Window Lifter Gear Cover Geometry for Compact Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive devices for vehicle parts like window lifters require a compact design to optimize space usage while maintaining sealing and torque requirements, but they often compromise on installation space and sealing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A gear cover design with varying heights along the circumferential direction about the axis of rotation, where the first edge portion is connected to the housing pot and the second edge portion protrudes radially inward, allowing for a compact design with reduced axial installation space and incorporating a sealing element for moisture-tight sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a gear cover with constant height is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the axial installation space is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The gear cover is designed with varying height along its circumferential direction, creating different axial thicknesses in different regions. This local variation optimizes the axial installation space by reducing the cover's height only where it is not needed for structural support or sealing, while maintaining sufficient height in critical areas.
2Volume of moving object
If the second edge portion extends parallel to the drive gear, then the sealing surface is simplified, but the axial installation space is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The second edge portion is designed to extend radially inward at varying distances from the drive gear along the circumferential direction. This creates a non-uniform sealing arrangement that reduces the overall axial installation space while maintaining effective sealing contact with the drive gear in critical regions.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact gear cover design is used, then the installation space is reduced, but the sealing efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The gear cover incorporates a varying height design where the second edge portion extends radially inward by different amounts at different circumferential positions. This allows the sealing surface to be optimized locally - providing enhanced sealing contact where needed while reducing the overall axial height in non-critical areas, thus maintaining sealing efficiency in a compact form.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive device for use in an adjusting apparatus configured to adjust a vehicle part, including a drive housing provided with a housing pot, a drive gear disposed in the housing pot and rotatable about an axis of rotation, an output element operatively connected to the drive gear, and a gear cover, connected to the housing pot and annularly extending about the axis of rotation, and including a cover body provided with a first edge portion connected to the housing pot and a second edge portion protruding radially inwards relative to the first edge portion. A height measured axially between the first edge portion and the second edge portion varies with respect to a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation.