Covering device for a vehicle and actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065032-B2
Application number	US-201917299640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2019
Priority date	Dec 11, 2018
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A covering device (100) for a vehicle, includes: a cover (10); a drive element (40a, 40b) formed to enable a movement of the cover, wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover. The covering device has a force-limitation apparatus (30a, 30b) which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device. An actuator (200) has a drive apparatus (210) with a drive element (211); an output drive element (290); and a force-decoupling apparatus (230). The force-decoupling apparatus is formed so that it at least temporarily does not output a force taken up by the drive element or at least temporarily outputs it in a delayed manner to the output drive element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A covering device for a vehicle, wherein the covering device comprises:
a cover which is formed to cover an opening and/or a recess in the vehicle;
a drive element which is formed to enable a movement of the cover,
wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover and which enables the movement of the cover, wherein the covering device furthermore has a force-limitation apparatus which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device;
wherein the force-limitation apparatus comprises an elastic element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected for movement with a first movable element and the second end is connected for movement with a second movable element;
wherein the force-limitation apparatus has the following:
a control lever which is connected to the drive element; and
the first movable element is the control lever and the second movable element is the cover,
wherein the drive element pretensions the elastic element, and wherein the elastic element brings about an opening process or closing process of the cover during relief of tension.

2. The covering device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the drive element pretensions the elastic element by a lifting movement in such a manner that the direction of action of the elastic element is reversed between the opening and closing process of the cover.

3. The covering device as claimed in claim 2 ,
wherein the drive element moves downward in order to initiate the opening process of the cover and thus moves the control lever into an upper position in which the elastic element is pretensioned in the first direction of action.

4. The covering device as claimed in claim 2 ,
wherein the drive element moves upward in order to initiate the closing process of the cover and thus moves the control lever into a lower position in which the elastic element is pretensioned in the second direction of action.

5. A covering device for a vehicle, wherein the covering device comprises:
a cover which is formed to cover an opening and/or a recess in the vehicle;
a drive element which is formed to enable a movement of the cover,
wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover and which enables the movement of the cover, wherein the covering device furthermore has a force-limitation apparatus which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device;
wherein the force-limitation apparatus comprises a control lever movable via the drive element, and a spring element, the spring element having a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg is connected for movement with the control lever and the second leg is connected for movement with the cover.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Wilke Zsolt
• Rudolf Andreas
• Beck Christian
• Hegwein Matthias

Classifications

• B60K2015/0561

  Locking means for the inlet cover · CPC title

• B60K2015/0546

  Arrangements for checking the position of the inlet cover · CPC title

• B60K2015/0538

  with open or close mechanism automatically actuated · CPC title

• B60K2015/053

  with hinged connection to the vehicle body · CPC title

• B60K15/05 Primary

  Inlet covers · CPC title