Door drive device with a gearbox assembly comprising a guide rail

Abstract

Door drive device (2) for adjusting a vehicle door (11) relative to a vehicle body (10), with an adjusting part (21) for power transmission between the vehicle door (11) and the vehicle body (10), a drive motor (22) and a gear assembly coupling the drive motor (22) with the adjusting part (21), characterized in that the gear assembly has a guide rail (27) and a sliding element (26) coupled to the adjusting part (21) and guided along an adjustment direction (V) on the guide rail (27), adjustable by the drive motor (22), wherein the guide rail (27) has two legs (271) extending parallel to each other along the adjustment direction (V) and the sliding element (26) is guided between the legs (271) along the adjustment direction (V).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a door drive device for adjusting a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a door drive device comprises an adjusting element for power transmission between the vehicle door and the vehicle body and a drive motor which is coupled to the adjusting element via a gearbox assembly.

[0003] A door drive device described in DE 10 2015 215 627 A1, for example, has an adjusting element in the form of a safety strap, which is articulated to a vehicle body and can be adjusted via a drive device on the side of the vehicle door in order to move the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body. The drive device has a cable drum that can be rotated and is connected to the adjusting element in the form of the safety strap via a transmission element in the form of a pull cable, such that by rotating the cable drum the adjusting element can be moved towards the cable drum and thereby the vehicle door can be adjusted.

[0004] In such a door drive device, the drive motor can, for example, be located on the side of the vehicle door. The adjusting element is coupled to the vehicle body and also operatively connected to the drive motor in such a way that the adjusting element is moved by the drive motor, thereby generating a force between the vehicle door and the vehicle body for the electromechanical adjustment of the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body. Because, for example, the installation space in the vehicle door is limited, such a door drive device should be designed to be space-saving, so that it occupies only a comparatively small installation space, for example, in a vehicle door.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a door drive device that can be designed to save space and enables reliable adjustment operation for adjusting the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body.

[0006] This problem is solved by a door drive device having the features of claim 1.

[0007] Accordingly, the gearbox assembly has a guide rail and a sliding element coupled to the adjusting part, which is guided longitudinally along the guide rail in an adjustment direction and is adjustable by the drive motor, wherein the guide rail has two legs extending parallel to each other along the adjustment direction and the sliding element is guided between the legs along the adjustment direction.

[0008] In such a door drive device, the drive motor can, for example, be permanently mounted on the vehicle door. In this case, the guide rail is also fixed to the vehicle door and thus fixed relative to it. The adjusting element, on the other hand, is supported by the vehicle body and can be adjusted by moving the sliding element on the guide rail so that the vehicle door is moved relative to the vehicle body.

[0009] Alternatively, the drive motor could be fixed to the side of the vehicle body. In this case, the guide rail is fixed relative to the vehicle body, while the adjusting element is supported at the vehicle door, allowing an adjusting force to be applied to the vehicle door by moving the sliding element on the guide rail.

[0010] The guide rail defines a specific path of movement for the sliding element. Because the guide rail can be fixed to the associated assembly, for example the vehicle door, a space-saving design is possible while maintaining a defined adjustment movement of the adjusting part.

[0011] The guide rail has two legs between which the sliding element is guided. The sliding element thus rests in the guide rail and can be moved slidably between the legs along the adjustment direction.

[0012] In one embodiment, the guide rail is formed from a bent sheet metal part. The guide rail extends longitudinally along the adjustment direction, with the legs being connected to each other, for example, via a base, so that the guide rail has a cross-section transverse to the adjustment direction, for example, a U-shape or a C-shape. A guide channel is formed in the guide rail, which provides longitudinal guidance for the sliding element along a straight or, if necessary, curved path of movement.

