Motor Vehicle Door Actuator Using Plastic Drive Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle actuators face issues with weight, installation space, and corrosion due to the use of steel cables, which are heavy and prone to corrosion, and require significant space for installation.
Innovation Solution
The use of high-tensile plastics material fibers, such as HPPE or aramid, as the primary component for the flexible drive means, which reduces weight and installation space while maintaining or exceeding the tensile strength of steel cables, and offering improved friction coefficients and chemical resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel cables are used as flexible drive means, then tensile strength is sufficient, but weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining high-tensile plastics material fibers (such as aramid or HPPE) with a polymer matrix to create a flexible drive means that achieves both high tensile strength and reduced weight. The composite structure allows the plastics fibers to provide the necessary mechanical strength while the polymer matrix binds them together, resulting in a drive means that is significantly lighter than traditional steel cables while maintaining sufficient tensile strength for motor vehicle actuator applications.
2Strength
If steel cables are used as flexible drive means, then tensile strength is sufficient, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material construction with plastics fibers and polymer matrix creates a drive means with higher strength-to-volume ratio compared to steel cables. The optimized composite structure allows for more efficient space utilization in the actuator assembly, reducing the volume required for the flexible drive means while maintaining the necessary tensile strength.
3Stability of the object's composition
If steel cables are used as flexible drive means, then structural integrity is maintained, but corrosion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional steel cable material with plastics material fibers that are inherently resistant to corrosion. While steel cables require protective coatings and maintenance to prevent corrosion over time, the plastics-based flexible drive means provides inherent corrosion resistance, eliminating the need for additional protective measures and reducing maintenance requirements throughout the service life of the actuator.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator for motor vehicle applications, in particular a motor vehicle door actuator, includes a manually or electromotively operating drive. Furthermore, a flexible drive means which is connected to the drive and can be acted upon by the latter is realized. Additionally provided is an actuating member driven by the drive means. According to the invention, the drive means is produced predominantly from plastic.