Patent Publication Number: US-2023135036-A1

Title: Vehicle lid opening/closing device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle lid opening/closing device which is mounted on a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Hitherto, for example, a slide-opening/closing type vehicle lid opening/closing device has been known (for example, JP2015-199421(A)). This vehicle lid opening/closing device includes a base portion, a lid, and a link mechanism. A vehicle has a supply port for supplying energy to a vehicle. The above base portion is a box body that is mounted on a vehicle body, and has an opening for exposing the supply port. The lid is a lid member that closes the opening of the base portion. The link mechanism opens and closes the lid which closes the opening. 
     The above link mechanism has two arms that connect the base portion and the lid. Base portion-side end portions of the two arms are vertically aligned with each other and rotatably supported by the base portion. In addition, lid-side end portions of the two arms are vertically alignedwith each other and rotatably supported by the lid. In the vehicle lid opening/closing device, by synchronously rotating the two arms when opening/closing the lid, the lid is opened/closed between a closed position at which the opening of the base portion is closed and a fully-opened position at which the opening is opened, in a state where the lid is kept parallel to a vehicle body surface. Therefore, a large clearance is ensured in front of the supply port at the fully-opened position of the lid. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, in the vehicle lid opening/closing device described in JP2015-199421(A), each of the two arms is formed in a thin plate shape. Therefore, at the fully-opened position of the lid, each arm is likely to rattle, and the arm rigidity against an external force is low. 
     Meanwhile, if the size of each arm is increased or a high-rigidity material is used as the material of each arm, the arm is less likely to rattle at the fully-opened position of the lid, and the arm rigidity is increased, but the following inconveniences arise. Specifically, if the size of each arm is increased, the movable range of each arm for opening/closing the lid between the closed position and the fully-opened position is limited, and the clearance in front of the supply port at the fully-opened position of the lid becomes smaller. In addition, if a high-rigidity material is used as the material of each arm, the manufacturing cost increases. 
     The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lid opening/closing device capable of improving arm rigidity against an external force at a fully-opened position of a lid, while ensuring a large clearance in front of a supply port at the fully-opened position of the lid, without any structural change to each arm. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An aspect of the present invention is directed to a vehicle lid opening/closing device including: a base portion mounted on a vehicle body; an opening provided in the base portion and configured to expose a supply port for supplying energy to a vehicle; a lid configured to close the opening; and a link mechanism configured to open/close the lid between a predetermined closed position at which the opening is closed and a predetermined opened position at which the opening is opened, wherein the link mechanism includes a first arm rotatably supported at one end portion thereof by the base portion and rotatably supported at another end portion thereof by the lid, and a second arm rotatably supported at one end portion thereof by the base portion, rotatably supported at another end portion thereof by the lid, configured to rotate in synchronization with rotation of the first arm, and positionable in a rotation trajectory of the first arm when seen in a thrust direction, and the first arm and the second arm respectively have overlap portions configured to overlap each other in the thrust direction at the predetermined opened position of the lid, and stopper portions configured to come into contact with each other in a rotation direction at the predetermined opened position of the lid to restrict further opening of the lid. 
     In this configuration, the overlap portions of the two arms overlap each other in the thrust direction at the predetermined opened position of the lid. Therefore, the movable range of each arm for opening/closing the lid between the fully-closed position and the fully-opened position is widened, and the clearance in front of the supply port at the predetermined opened position of the lid is increased. In addition, further opening of the lid is restricted by the stopper portions of the two arms coming into contact with each other in the rotation direction at the predetermined opened position of the lid, and even when an external force is applied to the arms in the rotation direction in which the two arms approach each other, deformation in the rotation direction of the arms is suppressed by the arms coming into contact with each other to be integrated with each other. Therefore, the rigidity of the arms against an external force at the predetermined opened position of the lid is improved. In this respect, structural changes, such as increasing the size of each arm and increasing the rigidity of the material of each arm, are unnecessary to improve the rigidity of each arm against an external force at the predetermined opened position of the lid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a lid-closed state after a vehicle lid opening/closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle body; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view illustrating a lid-opened state of the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the embodiment (note that two arms of a link mechanism are shown translucently); 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a state before the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the embodiment is mounted on the vehicle body; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view illustrating a back surface of a lid included in the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    shows front views illustrating opening/closing of the lid between a lid fully-closed position and a lid fully-opened position in the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    shows cross-sectional views taken along a line VI-VI shown in  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a side view illustrating a drive device of the link mechanism which opens/closes the lid in the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the embodiment; 
         FIG.  8    is an enlarged view of a main part of the drive device shown in  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  9    is an enlarged view of a main part of the link mechanism included in the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the embodiment, as seen from a thrust direction; 
         FIG.  10    is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first arm and a second arm of the link mechanism included in the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the embodiment, as seen from a direction orthogonal to the thrust direction; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view illustrating a back surface of a lid included in a vehicle lid opening/closing device according to a first modification of the present invention; 
         FIG.  12    is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first arm and a second arm of a link mechanism included in the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the first modification, as seen from a direction orthogonal to a thrust direction; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view illustrating a back surface of a lid included in a vehicle lid opening/closing device according to a second modification of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  14    is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first arm and a second arm of a link mechanism included in the vehicle lid opening/closing device of the second modification, as seen from a direction orthogonal to a thrust direction. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the vehicle lid opening/closing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  14   . 
