JP4191002B2 - Tailgate opening / closing structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tailgate opening / closing structure.

As an open / close drive device for opening and closing the tailgate, which relates to a tailgate opening / closing structure for electrically driving a tailgate that is rotatably supported by a rear end portion of the vehicle body roof via a hinge and opens and closes the vehicle body rear opening, There is one in which an opening / closing device including a gas stay that balances the weight of the tailgate is disposed on the roof side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). If the gas stay is arranged on the roof side in this way, it is not necessary to expose the gas stay around the rear opening of the vehicle body, so that a good appearance can be obtained.
JP 2001-199224 A

  If the gas stay is arranged on the roof side as described above, the distance between the hinge shaft, which is the center of rotation of the tailgate, and the connecting portion of the gas stay to the tailgate cannot be taken. Operation efficiency will be lowered. For this reason, a large gas stay is required, and there is a problem that the cost increases.

  Further, when the gas stay is disposed on the roof side, there is a problem that the roof becomes thick and the height of the passenger compartment becomes low. If a large gas stay has to be adopted as described above, the roof becomes thicker and the height of the passenger compartment becomes even lower.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tailgate opening / closing structure that does not expose the gas stay around the rear opening of the vehicle body, and that can suppress the increase in cost and secure the height of the passenger compartment.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a tail supported rotatably on a rear end portion of a vehicle body roof (for example, the roof 12 in the embodiment) via a hinge (for example, the hinge 14 in the embodiment). A tailgate opening / closing structure that opens and closes a vehicle body rear opening (for example, the opening 16 in the embodiment) by a gate (for example, the tailgate 15 in the embodiment), and a hinge shaft (for example, the hinge shaft 37 in the embodiment) of the hinge; A shaft portion (for example, a shaft portion 44 in the embodiment) extending coaxially and extending outward in the vehicle width direction into a side panel (for example, the side panel 21 in the embodiment), and an extension end of the shaft portion in the side panel. An arm portion that extends downward and is always located in the side panel (for example, the arm portion 45 in the embodiment) and a connection provided on the arm portion (For example, connecting shafts 55 and 62 in the embodiment) and a hinge arm (for example, the hinge arm 35 in the embodiment) are provided, one end side is rotatably connected to the vehicle body frame in the side panel, and the other end side is the arm. An opening / closing device (for example, the opening / closing device 25 in the embodiment) that pivotally connects the hinge arm and the hinge and opens and closes the tailgate is provided .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the opening / closing device includes a gas stay (for example, the gas stay 34 in the embodiment) that balances the weight of the tailgate, and an expansion / contraction that is a drive source for the tailgate opening / closing A connecting actuator (for example, the connecting shaft 62 in the embodiment) for rotatably connecting one end side of the gas stay, and the extending and contracting. An actuator connecting portion (for example, a connecting shaft 55 in the embodiment) that rotatably connects one end side of the mold actuator, and the actuator connecting portion is provided at an end portion spaced from the shaft portion of the hinge arm, and the shaft is characterized in that a the stay connecting portion between parts and the actuator connection portion

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 2, the gas stay is always at a different angle from the telescopic actuator.

According to the invention of claim 1, Ru good appearance is obtained around the vehicle body rear opening portion.

According to the invention of claim 2, large-actuator is not required, it is possible to win the increase in cost suppressed.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the gas stay and the telescopic actuator are always at different angles, there is no dead point, and the tailgate can be opened and closed smoothly.

  A tailgate opening and closing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a tailgate opening / closing structure of the present embodiment and a rear periphery of a vehicle 10 to which the tailgate opening / closing structure is applied. The rear end of a roof 12 of a vehicle body 11 extends in the vehicle width direction. A roof rail 13 which is an existing vehicle body frame member is provided, and a tailgate 15 is supported on the roof rail 13 via a hinge 14 so as to be rotatable around an axis along the vehicle width direction. The tailgate 15 swings so as to open and close the opening 16 at the rear of the vehicle body of the vehicle 10, and is attached to the hinge 14 at a tailgate member 17 extending at the upper end of the tailgate 15 in the vehicle width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the rear part of the vehicle 10, between the inside of the side panel 21 of the vehicle body 11, that is, the side panel outer 22 on the vehicle width direction outer side and the side panel inner 23 on the vehicle width direction inner side, A main part of an opening / closing device 25 for opening and closing the tailgate 15 is disposed.

