Actuation arrangement for displaceable components on vehicles

Details Actuation arrangement for displaceable components on vehicles Actuation arrangement for displaceable components on vehicles

2001-02-15

2002-11-12

Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)

Motors: expansible chamber type

With motive fluid valve

Inlet fluid supplemented by controlled fluid pressurized in...

C091S165000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06477936

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an actuation arrangement for displaceable components on vehicles, particularly trunk lids, convertible tops, engine hoods or the like, including at least one supply line for the pressurized medium and one essentially non-pressure connection line to a reservoir for the working medium or a pump arrangement being functionally of the same kind, at least one preferably hydraulic working cylinder, and at least one control valve controlling the supply of a working medium in at least one working chamber of the working cylinder.
2. The Prior Art
For actuation of movable vehicle components, especially hinged vehicle components, there are traditionally hydraulic working cylinder employed, which are joined at one end to the body of the vehicle and at the other end they engage the component to be moved—mostly with the outer end of a piston rod. This solution is applied not only for trunk lids, engine hoods and the cover of convertible tops, but also for sections of convertible tops themselves that are foldable against one another, particularly in case of hardtops or similar constructions. Many precautions have been met thereby so that, for example, during malfunctioning of the hydraulic system, manual emergency actuation of the displaced component is possible in the closing direction, and in case of hydraulic actuation an emergency-stop function is realized, whereby there can be avoided to the greatest extent injuries to persons who found their way into the path of moving vehicle components, or damage to items as well to the vehicle itself and so on.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an actuation arrangement of the noted type which makes possible in a way hydraulic movement of a vehicle component as well as a purely manual actuation in any direction so that subsequent actuations are not influenced detrimentally in any way or that other measures are necessary beside the on- and off-switching of the energy supply for the hydraulic system. As a continuation, there is the added object of further development of an arrangement for realization of a holding function for the displaced vehicle component in case of malfunctioning of the hydraulic system and/or unintended manual actuation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first object is achieved according to the present invention whereby the control valve may be electrically operated, at least one of the working chambers of at least one working cylinder may be connected alternatively via the control valve with the supply line, or the working chamber may be connected with a connection line while being without electric power, whereby an overflow line is provided between the working chambers of the working cylinders which allows for counter-movements of the displaced component, and whereby an open non-energized valve is inserted in the overflow line. Thereby the separation of the working chambers is guaranteed during continuous energy supply, allowing the counter-movement of the displaced vehicle component. The working chambers may be supplied differentially with a pressurized working medium, preferably hydraulic oil, in the conventional manner via a control valve, or possibly also via a respective control valve for each working chamber. If, however, the energy supply to the actuation arrangement malfunctions or is intentionally not put in effect, then the formerly separated working chambers communicate with one another via the overflow line and the now open valve so that forward-pushing of the working medium can take place between the two working chambers. Thereby the unrestricted manual actuation of the vehicle component is also guaranteed—should it be intended or be in the way of an emergency actuation during malfunctioning of the hydraulic system.
According to an especially advantageous embodiment of the actuation arrangement, there is provided at least one double-action working cylinder having a piston-side and a rod-side working chamber to move the component on the vehicle whereby the overflow line interconnects the opposing working chambers of one or each working cylinder. The use of double-action working cylinders offers a favorable version with proven and tested components in terms of space requirements, construction and engineering requirements.
To make possible an especially simple, compact and economic differential control of one or each double-action cylinder based on only one necessary control valve, it is proposed that only the piston-side working chamber of the working cylinder is connected with the supply line via a control valve.
According to an additional characteristic of the invention, it is proposed that a first post-suction line leads from the overflow line to a reservoir for the working medium and in which first post-suction line there is a check valve inserted blocking in the direction of the reservoir. Thereby possible volume differences may be equalized in the interconnected working chambers to push the working medium forward, which is of significance especially in double-action cylinders whereby a difference in volume exists between the piston-side and rod-side working chamber based on the piston rod. Excess (fluid) volume is thereby diverted from the piston-side working chamber to the reservoir via the connection line, whereas the difference in (fluid) volume may be supplemented via a post-suction line from the reservoir during manual outward-pushing of the working cylinder.
When, according to the invention, a pressure relief valve is inserted in the connection line and a check valve is inserted in the overflow line, then there can be guaranteed a restricted, slower and more gentle movement of the vehicle component in its predetermined position as a result of the effective forces—particularly in conjunction with possible throttle elements in the connection line or merely by the resistance in the line. For example, a trunk lid is lowered in this way back into its locked position in a slow and controlled fashion.
In an embodiment, such as described in the preceding paragraph, a holding function in the respectively reached position of the displaced vehicle component may be realized if the threshold value for opening of the pressure relief valve is additionally set in such a manner that in each position of the displaced component, an at least equally large hydraulic force counteracts its weight or closing force. Thereby the threshold value can be automatically adjusted depending on the position of the vehicle or depending on the maximum weight of the displaced component in its most unfavorable position. Only an additional effective force, for example, through manual actuation of the displaced vehicle component, leads then to the opening of the pressure relief valve, after which the movement of the vehicle component continues in the direction of this force and whereby it may be brought preferably into a secure end position and/or locked position.
Supplementary components that possibly assist in the movement in any way are thereby to be considered of course in the calculation of force balance, such as pneumatic springs assisting in the opening movement of the trunk lid or the like.
In the embodiments of the latter described actuation arrangements having at least one double-action cylinder with a piston-side or rod-side working chamber for moving components on a vehicle and an overflow line which interconnects opposing working chambers of one or each working cylinder, there is proposed for achievement of the described effects and advantages that the check valve opens the overflow line leading from the rod-side working chamber to the piston-side working chamber and blocks in the opposite direction.
To make possible, without restriction, the supply of working medium into the working chamber and thereby an enlarged volume, and subsequent actuation methods of any kind and in any direction—even during manual actuation of the displaced vehicle component—a second post-suction line leads from the overflow line to a reservoir for the working mediu

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