AT527246B1 - LOCKING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

In a closure device (1) with a hinged cover (2) for the predeterminable closure of an access opening (3), in particular an access opening (3) of an electrical contact, wherein a lateral end region (4) of the cover (2) is firmly connected to a first shaft (6) rotatably mounted on a housing (5), wherein the closure device (1) has a motor which is operatively connected to a second shaft (8), it is proposed that the first shaft (6) has a first planar serration part (9), that the second shaft (8) is designed as a hollow shaft with a second planar serration part (10) which is rotatably and longitudinally displaceably mounted on the first shaft (6), that the first planar serration part (9) and the second planar serration part (10) are in releasable frontal engagement, and that during a rotational movement of the first shaft (6) relative to the second shaft (8) the second shaft (8) is displaced longitudinally.

Description

Description

LOCKING DEVICE

[0001] The invention relates to a closure device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Systems or devices which have electrical connections and which are intended for operation outdoors generally have covers or closures which close such a connection. This particularly applies to devices from the technical field of power electronics, such as vehicles with electric drives which have permanently installed accumulators.

[0003] The corresponding closures are opened and closed by means of an electric drive. An electric motor is mechanically connected to a cover of the closure device. This mechanical connection is necessary for the operation of the closure device in a functional state.

[0004] In the past, hinged lids which close an access opening were usually opened and closed by hand. For many users, especially older ones, it is a matter of course to open a lid by hand or to close it manually after use. Many users do not realize that manual opening or closing is not intended, nor that such manual opening or closing can damage the device.

[0005] As a result of damage to the mechanical connection between the electric motor and the cover, it can no longer be ensured that the cover is still able to securely close the access opening. As a result, the electrical contacts can no longer be protected from dirt and water. This can lead to an unintentional flow of current through the contacts and a failure of the device.

[0006] EP 0 990 548 A2 describes a tank flap which is pivotably mounted on a tank body and is operated by a servo motor. The servo motor is part of the pre-assembled tank flap unit, so that the tank flap pivots upwards when installed.

[0007] CN 111 900 569 A describes a charging connection device for motor vehicles. The device comprises a charging connection receptacle, a charging socket housed in the charging connection receptacle and a motor arranged on the charging connection receptacle, wherein the charging connection receptacle is provided with a cavity and a charging connection which is formed by lowering outwards from the cavity. The charging socket is housed in the cavity. The device also has a charging connection cover installed in the cavity.

[0008] DE 10 2017 201 365 A1 describes a charging connection device for a motor vehicle, comprising a connection box arranged in a recess with a pivotable cover that can be detachably connected to the connection box, and a pivotable cover flap that reversibly closes the recess. The cover and the cover flap can pivot between a closed position and an open position. The cover in the open position is arranged in the pivoting path of the cover flap, which can pivot from the open position to the closed position by a motor-driven actuating device, and is carried along by the lid flap to the closure during the pivoting movement of the lid flap.

[0009] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a closure device of the type mentioned at the outset, with which the disadvantages mentioned can be avoided, with which the functionality of the closure device is not impaired by unusual use.

[0010] According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0011] This ensures that the functionality of the locking device is ensured and is not impaired by unusual use. This makes it possible to open the access opening manually by manually opening the lid without damaging the primary electrical drive. Likewise, this makes it possible to close the access opening manually without damaging the primary electrical drive. This means that neither the electric motor nor its mechanical connection to the lid are damaged or permanently deformed. This means that a person can open and/or close the lid with their hands, while still being able to open and close the lid with the mechanism provided for this purpose.

[0012] The invention further relates to an automobile according to claim 13, which has a locking device according to the invention.

[0013] The invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which only preferred embodiments are shown by way of example.

[0014] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a closure device;

[0015] Fig. 2 shows a front side of the closure device according to Fig. 1 in the assembled state;

[0016] Fig. 3 shows a rear side of the closure device according to Fig. 2; [0017] Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of the rear side according to Fig. 3;

[0018] Fig. 5 shows the front of the closure device according to Fig. 1 without housing in an elevation;

[0019] Fig. 6 shows the closure device according to Fig. 1 without housing in a side view; [0020] Fig. 7 shows the closure device according to Fig. 1 without housing in a plan view;

[0021] Fig. 8 shows the rear side of the closure device according to Fig. 1 without housing in an elevation; and

[0022] Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the mechanical connection between the first shaft and the second shaft.