  Here, a rear side frame (vehicle body frame) 27 that is a vehicle body skeleton member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body at the lower part of the vehicle body 11 is provided inside the side panel 21, that is, between the side panel outer 22 and the side panel inner 23. It has been. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear side frame 27 includes a frame main body portion 28 that extends substantially horizontally along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a rear support portion 29 that protrudes upward from the rear portion of the frame main body portion 28. The front support portion 30 extending upward from the front portion of the frame main body portion 28, and the inclined connecting portion 31 for connecting the upper portion of the front support portion 30 and the intermediate portion of the frame main body portion 28 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. And.

  The opening / closing device 25 includes an electric telescopic actuator 33 that is a drive source for opening and closing the tailgate 15, a gas stay 34 that balances the weight of the tailgate 15, and a hinge arm (arm) 35 that connects these to the tailgate 15. It has.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hinge arm 35 is supported by a hinge shaft 37 of the hinge 14. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the hinge 14 is attached to the hinge bracket 38 fixed to the rear surface of the roof rail 13, the bearing member 39 fixed to the hinge bracket 38, and the bearing member 39 along the vehicle width direction. A hinge shaft 37 to be supported, one end side of the hinge shaft 37, specifically, a hinge arm 35 shown in FIG. 3 supported so as to be rotatable about the hinge shaft 37 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, The other end side of the hinge shaft 37, specifically, the bearing member 40 shown in FIG. 5 supported so as to be rotatable about the hinge shaft 37 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the hinge bracket to which the bearing member 40 is fixed 41. The hinge bracket 41 is fixed to the front and lower surfaces of the tailgate member 17 when the tailgate is closed.

  3, the hinge arm 35 extends from the hinge shaft 37 to the rear of the vehicle body as shown in FIG. 3, and the arm portion 43 to which the tailgate member 17 of the tailgate 15 is fixed on the extended tip side, and the hinge arm 35 as shown in FIG. A shaft portion 44 that extends coaxially with the hinge shaft 37 from the shaft 37 and extends into the side panel 21 outward in the vehicle width direction, and extends downward as a whole within the side panel 21 from the extending front end side of the shaft portion 44. Arm portion 45 to be Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the arm portion 43 is fixed to the upper surface and the rear surface of the tailgate member 17 when the tailgate is closed. The shaft portion 44 is disposed coaxially with the hinge shaft 37 and is inserted through a hole 46 formed in the side panel inner 23 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the extendable actuator 33 includes an electric motor 48 and an extendable rod 49 provided in parallel thereto, and the main body 50 of the extendable rod 49 is driven by the driving force of the electric motor 48. On the other hand, the rod 51 is slid linearly along the axial direction, whereby the telescopic rod 49 is expanded and contracted in the axial direction as a whole. The telescopic actuator 33 has a connecting shaft extending in the vehicle width direction on a bracket 52 provided on the front surface of the rear support portion 29 of the rear side frame 27 in the side panel 21 at one end opposite to the rod 51 of the main body 50. It is connected via 53 so that it can rotate centering on this connecting shaft 53.

  The telescopic actuator 33 extends obliquely forward and upward from the connection shaft 53 to the vehicle body and extends at the other end on the opposite side to the main body 50 of the rod 51 which is the leading end side. It is connected to the lower end side of the arm portion 45 through a connecting shaft (actuator connecting portion) 55 along the vehicle width direction so as to be rotatable around the connecting shaft 55. Thereby, the telescopic actuator 33 is disposed in the side panel 21 as shown in FIG. Here, the entire extension type actuator 33 is always located in the side panel 21, and the electric motor 48 is arranged below the extension rod 49 so as to be accommodated in the side panel 21. Is thinning.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the gas stay 34 expands and contracts in the axial direction as a whole by sliding the rod 58 linearly along the axial direction with respect to the main body 57. The gas stay 34 is connected to a bracket 59 provided on the upper surface of the front support 30 of the rear side frame 27 in the side panel 21 at one end opposite to the rod 58 of the main body 57. It connects so that it can rotate centering | focusing on this connection shaft 60 via. In addition, the gas stay 34 extends obliquely rearward and upward from the connecting shaft 60 and extends to the other end portion of the rod 58 on the opposite side to the main body 57 of the extending front end side. The intermediate part above the connecting shaft 55 of the part 45 is connected so as to be rotatable around the connecting shaft 62 via a connecting shaft (stay connecting portion) 62 along the vehicle width direction. As a result, the gas stay 34 is disposed in the side panel 21 as shown in FIG. Note that the entire gas stay 34 is always located in the side panel 21.

