DRIVE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE DOORS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the use of a drive device for the motorized adjustment of two vehicle parts pivotable relative to one another, one of which is a vehicle door.

[0002] Motorized opening and closing of vehicle doors is already known in the art. In particular, vehicles from various manufacturers are available on the market whose trunk doors can be opened and closed by motor. Vehicles with wing doors that open and close by motor are also available. The same applies to vehicles with sliding doors. Conventional vehicle doors, i.e., those with a substantially vertical pivot axis, are predominantly opened and closed manually. This is primarily due to the fact that the drive systems currently available on the market require a significant amount of installation space, which is unavailable in most conventional door designs.

[0003] Further drive devices are disclosed in the documents DE 196 23 317 A1 and EP 0 622 260 A1.

[0004] Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drive device of the type mentioned at the outset with comparatively small external dimensions.

[0005] To achieve this object, the present invention proposes to use a drive device according to claim 1.

[0006] The use of such a multiple spindle enables a very compact design of the drive device according to the invention, which means that the drive device according to the invention can also be installed in vehicle doors in which only very little space is available, in particular in conventional vehicle doors with a pivot axis extending essentially vertically.

[0007] The motor is preferably an electric motor. A wide range of suitable electric motors with compact dimensions is available on the market, which facilitates the design and manufacture of the drive device according to the invention.

[0008] Advantageously, the drive unit has a transmission downstream of the motor, for example, in the form of a planetary gear. Accordingly, gear ratios can be adjusted over a wide range by selecting the appropriate transmission. The motor and transmission can be integrated as a unit in a common housing. A wide range of such units is also available on the market.

[0009] According to the invention, the drive unit is designed to be non-self-locking and clutchless. Thanks to a non-self-locking motor and, if present, a non-self-locking gear in the form of a planetary gear or similar, the vehicle door can be easily opened manually even when the motor is de-energized, thus minimizing the potential danger in the event of a power failure. A clutchless design offers particular cost and installation space advantages.

[0010] Preferably, an output shaft of the drive unit extends transversely, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the multiple spindle, whereby the drive device as a whole has a substantially L-shaped structure which requires little installation space and can be easily integrated, in particular, into different vehicle doors of different vehicle manufacturers.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a gearwheel, particularly in the form of a bevel or worm gear, is formed on the outer circumference of the spindle nut, via which the spindle nut can be driven in rotation via a gearwheel or a worm gear driven in rotation by the drive unit. This results in a simple design of the drive device. This gearing, consisting of the bevel or worm gear or a comparable design, also lacks self-locking for the reasons mentioned above.

[0012] Preferably, the thread directions of the thread engagements between the internal thread of the spindle nut and the external thread of the first spindle part, on the one hand, and between the first spindle part and the second spindle part, on the other hand, are identical. In other words, in both cases, the thread is either right-hand or left-hand. This results in the first spindle part and the second spindle part always moving in the same direction.

[0013] Advantageously, thread pitches greater than or equal to 10 mm / rev (millimeters per revolution) are preferred, and are particularly in the range between 10 and 15 mm / rev. With spindle diameters ranging from 10 to 20 mm, such thread pitches ensure that a vehicle door equipped with a drive device according to the invention can be easily opened and closed manually due to the lack of self-locking. Furthermore, the resistance is sufficiently high that the vehicle door does not open or close on its own, for example, when the vehicle is parked on a slope.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first spindle part is hollow and provided with an internal thread, while the second threaded part is provided with an external thread that engages with the internal thread of the first spindle part. This ensures, in particular, good assembly of the drive device.

[0015] Advantageously, one or more stops are provided to limit the relative movement between the spindle nut and the first spindle part and / or between the first spindle part and the second spindle part. Such stops prevent the individual components from being disengaged from one another.

[0016] Preferably, the pivot axes about which the housing and the multiple spindle are pivotable extend parallel to each other. This results in a very simple design of the drive device according to the invention.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention provides a vehicle with a vehicle frame, at least one vehicle door pivotably held on the vehicle frame and at least one drive device according to the invention, the housing of which is pivotably held on the at least one vehicle door and the multiple spindle of which is pivotably held on the vehicle frame, or vice versa.

[0018] Preferably, a controller is provided to control the motor.

[0019] Advantageously, several sensors are provided, particularly in the area of ​​at least one vehicle door, whose output signals are transmitted to the controller, wherein the controller is designed to control the motor taking into account the received output signals. The sensors are particularly designed to monitor the area surrounding the vehicle door, for example, to prevent or stop the opening or closing of the vehicle door as soon as an obstacle is detected in the area surrounding the vehicle door. Sensors can also be provided that record forces or accelerations acting on the vehicle door, for example, to detect manual and thus intentional operation of the vehicle door.In addition, the force or acceleration curve can also be used to distinguish between intentional and unintentional actuations, such as actuations caused by gusts of wind, which makes it possible to take appropriate measures.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a drive device according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of a drive device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the multiple spindle of which is in a retracted position; Figure 2 a sectional view of the Figure 1 drive device shown; Figure 3 a perspective view of the Figure 1illustrated drive device, the multiple spindle of which is in an extended position; Figure 4 a sectional view of the Figure 3 drive device shown; Figure 5 a schematic plan view of a vehicle with side doors fitted with the Figures 1 to 4 shown drive device, with the multiple spindle of the left front door in its retracted position, Figure 6 a top view analogous to Figure 5 , with the multiple spindle in its extended position; and Figure 7 a schematic perspective view of a drive device according to a further embodiment of the present invention, which is shown without a housing for better understanding.

