US-12623731-B2 - Device for pivotably connecting an air-guiding element to a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates, amongst other things, to a device for pivotably connecting an air-guiding element ( 16 ), preferably a rear side-air-guiding element of a drivers cab, to a vehicle ( 10 ), preferably a rear wall of the drivers cab of a utility vehicle. The device has a swing hinge ( 22 ), which is designed to be fastened on the one hand to the air-guiding element ( 16 ) and on the other hand to the vehicle ( 10 ). The swing hinge ( 22 ) has a locking mechanism ( 32 ), which is designed to lock the swing hinge ( 22 ) automatically when at least one predetermined pivot position has been reached.

Inventors

• Andreas Schmitz

Assignees

• MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20200708

Priority Date

20190716

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A device for pivotably connecting an air-guiding element to a vehicle: a pivot hinge, which is designed on the one hand to be fastened to the air-guiding element and on the other hand to be fastened to the vehicle, wherein the pivot hinge comprises a locking mechanism which is designed to lock the pivot hinge automatically when at least one predetermined pivot position has been reached, wherein the at least one predetermined pivot position has a predetermined pivoted-out position of the pivot hinge or a predetermined pivoted-in position of the pivot hinge.
2. 2 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the air-guiding element is flat.
3. 3 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the air guiding element is a side air-guiding element at a rear side of a driver's cab.
4. 4 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the air guiding element is connected to a vehicle at a rear wall of a driver's cab of a utility vehicle.
5. 5 . The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the locking mechanism is integrated in the pivot hinge; or the locking mechanism is arranged coaxially about a pivot axis of the pivot hinge; or a pivot axis of the pivot hinge is fully encapsulated or sealed, wherein the locking mechanism partially encapsulates or seals the pivot axis; or the locking mechanism of the pivot hinge is fully encapsulated or sealed.
6. 6 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the locking mechanism is formed as a latching mechanism.
7. 7 . The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein: the latching mechanism is designed to be at least double-acting, so that the pivot hinge is lockable in the at least one predetermined pivot position in each case by at least two latching engagements or movable latching elements.
8. 8 . The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein: the latching mechanism comprises a spring for biasing the latching mechanism in the at least one predetermined pivot position.
9. 9 . The device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein: the spring brings about or at least assists autonomy of a locking action; or the spring coaxially surrounds a pivot axis of the pivot hinge.
10. 10 . The device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the spring is a helical spring.
11. 11 . The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein: the latching mechanism comprises a fixed first latching element, and a movable second latching element, for engagement with one another.
12. 12 . The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein: the latching mechanism comprises a fixed third latching element, and a movable fourth latching element for engagement with one another.
13. 13 . The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the fixed first latching element or the movable second latching element are latching bushings for engagement with one another, or the fixed third latching element or the fourth latching element are latching bushings for engagement with one another.
14. 14 . The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein: the latching elements are arranged coaxially with respect to one another; or the latching elements coaxially surround a pivot axis of the pivot hinge; or the latching elements coaxially surround a spring, or a bushing region of the pivot hinge, coaxially surrounds the latching elements; or the second latching element and the fourth latching element are elastically supported against each other; or the first latching element and the third latching element are formed as identical parts; or the second latching element and the fourth latching element are formed as identical parts.
15. 15 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the pivot hinge comprises a hinge bracket for fastening to the vehicle and a pivot arm pivotable relative thereto for fastening to the air-guiding element.
16. 16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the hinge bracket supports the pivot arm on an upper side or a lower side of the pivot arm; or the locking mechanism is configured such that the pivot arm does not perform an axial movement along a pivot axis of the pivot hinge during a locking process.
17. 17 . The device as claimed claim 1 , wherein: the pivot hinge comprises an adjustment device for precision adjustment of a pivot arm of the pivot hinge.
18. 18 . The device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the adjustment device is a rotatable pressure spindle, or wherein the adjustment device adjusts the pivot arm to a predetermined position.
