# US 10,767,411 B2 · Method and device for automatically closing a tailgate of a motor vehicle

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- Number: US 10,767,411 B2
- Document ID: US10767411B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/007,083
- Filed: 2018-06-13
- Published: 2018-12-20
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-16
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Matthias Tensing; Jan Zacharias
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767411B2

## CPC

- E05F 5/025: {specially adapted for vehicle doors}
- E05F 1/1091: {with a gas spring (E05F1/1292 takes precedence)}
- E05F 5/022: {specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks}
- E05F 15/00: Power-operated mechanisms for wings (motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00)
- E05F 15/611: for swinging wings
- B60J 5/106: {comprising door or part of door being moveable by a linkage system to open/close position}
- E05F 15/53: for swinging wings
- E05F 15/622: using screw-and-nut mechanisms
- E05Y 2201/22: Locks
- E05Y 2201/25: Mechanical means for force or torque adjustment therefor
- E05Y 2201/41: for closing
- E05Y 2201/42: for locking
- E05Y 2400/30: of motors
- E05Y 2400/31: Force or torque control
- E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A device and method for automatically closing a tailgate of a motor vehicle having a body and a tailgate closing device, is described. The tailgate closing device comprises first and second closing elements. A suspension strut is situated on a first side of the tailgate and a power strut is situated on a second side of the tailgate opposite the first side. The suspension strut and the power strut are both connected to the tailgate and to the body. The first closing element is situated on the tailgate and the second closing element is situated on the body. The first and second closing elements are designed to engage into each other during the closing of the tailgate to effectuate the closure of the tailgate. The torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first and second closing elements is less than a threshold value.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tailgate of a vehicle, comprising:
a suspension strut and a power strut arranged on opposite first and second sides of the tailgate;
a tailgate closing device comprising first and second closing elements on the tailgate and a vehicle body that engage during closing of the tailgate; and
a controller configured to reduce torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate before the first closing element engages the second closing element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tailgate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suspension strut is arranged on the first side of the tailgate and on the body of the vehicle and the power strut is arranged on the opposite second side of the tailgate and on the body of the vehicle, wherein the controller reduces the torque when a distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than a threshold value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tailgate as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller is designed to reduce the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than 100 millimeters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The tailgate as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller is designed to reduce the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than 40 millimeters.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tailgate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is designed to reduce the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate by 90% to 100%.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tailgate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is designed to repeat the closing of the tailgate when the closing procedure could not be completed, wherein at least one of the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced by a greater extent than in the preceding closing procedure and the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element, in which case the reduction of the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate takes place, is increased as compared to a preceding closing procedure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tailgate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first or the second closing element is designed as a latch plate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The tailgate as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first or the second closing element has the form of a fishmouth.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tailgate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.

### Claim 10

A motor vehicle comprising:
a tailgate;
a body; and
a device for automatically closing the tailgate of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a suspension strut and a power strut arranged on opposite first and second sides of the tailgate;
a tailgate closing device comprising first and second closing elements on the tailgate and the body that engage during closing of the tailgate; and
a controller configured to reduce torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate before the first closing element engages the second closing element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the suspension strut is arranged on the first side of the tailgate and on the body of the vehicle and the power strut is arranged on the opposite second side of the tailgate and on the body of the vehicle, wherein the controller reduces the torque when a distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than a threshold value.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller is designed to reduce the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than 100 millimeters.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller is designed to reduce the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than 40 millimeters.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller is designed to reduce the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate by 90% to 100%.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller is designed to repeat the closing of the tailgate when the closing procedure could not be completed, wherein at least one of the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced by a greater extent than in the preceding closing procedure and the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element, in which case the reduction of the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate takes place, is increased as compared to the preceding closing procedure.

### Claim 16

A method for automatically closing a tailgate of a motor vehicle which comprises a body and a tailgate closing device, comprising:
providing the tailgate closing device with a first closing element situated on the tailgate and a second closing element situated on the body of the motor vehicle;
providing a suspension strut situated on a first side of the tailgate and a power strut situated on a second side of the tailgate, which is opposite the first side, wherein the suspension strut and the power strut are both connected to the tailgate and to the body;
engaging the first closing element and the second closing element into each other during the closing of the tailgate to effectuate the closure of the tailgate; and
reducing the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate during the closing of the tailgate before the first closing element engages the second closing element when a distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than a threshold value.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than 100 millimeters.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element is less than 40 millimeters.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced during the closing of the tailgate by 90% to 100%.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the closing procedure could not be completed, the closing of the tailgate is repeated, wherein at least one of the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced by a greater extent than in the preceding closing procedure and the distance between the first closing element and the second closing element, in which case the reduction of the torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate takes place, is increased as compared to the preceding closing procedure.