System comprising a flap, an actuator and a controller and method for automatically actuating a flap

Translation of description of equivalent WO 2018108505 A1

0001System comprising a damper, an actuator and a controller, and method for automatically actuating a damper

0002description

0003The present invention relates to a system comprising a flap for a motor vehicle, in particular a tank or tailgate, an electric motor actuator, with an output and an electric motor, and an electric motor control, wherein the electric motor in response to an electrical actuation signal by means of the motor control is controlled such that the output of the actuator transfers the flap in an open position or closed position. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for automatically actuating a flap.

0004Such systems and methods are already known from the prior art in numerous embodiments.

0005For example, from DE 103 34 719 A1 a device is known in which a motor drive for transferring a fuel filler flap in its open or closed position is actuated due to a switch-on or a signal of a person or a filling device. By means of Hall sensors, the opening position and the closed position of the fuel filler flap is detected in order to automatically switch off the motor drive in each case. Instead of the Hall sensors, the achievement of the opening or closing position can also be detected by the evaluation of the current and / or voltage characteristic of the motor drive according to DE 103 34 719 A1.

0006This is where the present invention begins.

0007The present invention has for its object to realize an automatic opening or closing a flap for a motor vehicle with simple circuit technology. This object is achieved by a system having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 7. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

0008A significant advantage of the invention is in particular that no sensors, such as buttons, proximity switches or the like, or remote controls are required to produce an actuating signal for an electric motor actuator of a flap for a motor vehicle. This allows the use of a simple electrical circuit for controlling an electric motor of the electric motor drive by means of a motor control. In addition, components, wiring and space are saved, whereby a compact and inexpensive construction of the system according to the invention with low weight can be achieved.

0009Basically, the external movement of the output of the actuator on the type, force, force amplitude, direction of action and time in wide appropriate limits freely selectable. Appropriately, it is provided that the actuating signal can be generated by means of a foreign movement of the output against a thus triggered adjusting movement of the output. For example, would therefore require a transfer of the flap in an open position, a foreign movement of the output in the direction of a closed position of the flap as an actuating signal and vice versa. If the output is, for example, a shaft with a spur gear or the like, then the spur gear and thus the shaft would have to be rotated by the external movement opposite to the direction of rotation, which corresponds to an opening of the flap and vice versa.

0010A particularly advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention provides that the external movement of the output can be generated by a force on the flap. In this way, an additional handle or the like and a corresponding coupling structure between the handle and the output of the actuator can be dispensed with. Another particularly advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention provides that the actuating signal is designed as an electrical voltage which is inducible in dependence of the external movement of the output by means of the electric motor. As a result, the structure of the system according to the invention is further simplified.

0011The same applies to a particularly advantageous development of the method according to the invention, according to which the actuating signal is designed as an electrical voltage which is induced as a function of the external movement of the output by means of the electric motor.

0012A further advantageous development of the system according to the invention provides that the electric motor of the actuator is connected by means of at least one electrical supply line to the motor controller and by means of this at least one electrical supply line to an evaluation circuit and the actuating signal by means of this at least one supply line to the evaluation circuit is transferable. In this way, the structure of the system according to the invention is additionally simplified.

0013The same applies to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, which provides that the electric motor of the actuator is connected by means of at least one electrical supply line to the motor control and by means of this at least one electrical supply line to an evaluation circuit and transmit the actuating signal by means of this at least one supply line to the evaluation circuit becomes.

0014In an advantageous development of the last-mentioned embodiment of the system according to the invention, it is provided that the motor control and the evaluation circuit are structurally combined in one structural unit. In this way, a higher degree of integration and thus further space and cost savings is possible. Reference to the accompanying drawings, the invention is explained in more detail below. The only one shows

0015Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the system according to the invention in a rough schematic representation.

0016In the only Fig. 1, an embodiment of the system according to the invention is shown. The system has a designed as a tank flap of a motor vehicle not shown flap 2, which is convertible by means of an electromotive actuator 4 from a closed position to an open position and from the open position to the closed position. In the closed position, a filling opening of a motor vehicle tank is covered by the tank flap 2 in a manner known to the person skilled in the art. In the open position, the filling opening of the motor vehicle tank is accessible from outside, so that a fuel nozzle of a fuel dispensing system can be introduced into the filling opening of the motor vehicle tank. The opening and closing position of the fuel filler flap 2, as well as the filling opening of the motor vehicle tank and the motor vehicle tank are not shown.

0017The electromotive actuator 4 has for the actuation of the fuel filler flap 2, so for their transfer to the open or closed position, an output 4.1, which in addition to a driven by an electric motor 4.2 of the actuator 4 shaft 4.1 .1 designed as a spur gear 4.1 .2 includes.

0018The electric motor 4.2 of the actuator 4 is electrically conductively connected by means of two electrical supply lines 4.3 with a motor controller 6. The two supply lines 4.3 are in the present embodiment, in addition to an evaluation circuit 8 electrically conductive, namely signal-transmitting connected. To generate an actuation signal, the evaluation circuit 8 is also in signal transmission connection with the engine control 6. The motor control 6 and the evaluation circuit 8 are structurally combined here in a structural unit 10. Below, the operation of the system according to the invention and the inventive method according to the present embodiment with reference to FIG. 1 will be explained in more detail. The signal chain is shown in FIG. 1 with hatched arrows and the actuating chain is symbolized in FIG. 1 with arrows without hatching.

