drive device

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive device (10), comprising at least one housing (20) and a drive assembly (12) which is arranged partially in the housing (20) and is connectable to the housing, the drive assembly (12) having a drive unit (14) which is arranged non-rotatably on the housing (20), the drive unit (14) having a drive housing (24). According to the invention, at least one connecting element (28) is provided which is arranged for indirect connection between the housing (20) and the drive housing (24), the at least one connecting element (28) being arranged in a receiving region on the outside of the drive housing (24) and being connected to this receiving region in a form-fitting manner and being integrated with the housing (20). The invention also relates to a vehicle (200) having a drive device (10) for a vehicle component which is movable relative to the vehicle body of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a drive device comprising at least one housing and a drive assembly partially disposed within and connectable to the housing, the drive assembly having a drive unit non-rotatably disposed on the housing, the drive unit having a drive housing. Furthermore, this invention relates to a vehicle having a drive device. Background Technology

[0002] Such drive devices are generally known and typically include a housing and a drive assembly partially disposed within the housing, the drive assembly having a drive unit arranged on the housing in a rotationally fixed manner. The drive unit is, for example, an electric motor that rotates the drive element. Depending on the use of the drive device, rotation can be converted into translation by means of a gearbox disposed within the housing.

[0003] Such drive mechanisms are used, for example, in vehicles, where the drive mechanism is configured to move or pivot movable door elements or flap elements. Drive mechanisms of the above type are known, for example, from DE102022130161A1. Due to the necessary pivoting movement of the movable door element or flap element attached to a higher-level component by means of hinges or joints, the drive mechanism or a portion thereof must be able to perform the movement adapted to it and provide suitable mounting space for this purpose.

[0004] However, the installation space available for drive units is becoming increasingly limited, especially due to the increase in other functions and associated additional components. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the components of the drive unit relative to each other in a manner that meets the installation space requirements. Thus, drive units known from the prior art have a drive unit that is arranged in a suitable position relative to the housing. The drive unit is typically screwed into the housing at a predetermined position on the housing, or alternatively, is arranged entirely inside the housing.

[0005] For example, a form-fit connection of housing parts is known from DE102019112682A1. This document discloses a spindle actuator with a housing tube that, during assembly, is pushed onto a spacer axially fixed to the drive unit housing to form a form-fit connection. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In this context, an object of the present invention is to provide a drive mechanism that is improved in terms of cost and installation space. Another object of the present invention is to specify a vehicle including such a drive mechanism.

[0007] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a drive device according to the invention, and by a vehicle according to the invention.

[0008] Specifically, this objective is achieved by a drive device comprising at least one housing and a drive assembly partially disposed within the housing, the drive assembly having a drive unit disposed on the housing in a rotatably fixed manner. The drive unit may be at least indirectly connected to the housing.

[0009] According to the invention, at least one connecting element is arranged for an indirect connection between the housing and the drive housing. The at least one connecting element is arranged in a receiving area on the outer side of the drive housing and is connected to the receiving area in a form-fit manner. Furthermore, the at least one connecting element is integrally integrated with the housing.

[0010] The connection according to the invention provides a particularly advantageous variable positioning of the two components relative to each other, and thus can be adapted to installation specifications, for example, without further work. This optimizes the installation space of the drive unit, and the drive unit can be adapted to a variety of different installation situations without modification work.

[0011] Indirect connection should be understood as meaning that the two components (housing and drive unit) are not directly connected to each other. This eliminates, for example, threaded connections between the housing and drive unit, which minimizes the installation space at the connection point.

[0012] Because the connecting element is configured to be arranged for indirect connection between the housing and the drive unit's driver housing, this positioning of the connecting element between the two components to be connected (housing and drive unit) allows for rotational fixed connection using a suitable connection method without increasing installation space.

[0013] Preferably, the connecting element can be arranged in the connection area of ​​the drive housing, and the fastening area of ​​the housing can overlap with the connection area of ​​the drive housing, thereby providing a preload between the connecting element and the adjacent component. The preload allows for indirect connection with the smallest possible clearance. The integral connection of the connecting element is, for example, to the fastening area of ​​the housing, and the form-fit connection of the connecting element is to the connection area of ​​the drive housing.

[0014] Preferably, the connecting element can be designed as a ring-shaped element, and the receiving area can be designed as a groove. The groove and the integral connection are particularly easy to manufacture in this way.

