DRIVE ADAPTER FOR TOOL-FREE MOUNTING OF A DRIVE ELEMENT ON A RAIL ELEMENT OF A GUIDE SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive adapter for tool-free mounting of a drive element on a rail element of a guide system.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system comprising a guide system with at least two rail elements, a drive element and such a drive adapter.

[0003] Guide systems, in particular linear guide systems, for example telescopic rails, with at least two rail elements and optionally a rolling element cage containing rolling elements to reduce friction between the rail elements, are known in numerous embodiments from the prior art. They are used in various household appliances, as well as in automotive engineering and many other applications. Guide systems driven by motors are already in use in a wide range of applications.

[0004] The applications for guide systems are often price-sensitive. However, guide systems with a motor drive are complex in their design and require elaborate assembly.

[0005] From CN 106 225 411 B, an electric slide rail system for a large-capacity refrigerator drawer is known. A driving and a driven slide rail assembly are mounted symmetrically on the two sides of the refrigerator drawer and connected to the side wall of a refrigerator inner container. Each slide rail assembly comprises a fixed guide rail, a connecting guide rail, and a sliding guide rail. The driving slide rail assembly drives the driven slide rail assembly.

[0006] In contrast, the present invention is based on the objective of making a drive element integrable into a system consisting of the drive element and a guide system with as few work steps as possible.

[0007] This problem is solved by a drive adapter for tool-free mounting of a drive element on a rail element of a guide system according to independent claim 1 of the present application.

[0008] The drive adapter for tool-free mounting of a drive element on a rail element of a guide system comprises a drive carrier and a holding section, wherein the drive carrier includes a mounting device for the drive element, wherein the holding section has two support surfaces and a holding back that connects the support surfaces at least partially and defines a distance between the support surfaces, wherein the two support surfaces are each convexly curved, point away from each other and are designed in such a way that they can be clamped between two mutually pointing rolling element running surfaces of the rail element.

[0009] The drive adapter according to the invention comprises two essential elements: a drive carrier and a retaining section. The drive carrier is designed to include a mounting device for the drive element. The retaining section, on the other hand, serves to connect the drive adapter to a rail element of a guide system without tools, or to mount the drive adapter to this rail element.

[0010] The drive adapter according to the invention utilizes the design principle of the rail elements of a guide system. In one embodiment, such a rail element has a, preferably flat, rail back from which two legs extend, running essentially parallel to each other and in the same direction from the rail back. These legs of the rail elements each carry a rolling element raceway for one or more rolling elements, which, in the assembled state of a guide system, are located between two rail elements and reduce the friction of the rail elements during the extension movement.Due to this design of the rail elements, the rolling element running surfaces of two rail elements that can be moved relative to each other point towards each other, so that a single rolling element between the two rail elements is in contact with both the rolling element running surface of one rail element and the rolling element running surface of the other rail element.

[0011] The mounting section of the drive adapter is equipped to complement the rail element. The mounting section has two support surfaces analogous to the legs of the rail element. These support surfaces are held at a defined distance from each other by a mounting back. The mounting back connects the two support surfaces, at least partially. In one embodiment, the support surfaces come into contact with the legs of the rail element during assembly.

[0012] As described in the introduction, there is one rail element with two opposing rolling element raceways on its legs and one rail element with opposing rolling element raceways on its legs. The rail element with opposing raceways is referred to as the inner rail, and the rail element with opposing raceways is referred to as the outer rail. The drive adapter according to the invention can be inserted into the outer rail.

[0013] The positive locking between the support surfaces of the drive adapter's retaining section and the legs of the rail element that support the rolling element raceways fixes the drive adapter in the vertical direction of the rail element, i.e., essentially in a direction parallel to the rail back and perpendicular to the extension direction. It has been found that the frictional forces acting simultaneously between the legs of the rail element and the support surfaces of the drive adapter's retaining section are insufficient in certain drive situations to adequately secure the drive adapter to the rail element in or against the extension direction. Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, the retaining section has at least one locking lug or a locking recess for engaging with a complementary element on the rail element.

