An opening and closing apparatus for a lid of a vehicle

摘要

An opening and closing mechanism for a lid (3) of a vehicle includes a body mounting member (21) adapted to be mounted on a body panel (36) of the vehicle alongside an opening to be selectively covered or exposed by the lid (3); a lid mounting member (24) adapted to be secured to the lid (3) to support the lid (3); first and second hinge links (22, 23) each pivotally connected at one end portion to the body mounting member (21) and at the other end portion to the lid mounting member (24) for establishing a compound pivotal movement to the lid (3) during opening and closing with the centre point of rotation at any stage of opening and closing being the point of intersection of the longitudinal centre lines of the first and second links (22,23); a motor (5) for providing a driving force to the first hinge link (22) for opening and closing the lid (3); and a drive transmitting member (25) for transmitting the opening or closing driving force from the motor (5) to the first hinge link (22). The drive transmitting member (25) has an abutment means (31) for directly engaging the lid mounting member (24) at an engagement point during the initial stages of closing the lid (3) from fully open. Alternatively or in addition it may have an abutment means (32) for directly engaging the lid mounting member at a different engagement point during the initial stages of opening the lid (3) from fully closed. The drive transmitting member (25) has a main drive connection (28, 30) for establishing a driving engagement between the drive transmitting member (25) and the first hinge link (22) during the intermediate stages of opening or closing the lid (3). The engagement points are selected such that torque transfer from the drive transmitting member (25) to the lid mounting member (24) has a greater mechanical advantage in the initial stages of closing the lid (3) from fully open or in the initial stages of opening the lid (3) from fully closed than during the intermediate stages of opening or closing the lid (3).