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DE-102025116535-B3 - Locking mechanism for a movable wing of a vehicle

DE102025116535B3DE 102025116535 B3DE102025116535 B3DE 102025116535B3DE-102025116535-B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking arrangement (10) for a movable wing (3) of a vehicle (1), with an eddy current braking arrangement (14) comprising an evaluation and control unit (12), at least one electrically conductive element (15) and at least one magnetic assembly (20) with at least one electromagnet (22), and configured to generate a braking effect directed against movement of the movable wing (3), wherein at least one sensor unit (16, 26) is configured to detect at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3), wherein the at least one electrically conductive element (15) and the at least one magnetic assembly (20) are arranged to be movable relative to each other, wherein the evaluation and control unit (12) is communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor unit (16, 26) and is configured to actuate the at least one electromagnet (22) of the at least one magnetic assembly (20) depending on the detected at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3). to control and dynamically adjust the corresponding braking effect of the eddy current brake arrangement (14).

Inventors

  • Ralph Hollmig

Assignees

  • AUDI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250429

Claims (9)

  1. A locking arrangement (10) for a movable wing (3) of a vehicle (1), comprising an eddy current braking arrangement (14) which includes an evaluation and control unit (12), at least one electrically conductive element (15) and at least one magnet assembly (20) with at least one electromagnet (22) and is designed to generate a braking effect directed against movement of the movable wing (3), wherein at least one sensor unit (16, 26) is designed to detect at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3), wherein the at least one electrically conductive element (15) and the at least one magnet assembly (20) are arranged to be movable relative to each other, wherein the evaluation and control unit (12) is communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor unit (16, 26) and is designed to control the at least one electromagnet (22) of the at least one magnet assembly (20) depending on the detected at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3) and thereby to dynamically adjust the corresponding braking effect of the eddy current brake arrangement (14), wherein the at least one magnet assembly (20) comprises at least one permanent magnet (24) which is designed to generate a basic braking effect directed against the movement of the movable wing (3).
  2. Locking arrangement (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one magnet assembly (20) is fixed to the vehicle and the at least one electrically conductive element (15) is arranged on the movable wing (3).
  3. Locking arrangement (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one magnet assembly (20) is mounted on the movable wing (3) and the at least one electrically conductive element (15) is fixed to the vehicle.
  4. Locking arrangement (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the at least one sensor unit (16) is designed to detect the at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3) an acceleration.
  5. Locking arrangement (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the at least one sensor unit (26) is designed to detect the current position of the at least one motion-dependent parameter of the movable wing (3).
  6. Locking arrangement (10) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the at least one sensor unit (16, 26) detects the current position of the movable wing (3) as opening angle and/or as drop height.
  7. Locking arrangement (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that at least one temperature sensor (18) is designed to detect a current temperature in the area of the at least one electrically conductive element (15).
  8. Locking arrangement (10) according to Claim 4 and 6 and 7 , characterized in that the evaluation and control unit (12) is further designed to control the at least one electromagnet (22) of the at least one magnet assembly (20) and to increase the generated magnetic field when the detected acceleration of the movable wing (3) exceeds a predetermined first threshold value and/or when the detected opening angle of the movable wing (3) exceeds a predetermined second threshold value and/or when the detected drop height of the movable wing (3) exceeds a predetermined third threshold value and/or when the detected temperature in the area of the at least one electrically conductive element (15) exceeds a predetermined fourth threshold value, or to weaken the generated magnetic field when the detected temperature in the area of the at least one electrically conductive element (15) falls below a predetermined fifth threshold value.
  9. Locking arrangement (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 , characterized in that the movable wing (3) is designed as a vehicle door (3A) or as a tailgate or as a front flap or as a cover.

Description

The invention relates to a locking arrangement for a movable wing of a vehicle. Locking mechanisms for a movable wing of a vehicle are known in numerous variations. For example, unbraked or damped locking mechanisms are known from the prior art, which use oil- or air-based cylinders. A disadvantage of such locking mechanisms is that, in the case of unbraked mechanisms, damage can occur due to the uncontrolled closing of the movable sash. The use of oil or air as a damping medium in cylinders can necessitate longer maintenance intervals. From the DE 10 2021 120 122 A1 A vehicle roof is known with a cover for selectively opening or permanently closing a roof opening in the vehicle roof. A metallic component is arranged on the cover, and a device for generating a magnetic field is also fixed to the roof such that, in a position where the roof opening is at least partially open, the cover experiences a braking effect opposite to this effect during vertical movement due to an eddy current braking effect. This occurs because the movement of the metallic component of the cover in the magnetic field induces eddy currents in the metallic component. From the DE 10 2006 040 070 A1 A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is known with a sliding door and at least one eddy current braking device, which is designed to dampen the movement of the sliding door and comprises at least one permanent magnet and at least one electrically conductive element. The at least one permanent magnet and the at least one electrically conductive element are arranged to be movable relative to each other in order to implement the eddy current principle. From the DE 295 01 635 U1 An eddy current braking arrangement for an exercise bike is known, comprising a coil for generating a magnetic field and a disk made of a metallic material, which is rotationally fixed to a rotating shaft and in which eddy currents are generated by means of the coil, as well as a circuit arrangement for the controlled power supply of the coil. A temperature sensor is associated with the coil, which increases the voltage applied to the coil as the temperature rises, thus compensating for temperature variations in the current flow through the coil. From the DE 10 2009 023 226 A1 A drive arrangement for the motorized adjustment of an adjustment element in a motor vehicle is known. This arrangement includes at least one drive with a drive motor and a drive control unit coupled to the drive motor. The adjustment element can also be adjusted manually if required. The drive additionally features an eddy current brake, controllable by the drive control unit, for controlled braking of at least the manual adjustment movement of the adjustment element. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the magnetic arrangement includes a permanent magnet. In such a case, measures must be taken to adjust the magnetic field of the permanent magnet according to the desired braking force. Adjustable guide vanes or the adjustability of the permanent magnet itself are conceivable options. The invention is based on the objective of providing a closing arrangement for a movable wing of a vehicle, which enables a damped, controlled and maintenance-free closing of the movable wing. This problem is solved by a locking arrangement for a movable wing of a vehicle with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. To provide a closing mechanism for a movable wing of a vehicle, enabling dampened, controlled, and maintenance-free closing of the wing, the closing mechanism comprises an eddy current brake assembly. This brake assembly includes an evaluation and control unit, at least one electrically conductive element, and at least one magnetic assembly with at least one electromagnet. It is designed to generate a braking effect directed against the movement of the movable wing. At least one sensor unit is configured to detect at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing. The at least one electrically conductive element and the at least one magnetic assembly are arranged to be movable relative to each other. The evaluation and control unit is communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor unit and is configured to control the at least one electromagnet of the at least one magnetic assembly based on the detected at least one movement-dependent parameter of the movable wing, thereby dynamically adjusting the corresponding braking effect of the eddy current brake assembly. The at least one magnetic assembly comprises at least one permanent magnet, which is configured to... to generate a basic braking effect directed against the movement of the movable wing. This allows for a predictable basic damping or braking of the movement of the movable wing even in the event of a failure of at least one electromagnet. The at least one permanent magnet can preferably be a neodymium magnet.