[0015] To enable a particularly simple rotational fixation connection between the connecting element and the housing or the fastening area of ​​the housing, the web of the interrupt driver housing can be provided with a groove, and the annular element can be slotted, wherein the annular end of the annular element can be applied to the web from the opposite side, such that the annular element is arranged in the groove in a rotationally fixed manner. Therefore, the annular element is configured to be substantially C-shaped and, for example, formed of plastic, which makes assembly particularly easy.

[0016] It has been shown that it is particularly advantageous if the connecting elements and the housing are welded together. This connection technique provides a robust and sufficiently strong connection between the components.

[0017] In this configuration, the housing and connecting elements are preferably made from the same plastic raw material, wherein the housing is laser-transparent and the connecting elements are designed to absorb laser light. Besides the robust welded connection between the housing and the connecting elements, this design also has the advantage that the housing and drive housing can be made from different plastics to suit the requirements. The drive housing, including the motor connector molded thereon, must be resistant to the motor's waste heat and is made, for example, from PA66 plastic. On the other hand, the housing must be geometrically stable and not absorb water or moisture. Therefore, the housing and connecting elements are made, for example, from dimensionally stable PBT / PET plastic. The connecting elements allow for the reliable connection of components made of different materials that cannot be welded together.

[0018] For example, the connection between the housing and the drive unit, which is further improved in terms of strength, can be made by providing multiple connecting elements for indirect connection. This means that multiple annular elements can be arranged in grooves spaced apart from each other.

[0019] For sealing purposes, a sealing element can be arranged between the housing and the actuator housing. The sealing element can be designed as an O-ring and arranged in the annular space formed by the two components, the housing and the actuator housing.

[0020] Preferably, the drive device is designed as an adjustment device for a door element movable relative to a higher-level component, wherein a housing is arranged on the movable door element and is provided with an adjustment element that can be displaced relative to the drive assembly along a displacement axis by means of a drive unit, and is designed to be hinged to a free end for assembly onto a higher-level component.

[0021] Door elements can be movable door elements or flap elements relative to the vehicle body. For example, a door element is a vehicle side door. However, it should be explicitly mentioned that a door element can also be a tailgate, a front hood, or a trunk lid. Furthermore, the application of the drive unit is not limited to a single vehicle. Higher-level building units can be motor vehicles, land vehicles, or machines with movable door elements. In principle, it can also be envisioned for use as building or furniture doors.

[0022] Preferably, the adjusting device is designed as an electric spindle drive.

[0023] In this configuration, the adjusting device may have a sliding assembly that can move between a first position and a second position along the axis of rotation of the mandrel by means of a drive unit, wherein the adjusting element is connected at one end to the sliding assembly. Furthermore, the sliding assembly may include a mandrel nut that threadedly engages with the rotatable mandrel.

[0024] An alternative embodiment of the invention specifies that the spindle of the spindle actuator itself is designed to be longitudinally displaceable and forms an adjusting element. In this design, a rotatable spindle nut is provided, which engages threadedly with the spindle.

[0025] One coordinating aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle having the aforementioned drive mechanism. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The invention is described below with reference to exemplary embodiments. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 A longitudinal section of a known drive unit is shown; Figure 2 A spatial representation of a drive assembly of a drive device according to the invention is shown, the drive assembly having an attached housing; Figure 3 It shows that according to Figure 2 The drive assembly has a housing that is transparently visible; Figure 4 It shows that according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The drive components have no housing or connecting elements; Figure 5 It shows that according to Figure 4 A drive assembly with mounting connection elements; Figure 6 The longitudinal section shows the results according to Figure 2 The driving components; Figure 7 The spatial representation of the connecting elements is shown, and Figure 8 It shows that according to Figure 6 The magnified section X of the cross-section. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 A known drive mechanism 10 is shown in longitudinal section. This is designed as an adjustment device for a movable door element. The adjustment device 10 is designed, for example, as an electric spindle drive. Such an adjustment device is disclosed in the applicant's aforementioned earlier application DE102022130161A1, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

[0028] It includes a drive assembly 12 having a drive unit 14 and a drive element 16 driven by the drive unit 14. The drive element 14 may be designed, for example, as a worm gear, which is rotatably driven by the drive unit 14, which is designed as an electric motor, and meshes with a worm wheel (not shown). In this case, the drive element 16 and the worm wheel form a gear unit.

[0029] The worm gear is fixedly arranged on the spindle 11, such that rotation of the drive element 16 causes rotation of the worm gear, and thus rotation of the spindle 11. The drive element 16 may be integrally formed with the motor shaft 18 of the drive unit 14, or alternatively may be connected to the motor shaft 18.

