Fitting assembly

Abstract

Fitting assembly (3) for an adjustment device of motor vehicles with a double-acting drive unit, comprising a drive housing (4) and a drive lever pivotable about an axis for generating a rotary movement of a drive element, the direction of rotation of which, starting from a zero point position resettable by means of a return spring (6), depends on the pivoting direction of the drive lever, without reversing an output element during the reversing movement of the drive lever, and a locking brake device connected to the drive element, which releases a drive-side torque to the output element connected to the adjustment device and provided on a side part (2) of the adjustment device, blocks a drive-side torque and has a brake housing (5) connected to the drive housing (4) and arranged coaxially to the drive axis, characterized by an alignment element (40) connected to the fitting assembly (3), which can be positively connected to a positive locking element (25) arranged on the side part (2) in such a way that the alignment of the fitting assembly (3) to the side part (2) is determined, wherein the brake housing (5) of the parking brake device is designed as a brake pot, from which several webs or a circumferential ring flange (50) project laterally, and The drive housing (4) has several distributed mounting bosses (41, 42, 43) around its circumference for receiving fastening means (91, 92, 93) for connecting the fitting assembly (3) to the side part (2), and the length of the mounting bosses (41, 42, 43) oriented towards the side part (2) is dimensioned such that when the fitting assembly (3) is connected to the side part (2) with the bottom (500) of the brake housing (5) in contact with the surface of the side part (2), the drive housing (4) is deformed to force-fit connection of the brake housing (5) to the side part (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fitting assembly for an adjustment device of motor vehicles, in particular for adjusting the seat height or seat tilt of a motor vehicle seat, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From DE 198 59 533 A1, a double-acting drive for generating a rotary movement for the manual height or tilt adjustment of a vehicle seat is known, which, starting from the zero position of a drive lever, moves in one direction or the other. The drive lever is arranged on the drive shaft and coupled to a return spring that always returns the drive lever to the zero position after an adjustment movement. An adjustment movement of the drive lever is transmitted via tilting elements to a drive wheel rotating about the drive shaft, which is coupled on the output side to a drive element of the adjustment device via a braking device that blocks any torque introduced on the output side.

[0003] Since, in the known double-acting drive, the drive lever is connected to the drive shaft of the double-acting drive, it is necessarily located at the location of the adjustment device of the vehicle seat, which in many applications, for example in the case of manual seat height adjustment, is located in a place on the vehicle seat that is often not easily accessible for the user, so that an ergonomically favorable orientation of the drive lever is of particular importance for handling by a seat user.

[0004] Particularly with a long tolerance chain from the drive lever to the connection of the fitting assembly with the side panel, significant deviations of the drive lever to the adjustment device can occur due to the numerous, functionally interacting intermediate components of the drive and brake device.

[0005] Further fitting assemblies for adjustment devices of motor vehicles are described in the documents US 2016 / 0375801 A1, US 2009 / 0184554 A1, DE 11 2007 002 311 T5, DE 199 47 455 A1 and DE 10 2005 059 129 A1.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to ensure simple and safe assembly, in particular blind assembly, of a fitting assembly composed of a drive and brake unit on a side part of an adjustment device with an ergonomically advantageous positioning of the drive lever, even when combining different drive and brake units.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by a fitting assembly with the features of claim 1.

[0008] The solution according to the invention, providing an alignment element connected to the fitting assembly which can be positively connected to a positive locking element arranged on the side part in such a way that the angular position of the fitting assembly to the side part is fixed, enables simple and safe assembly and in particular blind mounting of the fitting assembly on the side part of an adjustment device with an ergonomically advantageous positioning of the drive lever in relation to the adjustment device, for example a vehicle seat, even with a combination of different drive and brake devices, since the zero or starting position of the drive lever is determined by the short tolerance chain from the side part via the drive housing to the drive lever adapter.

[0009] A short tolerance chain results in lower manufacturing costs for the components required for the fitting assembly that can influence the alignment of the drive or operating lever. Furthermore, the positive-locking connection of the alignment element with the positive-locking element ensures that connecting and fastening elements on the fitting assembly and the side panel are aligned, so that no further adjustments are necessary during assembly within normal manufacturing tolerances.