[0014] It has been shown that such a locking lug or locking recess is preferably provided on the retaining back of the retaining section, so that the locking lug or locking recess engages with a complementary element which is arranged on the rail back of the rail element.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the drive adapter consists of one or more pieces made of plastic. Such plastic components can be manufactured in large quantities with the required dimensional accuracy by injection molding.

[0016] It is advantageous to also use the retaining back as a support for other drive components. Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, the retaining back supports at least one bearing block. This bearing block serves in the system to accommodate a shaft bearing, for example, a deep groove rolling element bearing, or the bearing block itself forms part of a shaft plain bearing.

[0017] One possible drive mechanism for a telescopic rail is a spindle drive with a spindle-shaped shaft extending in the extension direction. The shaft must also be guided along the rail element to which the drive element is connected.

[0018] It has been found that a slip coupling between a drive shaft and an output shaft of the drive for a guide system effectively prevents damage to the components involved in an overload situation. In one embodiment, the slip coupling is a magnetic coupling. A slip coupling in the form of a magnetic coupling also allows for simpler mounting of the individual components to the rail element.

[0019] Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, the retaining back has two bearing blocks for supporting a drive shaft on one side and for supporting an output shaft, preferably in the form of a threaded spindle, on the other side.

[0020] In one embodiment, the bearing blocks are designed to each accommodate a bearing, for example a deep groove roller bearing, for the drive shaft and the output shaft. In another embodiment, the bearing blocks themselves form part of a roller bearing for supporting the drive shaft or the output shaft.

[0021] In one embodiment, an opening is provided in the retaining back between the two bearing blocks to accommodate the coupling between the drive shaft and the output shaft.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the mounting device of the drive carrier has two clamping jaws with concave clamping surfaces facing each other for force-fit clamping of a convex outer surface of the drive element, in particular a drive element with an electric motor. The drive element can be attached to the drive carrier of the drive adapter, preferably without tools, using the two clamping jaws.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, the mounting device of the drive carrier has a mounting frame with two opposing clamping surfaces for the force-fit mounting of the drive element between the two clamping surfaces. The drive element, preferably a drive element with an electric motor, can also be mounted without tools between the two clamping surfaces in such a mounting frame.

[0024] A drive element with an electric motor within the meaning of the present application includes, in addition to an electric motor without additional functional elements, drive units which, in addition to the electric motor, include at least one further functional element, for example a gearbox, a brake or an encoder.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the distance between the two opposing clamping surfaces is adjustable, allowing drive elements, preferably in the form of electric motors or drive elements with an electric motor, of different lengths to be accommodated in the mounting frame. In this way, a single type of drive adapter can be used for a variety of drive element designs, preferably electric motors. In particular, such an embodiment of the mounting frame serves to accommodate drive elements of different lengths, preferably with different lengths in the extension direction. This increases the number of identical parts, even for rail elements of different designs and dimensions.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one of the two clamping surfaces is spring-loaded at least partially in the direction of the other clamping surface.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one of the two clamping surfaces has at least one crimping bead for force-fit clamping of the drive element.

[0028] In a further embodiment, the two clamping surfaces of the mounting frame extend substantially perpendicular or substantially parallel to the mounting back. This provides an embodiment of the drive adapter that allows the mounting of an electric motor with a motor shaft extending parallel to the mounting back (clamping surfaces at least partially perpendicular to the mounting back). Alternatively, an embodiment of the drive adapter is provided that allows the mounting of an electric motor with a motor shaft extending perpendicular to the mounting back (clamping surfaces substantially parallel to the mounting back). An electric motor mounted in this manner is particularly suitable for driving one of the following elements: a belt drive with a drive belt extending in the extension direction, a rack and pinion drive, a chain drive, or a drive with a flexible shaft.

[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the mounting device of the drive carrier comprises a rolling bearing receptacle for receiving a rolling bearing as part of a drive element comprising a shaft. The rolling bearing receptacle is preferably arranged such that it can receive a rolling bearing for a shaft that is substantially perpendicular to the retaining back.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, the drive carrier or the holding section has an end stop carrier for receiving, preferably without tools, a sensor for detecting a stop position of a rail element of the guide system.

