Eccentric Drive Unit With Integrated Rod Guidance for Higher Torque

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive units for automotive applications require significant design effort and manufacturing costs due to the need for additional guides and spring elements to achieve effective torque transmission, especially when using low direct voltage electric motor drives.

Innovation Solution

A drive unit design featuring a guide cam connected to the drive and a guide recess on the actuating rod, eliminating the need for external guides and additional springs, allowing for linear actuation and increased torque without additional housing components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional guides and spring elements are used to achieve effective torque transmission, then the reliability of power transmission is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means is integrated into the drive cam itself, combining the cam's torque transmission function with the guide function. The guide means and counter-guide means form an integrated guiding system that eliminates the need for separate external guides and spring elements, thereby maintaining reliable power transmission while reducing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive cam serves multiple functions: it transmits torque through its eccentric design and simultaneously provides guiding action through the integrated guide means. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate guiding components, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective torque transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If additional guides and spring elements are provided, then the actuation reliability is improved, but the manufacturing costs and design effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means is merged with the drive cam, creating a single integrated component that performs both torque transmission and guiding functions. This integration reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and design effort while maintaining actuation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding function is extracted from separate external guide components and incorporated directly into the drive cam structure. This eliminates the need for additional independent guiding elements and their associated mounting requirements, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reliable actuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If external guides and springs are used, then the actuating rod guidance is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating rod guidance stabilityVSAvoidhousing space requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means is integrated into the drive cam, which is already a necessary component of the drive unit. This integration provides stable guidance for the actuating rod without requiring additional external guide components or increased housing space, as the guiding function is embedded within the existing compact drive structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Power

If additional spring elements are provided for torque transmission, then the power transmission effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmission effectivenessVSAvoidcomponent quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means integrated into the drive cam provides mechanical guidance that enhances torque transmission effectiveness by ensuring proper alignment and contact between the drive cam and actuating rod. This integrated approach eliminates the need for separate spring elements while maintaining effective power transmission, thereby reducing component quantity and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 the structure, reduces manufacturing costs, and enables linear movement of the actuating rod with increased torque output, while eliminating the need for external guides and springs, resulting in a more compact and cost-effective solution.

Implementation Method 1

a drive cam of the drive engages in a drive recess in the actuating rod

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical engagement: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

the guide means is designed as a guide cam and the counter-guide means is a guide recess in the actuating rod, the interaction between the guide cam and the guide recess ensuring that the actuating rod is largely acted upon linearly in one actuation direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGuided linear motion: Cam

Implementation Method 3

with an electric motor drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4004314B1Drive unit for motor-vehicle applications
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 KIEKERT AG
  • EP4004314B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4004314B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4004314B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive unit for motor-vehicle applications, comprising an electric-motor drive (1, 2) and an actuation rod (3), which is mounted, at one end (3a), on the drive (1, 2) and is acted upon by the drive. The drive (1, 2) acts eccentrically on the actuation rod (3). For this purpose, a drive cam (9) of the drive (1, 2) engages in a drive cut-out (10) in the actuation rod (3). In addition, according to the invention, a guide means (11) connected to the drive (1, 2) is provided, which guide means cooperates with a counter guide means (12) on the actuation rod (3) in order to guide the actuation rod.