[0013] In one embodiment, each leg of the guide rail has an edge extending from the base, with one or possibly both edges being bent in such a way that the respective edge points towards the other leg of the guide rail. If both edges are bent inwards, the result is a guide rail which has a C-shape in cross-section transverse to the direction of adjustment and which thus completely encloses the sliding element guided in the guide rail in such a way that the sliding element is slidably movable longitudinally along the direction of adjustment in the guide rail, but is fixed in a plane transverse to the direction of adjustment by the guide rail.

[0014] In one embodiment, the sliding element comprises a structural part and a sliding section arranged on the structural part for sliding contact with the guide rail. The structural part provides a rigid structure for the sliding element. The sliding section formed on the structural part, on the other hand, serves to improve the sliding properties of the sliding element for sliding in the guide rail.

[0015] In addition to or as an alternative to the sliding section of the sliding element, the guide rail can be made of a material optimized for sliding pairing with the sliding element or coated with a sliding-optimized material.

[0016] For example, the structural component can be made of a metal material. The structural component can, for instance, be formed as a bent sheet metal part, thus providing a stiffening structure for the sliding element.

[0017] In one embodiment, the structural part has a base and two legs formed on it. The sliding section can, for example, be formed on the outside of the legs and / or on the outside of the base and serves to rest against the guide rail, so that the structural part, in particular the legs and the base of the structural part, are not in direct contact with the guide rail and thus the sliding behavior of the sliding element is determined by the sliding sections.

[0018] In one embodiment, the sliding element has a coupling element articulated between the legs of the structural part and connected to the adjusting part. The coupling element can, for example, have the form of a ball joint and establish an articulated connection with the adjusting part, allowing the adjusting part to be articulated relative to the sliding element. Because the coupling element is located between the legs of the structural part, the connection between the sliding element and the adjusting part is established inside the structural part, which can contribute to space savings.

[0019] The sliding section can be attached to the structural part as a separate element, for example made of plastic.

[0020] Alternatively, in one embodiment, the sliding section is formed on the structural component using, for example, a plastic injection molding process. The sliding section can be formed on the structural component within an injection mold by overmolding or injection molding, whereby the structural component is inserted into the injection mold as an insert (in the case of complete overmolding) or as an outsert (in the case of partial overmolding), and the material of the sliding section is injected onto the structural component within the injection mold.

[0021] Functional sections of the sliding element can be integrally formed with the sliding section during injection molding, for example the coupling element for coupling the sliding element with the adjusting part or a spindle nut section for coupling the sliding element with a spindle of a spindle drive of the gear assembly.

[0022] In one embodiment, the gear assembly features a spindle that is rotatable about a rotary axis and driven by the drive motor. The sliding element is threaded in connection with the spindle, so that by rotating the spindle, the sliding element can be moved longitudinally along the adjustment direction. The spindle has, for example, an external thread that engages with an internal thread formed on the sliding element, so that when the spindle is rotated, the sliding element rolls along the spindle and is thus adjusted longitudinally.

[0023] In one embodiment, the sliding element has a spindle nut section with a threaded opening formed therein, in which an internal thread is formed for creating a threaded connection with the spindle. The spindle engages in the threaded opening and is thereby coupled to the spindle nut section, so that by rotating the spindle the sliding element can be adjusted axially along the spindle and thus the adjusting part for adjusting the vehicle door can be moved.

[0024] The door drive mechanism thus uses a gearbox assembly similar to a spindle drive, through which adjusting forces can be introduced into the adjusting element for adjusting the vehicle door. Such a spindle drive can be constructed simply with just a few components and enables reliable and robust power transmission.

[0025] The spindle nut section of the sliding element is, for example, integrally and integrally formed with the sliding section, for instance by injection molding in an injection mold. During injection molding, the threaded opening with the internal thread formed within it is also integrally formed.

[0026] The spindle nut section can be stiffened, for example, by raised sections of the structural part adjoining the legs of the structural part, so that a reliable force transmission into the sliding element for adjusting the sliding element on the guide rail is possible via the spindle nut section.