[0031] The aforementioned problem is also solved by a system according to the independent claim directed thereto in the present application. According to the invention, such a system comprises a guide system with at least one first and one second rail element, a drive element, and a drive adapter, as described in the embodiments above, wherein the first rail element has two legs, each supporting a concavely curved rolling element running surface, and a rail back connecting the legs, wherein the retaining section is clamped into the first rail element such that the convexly curved, outwardly pointing support surfaces are each in engagement with a rolling element running surface.

[0032] In one embodiment of the invention, the guide system is a linear guide system in which the relative movement between the first and second rail elements occurs along a straight line. In one embodiment of the invention, the guide system is selected from a group consisting of an extension guide, a telescopic rail, and a linear guide. The general term "guide system" includes sliding guides, ball guides, and roller guides. When a guide system is referred to within the meaning of this application, this term is to be understood so generally that it includes not only rails in which the first rail element and the second rail element have approximately the same length, i.e.,in particular telescopic rails, but also guides, in particular linear guides, in which the second rail element is significantly shorter than the first rail element or in which the second rail element is formed by a trolley.

[0033] In one embodiment, the guide system is a telescopic rail. Such a telescopic rail is characterized in that the first and second rail elements are slidably mounted to one another in such a way that the second rail element can be pulled out of the first rail element, at least partially.

[0034] While the present application states that the guide system according to the invention comprises a first rail element and a second rail element, this does not preclude the guide system, particularly if it is a telescopic rail, from comprising further rail elements, in particular three rail elements, for example to provide a full extension.

[0035] For the purposes of this application, the term "extension direction" is understood to mean the direction in which the first rail element and the second rail element can be moved relative to each other, preferably linearly, in order to move from a retraction position to an extension position. Conversely, a direction opposite to the extension direction is the direction in which the first and second rail elements are moved relative to each other in order to return to the retraction position.

[0036] In the case of a telescopic slide, the retracted position refers to the position of the first and second slide sections relative to each other in which the telescopic slide is fully retracted. The extended position then refers to the position of the first and second slide sections relative to each other in which the telescopic slide is fully extended.

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, rolling elements are arranged on the two rolling element running surfaces of the first rail element and on the two rolling element running surfaces of the second rail element, each receiving a rolling element cage. These rolling elements roll on the respective running surfaces and reduce friction between the first and second rail elements. For the purposes of this application, a rolling element is understood to be a rotating body that, as a guide element, significantly reduces friction between the different rail elements, thereby facilitating relative movement between two rail elements. Examples of rolling elements include balls, rollers, barrels, needles, or cones.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rolling elements are spheres. It is understood that in this case the rolling element cage is a spherical cage.

[0039] In one embodiment of the invention, at least the first rail element or the second rail element is made of a material selected from a group consisting of sheet steel, aluminized sheet steel and stainless steel.

[0040] In one embodiment of the invention, either the distance between the opposing support surfaces of the retaining section before its insertion into the first rail element is greater than the distance between the rolling element raceways of the first rail element. In this case, the support surfaces of the retaining section have an excess of dimension compared to the distance between the rolling element raceways of the first rail element.

[0041] In one embodiment of the invention, the retaining back of the drive adapter has a locking lug which engages in a locking recess in the rail back of the first rail element, or the rail back of the first rail element has a locking lug which engages in a locking recess in the retaining back of the drive adapter.

[0042] In a further embodiment of the invention, the drive element is received in the drive carrier of the drive adapter without tools and by means of a form-fit or force-fit connection.

[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, the drive element is selected from a group consisting of an electric motor and a rolling bearing with a drive shaft received in the rolling bearing.

[0044] An electric motor within the meaning of the present invention is a motor with a rotating motor shaft for providing torque. In one embodiment of the invention, the electric motor is selected from a group consisting of a stepper motor, a brushless DC motor, or a brushed DC motor.

[0045] In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a coupling, wherein the coupling connects a drive shaft, in particular the motor shaft of an electric motor, and an output shaft, for example a threaded spindle of a spindle drive, in such a way that the coupling transmits a torque from the drive shaft to the output shaft.

