Modular Drive Device Segmentation and Plastic Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost of maintaining a wide variety of drive devices to meet customer requirements, as well as issues with corrosion and moisture ingress in drive devices used in vehicles, such as doors and hatches, necessitate a solution that simplifies storage and enhances durability.
Innovation Solution
A modular drive device system composed of rotary and spindle drive assemblies from a construction kit, where assemblies differ in power and stroke length, and are housed in plastic components with material-to-material connections to prevent moisture ingress, using polyamide materials and snap connections for coupling elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wide variety of drive devices is kept in stock to meet customer requirements, then customer service capability is improved, but storage costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive device is divided into separate modular components: a rotary drive unit and a spindle drive unit. These modules can be independently manufactured, stored, and then assembled together to create different drive device configurations based on customer requirements, reducing the number of complete assemblies needed in stock.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary drive unit and spindle drive unit are designed as universal modules that can be combined in multiple configurations. The coupling unit enables these modules to work together in various drive device applications, allowing a limited set of modules to serve multiple customer needs.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional housing materials are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but resistance to corrosion and moisture ingress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is constructed using composite materials, specifically plastic components bonded together. This provides both corrosion and moisture resistance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through bonding processes. The plastic material inherently resists corrosion while the bonding technology enables straightforward assembly.
3Strength
If metal housing components are used, then structural strength is improved, but noise development increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing uses plastic components that act as flexible shells. These plastic housings provide adequate structural strength while inherently damping noise and vibrations, eliminating the noise problems associated with rigid metal components. The plastic material absorbs vibrations and reduces noise transmission.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate housing components are used, then adaptability and assembly flexibility are improved, but tightness against moisture ingress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Separate housing components are merged through material-to-material bonding to create an integrated housing structure. This bonding process eliminates gaps and joints between components, preventing moisture ingress while maintaining the assembly flexibility benefits of using separate components during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing components are made from plastic materials that are bonded together to form a composite structure. This provides both the assembly flexibility of separate components and the tightness against moisture ingress through the bonded joints, which seal the interfaces between components.
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 approach reduces the number of drive devices needed in stock from nine to six, simplifies warehousing, and enhances resistance to corrosion and noise, while maintaining performance across different power levels and stroke lengths.
Implementation Method 1
the base piece and the housing tube are made of plastic, and the base piece is bonded to the housing tube
Implementation Method 2
a threaded spindle and a threaded nut arranged on the threaded spindle, the rotary drive being connected to the threaded spindle or the threaded nut via a coupling unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The device (10) has a threaded spindle (34) and a threaded nut (38) that are axially movable relative to one another in reaction to a rotation of a rotary drive (14). A rotary drive assembly (12) comprises the rotary drive and a coupling element (26), and a spindle drive assembly comprises a spindle drive (18) and another coupling element (36). The coupling element of the rotary drive assemblies and the coupling element of the spindle drive assembly are designed to be compatible with one another. A housing tube (20) and a base piece (30) are formed in one piece.