  Here, as described above, the telescopic actuator 33 and the gas stay 34 are connected to the rear side frame 27 with their respective lower parts shifted in the front-rear direction, and each upper part is connected to the common hinge bracket 38. A different angle will always be made.

  In the hinge arm 35, a portion between one end portion of the arm portion 45 where the connecting shaft 55 of the telescopic actuator 33 is provided and an intermediate portion where the connecting shaft 62 of the gas stay 34 is provided interferes with the gas stay 34 when swinging. The curved portion 64 is curved in the side panel 21 so as to avoid it. Further, the connecting shaft 62 of the hinge arm 35 is always below the hinge shaft 37, and the connecting shaft 55 is always further below the connecting shaft 62.

Next, the operation of the tailgate opening / closing structure of this embodiment will be described.
First, in the closed state shown in FIG. 4 in which the tailgate 15 is closed, the telescopic actuator 33 of the opening / closing device 25 is in a state in which the telescopic rod 49 is long, and the hinge arm 35 hinges the connecting shaft 55 of the arm portion 45. The arm portion 43 is extended from the hinge shaft 37 to the rear side in the horizontal direction. Further, in this closed state, the gas stay 34 that is lowered forward from the connecting shaft 62 of the arm portion 45 of the hinge arm 35 is in a short state.

  When the opening / closing device 25 rotates the electric motor 48 of the telescopic actuator 33 to contract the telescopic rod 49 from the above-described closed state, it extends forward from the rear part of the rear side frame 27 and the hinge shaft of the hinge arm 35. The telescopic rod 49 connected to the connecting shaft 55 below 37 pulls the connecting shaft 55 to the rear of the vehicle body. As a result, the hinge arm 35 rotates about the hinge shaft 37, and the arm portion 43 moves from the hinge shaft 37. It is in a state of tilting backward. As a result, the tailgate 15 fixed to the arm portion 43 swings upward about the hinge shaft 37 to be in the open state shown in FIG. When the hinge arm 35 rotates so as to swing the tailgate 15 from the closed state to the open state, it extends rearwardly from the rear side frame 27 and is connected to the connecting shaft 62 below the hinge shaft 37 of the hinge arm 35. The gas stay 34 connected to the balance is balanced with the weight of the tailgate 15 while extending.

  Further, from this open state, when the opening / closing device 25 rotates the electric motor 48 of the telescopic actuator 33 to extend the telescopic rod 49, it extends forward from the rear part of the rear side frame 27 and extends to the hinge shaft 37 of the hinge arm 35. The telescopic rod 49 connected to the lower connecting shaft 55 pushes the connecting shaft 55 forward of the vehicle body. As a result, the hinge arm 35 rotates about the hinge shaft 37, and the arm portion 43 extends horizontally from the hinge shaft 37. The state extends backward. As a result, the tailgate 15 fixed to the arm portion 43 swings downward about the hinge shaft 37 and enters a closed state. When the hinge arm 35 rotates so as to swing the tailgate 15 from the open state to the closed state, it extends rearwardly from the rear side frame 27 and is connected to the connecting shaft 62 below the hinge shaft 37 of the hinge arm 35. The gas stay 34 connected to the balance is balanced with the weight of the tailgate 15 while being contracted.

  According to the tailgate opening / closing structure of the present embodiment described above, the other end side of the gas stay 34 connected at one end side to the rear side frame 27 in the side panel 21 is fixed to the tailgate 15, and the other side is the side panel. Since the hinge arm 35 inserted into 21 is always connected to the connecting shaft 62 located in the side panel 21, the entire gas stay 34 can be always arranged in the side panel 21. Since the gas stay 34 can always be positioned in the side panel 21 in this way, the gas stay 34 is not exposed around the rear opening 16 of the vehicle body, and the roof 12 is not thickened by the gas stay 34. Accordingly, a good appearance can be obtained around the vehicle body rear opening 16 and the height of the vehicle interior can be secured. In addition, by providing the gas stay 34 in the side panel 21, the connecting position of the gas stay 34 to the hinge arm 35 can be separated from the hinge shaft 37, which is the rotation center of the tailgate 15, in the radial direction. Since it can be increased, the opening and closing efficiency can be increased. As a result, the large gas stay 34 is not necessary, and the increase in cost can be suppressed. In addition, since the gas stay 34 is provided in the side panel 21 that is further away from noise transmission from the occupant, it is difficult to transmit the operation sound to the occupant, and excellent silence is obtained.

  In addition, the other end of the telescopic actuator 33 having one end connected to the rear side frame 27 in the side panel 21 is fixed to the tail gate 15 and one side is fixed to the tail gate 15 and the other side is inserted into the side panel 21 at all times. Since it is connected to the connecting shaft 55 located in the panel 21, the entire telescopic actuator 33 can be always arranged in the side panel 21. Since the telescopic actuator 33 can always be positioned in the side panel 21 in this way, the roof 12 is not thickened by the telescopic actuator 33. Therefore, the height of the vehicle compartment can be ensured reliably. In addition, by providing the telescopic actuator 33 in the side panel 21, the coupling position of the telescopic actuator 33 to the hinge arm 35 can be separated from the hinge shaft 37 that is the center of rotation of the tailgate 15 in the radial direction. Since the rotational moment can be increased, the opening / closing efficiency can be increased. As a result, a large actuator is not required, and the increase in cost can be further suppressed. In addition, since the telescopic actuator 33 is provided in the side panel 21 that is further away from noise transmission from the occupant, it is difficult to transmit the operation sound to the occupant, and excellent silence is obtained.

  Further, since the gas stay 34 and the telescopic actuator 33 are always at different angles, there is no dead point, and the tailgate 15 can be smoothly opened and closed.

  In addition, since the arm that transmits the driving force to the tailgate 15 in the opening / closing device 25 is the hinge arm 35 that is pivotally supported by the hinge shaft 37 of the hinge 14, as compared with the case where an arm is provided separately from the hinge 14. Cost can be reduced. Of course, an arm may be provided separately from the hinge bracket 38.

  Further, since the shaft portion 44 of the hinge arm 35 is arranged coaxially with the hinge shaft 37, the shaft portion 44 only rotates without rotating when the tailgate 15 is opened and closed. Therefore, the hole 46 formed in the side panel inner 23 for the passage of the shaft portion 44 can be reduced. Of course, it is also possible to make the shaft portion 44 and the hinge shaft 37 parallel and to form the hole portion 46 in an arc shape.

  The above-described hinge shaft 37 may be extended from the bearing member 39 to the outside in the vehicle width direction, the arm portion 43 may be fixed to the intermediate portion, and the arm portion 45 may be fixed to the tip portion. That is, the shaft portion 44 may be configured by the hinge shaft 37.

1 is a side view showing an outline of a tailgate opening / closing structure of one embodiment of the present invention and a rear part of a vehicle to which the tailgate opening / closing structure is applied. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a tailgate opening / closing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and a vehicle to which the tailgate opening / closing structure is applied as viewed from the rear of a vehicle body. It is a principal part perspective view of the tailgate opening-and-closing structure of one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The state at the time of tailgate opening is shown. It is a principal part perspective view of the tailgate opening-and-closing structure of one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The state at the time of tailgate closing is shown. It is a sectional side view of the hinge of the tailgate opening and closing structure of one embodiment of the present invention, and shows the state when the tailgate is closed.

Explanation of symbols

12 Roof (body roof)
14 Hinge 15 Tailgate 16 Opening (car body rear opening)
21 Side panel 27 Rear side frame (body frame)
33 Telescopic actuator 34 Gas stay 35 Hinge arm (arm)
37 Hinge shaft 55 Connection shaft (actuator connection)
62 Connecting shaft (stay connecting part)

Claims (3)

A tailgate opening and closing structure for opening and closing the rear opening of the vehicle body with a tailgate rotatably supported via a hinge at the rear end of the vehicle body roof,
A shaft portion that is coaxial with the hinge shaft of the hinge and extends outward in the vehicle width direction into the side panel, and an arm that extends downward from the extended end of the shaft portion within the side panel and is always located in the side panel. A hinge arm having a portion and a connecting portion provided on the arm portion,
One end side is rotatably connected to the vehicle body frame in the side panel, and the other end side is rotatably connected to the connecting portion of the arm portion. The hinge and the hinge arm are rotated to open and close the tail gate. A tailgate opening and closing structure characterized by providing an opening and closing device . The opening / closing device comprises a gas stay that balances the weight of the tailgate, and a telescopic actuator that is a drive source for opening and closing the tailgate,
The connecting portion comprises a stay connecting portion that rotatably connects one end side of the gas stay, and an actuator connecting portion that rotatably connects one end side of the telescopic actuator,
2. The tail according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator connecting portion is provided at an end portion of the hinge arm that is separated from the shaft portion, and the stay connecting portion is provided between the shaft portion and the actuator connecting portion. Gate opening and closing structure.   The tailgate opening and closing structure according to claim 2, wherein the gas stay is always at a different angle from the telescopic actuator.

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