     A vehicle lid opening/closing device  1  of one embodiment (hereinafter, referred to simply as a lid opening/closing device  1 ; see  FIG.  1   , etc.) is a device for opening/closing a lid that closes an opening provided in a vehicle body. The lid opening/closing device  1  is mounted on a vehicle such as a gasoline vehicle, a diesel vehicle, an electric vehicle, and a hybrid vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2   , and  FIG.  3   , the vehicle has a vehicle body opening  2   a  which penetrates a vehicle body  2  between the inside and the outside thereof. The vehicle body opening  2   a  is an opening in which a supply port (not shown) for supplying energy to the vehicle is disposed. The vehicle body opening  2   a  and the supply port are provided in a vehicle body side surface, a vehicle body front surface, or the like. 
     The supply port is a fuel filler opening for refueling or a charging port for battery charging. The supply port is disposed in the vehicle body opening  2   a  so as to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle body in a lid-opened state. The supply port is provided at an end of a fuel filler pipe or a wire. The other end of the fuel filler pipe or the wire is connected to a fuel tank, a battery, or the like disposed on the depth side of the vehicle body (that is, on the inner side of the vehicle body). The supply port may be covered with a cap that serves to protect the supply port from dust and water and is opened/closed by an operator. A refueling gun, a charging gun, or the like for supplying energy is connectable to the supply port in a cap-opened state. 
     The lid opening/closing device  1  includes a base portion  10 , an opening  13 , a lid  20 , and a link mechanism  30 . 
     The base portion  10  is a box-like inlet box in which the supply port is housed. The base portion  10  is mounted on the vehicle body  2  so as to be fitted into the vehicle body opening  2   a . The base portion  10  has a bottom wall portion  11  and a side wall portion  12 . The bottom wall portion  11  and the side wall portion  12  form a housing space  14  in which the supply port is housed. The bottom wall portion  11  is, for example, a quadrangular plate-shaped portion. The side wall portion  12  is a wall portion that is erected from an edge portion of the bottom wall portion  11  so as to surround the periphery of the bottom wall portion  11 . 
     The bottom wall portion  11  has a first through hole  11   a . The first through hole  11   a  is a hole for housing the supply port, which is located at the end of the fuel filler pipe or the wire, in the housing space  14 . The supply port is exposed to the outside of the vehicle in a state where the supply port is housed in the housing space  14  in the lid-opened state. 
     The opening  13  is a box opening that is provided in the base portion  10 . The opening  13  is provided on a side facing the bottom wall portion  11  across the housing space  14 . The opening  13  is opened/closed by the lid  20 . The opening  13  is closed when the lid  20  is located at the closed position, and is opened when the lid  20  is not located at the closed position. The opening  13  exposes the supply port in the housing space  14 , to the outside of the vehicle when opened. The base portion  10  is mounted on the vehicle body  2  such that the face of the opening  13  faces, for example, in a horizontal direction, or upward obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction. The direction of the face of the opening  13  is not limited thereto, and the face of the opening  13  may face upward or downward. 
     The base portion  10  has a frame portion  15 . The frame portion  15  is formed in an annular shape along a peripheral portion of the opening  13 . The frame portion  15  is formed in a flange shape so as to extend from the peripheral portion of the opening  13  toward the frame outside. The base portion  10  is positioned relative to the vehicle body  2  by the back surface of the frame portion  15  coming into contact with a flange surface at the periphery of the vehicle body opening  2   a  of the vehicle body  2  or the like. 
     The lid  20  is a lid member that closes the opening  13 . The lid  20  is movable to be opened/closed between a predetermined closed position (specifically, a fully-closed position) at which the opening  13  is closed and a predetermined opened position (specifically, a fully-opened position) at which the opening  13  is opened. The lid  20  is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the base portion  10 . The lid  20  is opened/closed using a driving force from a lid drive unit  40  described later, without manual operation by the operator. After the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position by applying the driving force from the lid drive unit  40 , the lid  20  may be held at the fully-opened position even if the driving force is no longer applied. The lid  20  may be held at the fully-opened position by the weight of the lid  20  or the biasing force of a spring (not shown). 
     The lid  20  is formed in a plate shape. The lid  20  is formed in a shape (for example, a substantially rectangular shape) and a size that match the opening  13 . The lid  20  closes the opening  13  at the closed position of the lid  20  so as to be flush with the front surfaces of the frame portion  15  and the vehicle body  2  at the periphery of the opening  13 . The front surface of the lid  20  may be curved so as to match the front surface of the vehicle body  2 . 
