Adjusting drive for a motor vehicle technical device

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjusting drive (1) for a motor vehicle technology device, in particular for a motor vehicle locking device, having an electric motor (3), an adjusting element (5) which can be loaded indirectly or directly by means of a transmission (4), and a drive wheel (9) which is provided with an involute toothing on a drive shaft (8) of the electric motor (3), wherein the transmission (4) has at least one crown wheel stage (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustment drive device for motor vehicle technical equipment, particularly for motor vehicle locking devices, the adjustment drive device having a motor, an adjustment element that can be loaded indirectly or directly through a transmission mechanism, and a drive wheel, the drive wheel being mounted on the output shaft of the motor and equipped with an involute toothed portion. Background Technology

[0002] Adjustment drive devices for motor vehicle technical equipment, such as those for adjusting exterior rearview mirrors, seats, headlights, or windshield wipers. Furthermore, in principle, such adjustment drive devices can also be used to load cover elements, such as hatches, rear covers, vehicle doors, engine hoods, or the like.

[0003] Besides these common automotive applications of adjusting drive mechanisms, they are also used in conjunction with and in practice with vehicle locking devices. Such vehicle locking devices are, for example, tensioning drive mechanisms for vehicle doors or trunk lids. Furthermore, these adjusting drive mechanisms can also be used to move so-called servo lock retainers to similarly tighten vehicle doors. Additionally, applications within vehicle door locks are conceivable, such as applications that load individual locking elements, such as locking elements or central locking elements. Moreover, adjusting drive mechanisms can also be used to lock fuel tank caps or charging sockets in electric vehicles.

[0004] All applications of such adjustment drive devices, as known by practice, typically require a compact structure due to limited installation space. Therefore, DE 10 2010 003044A1 discloses a multi-stage transmission device for adjusting structural units in a motor vehicle. The structural unit can be a seat adjustment device, an exterior rearview mirror adjustment device, or a headlight adjustment device, and in principle, it can also be a window regulator or other components in or on the motor vehicle. This known multi-stage transmission device operates using a first transmission stage consisting of a worm and a cylindrical gear or worm wheel meshing with the worm. A second transmission stage is also provided.

[0005] The second transmission stage consists of an involute pinion and a driven gear meshing with it. A cylindrical gear or worm wheel meshing in the worm gear connects to the involute pinion. The involute pinion can be a plastic pinion. This provides a compact transmission device that can also transmit high torque.

[0006] Another prior art, according to WO 2013 / 045104 A1, describes a spindle drive device for motorized adjustment of adjustment elements in a motor vehicle. In this case, the planetary gear transmission is also implemented as having a rotatable sun gear and a rotatable planetary gear carrier coaxial with the sun gear. The meshing portion between the sun gear and at least one planetary gear of the planetary gear carrier is constructed as involute teeth. In this way, it is desirable to reduce the overall structural space required in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the drive device.

[0007] Finally, according to the prior art of EP 1 363 809 B1, an adjustment drive device for adjusting a motor vehicle exterior rearview mirror is disclosed. This implements a rearview mirror adjustment element connected to a motor via a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism has a main gear positioned near the rearview mirror adjustment element within the transmission mechanism. The main gear is connected to an involute gear via a pinion.

[0008] According to DE 10 2017 125 819 A1, an adjustment drive device for motor vehicle technical equipment is known, wherein a motor acts on a transmission mechanism, which in turn causes an adjustment element to move. An involute pinion is arranged in the transmission mechanism, and preferably on the drive shaft of the motor, which forms a cylindrical gear stage with the driven gear of the first transmission stage.

[0009] Therefore, conventional adjustable drive mechanisms for motor vehicle equipment typically incorporate at least one involute tooth structure in their transmission mechanism. This involute tooth structure is implemented in the center of the transmission mechanism or adjacent to the adjusting element, so that a high transmission ratio is generally provided at the output end of the transmission mechanism by means of this involute tooth structure. In contrast, in the prior art, the transmission mechanism generally operates using a worm gear transmission at its input end. The present invention is proposed based on this. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an adjustment drive device for motor vehicle technical equipment that achieves a more compact structure compared with the prior art, and in particular provides a high transmission ratio even when there is only one transmission stage.

[0011] Based on known prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved regulating drive device for motor vehicle technical equipment. In particular, the object is to provide a compact regulating drive device that offers a large transmission ratio, high efficiency, and is simultaneously reversible.