[0027] In one embodiment, the gear assembly comprises a gear housing and a gear wheel mounted on the gear housing for power transmission from the drive motor to the sliding element. The gear wheel can, for example, be designed as a spur gear and be fixed to the spindle. The drive motor can, for example, have a drive shaft and a drive worm mounted on the drive shaft, which meshes with the gear wheel, so that a rotary motion of the shaft is converted into a (reduced) rotary motion of the gear wheel.

[0028] The guide rail can be permanently attached to the gearbox housing, for example, by attaching the guide rail to the gearbox housing with a flanged section and connecting it via a bolted connection. Alternatively, the guide rail can be partially overmolded with the same material as the guide rail, thus forming a metallurgical bond with the gearbox housing. Another alternative is that the guide rail can also be integrally molded with the gearbox housing, for example, from plastic.

[0029] In one embodiment, the sliding element is positioned away from the gearbox housing along the adjustment direction in a first position, for example, when the adjustment part is at least partially retracted into the guide rail. In a second position, the sliding element is closer to the gearbox housing and, viewed along the adjustment direction, is in axial overlap with at least a section of the gearbox housing. The sliding element, which is adjustable within the guide rail, thus disappears beneath the gearbox housing in the second position (corresponding, for example, to an end position when the adjustment part is extended from the guide rail). This allows for a more space-saving design of the door drive device while still providing a comparatively large adjustment range for the sliding element on the guide rail.

[0030] A door drive device of the type described can be used as a door drive on a vehicle side door, or also on a tailgate or other vehicle opening.

[0031] The underlying concept of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of a vehicle door on a vehicle body, with an adjusting part in the form of a sliding element arranged articulated on the vehicle body, which moves when the vehicle door pivots relative to the vehicle door; Fig. 2 a view of an embodiment of a door drive device for adjusting a vehicle door; Fig. 3 an exploded view of the door drive device; Fig. 4 Another view of the door drive device, from the side; Fig. 5 A view of the door drive device, from above; Fig. 6 a front view of the door drive device; Fig. 7 the view according to Fig. 4, however, with the adjustment part extended; Fig. 8 the view according to Fig. 5, with the adjustment part extended; Fig. 9 the view according to Fig. 6, with the adjustment part extended; Fig. 10 a partially cutaway view of the door drive device, with the adjustment part retracted; Fig. 11 the view according to Fig. 10, however, with the adjustment part extended; Fig. 12 a separate side view of a sliding element of a gear assembly of the door drive device; Fig. 13 a top view of the sliding element; Fig. 14 a front view of the sliding element; Fig. 15 a perspective view of the sliding element; Fig. 16 a side view of a gear assembly of the door drive device; Fig. 17 a top view of the gearbox assembly; Fig. 18 a front view of the gearbox assembly; and Fig. 19 a perspective view of the gearbox assembly.

[0032] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle 1 with a vehicle body 10 and a vehicle door 11 arranged on the vehicle body 10 by means of a door hinge 111, which can be pivoted along an opening direction O relative to the vehicle body 10 in order to open or close a door opening.

[0033] A door drive device 2, comprising an adjusting element 21 in the form of a sliding element, is located between the vehicle body 10 and the vehicle door 11. This adjusting element 21 is pivotally mounted on the vehicle body 10, for example, on the A-pillar of the vehicle 1, around a joint 20. It moves when the vehicle door 11 pivots relative to the vehicle door 11. For this purpose, one end 211 of the adjusting element 21 projects into a door cavity 110 of the vehicle door 11 and moves within this cavity when the vehicle door 11 is adjusted.

[0034] Fig. Figures 2 to 19 show views of an embodiment of a door drive device 2, which serves to adjust an adjusting part 21 and thereby to move a vehicle door 11 relative to a vehicle body 10.

