Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Matthias Hegwein

Andreas Rudolf

Roland Och

Zsolt Wilke

Joachim Oberst

Christian Beck

Matthias Kapaun

Jürgen Herzig

Jan Dvorak

Günter Hins

Matthias Gans

Maximiliane Merkert

Stefan Kämmer

An actuating apparatus () for opening and closing a cover in or on a vehicle, having a locking and/or arresting kinematics that cooperate with the cover. The actuating apparatus includes a housing () and an actuating part () received in the housing () and movably supported relative to the housing (). The actuating part () cooperates with the cover in such a way that the actuating part () performs a movement relative to the housing () between a first position and a second position upon a movement of the cover between a closed position and an open position, wherein, in the first position, the actuating part () is in a locked state. The actuating apparatus () further includes an elastically deformable spring system () associated with the actuating part (), in particular having a progressive spring characteristic.

Actuating apparatus for opening and closing a cover in or on a vehicle

A device for switching and actuating multiple functions of a charging and/or filler-neck compartment system having a charging and/or filler-neck compartment and a cover which is movable relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment. The device has a drive element with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is operatively connected to the cover such that, when the drive shaft rotates, the cover is movable relative to the charging and/or filler-neck compartment. The device furthermore has a mechanical control or switching mechanism, in particular in the form of or with a gearing mechanism, wherein the mechanical control or switching mechanism is designed such that, when the drive shaft rotates, a rotational movement of the drive shaft can be picked off by the mechanical control or switching mechanism for the purposes of manipulating at least one functional component of the charging and/or filler-neck compartment system as required.

Device for switching and actuating multiple functions of a charging and/or filler-neck compartment system of a vehicle, and charging and/or filler-neck compartment system having such a device

A housing body () is designed in order to be mounted at least in regions in a mounting opening of an outer skin or outer body component () of a motor vehicle, and has an outer flange region (), which surrounds the housing body () at least in regions and defines the outer geometry of the housing body at least in regions, the flange region having a multi-dimensional shape and being designed in order to rest against a support surface of the outer skin or outer body component () in the installed state of the housing body. The shape of the outer flange region () is designed such that the housing body () is mountable, as needed, in a mounting opening, mirrored relative to the motor vehicle longitudinal axis, in a left- or right-sided outer skin or outer body component, by moving the housing body from left to right.

Housing body for a charging or fuel-filling flap module of a motor vehicle

An actuating mechanism for actuating a charging or fueling flap on a charging or fueling compartment received on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the charging or fueling flap is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a flap lock is provided for locking the charging or fueling flap in its closed position. The actuating mechanism includes a drive having a drive shaft, which is operatively connectable to the charging or fueling flap such that, upon rotation of the drive shaft, the charging or fueling flap is movable relative to the charging or fueling compartment. The actuating mechanism further includes a mechanical control or switching mechanism, which is configured such that, upon rotation of the drive shaft to manipulate the flap lock, a rotational movement of the drive shaft can be tapped with the aid of the mechanical control or switching mechanism.

Actuating mechanism to actuate a loading or fuel filler flap

A covering device () for a vehicle, includes: a cover (); a drive element () formed to enable a movement of the cover, wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover. The covering device has a force-limitation apparatus () which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device. An actuator () has a drive apparatus () with a drive element (); an output drive element (); and a force-decoupling apparatus (). The force-decoupling apparatus is formed so that it at least temporarily does not output a force taken up by the drive element or at least temporarily outputs it in a delayed manner to the output drive element.

Covering device for a vehicle and actuator

An illumination module () for highlighting a region of a vehicle component, such as a charging or tank recess () or a handle assembly, includes a light source support () having at least one light source () and a housing (), in which the light source support with the at least one light source is received. The housing includes a light outlet region (), via which light can be decoupled from the housing (). The illumination module () further includes a light diffuser () optically coupled to the light outlet region of the housing, which diffuser includes a first light outlet region (), via which light can be decoupled for direct illumination or highlighting of the region of the vehicle component and which includes a second light outlet region (), which is spatially separated from the first light outlet region () via which signal light can be decoupled.

Lighting module for a vehicle component and vehicle component with a lighting module

A mechanism () for pivoting a charging or tank flap () on a charging or filler neck housing (), which is accommodated or can be accommodated in a body component of a motor vehicle, wherein the mechanism () is configured, by superposing at least two at least temporarily simultaneous circular rotational movements having different rotation radii or at least one at least temporarily simultaneous circular rotational movement and at least one linear movement, to pivot the charging or tank flap () reversibly between a first orientation, in particular a closed position of the charging or tank flap (), and a second orientation, in particular an open position of the charging or tank flap ().

Mechanism for pivoting a charging or tank flap, an arrangement including a charging or filler neck housing, at least one charging or tank flap, and at least one such mechanism, and a vehicle having at least one such arrangement

An actuating apparatus for opening and closing a cover in or on a vehicle has a blocking device for blocking the cover in a locked position. The blocking device has a transmission mechanism with a rotation part () mounted rotatably and driveable by an actuator (), and a blocking bar () which is operatively connected to the rotation part. The transmission mechanism converts a rotation movement of the rotation part into an axial movement of the blocking bar. The blocking bar is transferable with the aid of the rotation part from a release position into a blocking position. The transmission mechanism is self-locking so that, at least whenever the blocking bar is in the blocking position, the rotation part is not driveable via an axial movement of the blocking bar, and the rotation part prevents an axial movement of the blocking bar out of the blocking position.

Growing community of inventors

Ippesheim, Germany

Matthias Hegwein