Sunroof Actuator Cover-Guided Cable Alignment to Prevent Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuator apparatuses for sunroof systems can experience interference between the drive cable and pipe members due to assembly errors, leading to noise and vibrations, which are not effectively addressed.
Innovation Solution
The actuator apparatus includes a gear housing with a drive gear and a cover member that fixes a guide member to the gear housing using a press-fitting portion, ensuring the guide member is securely positioned relative to the drive gear, preventing interference and improving assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the guide member is fixed to the front housing using pipe members, then the drive cable can be routed, but assembly errors cause interference between the drive cable and pipe members
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is pre-assembled to the cover member before the cover member is installed on the gear housing. This preliminary positioning ensures that the guide member's location is predetermined and maintains correct alignment with the drive gear, preventing interference issues that would otherwise result from assembly errors when fixing to the front housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member serves as an intermediary component between the guide member and the gear housing. By fixing the guide member to the cover member rather than directly to the front housing, the patent creates a stable intermediate reference that ensures precise alignment and positioning, eliminating the interference problems caused by direct fixation to the front housing.
2Productivity
If the guide member is positioned using multiple pipe members fixed to the front housing, then the drive cable routing is established, but assembly errors lead to noise and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is pre-positioned on the cover member before final assembly, establishing correct alignment in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when the assembly is completed, the drive cable and guide member are properly aligned, preventing the noise and vibrations that would otherwise be generated by misalignment during operation.
3Ease of operation
If the guide member is fixed to the front housing, then the drive cable can be guided, but assembly errors cause interference with the drive gear
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member acts as an intermediary between the guide member and the gear housing, providing a stable mounting reference. This intermediary approach ensures that the guide member maintains precise alignment with the drive gear during operation, eliminating the interference problems that would result from direct fixation to the front housing with potential assembly errors.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator apparatus includes a gear housing including an arrangement surface of a drive gear. The arrangement surface is provided at an outer side of the gear housing. The apparatus includes a cover member fixed to the gear housing in a state of covering the drive gear. The apparatus includes a guide member of a drive cable meshing with the drive gear. The guide member is provided to extend in an arrangement direction of the drive cable. The apparatus includes a fixing portion provided at the arrangement surface and configured to fix the guide member relative to the gear housing.