[0030] The spindle 11 is threadedly engaged with the spindle nut 13, wherein the spindle nut 13 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the molded housing 21 of the housing 20 connected to the drive device 10, and thus can be displaced along the axis of rotation R of the spindle 11 when the spindle 11 rotates.

[0031] The spindle nut 13 is preferably part of a sliding assembly 15, which, together with the spindle nut 13, can be displaced along the axis of rotation R of the spindle 11 as the spindle 11 rotates. The sliding assembly 15 is connected to an adjusting element 17, which can be designed as an S-shaped door stop band. Alternatively, the adjusting element 17 can also be designed as straight.

[0032] Adjustable element 17 is hinged at its free end to a movable door element, such as a side door of a vehicle (not shown), or alternatively to a higher-level component, such as the vehicle body (not shown). Similarly, the door element could be a tailgate, a front hood, or a trunk lid. The higher-level building unit could also be a motor vehicle, a land vehicle, or a machine with a movable door element. In principle, it could also be envisioned for use in buildings or furniture doors, in addition to vehicles.

[0033] When the drive unit 14 is started, the spindle 11 is placed in rotation, thereby the adjusting element 17 moves along the displacement axis V via the sliding assembly 15, so that the door element can move at least between the open position and the closed position.

[0034] The drive unit 14 is designed as an electric motor and has a motor housing 22, which is attached to a driver housing 24. The driver housing 24 is referred to as the motor front cover and has a motor connector 26 molded onto the driver housing. The drive unit 14 is rotatably fixed to the housing 20, which at least partially houses the gear unit by means of the driver housing 24.

[0035] Both housing 20 and driver housing 24 are made of plastic.

[0036] Embodiments of the drive device 10 according to the present invention can be described later. Figures 2 to 8 As seen in the image. The drive device 10 according to the present invention can, in principle, be based on... Figure 1 The invention is constructed using known adjusting devices as shown. Therefore, identical or similar components are given the same reference numerals, and only the differences according to the invention will be discussed below. However, the invention is not limited to the present invention. Figure 1 The described drive unit 10.

[0037] As described below, the drive unit 14 or its driver housing 24 may be connected to the housing 20 at least indirectly. Indirectly means that the two components (housing 20 and drive unit 14) are not directly connected to each other.

[0038] Due to the indirect connection, the positioning of the two components 20, 24 relative to each other is largely variable and can be adapted to different installation requirements without much work and, in particular, without cost. Variable positioning is especially advantageous for aligning the motor connector 26 and can optimize the installation space of the actuator 10.

[0039] For indirect connection, a space is provided between housing 20 and driver housing 24 of drive unit 14. Figure 7 The connecting element 28 shown is preferably designed as a slotted annular element. Therefore, the connecting element 28 is essentially C-shaped and has two annular ends 46, 48 facing each other.

[0040] As from Figure 8 It can be seen from this that Figure 8 It shows that according to Figure 6Enlarged section X of the longitudinal cross-section shows that, after all components are assembled, the connecting element 28 is arranged between the driver housing 24 and the housing 20. Specifically, the connection is achieved in the connecting region 30 of the driver housing 24 and the fastening region 32 of the housing 20, wherein the fastening region 32 is designed to overlap with the connecting region 30. The fastening region 32 is substantially flange-shaped and has two flange regions 34 and 36 with different diameters. In particular, the first flange region 34 overlaps with the connecting region 30 of the driver housing 24, thereby providing a preload force between the connecting element 28 and the adjacent components (connecting region 30 and flange region 34).

[0041] The second flange region 36, located at the end of the fastening region 32, has a larger diameter and thus forms an annular space 38 with the connection region 30, in which the sealing element 40 can be arranged. The sealing element 40 (preferably an O-ring) reliably seals the connection between the housing 20 and the drive housing 24.

[0042] By positioning the connecting element 28 between the two components to be connected (housing 20 and drive unit 14), a rotational fixed connection can be achieved using a suitable connection method without increasing the installation space.

[0043] Specifically, the connecting element 28 is configured to be integrally integrated with the housing 20 and connected to the drive unit 14 in a form-fit manner. It forms an integral connection with the fastening region 32 of the housing 20 and a form-fit connection with the first flange region 34 of the fastening region 32.