[0010] The solution according to the invention makes it possible to avoid monitoring the connection technology, thus allowing the assembly concept to be designed more flexibly by enabling the drive unit to be mounted separately from the brake unit and, after assembly, only needing to be plugged into the drive housing to produce the fitting assembly, so that the brake unit and the drive unit can be exchanged and combined independently of each other.

[0011] Depending on the design, the alignment element can be pin-shaped and engage in a positive locking element designed as an opening in the side part to align the fitting assembly, or it can be designed as an opening into which a pin-shaped positive locking element on the side part engages to align the fitting assembly.

[0012] Preferably, the pin-shaped alignment element or the pin-shaped positive locking element is designed as a stop nose which is connected to one end of the return spring, the other end of which is connected to the drive lever or a drive lever adapter connectable to the drive lever.

[0013] In order to ensure not only the local fixing of the fitting assembly on the side panel but also an angularly accurate alignment of the fitting assembly, the alignment element and the positive locking element have positively interlocking cross-sections.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the alignment element is designed to protrude from the edge of the drive housing in a hook shape, so that the preferably lid-shaped drive housing determines the alignment of both the fitting assembly and the drive lever after connection with the brake housing.

[0015] To create the conditions for a captive connection between the drive and brake units before their final connection with a side panel, the brake housing of the parking brake unit is designed as a brake pot from which several webs or a circumferential annular flange project laterally, wherein the brake housing is axially detachably connected to the drive housing before final assembly by means of several hook-shaped clips arranged on the drive housing that are clipped onto the laterally projecting webs or the circumferential annular flange of the brake housing of the parking brake unit in order to axially secure the brake housing to the drive housing.

[0016] Alternatively, the brake housing can be connected to the drive housing by means of a force-fit axial press fit or by at least one spot weld or adhesive connection to ensure a secure connection.

[0017] If the drive housing and the brake housing are made of a plastic, the drive housing and the brake housing can alternatively be joined together by means of hot stamping.

[0018] To create a simple and cost-effective connection between a drive and brake unit, particularly one made of plastic, for transmitting even large radial adjustment forces, the ring flange of the cup-shaped brake housing has several recesses distributed around its circumference. Radially inward-projecting ribs from the drive housing engage in these recesses, forming a positive-locking connection between the brake housing and the drive housing. Additionally, in a plastic version of the drive housing, this design achieves a pleasantly dampened return of the drive lever after adjustment.

[0019] Alternatively, the ring flange of the cup-shaped brake housing has several radially outward-projecting webs distributed around the circumference, which engage in corresponding recesses arranged on the circumferential side of the drive housing.

[0020] To connect the fitting assembly to the side panel, the drive housing has several distributed mounting bosses around its circumference for receiving fastening means to connect the fitting assembly to the side panel, wherein the length of the mounting bosses oriented towards the side panel is dimensioned such that when connecting the fitting assembly to the side panel, with the bottom of the brake housing in contact with the surface of the side panel, the drive housing is deformed to create a force-fit connection between the brake housing and the side panel.

[0021] This allows the brake housing to be temporarily and securely connected to the drive housing for transport purposes until final assembly. The final axial securing of the brake housing only occurs during the final assembly of the fitting assembly on the side panel, with the tolerance design ensuring that the brake housing always maintains contact with the side panel. After final assembly, the drive housing can be pre-tensioned or mounted with some play, in which case the functional forces are transmitted via the positive-locking connection between the drive housing and the brake housing, regardless of any axial or ejection securing device.