     The link mechanism  30  is a mechanism that opens/closes the lid  20  between the fully-closed position and the fully-opened position. The link mechanism  30  is interposed between the base portion  10  and the lid  20 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , the link mechanism  30  has a first arm  31  and a second arm  32 . A pair of first arms  31  are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in the right-left direction when seen from the front side of the lid  20 . In addition, a pair of second arms  32  are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in the right-left direction when seen from the front side of the lid  20 . 
     Hereinafter, the first arm  31  on the right side and the first arm  31  on the left side are respectively referred to as a first arm  31 R and a first arm  31 L as appropriate, and the second arm  32  on the right side and the second arm  32  on the left side are respectively referred to as a second arm  32 R and a second arm  32 L as appropriate. The first arm  31 R and the first arm  31 L are connected to each other via a connection bar or the like. The second arm  32 R and the second arm  32 L are connected to each other via a connection bar or the like. 
     The first arms  31  and the second arms  32  are each a member that is rotatably supported at one end portion in an arm longitudinal direction thereof by the base portion  10 , is rotatably supported at another end portion in the arm longitudinal direction thereof by the lid  20 , and extends in an arm shape. The pair of right and left first arms  31 R and  31 L have a bilaterally symmetrical shape and rotate in synchronization with each other on the same axis. The pair of right and left second arms  32 R and  32 L have a bilaterally symmetrical shape and rotate in synchronization with each other on the same axis. The first arms  31  and the second arms  32  cooperate to close/open the lid  20  by rotating in synchronization with each other. 
     The one end portion of each first arm  31  is supported on a base portion first fulcrum A 1  of the base portion  10 . The other end portion of each first arm  31  is supported on a lid first fulcrum B 1  of the lid  20 . Each first arm  31  extends so as to be curved between the base portion first fulcrum A 1  and the lid first fulcrum B 1 . The one end portion of each second arm  32  is supported on a base portion second fulcrum A 2  of the base portion  10 . The other end portion of each second arm  32  is supported on a lid second fulcrum B 2  of the lid  20 . Each second arm  32  extends so as to be curved between the base portion second fulcrum A 2  and the lid second fulcrum B 2 . 
     The base portion first fulcrum A 1  and the base portion second fulcrum A 2  are provided on the back surface side of the bottom wall portion  11  of the base portion  10 . The base portion first fulcrum A 1  is provided above the base portion second fulcrum A 2 . The lid first fulcrum B 1  and the lid second fulcrum B 2  are provided on the back surface side of the lid  20 . The lid first fulcrum B 1  is provided above the lid second fulcrum B 2 . Each first arm  31  is located above each second arm  32 . The first arm  31  and the second arm  32  rotate relative to the base portion  10  about different axes corresponding to the fulcrums A 1  and A 2 , and rotates relative to the lid  20  about different axes corresponding to the fulcrums B 1  and B 2 . 
     The bottom wall portion  11  of the base portion  10  has a second through hole  11   b  and a third through hole  11   c . The second through hole  11   b  is a hole through which the first arm  31 R and the second arm  32 R on the right side penetrate. The third through hole  11   c  is a hole through which the first arm  31 L and the second arm  32 L on the left side penetrate. The second through hole  11   b  is provided on the right side of the first through hole  11   a . The third through hole  11   c  is provided on the left side of the first through hole  11   a . The second through hole  11   b  and the third through hole  11   c  are each formed in a long hole shape extending in the up-down direction so as to permit the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  to rotate during opening/closing of the lid  20 . 
     The first arms  31  and the second arms  32  rotate about the fulcrums A 1 , A 2 , B 1 , and B 2  while being maintained in a state of being substantially parallel to each other. In this case, as shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6   , the lid  20  is opened/closed, while being maintained in a state of being parallel to the face of the opening  13 , by the synchronized rotation of the first arms  31  and the second arms  32 . The rotation trajectory of each first arm  31  and the rotation trajectory of each second arm  32  overlap each other as seen in a thrust direction S. Each first arm  31  is positionable in the rotation trajectory of the second arm  32  as seen in the thrust direction S, and each second arm  32  is positionable in the rotation trajectory of the first arm  31  as seen in the thrust direction S. 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , the first arm  31  is formed in a thick shape such that the thickness in the thrust direction S thereof has a predetermined width. In addition, the second arm  32  is formed in a thin shape such that the thickness in the thrust direction S thereof is smaller. The thrust direction S is a direction orthogonal to the arm longitudinal direction, and is a direction in which the axes corresponding to the fulcrums A 1 , A 2 , B 1 , and B 2  extend. 
     The pair of right and left first arms  31  each have an overlap portion  31   a , a stopper portion  31   b , and a guide portion  31   c . In addition, the pair of right and left second arms  32  each have an overlap portion  32   a  and a stopper portion  32   b . 
     The overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  are portions that overlap each other in the thrust direction S at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . The overlap between the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  is achieved between the first arm  31 R on the right side and the second arm  32 R on the right side and between the first arm  31 L on the left side and the second arm  32 L on the left side. 