[0046] In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling is a magnetic coupling with a first coupling element and a second coupling element, wherein the first coupling element is connected to the drive shaft in a torque-resistant manner and wherein the second coupling element is connected to the output shaft in a torque-resistant manner.

[0047] One such embodiment is based on the idea of ​​using a magnetic coupling to transmit torque from the drive shaft, coupled to the electric motor (in particular to a motor shaft of the electric motor), to the output shaft of the drive. Such a magnetic coupling has the advantage that the coupling itself provides overload protection. A magnetic force between the first and second coupling elements limits the torque transmission. If, for example, the driven rail element becomes blocked, the magnetic coupling slips. The coupling element connected to the drive shaft continues to rotate but no longer transmits torque to the coupling element connected to the output shaft. The magnetic coupling acts as a slip clutch, which slips when a certain counter-torque of the output shaft is exceeded relative to the torque applied to the drive shaft by the electric motor.In this way, overload protection for the driven guide system and, if necessary, clamping protection is provided.

[0048] Furthermore, the magnetic coupling enables rapid assembly during production. The drive's output shaft can be pre-assembled with the corresponding second coupling element, as can the input shaft or, if applicable, the motor together with the input shaft and the first coupling element. In one embodiment, the motor is flanged during assembly, and the two shafts are directly connected when positioned accordingly, allowing torque to be transmitted between them.

[0049] In one embodiment, the bearing blocks of the drive adapter and / or the bearings contained therein are designed to absorb axial forces acting on the output shaft or the input shaft. In one embodiment, the absorption of axial forces is achieved by the bearing block forming a partial circular bearing bushing of a rolling bearing, thus acting as an axial stop for a stop element connected to the respective input and / or output shaft. In one embodiment of the invention, this stop element is the first or the second coupling element. In another embodiment, the bearing blocks absorb axial forces by axially fixing a rolling element bearing in each case.

[0050] A design in which the bearing blocks absorb axial forces has a number of advantages. Firstly, bearing blocks designed in this way prevent the axially acting forces from being transmitted to an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft and damaging it.

[0051] Furthermore, these specially designed bearing blocks allow the torque transmitted by a magnetic coupling to be defined. Due to the forces acting upon them, when the guide system is extended in the extension direction, the first and second coupling elements of the magnetic coupling are pressed together. The frictional force between the coupling elements, and thus the maximum torque transmitted between them, increases. Conversely, when the guide system is retracted in the opposite direction, the first and second coupling elements of the magnetic coupling are pulled apart. The frictional force between the coupling elements, and thus the maximum torque transmitted between them, decreases.However, if the axial forces acting, especially on the output shaft, are absorbed by the respective bearing block, this prevents the coupling elements from being pressed against each other or pulled apart outside a certain clearance specified by the bearings.

[0052] Further advantages, features, and applications of the present invention will become clear with reference to the following description of embodiments and the accompanying figures. In the figures, identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals. Figure 1 is a partially cutaway isometric view of a first rail element of a telescopic rail from a system comprising a telescopic rail, a drive adapter, and a drive element. Figure 2 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a drive adapter from a top oblique angle. Figure 3 is a top view of the drive adapter. Figure 2from above. Figure 4 is a cropped, enlarged view of the section labeled V from Figure 3 Figure 5 is a cropped, enlarged isometric view of a section of the drive carrier of the drive adapter from the Figures 1 to 4 Figure 6 is a truncated isometric view of a system with the first rail element of a telescopic rail made of Figure 1 , the drive adapter according to the Figures 2 to 5 and a drive element with an electric motor. Figure 7 is an isometric view from a top oblique angle of a second embodiment of the drive adapter. Figure 8 is an isometric exploded view of the drive adapter made of Figure 7 Figure 9 is an isometric view of the drive adapter from the Figure 7 and 8 with an electric motor attached to it. Figure 10 is an isometric view from a top oblique angle of the drive adapter from the Figures 7 to 9 in a second, in contrast to the representation from Figure 7 shortened length of the drive carrier. Figure 11 is an isometric view from a top oblique angle of a third embodiment of the drive adapter. Figure 12 is an isometric view from a top oblique angle of a further embodiment of the drive adapter.

