Plastic Bearing Location for Motor Vehicle Positioning Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning units for motor vehicles face challenges in achieving long service life and low noise emission due to manufacturing tolerances and noise issues associated with plastic-cased slide bearings, which are costly and difficult to manufacture effectively.
Innovation Solution
A positioning unit with a separate plastic bearing location that compensates for manufacturing tolerances and reduces noise through a damping effect, using wear-resistant polyurethane materials for the bearing, allowing for precise adjustment and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a plastic-cased slide bearing is used to reduce noise and compensate for manufacturing tolerances, then noise emission is reduced and service life is extended, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing location is separated into two distinct components: a plastic housing component and a separate bearing element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the plastic housing provides damping and tolerance compensation, while the separate bearing element (metal or hard plastic) provides precise mechanical support and low friction. This resolves the contradiction by achieving noise reduction through the plastic housing without requiring an entirely plastic bearing structure, thus avoiding excessive manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution employs composite construction by combining plastic material for the housing with either metal or hard plastic material for the bearing element. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both materials: the plastic provides noise damping and tolerance compensation, while the metal or hard plastic bearing element provides durability and precise mechanical function. This resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and manufacturing ease by using material composition rather than a single-material solution.
2Manufacturing precision
If a separate bearing location is introduced to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing location is merged with the housing structure through form-fitting connection, where the bearing element is received directly into a bearing recess in the housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting features, fasteners, or additional positioning mechanisms. The form-fitting design inherently provides both mechanical support and tolerance compensation. This resolves the contradiction by achieving precise positioning through integration rather than addition of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing location structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for the drive shaft, compensates for manufacturing tolerances through the plastic housing's compliance, reduces noise through damping, and positions components precisely through the form-fitting connection. By making the bearing location multi-functional, the design achieves high positioning precision without increasing overall structural complexity, as one integrated structure performs multiple critical functions.
3Reliability
If wear-resistant materials like polyurethane are used for the bearing, then service life is extended, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire bearing structure from expensive wear-resistant polyurethane, the invention applies wear-resistant material selectively only where it is most needed - specifically in the bearing element that contacts the drive shaft. The plastic housing can be made from less expensive materials since its primary function is structural support and damping. This local application of premium material resolves the contradiction by achieving extended service life through targeted wear resistance without incurring the cost of using expensive materials throughout the entire bearing structure.
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 solution ensures a long service life and optimized noise behavior by compensating for manufacturing tolerances and utilizing the damping properties of the plastic bearings, resulting in a cost-effective and durable positioning unit.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing location (8) for the drive (2), in particular for a worm (7), formed at least partly of plastic, wherein the bearing (8) is formed as a separate bearing location and at least part of the drive (2) can be introduced into the bearing location (8)
Implementation Method 2
The structure, according to the invention, of the positioning unit (1) now makes it possible to specifically influence the bearings of the drive and in particular of a worm drive. By forming a separate plastic component as a bearing means for the drive, a tolerance compensation can be carried out with the simplest design means, which also has a damping effect.
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning unit for technical applications in motor vehicles, in particular a locking system, a door positioner or a sliding door drive, having a housing, a drive arranged in the housing, a control element which can be acted upon by the drive, and a bearing location for the drive, in which the bearing location is formed at least partly of plastic, wherein the bearing is designed as a separate bearing location, and at least part of the drive is insertable into the bearing location.