Pivotable Spindle Nut Mounting for Vehicle Hatch Drives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spindle drives used in vehicle hatch automation require complex and costly mounting to follow pivoting movements, often necessitating additional space and maintenance due to the need for connecting elements between the spindle nut and the vehicle body.
Innovation Solution
A spindle drive design featuring a drive unit, spindle, and spindle nut in threaded engagement, where the spindle nut is pivotably mounted on the drive element, allowing for translational displacement and pivoting relative to the drive element, reducing the need for additional mounting components and simplifying the interface design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a connecting element is used between the spindle nut and the vehicle body to follow pivoting movements, then the spindle drive can accommodate hatch movements, but the space required increases and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the connecting element functionality directly into the spindle nut by providing a spherical outer surface that can pivot within the drive element. This integration eliminates the need for separate connecting elements and reduces the overall space required while maintaining the ability to follow pivoting movements of the vehicle hatch.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle nut is designed with a spherical outer surface that enables dynamic pivoting movement relative to the drive element. This dynamic capability allows the spindle drive to adapt to varying hatch positions and movements without requiring additional complex mounting mechanisms, thereby reducing space while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a connecting element is used between the spindle nut and the vehicle body, then the spindle drive can follow pivoting movements, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the pivotable connection functionality into the spindle nut itself through its spherical outer surface design. This merging eliminates the need for separate connecting elements and complex mounting mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the capability to follow pivoting movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical outer surface of the spindle nut serves multiple functions: it enables pivoting movement to follow hatch movements, provides a simple mounting interface, and eliminates the need for separate connecting elements. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex mounting is used to follow pivoting movements, then the spindle drive can accommodate hatch movements, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the pivotable connection functionality directly into the spindle nut through its spherical outer surface, the invention eliminates the need for separate connecting elements and complex mounting mechanisms. This simplification reduces the number of parts, assembly steps, and production costs while maintaining the ability to accommodate hatch movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical outer surface of the spindle nut provides multi-functionality by enabling pivoting movement, providing a simple mounting interface, and eliminating the need for additional connecting elements. This reduces manufacturing complexity and production costs while maintaining adaptability to hatch movements.
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 reduces the space occupied by the spindle drive, lowers production costs, and facilitates easier maintenance by allowing for a simple ball socket mount, enabling the spindle drive to efficiently follow the movements of vehicle hatches while minimizing space and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the spindle nut and the spindle in threaded engagement with it are pivotable relative to the drive element
Implementation Method 2
a spindle nut (18) in engagement with the spindle (12) in a threaded engagement, wherein the spindle nut (18) is driven by the drive unit (46) by means of a drive element (30)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a spindle drive, comprising a drive unit, a spindle, and a spindle nut in threaded engagement with the spindle, the spindle nut being driven by the drive unit by means of a drive element, and wherein the spindle nut is mounted on the drive element in such a way that the spindle nut and the spindle in threaded engagement with it are pivotable relative to the drive element.