Adjusting device for a vehicle part movable relative to a vehicle body

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating device (10) for a vehicle part movable relative to a body of a vehicle, comprising at least: a drive arrangement (12) with a drive unit and an actuating element designed as a spindle (16), which is displaceable relative to the drive arrangement (12) along a displacement axis (X) of the actuating device (10) by means of a drive element (26) of the drive unit, wherein a spindle nut (28) threadedly engaged with the spindle (16) is driven via the drive element (26) to displace the spindle (16), and the spindle nut (28) is mounted in such a way that the spindle nut (28) and the spindle (16) engaged therewith are pivotable relative to the drive element (26) about a first pivot axis (Z) orthogonal to the displacement axis (X), wherein at least one driver (30) is provided for transmitting a force from a torque of the drive element (26) to the spindle nut (28), which driver enables the pivoting of the spindle nut (28) about the first pivot axis (Z) and about a second,orthogonal to the first pivot axis (Z) and the displacement axis (X) pivot axis (Y) relative to the drive element (26). The driver (30) is slidably received in a hollow groove (46) of the drive element (26) and in a hemispherical recess (48) of the spindle nut (28).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an actuating device for a vehicle part that is movable relative to a body of a vehicle, in particular a vehicle door or a vehicle flap.

[0002] Such actuating devices in the form of spindle drives are used in a wide variety of fields to move one element relative to another using a motor. One application in which spindle drives are frequently used is the automated operation of flaps, such as doors and tailgates, on a vehicle. Due to the pivoting movements of such flaps on the vehicle body, a spindle drive that drives this flap relative to the vehicle body must sometimes be mounted in a rather complex manner on the flap on one side and on the vehicle body on the other side in order to be able to follow all movements of the flap. This complex bearing of the spindle drive requires corresponding installation space. Furthermore, this bearing can be very costly and maintenance-intensive.

[0003] In order to provide a spindle drive that enables simple and cost-effective mounting, DE 10 2018 212 959 A1 proposes pivoting the spindle nut around a pivot axis. However, this arrangement does not allow for compensation of spindle misalignment in a second pivot axis without lateral forces, so that any resulting friction negatively influences the functional behavior of the actuator.

[0004] DE 10 2019 100 827 A1 discloses a generic adjusting device which comprises a constant velocity joint for transmitting a rotational force from the drive element to a spindle nut of a feed gear. The constant velocity joint described in DE 10 2019 100 827 A1 comprises an inner and an outer joint part, with rolling elements arranged in an annular cage between the two joint parts, which couple to transmit torque.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an actuating device with a simplified structure and improved torque transmission.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by an actuating device of the type mentioned at the outset, which comprises at least one drive arrangement with a drive unit and an actuating element designed as a spindle, which can be displaced relative to the drive arrangement along a displacement axis of the actuating device by means of a drive element of the drive unit. A spindle nut threadedly engaged with the spindle is further driven via the drive element to displace the spindle. The spindle nut is mounted in such a way that the spindle nut and the spindle engaged with it can be pivoted relative to the drive element about a first pivot axis orthogonal to the displacement axis.

[0007] Furthermore, at least one driver is provided for transmitting a force from a torque of the drive element to the spindle nut, which enables the spindle nut to be pivoted about the first pivot axis and about a second pivot axis formed orthogonally to the first pivot axis and the displacement axis relative to the drive element.

[0008] According to the invention, the drive element has at least one hollow groove in which the driver is provided to be slidably received in order to enable pivoting of the spindle nut about the first pivot axis, the spindle nut has at least one hemispherical recess whose central axis lies on the second pivot axis and in which the driver is provided to be slidably or rotatably received in order to enable pivoting of the spindle nut about the second pivot axis.

[0009] The inventive design of the drive element, the separately designed driver, and the spindle nut enables compensation of spindle misalignments with no or almost no transverse forces in a particularly simple and compact design, while simultaneously increasing the load against torque. Compared to conventional spindle drives, no additional or less installation space is required. Complex bearing solutions requiring assembly and assembly can be eliminated, thus reducing the overall installation space required for the actuator.

[0010] In order to achieve a uniform and symmetrical torque transmission to the spindle nut, two drivers are preferably provided, which are slidably received in two diametrically opposite hollow grooves, i.e. in two hollow grooves offset by 180°, wherein the hollow grooves extend substantially in a part-circle shape around the first pivot axis.