[0022] Further features and the resulting advantages of the invention are illustrated by the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the figures in the drawing. This description and the figures also reveal features of the exemplary embodiment that are not included in the claims. These features can also occur in combinations other than those specifically disclosed here. The figures show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of the operating side of the connection of a fitting assembly with a side panel; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the output side of the fitting assembly and the side panel according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the fitting assembly according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the output side of the fitting assembly according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a top view of a section of the output side of the fitting assembly and the side part according to Fig. 2; Fig. 6 a perspective view of the output side of the fitting assembly accordingly Fig. 4 omitting the torsion or return spring; Fig. 7 a perspective view of detail VII according to Fig. 6; Fig. 8 a perspective view of parts of the drive and brake housing as well as the drive lever nose and the alignment element and Fig. 9 A perspective partial view of the drive and brake housing before final assembly.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a stepping mechanism 1 for a motor vehicle seat, for example for (manual) seat height adjustment, seat tilt adjustment or backrest tilt adjustment, with a side part 2 connected to the motor vehicle seat and a fitting assembly 3. The fitting assembly 3, which can also be designed as a swivel joint fitting, consists of a double-acting drive unit with a drive housing 4 and a parking brake unit with a cup-shaped brake housing 5, which are arranged axially one behind the other around an (output) axis 8.The double-acting drive device has a drive or actuating lever (not shown in detail) which is connected to a drive lever adapter 7 and to two knob-shaped positive locking elements 71, 72 and can be pivoted both clockwise and counterclockwise around the output axis 8, so that the adjusting device connected to the fitting assembly 3 is adjusted in different directions.

[0024] The drive lever adapter 7 has an angled drive nose 70, on which and on a in Fig. The spring ends 61, 62 of a return or torsion spring 6 bear against the hook-shaped alignment element 40 projecting from the drive housing 4, as shown in Figure 3. When the drive lever, and thus the drive lever adapter 7, is actuated in one direction or the other, one of the two spring ends 61, 62 is deflected according to the adjustment angle of the drive lever, while the other spring end 62, 61 of the return or torsion spring 6 rests against the stationary alignment element 40. This exerts a restoring force on the drive nose 70, which, when the adjustment force decreases or is removed, causes the drive lever adapter 7, and thus the drive lever, to return to its initial or zero position.

[0025] The in Fig. Figure 2, a perspective view of the output side of the side panel 2, shows the output shaft 8 guided through a bore 20 in the side panel 2 and an output pinion 80 connected to the output shaft 8, which meshes with a gear element of the adjusting device, for example, with a toothed segment of a toothed segment lever. For connecting the fitting assembly 3 to the side panel 2, the drive housing 4 has, according to Fig. Three mounting bosses 41, 42, 43 are arranged around its circumference, corresponding to bores 21, 22, 23 in the side panel 2, so that fasteners screwed into the mounting bosses 41, 42, 43 from the output side through the bores 21, 22, 23 in the side panel 2 firmly connect the drive housing 4 and the brake housing 5 connected to the drive housing 4 to the side panel 2. Alternatively, the fasteners can also be screwed into the side panel 2 through the mounting bosses 41, 42, 43 of the drive housing 4.

[0026] To align the drive lever adapter 7, or the drive lever itself, with respect to the side panel 2 and thus the adjustment device, the side panel 2 has a positive-locking opening 25 into which the alignment element 40 of the drive housing 4 is inserted when the fitting assembly 3 is connected to the side panel 2, so that both the positive-locking elements 71, 72 and the drive lever adapter 7 are aligned accordingly. A substantially positive-locking, backlash-free connection between the alignment element 40 of the drive housing 4 and the positive-locking opening 25 of the side panel 2 also ensures angular alignment of the fitting assembly 3, and thus of the drive lever, with respect to the side panel 2 and thus the adjustment device.For this purpose, the positive-locking opening 25 and the alignment element 40 have a matching cross-sectional shape or at least cross-sectional shapes that ensure an angular positive-locking connection between the alignment element 40 and thus the drive lever and the positive-locking opening 25 and thus the side part 2 or the adjustment device. Such a cross-sectional shape can be defined according to... Fig. 5 consisting of a rectangular cross-section of the positive locking opening 25 and a trapezoidal cross-section of the alignment element 40, the width of which is adapted to the width of the positive locking opening 25 in such a way that tilting of the alignment element 40 is not possible or only possible within narrow tolerances.

[0027] Fig. Figure 5 shows a top view of a section of the output side of the side part 2, showing the positive locking reception of the alignment element 40 in the positive locking opening 25 of the side part 2, which ensures the angular alignment of the alignment element 40 and thus of the drive lever to the side part 2 and thus to the adjustment device.

