Motor Vehicle Drive Unit Assembly With Acoustic Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing drive units for motor vehicle adjustment elements, such as tailgates, are complex to assemble due to the time-consuming electrical connection of the drive motor and have a three-part circuit board holder design that complicates construction.

Innovation Solution

The drive unit is designed with a pre-assembled cable module that is easily integrated with the dynamic unit through a single assembly movement, which simultaneously decouples the cable module cover from the circuit board holder for acoustic damping and establishes electrical connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electrical connection of the drive motor is performed manually by connecting wires, then the electrical connection can be established, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable module is pre-assembled with the circuit board holder and electrical connectors before integration into the drive unit. This preliminary assembly allows electrical connections to be pre-established or pre-positioned, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual wire connections during final assembly. The pre-assembled cable module can be quickly integrated as a complete unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the circuit board holder is designed in three parts with soft component connecting parts, then vibration damping between the circuit board holder and cable module cover is achieved, but the construction becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidcircuit board holder construction
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A damping element is introduced as an intermediary component between the circuit board holder and the cable module cover. This damping element serves as a mediator that absorbs and dampens vibrations while maintaining the functional connection between the two components. The damping element simplifies the overall construction by providing a single dedicated component for vibration damping rather than requiring a complex multi-part circuit board holder design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design simplifies assembly by allowing a single movement to achieve both electrical connection and acoustic decoupling, reducing complexity and time while ensuring secure and efficient integration of components.

Implementation Method 1

the circuit board holder and the cable module cover are decoupled from one another in an acoustical manner... the cable module cover and the circuit board holder are no longer in contact with one another, in particular no longer in direct contact with one another, so that good acoustic damping is achieved

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4466437B1Drive unit
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4466437B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4466437B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4466437B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive unit for a drive (2) for adjusting an adjustment element (3) of a motor vehicle along a geometrical drive axis (A), wherein the drive unit (1) comprises: a dynamic unit (4) having a drive motor (5); a cable module (6) having a motor board (7); and a drive unit housing (8) for accommodating at least the drive motor (5) and the cable module (6); wherein the cable module (6) comprises: a board holder (11) for fixing the motor board (7); a cable module cover (12) into which one or more lines (13) for electrical connection to the drive motor (5) and/or the motor board (7) lead; a first drive connector (14) which is connected to the cable module cover (12); and a geometrical cable module axis (B); wherein the dynamic unit (4) is axially fixedly connected to the cable module (6). According to the invention: the cable module (6) is designed as a pre-assembled functional unit; during assembly of the drive unit (1), the pre-assembled cable module (6) can be joined to the dynamic unit (4) by means of an assembly movement; and by means of the assembly movement, the cable module (6) can be brought from an assembly state, in which the cable module cover (12) is connected to the board holder (11) so as to be axially fixed and in particular for conjoint rotation therewith, into a decoupled state, in which the cable module cover (12) is decoupled from the board holder (11).