[0012] The embodiments described below are not limiting; rather, any possible variations of the features described in the specification and the accompanying drawings are possible.

[0013] The object of the present invention is achieved by providing an adjustment drive device for motor vehicle technical equipment, particularly for motor vehicle locking devices, comprising a motor, an adjustment element loaded indirectly or directly via a transmission mechanism, and a drive wheel on the output shaft of the motor and equipped with involute teeth, wherein the transmission mechanism has at least one crown gear stage. The adjustment drive device according to the invention provides a very compact adjustment drive device capable of achieving a high transmission ratio and high efficiency in the transmission stage. The crown gear stage allows for a transmission stage that meets the requirements with minimal structural space. In particular, the central axis of the drive wheel is configured at a right angle or preferably approximately a right angle relative to the central axis of the driven wheel. This allows for the driving wheel to be arranged in the longitudinal extension direction of the drive wheel, thus providing a transmission stage that can be substantially defined by the width of the electric drive device. Therefore, the compactness of the transmission device can be advantageously combined with a high transmission ratio and high efficiency. Furthermore, the crown gear stage provides the possibility of a reset capability; in other words, the crown gear stage is preferably manually reset. This also provides the following advantage: it enables manual reset of the regulating elements in the event of a power outage.

[0014] This invention is based on the consideration that crown gear stages have better efficiency compared to helical gear stages. During the rotational motion of the crown gear stage, no axial force occurs between the pinion and the crown gear, or only a very small axial force occurs in the case of helical teeth. Furthermore, the teeth of the crown gear and the teeth of the pinion driving the crown gear can be manufactured relatively simply, wherein the crown gear is preferably designed as a plastic component. Therefore, the crown gear stage can be manufactured more advantageously than the helical gear stage. Here, the rolling-optimized design further improves the smoothness of the transmission mechanism's operation.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention recognizes that the driven shaft of the crown gear stage need not absorb axial forces or only absorbs axial forces that are much smaller compared to those of the helical gear stage. Moreover, in the case of a cylindrical pinion, the pinion can move freely in the axial direction through the teeth of the crown gear without affecting the load-bearing contact pattern / surface load distribution or backlash. Therefore, using a crown gear stage allows for the construction of a transmission stage in a shorter axial direction.

[0016] The adjustment drive device according to the present invention can be used in all the motor vehicle technical devices given above. However, it is particularly useful when combined with a motor vehicle locking device. This can be a tension drive device, an opening drive device, a servo lock retainer, or the like. Furthermore, the adjustment drive device can be used to implement a cover locking device, such as a fuel tank cap locking device, and also to lock a charging socket in an electric or hybrid vehicle.

[0017] In a favorable design variation, the drive wheel directly interacts with the driven wheel, which is designed as a crown gear. Several advantages are also achieved by using a crown gear stage directly adjacent to the motor. Firstly, it can operate without any shaft spacing between the drive and driven shafts; that is, a 0mm shaft spacing can be set where the shafts intersect each other. Furthermore, the transmission stage with crown gears offers the advantage of forming a transmission stage with very low structural space requirements. Therefore, the adjusting drive can be designed to be very flat, thereby achieving a flat transmission mechanism for the adjusting element as a whole. In particular, a compact structural form can be achieved by combining the absence of shaft spacing or only a small shaft spacing between the gear and pinion with the stacking of the drive wheel and crown gear.

[0018] Furthermore, if the shafts of the driving wheel and the driven wheel intersect each other, this can be advantageous and is another design variation of the invention. If the first transmission stage of the drive mechanism, particularly the transmission system, is designed such that the drive pinion on the motor's output shaft is directly oriented in the direction of the driven wheel's shaft, a structural solution requiring minimal structural space can be provided. Here, the drive wheel on the motor shaft is designed as an involute gear, thereby achieving a positive meshing relationship between the driving and driven wheels. In particular, a transmission stage with high operational smoothness can be achieved. However, a major advantage of the crown gear stage is that high efficiency can be achieved. Small structural space, operational smoothness, and high efficiency are all advantages, and these advantages can be combined by adjusting the arrangement of the drive mechanism according to the invention.

