Locking device for locking charging, fueling, or service flaps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12546148-B2
Application number	US-202217989378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2022
Priority date	Nov 18, 2021
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A locking device enables locking a charging, fueling, or service flap on a compartment. The flap is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position. The locking device includes a flap lock for locking the flap in its closed position. The flap lock has a locking position, in which the flap lock locks the flap, and a release position in which the flap is moveable in relation to the flap lock. A first transfer shaft is connected to the flap lock such that the flap lock is moveable by a movement of the first transfer shaft between the locking position and the release position. A pushing element is connected to the first transfer shaft and configured so as to push the flap out of its closed position away from the charging compartment after the flap lock is transferred into its release position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A locking device for locking a charging, fueling, or service flap on a charging, fueling, or service compartment received or receivable on or in a housing, wherein the charging, fueling, or service flap is reversibly movable, between a closed position and an open position relative to the charging, fueling, or service compartment, wherein the locking device comprises the following:
a flap lock for locking the charging, fueling, or service flap in its closed position, wherein the flap lock has a locking position, in which the flap lock locks the charging, fueling, or service flap, and a release position in which the charging, fueling, or service flap is moveable in relation to the flap lock; a first transfer shaft connected to the flap lock such that the flap lock is moveable, by a movement of the first transfer shaft between the locking position and the release position; a pushing element connected to the first transfer shaft and configured so as to push the charging, fueling, or service flap out of its closed position away from the charging compartment after the flap lock is transferred into its release position.

2 . The locking device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the flap lock is configured be transferred from its locking position into its release position by a movement of the first transfer shaft in a first direction.

3 . The locking device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the pushing element is configured so as to push the charging, fueling, or service flap out of its closed position away from the charging, fueling, or service compartment when the first transfer shaft is further moved in the first direction upon reaching the release position of the flap lock.

4 . The locking device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the pushing element and the flap lock are integrally formed.

5 . The locking device according to 1 ,
wherein the flap lock is configured as a locking hook, and wherein the locking hook is configured so as to be operatively engaged with the charging, fueling, or service flap, with a locking element of the charging, fueling, or service flap, in the locking position, in a friction-locking manner.

6 . The locking device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the locking device is associated with a biasing element, via which the flap lock is biased into the locking position.

7 . The locking device according to claim 6 ,
wherein the flap lock is arranged such that the flap lock moves in the direction of its release position when the charging, fueling, or service flap is transferred into the closed position, counter to the biasing of the biasing element, and moves into its locking position when the biasing position is reached due to the biasing of the biasing element.

8 . An actuating mechanism for actuating a charging, fueling, or service flap on a charging, fueling, or service compartment received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the charging, fueling, or service flap is reversibly movable, between a closed position and an open position relative to the charging, fueling, or service compartment, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises the following:
a drive, for driving a drive shaft; and a kinematics associated with the drive and configured so as to tap a rotational movement of the drive shaft when the drive is actuated and convert it into a first movement for manipulating a flap lock of the charging, fueling or service compartment and into a second movement for moving the charging, fueling, or service flap: wherein, when manipulated by the kinematics, the flap lock moves relative to the charging, fueling or service flap.

9 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 8 ,
wherein the kinematics is configured so as to tap the rotational movement of the drive for the first movement to open the charging, fueling, or service flap only when the flap lock has been transferred into a release position by the first movement.

10 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 8 ,
wherein the kinematics is configured so as to transfer the rotational movement of the drive to a transfer shaft in order to move the flap lock between the locking position and the release position, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a second transfer shaft, which is connectable to the charging, fueling, or service flap in such a way that the charging, fueling, or service flap is movable, by a movement, of the second transfer shaft between the closed position and the open position, and wherein the kinematics is configured so as to transfer the rotational movement of the drive to the second transfer shaft.

11 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 10 ,
wherein the kinematics comprises an overload coupling which decouples the drive from the second transfer shaft as soon as a resistance against the first movement exceeds a threshold value, and wherein the kinematics is configured so as to continue transferring the rotational movement of the drive to the first transfer shaft in the event that the threshold value is exceeded.

12 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 8 ,
wherein the kinematics is configured such that the first movement is mechanically synchronized with the second movement.

13 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 8 ,
wherein the kinematics comprises a flexible tensile element for manipulating the flap lock.

14 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 13 ,
wherein the flexible tensile element is configured so as to transfer the rotational movement of the drive to a first transfer shaft for manipulating the flap lock, and wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a second transfer shaft, which is connectable to the charging, fueling, or service flap in such a way that the charging, fueling, or service flap is movable, by a movement, of the second transfer shaft between the closed position and the open position, wherein the kinematics is configured so as to transfer the rotational movement of the drive to the second transfer shaft.

15 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 14 ,
wherein the kinematics comprises a lever element attached to the first transfer shaft and connected to an end of the flexible tensile element remote from the drive, which lever element is configured so as to transfer a movement of the tensile element to the first transfer shaft.

16 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 15 ,
wherein the lever element is biased into a first position corresponding to a locking position of the flap lock.

17 . The actuating mechanism according to claim 13 ,
wherein the kinematics comprises a cam washer connected to the drive shaft and a first end of the flexible tensile element, and wherein the cam washer is configured so as to convert a rotation of the drive shaft into a tensile movement of the flexible tensile element.

18 . A charging, fueling, or service flap having an actuating mechanism according to claim 8 .

19 . An actuating mechanism for actuating a charging, fueling, or service flap on a charging, fueling, or service compartment received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the charging, fueling, or service flap is reversibly movable, between a closed position and an open position relative to the charging, fueling, or service compartment, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises the following:
a drive, for driving a drive shaft; and a kinematics associated with the drive and configured so as to tap a rotational movement of the drive shaft when the drive is ac

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Hegwein Matthias
• Wilke Zsolt
• Rudolf Andreas
• Och Roland
• Lechner-Watzlik Thomas
• Kapaun Matthias

Classifications

• B60K15/05 Primary

  Inlet covers · CPC title

• E05B81/20

  for assisting final closing or for initiating opening · CPC title

• E05B83/34 Primary

  for fuel inlet covers essentially flush with the vehicle surface · CPC title

• B60Y2400/405

  Electric motors actuators · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title