[0035] The door drive device 2 has an electric drive motor 22, which serves to drive a spindle 25 of a gear assembly of the door drive device 2, rotatable about a rotary axis D. The drive motor 22 has a motor shaft 220 and a drive worm 221 arranged thereon, with a worm gear that meshes with a gear wheel 230 in the form of a spur gear of a gearbox 23.

[0036] The gear wheel 230 is arranged on a shaft 233 and is connected via the shaft 233 in a rotationally fixed manner to a section 250 of the spindle 25, so that the gear wheel 230 is fixed to the spindle 25 in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0037] The gear wheel 23 is rotatably mounted relative to a gear housing 24 about the axis of rotation D of the spindle 25 via bearings 231, 234. As can be seen in particular from the partial sectional views according to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 in conjunction with the exploded view according to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, a bearing 231 is received in a bearing bushing 232 and supported above it in a bearing opening 240 of the gearbox housing 24. Another bearing 234, on the other hand, is located in a section 245 of the gearbox housing 24 and provides a bearing for the shaft 233 at an end of the shaft 233 opposite the bearing 231.

[0038] The door drive device 2 has a sliding element 26 and a guide rail 27. The guide rail 27 is, as can be seen in particular from the exploded view according to Fig. 3 can be seen, received in a receiving opening 246 of the gearbox housing 24 and firmly connected to the gearbox housing 24 via flange sections 273.

[0039] The sliding element 26 is slidably located in the guide rail 27 such that it can be adjusted along the guide rail 27 in an adjustment direction V. The guide rail 27 has a C-shape in cross-section transverse to the adjustment direction V, formed by a base 270 and legs 271 extending laterally from the base 270 and angled towards the base 270. The edges 272 of the legs 271 extending away from the base 270 are bent so that they point towards each other. The sliding element 26 is guided in the guide rail 27 such that it is received between the legs 271 and enclosed by the base 270, the legs 271, and the bent edges 272.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the guide rail 27 is formed as a metal sheet bending part and is firmly connected to the gearbox housing 24 via a mounting plate 242 and the flange sections 273 abutting the gearbox housing 24 (see in particular Fig. 2 as well as Fig. 4 to 6). The mounting plate 242 is connected to the gearbox housing 24 via fastening elements 243 in the form of screws with the flange sections 273 interposed and can be fixed to a structural section of the vehicle door 11, for example to an inner door panel section, via fastening elements 244 in the form of screws, so that the door drive device 2 is fixed in the vehicle door 11.

[0041] The sliding element 26 shows, as can be seen in particular from the separate views according to Fig. As can be seen from Figures 12 to 15, a structural part 260 is formed as a bent metal sheet part. The structural part 260 has a base 261 and legs 262 angled towards the base 261. The edges 267 of the legs 262 are bent towards each other, with sections 268 adjoining the edges 267 being positioned such that they point away from the base 261, as is shown, for example, in the following illustration. Fig. 15 is evident.

[0042] The structural part 260 is partially overmolded with a plastic material through which sliding sections 263 are formed on the outside of the leg 262. The sliding element 26 slides over these sliding sections in contact with the guide rail 27. The material of the sliding sections 263 is optimized for favorable sliding behavior on the guide rail 27, and a coating may also be provided on the guide rail 27, for example, to further optimize the sliding behavior.

[0043] Integral to the sliding sections 263 is a coupling element 266 in the form of a ball head, which is arranged between the legs 262 of the structural part 260 and serves for the articulated coupling of the sliding element 26 with the adjusting part 21. One end 211 of the adjusting part 21 is arranged on the coupling element 266 and articulated to the sliding element 26 via this, as can be seen, for example, in the views of the gear assembly according to Fig. 16 to 19 can be seen.

[0044] Due to the spherical shape of the coupling element 266, the adjusting part 21 is pivotally connected to the sliding element 26 about the adjustment direction V and also about axes perpendicular to the adjustment direction V, so that tolerances in the position of the adjusting part 21 relative to the sliding element 26 can be compensated.