[0023] Figures 1 to 8 each show views of a first preferred embodiment or of parts of the first preferred embodiment of a closure device 1 with a hinged cover 2 for the predeterminable closure of an access opening 3, in particular an access opening 3 of an electrical contact, wherein a lateral end region 4 of the cover 2 is firmly connected to a first shaft 6 rotatably mounted on a housing 5, wherein the closure device 1 has a motor which is operatively connected to a second shaft 8, wherein the first shaft 6 has a first planar serration part 9, wherein the second shaft 8 is designed as a hollow shaft with a second planar serration part 10, which is rotatably and longitudinally displaceably mounted on the first shaft 6, wherein the first planar serration part 9 and the second planar serration part 10 are in releasable frontal engagement, and wherein upon a rotary movement of the first shaft 6 the second shaft 8 is displaced longitudinally relative to the second shaft 8.

[0024] This ensures that the functionality of the closure device 1 is ensured and is not impaired by unusual use. This makes it possible to open the access opening 3 manually by manually opening the cover 2 without damaging the primary electrical drive. Likewise, this makes it possible to close the access opening 3 manually without damaging the primary electrical drive. This makes it possible to

neither the electric motor nor its mechanical connection to the cover 2 are damaged or permanently deformed. This allows a person to open and/or close the cover 2 with their hands, while still being able to open and close the cover 2 using the mechanism provided for this purpose.

[0025] The locking device 1 has a housing 5, which housing 5 has an opening which is referred to as an access opening 3. The locking device 1 is intended to be attached to a housing of a larger device or to be integrated in one piece into its housing 5. In particular, it is intended that the locking device 1 is part of a vehicle, in particular an automobile, preferably an electrically powered automobile. The vehicle is particularly preferably a passenger car. The access opening 3 is arranged in a body of the vehicle, in particular the automobile. The vehicle is preferably a land-based ground vehicle. In particular, the vehicle is not an aircraft and/or a watercraft.

[0026] The vehicle has an electrical contact for charging an electrical storage medium, such as an accumulator and/or a battery. This electrical contact is preferably provided for voltages between 200 V and 1500 V and is designed accordingly. Furthermore, this electrical contact can be provided for direct current and/or alternating current. Corresponding connections are arranged inside the vehicle and behind the access opening 3. The cross-sectional shape of the access opening 3 depends on the dimensions of the electrical contact. In particular, the access opening 3 has a cross-section that is round at least in some areas. As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment has an access opening 3 with a cross-section in the shape of a circular segment. Other preferred cross-sectional shapes are circular and elliptical.

[0027] For the predetermined closing of an access opening 3, the closure device 1 has a hinged or pivotable cover 2. The cover 2 is mounted on one side so that it can rotate. For this purpose, the closure device 1 has a first shaft 6, which is mounted on or in the housing 5 of the closure device 1 so that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis. A lateral end region 4 or a side part of the cover 2 is connected to the first shaft 6 in a fixed or rotationally secure manner. The rotatably mounted first shaft 6 represents a so-called hinge.

[0028] The closure device 1 further comprises a second shaft 8, which is operatively connected to a motor or electric motor of the closure device 1 (not shown in Figs. 1 to 9).

[0029] The motor can drive the second shaft 8 directly. According to the preferred embodiment, it is provided that the motor is connected to the second shaft 8 by means of a gear 16. Gears 16 generally have gear ratios which make it possible to adapt the speed and torque of the motor for driving the cover 2. It is preferably provided that the gear 16 is designed as a worm gear 17. This results in great freedom in positioning the motor. A worm gear 17 has a worm shaft 18 and a worm wheel 19. The worm shaft 18 preferably has a cylindrical shape on which a helical toothing is arranged. During operation, the worm shaft 18 is connected to the motor or to a drive shaft of the motor.

[0030] The worm gear 17 has a worm wheel 19, which preferably does not have a spherical shape, as is common with worm gears 17. Instead, the worm gear 17 preferably has a cylindrical worm wheel 19. The worm wheel 19 is part of the second shaft 8. The second shaft 8 is formed at least in part by the worm wheel 19. The worm wheel 19 and the second shaft 8 can also be formed in one piece.

[0031] According to the invention, the first shaft 6 has a first planar serration part 9, which is either an integrated, one-piece component of the first shaft 6, or which is connected in a rotationally fixed and rigid manner to a central base part of the first shaft 6.

is.

[0032] The second shaft 8 has a second planar serration part 10. According to the invention, the second shaft 8 is designed as a hollow shaft, with the second planar serration part 10 forming an end region of the hollow shaft. The second shaft 8 is mounted on the first shaft 6. The second planar serration part 10 is rotatable relative to the first shaft 6 and can also be moved longitudinally thereon.