     The overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  face each other at surfaces that face in the thrust direction S and extend in an arm rotation direction. The overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  begin to overlap each other in the thrust direction S in a partial region thereof before the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position, in a process in which the lid  20  is opened from the fully-closed position side toward the fully-opened position, and face each other in the entire region thereof when the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position. 
     The overlap area of the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  at the lid fully-opened position is preferably set such that, even when a predetermined external force is applied in the thrust direction S, the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  withstand the predetermined external force by coming into contact with each other. In addition, the region in the arm longitudinal direction where the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  overlap each other may be limited to a part in the arm longitudinal direction of each arm  31  or  32  when the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position, but is preferably the entire region in the arm longitudinal direction of each arm  31  or  32  in order to achieve an increase in the rigidity in the thrust direction S of each arm  31  or  32 . 
     The overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  face each other in the thrust direction S at a predetermined distance or shorter at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . Specifically, the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  face each other so as to be in contact with each other in the thrust direction S or so as to be spaced apart from each other in the thrust direction S. The predetermined distance may be set to a distance (for example, 1 mm) that allows the arms  31  and  32  to be deformed such that the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  come into contact with each other when a predetermined external force is applied in the thrust direction S of the arms  31  and  32  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . 
     The overlap portion  31   a  of the first arm  31  is disposed on the lid outer side with respect to the overlap portion  32   a  of the second arm  32 . The overlap portion  31   a  is formed so as to have an inner plate surface facing the lid inner side of the first arm  31 . In addition, the overlap portion  32   a  is formed so as to have an outer plate surface facing the lid outer side of the second arm  32 . 
     The stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  are portions that restrict further opening of the lid  20  by coming into contact with each other in the arm rotation direction at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . The arm rotation direction is a direction orthogonal to the thrust direction S and particularly includes the up-down direction. The contact between the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  is made between the first arm  31 R on the right side and the second arm  32 R on the right side and between the first arm  31 L on the left side and the second arm  32 L on the left side. 
     The stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  come into contact with each other at surfaces that face in the arm rotation direction and extend in the thrust direction S. The width of this contact, that is, the width of the second arm  32 , is set in consideration of the tolerance and deformation in the thrust direction S of the arms  31  and  32  such that the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  always come into contact with each other at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . The region in the arm longitudinal direction where the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  come into contact with each other may be limited to a part in the arm longitudinal direction of each arm  31  or  32  when the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position, but is preferably the entire region in the arm longitudinal direction of each arm  31  or  32  in order to make both arms  31  and  32  more integrated to increase the rigidity thereof. 
     The stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  face each other in the arm rotation direction at a predetermined distance or shorter at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . Specifically, the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  face each other so as to be in contact with each other in the arm rotation direction or so as to be spaced apart from each other in the arm rotation direction. The predetermined distance may be set to a distance (for example, 0.5 mm) that allows the arms  31  and  32  to be deformed such that the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  come into contact with each other when a predetermined external force is applied in the arm rotation direction at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . 
     The stopper portion  31   b  of the first arm  31  is disposed on the upper side with respect to the stopper portion  32   b  of the second arm  32 . The stopper portion  31   b  is formed so as to have a lower surface facing the lower side of the first arm  31 . In addition, the stopper portion  32   b  is formed so as to have an upper surface facing the upper side of the second arm  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , the first arm  31  may have a space that is cut out in a step shape on a cut plane orthogonal to the arm longitudinal direction such that the overlap portion  31   a  and the stopper portion  31   b  are formed. An upper portion of the second arm  32  enters the space at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  so as to fit thereinto. When the second arm  32  enters the space, the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  overlap each other in the thrust direction S, the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  come into contact with each other in the arm rotation direction, and the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position. 
     The guide portion  31   c  of the first arm  31  is a guide that, during opening of the lid  20 , guides the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  of the arms  31  and  32  to shift from a state where the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  do not face each other in the thrust direction S to a state where the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  face each other in the thrust direction S, that is, guides the second arm  32  to enter the above space. The guide portion  31   c  is formed so as to have a flat or curved tapered surface at a corner between the overlap portion  31   a  and the lower surface of the first arm  31 . Even when the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  approach each other in the thrust direction S and interfere with each other due to deformation by an external force during opening of the lid  20 , the guide portion  31   c  allows the second arm  32  to easily escape toward the lid inner side from the first arm  31  and performs the above guidance. 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , the lid opening/closing device  1  includes the lid drive unit  40 . The lid drive unit  40  is a part that opens/closes the lid  20  by moving the lid  20  between the fully-closed position and the fully-opened position. The lid drive unit  40  has an electric actuator  41  and a drive mechanism  42  (see  FIG.  8   ). 
     The electric actuator  41  is an actuator that applies a driving force that opens/closes the lid  20  between the fully-closed position and the fully-opened position, to the lid  20 . The electric actuator  41  is an electric motor that generates a driving force when power is supplied thereto. The electric actuator  41  is housed in an actuator box  41   a  which is mounted and fixed to the base portion  10 . The electric actuator  41  is connected directly to an actuator shaft  43  which is rotatable about an output axis Zo, or to the actuator shaft  43  via a speed reducer. 
