Device for switching and actuating multiple functions of a charging and/or filler-neck compartment system of a vehicle, and charging and/or filler-neck compartment system having such a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12392174-B2
Application number	US-202217674368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2022
Priority date	Feb 23, 2021
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

A device for switching and actuating multiple functions of a charging and/or filler-neck compartment system having a charging and/or filler-neck compartment and a cover which is movable relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment. The device has a drive element with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the cover such that, when the drive shaft rotates, the cover is movable relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment. The device furthermore has a mechanical control or switching mechanism, in particular in the form of or with a gearing mechanism, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed such that, when the drive shaft rotates, a rotational movement of the drive shaft can be picked off by the mechanical control or switching mechanism for the purposes of manipulating at least one functional component of the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system as required.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for switching and actuating multiple functions of a charging and/or filler-neck compartment system of a vehicle, wherein the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system has a charging and/or filler-neck compartment and a cover which is movable relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment, and wherein the device comprises:
a drive element with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the cover such that, when the drive shaft rotates, the cover is movable relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment; and a mechanical control or switching mechanism, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed such that, when the drive shaft rotates, a rotational movement of the drive shaft can be picked off by the mechanical control or switching mechanism for the purposes of manipulating at least one functional component of the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system;
wherein:
the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system has a flap unlocking/flap locking mechanism for locking and/or blocking the cover in its closed state, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed to, when the drive shaft of the drive element rotates, convert a torque generated by the drive element into a translational force so as to manipulate the flap unlocking/flap locking mechanism; or
the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system has a charging connection, charging plug connector and/or filler neck accommodated in a passage opening of the charging and/or filler-neck compartment and has a correspondingly associated locking/unlocking mechanism for locking/blocking or unlocking/releasing the charging connection, charging plug connector and/or filler neck, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed to, when the drive shaft of the drive element rotates, convert a torque generated by the drive element into a translational force so as to manipulate the locking/unlocking mechanism; or
the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system has an illumination device with a correspondingly associated switch for activating and deactivating the illumination device, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed to, when the drive shaft of the drive element rotates, convert a torque generated by the drive element into a translational force so as to manipulate the switch;

wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the cover, and the mechanical control or switching mechanism is configured such that:
proceeding from an initial position of the drive shaft, during a first number of rotations or through a first rotational angle of the drive shaft, the mechanical control or switching mechanism generates a force required for manipulating the flap unlocking/flap locking mechanism, and
only after the first number of rotations or after the first rotational angle of the drive shaft and only during an immediately subsequent second number of rotations or through a second rotational angle of the drive shaft, the cover is moved relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment, and
only after the second number of rotations or only after the second rotational angle of the drive shaft and during an immediately subsequent third number of rotations or through a third rotational angle of the drive shaft, the mechanical control or switching mechanism generates a force required for manipulating the locking/unlocking mechanism.

2. A device for switching and actuating multiple functions of a charging and/or filler-neck compartment system of a vehicle, wherein the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system has a charging and/or filler-neck compartment and a cover which is movable relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment, and wherein the device comprises:
a drive element with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the cover such that, when the drive shaft rotates, the cover is movable relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment; and
a mechanical control or switching mechanism, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed such that, when the drive shaft rotates, a rotational movement of the drive shaft can be picked off by the mechanical control or switching mechanism for the purposes of manipulating at least one functional component of the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system;
wherein:
the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system has a flap unlocking/flap locking mechanism for locking and/or blocking the cover in its closed state, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed to, when the drive shaft of the drive element rotates, convert a torque generated by the drive element into a translational force so as to manipulate the flap unlocking/flap locking mechanism; and/or
the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system has a charging connection, charging plug connector and/or filler neck accommodated in a passage opening of the charging and/or filler-neck compartment and has a correspondingly associated locking/unlocking mechanism for locking/blocking or unlocking/releasing the charging connection, charging plug connector and/or filler neck, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed to, when the drive shaft of the drive element rotates, convert a torque generated by the drive element into a translational force so as to manipulate the locking/unlocking mechanism; and/or
the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system has an illumination device with a correspondingly associated switch for activating and deactivating the illumination device, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed to, when the drive shaft of the drive element rotates, convert a torque generated by the drive element into a translational force so as to manipulate the switch;

wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed to generate the force required for manipulating the flap unlocking/flap locking mechanism and/or the force required for manipulating the locking/unlocking mechanism and/or the force required for manipulating the switch in a manner dependent on a rotational angle and/or a number of rotations of the drive shaft of the drive element;
wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed to generate the force required for manipulating the flap unlocking/flap locking mechanism and the force required for manipulating the locking/unlocking mechanism and the force required for manipulating the switch in each case in a manner dependent on a rotational angle and/or a number of rotations of the drive shaft of the drive element.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the cover and the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed such that, during a fourth number of rotations, which is immediately subsequent to the third number or the third rotational angle, or through a fourth rotational angle of the drive shaft, the mechanical control or switching mechanism again generates a force required for manipulating the locking/unlocking mechanism, that, only after the fourth number of rotations or only after the fourth rotational angle of the drive shaft and only during an immediately subsequent fifth number of rotations or through a fifth rotational angle of the drive shaft, the cover is again moved relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment, and that, during an immediately subsequent sixth number of rotations or through a sixth rotational angle of the drive shaft, the mechanical control or switching mechanism again generates a force required for manipulating the flap unlocking/flap locking mechanism.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the mechanical control or switching

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Och Roland
• Hegwein Matthias
• Rudolf Andreas

Classifications

• E05B81/44

  in the form of grooves · CPC title

• E05B81/36

  Geared sectors, e.g. fan-shaped gears · CPC title

• E05B81/13

  a single actuator for driving a lock and additional vehicle components, e.g. window wipers or window lifters · CPC title

• B60K2015/0561

  Locking means for the inlet cover · CPC title

• B60K2015/0515

  Arrangements for closing or opening of inlet cover · CPC title