[0011] Improved torque transmission can preferably be achieved via contact surfaces, with the driver having a sliding contour for sliding pivoting in the hollow groove and a hemispherical underside for rotatable arrangement in the hemispherical recess of the spindle nut. This allows for a particularly compact design, in contrast to linear contact between the spindle nut and the bearing journal.

[0012] If the drive element has at least one multi-part bearing journal with an internal hollow spherical contour for pivotably receiving the essentially spherical spindle nut, the spindle nut can be easily mounted. At the same time, the pitch can be designed in such a way that a radial force from the drive unit can be absorbed. The internal hollow spherical contour also allows the spindle nut to be supported against axial spindle forces.

[0013] The drive element can preferably have a toothed ring in which the bearing journal is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. For example, the bearing journal can be pressed into the toothed ring. The positive and non-positive connection allows the torque to be reliably transmitted from the toothed ring to the bearing journal.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having a body and a vehicle part movable relative to the body, which is equipped with an actuating device according to the invention.

[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 a side view of an adjusting device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a section AA of Fig. 1 shown adjusting device; Fig. 3 an enlarged section B of the Fig. 2 shown sectional view and Fig. 4 a perspective exploded view of the drive element with the spindle nut of the adjusting device according to Fig. 1.

[0016] In Fig. 1 shows a side view of an actuating device 10 according to the invention. It serves, for example, to move a vehicle part (not shown), for example a vehicle door or a vehicle hatch of a motor vehicle. The actuating device 10 comprises a drive arrangement 12 with a drive unit (not shown in detail), for example an electric motor. Likewise, a movement state sensor (not shown), for example a Hall sensor, can be provided for detecting the movement state of the drive unit, which is accommodated together with the drive unit in a housing 14. Furthermore, a braking device can be arranged in the housing 14, which can brake a movement, in particular rotation, of the drive unit. A permanently acting friction brake, for example, can be provided as the braking device. Other brake designs, such as a magnetic brake, are also possible.

[0017] The braking force generated is preferably selected such that the movable vehicle part is not automatically set in motion as long as the vehicle is resting on a surface whose inclination angle relative to the horizontal, depending on the design of the braking device, is, for example, no more than 15°. In this way, the movable vehicle part can be held in any intermediate position along its adjustment path.

[0018] The adjusting device 10 further comprises a Fig. 2 visible adjusting element 16, which is designed as a spindle.

[0019] The actuator 16 has, at its end facing the vehicle part, a connecting element 18, for example, which is screwed on, which, with a connecting unit or bracket 20 articulated thereto, allows a connection to the movable vehicle part. The drive assembly 12 is also connected to a body of the vehicle via a further connecting unit 22.

[0020] An output shaft (not visible) carries a worm 24, which drives a drive element 26, described in more detail below. The drive element 26 is connected to a spindle nut 28 such that a rotary movement of the drive unit is converted into a linear movement of the spindle 16 in its longitudinal direction A or a displacement axis X.

[0021] As from Fig. 3, which shows an enlarged section B of Fig. 2 shows, the spindle nut 28 is in threaded engagement with the spindle 16 and is mounted such that the spindle nut 28 and the spindle 16 engaged with it can be pivoted relative to the drive element 26 about a first pivot axis Z orthogonal to the displacement axis X.

[0022] For this purpose, the drive element 26 has at least one, preferably two drivers 30, by means of which a force from a torque of the drive element 26 can be transmitted to the spindle nut 28.

[0023] The drive element 26 with the drivers 30 and the spindle nut 28 are in Fig. 4, which shows a perspective exploded view, can be seen in detail.

[0024] As can be seen, the drive element 26 has a multi-part bearing pin 32, which is formed with an internal hollow spherical contour 34 for pivotably receiving the essentially spherical spindle nut 28. Furthermore, a toothed ring 36 is provided, which interacts with the worm 24 as a worm gear and in which the bearing pin 32 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. For example, after assembly of the spindle nut 28, the bearing pin 32, consisting of two bearing pin elements 38, can be pressed into corresponding recesses 42 of the toothed ring 36 by means of teeth 40 formed on the outer circumference. Other connection methods are conceivable.

[0025] The bearing pin 32 is rotatably mounted in the housing 14 of the adjusting device 10 with bearing projections 52 extending axially with respect to the displacement axis X.