     The actuator shaft  43  is formed in a tubular or columnar shape such that a cross-section thereof has, for example, a circular shape or a polygonal shape. The actuator shaft  43  is rotatably supported by the base portion  10 . The actuator shaft  43  rotates by the drive of the electric actuator  41 . The output axis Zo extends parallel to the axes corresponding to the fulcrums A 1 , A 2 , B 1 , and B 2 . 
     The drive mechanism  42  is a link that is interposed between the electric actuator  41  side (specifically, the actuator shaft  43 ) and the link mechanism  30  side (specifically, the first arm  31  and the second arm  32 ). The drive mechanism  42  is activated by the rotation of the actuator shaft  43  to transmit the driving force of the electric actuator  41  to the link mechanism  30  side. The drive mechanism  42  has a first link  42   a , a second link  42   b , and a third link  42   c . 
     The first link  42   a , the second link  42   b , and the third link  42   c  are connected in series between the actuator shaft  43  and a lid shaft  44  corresponding to the base portion second fulcrum A 2  which is at one end portion of the second arm  32 . The lid shaft  44  is formed in a tubular or columnar shape such that a cross-section thereof has, for example, a circular shape or a polygonal shape. The lid shaft  44  is integrated with the third link  42   c  and also integrated with the one end portion of the second arm  32 L. The lid shaft  44  is rotatably supported by the base portion  10  on the base portion second fulcrum A 2  of the second arm  32 L on the left side. 
     The first link  42   a  rotates about the output axis Zo in conjunction with the rotation of the actuator shaft  43 . The second link  42   b  is configured to be connected at one end portion thereof to an outer peripheral portion of the first link  42   a  and connected at another end portion thereof to an outer peripheral portion of the third link  42   c . The second link  42   b  moves (changes a posture thereof) in conjunction with the rotation of the first link  42   a . The third link  42   c  rotates about the base portion second fulcrum A 2  in conjunction with the movement of the second link  42   b , and also rotates the second arm  32  about the base portion second fulcrum A 2  relative to the base portion  10  by the rotation thereof. 
     Each of the links  42   a ,  42   b , and  42   c  is formed in an arm plate shape. In addition, the second link  42   b  has a first thinned portion  42   d  and a second thinned portion  42   e . The first thinned portion  42   d  and the second thinned portion  42   e  are each a portion that is thinned between the output axis Zo and the base portion second fulcrum A 2 . The first thinned portion  42   d  and the second thinned portion  42   e  each have a surface that is concavely curved by cutting-out into a semi-circular shape. 
     The first thinned portion  42   d  is provided in order to make the first link  42   a  and the second link  42   b  less likely to interfere with each other at the fully-closed position side of the lid  20  and to widen the range of rotation between these links as compared to the case where there is no such thinned portion. The second thinned portion  42   e  is provided in order to make the second link  42   b  and the third link  42   c  less likely to interfere with each other at the fully-opened position side of the lid  20  and to widen the range of rotation between these links as compared to the case where there is no such thinned portion. 
     An edge portion of the first thinned portion  42   d  and the outer surface of the actuator shaft  43  come into contact with each other in the vicinity of the fully-closed position of the lid  20  when the actuator shaft  43  rotates in a direction in which the lid  20  is closed. The first thinned portion  42   d  and the actuator shaft  43  restrict the rotation of the first link  42   a  and the movement of the second link  42   b  and position the drive mechanism  42  by coming into contact with each other, thereby restricting closing of the lid  20  beyond the fully-closed position. 
     An edge portion of the second thinned portion  42   e  and the outer surface of the lid shaft  44  come into contact with each other in the vicinity of the fully-opened position of the lid  20  when the actuator shaft  43  rotates in a direction in which the lid  20  is opened. The second thinned portion  42   e  and the lid shaft  44  restrict the movement of the second link  42   b  and the rotation of the third link  42   c  and position the drive mechanism  42  by coming into contact with each other, thereby restricting opening of the lid  20  beyond the fully-opened position. 
     The electric actuator  41  selectively generates driving forces in both the direction in which the lid  20  is opened (opening direction) and the direction in which the lid  20  is closed (closing direction). The electric actuator  41  is driven and controlled by a control unit composed mainly of a microcomputer. 
     An opening switch  45  is operably supported on the base portion  10 . When the opening switch  45  is pressed by the operator at the fully-closed position of the lid  20 , the control unit supplies power to the electric actuator  41  to cause the electric actuator  41  to generate a driving force in the opening direction of the lid  20 . In this case, the lid  20  is opened from the fully-closed position toward the fully-opened position by the driving force of the electric actuator  41 . In addition, when the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position, the control unit controls the electric actuator  41  to stop the rotation. 
