Electrical charging flap
A hinge arm assembly for a charge flap arrangement of a motor vehicle includes a housing cap having at least one flexible hinge arm support, a charge flap housing coupled partially with the flexible hinge arm support, a hinge arm with a built-in drive shaft clipped into the housing cap and hold in place with clamping force, an actuator coupled to the built-in drive shaft, and at least one sealing component arranged between the actuator and the housing cap.
1 . A hinge arm assembly for a charge flap arrangement of a motor vehicle, the hinge arm assembly comprises:
a housing cap having at least one flexible hinge arm support;
a charge flap housing coupled with the flexible hinge arm support;
a hinge arm with a built-in drive shaft clipped into the housing cap and held in place with clamping force;
an actuator coupled to the built-in drive shaft; and
at least one sealing component arranged between the actuator and the housing cap.
2 . The hinge arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing cap is made from a polymeric material.
3 . The hinge arm assembly of claim 2 , wherein the polymeric material is a self-lubricating material.
4 . The hinge arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge arm is made of a material selected from polymeric materials, glass-filled polymeric materials, metal materials or metal-alloy materials.
5 . The hinge arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge arm assembly further comprises a locking mechanism controlled by an electric actuator comprising at least one micro-switch.
6 . The hinge arm assembly of claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a hook.
7 . A method for assembling a hinge arm assembly for a charge flap arrangement of a motor vehicle, comprising:
providing a housing cap having at least one flexible hinge arm support;
rotating, pushing, or clipping a hinge arm with built-in drive shaft into the housing cap, wherein the at least one flexible hinge arm support provides an assembly space by being molded out of position; and
pushing the at least one flexible hinge arm support into final assembled condition, by coupling a part of a charge flap housing to the at least one flexible hinge arm support.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
attaching an actuator by pushing the same over the drive shaft;
wherein at least one sealing unit is arranged between the actuator and the housing cap.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein pushing the at least one flexible hinge arm support into final assembled condition is achieved by engaging the part of the charge flap housing into a pocket or recess of the hinge arm assembly, wherein the part of the charge flap housing and the pocket or recess form an interference fit.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the housing cap is made from a polymeric material.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymeric material is a self-lubricating material.