[0045] Furthermore, a spindle nut section 264 is integrally formed with the sliding section 263. The spindle nut section 264 is formed on the erected sections 268 of the structural part 260 and has a threaded opening 265 with an internal thread formed therein. The spindle 25 engages in the threaded opening 265 with a threaded section 251, so that the spindle 25 is in threaded engagement with the spindle nut section 264 of the sliding element 26 via an external thread formed on the outside of the threaded section 251.

[0046] The sliding element 26 can be manufactured using a plastic injection molding process. For this purpose, the structural part 260 can be inserted into the injection mold as a so-called insert or outsert and overmolded section by section with an injection molding material to form the sliding section 263, the coupling element 266 and the spindle nut section 264.

[0047] As from Fig. 3 in conjunction with Fig. As can be seen in Figure 10, a cover element 241 is arranged on the gearbox housing 24, which covers the guide rail 27 on the side of the edges 272 and thus encloses the spindle nut section 264 of the sliding element 26 outwards along the path of movement defined by the guide rail 27.

[0048] The adjusting part 21 is articulated at one end 210 via a pivot pin 200 about a pivot axis G to a joint 20, which is rigidly connected to the vehicle body 10, as shown schematically in Fig. Figure 1 is shown. At the end 211, which is furthest from end 210, the adjusting part 21 is pivotally coupled to the sliding element 26. By adjusting the sliding element 26, driven by the drive motor 22, the end 211 of the adjusting part 21 can be moved in the guide rail 27, so that the adjusting part 21 moves between a first, retracted position ( Fig. 4 to 6 as well Fig. 10) and a second, extended position ( Fig. 7 to 9 as well Fig. 11) can be adjusted to move the vehicle door 11 relative to the vehicle body 10 and to adjust between a closed position (corresponding to the retracted position of the adjusting part 21) and an open position (corresponding to an extended position of the adjusting part 21).

[0049] As can be seen from the partially cropped view according to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 10, in the first, retracted position, the sliding element 26 is away from the gearbox housing 24 and approaching an end of the guide rail 27 that is away from the mounting plate 242. In the second, extended position, the sliding element 26 is moved towards the gearbox housing 24, so that the spindle nut section 264 is approaching the gearbox 23 and the adjusting part 21 is moved with its end 211 in the adjustment direction V towards the mounting plate 242.

[0050] In the second position, the sliding element 26, together with the structural part 260, dips below the gearbox 23, such that the sliding element 26, viewed along the adjustment direction V, comes into axial overlap with the gearbox housing 24 and the gearbox 23 mounted thereon, as shown by Fig. 11 is evident. This enables a space-efficient design of the drive device 2, with a comparatively large stroke of the adjusting part 21 along the adjustment direction V and a low overall height transverse to the adjustment direction V, in particular vertically along the joint axis G.

[0051] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 9, a longitudinal axis L, about which the motor shaft 22 of the drive motor 22 is rotatable, is positioned at an angle to the joint axis G, about which the adjusting element 21 at the end 210 is articulated to the joint 20. This can contribute to a saving of installation space, particularly along a transverse direction (transverse to the joint axis G and transverse to the adjustment direction V).

[0052] To adapt a kinematics, in particular a transmission ratio, an adjustment part 21 can be selected modularly, which can be used on the otherwise unchanged drive device 2.

[0053] If necessary, the length of the guide rail 27 can also be adjusted to set a stroke of the drive device 2.

[0054] To adjust the translation of the gear assembly of the drive device 2, the thread pitch of the spindle 25 can be adjusted.

[0055] The drive device 2 can be installed in a vehicle door 11 with the drive motor 22 facing upwards, or alternatively with the drive motor 22 facing downwards. The drive motor 22 can also be arranged at an end of the guide rail 27 opposite the end of the guide rail 27 where the adjusting element 21 exits the guide rail 27. This allows the drive device 2 to be used universally on different door models of different vehicles.