[0053] The system 1 described below with reference to the figures comprises a linear guide system in the form of a telescopic rail 2, a drive adapter 3 and a drive element, which in the illustrated embodiments is either an electric motor 4 or a drive shaft with a rolling bearing.

[0054] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a first rail element 5 of a telescopic rail, which is adapted for motorization. The first rail element 5 comprises a rail back 6, which is essentially flat. Extending from this rail back 6 are an upper leg 7 and a lower leg 8, which carry the rolling element raceways 9, 10 of the telescopic rail 2. The rolling element raceways 9, 10 are formed by surfaces that are concave in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the extension direction 11, on which balls run as rolling elements when a second rail element is mounted on the first rail element 5.

[0055] The first end 45 of the first rail element 5 is designed to accommodate a drive adapter 3 as defined in the present application. For this purpose, the first end 45 of the rail element 5 has an opening 12 through which, in one embodiment, the coupling discs of a magnetic coupling can extend between a drive shaft and an output shaft. Furthermore, two locking recesses 13, 14 are provided in the rail back 6, into which two locking lugs 15 of the drive adapter 3 engage when assembled.

[0056] A drive adapter, in embodiments as described below, can be flanged to the adapted first rail element 5 without tools. Thus, a drive element mounted on the drive adapter is attached to the rail element 5 without tools.

[0057] Each embodiment of a drive adapter 3 shown in the figures has a retaining section 16 and a drive carrier 18 for receiving the drive element 4.

[0058] The retaining section 16 is crucial for the tool-free attachment of the drive adapter 3 to the first rail element 5. The retaining section 16 comprises a retaining back 17, which is essentially flat and, in the mounted state of the drive adapter, extends essentially parallel to the rail back 6 of the first rail element 5. Two legs 18, 19 extend from this retaining back 17, supporting the support surfaces 20, 21. The retaining section 16, with the retaining back 17 and the legs 18, 19 with the support surfaces 20, 21, is essentially complementary to the first rail element 5 with its rail back 6 and legs 7, 8. Therefore, the holding section 16 can be inserted between the rolling element running surfaces 9, 10 of the first rail element 5, so that the support surfaces 20, 21 of the holding section 16 are in contact with the rolling element running surfaces 9, 10.

[0059] The positive locking provided in this way secures the drive adapter 3 against movement in the vertical direction of the first rail element 5, perpendicular to the extension direction 11. Compared to the distance between the rolling element running surfaces 9, 10 of the first rail element 5, the distance between the outward-facing support surfaces 20, 21 of the retaining section 16 has an interference of approximately 1 mm. In this way, a frictional connection is provided between the retaining section 16 and the first rail element 5, the frictional forces of which significantly restrict displacement of the drive adapter 3 in and against the extension direction relative to the first rail element 5.

[0060] To fully secure the drive adapter 3 to the first rail element 5, both in and against the extension direction 11, an outer surface 22 of the drive carrier 18, extending essentially perpendicular to the extension direction 11, forms a stop. When the drive adapter 3 is mounted to the first rail element 5, this stop comes into contact with an end face 23 at the first end 45 of the first rail element 5. The contact between the end face 23 of the first rail element 5 and the outer surface 22 of the drive carrier 18 prevents the drive adapter 3 from being inserted further into the rail element 5 in the extension direction 11.

[0061] To secure the drive adapter against movement against the extension direction on the first rail element 5, the retaining section 16 on the retaining back 17 has two locking lugs 15. These locking lugs 15 are molded onto the back of the retaining back, as shown in the top view of the drive adapter 3. Figure 3 as well as in the enlarged section view from Figure 4 is visible.

[0062] In order for the locking lugs 15 to spring back relative to the remaining retaining back 17 when the retaining section 16 is inserted between the legs 7, 8 of the rail element 5, the two locking lugs 15 are arranged on webs 24, 25 of the retaining back 17, with elongated openings provided between the webs and the remaining retaining back 17.

[0063] Fig. 6Figure 1 shows the first rail element 5 with the drive adapter 3 mounted on it, as well as the elements of the actual drive that are mounted on the drive adapter 3 and the first rail element 5. An electric motor 4 is mounted on the drive carrier 18 of the drive adapter 3. This electric motor 4 drives a spindle drive as an output shaft 49 via a drive shaft 48 and a magnetic coupling 47.

