Drive device for a hatch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12552467-B2
Application number	US-202318334985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2023
Priority date	Aug 24, 2020
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A drive device for a hatch, in particular for a tailgate, comprising a cable, which is connected at one end to a cable pulley, which is configured to wind or unwind the cable according to the direction of rotation of the cable pulley, wherein the cable pulley is connected to a first superordinate assembly, such as a vehicle body, and which is connected at its other end to a second superordinate assembly, such as the hatch, which is pivotably attached relative to the first superordinate assembly, comprising an actuator, which is configured to drive the cable pulley, wherein the drive device furthermore comprises at least one deflection unit which has a deflection roll over which the cable runs between the cable pulley and the hatch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A drive device for a hatch, comprising:
a cable comprising two interconnected sections, wherein a first of the two interconnected sections comprises a sling cable and a second of the two interconnection sections comprises a pull cable; a cable pulley connected to a first superordinate assembly and to the cable, wherein the cable pulley is configured to wind or unwind the cable according to a direction of rotation of the cable pulley, wherein the cable is further connected to a second superordinate assembly pivotably attached relative to the first superordinate assembly; an actuator configured to drive the cable pulley; at least one deflection unit which has a deflection roll over which the cable runs between the cable pulley and the second superordinate assembly; wherein a first end of the sling cable is connected to the second superordinate assembly and a second end of the sling cable is connected by way of a cable coupling to a first end of the pull cable, and wherein a second end of the pull cable is connected to the cable pulley; wherein the sling cable is sized in such a way that the sling cable is tensioned when an angle between the second superordinate assembly and the first superordinate assembly is substantially one hundred eighty degrees; and wherein the pull cable is sized such that the cable coupling cannot be wound into the cable pulley.

2 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a stop element configured to come into contact with a counter stop formed on the deflection unit at an angle between the second superordinate assembly and the first superordinate assembly of approximately 180°, so as to prevent forces exerted on the sling cable by the second superordinate assembly from being introduced into the cable pulley.

3 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the cable coupling comprises a stop element.

4 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein a support element is arranged between the deflection unit and the cable pulley, the cable being guided by the support element.

5 . The drive device of claim 4 , wherein the support element comprises a C-shaped rail arranged on the first superordinate assembly.

6 . The drive device of claim 1 , further comprising a torsion bar configured to generate a corresponding counter-torsional moment upon input of a torsional force the torsion bar;
wherein the torsion bar is supported on at least one of the first superordinate assembly or the second superordinate assembly and is movable between a first state of the torsion bar, which is associated with a closed position of the second superordinate assembly on the first superordinate assembly, and a second state of the torsion bar, which is associated to a maximally open position of the second superordinate assembly on the first superordinate assembly; wherein the torsion bar is arranged in such a way that it is configured to apply a torque in a first direction over a first partial movement range of a total movement range between the first state of the torsion bar and the second state of the torsion bar; wherein the first partial movement range extends from the first state of the torsion bar along the total movement range in the direction of the second state of the torsion bar, wherein the torsion bar is further arranged such that it is configured to apply a torque in a second direction opposite to the first direction over a second partial movement range of the total movement range; and wherein the second partial movement range extends from the second state of the torsion bar along the total movement range in the direction of the first state of the torsion bar, and wherein the torsion bar is further arranged in such a way that it is configured not to apply any torque over a third partial movement range which is arranged between the first partial movement range and the second partial movement range.

7 . The drive device of claim 6 , wherein the torsion bar has at least one projection designed to engage in a recess formed in one of the first superordinate assembly or the second superordinate assembly, and wherein a movement path of the projection in the recess corresponds to the third partial movement range.

8 . The drive device of claim 6 , wherein the total movement range of the torsion bar extends over an angular range of at least 50° and at most 180°.

9 . The drive device of claim 6 , wherein the torsion bar extends over an angular range of approximately 90°.

10 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the cable pulley is provided with a unidirectional clutch, wherein the unidirectional clutch is configured to mount the cable pulley with free rotation relative to the actuator in the direction of rotation of the cable pulley in which the cable is wound onto the cable pulley.

11 . The drive device of claim 10 , wherein the unidirectional clutch is further configured to mount the cable pulley in a torque-proof manner relative to the actuator in the other direction of rotation of the cable pulley.

12 . The drive device of claim 11 , wherein a coil spring which is configured to exert a torque on the cable pulley in the winding direction of the cable pulley is assigned to the unidirectional clutch, such that the cable pulley is rotated relative to the actuator when the cable tension is released.

13 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor and a worm connected to an output side of the electric motor, wherein the worm meshes with a worm gear which forms a portion of the cable pulley.

14 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the second superordinate assembly is a hatch.

15 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the first superordinate assembly is a vehicle body.

16 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the first superordinate assembly comprises a vehicle body and the second superordinate assembly comprises a hatch, and wherein the hatch is connected with articulation to the vehicle body to close off a portion of the vehicle body.

17 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the sling cable serves to absorb weight and loading forces in an open position of the second superordinate assembly.

18 . The drive device of claim 1 , wherein the sling cable is pulled over the deflection unit by the pull cable in the direction of the cable pulley when the hatch is closed.

19 . A hatch arrangement, comprising:
a vehicle body; a hatch connected to the vehicle body with articulation, wherein the vehicle body comprises a portion to be closed off by the hatch; and a drive device comprising:
a cable having two interconnected sections, wherein a first of the two interconnected sections comprises a sling cable and a second of the two interconnection sections comprises a pull cable;
a cable pulley connected to the vehicle body and to the cable, wherein the cable pulley is configured to wind or unwind the cable according to a direction of rotation of the cable pulley, wherein the cable is further connected to the hatch;
an actuator configured to drive the cable pulley;
at least one deflection unit which has a deflection roll over which the cable runs between the cable pulley and the hatch;
wherein a first end of the sling cable is connected to the hatch and a second end of the sling cable is connected by way of a cable coupling to a first end of the pull cable, and wherein a second end of the pull cable is connected to the cable pulley;
wherein the sling cable is sized in such a way that the sling cable is tensioned when an angle between the ha

Assignees

• Stabilus Gmbh

Inventors

• Reif Thomas
• Hillen Jörg

Classifications

• E05Y2900/544

  Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening downwards · CPC title

• E05Y2201/654

  Cables · CPC title

• E05F15/627

  operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables (using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619) · CPC title

• B60P1/26

  Means for controlling movement of tailboards or sideboards {(open loading compartments with movable sideboards or tailgates B62D33/027)} · CPC title

• E05Y2400/3013

  during manual wing operation · CPC title