[0033] The term “plane serration part” comes from the technical field of spur gears.

[0034] According to the invention, the first face-toothed part 9 and the second face-toothed part 10 are in releasable frontal engagement, and therefore in mechanical contact, provided that the drive is exclusively via the motor or the motor is stopped and the cover is not moved externally. The first and second face-toothed parts 9, 10 form a face toothing which is free of connecting screws and in which the two face-toothed parts 9, 10 are not firmly connected to one another. Instead, it is provided that when the first shaft 6 rotates relative to the second shaft 8, the second shaft 8 is displaced longitudinally. This breaks the force or torque-transmitting connection between the two face-toothed parts 9, 10, which, however, continue to physically touch one another.

[0035] The first planar serration part 9 and the second planar serration part 10 each have flat or plane and opposite or identical contact surfaces.

[0036] In order to support this longitudinal displacement of the second shaft 8 and thus the decoupling of the motor and the transmission 16, 17, it is further preferably provided that a first angle 11 between two adjacent contact surfaces and a surface roughness of the contact surfaces are designed in such a way that a predeterminable moment of the first shaft 6, therefore a certain lifting force on the cover 2, displaces the second shaft 8 along the longitudinal extent of the first shaft 6 and lifts it from a rest position. This interrupts the spur gearing. The angles 11 are to be selected in such a way that the resulting force acting normally on the contact surfaces can be divided into a Y force in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the two shafts 6, 8 and an X force in the direction normal to the longitudinal extent of the two shafts 6, 8, whereby the Y force is large enough to lift the second shaft 8. Fig. 9 shows a detailed view of the two face serrations 9, 10 and the first angle 11. In practice, first angles 11 between 100° and 140° have proven to be advantageous. This applies when both shafts 6, 8 are made of steel.

[0037] In addition to the size of the first angle 11 and its influence on the forces in the X and Y directions, the static friction and the inertial mass of the second shaft 8 also influence the functionality of an actually implemented locking device 1. Furthermore, the bearing of the second shaft 8 on the first shaft 6 and the resistance of this bearing also play a role. As already mentioned above, the preferred materials for the two shafts 6, 8 and the gear 16 are different steels. Other preferred materials are: brass, bronze and light metal alloys comprising aluminum and/or titanium. The density of the materials used influences their mass and can be taken into account.

[0038] The static friction is strongly influenced by the surface roughness of the contact surfaces. It has proven to be advantageous for the functionality of the present closure device 1 if the contact surfaces have a roughness level between N4 and N9.

[0039] If a fluid, such as a so-called lubricant, is arranged between the two planar serration parts 9, 10, its influence on the force transmission and the friction can be taken into account when selecting the first angle 11 and/or the surface roughness of the contact surfaces.

[0040] As already explained, the second shaft 8 is arranged or mounted on the first shaft 6 so as to be longitudinally displaceable. It is preferably provided that the first shaft 6 has two regions with different diameters 13, 15, i.e. a first longitudinal region 12 with a

first diameter 13 and a second length region 14 with a second diameter 15, the first diameter 13 being larger than the second diameter 15. In this construction, the first planar serration part 9 can form the transition between the first length region 12 and the second length region 14. The second length section 14 of the first shaft 6 serves as a bearing for the second shaft 8. The second shaft 8 is therefore arranged on the second length section 14 of the first shaft 6.

[0041] Preferably, the closure device 1 has at least one spring 21, which spring 21 presses the second shaft 8 in the direction of the first planar serration part 9. As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 8, the spring 21 preferably comprises the first shaft 6 and rests on a support 23, which is attached to the first shaft 6 by means of a nut 24. The first shaft 6 has a thread - not shown in the figures - onto which thread the nut 24 is screwed. The thread in question does not run through the first shaft 6 to the planar serration parts 9, 10 and does not establish a fixed connection between them. The selection of the spring 21 and/or its preload enable simple fine-tuning of the closure device 1.

[0042] The preceding paragraphs explain how the closure device 1 is to be designed to enable safe manual opening and/or closing of the opening 2. In order to ensure that the closure device 1 also enables motor-driven opening and closing of the opening, it is preferably provided that the gear 16 is designed in such a way that a resulting force acts on the second shaft 8 when it is driven by the motor - for motor-driven lifting or opening of the cover 2 - which is directed in the longitudinal direction of the first shaft 6 onto the first planar serration part 9, and which force has a size or amount that is so great that the cover 2 - while maintaining the connection of the two planar serration parts 9, 10 - is pivoted or lifted in a predeterminable direction, thereby opening the access opening 3. This is influenced primarily by the shape of the gears and the transmission ratio of the gear 16. The U gear ratio is easily determined by the responsible designer according to the usual calculations when designing each gearbox 16.