[0019] If the axes of the driving wheel and the driven wheel are misaligned, another design variation of the invention is obtained. According to the invention, it is also conceivable that the axes of the driving gear and the driven gear be misaligned. This provides structural freedom that allows for customized solutions to existing structural space requirements for adjusting the drive unit. Especially in automotive applications, existing structural space is always limited. Therefore, the structural freedom in the transmission stage design achieves the highest degree of structural freedom, which in turn positively impacts the structural space required for adjusting the drive unit. With the same drive unit power, the size of the adjusting drive unit can be adapted to existing structural space.

[0020] In another design variation, the drive wheel and driven wheel form a crown gear stage, which constitutes the first transmission stage of the transmission mechanism, driving at least one second transmission stage. By driving through the crown gear stage of another transmission stage, a high gear ratio can be achieved in the regulating drive. This high gear ratio, in turn, enables the provision of the required regulating force to the regulating element. Combined with the use of a high-speed motor, this achieves both high regulating force and short regulating time for the regulating element. The possibility of achieving a high gear ratio in the transmission stage allows for the use of a weaker motor, which positively impacts the cost of the regulating drive. A weak and / or small motor, i.e., a small-sized motor, further reduces the structural space of the regulating drive. This increases the advantages of using a crown gear stage, relating to structural space, force, and regulating speed of the regulating element.

[0021] If the second or another transmission stage has involute teeth, another advantageous design variation of the invention is obtained. The supplementary transmission can be equipped with one or more additional involute teeth. The supplementary transmission can also be added to or replace a transmission stage with involute teeth having spur gear teeth or helical teeth. In this way, a particularly compact embodiment of the regulating drive according to the invention is generally provided. Because one or more transmission stages can be eliminated due to the involute meshing used, this additionally results in the regulating drive according to the invention having or potentially having a small size. Furthermore, this can reduce the overall weight of the regulating drive. In addition, involute teeth have better acoustic performance with less operating noise compared to spur gears with straight teeth, thus also positively impacting background noise. Furthermore, such involute teeth are generally not designed to be self-locking, so they can be manually moved and, in particular, manually reset when needed.

[0022] If the gears of the transmission stages are parallel to each other, then a structurally advantageous solution can be provided. If the shaft of the crown gear of the first transmission stage is parallel to the second shaft of the component of the second transmission stage driven by the crown gear, then a transmission mechanism for adjusting the drive unit can be provided in a minimal structural space.

[0023] The compact structural form is a major advantage of the arrangement of the transmission mechanism, especially in the application of at least one crown gear stage. Therefore, the regulating drive can be used, for example, to lock the fuel tank cap and / or the charging plug. The structural space available in the charging plug, charging socket, or in the area of ​​the fuel tank cap is typically very small. By applying a transmission stage with parallel axes, the structural space can be minimized while still meeting the requirements for the regulating drive, such as the regulating force.

[0024] The drive wheel can have one to four teeth, preferably three. The drive wheel or involute pinion preferably has three teeth. However, in principle, different numbers of teeth are also possible, for example, only two or even only one single tooth, or four or six teeth. Furthermore, the so-called normal module of the involute pinion is set to 0.5 or higher. The module of a gear should generally be understood as a measure of tooth size. Typically, this module visually represents the relationship between the diameter and the number of teeth of the relevant gear. In an involute pinion, the normal module is defined as the module in the normal section, that is, the module in the plane perpendicular to the tooth direction of the tooth. Here, the present invention relates to a relatively small normal module of at least 0.5. This allows for the transmission of high torque and the absence of excessively large force peaks observed in the involute pinion, thus enabling the use of even plastic materials to achieve this function.

[0025] The advantages of this invention are further obtained if the gears of the transmission stage are at least partially formed of plastic. That is, the transmission mechanism can be at least partially composed of plastic gears. This also applies to transmission devices optionally arranged in the transmission mechanism. Preferably, the involute drive wheel and crown gear are designed as plastic drive wheels. Transmission components formed of plastic can be manufactured particularly advantageously and are lightweight. Furthermore, plastic pinions or gears have high running smoothness, which is higher than that of pinions or gears of the same size made of metal.