     When an operation of closing the lid  20  is performed by the operator at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , the control unit may supply power to the electric actuator  41  to cause the electric actuator  41  to generate a driving force in the closing direction of the lid  20 . In this case, the lid  20  is closed from the fully-opened position toward the fully-closed position by the driving force of the electric actuator  41 . 
     The base portion  10  comes into contact with the arms  31  and  32  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  to position the arms  31  and  32 . As shown in  FIG.  9    and  FIG.  10   , the base portion  10  has a first positioning portion  10   a  and a second positioning portion  10   b . 
     The first positioning portion  10   a  is an open-side stopper that positions the second arm  32  in the arm rotation direction at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . This positioning restricts further opening of the lid  20  when the second arm  32  comes into contact with the first positioning portion  10   a  or faces the first positioning portion  10   a  with a slight gap. The first positioning portion  10   a  is formed at a portion, of the side wall portion  12  of the base portion  10 , which defines the lower side of the housing space  14 , so as to have an upper surface that faces upward. The positioning of the second arm  32  by the first positioning portion  10   a  is performed at the second arm  32 R on the right side and the second arm  32 L on the left side. The region where the second arm  32  is positioned by the first positioning portion  10   a  may be limited to a part in the arm longitudinal direction of the second arm  32  when the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position. 
     The second positioning portion  10   b  is an open-side stopper that positions the second arm  32  in the thrust direction S at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . This positioning restricts further movement of the lid  20  in the thrust direction S when the second arm  32  comes into contact with the second positioning portion  10   b  or faces the second positioning portion  10   b  with a slight gap. The second positioning portion  10   b  is formed at the portion, of the side wall portion  12  of the base portion  10 , which defines the lower side of the housing space  14 , so as to have a surface that faces in the thrust direction S. The positioning of the second arm  32  by the second positioning portion  10   b  is performed at the second arm  32 R on the right side and the second arm  32 L on the left side. The region where the second arm  32  is positioned by the second positioning portion  10   b  may be limited to a part in the arm longitudinal direction of the second arm  32  when the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position. 
     In addition, a pair of second positioning portions  10   b  are provided such that one second arm  32  is located therebetween in the thrust direction S. The pair of second positioning portions  10   b  are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in the thrust direction S by a distance equal to or larger than the width in the thrust direction S of the second arm  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , the base portion  10  may have a recess groove provided at the portion, of the side wall portion  12  of the base portion  10 , which defines the lower side of the housing space  14 , such that the first positioning portion  10   a  and the pair of second positioning portions  10   b  are formed. A lower portion of the second arm  32  enters the space in the recess groove at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  so as to fit thereinto. When the second arm  32  enters the recess groove, the second arm  32  is positioned in the arm rotation direction by the first positioning portion  10   a , the second arm  32  is also positioned in the thrust direction S by the second positioning portions  10   b , and the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position. 
     A guide portion formed so as to have a flat or curved tapered surface may be provided at each upper surface corner of the recess groove in the base portion  10 . This guide portion is a guide that guides the second arm  32  to escape into and enter the recess groove also when the second arm  32  moves in the thrust direction S due to deformation by an external force during opening of the lid  20  and interferes with the side wall portion  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , the lid opening/closing device  1  includes a fully-opened positioning portion  50 . The fully-opened positioning portion  50  is an open-side stopper that positions the lid  20  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  and restricts further opening of the lid  20  beyond the fully-opened position. The fully-opened positioning portion  50  is provided in the actuator box  41   a  separately from the first positioning portion  10   a  and the second positioning portions  10   b . 
     The fully-opened positioning portion  50  is disposed at a location where the fully-opened positioning portion  50  is brought into contact (surface contact) with a side surface of the first link  42   a , the second link  42   b , or the third link  42   c  of the drive mechanism  42  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . The fully-opened positioning portion  50  has a first portion  51  which is brought into contact with the first link  42   a  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , a second portion  52  which is brought into contact with the second link  42   b  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , and a third portion  53  which is brought into contact with the third link  42   c  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . The contact of the first portion  51 , the second portion  52 , and the third portion  53  is preferably made substantially at the same time to ensure, when an external force that further opens the lid  20  beyond the fully-opened position is applied, the rigidity sufficient to receive the external force. 
     Next, the operation of the lid opening/closing device  1  will be described. 
     During traveling of the vehicle or the like, in the lid opening/closing device  1 , the lid  20  is at the fully-closed position at which the opening  13  of the base portion  10  is closed. At the fully-closed position of the lid  20 , a supply portion is not exposed to the outside of the vehicle body, so that connecting a refueling gun or a charging gun to the supply portion is impossible. 
     If, in a state where the lid  20  is at the fully-closed position, the operator such as a vehicle driver and a vehicle user desires to refuel the vehicle or charge a battery, the operator stops the vehicle and performs, on the vehicle, the necessary operation to open the lid  20  to the fully-opened position. This operation includes unlocking to the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , and depending on the situation of the operator, examples thereof include: pressing the opening switch  45 ; approaching the vehicle while carrying a smart key corresponding to the vehicle, and causing the vehicle to perform verification through communication between the vehicle and the carried device; making an opening instruction through an application of a smartphone; pressing an opening switch button provided in the interior of the vehicle; and pulling an opening lever. 
