Drive unit for motor vehicle technology applications

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive unit, in particular a locking system drive unit, for motor vehicle technology applications. The drive unit has a housing (1, 2) which mainly comprises a housing body (1) and a cover (2). Furthermore, a motor (3) is implemented in the interior of the housing (1, 2). The motor (3) is received in its two motor bearings (4) in corresponding recesses (5, 6) of the housing body (1) and is fixed by the combination of the housing body (1) and the cover (2). According to the invention, the housing body (1) and / or the cover (2) have anchoring elements (7, 8) arranged on both sides of the recesses (5, 6) in a central region (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive unit for motor vehicle technology applications, particularly a lock system drive unit, having: a housing and a motor inside the housing, the housing mainly comprising a casing and a cover, wherein the motor is received in corresponding notches in the casing by its two motor supports and is fixed by the combination of the casing and the cover. Background Technology

[0002] Drive units for motor vehicle technology applications are used for various adjustment movements in or on a motor vehicle. Examples include, for instance, window lift drives, electric seat adjustment devices, mirror adjustment devices, unlocking and locking devices for trunk lids, hoods, etc., and unlocking and locking devices for fuel tank caps, charging caps, etc., in electric or hybrid vehicles; only a few are mentioned exemplarily here. Preferably, they relate to locking system drive units, i.e., drive units used in conjunction with locking systems, for example, constructed as part of a closing drive mechanism. Particularly preferred are drive units located within or above motor vehicle locks (especially motor vehicle door locks). Different lock functions are typically defined by means of such drive units, such as "locking" or "unlocking" associated with a central locking system, but "anti-theft lock," "anti-theft unlock," "child lock," or "child unlock" can also be defined. Furthermore, such locking system drive units can enable, for example, the function of electrically opening the corresponding motor vehicle door lock.

[0003] Depending on the known application areas and intended use of the drive unit, high torque is provided to varying degrees on the output side by means of a motor and a transmission mechanism typically located downstream. This torque generates reaction torques that act on the motor and are essentially absorbed only by the housing, which mainly comprises a casing and a cover. To this end, in existing technology known from practice, attempts have been made to fix motor supports on both sides of the motor into corresponding notches in the housing. The combination of the casing and the cover serves this purpose complementarily.

[0004] Here, in practice and in the prior art of this kind, as per DE 10 2016 121 187 A1, a primarily circumferential tenon-and-groove joint is implemented and implemented between the cover and the housing. Since the housing is typically made of plastic, gaps, deformations, etc., may occur in the area of ​​this tenon-and-groove joint due to manufacturing tolerances or due to the reaction torque to be received. This, in turn, results in the motor's fixation in the area of ​​its motor support no longer being flawlessly ensured. Consequently, the motor exhibits a degree of "independent movement" within the housing, which may lead to damage to downstream transmission mechanisms or—on a long timescale—even complete failure of the drive unit due to load. The present invention addresses this issue. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to further develop such a drive unit for motor vehicle technology applications, and in particular a lock system drive unit, so that the movement of the motor inside the housing is minimized, and thus the functional reliability and service life can be significantly improved.

[0006] To address this technical problem, within the scope of this invention, this type of drive unit for motor vehicle technology applications is characterized in that the housing and / or cover have anchors arranged on both sides of a notch in the central region.

[0007] Here, the corresponding anchor can be constructed as a two-piece unit consisting of a fixing rod / fixed leg and a mating support. In this design, the fixing rod is located on the housing, while the mating support is located on the cover. However, the reverse is also possible. In this case, the fixing rod is on the cover, while the mating support is located on the housing. In principle, both the cover and the housing can be equipped with the corresponding anchor.

[0008] However, in typical designs, the retaining rod passes through the cavity surrounded by the cover and through the cover itself in the area of ​​the leg opening. On the other hand, the mating supports ensure that the retaining rod is secured in the area of ​​the leg opening. Thus, according to the invention, the final effect defines a generally cage-like central area on both sides of the notches of the two motor supports for supporting and receiving the motor. Here, the invention is based on the understanding that typically two notches are provided in the housing, one for the front motor support and the other for the rear motor support.

