Spindle Drive Using a Purely Linear Spindle and Shared Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production outlay for drive arrangements in motor vehicles with both active and passive sides is increased due to the need for two different constructions, one with a motor-operated spindle drive and the other with a gas pressure damper or spring, leading to inefficiencies in component utilization and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A spindle drive design for the passive side that is structurally identical to the active side, using the same components as the motor-operated spindle drive, with a spindle that is purely linearly movable in the spindle guide bush, eliminating the need for separate gas pressure dampers or springs, and incorporating a spacer bush to accommodate the space typically occupied by the drive motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a gas pressure damper or spring is used for the passive side, then the construction is simpler and cheaper, but the bending stiffness is reduced and production outlay increases due to requiring two different constructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the passive side spindle drive with the same components as the active side, including the drive motor, intermediate gear mechanism, and spindle unit. This multi-functional design allows a single construction type to serve both active and passive sides, reducing production outlay while maintaining high bending stiffness through the use of robust spindle and spindle guide bush components.
2Ease of manufacture
If identical components are used for both active and passive sides, then production outlay is reduced and quality is ensured, but the passive side cannot have a motorized drive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the drive motor function from the spindle drive mechanism. The passive side spindle drive includes all mechanical components (spindle, spindle guide bush, intermediate gear mechanism) but excludes the motor, allowing it to function as a pure mechanical balance mechanism while using identical components to the active side for standardized production.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a motor-operated spindle drive is provided on both sides, then drive capability is maximized, but production outlay increases due to requiring two different constructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a universal spindle drive construction that can function on both active and passive sides. The passive side utilizes the same spindle, spindle guide bush, and intermediate gear mechanism as the active side, but without the motor, allowing a single standardized construction to reduce production outlay while maintaining drive capability where needed.
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 production outlay by allowing the use of identical components for both sides, ensuring high quality and service life, minimizing power loss, and eliminating the need for separate constructions, while enhancing bending stiffness and acoustic performance.
Implementation Method 1
an outer spring, in particular pressure spring, which forms a drive element of the spindle drive and which axially preloads the first drive connection with respect to the second drive connection
Implementation Method 2
an inner spring, in particular pressure spring, which forms a damping element of the spindle drive and which dampens the linear movement of the spindle
Implementation Method 3
a guide element on the spindle which is arranged within the spindle guide tube between the first drive connection and the spindle guide bush, which guide element supports the spindle on the spindle guide tube on the inner side, wherein the guide element is configured such that it allows or prevents a pressure equalization
Data Source
AI summary
A spindle drive for a closure element of a vehicle for generating drive movements along a geometric spindle axis, having a tube-like drive housing and a spindle unit with a spindle guide bush and a spindle movably mounted therein are provided, a first drive connection and a second drive connection which is linearly displaceable with respect to the latter being provided to generate the drive movements, a spindle guide tube being connected to the first drive connection and, together with the first drive connection, forming a first drivetrain component which is connected to the spindle guide bush of the spindle unit, and a connecting element being connected to the second drive connection and forming a second drivetrain component which is connected to the spindle. The spindle can be mounted in the spindle guide bush in such a way that it is purely linearly movable in the spindle guide bush.