19. 19 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pivoted-out position and the pivoted-in position are spaced apart from one another by an angle of at least 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, 80°, 90° or 100° with respect to a pivot axis of the pivot hinge.
20. 20 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the device comprises a plurality of pivot hinges provided with the locking mechanism for fastening the air-guiding element to the vehicle in a spaced-apart manner, preferably in a longitudinal direction of the air-guiding element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a 371 application of PCT/EP2020/069241 filed Jul. 8, 2020, which claims benefit of and priority to German Patent Application Serial No. DE102019004968.3 filed Jul. 16, 2019, the disclosures of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The invention relates to a device for pivotably connecting an air-guiding element, preferably a rear-side air-guiding element of a driver's cab, to a vehicle, preferably a rear wall of the driver's cab of a utility vehicle. Trucks can be partially equipped with wind or air-guiding elements. The air-guiding elements are intended to improve the aerodynamics between the tractor unit and the semi-trailer. In particular, there are side air-guiding elements (so-called side panels or side flaps) for this purpose. The side air-guiding elements are attached to a rear wall of the driver's cab and can at least partially close or bridge a region between the driver's cab and the semi-trailer. The side air-guiding elements can generally be arranged so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis at least on one side (drivers side or passengers side). This allows access to the rear wall of the driver's cab, for example in order to be able to connect and disconnect a media supply for the semi-trailer or to be able to carry out certain maintenance work. Various types of pivotable connections have been developed for the side air-guiding elements. These include a pivoting outward via a parallelogram, a pivoting outward via a rotary axis, and a pivoting inward via a rotary axis. Document U.S. Pat. No. 8,403,401 B2 discloses an adjustable air-deflecting panel for mounting on a vehicle. At least one panel and a plurality of brackets for fastening the panel to the vehicle are included. Each bracket comprises a vehicle bracket portion for fastening to the vehicle and a panel bracket portion for fastening the panel to the vehicle bracket portion. The bracket portions are pivotably coupled to each other in order to thereby pivotably connect the panel to the vehicle. The vehicle bracket portion comprises a first engagement element, and the panel bracket portion comprises a second engagement element. The engagement elements are designed to engage with each other when the engagement elements are clamped together, thereby preventing the panel from pivoting about the rotation axis and with respect to the vehicle. The invention is based on the problem of creating an alternative and/or improved attachment for the side air-guiding elements. The problem is solved by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous refinements are given in the dependent claims and the description. The invention provides a device for pivotably connecting a preferably flat air-guiding element (for example, spoiler element), preferably a side air-guiding element at the rear side of the drivers cab, to a vehicle, preferably a rear wall of the drivers cab of a utility vehicle. The device comprises a pivot hinge, which is designed on the one hand to be fastened (for example, directly or indirectly) to the air-guiding element and on the other hand to be fastened (for example, directly or indirectly) to the vehicle. The pivot hinge comprises a locking mechanism which is designed to lock the pivot hinge automatically when at least one predetermined pivot position (preferably at least two predetermined pivot positions) has been reached. The device can offer the advantage that the locking mechanism automatically applies a locking force (for example, mechanical or magnetic) which holds the pivot hinge in the predetermined pivot position. Thus, a pivot mechanism that is as simple as possible for the user can be realized, for example, without extra actuation by a lever, etc. The automatic locking mechanism can include a feedback that is haptically and/or acoustically perceptible for the user, so that the user can be sure that the air-guiding element has been locked. The device gets by with few large components and can thus provide a cost and weight advantage over current series solutions. In one exemplary embodiment, the locking mechanism is integrated into the pivot hinge. This means, for example, that no separate locking mechanism needs to be provided. Installation space can be saved. In another exemplary embodiment, the locking mechanism is arranged coaxially about a pivot axis of the pivot hinge. In this way, the locking mechanism can protect the pivot axis from corrosion, for example. In a further exemplary embodiment, a pivot axis of the pivot hinge is fully encapsulated or sealed, wherein particularly preferably the locking mechanism partially encapsulates or seals the pivot axis (for example, by enwrapping a lateral surface of the pivot axis). Alternatively or additionally, the locking mechanism of the pivot hinge can be fully encapsulated or sealed. For example, this can reduce corrosion and extend maintenance intervals. In one em