Vehicle Flap Drive Assembly With Nested Pivot Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive assemblies for motor vehicle hatches are inefficient in terms of installation space optimization and require costly reinforcement of the motor vehicle door, as they are typically long and expose the pivot joint to high leverage forces, making them unsuitable for practical automotive requirements.
Innovation Solution
A drive assembly with a support structure that allows the drive unit, including a drive motor and thrust gearbox, to be preassembled and pivotably connected, enabling flexible positioning of the supporting pivot axis and reducing the axial extent, allowing for easier assembly and cost-effective production with enhanced compactness and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the drive assembly uses a conventional long design with exposed pivot joints, then the structural stability is maintained, but the installation space requirement increases and costly door reinforcement is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit is nested within the support structure, with the drive motor and thrust gearbox positioned inside the support structure's enclosure. This nesting arrangement compactes the overall assembly volume while protecting the pivot joint from direct exposure to leverage forces, eliminating the need for costly door reinforcement
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is designed with an extended arm that positions the pivot joint in a different spatial dimension relative to the drive unit. This dimensional repositioning allows the pivot axis to be spaced apart from the assembly location, reducing the effective leverage forces while maintaining structural stability
2Ease of manufacture
If the drive assembly components are preassembled into a preassembled unit, then the assembly ease and production efficiency improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly is segmented into distinct functional modules: the support structure with its extended arm, the drive unit containing the motor and gearbox, and the connection interface. This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured and tested independently before final assembly, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the preassembled configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the drive unit, positions the pivot axis, and enables the preassembled unit configuration. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, actually simplifying the device while improving assembly ease
3Use of energy by moving object
If two drive motors are used with dissimilar nominal torques and different gear ratios, then the operational efficiency at different operating points improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each drive motor is configured with specific torque characteristics and gear ratios optimized for particular operating conditions. The coupling gearbox contains specialized mechanisms that route power from each motor to the thrust gearbox according to its torque requirements, allowing each component to operate at optimal efficiency points while managing the complexity through localized optimization
Data Source
AI summary
A drive assembly of a motor vehicle for the motor-driven adjustment of a flap, in particular a side door, of the motor vehicle by means of linear drive movements, wherein the drive assembly has a drive unit for generating the linear drive movements, which is assigned a drive with at least one drive motor and a feed transmission, in particular a spindle/-spindle nut transmission, that is drivingly connected to the drive. The drive assembly has a support structure which receives the drive unit such that it can swivel about a geometric supporting swivel shaft, such that the drive unit and the support structure are connected to form a pre-assembly unit which can be mounted as such via the support structure in a mounting position on the motor vehicle, in particular on the flap or on the motor vehicle body.