[0026] In an improved embodiment of the invention, the regulating drive device has an emergency unlocking mechanism. Here, emergency unlocking can be performed directly and manually, with the regulating element movable, for example, through manual intervention. The emergency unlocking mechanism can consist of a rope or pulling element, allowing the regulating element to return from an extended position of the regulating drive device to an inserted position. However, it is also conceivable that, for example, mechanical engagement with the regulating element is required, where, for example, one or more transmission stages can be reset by an actuating element, thereby enabling the regulating element to move. Emergency operation or emergency unlocking is required when, for example, the regulating element is in the removed position and a current or voltage interruption occurs in the vehicle. In this case, the regulating element must be resettable to enable emergency unlocking. Emergency unlocking relates to, for example, the use of the regulating element to lock a charging plug.

[0027] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, according to a preferred embodiment. However, the following principle applies: the embodiments do not limit the invention, but merely illustrate an advantageous design. The features shown may be implemented individually or in combination with other features of the specification. Attached Figure Description

[0028] In the attached diagram

[0029] Figure 1A top view of an adjustment drive device designed according to the present invention is shown, including a view of the transmission mechanism, wherein only the main components used to illustrate the present invention are shown;

[0030] Figure 2 Showing according to Figure 1 The rear view of the transmission mechanism shows the housing cover but not the housing box. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the adjustment drive unit 1 and a view of the housing 2 are shown. The adjustment drive unit has an integrated motor 3, transmission mechanism 4, adjustment element 5, emergency unlocking element 6, and switching element 7. The adjustment drive unit 1 can be used, for example, to lock the fuel tank cap or the charging plug of an electric vehicle. In this case, the adjustment element 5 acts as a locking device, which can, for example, prevent the fuel tank cap from being opened or the charging plug from being unplugged during the charging process. Figure 2 The locked state is shown. The adjusting element 5 is removed from the housing 2 of the adjusting drive device 1. The adjusting element 5 can be moved out of or into the housing 2 in the direction of arrow P.

[0032] A drive wheel 9 is arranged on the drive shaft 8 of the motor 3, wherein the drive wheel 9 can be fitted onto the drive shaft 8, for example. The drive wheel 9 is designed as an involute gear 9 and meshes with a crown gear 10. In this embodiment, the involute gear 9 has three teeth. As shown by the dashed line L, the arrangement between the drive wheel 9 and the crown gear 10 is designed such that there is no axial spacing between the drive shaft 8 and the shaft 11 of the crown gear 10. In other words, shafts 8 and 11 intersect each other. The involute gear 9 and the crown gear 10 form a crown gear stage 12. It should also be noted that the motor 3 is form-locked and received in the receiving portion 13 of the housing 2.

[0033] like Figure 2 As clearly shown, the crown gear and another gear 14 work together to form a second transmission stage 15. In this embodiment, the second transmission stage is designed as a cylindrical gear stage. Gear 14 has teeth only partially and is additionally designed with a protrusion 16 with a partial periphery, wherein the protrusion 16 can engage with the switching element 7, which is a micro-switch in this case. Therefore, gear 14 is used on the one hand to transmit torque to the adjusting element, and on the other hand to identify the position of the adjusting element 5. Figure 1 and Figure 2The position shown indicates the locked position, which corresponds to the release of the switching element 7. In the engaged state of the adjusting element 5, the gear 14 or the protrusion 16 moves such that the protrusion moves into the operating area of ​​the switching element 7 and manipulates the switching element 7. Therefore, the position of the adjusting element 5 can be detected. In this embodiment, the shaft 11 of the crown gear and the shaft 17 of the second gear 14 are parallel to each other. This allows for a high transmission ratio with minimal structural space.

[0034] As again Figure 1 As shown, the gear 14 of the second transmission stage 15 directly interacts with the adjusting element 5. For this purpose, another tooth 18 is designed on the gear 14, which directly meshes with the teeth of the rack 19 on the adjusting element 5. Therefore, in this embodiment, the transmission mechanism 4 is formed by the drive wheel 9, the crown gear 10, the gear 14, and the rack 19, wherein the transmission mechanism 4 is driven by the motor 3, and in this respect, the motor 3 also forms part of the transmission mechanism 4.

[0035] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 The adjusting element 5 is shown in the moved-out position. If a current interruption occurs in the moved-out position, the operator can move the adjusting element 5 back to the unlocked position using the emergency unlocking member 6. For this purpose, for example, a handle (not shown) can be arranged on the emergency unlocking member 6, which the operator can grasp and manipulate. Therefore, by manipulating the emergency unlocking member 6 in the direction of arrow P1, the adjusting element 5 can be moved to the unlocked position.

