Automotive door power assist

• US 9,834,974 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elie, Larry Dean, Potter, Timothy J., Novak, Robert F., Jaranson, John Wayne, Wallace, Jeff A., Azzouz, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US14/812,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20170030126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 29614611
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/047 characterised by the opening or closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/04 Spring arrangements in locks E05B3/065, E05B15/101, E05B15/143, E05C19/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/614 operated by meshing gear wheels, one of which being mounted at the wing pivot axis; operated by a motor acting directly on the wing pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

An automated door system includes a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body at a hinge axis defined by at least one hinge assembly. A power assist device is coupled to the hinge assembly and further coupled to the door. The power assist device is configured to slow movement of the door along a door swing path from an initial velocity to a slow close velocity when the initial velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold velocity, thereby providing a slow and controlled close when a user attempts to slam the door. The power assist device is further configured to power opening and closing movement of the door as initiated by a user.

Claims

1. An automated door system, comprising:

a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body by at least one hinge assembly, the hinge assembly including a moveable hinge portion coupled to the door and a fixed hinge portion coupled to the vehicle body at a hinge pillar;

a bracket coupled to the fixed hinge portion at a first end and further coupled to the door at a second end;

a power assist device coupled to the bracket at the first end of the bracket and further coupled to the fixed hinge portion of the hinge assembly through a drive shaft extending outwardly from the power assist device; and

a motor disposed within the power assist device and configured to drive the drive shaft for providing opening and closing movement of the door from a hinge axis of the hinge assembly.

2. The automated door system of claim 1, wherein the fixed portion of the hinge assembly include upper and lower mounting portions spaced apart from one another with the upper mounting portion coupled to the moveable hinge portion via a hinge pin and the lower mounting portion coupled to the drive shaft of the power assist device.

3. The automated door system of claim 1, wherein the motor includes one of an electric motor, a power winch, an actuator, a servo motor, an electric solenoid, a pneumatic cylinder, and a hydraulic cylinder.

4. The automated door system of claim 1, wherein the door includes an inner panel having a first sidewall with the moveable hinge portion and second end of the bracket coupled thereto.

5. The automated door system of claim 4, wherein the inner panel further includes a second sidewall that is substantially perpendicular to the first sidewall, and further wherein the hinge pillar and the first and second sidewalls of the inner panel define a package compartment in which the power assist device is disposed.

6. The automated door system of claim 5, wherein the inner panel further includes a door-side reinforcement bracket coupled to the inner panel at an opposite side of the first sidewall relative to the second end of the bracket coupled thereto.

7. The automated door system of claim 1, wherein the power assist device is configured to move the door between a closed position and a plurality of open positions disposed along a door swing path.

8. The automated door system of claim 1, wherein the power assist device is configured to move the door to a predetermined detent position and retain the door at the detent position.

9. The automated door system of claim 1, wherein the power assist device is configured provide a soft close feature for the door when an initial velocity of the door exceeds a threshold velocity in a door closing movement along a door swing path.

10. The automated door system of claim 9, wherein the power assist device imparts a force of about 200 N·

m on the door to slow the door closing movement from the initial velocity.

11. The automated door system of claim 9, wherein the threshold velocity includes a rotational speed of the door exceeding 5 rpm.

12. The automated door system of claim 11, wherein the power assist device is configured to slow the door closing movement from the initial velocity to a soft closing velocity of about 0.33 rpm.

13. The automated door system of claim 9, wherein the threshold velocity includes a door speed exceeding 30°

/sec.

14. An automated door system, comprising:

a door;

a hinge assembly having first and second portions, wherein the first portion is coupled to a vehicle body and the second portion is coupled to the door for pivoting movement therewith; and

a power assist device coupled to the first portion of the hinge assembly and the door, and configured to power opening and closing movement of the door from a hinge axis of the door, wherein the door includes an inner panel having first and second sidewalls disposed substantially perpendicular to one another, and further wherein a hinge pillar of the vehicle body and the first and second sidewalls of the inner panel cooperate to define a package compartment in which the power assist device is disposed.

15. The automated door system of claim 14, wherein the power assist device is configured to provide a soft close feature for the door when an initial velocity of the door exceeds a threshold velocity in a door closing movement along a door swing path.

16. The automated door system of claim 15, wherein the power assist device imparts a force of about 200 N·

m on the door to slow the door closing movement from the initial velocity to a soft closing velocity.

17. The automated door system of claim 16, wherein the threshold velocity includes a rotational speed of the door exceeding 5 rpm and the soft closing velocity includes a velocity of about 0.33 rpm.

18. An automated door system, comprising:

a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body at a hinge axis defined by at least one hinge assembly; and

a power assist device coupled to the hinge assembly and further coupled to the door, wherein the power assist device is configured to slow movement of the door along a door swing path from an initial velocity to a slow close velocity when the initial velocity exceeds a threshold velocity.

19. The automated door system of claim 18, wherein the threshold velocity includes a rotational speed of the door exceeding 5 rpm and the soft close velocity includes a velocity in a range from about 0.1 rpm to about 0.5 rpm.