[0056] The underlying idea of ​​the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be realized in completely different embodiments.

[0057] A door drive device of the type described can be used in particular on a vehicle side door as well as on a tailgate or any other vehicle opening. Reference symbol list 1 vehicle 10 Bodywork 11 Vehicle door 110 Door interior 111 Door hinge 2 Door drive device 20 joint 200 hinge bolts 21 Adjustment part (thrust element) 210,211 End 22 Drive motor 220 motor shaft 221 Drive screw 23 gearboxes 230 gear wheel 231 warehouses 232 Bearing bushing 233 wave 234 warehouses 24 Gearbox housings 240 Warehouse opening 241 Cover element 242 Mounting plate 243, 244 Fastening element Section 245 246 Intake opening 25 spindle Section 250 251 Thread section 26 sliding element 260 structural part 261 Base 262 thighs 263 Gliding section 264 Spindle nut section 265 Threaded opening 266 Coupling element 267 edges 268 Established section 27 Guide rail 270 base 271 thighs 272 edges 273 Flange section D axis of rotation G Joint axis L Longitudinal axis Opening direction V Adjustment direction QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2015 215 627 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Door drive device (2) for adjusting a vehicle door (11) relative to a vehicle body (10), with an adjusting part (21) for power transmission between the vehicle door (11) and the vehicle body (10), a drive motor (22) and a gear assembly coupling the drive motor (22) with the adjusting part (21), characterized by , that the gear assembly has a guide rail (27) and a sliding element (26) guided along an adjustment direction (V) on the guide rail (27), adjustable by the drive motor (22) and coupled to the adjustment part (21), wherein the guide rail (27) has two legs (271) extending parallel to each other along the adjustment direction (V) and the sliding element (26) is guided between the legs (271) along the adjustment direction (V). [2] Door drive device (2) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the guide rail (27) is formed by a sheet metal bending part. [3] Door drive device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the guide rail (27) has a base (270) connecting the legs (271) together. [4] Door drive device (2) according to claim 3, characterized by , that each leg (271) forms an edge (272) extending from the base (270), wherein the edge (272) of at least one of the legs (271) is bent such that the edge (272) points towards the other leg (271). [5] Door drive device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the sliding element (26) has a structural part (260) and a sliding section (263) arranged on the structural part (260) for sliding contact with the guide rail (27). [6] Door drive device (2) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the structural part (260) is made of a metal material. [7] Door drive device (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by , that the structural part (260) has a base (261) and two legs (262) formed on it. [8] Door drive device (2) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the sliding section (263) is formed on the outside of the legs (262) and / or the base (261). [9] Door drive device (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by , that the sliding element (26) has a coupling element (266) which is articulated to the adjusting part (21) and is arranged between the legs (262) of the structural part (260). [10] Door drive device (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized by , that the sliding section (263) is formed on the structural part (260) by an injection molding process. [11] Door drive device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the gear assembly has a spindle (25) rotatable about a rotary axis (D) and driven by the drive motor (22), wherein the sliding element (26) is threaded in connection with the spindle (25) and is adjustable longitudinally along the adjustment direction (V) by rotating the spindle (25). [12] Door drive device (2) according to claim 11, characterized by , that the sliding element (26) has a spindle nut section (264) with a threaded opening (265) formed thereon, wherein the spindle (25) engages in the threaded opening (265). [13] Door drive device (2) according to claim 12, characterized by , that the spindle nut section (264) is formed by an injection molding process. [14] Door drive device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the transmission assembly comprises a transmission housing (24) and a gear wheel (230) mounted on the transmission housing (24) for power transmission from the drive motor (22) to the sliding element (26). [15] Door drive device (2) according to claim 14, characterized by , that the sliding element (26) is in a first position away from the gearbox housing (24) along the adjustment direction (V) and in a second position, viewed along the adjustment direction (V), is in axial overlap with a section (245) of the gearbox housing (24).

Images