     When the above operation is performed, the lid  20  is opened from the fully-closed position. Specifically, during the opening process of the lid  20 , the electric actuator  41  is activated to generate a driving force for opening the lid  20 . The driving force is inputted to the drive mechanism  42  via the actuator shaft  43  on the output axis Zo and transmitted to the lid shaft  44 . When the lid shaft  44  rotates due to the transmission of the driving force, each second arm  32  rotates about the base portion second fulcrum A 2 , and each first arm  31  rotates about the base portion first fulcrum A 1  in synchronization with the rotation of the second arm  32 . 
     When the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  rotate relative to the base portion  10  about the fulcrums A 1  and A 2  in synchronization with each other, the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  rotate relative to the lid  20  about the fulcrums B 1  and B 2  in synchronization with each other due to the weight of the lid  20 , etc. At this time, the lid  20  is opened while being kept parallel to the opening  13  of the base portion  10 , by the cooperation of the first arm  31  and the second arm  32 . 
     During the process in which the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  rotate in synchronization with each other and the lid  20  is opened, before the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position, partial regions of the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  begin to face each other in the thrust direction S, and eventually, the entire regions of the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  face each other in the thrust direction S, and the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  come into contact with each other in the arm rotation direction. Accordingly, the lid  20  reaches the fully-opened position. 
     As described above, in the lid opening/closing device  1 , the lid  20  is opened from the fully-closed position to the fully-opened position by performing the operation of pressing the opening switch  45  or the like to activate the electric actuator  41  of the lid drive unit  40 . In addition, the lid  20  is closed from the fully-opened position to the fully-closed position by performing the operation of closing the lid  20  or the like to activate the electric actuator  41  of the lid drive unit  40 . 
     At the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  of the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  overlap each other in the thrust direction S. If the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  rotate until the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  overlap each other in the thrust direction S, the movable range of each arm for opening/closing the lid  20  between the fully-closed position and the fully-opened position is wider than that in the case where such rotation is impossible, so that the fully-opened position of the lid  20  is moved further to the opening side. Therefore, a large clearance is ensured in front of the supply port at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . Accordingly, interference of a refueling gun or a charging gun with the lid  20  or the like is made difficult when inserting the gun into the supply port, and this insertion is easily performed. 
     At the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  of the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  come into contact with each other in the arm rotation direction to restrict further opening of the lid  20 , and even when an external force is applied to the arms  31  and  32  in the arm rotation direction in which the arms  31  and  32  approach each other, deformation of the arms  31  and  32  in the arm rotation direction is suppressed by the arms  31  and  32  coming into contact with each other to be integrated with each other. 
     Therefore, the rigidity of the arms  31  and  32  against an external force at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  (particularly, an external force applied in the arm rotation direction in which the arms  31  and  32  approach each other) is improved. In this respect, no structural changes, such as increasing the size of each arm  31  or  32  and increasing the rigidity of the material of each arm  31  or  32 , are unnecessary to improve the rigidity of the arms  31  and  32  against an external force in the arm rotation direction at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . 
     Therefore, in the lid opening/closing device  1 , while a large clearance is ensured in front of the supply port at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , the arm rigidity against an external force in the arm rotation direction at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  is improved without any structural change to each arm  31  or  32 . 
     At the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  of the first arm  31  and the second arm  32   face each other in the thrust direction S at a predetermined distance or shorter, and are brought into contact with each other by a predetermined external force applied in the thrust direction S. With this structure, even if an external force is applied to the arms  31  and  32  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  in the thrust direction S in which the arms  31  and  32  approach each other, deformation of the arms  31  and  32  in the thrust direction S is suppressed by the arms  31  and  32  coming into contact with each other to be integrated with each other. 
     Therefore, the rigidity of the arms  31  and  32  against an external force at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  (particularly, an external force applied in the thrust direction S in which the arms  31  and  32  approach each other) is improved. In this respect, no structural changes, such as increasing the size of each arm  31  or  32  and increasing the rigidity of the material of each arm  31  or  32 , are unnecessary to improve the rigidity of the arms  31  and  32  against an external force in the thrust direction S at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . 
     Therefore, in the lid opening/closing device  1 , while a large clearance is ensured in front of the supply port at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , the arm rigidity against an external force in the thrust direction S at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  is improved without any structural change to each arm  31  or  32 . 
     The first arm  31  has the guide portion  31   c  which guides the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  of the arms  31  and  32  to shift from a state where the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  do not face each other in the thrust direction S to a state where the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  face each other in the thrust direction S, during opening of the lid  20 . With this structure, even when the first arm  31  and the second arm  32  approach each other in the thrust direction S due to deformation by an external force during opening of the lid  20  and interfere with each other at the surfaces that face in the arm rotation direction, the second arm  32  comes into contact with the guide portion  31   c  of the first arm  31 , and easily escapes in the thrust direction S in which both arms  31  and  32  are separated from each other. Therefore, a situation in which, at the lid fully-opened position, the lid  20  does not reach a desired position due to interference between the arms  31  and  32  during opening of the lid  20  is inhibited from occurring. 