[0021] The figures show a drive device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is designed for the motorized adjustment of two vehicle parts pivotable relative to one another, one of which is a vehicle door.

[0022] The drive device 1 comprises a housing designed to be pivotably mounted on one of the vehicle parts about a pivot axis S 1. For this purpose, receiving pins 3 are arranged in alignment on the top and bottom of the housing 2, over which corresponding sleeves (not shown) of an associated first vehicle part engage when the drive device 1 is properly mounted.

[0023] Furthermore, the drive device 1 has a non-self-locking drive unit 4, which is attached to the housing 2 and comprises a motor and a transmission connected downstream of the motor, for example, in the form of a planetary gear. The motor and transmission are not shown separately here, as they are integrally incorporated into the drive unit 4, which is purchased as an additional part.

[0024] A spindle nut 6, which can be driven in rotation by the drive unit 4, is mounted in the housing 2 in a translationally fixed position and, by means of corresponding bearings 5, rotatable about its longitudinal axis. For this purpose, a gear 7 is formed on the outer circumference of the spindle nut 6, which meshes with a gear 9 fastened to an output shaft 8 of the drive unit 4. The gears 7 and 9 are designed as bevel gears and are not self-locking, thereby achieving a very simple and robust construction. The spindle nut 6 is further provided with an internal thread 10, which is formed in the region of a radially inwardly projecting hollow cylindrical shoulder 11.

[0025] The drive device 1 comprises as a further component a multiple spindle 12, which can be driven in rotation via the spindle nut 6 and can be extended and retracted accordingly.

[0026] The multiple spindle 12 comprises, on the one hand, a first hollow spindle part 13 with an external thread 14 that engages the internal thread 10 of the spindle nut 6. To limit the translational movement of the first spindle part 13, the latter is provided in the region of its free end with a stop 15, which in this case has the form of an outwardly projecting projection that, when the first spindle part 13 is fully extended, abuts against an end face 16 of the shoulder 11 of the spindle nut 6. Furthermore, the first spindle part 13 has an internal thread 17 formed on a radially inwardly projecting hollow cylindrical shoulder 18 of the first spindle part 13.

[0027] The multiple spindle 12 also comprises a second spindle part 19, which is threadedly engaged with the first spindle part 13 such that the spindle parts 13 and 19 form a telescopic arrangement. For this purpose, the second spindle part 19 is provided with an external thread 20, which engages with the internal thread 17 of the first spindle part 13. The second spindle part 19 is provided in its rear end region with a stop 21, which strikes against an end face 22 of the shoulder 18 of the first spindle part 13 as soon as the second spindle part 19 is fully extended. At the front free end of the second spindle part 19, a projection 23 is formed, through which a through opening 24 extends vertically.

[0028] The thread directions of the thread engagements between the internal thread 10 of the spindle nut 6 and the external thread 14 of the first spindle part 13 on the one hand and between the first spindle part 13 and the second spindle part 19 on the other hand are identical, i.e. both right-hand or both left-hand threads, so that the two spindle parts 13 and 19 always move in the same direction.

[0029] The output shaft 8 of the drive unit 4 extends transversely, more precisely perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the multiple spindle 12, whereby the drive device 1 has an overall substantially L-shaped form, which is characterized by its compactness.

[0030] A bearing block 25 is held on the projection 23 using a bolt 26 extending through the through-opening 24, which defines a second pivot axis S 2 extending parallel to the first pivot axis S 1 . The bearing block 25 serves to fasten the free end of the multiple spindle 12 to a second vehicle part, relative to which the first vehicle part is to be pivotable. For fastening, the fastening part is provided with a through-hole 27 through which, for example, a fastening screw or the like can extend.

[0031] The Figures 5 and 6show the drive device 1 in a properly installed state. In the present case, the housing 2 of the drive device 1 is pivotally mounted about the pivot axis S 1 on a conventional side vehicle door 28 and the fastening part 25 is pivotally mounted about the pivot axis S 2 on a vehicle frame 29 of a vehicle 30. If the drive device is now mounted from its Figures 1 and 2 shown position with retracted multiple spindle 12 in its Figures 3 and 4 shown position with extended multiple spindle 12 by rotating the multiple spindle 12 via the drive unit 4 and the spindle nut, the vehicle door 28 is opened, see the Figures 5 and 6If the multiple spindle 12 is then driven to rotate in the opposite direction, the vehicle door 28 closes again. A controller 31 for controlling the drive device 1 is provided at a suitable position in the vehicle 30, in this case in the vehicle door 28. It can be actuated in a known manner via switches (not shown) provided on the dashboard of the vehicle 30 and / or on the vehicle key to open and close the vehicle door 28, to name just a few examples. It should be understood that the controller 31 can be integrated into a control system already present in the vehicle 30 or can be provided as a separate control system.

