device according to claim 28, in which the braking device (746) is designed in such a manner that its braking rate increases as the closing speed of the body component (1) increases.

30. The device according to claim 20, further comprising a clutch (32) in order to couple the braking device only when the second movement range is reached, until the predetermined residual kinetic energy level has been reached.

31. The device according to claim 30, in which the clutch (32) is designed to couple at least one of the braking device and a drive motor (12) for driving the closing movement in the third movement range as required to the closing movement of the body component (1).

32. The device according to claim 30, in which the clutch (32) is furthermore designed as a braking device for braking the movement of the body component (1).

33. The device according to claim 30, further comprising an electronic control unit (7) designed to couple at least one of the clutch (32) and the driving device (12) as required selectively to the adjustment movement of the body component (1).

34. The device according to claim 33, in which the electronic control unit (7) is designed in such a manner that the clutch (32) can be coupled as a function of at least one of the determined speed, acceleration of the closing movement and the determined closing path traveled by the body component (1).

35. The device according to claim 34, in which the electronic control unit (7) is furthermore designed in such a manner that the clutch (32) is coupled as a function of at least one of model or manufacturer of the body component (1), position of the vehicle, identification of a user of the vehicle and an output signal from a logic unit.

36. The device according to claim 34, in which the electronic control unit (7) is furthermore designed in such a manner that limits between the movement ranges are varied as a function of at least one of determined speed, acceleration of the closing movement and determined closing path traveled by the body component.

37. The device according to claim 36, in which the electronic control unit (7) is furthermore designed in such a manner that the limits between the movement ranges are varied as a function of at least one of model or manufacturer of the body component (1), position of the vehicle, identification of a user of the vehicle and an output signal from a logic unit.

38. The device according to claim 22, in which the driving device is designed to adjust the body component (1) into a position in which a pinch protection function is ensured in a reliable manner, a power closing device (9) furthermore being associated with a lock (8) of the body component (1) in order to lock the lock departing from the pre catch.

39. The device according to claim 38, in which the power closing device can be coupled or is coupled to the driving device (30;

70).

40. The device according to claim 38, further comprising a mechanical distance feeler (3) or an electrical or electronic distance sensor (3) in order to trigger locking of the lock (8) automatically at the end of the third movement range.

41. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a sensor in order, upon the opening of the body component (1), to monitor an outer surface thereof for collision with an obstacle, the electronic control unit (7) triggering the arrest of the body component by means of the braking device (15;

32) or a door arrester (730) when a state of collision is detected.

42. The device according to claim 20, in which the motor vehicle body component is selected from a group including:

hinged door, sliding door, hinged/sliding door, bonnet, hinged cover or sliding roof.

43. The device according to claim 20, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle and the body component is one or more of a hinged door, a sliding door, a hinged/sliding door, a bonnet, a hinged cover, and a sliding roof.