[0044] To facilitate a shape-fit connection with the connection area 30 of the driver housing 24, the driver housing 24 is in Figure 4 The outer side shown has a receiving area, which is preferably designed as a groove 42, in which the annular connecting element 28 can be installed. The web 44 of the interrupted groove 42 allows the annular ends 46, 48 of the connecting element 28 to be installed, thereby forming a rotationally fixed connection, i.e., a torque transmission connection. Figure 4 The drive assembly 12 is shown without the housing 20 and without the connecting element 28. Instead, Figure 5 The drive assembly 12, without housing 20, has connecting element 28 inserted into recess 42.

[0045] After the housing 20 is installed, an integral connection is formed between the fastening area 32 and the connecting element 28 by means of laser welding. In this case, the housing 20 and the connecting element 28 are made of the same plastic raw material, wherein the housing 20 is laser-transparent and the connecting element 28 is designed to absorb laser light. For example, PBT / PET plastic is suitable as the plastic raw material for the housing 20 and the connecting element 28 because this ensures dimensional stability. Laser absorption can be achieved by using a suitable dye (e.g., carbon black).

[0046] Due to the waste heat from the motor, the driver housing 24, including the motor connector 26 molded on the driver housing 24, must be heat-resistant and therefore made of different plastic raw materials (e.g., PA66).

[0047] With the help of connecting element 28, different plastic parts that cannot be welded together can be reliably connected.

[0048] The pre-tensioned installation of the fastening area 32 on the connecting element 28 helps improve heat transfer during welding and ensures a connection with the smallest possible clearance.

[0049] The adjusting device 10 is described as an electric spindle drive with an additional adjusting element 17, by which the rotation of the spindle 11 is converted into translation of the spindle nut 15 and the adjusting element 17 hinged to the spindle. In an alternative embodiment of the electric spindle drive (not shown), the spindle nut causes the spindle to rotate and move as an adjusting element along the adjusting axis.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and can also be applied to other drive / adjustment devices.

Claims

1. A drive device (10) comprising at least one housing (20) and a drive assembly (12) partially disposed in the housing (20) and connectable to the housing, the drive assembly (12) having a drive unit (14) non-rotatably disposed on the housing (20), the drive unit (14) having a driver housing (24), characterized in that, At least one connecting element (28) is arranged for indirect connection between the housing (20) and the driver housing (24), the connecting element being arranged in a receiving area on the outside of the driver housing (24) and being connected to the receiving area in a form-fitting manner, and the connecting element being integrally integrated with the housing (20).

2. The driving device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting element (28) is arranged in the connecting area (30) of the drive housing (24), and the fastening area (32) of the housing (20) overlaps with the connecting area (30) of the drive housing (24), such that a preload is provided between the connecting element (28) and the adjacent components (20, 24).

3. The driving device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The connecting element (28) is designed as a ring element, and the receiving area is designed as a groove (42).

4. The driving device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The web (44) is provided with a groove (42) that interrupts the drive housing (24), and the annular element (28) is slotted, wherein the annular ends (46, 48) of the annular element (28) can be applied to the web (44) from opposite sides, such that the annular element (28) is arranged in the groove (42) in a rotationally fixed manner.

5. The driving device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The connecting element (28) and the housing (20) are welded together.

6. The driving device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing (20) and the connecting element (28) are made of the same plastic raw material, wherein the housing (20) is laser transparent and the connecting element (28) is laser-absorbing.

7. The driving device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, Multiple connecting elements (28) are provided for indirect connection.

8. The driving device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, A sealing element (40) is arranged between the housing (20) and the drive housing (24) for sealing.

9. The driving device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The drive unit (10) is designed as an adjustment device for a door element that is movable relative to a higher-level component, wherein the housing (20) is arranged on the movable door element and is provided with an adjustment element (17) that is movable relative to the drive assembly (12) along the displacement axis (V) by means of the drive unit (14) and is designed to be hinged to a free end for assembly on the higher-level component.

10. The driving device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The door element is a door element or flap element that can move relative to the vehicle body.

11. The driving device (10) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The adjustment device is designed as an electric spindle drive and has an electric motor as the drive unit (14).

12. The driving device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that, A sliding assembly (15) is provided, which is movable between a first position and a second position along the rotation axis of the spindle (11) by means of the drive unit (14), wherein the adjusting element (17) is connected to the sliding assembly (15) at one end.

13. A vehicle (200) having a drive unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the drive unit being for vehicle parts movable relative to the body of the vehicle, particularly for doors or vehicle flaps.

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