[0064] In the illustrated embodiment of the drive adapter 3 according to the Figures 2 to 6 , but also in the embodiment according to the Figures 7-10 The drive adapter 3 also serves to guide and mount the other elements of the drive that extend beyond the electric motor 4.

[0065] For this purpose, the retaining back 17 of the retaining section 16 carries two bearing blocks 26, 27. In this embodiment, each of the bearing blocks 26, 27 forms a part, namely the half-shell-shaped bearing bushing of a sliding bearing for guiding the drive 48 and output shafts 49 of a drive train coupled via a magnetic coupling 47.

[0066] In the illustrated embodiment, the drive shaft 48 and the output shaft 49 are coupled to each other via the magnetic clutch 47 up to a maximum torque. The magnetic clutch 47 comprises a first clutch element 50 and a second clutch element 51. The first clutch element 50 is the clutch element on the motor shaft side. This first clutch element 50 is torque-tightly connected to the motor shaft 48. That is, any torque exerted by the motor shaft 48 is transmitted from the motor shaft 48 to the first clutch element 50 without slippage or torque loss. The motor shaft 48 and the first clutch element 50 always rotate at the same angular velocity. The second clutch element 51, in turn, is torque-tightly connected to the threaded spindle 49, so that any torque transmitted to the second clutch element 51 is transmitted to the threaded spindle 49 completely and without slippage.The threaded spindle 49 and the second coupling element 51 always rotate at the same angular velocity.

[0067] The two coupling elements 50, 51 are frictionally connected to each other in the axial direction. The force acting in the axial direction and causing the frictional connection is a magnetic force from a permanent magnet. In the illustrated embodiment, the first coupling element 50, on the motor side, has the permanent magnet. This permanent magnet attracts the second coupling element 51, on the spindle drive side. Therefore, the first coupling element 50 is also referred to as a pot magnet and the second coupling element 51 as a magnetic starting disc.

[0068] The magnetic coupling 47 makes it possible to provide a torque limiter and also facilitates the assembly of the unit consisting of the drive adapter 3 and an electric motor 4 mounted on it. In one example, the spindle drive can be pre-assembled on the first rail element 5, while the drive adapter 3 is then mounted on the first rail element 5.

[0069] A drive carrier 18 is attached to the holding section 16. In the embodiments of the Figures 2 to 6 , 7 to 10 As well as 11, the drive carrier 18 serves to accommodate an electric motor 4 as a drive element within the meaning of the present application. The electric motor 4 is also mounted on the drive carrier 18 without tools.

[0070] In the embodiment of the Figures 2 to 6The electric motor is clamped to a substantially circular mounting section 31 by means of two clamping jaws 29, 30 defining a circular clamping area 28. Furthermore, the drive carrier has a mounting frame 32 with four wall surfaces 33, 34, 35, 36. The end faces 37, 38 of the electric motor 44 are clamped by the two wall surfaces 33, 36 of the mounting frame 32 that are opposite each other in the extension direction. The distance between the two end faces 37, 38 of the electric motor 44 is slightly smaller than the clear distance between the two clamping surfaces 33, 36 of the mounting frame 32, with crimping screws 37 being provided on the clamping surface 33.These protrude into the interior of the mounting frame 32 enclosed by the wall surfaces 33, 34, 35, 36, so that the clamping strips are pressed together by the end face 38 of the electric motor 4 when the electric motor 4 is inserted into the mounting frame 32, and thus the two clamping surfaces 33, 36 clamp the electric motor 4 in a direction parallel to the extension direction 11. The clamping strips 37 are also visible in the enlarged view of the figure. Figure 5 to see.

[0071] In the embodiment of the Figures 2 to 6 Furthermore, a mounting device 38 for clamping a microswitch as end position detection for the second rail element, which is movable relative to the first rail element 5, is provided on the drive carrier 18.