[0032] To increase, in particular, the safety of the drive device 1 according to the invention, sensors 31 can be arranged on the vehicle 30, in particular in the area of ​​the vehicle door 28, the output signals of which are transmitted to the controller 31, wherein the controller 31 is designed to control the motor of the drive device 1 taking into account the received output signals. The sensors 32 are in particular designed such that they monitor the external and / or internal environment of the vehicle door 28 in order, for example, to prevent or stop the opening or closing of the vehicle door as soon as an obstacle is detected in the area of ​​the vehicle door 28. Sensors 32 can also be provided that record forces or accelerations acting on the vehicle door 28 in order, for example, to be able to detect a manual and thus deliberate actuation of the vehicle door 28, which is then assisted by the drive device 1.In addition, the force or acceleration curve can also be used to distinguish between intentional actuations and unintentional actuations, such as actuations caused by gusts of wind, which makes it possible to take suitable measures, such as preventing the closing of the vehicle door 28 upon detection of an unintentional actuation.

[0033] Figure 7 shows a drive device 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention, which differs from the previously described embodiment only in that the gear 7 of the spindle nut 6 is designed as a worm gear and the gear 9 as a worm meshing with the latter, which is also not self-locking.

[0034] It should be understood that the previously described embodiment of the drive device 1 according to the invention serves only as an example and is not to be understood as limiting. Rather, modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope of the present application, which is defined by the appended claims. Thus, the multiple spindle 12 can also be composed of more than two spindle parts, to name just one example. REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0035] 1Drive device 2Housing 3Holding pin 4Drive unit 5Bearing 6Spindle nut 7Gear 8Output shaft 9Gear 10Internal thread 11Shoulder 12Multiple spindle 13First spindle part 14External thread 15Stop 16End face 17Internal thread 18Shoulder 19Second spindle part 20External thread 21Stop 22End face 23Protrusion 24Through opening 25Bearing block 26Bolt 27Through hole 28Vehicle door 29Vehicle frame 30Vehicle 31Control system 32Sensor S 1 first swivel axis S 2 second swivel axis

Claims

1. Use of a drive device (1) for the motorized adjustment of two vehicle parts (28, 29) which can be pivoted relative to one another, comprising - a housing (2) designed to be pivotably attached to one of the vehicle parts (28, 29); - a drive unit (4) with a motor, wherein the drive unit (4) is attached to the housing (2); - a spindle nut (6) which is mounted in the housing (2) in a translationally stationary and rotatable manner, can be driven in rotation by the drive unit (4) and has an internal thread (10), and - a multiple spindle (12) which can be driven in rotation via the spindle nut (6) and the free end of which is designed to be pivotably fastened to the other of the vehicle parts (29, 28) in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to its longitudinal axis, the multiple spindle (12) comprising a first spindle part (13) having an external thread (14) which is in engagement with the internal thread (10) of the spindle nut (6), and at least one second spindle part (19) which is in threaded engagement with the first spindle part (13) in such a way that the spindle parts (13, 19) form a telescopic arrangement, characterized in that one of the vehicle parts (28, 29) which can pivot relative to one another and for the motorized adjustment of which the drive device (1) is designed is a vehicle door (28), and in that the drive unit (4) is not self-locking and is designed without a clutch.

2. Use of a drive device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor is an electric motor.

3. Use of a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (4) has a gearbox connected downstream of the motor.

4. Use of a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an output shaft (8) of the drive unit (4) extends transversely, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the multiple spindle (12).

5. Use of a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gear wheel (7) is formed on the outer circumference of the spindle nut (6), in particular in the form of a bevel or worm wheel, via which the spindle nut (6) can be driven in rotation via a gear wheel or a worm driven in rotation by the drive unit (4).

6. Use of a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread directions of the thread engagements between the internal thread (10) of the spindle nut (6) and the external thread (14) of the first spindle part (13), on the one hand, and between the first spindle part (13) and the second spindle part (19), on the other hand, are identical.

7. Use of a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thread pitches are greater than or equal to 10 mm / rev and in particular lie in the range between 10 and 15 mm / rev.

8. Use of a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first spindle part (13) is hollow and provided with an internal thread (17), and in that the second spindle part (19) is provided with an external thread (20) which engages with the internal thread (17) of the first spindle part (13).

9. Use of a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more stops (15, 21) are provided which limit the relative movement between the spindle nut (6) and the first spindle part (13) and / or between the first spindle part (13) and the second spindle part (19).

10. Use of a drive device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot axes (S1, S2) about which the housing (2) and the multiple spindle (12) are pivotable extend parallel to one another.