0019It is initially assumed that the fuel filler flap 2 is in its closed position and the electric motor 4.2 of the actuator 4 is not energized. For refueling of the motor vehicle at a filling station of a filling station, the vehicle driver or another person pushes from outside onto the fuel filler flap 2 to be opened, analogously to the push-push opening mechanisms of tank flaps known from the prior art. This force effect on the fuel filler flap 2, symbolized in FIG. 1 by an arrow 5, is transmitted indirectly by means of the spur gear 4.1 .2 and the shaft 4.1 .1 of the output 4.1 to the rotor of the electric motor 4.2, not shown.

0020The pressure 5 on the tank flap 2 thus leads to a rotational movement of the shaft 4.1 .1, which in turn leads to a rotational movement of the rotor of the electric motor 4.2. Since the pressure direction 5 is opposite to the movement of the fuel filler flap 2 in the transfer in its open position, here runs the foreign movement of the output 4.1, 4.1, 4.1 and the shaft 4.1 .1, and the rotor of the electric motor 4.2 accordingly opposite to the thus triggered adjusting movement of the output 4.1, namely the transfer of the fuel filler flap 2 in its open position.

0021By the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor 4.2 by the external movement of the output 4.1, the electric motor 4.2 acts as a generator. The induced thereby in the electrical supply lines 4.3 voltage is due to the signal-transmitting connection of the electrical supply lines 4.3 to the evaluation circuit 8 at the signal input of the evaluation circuit 8. This input signal is processed in the evaluation circuit 8 in a manner known to those skilled in the art and further processed and leads to a control of the actuator 4 by the engine controller 6, such that the actuator 4 by means of the output 4.1, the fuel filler flap 2 automatically in de ren open position transferred. The voltage applied to the evaluation circuit 8 input signal is thus formed as an electrical voltage which is induced in response to the external movement of the output 4.1 by means of the electric motor 4.2.

0022The input signal generated in the above manner is thus an electrical actuation signal for controlling the electromotive actuator 4 by the engine controller 6 to transfer the fuel filler flap 2 by means of the output 4.1 of the actuator 4 of the closed position in its open position. In the open position, the fuel filler flap 2 is approximately at an angle of 90 ° from the vehicle body, so that the fuel nozzle can be inserted into the filling opening of the fuel tank.

0023If the fuel filler flap 2 after refueling of the opening position back into the

0024Closing be transferred, presses the driver or another person in turn against the fuel filler flap 2. However, the pressure on the fuel filler flap 2 takes place from the inside to the fuel filler flap 2, ie on the inside, not shown. Accordingly, the external movement of the output 4.1 also for triggering the actuation signal for an actuating movement of the output 4.1 for a transfer of the fuel filler flap 2 of the opening position in its closed position opposite to the adjusting movement of the output 4.1.

0025The spur gear 4.1 .2 and the shaft 4.1 .1 of the output 4.1 and the rotor of the electric motor 4.2 are now rotated in comparison to the foreign movement of the output 4.1 for transferring the fuel filler flap 2 in the open position in the opposite direction. The electric motor 4.2 acts again as a generator and at the two supply lines 4.3 and the signal transmitting connected thereto evaluation circuit 8 is again an electrical voltage as an input signal. However, this electrical voltage in comparison to the previously described external movement of the output 4.1 and thus of the rotor of the electric motor 4.2 has an opposite sign, which leads to a different activation of the actuator 4 by the motor controller 6. 4. The input signal now applied to the evaluation circuit 8 is thus again embodied as an electrical voltage which is induced as a function of the external movement of the output 4.1 by means of the electric motor 4.2.

0026The input signal generated in the aforementioned manner is thus an electrical actuation signal for controlling the electromotive actuator 4 by the engine controller 6 to transfer the fuel filler flap 2 by means of the output 4.1 of the actuator 4 from its open position into its closed position.

0027The invention is not limited to the present embodiment. For example, it is not necessary for the output of the electromotive actuator to have a gear, in particular a spur gear. Also, any other suitable type of external movement of the output, even in the direction of the actuation signal triggered by the actuating movement of the output can be used.

0028The same applies to the type of electric motor of the electromotive actuator. The skilled person will, depending on the application, select the appropriate means.

0029The flap can also be a loading hatch, for example for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. However, other valves for a motor vehicle are also conceivable in principle. The term "flap" is to be interpreted broadly and means any type of cover, cover or the like.

0030The supply of the electric motor of the electromotive actuator is formed in the embodiment as an electrical two-wire supply line, ie as two electrical supply lines. However, it is also possible to use only a single-wire supply line and to connect one of the electrical connections of the electric motor to ground. If a brushless electric motor is used, multi-pole supply lines, in particular three supply lines, are also possible. The invention thus combines the advantages of a known and proven operation of a flap, in particular a tank or tailgate, namely the push-push operation, with a simplified electrical circuit in a realization using an electromotive actuator for the transfer of Flap in its opening and / or closing position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

00322 flap, designed as a fuel filler flap

00334 Electromotive actuator

00344.1 Output of the electromotive actuator 4th

00354.1 .1 Shaft of the output 4.1

00364.1 .2 gearbox of the output 4.1, designed as a spur gear

00374.2 Electric motor of the electromotive actuator 4

00384.3 Electrical supply lines for the electric motor 4.2

00395 force on the flap 2

00406 engine control

00418 evaluation circuit

004210 unit