Actuating apparatus for a flap which is mounted movably on a component, and a component with such an actuating apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12209441-B2
Application number	US-202217672094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2022
Priority date	Feb 22, 2021
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

An actuating apparatus for a flap which is mounted on a component for movement has a first actuating element, fastenable fixedly to the flap so as to rotate with it, and a second actuating element, fastenable to the component, and rotatable about a first rotational axis, the second actuating element has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to interact with a drive, the second end has a first locking or release geometry, the first actuating element has a second locking or release geometry, the second actuating element can be rotated between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the first and second locking or release geometry are configured to interact such that, in the first orientation, the first actuating element is locked to the second actuating element and, in the second orientation, the first actuating element is released from the second actuating element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuating apparatus for a flap which is mounted on a component such that it can be moved between a closed position and an open position, comprising:
 a first actuating element, wherein it is possible for the first actuating element to be fastened fixedly to the flap so as to rotate with it, and wherein it is possible for the first actuating element to be moved with the flap; and
 a second actuating element, wherein it is possible for the second actuating element to be fastened to the component, and wherein it is possible for the second actuating element to be rotated about a first rotational axis relative to the component,
wherein the second actuating element has a first end and a second end which lies opposite the first end in the direction of the rotational axis,
wherein the first end is configured in order to interact with a drive means with the aid of a mechanism which has a toothing system,
wherein the second end has, at least in regions, a first locking or release geometry,
wherein the first actuating element has, at least in regions, a second locking or release geometry,
wherein it is possible for the second actuating element to be rotated in a reversible manner between a first orientation and a second orientation via the toothing system at the first end, and
wherein the first and second locking or release geometry of the first and second actuating element are configured in order to interact with one another in such a way that, in the first orientation of the second actuating element, the first actuating element is locked to the second actuating element and, in the second orientation of the second actuating element, the first actuating element is released from the second actuating element;
wherein the first actuating element is sleeve-shaped with a collar structure and a central cylindrical pin surrounded, at least in some areas, by the collar structure, and wherein the second actuating element is configured as a solid shaft or a hollow shaft;
wherein the collar structure extends axially along side regions of the pin and is spaced radially outward and away from the side regions of the pin.

2. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the first locking or release geometry has at least one helical groove or at least one projection,
wherein the second locking or release geometry has at least one projection, or at least one helical groove, and
wherein the at least one projection is configured in order to interact with the at least one helical groove by sliding along the at least one helical groove.

3. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the first orientation of the second actuating element is configured in a point-symmetrical manner with respect to the second orientation of the second actuating element, and wherein the first orientation of the second actuating element is different from the second orientation of the second actuating element by an angle of approximately 180°.

4. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the collar structure and the central cylindrical pin are connected to one another via a connecting web.

5. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 4 ,
wherein the first locking or release geometry is configured on an outer circumferential face or on an inner circumferential face of the shaft, and
wherein the second locking or release geometry is configured on an inner circumferential face of the collar structure or on an outer circumferential face of the central cylindrical pin.

6. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 2 ,
wherein a surface or a surface region of the first or the second actuating element, on which the first or second locking or release geometry is configured, is of oblique configuration, and wherein a plane which defines said oblique surface region intersects the first rotational axis of the second actuating element.

7. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the first actuating element is elastically deformable at least in one region in which the first locking or release geometry is configured.

8. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the actuating apparatus furthermore has a drive means for moving the second actuating element between the first and the second orientation.

9. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 ,
wherein the drive means has a plate and a traction cable which is fastened to the plate,
wherein it is possible for the plate to be rotated in a reversible manner counter to or by way of a spring force between a first orientation and a second orientation about a second rotational axis which runs parallel to the first rotational axis,
wherein the plate has a toothing system which is of complementary configuration with respect to the toothing system at the first end of the second actuating element and meshes with said toothing system,
wherein the first orientation of the plate corresponds to the first orientation of the second actuating element, and the second orientation of the plate corresponds to the second orientation of the second actuating element, and
wherein it is possible for the plate to be rotated between its first and second orientation at least by means of the traction cable.

10. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 9 ,
wherein an axial movement of the traction cable, by approximately 10 mm corresponds to one rotation of the plate between its first and its second orientation.

11. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 9 ,
wherein the drive means has an electromotive drive which is coupled directly to the plate and is configured in order to rotate the plate between its first and its second orientation, or
wherein the drive means has an electromotive drive which is coupled to the traction cable, and is configured in order to rotate the plate between its first and second orientation, via the axial movement of the traction cable.

12. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 ,
wherein the drive means is manually actuable via a manual axial movement of the traction cable.

13. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the actuating apparatus has a housing which is configured in order to be fastened to the component,
wherein at least the first end of the second actuating element is received in the housing,
wherein the second end of the second actuating element projects out of the housing, and
wherein the second actuating element is mounted in the housing such that it can be rotated about the first rotational axis.

14. The actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the components of the actuating apparatus are configured from a plastic or a metal.

15. A vehicle recess with a flap which is mounted such that it can be moved between a closed position and an open position, and with an actuating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first actuating element of the actuating apparatus is fastened to the flap and the second actuating element of the actuating apparatus is fastened to the component.

16. An actuating apparatus for a flap which is mounted on a component such that it can be moved between a closed position and an open position, comprising:
 a first actuating element configured to be fastened fixedly to the flap so as to rotate with it, and wherein configured to be moved with the flap; and
 a second actuating element configured to be fastened to the component, and configured to be rotated about a first rotational axis relative to the component,
wherein the second actuating element has a first end and a second end opp

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Rudolf Andreas
• Och Roland

Classifications

• E05Y2400/3013

  during manual wing operation · CPC title

• B60K2015/0561

  Locking means for the inlet cover · CPC title

• E05Y2201/654

  Cables · CPC title

• E05Y2201/722

  Racks · CPC title

• E05Y2201/716

  Pinions · CPC title