[0043] The design of the gear 16 as set out in the previous paragraph can generate a resultant force during a mechanical closing process, which also acts in the longitudinal direction of the first shaft 6, but is directed away from the first planar serrated part 9. In order to ensure the connection between the first and second serrated parts 9, 10, the spring 21 can preferably be designed with a correspondingly designed spring constant or spring rate. In the preferred position of the locking device 1 in an automobile, the closing process is further supported by gravity.

[0044] The worm gear 17 has a cylindrical worm wheel 19. This enables the movement of the second shaft 8 in the longitudinal direction of the first shaft 6. The majority of known worm gears each have worm wheels with a globule shape. However, such a shape would restrict or inhibit the movement of the second shaft 8 in the longitudinal direction of the first shaft 6.

[0045] The teeth 20 of the worm gear 19 are arranged at a second angle 22 to the axis of rotation 7 of the worm gear 19. This second angle 22 influences the resistance that this gear connection exerts when lifting the second shaft 8. Furthermore, this second angle 22 influences the force that is generated by the motor during the driven closing process and transmitted via the gear 16, 17. It has proven advantageous if the second angle 22 is between 10° and 20° to the axis of rotation 7 of the worm gear 19.

[0046] The following are principles for understanding and interpreting the present disclosure.

[0047] Characteristics are usually introduced with an indefinite article “a, an, one, an.” Unless the context indicates otherwise, “a, an, one, an” is

SS N 8 N

Sr 'hes AT 527 246 B1 2024-12-15

not to be understood as a number.

[0048] A "substantially" in connection with a numerical value includes a tolerance of + 10% around the stated numerical value, unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0049] For ranges of values, the endpoints are included unless the context indicates otherwise.

Claims (13)

patent claims 1. Closure device (1) with a hinged cover (2) for the predeterminable closure of an access opening (3), in particular an access opening (3) of an electrical contact, wherein a lateral end region (4) of the cover (2) is firmly connected to a first shaft (6) rotatably mounted on a housing (5), wherein the closure device (1) has a motor which is operatively connected to a second shaft (8), characterized in that the first shaft (6) has a first planar serration part (9), that the second shaft (8) is designed as a hollow shaft with a second planar serration part (10), which is rotatably and longitudinally displaceably mounted on the first shaft (6), that the first planar serration part (9) and the second planar serration part (10) are in releasable frontal engagement, and that during a rotational movement of the first shaft (6) relative to the second shaft (8) the second shaft (8) is displaced longitudinally. 2, Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first planar serration part (9) and the second planar serration part (10) each have flat and opposite contact surfaces. 3. Closure device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that a first angle (11) between two adjacent contact surfaces and a surface roughness of the contact surfaces are designed such that a predeterminable moment on the first shaft (6) displaces the second shaft (8). 4. Closure device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first angle (11) is between 100° and 140°. 5. Closure device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the contact surfaces have a roughness degree between N4 and N9. 6. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first shaft (6) has a first length region (12) with a first diameter (13) and a second length region (14) with a second diameter (15), that the first diameter (13) is larger than the second diameter (15), and that the first planar serration part (9) forms the transition between the first length region (12) and the second length region (14). 7. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the motor is connected to the second shaft (8) by means of a gear (16). 8. Closure device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the gear (16) is designed such that a force acts on the second shaft (8) when it is driven by the motor, which force is directed in the longitudinal direction of the first shaft (6) onto the first planar serration part (9), and which force has an amount which is so great that the cover (2) is pivoted in a predeterminable direction while maintaining the connection of the two planar serration parts (9, 10). 9. Closure device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the gear (16) is designed as a worm gear (17) with a helical cylindrical worm shaft (18), and that the motor is connected to the worm shaft (18). 10. Closure device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the worm gear (17) has a cylindrical worm wheel (19), and that the worm wheel (19) is part of the second shaft (8). 11. Closure device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the teeth (20) of the worm wheel (19) have a second angle (22) between 10° and 20° to the axis of rotation (7) of the worm wheel (19). This is AT 527 246 B1 2024-12-15 Ss N 8 12. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the closure device (1) has at least one spring (21) which presses the second shaft (8) in the direction of the first planar serrated part (9). 13. Automobile, in particular passenger car, with an electrical contact for charging an electrical storage medium, which contact has an access opening (3) in a body of the automobile, wherein a closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 is arranged at the access opening (3). Here 3 sheets of drawings