[0072] The embodiment of the drive adapter 3 according to the Figures 7 to 9The first embodiment of the drive adapter 3 differs in that the mounting frame 32 is designed in two parts and is adjustable in length in the direction of the extension 11. To ensure length adjustability, the side wall surfaces 34, 35 of the mounting frame 32 are each provided with locking teeth 40.

[0073] The side walls of the mounting frame 32 are inserted into designated receptacles 46, which are connected to the remaining mounting frame 32 and, furthermore, to the drive carrier 16. The locking teeth 40 mesh with complementary locking teeth 41 on the section of the mounting frame 32 that is rigidly connected to the retaining section 16. The locking teeth 40, 41 are designed such that they allow one element to be inserted relative to the other element in the extension direction, but not to be pulled out of one element from the other in the opposite direction 11. In this way, an electric motor 4, which is housed in the mounting frame 32, can be clamped after insertion by irreversibly inserting one element into the other. In addition, the clamping surface 33 has two spring-loaded sections 42, which pre-tension the clamping surface 33 section by section in the direction of the electric motor 4 and clamp it.

[0074] Beyond the simplified assembly of the electric motor 4, the design of the drive adapter 3 enables the Figures 7 to 10 , to adapt the mounting frame in its longitudinal direction parallel to the extension direction 11 to different lengths of electric motors 4. This is clearly shown by comparing the illustrations of the Figure 7 and 10 noticeable. While in Figure 7 The drive carrier or its mounting frame 32 is adapted to accommodate a long electric motor 4, the setting in Figure 10 chosen so that a shorter electric motor can be clamped in.

[0075] As from Figure 10 It is clearly visible that the wall section of the mounting frame, which carries the locking teeth 40, is provided with two predetermined breaking points 42, which make it possible to reduce the overhang of the mounting frame in the extension direction 11 in the case of very short electric motors. For this purpose, the frame is broken off to the extent that it protrudes.

[0076] In the embodiment of the Figure 11 The drive carrier 18 is arranged such that the motor shaft 43 of the electric motor 4 does not extend parallel to the extension direction 11 but perpendicular to it. In this way, the drive adapter 3 of this embodiment can be used to implement a belt drive in which the drive belt extends in the extension direction and is driven by a spur gear on the motor shaft 43 of the electric motor 4. In this embodiment, the two clamping surfaces extend essentially parallel to the retaining back 17 of the retaining section 16.

[0077] Unlike in the embodiments according to the Figures 2 to 11 is in the embodiment of the Figure 12The drive adapter 3 is not designed to accommodate an electric motor 4 in the drive carrier 18. Instead, the drive carrier 18 includes a bearing receptacle 44 for a rolling bearing of a drive rod or shaft for synchronizing the motor drive of two telescopic rails. This rolling bearing also forms part of a drive element within the meaning of the present application.

[0078] For the purposes of the original disclosure, it is pointed out that all features as they can be deduced by a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings, and the claims, even if they are specifically described only in connection with certain other features, can be combined individually or in any combination with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, unless expressly excluded or technical circumstances render such combinations impossible or pointless. A comprehensive, explicit description of all conceivable combinations of features is omitted here solely for the sake of brevity and readability.

[0079] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description, this illustration is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the scope of protection as defined by the claims. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0080] Variations of the disclosed embodiments are obvious to a person skilled in the art from the drawings, the description, and the accompanying claims. In the claims, the word "have" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite title "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple features. The mere fact that certain features are claimed in different claims does not preclude their combination. Reference numerals in the claims are not intended to limit the scope of protection. Reference symbol list

[0081] 1 System 2 Telescopic rail 3 Drive adapter 4 Electric motor 5 First rail element 6 Rail back 7 Upper leg 8 Lower leg 9, 10 Rolling element raceways 11 Extension direction 12 Opening 13, 14 Detent recesses 15 Detent lug 16 Retaining section 17 Retaining back 18 Drive carrier 18, 19 Leg 20, 21 Support surface 22 Outer surface 23 End surface 24, 25 Webs 26, 27 Bearing block 28 Clamping area 29, 30 Clamping jaws 31 Mounting section 32 Mounting frame 33, 34, 35, 36 Wall surface 33, 36 Clamping surface 37, 38 End surface 37 Crush screw 38 Mounting device 40, 41 Detent teeth 42 Break points 42 Spring section 43 Motor shaft 44 Bearing mount 45 End of first rail element 46 Mount 47 Magnetic coupling 48 Drive shaft 49 Output shaft 50 First coupling element 51 Second coupling element

