Switch device for establishing an operative connection in between two gear elements

A device for changing or maintaining the position of a first vehicle part in relation to a second vehicle part, the device comprising:

• a control component including a joint configured to be pivotally disposed on the first vehicle part, wherein the control component is to be placed on the first vehicle part such that when the vehicle parts are moved in relation to one another, the control component moves in relation to the second vehicle part;
• an output drive element placed on the second vehicle part, functionally connected to the control component, and configured be driven to move the control component in relation to the second vehicle part;
• and
• an electric motor drive mechanism configured to drive the output drive element, wherein the drive mechanism has a drive motor and a gearing that couples the drive motor to the output drive element,
• wherein the gearing comprises a control unit including:
• at least one control element configured to switch the control unit between different switching states, wherein the at least one control element is configured to provide a retaining force between a first gearing component and a second gearing component in a first switching state, and to allow a relative movement of the first gearing component and the second gearing component in a second switching state;
• an actuator configured to move the at least one control element;
• and
• a control mechanism configured to control the actuator, wherein the control mechanism is configured to activate the actuator to switch the control unit from the first switching state to the second switching state in order to move the at least one control element to reduce the retaining force based on a predetermined delay function;
• wherein the delay function causes a delay in transitioning the control unit from the first switching state to the second switching state, wherein the delay is equal to a predetermined delay time;
• wherein the control mechanism is configured to activate the actuator to move the at least one control element such that the retaining force during the transition of the control unit from the first switching state to the second switching state changes in a first time interval by a first amount and in a subsequent, second time interval equal in length to said first time interval by a second amount that is greater than the first amount,
• wherein the control unit is configured to switch the gearing between
• a coupling state, the drive motor being coupled to the output drive element in the coupling state,
• a freewheel state, the drive motor and the output drive element being not coupled to one another in the freewheel state such that the drive element is moveable independent of the drive motor, and
• a braking state, the output drive element being moveable independent of the drive motor in the braking state, but being braked.

A device for operating a first vehicle part relative to a second vehicle part, the device comprising:

• a control component connectable between first and second vehicle parts and actuatable to move the first and second vehicle parts relative to each other;
• a drive mechanism including a motor and gearing operably coupling the motor to the control component;
• and
• a control unit including:
• at least one control element configured to switch the control unit between different switching states, wherein the at least one control element is configured to provide a retaining force between a first gearing component and a second gearing component in a first switching state, and to allow a relative movement of the first gearing component and the second gearing component in a second switching state;
• an actuator configured to move the at least one control element;
• and
• a control mechanism configured to control the actuator, wherein the control mechanism is configured to activate the actuator to switch the control unit from the first switching state to the second switching state in order to move the at least one control element to reduce the retaining force based on a predetermined delay function;
• wherein the delay function causes a delay in transitioning the control unit from the first switching state to the second switching state, wherein the delay is equal to a predetermined delay time;
• wherein the control mechanism is configured to activate the actuator to move the at least one control element such that the retaining force during the transition of the control unit from the first switching state to the second switching state changes in a first time interval by a first amount and in a subsequent, second time interval equal in length to said first time interval by a second amount that is greater than the first amount,
• wherein the control unit is configured to selectively establish a force flow through the gearing so that the motor can power the control component, the control unit including a first component rotationally fixed to the gearing and at least one control element configured to selectively brake the first component, wherein the control unit includes (i) a freewheel state, the control element being disengaged from the first component in the freewheel state so that the control component moves independently of the motor, (ii) a coupling state, the control element being rotationally locked with the first component in the coupling state so that the control component moves dependently with the motor, and (iii) a braking state, the control element being frictionally engaged in a slippable condition with the first component so that the control component moves independently of the motor when a force on one of the first and second parts exceeds a threshold and moves dependently with the actuator when a force on the one of the first and second parts is less than the threshold.