     In the lid opening/closing device  1 , the base portion  10  has the first positioning portion  10   a  which positions the second arm  32  in the arm rotation direction at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . With this structure, further opening of the lid  20  beyond the fully-opened position is restricted, and even when an external force that moves the arms  31  and  32  (particularly, the second arm  32 ) downward is applied at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , since the second arm  32  comes into contact with the first positioning portion  10   a , the arms  31  and  32  are prevented from rattling in the arm rotation direction (specifically, downward). 
     In the lid opening/closing device  1 , the base portion  10  has the second positioning portion  10   b  which positions the second arm  32  in the thrust direction S at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 . With this structure, even when an external force that moves the arms  31  and  32  (particularly, the second arm  32 ) in the thrust direction S is applied at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , the arms  31  and  32  are prevented from rattling in the thrust direction S, by the second arm  32  coming into contact with the second positioning portion  10   b . 
     In the lid opening/closing device  1 , the fully-opened positioning portion  50  which positions the lid  20  at the fully-opened position of the lid  20  is provided. The fully-opened positioning portion  50  is an open-side stopper portion that restricts further opening of the lid  20  beyond the fully-opened position. The fully-opened positioning portion  50  is provided at three locations in the actuator box  41   a  of the electric actuator  41 . Specifically, as the fully-opened positioning portion  50 , the first portion  51  which is brought into contact with the first link  42   a  of the drive mechanism  42 , the second portion  52  which is brought into contact with the second link  42   b , and the third portion  53  which is brought into contact with the third link  42   c , exist. 
     With this structure, at the fully-opened position of the lid  20 , the first portion  51  and the first link  42   a  come into contact with each other, the second portion  52  and the second link  42   b  come into contact with each other, and the third portion  53  and the third link  42   c  come into contact with each other, so that the lid  20  is restricted from being further opened beyond the fully-opened position. 
     As described above, in the lid opening/closing device  1 , the positioning functions for restricting further opening of the lid  20  beyond the fully-opened position are achieved by (1) positioning by control of the electric actuator  41 , (2) positioning by the positioning portion  10   a  and  10   b  of the base portion  10 , (3) positioning by the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  of the first arm  31  and the second arm  32 , and (4) positioning by the fully-opened positioning portion  50 . Therefore, sufficient restriction of further opening of the lid  20  beyond the fully-opened position is ensured. Therefore, for example, even when a downward force is applied to the lid  20  at the fully-opened position due to the weights of the lid  20  and the arms  31  and  32  and a downward load, the resistance of the lid  20  is ensured. 
     To improve the effect of restricting further opening of the lid  20  beyond the fully-opened position, each portion is preferably formed such that the positioning of the above ( 1 ) to (4) is achieved substantially at the same time. 
     In the above embodiment, the first positioning portion  10   a  and the second positioning portion  10   b  correspond to “positioning portion” described in the claims. 
     Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, the guide portion  31   c  which guides the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  of the arms  31  and  32  to shift from a state where the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  do not face each other in the thrust direction S to a state where the overlap portions  31   a  and  32   a  face each other in the thrust direction S, during opening of the lid  20 , is provided only to the first arm  31  and not provided to the second arm  32 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and such a guide portion may be provided only to the second arm  32  or may be provided to both the first arm  31  and the second arm  32 . 
     In the above embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  10   , the overlap portion  31   a  of the first arm  31  of the link mechanism  30  is disposed on the lid outer side with respect to the overlap portion  32   a  of the second arm  32 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and as shown in  FIG.  11    and  FIG.  12   , the overlap portion  31   a  of the first arm  31  of the link mechanism  30  may be disposed on the lid inner side with respect to the overlap portion  32   a  of the second arm  32 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG.  13    and  FIG.  14   , the first arm  31  may have a recess groove into which the second arm  32  enters at the lid fully-opened position, and the overlap portion  31   a  of the first arm  31  of the link mechanism  30  may be disposed on both the lid outer side and the lid inner side with respect to the overlap portion  32   a  of the second arm  32 . With the structure shown in  FIG.  13    and  FIG.  14   , the effect of preventing rattling at the lid fully-opened position is improved, and even when an external force is applied to the arms  31  and  32  at the lid fully-opened position in the thrust direction S in which the arms  31  and  32  approach each other, the stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  do not shift from each other and a state where both stopper portions  31   b  and  32   b  face each other is ensured. 
     In the above embodiment, the lid shaft  44  which rotates when the electric actuator  41  is activated is integrated with one end portion of the second arm  32  disposed below the first arm  31 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the lid shaft  44  may be integrated with one end portion of the first arm  31  instead of the one end portion of the second arm  32 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiment and modifications described above, and various changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. 
     This application claims priority on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-179897 filed in Japan on Nov. 3, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.