[0028] Fig. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the output side of the fitting assembly 3, showing the mounting bosses 41, 42, 43 of the drive housing 4, distributed at the vertices of an isosceles triangle, the drive lever adapter 7 with the drive nose 70 and the alignment element 40, as well as the cup-shaped brake housing 5 and the output shaft 8 with the output pinion 80. The cup-shaped brake housing 5 has, according to the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 a circumferential ring flange 50 and is connected to the drive housing 4 in a transport or pre-assembly phase before final assembly in an axial direction via several clips 10 distributed around the circumference of the drive housing 4, which are clipped onto the circumferential ring flange 50.

[0029] This means that during the transport phase, the drive housing 4 and the brake housing 5 are connected to each other in a way that prevents loss but allows for detachment until a fixed axial connection of the fitting assembly 3 with the side part 2 is made during final assembly.

[0030] In order to establish a radially fixed connection between the drive housing 4 and the brake housing 5, and thus also a fixed radial connection between the fitting assembly 3 and the side part 2 via the mounting bosses 41, 42, 43 for the transmission of even large adjusting forces, the circumference of the drive housing 4 has several distributed radial webs 44 aligned with the output axis 8, which engage with recesses 51 arranged in the ring flange 50 of the brake housing 5 – as shown in particular in the perspective detail view according to Fig. As can be seen from Figure 7, they correspond. Through this positive-locking connection of several radial webs 44 with a corresponding number of recesses 51 in the circumferential ring flange 50, the radial forces occurring are absorbed over the circumference of the fitting assembly 3 between the drive unit and the brake unit.

[0031] Fig. Figure 7 shows an enlarged partial view of area VII according to Fig. 6 the clip connection between the clips 10 projecting from the circumference of the drive housing 4 and the circumferential ring flange 50 of the brake housing 5.

[0032] The axially detachable connection of the brake housing 5 to the drive housing 4 via clips 10, which are clipped onto the radially projecting, circumferential ring flange 50 of the brake housing 5, makes it possible to combine drive units with different operating principles and drive housings 4 of different dimensions with brake units based on different operating principles and brake housings 5 ​​of different dimensions. For example, a standardized clamping roller freewheel as a drive unit can be optionally combined with a band brake as a brake unit or with a drum brake before final assembly and transported securely without requiring a large number of permanently connected drive and brake units.

[0033] Alternative captive connections between the brake housing 5 and the drive housing 4 are a force-fit axial press fit or spot welds or adhesive bonds between the brake housing 5 and the drive housing 4. Since a plastic housing is particularly advantageous for the structure of the drive housing 4 and for reasons of manufacturing and weight, the captive connection between the brake housing 5 and the drive housing 4 can also be achieved by hot stamping if the drive housing 4 and the brake housing 5 are made of the same plastic.

[0034] During the final assembly of the connection between the fitting assembly 3 and the side panel 2, a firm, force-fit connection is created between the two components by proceeding according to Fig. 2 Fasteners 91, 92, 93, for example in the form of (self-tapping) threaded screws, are screwed from the output side of the side part 2 into the mounting bosses 41, 42, 43 of the drive housing 4 of the fitting assembly 3, which is attached to the side part 2 on the opposite output side and aligned via the alignment element 40 inserted into the positive locking opening 25. Conversely, the fasteners 91, 92, 93 can also be screwed through the mounting bosses 41, 42, 43 into the side part 2.

[0035] In order to also establish a firm, force-fit connection between the brake housing 5, which is connected to the drive housing 4, and the side part 2, according to Fig.9 the bottom 500 of the brake housing 5 extends by a dimension a beyond the end 410 of the mounting bosses 41, 42, 43 facing the side part 2, so that when the fastening means 91, 92, 93 are tightened the brake housing 5 is clamped between the drive housing 4 which deforms in the process and the side part 2.