[0026] The separately formed drivers 30, also called T-nuts, each have a sliding contour 44 on their upper sides, which is oval or rectangular in shape with rounded corners and a curved outer surface. This sliding contour 44 allows the drivers 30 to slide into at least partially circular hollow grooves 46 of the bearing pins 32, the contour of which is generally adapted to the sliding contour 44 of the drivers 30.

[0027] The sliding contour 44 has first and second sliding contour surfaces 54, 56, wherein the drivers 30 are guided in a sliding manner in the hollow grooves 46 of the bearing pins 32 by means of the first sliding contour surfaces 54. As can be seen in particular from Fig.3, the hollow grooves 46 extend in a partially circular manner around the first pivot axis Z such that pivoting of the drivers 30 about the first pivot axis Z in the hollow grooves 46 is possible. This enables pivoting of the spindle nut 28 relative to the drive element 26 about the first pivot axis Z. The second sliding contour surfaces 56 can rest against groove ends 58 of the hollow grooves 46 depending on the pivoting angle of the spindle nut 28 about the first pivot axis Z.

[0028] The spindle nut 28 has two hemispherical recesses 48, in which hemispherical undersides 50 of the drivers 24 can be slidably or rotatably received to enable pivoting of the spindle nut 28 about a second pivot axis Y, which is orthogonal to the first pivot axis Z and to the displacement axis X. For this purpose, the central axis M of the recesses 48 lies on the second pivot axis Y.

[0029] The drivers 30, which are rotatably arranged in the hemispherical recesses 48 of the spindle nut 28, thus allow pivoting of the spindle nut 28 about the two pivot axes Z, Y. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2018 212 959 A1

[0003] DE 10 2019 100 827 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Actuating device (10) for a vehicle part movable relative to a body of a vehicle, in particular a vehicle door or a vehicle flap, at least comprising: a drive arrangement (12) with a drive unit and an actuating element designed as a spindle (16) which is displaceable relative to the drive arrangement (12) along a displacement axis (X) of the actuating device (10) by means of a drive element (26) of the drive unit, wherein a spindle nut (28) threadedly engaged with the spindle (16) is driven via the drive element (26) to displace the spindle (16) and the spindle nut (28) is mounted in such a way that the spindle nut (28) and the spindle (16) engaging therewith can be pivoted relative to the drive element (26) about a first pivot axis (Z) orthogonal to the displacement axis (X), wherein at least one driver (30) is provided for transmitting a force from a torque of the drive element (26) to the spindle nut (28), which enables the spindle nut (28) to pivot about the first pivot axis (Z) and about a second pivot axis (Y) formed orthogonally to the first pivot axis (Z) and the displacement axis (X) relative to the drive element (26), characterized by that the drive element (26) has at least one hollow groove (46) in which the driver (30) is provided for sliding accommodation in order to enable pivoting of the spindle nut (28) about the first pivot axis (Z), and the spindle nut (28) has at least one hemispherical recess (48) whose central axis (M) lies on the second pivot axis (Y) and in which the driver (30) is provided to be slidably received in order to enable pivoting of the spindle nut (28) about the second pivot axis (Y). [2] Adjusting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that two drivers (30) are provided which are slidably received in two diametrically opposed hollow grooves (46), wherein the hollow grooves (46) extend substantially in a part-circular manner around the first pivot axis (Z). [3] Adjusting device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the driver (30) has a sliding contour (44) for sliding pivoting in the hollow groove (46) and a hemispherical underside (50) for rotatable arrangement in the hemispherical recess (48) of the spindle nut (28). [4] Adjusting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive element (26) has at least one multi-part bearing pin (32) with an internal hollow spherical contour (34) for pivotably receiving the substantially spherical spindle nut (28). [5] Adjusting device (10) according to claim 4, characterized by that the drive element (26) has a toothed ring (36) in which the bearing pin (32) is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. [6] Adjusting device (10) according to claim 5, characterized by that the bearing pin (32) is pressed into the toothed ring (36). [7] Adjusting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the bearing pin (32) has two bearing pin elements (38) and a parting plane is arranged such that the displacement axis (X) and the second pivot axis (Y) lie in the parting plane. [8] Motor vehicle (30) with a body and a vehicle part movable relative to the body, which is equipped with an adjusting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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