Steering Spindle Drive Plain Bearing for Compact Rotation Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spindle drives for vehicle steering gears face challenges in achieving a compact design while ensuring reliable function and preventing rotational movement conversion into translational movement.
Innovation Solution
A spindle drive design featuring a spindle with an external thread and a spindle nut with an internal thread, guided via a plain bearing between sliding surfaces, where one component is rotatable and the other is axially displaceable, with a bearing part designed as an elevation and recess to prevent rotational lock, allowing for a compact and reliable translational movement conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spindle drive is designed with a plain bearing for axial guidance, then the translational movement conversion is reliable, but the device occupies more space and cannot achieve a compact design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the axial guidance function and rotational locking function into a single integrated plain bearing structure. The elevation and recess form both the axial constraint mechanism and the rotational prevention mechanism simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate components and achieving compact design while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plain bearing structure serves multiple functions: it provides axial guidance for the spindle or spindle nut, prevents rotational movement conversion, and maintains the compact design. The elevation and recess configuration accomplishes both axial constraint and rotational locking within a single structural element.
2Device complexity
If the spindle nut is freely guided on the spindle thread, then the structure is simple, but rotational movement may incorrectly convert to translational movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the elevation and recess structure that proactively prevents rotational movement conversion before it can occur. The rotational locking mechanism is built into the plain bearing structure, creating a pre-existing constraint that blocks any potential rotational-to-translational movement conversion.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact spindle drive design is pursued, then the volume is reduced, but the rotational locking mechanism may become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the axial guidance and rotational locking functions into the same plain bearing structure, allowing both functions to be achieved within a compact volume. The elevation and recess configuration provides rotational locking without requiring additional space-consuming components.
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 ensures reliable translational movement conversion with a compact structure by preventing rotational movement through a plain bearing system, ensuring the spindle nut is securely locked in place, enhancing the spindle drive's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a spindle (5) having an external thread (8), a spindle nut (6) having an internal thread (9) being guided on the external thread (8) of the spindle (5), wherein the spindle nut (6) is rotatable about an axis of rotation (7) and produces, during rotation, by cooperation of the internal thread (9) and external thread (8), a corresponding translational movement of the spindle (5) along the axis of rotation (7)
Implementation Method 2
The other of the spindle and the spindle nut is axially displaceably guided via a plain bearing (14) along the axis of rotation (7) relative to a fixed structural part (11). The plain bearing (14) is formed between sliding surfaces (15, 16) of a first and second bearing part (17, 18)
Data Source
AI summary
A spindle drive for a vehicle steering gear, including a spindle having an external thread and a spindle nut having an internal thread being guided on the external thread. One of the spindle and spindle nut is rotatable and produces a corresponding translational movement of the other. The other of the spindle and spindle nut is guided via a plain bearing along the axis of rotation relative to a fixed structural part. The plain bearing is formed between sliding surfaces of a first and second bearing part, the first being provided on the other of the spindle and spindle nut and the second being provided on the fixed structural part. One of the first and second bearing parts is designed as an elevation, the other being designed as a recess. The recess surrounds the elevation on both sides in a rotational direction.