[0009] The corresponding motor mounts of the motor are typically received in a form-locking and / or force-locking manner within the respective notches. The housing and cover are then combined to form an outer casing, such that these notches and the resulting form-locking and / or force-locking reception / installation of the motor mounts are maintained after the housing and cover are assembled to form the outer casing. In this connection between the housing and cover, anchors arranged on both sides of the notch are also closed according to the invention, because during this process, the fixing rods passing through the cover are secured to the cover by means of mating supports in the area of ​​their respective leg openings.

[0010] Typically, the design here involves providing two anchors on each side for each notch in the housing. As a result, and due to the two notches in the housing facing each other with reference to the axial direction of the motor, a total of four anchors are usually observed. Because the corresponding anchors are arranged directly adjacent to or connected to the notches, a retainer defined by the four anchors and mentioned above is thus defined in the central region, more precisely not only in the central region of the housing but also in the central region of the cover, that is, in the overall central region of the outer shell. By means of this retainer, the relevant central region is reinforced, and it is ensured that the motor (whose two motor supports are received in the corresponding notches) maintains its form-locking and force-locking assembly within the corresponding notches over a long timescale, especially for cases where a more or less large reaction torque acts on the motor. This is a major advantage of the invention.

[0011] Furthermore, the cover and housing can be additionally connected to each other via a tenon-and-groove / keyway-and-keyway connection on their outer peripheries. To allow the tenon-and-groove connection to mate with a cage that typically includes four anchors and approximately surrounds the motor, the tenon-and-groove connection is usually constructed in two pieces with a labyrinthine surface and a leg engaging in that labyrinthine surface. The labyrinthine surface is typically located at the edge of the cover, while the leg is located at the edge of the housing. In principle, it can also be done in reverse. In this case, the labyrinthine surface is located at the edge of the housing, while the leg is located at the edge of the cover.

[0012] Now, to achieve both the fixation of the motor retainer located between the anchors engaging with the notch and the sealing lock between the housing and the cover, the labyrinth surface is connected to the relatively rigid central region of the cover via a resiliently yielding / flexible region. That is, if the labyrinth surface is implemented on the cover, the aforementioned resiliently flexible region is connected to the corresponding labyrinth surface. In contrast, the central region of the cover, which has the retainer—implemented and defined here and composed of anchors used to engage with the notch receiving the motor—is constructed to be rigid. Furthermore, the resiliently flexible region enables installation with small tolerances between the housing and the cover.

[0013] Specifically, this can be achieved and implemented by making the area between the labyrinthine surface and the rigid central region of the lid a different plastic than that of the central region of the lid. However, this flexible, bendable area is typically achieved structurally by, for example, having recesses / contractions or protrusions, or moldings, within this flexible, bendable area of ​​the lid, which provide the necessary elasticity. In contrast, the rigid central region is constructed smoothly and flat. Of course, in principle, not only structural measures can be taken for the flexible, bendable area, but also measures using special materials. That is, the flexible, bendable area can be achieved not only through the structural measures already described above, but also by using a plastic that is softer than that of the central region.

[0014] For example, the central area can be made of relatively rigid plastics such as polyamide or other thermoplastics, while elastomers are used instead of thermoplastics for flexible and bendable areas.

[0015] Finally, according to the invention, the cover and / or housing has one or more raised support surfaces in the central region. The cage-like features in the central region are supported and reinforced by these support surfaces. In practice, these support surfaces can be positioned on either side of the notch between the respective anchors and the notch, thereby providing and realizing a generally cubic reinforced cage, represented by four anchors, in the central region. This reinforced cage ensures that the cover of the enclosed housing does not deform in practice in this region, more precisely, even when a reaction torque is applied to the motor during its operation. Thus, the motor supports, respectively received in the notches, are securely fixed in the notches without defects, more precisely, durablely and throughout the entire service life of the drive unit according to the invention. This results in improved stability and enhanced functional safety that have not been observed to date in the prior art. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only one embodiment. The drawings show:

[0017] Figure 1 The drive unit according to the invention is shown schematically in a side view, partially in cross-section, and

[0018] Figure 2 A perspective view of the housing with the cover removed is shown according to... Figure 1 The object. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The accompanying drawings show a drive unit for use in motor vehicle technology applications. In practice, and not in a limiting sense, this drive unit is a locking system drive unit. Currently, drive units are implemented and shown in connection with and on motor vehicle locks (especially motor vehicle door locks). The drive unit is here housed in housings 1 and 2. Housings 1 and 2 consist of a housing 1 and a cover 2.