Claims

1. A drive adapter (3) for tool-free mounting of a drive element (4) on a rail element (5) of a guide system (2) comprising a drive carrier (18), and a holding section (16), wherein the drive carrier (18) comprises a mounting means (29, 30, 32) for a drive element (4), wherein the holding section (16) comprises two support surfaces (20, 21), and a holding ridge (17) which connects the support surfaces (20, 21) at least in sections and defines a distance between the support surfaces (20, 21), characterized in that the two support surfaces (20, 21) are each convexly curved, face away from one another and configured such that they can be clamped between two rolling element running surfaces (9, 10) of the rail element (5) which face one another.

2. The drive adapter (3) according to the preceding claim, wherein the holding section (16) comprises at least one latching lug (15) or a latching recess for latching with a complementary element (13, 14) on the rail element (5).

3. The drive adapter (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive adapter (3) is made in one piece of plastic.

4. The drive adapter (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding ridge (17) carries at least one bearing block (26, 27) for receiving a bearing of a shaft.

5. The drive adapter (3) according to the preceding claim, wherein the holding ridge (17) carries two bearing blocks (26, 27) for receiving a respective bearing of a drive shaft and an output shaft, wherein an opening for receiving a coupling (47) between a drive shaft (48) and an output shaft (49) is provided in the holding ridge (17) between the two bearing blocks (26, 27).

6. The drive adapter (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means (29, 30, 32) of the drive carrier (18) comprises two clamping jaws (29, 30) with concave clamping surfaces which face one another for clamping a convex outer surface of the drive element having an electric motor (4) in a force-locking manner.

7. The drive adapter (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means (29, 30, 32) of the drive carrier (18) comprises a mounting frame (32) having two opposite clamping surfaces (33, 36) for receiving the output element (4) between the two clamping surfaces (33, 36) in a force-locking manner.

8. The drive adapter (3) according to the preceding claim, wherein a distance between the two opposite clamping surfaces (33, 36) is adjustably variable so that drive elements (4) of different lengths can be received in the mounting frame (32).

9. The drive adapter (3) according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein at least one of the two clamping surfaces (33, 36) is resiliently pretensioned at least in sections in the direction of the other clamping surface (33, 36).

10. The drive adapter (3) according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein at least one of the two clamping surfaces (33, 36) comprises at least one crimping bead (37) for clamping the drive element (4) in a force-locking manner.

11. The drive adapter (3) according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, wherein the two clamping surfaces (33, 36) extend substantially perpendicular or substantially parallel to the holding ridge (17).

12. The drive adapter (3) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the mounting means (29, 30, 32) of the drive carrier (18) comprises a rolling bearing seat (44) for receiving a rolling bearing of a shaft, wherein the rolling bearing seat (44) is preferably disposed to receive a rolling bearing for a shaft which is substantially perpendicular to the holding ridge (18).

13. A system (1) comprising a guide system (2) comprising at least a first and a second rail element (5), a drive element (4) and a drive adapter (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first rail element (5) comprises two legs (7, 8) which each carry a concavely curved rolling element running surface (9, 10), and a rail back (6) which connects said legs (7, 8), wherein the holding section (16) is clamped into the first rail element (5) such that both of the convexly curved support surfaces (20, 21) which face away from one another are each in engagement with a rolling element running surface (9, 10).

14. The system (1) according to Claim 13, wherein either a distance between the support surfaces (7, 8) of the holding section (16) which face away from one another prior to being placed into the first rail element (5) is larger than a distance between the rolling element running surfaces (9, 10) of the rail element (5).

15. The system (1) according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein the holding ridge (17) of the drive adapter (3) comprises a latching lug (15) that is snapped into a latching recess (13, 14) in the rail back (6) of the first rail element (5) or the rail back (5) of the first rail element (5) comprises a latching lug that is snapped into the holding ridge (17) of the drive adapter (3).