[0036] Figure 2 A second possible alternative for moving the adjusting element 5 is shown. The actuating element 20 is equipped with a gear 21, which meshes with a gear 22 of the second gear stage 15. If the actuating element 20 is moved, for example by means of a tool, the second gear stage 15 can be moved, thereby adjusting the adjusting element 5 to a locked or unlocked position. Gear 22 is preferably assembled and manufactured independently of the other gears, but it is also conceivable that gear 22 is integrally formed with gear 14.

[0037] The control element 20 can therefore be used as an emergency unlocking element, but it can also be used for locking.

[0038] Figure 1 A portion of the housing 2 is shown, particularly the housing box portion 2, while Figure 2 A housing cover for sealing housing 2 is shown. The adjusting element 5, the emergency unlocking element 6, and the operating element 20 can be extended outward from housing 2 by means of seals 24, 25, especially resilient seals 24, 25.

[0039] As clearly seen in the accompanying drawings, the combination of the crown gear stage 12 and the second transmission stage 15 enables a compact structure for the adjustment drive device 1. The crown gear stage 12 has the advantage of minimizing the external dimensions of the adjustment drive device 1. Additionally, a high efficiency of, for example, 0.88 can be achieved, which can be advantageously combined with the high operational smoothness and high torque transmission of the crown gear stage. In this embodiment, the transmission stages 12, 15, 19, and other components, the housing 2, the adjustment element 5, the emergency unlocking element 6, the drive wheel 9, the crown gear stages 10, 11, 12, the receiving part 13, the gears 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, the rack 19, the operating element 20, and the housing cover 23 are made of plastic, which further contributes to the operational smoothness, weight, and cost of the adjustment drive device 1.

[0040] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0041] 1. Adjust the drive device

[0042] 2. Shell box section

[0043] 3 motors

[0044] 4. Transmission mechanism

[0045] 5 Adjustment elements

[0046] 6 Emergency unlocking parts

[0047] 7 Switching components

[0048] 8 drive shafts

[0049] 9 drive wheels

[0050] 10 Crown Gear

[0051] Axles 11 and 17

[0052] 12 Crown Gear Class

[0053] 13 Reception Department

[0054] Gears 14, 18, 21, and 22

[0055] 15 Second transmission stage

[0056] 16. Protrusions

[0057] 19. Gear rack

[0058] 20 Control Components

[0059] 23. Housing cover

[0060] 24, 25 Seals

[0061] Arrows P and P1

[0062] L-line.

Claims

1. An adjusting drive (1) for a motor vehicle technology device, having an electric motor (3), an adjusting element (5) which can be loaded indirectly or directly by means of a gear mechanism (4), and a drive wheel (9) which is on a drive shaft (8) of the electric motor (3) and is provided with an involute toothing, characterized in that the gear mechanism (4) has at least one crown wheel stage (12), the drive wheel (9) directly cooperates with a driven wheel (10) which is designed as a crown wheel, the drive wheel (9) and the driven wheel (10) form the crown wheel stage (12), wherein the crown wheel stage (12) forms a first gear stage (12) of the gear mechanism (4), which first gear stage (12) drives at least one second gear stage (15), a further toothing (18) is designed on the gear wheel (14) of the second gear stage (15), which directly engages into a toothing which is designed as a rack (19) on the adjusting element (5).

2. The adjustment drive (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The adjusting drive (1) is used for a motor vehicle locking device.

3. The adjusting drive (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The shaft (8) of the drive wheel (9) and the shaft (11) of the driven wheel (10) intersect one another.

4. The adjusting drive (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The shaft (8) of the drive wheel (9) and the shaft (11) of the driven wheel (10) are axially offset from one another.

5. The adjustment drive (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The second gear stage (15) has an involute toothing.

6. The adjustment drive (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The shaft (11) of the driven wheel and the shaft (17) of the gear wheel (14) of the second gear stage (15) are parallel to one another.

7. The adjustment drive (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The drive wheel (9) has one to four teeth.

8. The adjustment drive (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The drive wheel (9) has three teeth.

9. The adjustment drive (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The gear wheels (9, 10, 14, 18, 21, 22) of the first and second gear stages are at least partially formed from plastic.

10. The adjustment drive (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The adjusting drive (1) has an emergency unlocking mechanism (6, 20).

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