[0036] As a result of the precise angular and positional alignment of the fitting assembly 3 to the side panel 2, a very precise alignment of the drive or actuating lever in the zero or starting position is ensured via the short tolerance chain from the side panel 2 and the drive housing 4 to the drive lever adapter 7, taking into account the tolerances of the individual components to be considered for the alignment of the drive or actuating lever. Reference symbol list 1 stepping switch 2 side panel 3 Fitting assembly 4 drive housings 5 brake housings 6 Return or torsion spring 7 Drive lever adapters 8 Output axle 10 clips 20, 21, 22, 23 holes 25 Form-fit opening 40 alignment element 41, 42, 43 Mounting domes 44 radial webs 50 ring flange 51 exceptions 61, 62 spring ends 70 Drive nose 71, 72 Positive locking elements 80 output pinions 91, 92, 93 Fasteners 410 End of the mounting domes 500 Bottom of the brake housing

Claims

[1] Fitting assembly (3) for an adjustment device of motor vehicles with a double-acting drive unit comprising a drive housing (4) and a drive lever pivotable about an axis for generating a rotary movement of a drive element, the direction of rotation of which depends on the pivoting direction of the drive lever starting from a zero point position resettable by means of a return spring (6), without reversing an output element during the reversing movement of the drive lever, and a parking brake device connected to the drive element, which releases a drive-side torque to the output element connected to the adjustment device and provided on a side part (2) of the adjustment device, blocks a drive-side torque and has a brake housing (5) connected to the drive housing (4) and arranged coaxially to the drive axis, characterized by an alignment element (40) connected to the fitting assembly (3), which can be positively connected to a positive locking element (25) arranged on the side part (2) in such a way that the alignment of the fitting assembly (3) to the side part (2) is determined, wherein the brake housing (5) of the parking brake device is designed as a brake pot, from which several webs or a circumferential ring flange (50) project laterally, and The drive housing (4) has several distributed mounting bosses (41, 42, 43) around its circumference for receiving fastening means (91, 92, 93) for connecting the fitting assembly (3) to the side part (2), and the length of the mounting bosses (41, 42, 43) oriented towards the side part (2) is dimensioned such that when the fitting assembly (3) is connected to the side part (2) with the bottom (500) of the brake housing (5) in contact with the surface of the side part (2), the drive housing (4) is deformed to force-fit connection of the brake housing (5) to the side part (2). [2] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the alignment element (40) is designed in a pin shape and engages in a positive locking element (25) designed as an opening in the side part (2) to align the fitting assembly (3). [3] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 2, characterized by, that the pin-shaped alignment element (40) is designed as a stop nose which is connected to one end (61, 62) of the return spring (6), the other end (62, 61) of which is connected to a drive lever flange (7) which can be connected to the drive lever. [4] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the alignment element (40) is designed as an opening into which a pin-shaped positive locking element (25) on the side part (2) engages for the purpose of aligning the fitting assembly (3). [5] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the pin-shaped positive locking element (25) serves as a stop nose which is connected to one end (61, 62) of the return spring (6), the other end (62, 61) of which is connected to a drive lever flange (7) which can be connected to the drive lever. [6] Fitting assembly (3) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the alignment element (40) and the positive locking element (25) have positively interlocking cross-sections. [7] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the alignment element (40) is designed to protrude from the edge of the drive housing (4) in a hook shape. [8] Fitting assembly (3) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the brake housing (5) is axially detachably connected to the drive housing (4) before final assembly. [9] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 7, characterized by , that for axial connection of the brake housing (5) with the drive housing (4) several hook-shaped clips (10) arranged on the drive housing (4) are clipped onto the laterally projecting webs or the circumferential ring flange (50) of the brake housing (5) of the parking brake device. [10] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the brake housing (5) is connected to the drive housing (4) by a force-fit axial press fit. [11] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the brake housing (5) is connected to the drive housing (4) via at least one spot weld or adhesive connection. [12] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the drive housing (4) and the brake housing (5) are made of a plastic and are joined together by means of hot stamping [13] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the ring flange (50) of the brake housing (5) has several recesses (51) distributed around the circumference, into which webs (44) projecting radially inwards from the drive housing (4) engage to form a circumferential positive connection of the brake housing (5) with the drive housing (4). [14] Fitting assembly (3) according to claim 7, characterized by, that the ring flange (50) of the brake housing (5) has several radially outwardly projecting webs distributed around the circumference, which engage in corresponding recesses (51) arranged circumferentially on the drive housing (4).

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