Spindle Drive Gear Holder Layout for Flexible Seat Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spindle drive arrangements for vehicle seats require multiple variants of gear holders for different electric motors and threaded spindles, leading to increased complexity and costs, while also facing challenges with noise reduction and collision safety.

Innovation Solution

A gear arrangement with non-parallel receiving openings for fastening screws, allowing the gearbox holder to be mounted in two orientations, and a rotatable gearbox housing design that transfers loads directly to the gearbox holder, reducing the load on connecting elements and enabling flexible adaptation to various spindle drive variants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple variants of gear holders are used for different electric motors and threaded spindles, then adaptability to various spindle drive variants is improved, but device complexity and number of parts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to various spindle drive variantsVSAvoidnumber of gear holder variants
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gear holder is designed with two groups of receiving openings arranged at right angles to each other, allowing a single gear holder design to accommodate multiple orientations and variants of spindle drive arrangements. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple specialized gear holder variants, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The gear housing is pivotably mounted on the gear holder, enabling dynamic adjustment between different operating orientations. This dynamic mounting allows the same gear holder to work with different electric motors and threaded spindles by adjusting the orientation, thus providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-design gear holders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the gearbox housing is fixed to the gearbox holder, then structural stability is improved, but noise reduction and collision safety deteriorate due to load transmission through connecting elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidnoise and collision loads
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting elements are extracted from the load-bearing path by designing the gear housing to be pivotably mounted rather than rigidly fixed. This separates the stabilizing function from the load transmission function, allowing the gear holder to bear collision loads directly while the gear housing can pivot to reduce noise transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The gear housing is designed with pivotable mounting that allows dynamic movement between operating orientations. This dynamic capability enables the system to absorb collision impacts through controlled pivoting rather than rigid load transmission, reducing noise while maintaining operational stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If receiving openings are arranged parallel to each other, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different mounting orientations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of receiving openings arrangementVSAvoidmounting orientation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of arranging all receiving openings in a simple parallel symmetric pattern, the design uses two groups of receiving openings at right angles to each other. This asymmetric arrangement provides multiple mounting orientation options while remaining manufacturable using standard drilling and tapping processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving openings are designed to serve multiple functions: they can accommodate fastening screws in different orientations and can work with different types of fasteners. This universal design allows a single gear holder to be mounted in various orientations without requiring different receiving opening patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If bolts are designed to pass through insertion openings in all orientations, then ease of assembly is improved, but prevention of accidental disassembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidprotection against accidental disassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion openings have different geometries at different locations: they are larger at the entry point to facilitate easy insertion during assembly, but smaller at the bearing opening to prevent accidental removal. This local variation in opening quality provides both ease of assembly and security against unintended disassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bolts are pre-oriented in the correct assembly position during manufacturing, and the insertion openings are designed to guide proper insertion. This preliminary positioning ensures that assembly is easy when performed correctly, while the geometry prevents incorrect or accidental removal attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4051528B1Gearing arrangement for a spindle drive arrangement, spindle drive arrangement, and vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 ADIENT US LLC
  • EP4051528B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4051528B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4051528B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a gearing arrangement (2) for a spindle drive arrangement (1), comprising a gearing housing (6) and a gearing holder (8), said gearing holder (8) having at least two receiving openings (13), one for each fastening screw or one for each fastening bolt for fastening to another component, in particular to a vehicle seat, and these at least two receiving openings (13) being oriented at right-angles and/or obliquely with respect to one another. The invention also relates to a spindle drive arrangement (1) comprising such a gearing arrangement (2), and also to a vehicle seat comprising such a spindle drive arrangement (1).