[0020] Since the mentioned drive unit is a locking system drive unit, and preferably a vehicle door lock drive unit, in this case, housings 1 and 2 are constructed as lock housings, and therefore housing 1 is constructed as lock housing 1 and cover 2 is constructed as lock cover 2. A motor 3 is housed inside housings 1 and 2. The motor 3 has corresponding motor supports 4 on both the front and rear sides, the disc-shaped protrusion / extension of which is received in an axially closed notch 5 on one side and an axially open notch 6 on the other. Here, the axially closed notch 5 corresponds to the rear motor support 4, while the open notch 6 receives the front motor support 4 of the motor 3. The output shaft of the motor 3 extends from the front motor support 4 in the open notch 6, and a corresponding transmission mechanism (not shown in detail below) can be connected to this output shaft.

[0021] The motor 3 is now received in corresponding notches 5 and 6 by its two motor supports 4. Here, the two disc-shaped protrusions of the motor supports 4 are engaged in a locking and / or force-locking manner into the corresponding notches 5 and 6. In addition, the combination of the housing 1 and the cover 2 ensures that the motor 3 is fixed inside the housing 1 and 2.

[0022] In order to prevent tilting or misalignment between housing 1 and cover 2 due to the reaction torque that may act on motor 3 during the closing movement performed by the motor, according to the present invention, housing 1 and / or cover 2 have anchors 7 and 8 arranged on both sides of notches 5 and 6.

[0023] According to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Comparative observation reveals that each anchor 7 and 8 is constructed in two parts: a fixing rod 7 and a mating support 8. The fixing rod 7 is disposed on the housing 1 or is constructed as a component of the housing 1. Because the housing 1, like the cover 2, is made of plastic injection molding in the embodiment, the fixing rod 7 is an integral component of the housing 1 in the example case. The mating support 8 can also be implemented as an integral component of the cover 2, which is constructed as a plastic injection molding part.

[0024] right Figure 1 and Figure 2Comparative observations show that the two anchors 7 and 8 are arranged directly adjacent to each other on both sides of the corresponding notches 5 and 6. In fact, the two anchors 7 and 8 are located on both sides of the plane of symmetry S and are opposed to each other with reference to the plane of symmetry. The motor 3 is also arranged on the plane of symmetry and is received by the two notches 5 and 6.

[0025] Because the two anchors 7 and 8 are respectively equipped with notches 5 and 6 located therebetween, the four anchors 7 and 8, in this example case and according to the illustrated embodiment, collectively define the central region 9 of the housing 1 and 2. This central region 9 of the housing 1 and cover 2 is here constructed to be particularly rigid. Helpfully, the housing 1 and cover 2 are predominantly flat in this central region 9. The retainer formed in this way in the central region 9 ensures that the motor 3 is securely and permanently fixed by means of the anchors 7 and 8 and the receiving notches 5 and 6 as described at the beginning.

[0026] Specifically, the design is such that the fixing rod 7 passes through the cavity 10 surrounded by the cover 2. Furthermore, the fixing rod 7 passes through the cover 2 in the area of ​​the leg opening 11. The fixing rod 7 is secured in the corresponding leg opening 11 area by means of the mating support 8.

[0027] The housing 1 and the cover 2 are additionally connected to each other via tenon-and-groove joints 12 and 13 on their outer peripheries. The tenon-and-groove joints 12 and 13 are provided in two parts, each with a labyrinthine surface 12 and a connecting leg 13 engaged therein. The labyrinthine surface 12 is located at the edge of the cover 2. Conversely, the connecting leg 13 is located at the edge of the housing 1. Furthermore, particularly according to… Figure 1 As shown in the illustration, the labyrinthine surface 12 is connected to the relatively rigid central region 9 of the cover 2 or the cover 2 and the housing 1 via an elastically yielding / flexible region 14. In this embodiment, the elastically yielding region 14 is defined such that recesses 15 are provided on both sides of the rigid central region 9 in the cover 2 within this region. In principle, the elastically yielding region 14 can also be alternatively or additionally implemented by using a different plastic in the manufacture of the cover 2.

