Pivoting Spindle Drive With Integrated Bearing Cage Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spindle drives require complex mountings and additional components, leading to increased installation space and maintenance costs, particularly in applications requiring pivoting movements like vehicle doors.
Innovation Solution
A spindle drive design featuring a bearing cage pivotable relative to a housing unit, with a spindle nut mounted in the cage and driven via a transmission arrangement, eliminating the need for complex hinges and allowing direct torque transmission without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex hinge or gimbal arrangements are used to enable pivoting movement, then the spindle can follow all movements of the panel or door, but the device complexity and installation space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pivoting movement function directly into the spindle drive assembly by mounting the spindle nut on the drive element in a way that allows the entire assembly to pivot as one unit. This eliminates the need for separate hinge or gimbal arrangements, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to panel movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive element serves multiple functions: it provides the driving force for the spindle through the spindle nut, and simultaneously acts as the pivoting connection to the panel. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall mounting structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional connecting elements are introduced between the spindle nut and the panel, then the pivoting movement is enabled, but the quantity of components and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the connecting element function with the drive element itself. The drive element is directly mounted to the panel and integrates the pivoting connection, eliminating the need for separate connecting elements like additional hinges, gimbals, or mounting brackets between the spindle nut and panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive element performs multiple roles: it transmits driving force to the spindle nut and simultaneously serves as the pivoting connection to the panel. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components required in the system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex mounting arrangements are used, then all movements of the panel can be followed, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pivoting mechanism into the compact spindle drive assembly, allowing the entire unit to pivot on the drive element. This integration eliminates the need for additional space-consuming mounting structures while maintaining the capability to follow panel movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle nut is mounted on the drive element in a way that allows dynamic pivoting movement. This dynamic mounting enables the spindle drive to adapt to panel movements without requiring large installation space, as the pivoting is achieved through the relative movement capability of the mounted components rather than through large mechanical linkages.
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
The design reduces installation space and maintenance needs while enabling efficient pivoting movements, reducing component count and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a deep groove ball bearing can preferably be provided for mounting the spindle nut in the bearing cage
Implementation Method 2
the transmission arrangement between the spindle nut and the drive unit can be formed by a worm gear having a worm shaft and a worm wheel
Implementation Method 3
a spindle, a housing unit fixedly coupled to the drive unit, a bearing cage which is accommodated within the housing unit and is pivotable about a predetermined angular range with respect to a pivot axis, and a spindle nut which is mounted in the bearing cage at a fixed angle and is in threaded engagement with the spindle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a spindle drive (10) comprising a drive unit (12), a spindle (34), a housing unit (20) fixedly coupled to the drive unit (12), a bearing cage (28) which is accommodated within the housing unit (20) and is pivotable about a predetermined angular range with respect to a pivot axis, and a spindle nut (30) which is mounted at a fixed angle in the bearing cage (28) and is in threaded engagement with the spindle (34), wherein the spindle nut (30) can be driven in rotation by the drive unit (12) via a transmission arrangement (18).