Motor Vehicle Spindle Bearing Geometry for Reliable Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuators for motor vehicles face challenges in achieving high operational reliability and smooth spindle movement within the housing, while also requiring a structurally simple and cost-effective solution for mounting the spindle.
Innovation Solution
The actuator design includes a housing with an electric drive and spindle drive, featuring a bearing means with a continuously changing contact surface that provides a defined contact between the spindle and bearing point, allowing for adaptable engagement conditions and minimal friction, and can be made from materials like plastic or metal for optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional bearing means with a fixed contact surface is used, then the structure is simple, but the operational reliability and smoothness of spindle movement deteriorate under temperature variations and dynamic stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing means is designed with a contact surface that changes continuously in the direction of the central axis of the spindle, transforming a static bearing structure into a dynamic one that adapts to operational conditions. This allows the bearing to maintain optimal contact under temperature variations and dynamic stresses, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact surface of the bearing means is designed to vary its parameters (position, area, orientation) continuously along the spindle's central axis. This parameter change enables the bearing to adapt to different operational states, improving reliability without requiring multiple separate bearing components.
2Ease of operation
If a bearing means with a continuously changing contact surface is used, then smooth spindle movement and adaptability are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing means features a contact surface that is curved or spherical in nature, allowing continuous change in contact position as the spindle moves. This curved geometry naturally provides smooth movement while being manufacturable using standard forming processes, resolving the contradiction between operational smoothness and manufacturing ease.
3Reliability
If the bearing means is designed to adapt to temperature expansions and dynamic stresses, then operational reliability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing means is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: supporting the spindle, accommodating thermal expansion, and adapting to dynamic stresses. This multi-functionality is achieved through the continuously changing contact surface, which provides adaptability without requiring separate compensation mechanisms, thus enhancing reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuating drive (1) for a motor vehicle, having a housing (6) composed in particular of a housing shell and a housing cover, an electric drive (2), said drive (2) being used to move an actuating means (5) into the housing (6) and out of the housing (6), the actuating means (5) being movable at least by a spindle drive, and the spindle (4) of the spindle drive being mounted in the spindle drive by means of a bearing means (12). The bearing means (12) has a contact surface (A) that changes continuously in the direction of the central axis (M) of the spindle (4).