[0028] Typically, the cover 2, like the shell 1, is made of thermoplastic. Furthermore, there is also the possibility of using an elastomer in the elastically yielding region 14. However, in Figure 1 The two recesses 15 shown, which are typically part of the elastic yielding region 14, are sufficient to provide the elasticity required for the elastic region 14.

[0029] according to Figure 2The perspective view also shows that, in the example case, the cover 2 or housing 1 is additionally equipped with raised support surfaces 16 in the central region 9. These raised support surfaces 16 are located between the respective anchors 7, 8 and notches 5, 6. The raised support surfaces 16 provided here further ensure that the motor 3 is particularly rigid and durablely secured in the area of ​​the cage defined by the anchors 7, 8 or in the central region 9, and is thus subjected to a pressure fit.

[0030] Thus, a drive unit or motor 3 is provided with a special and small-tolerance support in the housing 1, 2 or lock shell 1 of a motor vehicle door lock, wherein, after the lock shell 1 is locked by means of the lock cover 2 and anchors 7, 8, a rigid retainer that effectively surrounds the motor 3 is defined, which, together with corresponding notches 5, 6, provides defect-free clamping and positioning of the motor 3 within the retainer. Thus, the small tolerances in this area provide a particularly durable and effective fixation of the motor 3, which defect-freely receives reaction elements that may act on the motor 3. Simultaneously, the necessary and essential sealing of the housing 1, 2 against external environmental influences is ensured by combining this with the elastic adjustment of the additionally implemented groove-tenon joints 12, 13 on the outer periphery of the rigid central region 9.

[0031] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0032] 1. Shell

[0033] 2 lids

[0034] 3 motors

[0035] 4 Motor support

[0036] 5. Closed gap

[0037] 6. An open gap

[0038] 7. Fixing rod

[0039] 8. Paired supports

[0040] 9. Central Area

[0041] 10. Cavity

[0042] 11 Leg opening

[0043] 12 Maze Faces

[0044] 13 Leg extension

[0045] 14. Regions with elastic yielding / elastic bending

[0046] 15. Depression

[0047] 16 Support Surface

[0048] S-plane of symmetry

Claims

1. A drive unit for a locking system of a motor vehicle, the drive unit having a housing (1, 2) and a motor (3) inside the housing (1, 2), the housing mainly comprising a shell (1) and a cover (2), wherein, The motor (3) is received in the corresponding notches (5, 6) of the housing (1) by its two motor supports (4), and is fixed by the combination of the housing (1) and the cover (2). Its features are, The housing (1) and / or cover (2) have anchors (7, 8) arranged on both sides of the notch (5, 6) in the central region (9). Each notch in the housing is provided with two anchors on both sides, the corresponding anchors being arranged or connected directly adjacent to the corresponding notch to define a retainer defined by four anchors in the central region; and the cover (2) and / or the housing (1) have one or more raised support surfaces (16) in the central region (9), the support surfaces being positioned on both sides of the notch between the corresponding anchors and the notch.

2. The driving unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each anchor (7, 8) is constructed in two parts, consisting of a fixing rod (7) and a mating support (8).

3. The driving unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The fixing rod (7) is set on the housing (1), and the mating support (8) is set on the cover (2); or the fixing rod is set on the cover, and the mating support is set on the housing.

4. The driving unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fixing rod (7) passes through the cavity (10) surrounded by the cover (2) and through the cover (2) in the area of ​​the leg opening (11).

5. The driving unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The mating support (8) secures the fixing rod (7) in the area of ​​the leg opening (11).

6. The drive unit according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 4-5, characterized in that, The cover (2) and the shell (1) can be connected to each other through the groove-tenon joints (12, 13) on the outer periphery.

7. The driving unit according to claim 6, characterized in that, The groove-tenon joint (12, 13) is constructed in two parts, with a labyrinth surface (12) and a leg (13) that engages in the labyrinth surface.

8. The driving unit according to claim 7, characterized in that, The labyrinth surface (12) is realized at the edge of the cover (2), while the connecting leg (13) is located at the edge of the shell (1).

9. The drive unit according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that, The labyrinth surface (12) is connected to the relatively rigid central region (9) through the flexible and bendable region (14).

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